Hello fellow sojourners! Aren't we all on life's journey? I would like to share my journey with all of you. Quick facts about me; I am a mother of five, a retired Registered Nurse, an optimist, lover of all mankind and animals. I find my own inspiration in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am a non-denominational born-again Christian with a passion for encouraging and inspiring others in their very own personal journeys. Thank you for allowing me this tremendous honor in sharing my life with you!
Shadows…..let me take you back to elementary school for a moment.
The teacher had just finished the movie projector presentation and the only image left on the movie screen was the bright light of the projector bulb. Quickly, all the students closest to the aisle of the projector started using their hands to display their shadow puppetry. Some of the images projected were amazing and complex. Personally, I was always in awe of my classmates creativity. Birds, rabbits, deer and many other images were too soon interrupted by the classroom lights being turned on and the projector turned off. These shadows were meant to entertain and amaze us, but what about the night time shadows? These shadows produce fear, apprehension and anxiety in us.
How many times have you been afraid of shadows? Both, adults and children have experienced fear when confronted with shadows. As a child, I remember waking during the night and seeing a shadow in my bedroom that made me immediately stop moving and hold my breath because I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. Once the shadow didn’t move, I let out a sigh of relief. My fears were abated. What is it about shadows that can elicit such an array of emotions? We feel amazement, happiness, fear and anxiety depending on the context of the shadows.
In the Bible, one of the best known verses about shadows comes from Psalm 23:4. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.’ A shadow can only be produced by an object coming between rays of light and a surface. Without a source of light there are no shadows. A shadow can also refer to a ‘feeling’ of uncertainty, sadness, gloom, or ominous oppressiveness. Regardless of the context in which a shadow is referred to, one thing is certain…..light will extinguish all shadows!
John 8:12 states, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ” I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is the light that will dispel fear, anxiety and darkness. All the shadows, both physically and spiritually are tamed by Jesus Christ. The Psalmist made sure to reference that by saying that even in the shadow of death I will fear no evil. You, Lord, are with me. How reassuring that is to know that all our questioning and anxieties can be alleviated because of the light of Christ. When we are in situations that cause us to feel apprehensive….marriages, illnesses, careers, finances and family dynamics, we only need to concentrate on the ‘light’ of Christ to dispel the darkness we face.
Even on sunny days we see shadows! Those are the shadows we do not fear because the sunlight makes them visible. Much like the hand shadow puppets we made to elicit joy, the light from the ‘Son’ can provide us the same assurances. Through the daylight and the darkest nights, God’s Son, Jesus Christ will give guidance to navigate our pathways. Don’t let the shadows scare you, because even through them…..we have the light of Christ available to us every moment of every day!
My excited Kindergartener ran into the house after school to share with me all he had learned that day about U.S. currencies! Zachary ran to my coin dish and carefully sifted through everything and methodically placed them in order of value. He talked about what they each were and told me their ‘value’. I was reminded by Zach that a penny was equal to 1 cent , a nickel was equal to 5 cents, etc…… Zachary then paused thoughtfully and said, “The teacher told us that there were larger coins but she didn’t have them with her. I think they are a half dollar and a dollar.” I told Zachary that by chance at the grocery store today the cashier gave me a half dollar if he wanted to get it out of my purse he can look at it! He raced into the bedroom to look in my purse for the money. After being gone for a time, I called to him, “Zach, did you find it?” He promptly returned to the kitchen table to show me what he ‘found’! Yes, you guessed it….. a torn dollar bill which he said was a half of a dollar! I chuckled and told him he was indeed correct about that, but I questioned him and asked him where in my purse he found that? He said, “Mom, it was in your wallet but I only needed a half of it, not the whole thing!”
I could have taped the pieces back together again, but to me there was more value in the half than in the whole. I carried that ‘half dollar’ in my wallet for years! It reminded me that value isn’t always found in the perfect completeness of the object you possessed but instead by how you view the object. I am sure appraisers would argue with that logic as their job is to place an accepted value on items without taking into consideration sentimental value of the object. That torn dollar meant more to me than the ‘appraised’ value, which had decreased since it was torn in half.
