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GRACE

I am still basking in the glow of Easter Sunday.  Our church, like many, offered multiple worship times on this holiest of weekends, but for me, there is something so special about going to worship at 8:30 on Easter Sunday.  Calls of, “He is risen!” Answered by, “He is risen indeed!”  The atmosphere is one of joy, especially in contrast to the heaviness of Good Friday.

Our choir sang the most beautiful song on Sunday, one that was new to me: Jesus, I Give You Praise.   I quickly looked it up on the Internet, and I have been playing it over and over. Even this morning (Monday), I have tears as I sing along. While all the lyrics are beautiful, there is one line that captured my heart. “Your grace, it changed my life.” I have been thinking about those words and meditating on the grace of God. As only He can orchestrate, my Bible study group is studying Ephesians, a book that is saturated in grace. Also, I keep a Bible journal, and my word for this month is “grace.”  So I was primed to hear that line.

“Your grace, it changed my life.” So true! My life was going in one direction, and when I was 18, Jesus changed my trajectory. Although at that age I gave little thought to the course of my life, looking back I can see that I was headed down a path of destruction. I do not deserve to be where I am today.  Happily (but imperfectly) married, with a big (but imperfect) family. And most importantly, I have the privilege of being in relationship with Jesus. I get to share Him with others, write about Him and speak about Him, things I would never have done on my former course. His grace changed my life!

His grace showed me that I was a sinner, in need of a Savior. Even though I did not deserve it, He paid the price for my sins.  That is grace! His grace gave me hope and a new identity: Christian. His grace gave me a hunger for His Word. The old Fran couldn’t even understand the Bible; it might have well have been written in the original Greek. His grace gave me a desire to know Him more deeply. His grace planted me into a fellowship of Believers; my best friends are the ones I can pray with and with whom I can discuss the things of God. It is by his grace that I enjoy the blessings of and endure the trials of this life. His grace secured my final destination. I know that one day I will go into His presence and live there for eternity.

I invite you to find this song and sing along. Lift up your own holy hands and worship Him. His grace truly is amazing!

A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE

We did it! The Christmas decorations are up for another year! I am sitting with a cup of tea, a fire in the fireplace, enjoying the lights while a Christmas movie on television provides background noise. For so many, many years I have enjoyed decorating for Christmas. But as the years have passed it has become more of a chore. I’m old! I own it. And I have aches and pains. I am so blessed to be married to a man who loves Christmas as much as I do. I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) do it by myself. I remember an elderly aunt who put out a poinsettia and a fruitcake and called it good. The older I get, the more I understand that. But for this year we are still all in.

We had a plan. Remembering our aching backs and hips, we decided to do a little every day and then take a break. We started on Monday and by Saturday morning we were 98% done. Enough to sit and enjoy. Some people wonder why we decorate so early. It’s because it is so much work to get it all out, we want a long time to enjoy it. And Thanksgiving is late this year, so we don’t want to wait until the turkey is gone. You would have laughed if you could have seen us. We kept a big bottle of Aleve handy and began the task of untangling lights and fluffing the many garlands that go up our staircase and across the landing. And by the way, we have a very curious new puppy. “Stop it! Put that down! What’s in your mouth?”  Jerry and I have joked that he is going to think his name in No No!  We each would work for about half an hour, and then one of us would say, “I’ve got to sit down and take a break. Oh, my aching back!” 

About two days in, I was standing on a death-defying ladder, reaching for the top of our tree, and doing some internal grumbling. “Why are we doing all this work,” I thought. Truthfully, I know I mostly do it because I love it, but the kids have all moved. No one lives around the corner anymore. Even our youngest grand is now 15. They are all busy. They will come by a couple of times, but does that warrant decorating for high mass? As I was thinking these things, some Christmas music was playing, and it hit me! The King is coming! And He is worthy of my best efforts. I want my house to be sparkling, the silver polished, and the aroma of delicious food filling the house. That thought changed the way I worked. Oh, it was still physical, and I still got tired, but I enjoyed it! I want to do it to honor Him, and not for myself. 

Now that my house is ready, I want to spend time preparing my heart. Isn’t that what Advent is all about? I know the lights and the tree are only externals. What Jesus really wants is a ready heart, and I want that too. The decorations are merely an outward sign that we waiting to receive the King. And bonus, I get to enjoy them too. And now if you will excuse me, I just noticed that a strand of lights has gone out. 

