Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving to God – I wrote this devotion last year and in 2013 and it still holds true….Please read these reflections on why we all have so many reasons to be thankful and sing your own song of Praise to the God of Creation for all He has given us!!!

Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow! Praise Him all creatures here below!! Praise
Him above ye Heavenly Hosts! Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!!! AMEN!!!

Find your favorite song of Praise and Thanksgiving and SING it!!! Sing it in the shower, sing it as you are cooking, sing it as you are cleaning for all the guests, sing it as you prepare your heart for ALL God has to offer you this holiday!!!

Remember these Songs and Old Hymns???
Give Thanks
Come Ye Thankful People Come
We Gather Together

The Lyrics to the first of these songs are as follows:
"Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks unto the Holy One, Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. (Repeat the refrain)
And now, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich because of what The Lord has done for us. Give thanks....give thanks....give thanks!!!"

Thanksgiving....an act of giving thanks or expressing gratitude especially to God - wow!
The United States of America celebrates and gives thanks to God for this special day this week on Thursday – it is a U.S. national holiday set apart to give God thanks!!!
YES, let's do that!!!

As I opened my Bible this morning that my beloved grandfather, "Gramps" gave me in 1962, I was blessed to find this verse and thoughts:
Psalm 138:1
"I will give thanks to you, O Lord with all my heart..." The latin word for gratitude is gratis or grace.

What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving holiday??? What grace has been extended to you this day, this month, this year? Have you stopped to take note of the many blessings that are in your life? If not, why not do that today or this weekend!!!

We have so much to be grateful for in the United States.....it is truly incredible!!! I know my gratitude list swells each day as I stop, breath and think about all that God has blessed me with - a wonderful family in Ohio, Virginia, California, Tennessee and Texas, a son that brings me more joy than I thought imaginable almost 20 years ago, a job that allows me to serve our elderly with honor and praise, a church that feeds my heart and soul each week, prayer warriors that support and encourage me by praying for me and those people and situations that God places in my life and in our church family, incredible friends that fill my life with laughter and fun, and finally God has sustained and blessed our country from many disasters...........ahhhh..........our God is SO good!!!

I read years ago: "When we express gratitude something wondrous fills us! Gratitude nourishes our souls immediately and the wonder of the moment swells in our hearts." Simple gratitude brings simple happiness...simple gratitude shows us what is utterly amazing in our lives. We have been so blessed, so fortunate, so favored, so richly given abundance....and it is all by the Grace of God alone.
So, let's celebrate! Let's appreciate and acknowledge what we have been given even on the tiniest level......offer a sacrifice of praise to our Heavenly Father this Thanksgiving and KNOW how much you are loved!!!

Finally here is a fun way to say: "Many thanks" in many languages:
English: Many thanks!
French: Merci!
German: Danke Schoen!
Italian: Gramercy!
Spanish: Muchas Gracias!
Archaic: Much obliged!

And, one of the many things I am grateful for are all of you who read this blog….Thank YOU for reading these ramblings and encouraging me to continue to write this blog!!!

Blessings Abound!!!!!!!!
Look up….look around……and look for JOY!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family – Gobble, Gobble!!!

A Grateful Nation has not forgotten....

Today is Veterans Day here in the United States of America.  It is a day of remembering.  A day of celebrating the greatest generation of our time.  Today we honor Veterans of World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War as well as current or modern day Veterans such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.  And, there are many unknown/unnamed wars that take place that are fought by our braves service men and women across the globe.

Today was a special day for me.  I am lucky enough to have my very own personal hero, my brother, Scott.  He has fought in places that I cannot imagine going, but am grateful that he and all of his comrades were brave enough to stand in the gap for me and my family.  And, for every American.  I am awed by his courage and his stamina and at times wonder how he has stood the test of time in battle.

Also, I have a cousin named Steve in Ohio who served in the Vietnam War.  It was a tough war and those Vets came home to a very ungrateful nation.  We did not say thank you at the time, but we do say thank you now.  And, I am proud to say he is my cousin and continue to tell him how thankful I am that he fought for me.  That he fought for our family.  That he fought for our country.  And, I am truly grateful.
 