We have a God that values us based on His love and sentimentality towards us. He doesn’t value us as the world does or doesn’t. He sees beyond those barriers and façades. Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) says; ‘The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Often times God’s value of each of us is far greater than the value we place on ourselves or by that of society . We are always our biggest critics. God loves us always and completely….can you say that about yourself consistently? Chances are, “No”.
A verse comes to mind from Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV) that tells us, ‘For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love he predestined us to adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-‘. Wow, did you catch that? God thought of us and planned for us before the world was created by Him! Before there was an earth, solar system or anything else….You were thought about and planned by the Creator of the Universe! That is pretty amazing! God values you more than anything he has created. God planned your beginning and holds you through all of your days.
What does God require for this extravagant love? You are saying, “Yeah, I knew there must be a catch to this.” Well, you are right…..In return for this unending love from God, he simply wants us to to love Him in return and live accordingly. His greatest commandment is that we love others as He has loved us. God’s propitiation for sin was sacrifice. If you are familiar with the Bible’s old testament you read about the many animal sacrifices made on behalf for man’s failings and sinful nature. God, at the appointed time sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sins. God allowed His own son to be sacrificed on our behalf so we are no longer under the laws of sacrifice. John 3:16 (NIV) ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ Our requirement is simple, to believe that Jesus Christ was crucified in our place, believe that he was buried and rose to life again. We only need to believe and receive Him into our hearts and love God above all else. That’s a pretty easy transaction on our part. Jesus took our sins and in return God gives us eternal life by simply accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
So, how does this relate to my son and the torn dollar bill? The dollar bill yet torn and sullied was treasured by me because of the sentiments that went behind the action. God looks upon our short comings, failings, imperfections and sins and still LOVES us. I think we would each find it impossible to sacrifice our own children for the failings of others, but that is exactly what God did. Your value is without measure to Him.
By the way, ‘Yes’….. I still have the half of a dollar in my possession even after 16 years! It also is valued more sentimentally by me than any appraiser could place a value on it!
Monday morning was greeted by a phone call from my brother telling me that the nursing home where my mother resides had news of her physical condition. The immediate news from the staff was “Your Mom tested positive for COVID. Currently she appears to be asymptomatic however we will notify you of any changes in her condition”. As I took in the news, I was found feeling both anxiety and relief. Anxiety due to the very words… COVID positive. Relief in knowing Mom appeared asymptomatic. Phew! Dodged a bullet so to speak, so far.
My Mom suffers from Lewy Body Dementia. The conditions at home did not permit her to stay in her own home due to many reasons. We tried our hardest to take on this deteriorating condition, however her safety was the greatest concern. At the beginning of her disease process she was verbal, ambulating, recognized people and could care for most of her immediate needs. Her confusion was exhibited in hallucinations, wandering, and paranoia. Dementia is extremely hard on the person with the disease, but equally as difficult for those who are caregivers. Dementia happens in stages. The person begins to notice that ‘things’ aren’t correct within their own minds. They grapple with reality as it is, and their perceived ‘reality’. Frustration ensues, anger, and of course confusion is noted on their part. Those who suffer realize that something just isn’t right and become unable to decipher their own thoughts.
I consider myself fortunate that my 36 year career in nursing was met with many patients who suffered from dementia. It is a slow, insidious disease. Changes in mental functioning, ambulation, fine motor tasks, speech and many other physical deteriorations are noted. Many assume that a patient with dementia suffers only in waking hours of the day. Not so, as caregivers know all too well. The term used for dementia patients with exacerbations during the ‘night time’ hours is called Sundowner’s Syndrome. Not the most original name for this condition, but accurate for what the dementia person goes through. Sundowner’s is a state of being where the symptoms of confusion and reality collide 10x worse than what is exhibited in the ‘daytime’ hours. Caregivers are acutely aware of this as they are the ones trying to help the patient, whether at home or hospitalized. Working the overnight shifts at the hospital brought me face to face with these all too real challenges. Dementia is a 24 hour a day disease.