Navigating the Bittersweet Journey of Launching Young Adults

There is a drama being played out in our back yard that is also being enacted in homes across the country right now. It is the push and pull of launching a child. You do your best to bring them up to be adults, but there is that bittersweet, and sometimes scary period I call the in between. They look like full-grown adults, but they are not quite there yet. And for parents there is the in between of not needing to remind them to brush their teeth, but wondering if they know everything they need to know. Has she checked her tires? Does he know he needs a job with health insurance? Are they going to church on Sundays.

We have a family of finches who are now fledglings and Mama Bird is trying her best to get them airborne.  They are so tiny! Even Mama Bird is small, but those babies are not much bigger than a good Texas cockroach. The mother sits on the fence and calls her babies all day, and for such a little bird she makes a lot of noise! The babies hop around in the flower bed trying to get aloft, and they sound completely different from the mother. It is almost a small croaking or buzzing sound. 

One got the attention of our Max. Alert to an adventure, he went after the baby bird and I went after him! I kept shouting, “Leave it!” and the frightened little bird would hop, and Max would lurch! The mother bird was upset by the commotion. She was at the in between…wanting the babies to leave the nest, but still aware of all the potential dangers around them. And so wanting to protect them. 

This is where my daughters are with their graduating seniors. The kids are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing right now, spreading their wings. But their parents (and grandparents!) are aware that adulthood isn’t instantly conferred along with a diploma. This is especially true with a high school graduate.

So I am watching my own mother birds as their babies leave the next. They look on with pride, happiness, and a few tears. And we are all so aware of the dangers in our big world. I frequently pray Psalm 91 over my grands:  

Lord, I ask that my family dwell in your secret place and under your shadow. You are our refuge and our fortress and we trust you. Please cover all my “chicks” with your pinions and hide them under your wings. Your faithful promises are our armor and protection. We will not fear the dangers that lurk around us. Thank you for sending your angels to protect us.

YOU’RE GOING TO BE OKAY

This May is a month of graduations for us. Two down, and one to go. We have watched our granddaughter Ellie Grace graduate from the beautiful Belmont University with a degree in Motion Pictures. My uncle, Arthur Pierce, a lifelong filmmaker, would be so proud. Next was our Abby who graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with her nursing degree. Next will be our high school senior, Emma, who will graduate from Owasso High School, and oh by the way, has just made cheerleader at OU! They all have bright futures. As I sat in these commencement ceremonies and watched all these bright-eyed youngsters, so eager to turn their tassels, I wanted to tell them all, “You’re going to be okay.”

When I was doing my internship for my doctorate in psychology, I spent one day a week in the career office at The University of Tulsa. Every week it was the same. Seniors would come in with that deer-in-the-headlight look of “I don’t know what I am going to do, and my parents are going to expect that I get a job, and I don’t even like my major! Maybe I’ll go to law school.” We had a battery of career testing we ran them through, but a large part of my job was just assuring them. “You’re going to be okay.”

They were afraid. Adulting was looming large. I am sure their parents, dreaming of moving them off the payroll, had been trying to have The Talk. I learned with my own grands, don’t ask what they plan to do after college. There could be tears.  Many of these reluctant grads were under the mistaken belief that the job they would get right after graduation would be a life sentence.  I got to tell them that would not be the case for most of them. Big sighs of relief! Gone are the days of forty years and a gold watch. Most people change careers (not jobs) three time during their lives. 

The good news for these college grads is that they have a degree, and no one can take that away from them. I remember thinking that at my own graduation, although I occasionally still have nightmares about getting a notice from TU that a mistake was made, and I need to come back and take more classes. 

To all you grads, I want to say well done! Congratulations to you and your parents. You now have a ticket to live out your dreams. Take a few days off and celebrate. And please, don’t ever stop learning.

Celebrating Life’s Blessings: A Personal Journey

As we come to the end of April and move into May, I am praising God for an abundance of blessings. May is going to be a busy month, with milestone events and celebrations. We have three graduations, three birthdays, Mother’s Day, and we end the month with a 60th wedding anniversary for Jerry and me! My cup runneth over!