Today, I had the privilege of honoring many older Veterans today at several nursing homes and Assisted Living communities for my new job in Hospice.  We gave presentations to honor each one of those heroes that have gone before us and those who still stand with us in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and even as old as 100 years.  As I looked around the room at our older Veterans, I had to stop and pause to realize what a privilege it was to be in the room with these men and women.  They each stood tall and proud and were glad that they served our country.  They fought for our freedom.  They fought for you and me.  Wow....It was quite a day!!!

Our Chaplain and Hospice team read several meaningful articles and poems about Veterans and the history of Veterans Day was explained quite well in this piece called:  Veterans Day by Marion F. Sturkey.  It is an excerpt from Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines, copyright 2001.

"After four years of carnage in Europe when the giant cannon finally fell silent.  At 11:00 a.m. on 11 November 1918 (which is the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month) the Allies and Germany signed an armistice.  The Great War, The World War, The War to End War mercifully ended.  The whole world rejoiced.  Thereafter, the eleventh day of November became Armistice Day in most of the western world.  In Canada, it became known as Remembrance Day.

In the United States, Congress officially recognized Armistice Day in 1926.  Twelve years later, it became a national holiday.  Unfortunately, three decades and two wars later America realized that world order had been equally preserved by veterans of World War II and the Korean War.  So, in 1954 Dwight D. Eisenhower, U.S. President, signed an act which changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

In 1968 (the flower-power generation was hard at work again) Congress changed the day of observance to the fourth Monday in October.  Veterans Day had temporarily become just another long three-day weekend.  The reason for the holiday had been forgotten by many.  Fortunately, the public outcry rose steadily over the next ten years.  Finally bowing to public pressure, Congress reversed itself in 1978.  The eleventh day of November again became the day on which Americans observe Veterans Day.

By law, Veterans Day is set aside to honor our nation's military veterans both living and dead, who serve in time of war.  The focal point for national observance is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.  At 11:00 a.m. on 11 November, a color guard that includes all military services executes "Present Arms."  The President of the United  States lays a wreath upon the tomb, steps back, and salutes.  A bugler plays Taps.  A grateful nation has not forgotten."

I pray that each of us will not forget.  I pray that we will remember and honor those who have gone before us and those who are still with us each day.  Freedom is not free.  Let us truly be a nation that will not forget those sacrifices.

Touching the Hand of God....

For my job, I have had the privilege of going to several nursing homes in my new territory and offering hand massages as a group activity for residents.  My purpose in hosting these activities is to get to know the facility, the nursing staff, the residents and to create awareness of our company's products and services for Hospice.  And, while many people cringe at the word 'hospice" because it causes one to think of death, it is more than that.  Hospice was created to help the individual and their families to help manage painful symptoms, help to regulate necessary medicines, allow the person and their family to get used to the idea that they may be in the last six months of their life and so on.  Hospice also offers support for the resident and their family.  Plus, if hospice is done properly, it can provide a new way to look at the transition from this life to the next.

As I have gotten to know some of these amazing people, I have found that there are hundreds and thousands of life stories that need to be told.  What has been amazing is that each opportunity that I have had the privilege of holding onto one of these "seasoned" person's hands, I have marveled at what those hands have done for 60-70-80 or 90 years.....cooking, cleaning, farming, bookkeeping, hard working mechanics, taking care of children, chopping vegetables or wood, and hobbies galore!

So, while massaging their hands with fragrant (or unscented) lotion, we talk about their lives:  Flight surgeons, factory workers, farmers, moms/dads, brothers/sisters, years developing a business, and years raising children to teach them about life on a daily basis and the like.  I ask them questions about what they have done, how many kids they had (or have) and what their family life was like, etc.  In some ways, I wish I could record what they tell me so that we can have the family members hear what they are sharing with me as they tell their stories.

In any case, I am finding that it is quite an honor and a privilege to be part of this season of life for these residents.  And as you can imagine, some of them are quite alert and only needing a little bit of help here and there while others are totally dependent on the staff and/or their family when they visit.  As I spend a few precious moments rubbing and massaging their hands, and offering them a little relaxation,
I notice some of the hands are frail, small and fragile.  Other hands are rough, large and/or strong.  It is mind boggling to think about all that those hands have done over a lifetime.  And, there are moments when I feel that it is as if I have been touching the Hands of God.  What an awesome privilege!!!

Withholding forgiveness...

Have you ever thought of what it means to withhold something?  It means to hold back or restrain from, or to not grant something to another person.