My Mom was found in her neighborhood wandering in her pajamas trying to find her home and her husband. Fortunately, my Dad notified the neighbors of her beginning dementia and they would call him and let him know they had found her wandering outside and brought her home and were sitting with her until he could arrive. Her dementia was sporadic at that time. Some days she was coherent and on top her game mentally. Other days she was lost inside her own mind. As the disease progressed it became impossible to keep her at home. Over the course of time my Dad became suddenly ill and succumbed to his newly diagnosed cancer. His passing created a ‘care’ void that my brother and myself were unable to fill. Thus the nursing home was the best solution.
For the past 2-3 years Mom’s dementia has progressed to lethargy, complete absence of recollection as to ‘who’ we are or even knowing our names. Difficult, yes. To experience your loved one’s progression tears at your heart. The person, the very essence of ‘who’ they are is slowly being edged out by this crippling disease. When grappling with the realization that things are not going to ever be the same…..you process their ‘death’. It sounds harsh, Yes, but with dementia the caregiver’s and loved ones suffer with two deaths. The death of the person’s mentality with all it’s memories, thoughts and love. Then of course when they pass, it is their physical death. This process begs the question, “Is a person defined by their physical presence or their mental, emotional and intellectual abilities?”
The reason for this question is the next phone call received from the nursing home regarding Mom. We were asked what ‘heroic’ efforts we wished be performed in the event of her passing. Quickly her condition with COVID has gone from good to worse. Restrictions are in place regarding visitation. I have been unable to visit Mom for 9 months due to the pandemic situation. Understandable, yet still frustrating. I believe more so for my brother and I, than for her. She has no concept of her surroundings. Still, the thought of her passing away alone in a room without being able to hold her hand and comfort her is gut wrenching. Even through my own physical absence from her side, I know Jesus is there.
“Colleen”, you ask….”How can you be sure?” Romans 8:38-39 states, ” For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height, nor depth, nor ANYTHING else in ALL creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. I accept that promise and believe it to be true. Even dementia cannot separate us from the God who loves us! When I was able to visit my Mom, pre-COVID, my visits would always end with a kiss on the cheek and I would say, “Mom, I love you. You are an amazing mother! Jesus loves you….never forget that!” Although my name was lost to time, miraculously, she knew the name that is higher than any others. Mom repeated back to me softly ….”Jesus”. Although her mind is ravaged by this disease…..she still knows Jesus.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep (death), but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory” ~ 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
So, the answer to the question I asked before is, “Yes, even if the physical shell of a body remains without the memories, emotions and intellect….there is life.” Saying that however, our family decided that only comfort care would be our choice for Mom. No heroics. No keeping her physically present in the here and now should the time come for that decision. Our memories defined who she was. The ‘used to be’s’ of yesterdays long gone. Our Mom, the woman she was are far from these present circumstances. We have decided that whatever transpires we would let her go peacefully to the side of her husband of 56 years, her son who passed away as a newborn, her parents and all those she loved in this lifetime that have gone on before her……and above all….to the side of Jesus!
My prayers are for all those suffering illness, both physical and mental; find comfort in the loving hands of Christ. May the caregivers find strength in the knowledge they are appreciated, supported and not alone in their struggles. Amen~ my brother
At this time of the year we all see the many invitations for Santa Claus to pay homes a visit. Children and adults alike are giddy with anticipation of this once a year event! How wonderful it is to look forward to Santa’s arrival. Letters have been written to Santa by children young and old alike detailing all the gifts they are wishing for. Now, you and I know the truth about who ‘Santa’ is….he is truly a benevolent character guaranteeing gifts to those who are deserving, based on their behaviours during the year. Wow, gifts for being good?! I pause to reflect on my own actions this past year? Have I been ‘good’? Ultimately, I guess that depends on who you ask! We all are aware of what gifts those who haven’t behaved will receive….yes, coal! So for a time, most parents can expect their children to be on their best behaviour, at least for the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This prelude to the big event, Christmas Day got me wondering about the anticipated arrival of someone 2000 years ago. Yes, Jesus. His arrival was foretold many, many years before his actual birth in Bethlehem. The old testament outlines his arrival in many passages. People looked forward to with eager anticipation the birth of the Son of God! In John 1:14 it says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Anticipation was palpable in those who were looking forward to Christ’s arrival, much like the anticipation children have for Santa’s arrival.