My story is a “But God…” story. There is no reason I should be living this life except for the grace of God. I can look back at my chaotic childhood and see the hand of God in it. He was protecting me from danger and placing strategic people in my path. Often I wonder, “Who prayed?” Some of those strategic people were my high school friends who invited me to their church, and I will be eternally grateful. I was pretty allergic to church at that time, but they continued to invite me. At that church I learned that I, like everyone else, was a sinner and deserved punishment. But God. He provided a payment for my sins when He sent His Son to shed His blood as a sacrifice. Jesus paid my debt. My life began to change. It was headed in one direction, but Jesus turned it around. Thank you, Lord!

Jerry and I were nineteen when we married. Smart. I have often said I wish I was as smart now as I thought I was then. But God. He drew us into a Bible teaching church and surrounded us with good friends. We grew in our faith, and I developed a lasting love for the Bible. There were times when marriage wasn’t easy. I often picture marriage as the anvil God placed me on, to chip away everything that didn’t look like Jesus. And there has been plenty of chipping material! Anyone who is a veteran of an enduring marriage will tell you that you are married to several different people over the years. And marriages have seasons. Over time Jerry and I produced three daughters, nine grandchildren (plus two bonus grands), and four greats! It is always someone’s birthday! 

Since I married so young, I had to drop out of college, But God. After my girls finished school, God gave me a desire and a calling. Now it was my turn to go to school and I finished with my doctorate and have been practicing psychology for twenty-one years. 

Ten years ago, Jerry almost died. He was so sick with necrotizing pancreatitis. He had to have what the doctor called “catastrophic surgery.” No one thought he would make it, except our pastor.  Another one of those strategic people! I prayed and prayed and prayed, until I was finally able to say, “Not my will but Thine,” and mean it. I still didn’t have any assurance that Jerry would survive, but I had peace. Since that time, I have been able to turn over so many things to God, and that is a wonderful, peaceful thing. How stupid am I?! I really have very little control anyway! And God promised me years ago that He had a good future for me.

Jerry began to get well and a few months later we realized that we could not remain dogless. We decided to rescue an older female dog and came home with puppies, a male and a female. Our Max and Ruby turned ten yesterday, and we count them as blessings for sure. They make us laugh every day.

Our upcoming anniversary seems like a culmination of all these life events. The cherry on top. How do I say thank you? These words, and even my prayers, seem so inadequate. I hope you know this Jesus of mine. If you don’t, you can. Simply acknowledge your sins and ask for forgiveness. Thank Him for paying your sin debt, and tell Him that from now on, you want to follow Him.  And then hang on! Your life will change.

So this is my story. It would be more accurate to say, this is God’s story. I am just a tiny piece of it. I thought I invited Jesus into my life, but he actually invited me into His.  How is that even possible? But God.

How Did I Get Here

I never expected to get old. I don’t know why…I just never pictured myself as old. I know it happens to everyone if they are lucky enough to make it to old age. But I didn’t expect it to happen to me, at least not so quickly. After all, I am a Baby Boomer. We are forever young, aren’t we?  And yet, here we are. My high school classmates are slowly falling apart or dying. Even Gidget and Moondoggie are gone. And even though I don’t feel old, the world constantly reminds me in subtle and subtle ways.

It began back in 2020, during the pandemic. The word “elderly” was used frequently. Wait! Are they talking about me?? That hit me with a jolt. Then our sweet neighbors volunteered to go to the grocery store for us because elderly people were told to stay home. That was thoughtful, but we never quit going to the grocery store. Besides, we are not elderly! My great-grandmother was elderly, but I am most certainly not!

However, according to experts, I became elderly some years ago. I hate the word, “elderly” because it sounds so fragile and frail. I’m also not crazy about “old,” “aged,” or “geriatric.” Some people dislike the term, “senior,” but that is one I can tolerate. People try to find nice ways to say old. I notice it, especially in the names of Sunday School small group classes for senior adults. (I just outed myself as old!) I was once in a class called, “Crown Adults.” They might as well call it God’s Waiting Room.

This business of aging has been especially on my mind this month because my husband and I both have birthdays in January. I have already had mine, so for a couple of weeks I am older than he is. And both of us have a really big number looming ahead next year. How in the world did this happen?