Here are a few examples:
As a parent, you may have come across a time or situation that to grant your child's request may put them in danger.  Or, perhaps to grant the wish, you take the chance of your son or daughter not learning a very important lesson.

Second, consider a work-related example.  An employee of yours requests time off when they have not accrued enough time to take a 2 week vacation yet.  Do you grant their request or deny it?  What are the circumstances surrounding the request?  Will it affect your business in a negative way?  Can you spare the "help" at this time?  Is it for a family emergency or for a vacation that was planned long before they took the job at your business?  Regardless, there are many factors that may have to enter into the decision to grant the request or not to grant it.

Now let's consider relationships.  Someone you love.  Someone who means a lot to you.  A dear friend, a spouse, a sister/brother, or a significant "other" that has been in your life for quite some time.  You have a disagreement, an argument, or a rift of some sort.  Heated words are exchanged or painful accusations are brought up.  Unwanted reactions happen all too quickly and you part ways in haste or in anger.  What happens next?  Who said what to whom?  Who should apologize - you or the other person???  How do you resolve the conflict?

Some people would say the person who offended the other person should apologize first.  Well, who decides who is offended most?  Can each party let the anger dissipate and come to the table to discuss the disagreement after the dust has settled?  Well, it depends.  Many factors can cause disagreements and many factors can cause a relationship end or to be altered.  Sometimes the outcome is positive and other times it is not.  It may depend on the maturity of the persons involved or the length of the relationship.  It may depend on the severity of the offense.

Let's add one more piece to the puzzle.  Forgiveness.  When does someone offer forgiveness or withhold it?

Can you let the sun go down on your anger or do you try to resolve the issue before it goes beyond the point of no return?  Can you offer to take the high road and offer forgiveness first?  Or, does your pride get in the way and you stop short because you have been hurt too much.  Forgiveness is an important factor in all relationships.  And, it takes a willingness to offer and/or receive forgiveness.  Especially when the hurt run deep!

Now, let me ask you this:  Have you ever withheld forgiveness to someone because you were hurt or angry?  Was the situation so dire that you just could not bring yourself to let something go or could not or would not accept another person's apology?  It is a hefty question.  And, what if the person who offended you or said those horrible words to you, reacted negatively, or behaved badly wrote you a note of apology or called to say they were sorry?  Could you speak to them again?  Would you consider bridging the gap?

The Scriptures say that if you have an offense with anyone, go and resolve that issue before coming to the communion table.
Matthew 5:23 says:  "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (sister/friend/husband/wife) has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

First, GO and be reconciled.  Yes, that mean YOU!  Take the first step.  Offer to resolve the conflict.  Say you are sorry.  Give them a chance to say they are sorry as well.  Let them know that you want to resolve the issue and find some common ground - even if you have to agree to disagree.  Even if you choose to not restore the relationship, mend the fence.  Do not let the sun go down on your anger.  Don't let pride get the best of you and hold onto a grudge for days, weeks or even years.  It truly only hurts you, not necessarily the other person.

Pray about it.  Choose to forgive.  Then, allow the process of the offense being forgiven to begin.

Let the other person know you forgive them!  Don't withhold it.  Don't torture them for months by not talking to them.  Let them know you have asked God for forgiveness for your part in the disagreement and you choose to forgive them and forgive yourself as well.  Forgiving someone and NOT letting them know is just as bad as not forgiving them and holding a grudge.  It simply is not what the Lord wants us to do.

Think about it from the standpoint of why Christ offered His life for us.  He came to save us from all the things we have done wrong.  Not just some things, not part, not most, but all.  Forgiveness is the pinnacle of Christianity.  He came to forgive us, to save us, to redeem us.  He asks us to do the same.  That is why He came to earth.  Why He was crucified.  Why He was buried.  Why He is resurrected and sits at the right hand of the Father!!!  Forgiveness.  Offered once and for all for every one of us.

Christ never withholds forgiveness if we ask Him to forgive us.  Never.  He doesn't wait 5 minutes or 5 months to let us know we are forgiven either.  His forgiveness is instant!  Complete! Assured. If we ask.
I John 1:9 says:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Tenth Avenue North  has a song called "Losing."  Here is the bridge where one of the best messages of forgiveness is explained:

"Why do we think that hate's gonna change their heart
We're up in arms over wars that don't need to be fought
Pride won't let us lay weapons on the ground
We build our bridges up just to burn them down
We think pain's owed apologies and that it'll stop
Truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not
Freedom comes when we surrender to the sound
of Mercy and Your Grace, Father, send your angels down."