Despite everything I have just written, I am actually at peace with my age. It’s interesting how the shift from feeling “forever young” to suddenly seeing the signs of aging can happen so gradually, but still feel like a surprise when it hits. It’s like one day you wake up, and the world is reminding you in ways big and small that time is moving on. I guess I don’t like to be told that I am old. And I’m not crazy about looking old either. But there are some perks that come with being older. I am not opposed to taking advantage of a senior discount. And although it is sometimes annoying, lowered expectations of others can work in my favor. I like being able to sit down and get lost in a book in the middle of the day. Or having my pajamas on before Wheel of Fortune starts. I am not above playing the senior card when it works in my favor. My sister says, “In our declining years we can decline anything we want.” I like that! I am much more content at this point in my life. I don’t have to be on the go or attend every event.  

So what is my purpose at this point? I am still here so God must not be finished with me. I still do some counseling and that is fulfilling to me. I can listen and encourage folks. I can pray. And I can tell others about God’s faithfulness, even into my old age. 

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

Reflections on New Year’s Day: Hope Amidst Tragedy

New Year’s Day!   I awoke early this morning, at about 5:30, thinking “A new year!” I thanked God for allowing me to live to see the dawning of another year. I am having a birthday in a few days, and at my age, another new year is not a given. I stayed down for a few minutes, talking to God and thinking about plans and goals. And then I turned on the television.

Only three hours into 2025, and already humans are killing each other! Why?!

A man drove a truck into a New Year’s Eve crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing and wreaking havoc. People were celebrating the new year. People with plans and goals. Maybe some were getting engaged or celebrating other life events. Many were anticipating the Sugar Bowl later tonight. Officials are using phrases such as “IEDs,” and “terrorist attack.”  Such a tragic way to begin a new year.

I am remembering past Sugar Bowls I have attended. The Ritz Carlton, just a block away from the crime scene.  A New Year’s Eve dinner at Antoine’s, brunch at The Court of Two Sisters, a parade down Canal Street. As I write these words, the French Quarter is virtually shut down and the Sugar bowl is a question mark. 

It has only been one week since we celebrated the birth of the Prince of Peace. My mind goes to the words penned by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
    “For hate is strong,
    And mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.” 

God is not dead. He saw it and He weeps. And miraculously, He is not finished with us. The peace Jesus offers us in this lifetime is peace in the midst of sorrow and tragedy. We will not know perfect peace on this side of Heaven. Until then, we live in a fallen world with broken people. So for 2025, I hold to the promise that He is with me, nothing that happens to me takes him by surprise, and that someday He will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).

Embracing Christmas Spirit Everywhere: A Prayerful Message

If you know me, you know I love Christmas music. So much so that I start playing it at Halloween and don’t get tired of it. My current favorite song is Let It Be Christmas by Alan Jackson. In addition to the hyperlink I am posting the lyrics and invite you to read (or sing!) them. The words are so beautiful! 

Let it be Christmas everywhere
In the hearts of all people
Both near and afar
Christmas everywhere
Feel the love of the season where ever you are
On the small country roads
Lined with green mistletoe
Big city streets where a thousand lights glow

Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing
Let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas, Christmas everywhere

Let it be Christmas everywhere
With the gold and the silver, the green and the red
Christmas everywhere
In the smiles of all children asleep in their beds 
In the eyes of young babies 
Their first fallen snow
The elderly’s memories that never grow old
Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing
Let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas, Christmas everywhere

Let it be Christmas everywhere
In the songs that we sing
And the gifts that we bring
Christmas everywhere
In what this day means 
And what we believe
From the sandy white beaches
Where blue water rolls
Snow covered mountains and valleys below

Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing
Let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas, Christmas everywhere
Christmas everywhere
Christmas everywhere

This morning, I was singing along with Alan as I was getting dressed, but I sang it as a prayer.  I prayed the hope and joy and peace the song speaks of.

Let it be Christmas everywhere.  Let it be Christmas in the hospital where my dear friend is having a scary procedure. Be present in all hospitals and strengthen those who care for the sick. Let it be Christmas in the heart of my friend who will leave his home and enter a nursing home today. Bless all who care for the elderly.

Let it be Christmas on college campuses where my grands and many others are taking final exams and finishing the semester. Let it be Christmas on the highways as they travel home to be with loved ones. Protect all who are traveling during this busy holiday season. Let it be Christmas in homes where families are fractured, marriages on a fault line. Oh please restore love and peace and joy. 

Let it be Christmas for the working mom who tries to do it all. Let’s face it…it is the moms who make Christmas. Help her to remember what we are really celebrating.  Bless the hard-working Dad who is doing his best to provide for his family. Let it be Christmas for schoolteachers. And bless them! Let it be Christmas for the children who think that there is too much time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and for the adults who feel like we lost a week this year! 

Let it be Christmas in busy malls and stores where shoppers exhaust themselves and their bank accounts looking for just the right gift. Let it be Christmas for those who deliver packages and holiday mail, and then the bills that follow in January. Let it be Christmas for those who work in restaurants, serving sometimes grouchy customers.  Let it be Christmas for the men I saw this morning who were digging a ditch by hand in the cold December drizzle, and for those who pick up my garbage. Lord, help me to be aware of others; help me to see them with your eyes.

Let it be Christmas in a middle east that is on fire. For those around the globe who are in war-torn places or who are oppressed or imprisoned. Let them come to know you as Messiah, our only hope.

Let it be Christmas in our YOUR churches. Let the words of the Gospel ring out and fall on listening ears. Let those of us who have been Believers for many years wonder anew at the story of Your birth. The music, the lights, the parties, the food and the decorations are all nice, but help us keep You at the forefront. Let it be Christmas in our hearts.

Embracing God’s Peace Amid Life’s Chaos

Today’s post was written by a guest writer…my 26-year old granddaughter, Hannah Herrold. Her church in Colorado compiled an Advent study written by different writers from all over the country, and one even from Africa. They are all different ages and at different stages in life. Hannah was asked to contribute and to say I am proud would be an understatement. Proud is probably the wrong word. I am awed by what God is doing in her life. I hope she continues to develop here gift for writing, and I hope you will enjoy what she has to say about peace.

Philippians 4:67 –

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Reflection:

We all have moments in our lives when it feels like peace is just out of reach. Whether you’re juggling school, starting a new job, or managing family life, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the demands placed upon us. The pressures of relationships, finances, and daily stress can leave us feeling anxious and exhausted as if we’re caught in a whirlwind with no clear path to calm. In these times, it’s crucial to remember that true peace is not found in the absence of chaos but in the presence of something greater—a quiet trust in God’s unwavering support and guidance.

Philippians 4:6-7 offers a powerful reminder: peace isn’t just about having everything together – it’s a gift from God. Paul encourages us to bring our worries to God in prayer, emphasizing that this act goes beyond merely listing our problems; it’s about establishing a deep, intimate connection with the One who truly understands what we’re going through. In this sacred dialogue, we can exchange our anxieties for His tranquility, allowing His presence to envelop us and fill our hearts with a peace that surpasses all understanding.

When we pray, we shift our focus from our stress to God, who holds everything in His hands. This change in perspective can be life-changing. Our worries may feel heavy, but God’s peace is constant and available, even in the chaos. It protects our hearts and minds, giving us a safe space to breathe.

When peace feels impossible, remember that God is with you, no matter what you’re facing. His peace is not based on the circumstance but rather on His love. As you seek Him, you might find what seems impossible becomes possible. He’s the ultimate source of peace we all need.

Optional Reflection Questions:

1) What specific worries or anxieties are currently occupying your mind? How do they impact your sense of peace?

2) In what ways have you experienced God’s peace in the past? How can you recall these moments to encourage yourself now?

3) How might bringing your concerns to God in prayer change your perspecave on them?

4) Are there specific practices or habits that help you cultivate a sense of peace that you could incorporate into your daily/weekly/monthly routine?

Embracing Gratitude

As the years go by, I become more aware of my many blessings.  That may be why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In my younger years I loved Thanksgiving for family and food. Oh, I was thankful for all the obvious things, but I had not lived long enough to learn how fragile and fleeting “obvious” blessings are. I am watching my friends, fellow Baby Boomers, gradually lose health, spouses, and even children. Jerry and I tell each other every morning, “We got another day!”  After his brush with death a few years ago, we do not take  “another day” for granted. 

As I write these words, we have a granddaughter driving home from college on busy I-40. I have prayed Psalm 91 over her, thankful that God has given his angels charge over her. To have my loved ones under my roof and at my table is more precious than the crown jewels. My grandmother used to say, “I wonder how many more times we have to be all together.” I would fuss at her when she said it, but now I get it. When you are in your twenties time stretches ahead indefinitely.  