A friend of mine once told me that forgiveness is something for each of us to give whether or not the person that it is offered to accepts it.  Sometimes it is very difficult to offer forgiveness.  But, go ahead.  Go the extra mile and offer forgiveness first.  Don't withhold it.  Don't wait to let the person know you want forgive them either.  Choose to surrender your right to be right.  Choose to forgive.  It goes a long, long way to healing your own soul.

Trials, tribulations and tests in this life....

Trials, tribulations and tests in this life - How do you respond when you are being tested or going through a trial?  Do you rebel?  Resist?  Become obstinate and/or stubborn?  Do you withdraw or isolate yourself and try to "fix it" yourself?  Or, do you have the grace to allow yourself to learn from the trial, the suffering, or the test?

What does "going through a trial" really mean?  Yes, in a court of law it means attending the court dates to resolve an issue or lawsuit.  But what about the type of trial we endure on a personal basis?  Can being subjected to a hardship or going through a lengthy period of suffering be considered a "trial" in today's world?  By the dictionary definition, a trial can be a process, a hardship, suffering, an annoyance, or a time of testing.  Sometimes, that testing seems to linger or remain in our lives for a extended period of time - usually longer than we would choose to have if it was up to us to decide the length of time!  And, these times are usually not our favorite times or seasons in our lives.

Many times, how we react is usually based on years of experience in a certain family style or environment as we grow and learn from those around us.  The older I get, the more I realize I have a choice of how I react or respond in a given situation.  We can all learn how to "respond" rather than "react" if we choose to do so.  I grew up in a very emotionally charged home - good and bad emotions flowed freely!  We loved each other deeply, laughed, giggled, enjoyed wonderful family times yet fought like cats and dogs some days - we grew up showing our emotions and that was normal in our family.  Other families rarely show emotions or do not show emotions at all.  Mixing two families that are polar-opposite can be a real "test" in a marriage or a relationship.  Take a peek at your own personal or family history and compare it with another person you love or are acquainted with - is there a difference in how you respond or react to other people you know?  If so, how?  Notice those differences and ask yourself this question:

What if we used this knowledge to learn more about ourselves?  And, what if we applied that knowledge to those times of "testing" in our lives - would we choose differently based on new information?  Could we choose differently?  Absolutely!!!  Choosing to respond in love and/or kindness instead of reacting with anger/hurt is always a choice we can make!  Going through a trial or period of testing can also allow us to change how we respond versus react.  We can learn to intentionally respond in a positive fashion.  We can choose to learn from our mistakes.  We can benefit from some of the most tragic experiences.  If we choose to do so....

Believe it or not, there is an advantage to going through a painful process.  God can use challenges, tragedies, diseases and many other difficulties to strengthen and purify us.  Have you ever looked back on a difficult time in your life and said:  "It was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish."  Or, "I learned so much through that trial."  Many gifts can come from what we think are disasters or tragedies in our lives:  strength, endurance, patience,  awareness, deeper faith, wisdom, knowledge, and/or stronger convictions.  Some of the most painful times or situations we endure, can help us become a better person.  Or perhaps, the lesson presents itself so that we become aware of something we need to change.  We may very well be called to learn something new from an extremely difficult challenge.  We can grow and change in ways we never dreamed possible if we can open ourselves up to the lesson(s) that God is trying to teach us or how He is trying to get our attention.

This life offers challenges that are beyond comprehension sometimes.  Why not look up and see what God is trying to teach you through it all?

James 1:2 says:  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Pure joy in trials?  Are you crazy?  I used to think so.  Now, I realize how much God has changed my  mind, my life, and my heart through some of the worst times in my life.  It was for my benefit that He used various times of testing to purify me, change me, mold me and make me truly His.  And, for that, I am truly grateful.  How about you???

The Peace of Reconcilliation

Living Faith is one of my favorite devotional books that I read each day and the message from August 12th is amazing!!!  Read on and see what I mean:

Matthew 18:15
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone."

"Often when someone hurts us, we react in the moment with indignation and pride.  It can happen so quickly, we don't consider whether we have been complicit in the conflict.