The other reason I prefer Thanksgiving is the lack of commercialism, although that is now being tested.  It is not about shopping or giving gifts.  It is not about the making or spending of money, although prices at the grocery store can leave one with sticker shock! Thanksgiving is about gratitude for what I have instead of thinking about what I want or need.  It keeps me God-focused rather than me-focused.  It fosters contentment.  

Psychologists who have studied gratitude have found that gratitude is directly correlated with life satisfaction, peace, and joy.  Individuals who cultivate and express gratitude have fewer health complaints, reduced stress, and are generally less self-absorbed.  Dr. Robert Emmons, the world’s leading expert on gratitude states, “The fabric of gratitude is deeply woven into the human experience.”  He has found that there are two parts to gratitude: acknowledging the goodness in life and recognizing the source of that goodness.

Even if your Thanksgiving Day is not the picture perfect day you imagined, there is always something for which you can give thanks. Gratitude is more than a feeling; it is something you express. It is a discipline. Give it a try, even if you don’t feel like it. I know there are some who are experiencing deep pain this year. A first holiday with an empty chair at the table, fractured families, old hurts. I have spoken with you and I feel your pain. My suggestions: go for a walk and give thanks for legs that move and lungs that breathe fresh air. Notice the colors on the remaining leaves and give thanks for eyes that see. Start a gratitude journal and make five entries. If you can’t think of five, start with one.

I believe God created us with not only the capacity to experience gratitude but also the need to express it.  Our Father knew that his children would reap psychological, physiological, and interpersonal benefits by cultivating a grateful heart.  He does not need our praise; it is we who need to praise Him.  I have noticed something in my own life.  Maybe it is not a scientific fact, but it is something I have observed.  The more I praise Him for His blessings, the more blessings I receive.  Maybe that is not actually the case; maybe I am just aware of more of the blessings I already have.  Either way, it fills my heart with joy.    

I think there is something wonderful that happens with corporate praise when we thank him together with our families, our church families, and our nation.  It binds us together. This year Jerry and I joined the prayer team at our church, I have noticed how we have grown close to the others on the team. Prayer does that. It brings us in touch with the things we have in common and directs our attention away from the things that divide us.  That is why we need a National Day of Thanksgiving.  When we gather  on Thanksgiving Day, let us thank God for our blessings and acknowledge that He is the Source of everything good in our lives, in our families, and our country.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget none of His benefits.

Who pardons all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases.

Who redeems your life from the pit,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.

Who satisfies your years with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.  Psalm 103:1-5 (NASB).    

Embracing Ordinary Days: A Journey of Gratitude

If you have ever gone through a period of time when your life was in chaos, when nothing seemed to be right, you will understand what I am about to say: I am thankful for ordinary days. This thought has been rattling around in my brain for a few weeks now and struck me again this morning: I am thankful for ordinary days.

I was out walking my dogs on this beautiful October morning when the thought struck me again. We are blessed to live in a relatively quiet, relatively ordinary neighborhood, with a walking trail around a small pond. This morning, those who had to be at work or school had already left. The only people out were other dog walkers and fitness walkers. It was quiet and peaceful. There were no air raid sirens warning me of incoming rockets. I didn’t have to pick my way through the rubble of bombed out buildings. I didn’t have to slosh through streams of mud trying to find the remains of my house, my life. I thought of my sister Tammy and her husband Frank who are driving north through Florida evacuation traffic, trying to get their newly purchased RV out of the path of the next hurricane. Yes, ordinary is good.

It’s not that my life is boring. We just got back from a few days in Colorado to visit our granddaughter. We got to enjoy the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, trying to absorb the breathtaking show the Aspens are presenting. “Oh, look at that one! Look over there! So beautiful!” Such beautiful golds and yellows against the backdrop of evergreens. Even the fallen leaves looked like piles of gold coins. 

I came home to piles of laundry and I am grateful. Grateful for an abundance of clothes, for clean, running water and electricity. Ordinary…until you don’t have them. As I consider these ordinary blessings, I consider my counterparts, here in America and around the world, women who would gladly trade problems. I pray for them, that God will meet their needs, physical and spiritual. And I again thank Jesus for this beautiful ordinary day.