Christ is the King of Peace.  Peace is not winning an argument.  It's not inducing shame or ganging up on people who have strayed to make them feel stupid.  Peace is humility, gentleness and a disposition of mercy towards those who have lost their way.

In the rare case that someone has sinned against us without provocation, we need to acknowledge that we have human dignity, that there are certain behaviors that are unacceptable and should not be inflicted on any child of God, including ourselves.

When we confront the person, it is not to re-create them in our own image or to demand their perfect contrition, but to offer an opportunity for reconciliation, just as the King of Peace has reconciled us to him, in spite of our unworthiness."  (Written by Elizabeth Duffy)
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Think about someone or something that has hurt you deeply recently....was indignation your first reaction or did pride step in and take over???  Were you even able to stop and look at the situation from a different perspective?  Namely, the other person's perspective???  And, did you realize you had a part in the chasm as well?  That's right!  It takes two to tango.  Consciously or unconsciously we all contribute to a situation which goes the opposite of what we are expecting or wanting to happen.  And, many time we are not communicating in a way that the other person realizes we are hurt or that we hurt someone else.  It is amazing to me how often this happens between us humans!!!

As believers in Christ, we are called to be Ambassadors for Christ and offer forgiveness not just once, but seventy by seven times.  That's right 490 times to one person even if they do the same offense over and over and over again....seventy by seven times!!!  That is a lot of forgiveness that needs to go around this world.  It sounds extremely difficult and very large-hearted, doesn't it???  It sounds impossible to many as well....But, when Jesus' answer in Matthew 18:21 to the question:  "How often must I forgive him?  As many as seven times?"  Jesus' answer was clear - YES, and then some!!!  At the heart of his reply is an understanding that there is NO end to God's forgiveness.  None!  There is no counting, no calculating, no limits, no score-keeping of our faults or wrongdoings.  None.  We are to forgive others no matter what - no matter what the offense.  Our court system would certainly be a little less harried, wouldn't you say???  Can you imagine if we who call ourselves Christians would actually follow through and do what we are asked to do:  Forgive others as we have been forgiven.  God in His mercy permanently puts away the calculator and the scoreboard - can we???

Forgiveness and reconciliation....wow!  What an awesome gift to offer the next time you get hurt or accidentally hurt someone else.  When was the last time you forgave a hurt that broke your heart?  Or, are you still nursing that grudge, resentment, anger and/or bitterness.  Forgiveness is a gift we give ourselves.  And, it is the best one we can offer!!!  Peace be with you......

Not So Invisible Moms....

Not so invisible….

I’m the Invisible Mom

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I’m on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I’m thinking, “Can’t you see I’m on the phone?”  Obviously not; no one can see if I’m on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.  I’m invisible.  The Invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more;

Can you fix this?  Can you tie this?  Can you open this?

 

Some days I’m not a pair of hands; I’m not even a human being.  I’m a clock to ask, “What time is it?”  I’m a satellite guide to answer, “What number is the Disney Channel?”  I’m a car to order, “Right around 5:30, please.”

 

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude – but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.  She’s going, she’s going, she’s gone!

 

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England.  Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.  I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.  It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress;  it was the only thing I could find that was clean.  My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.  I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, “I bought you this.”  It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.  I wasn’t exactly sure why she’d given it to me until I read her inscription:  “To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.”

 

In the days again I would read – no, devour – the book.  And, I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals – we have no record of their names.  These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.  They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

 

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, but he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam.  He was puzzled and asked the man, “Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into the beam that will be covered by the roof?  No one will ever see it.”  And, the workman replied, “Because God sees.”

 

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, “I see you, Charlotte.  I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.  No act of kindness you’ve done, no sequin you’ve sewn on, no cupcake you’ve baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.  You are building a great cathedral, but you can’t see right now what it will become.”

 

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.  But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.  It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness.  It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.  I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.  As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.  The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime, because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

 

When I really think about it, I don’t want my son to tell the friend he’s bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, “My mom gets up at 4 a.m. in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.”  That would mean I’d built a shrine or a monument to myself.

 

I just want him to want to come home.  And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, “You’re gonna love it there.”

 

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals.  We cannot be seen if we’re doing it right.  And, one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

 

GREAT JOB, MOM!!!

Share this will all the Invisible Moms you know….I just did!

(Author Invisible)