Jesus versus Santa? Hmmm….. the biggest difference is the gifts they bring for everyone. Santa only brings gifts to those who have been ‘good’. Jesus brings the gift of eternal life to all! That’s right! Christ gives us the gift of eternity and it isn’t dependent upon our behaviour! Mankind was born into a sinful state. So, regardless of our ‘good’ or ‘bad’ behaviour we can’t enter God’s kingdom without Christ’s birth, crucifixion, death and resurrection. John 3:16 says, ” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Did you catch that? WHOEVER! God knows us and our behaviours better than anyone else and he still is willing to give us this awesome gift!
Revelation 3:20 tells us that Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Christ will come to our ‘house’ even if we have been ‘bad’. Romans 8:1 states, ” Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What a gift! A glorious gift that no material acquisition or possession can match. Eternal life!
So, perhaps we should put a sign on the door to our own hearts that says, “Jesus Stop Here”! I look forward to the gift Jesus provides more than any gift that ‘Santa’ can ever bring. I am not ‘good’ or ‘perfect’…..but I take heart in the promises that I am forgiven and have accepted the gift that Jesus has offered.
Won’t you join me in placing ‘Jesus Stop Here’ on the door to your heart?
How many times during your ‘perfect’ picture taking events have you had a surprise photo bomber in the background? Well, in my family there are more of those ‘perfect’ pictures than there are of, well let’s call them ‘normal’ pictures! Behind the scenes of my pictures a lot of cropping of the image has been done. Thank goodness for the editing button on the image gallery tab!
Our daily journey in life is a lot like those camera moments. How many times during the day have you thought to yourself, ‘I should have handled that moment better’? Personally I would like to ‘crop’ quite a few moments, actions and statements I have uttered. God tells us in Colossians 3:8-9 “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices”.
In 2 Timothy 3:2 we are told “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful and unholy”. I hate to admit that all these faults have been allowed into my life to some degree. Anger?…yes, slander?…yes, foul language?…yes…I think you get the picture without further elaboration. How many times have I wanted to ‘crop’ the image? The answer is a resounding “MANY”!
Thankfully, in Christ we have such an opportunity to ‘crop’ the image of our lives! Wonderful news to hear! 2 Corinthians 3:18 says “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Being ‘in Christ’ we are being constantly cropped so that we become more like our Savior. During those times that the Lord is transforming us into His image it can be unpleasant like all ‘correction’ can be. After all, who really enjoys the discipline that occurs when we make mistakes, no matter how small or large they may be? God’s desire for us is summed up in many verses in the Bible. One such verse is Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. God desires to ‘crop’ out our sinful nature and replace those photo bombed times with purer images. Ones that reflect Him. Thankfully God’s mercy and grace covers a multitude of sins! If we ask for forgiveness and seek repentance from God then He will faithfully see us through ‘cropped’ vision. He no longer sees us we see ourselves. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” We have had our very own image cropped. The next time you need to crop an image on your camera, stop, and think about how God is faithfully cropping your life of all the negative things that have accumulated. Remind yourselves that the ‘photo bombed’ moments in your life are being erased by the perfect photographer! So smile and say, “Cheese!”
Many of you are aware that during my career in nursing I was a third shift worker. Winters meant driving to work in the dark and coming home in the dark hours. One particular night however on my drive into work, my life was changed.
Christmas would soon be upon us yet again. The neighbors had their outdoor Christmas lights hung. A beautiful layer of new fallen snow was on the ground. The radio was playing Christmas music 24/7. For the most part my 25 minute drive into work was uneventful. However I soon found my thoughts and energy would be changed forever!
As I drove down one of the country roads to work, I noticed a farm had decorated their trees and front bushes with Christmas lights. I thought to myself, “How pretty”. A quick glance in my rear view mirror had me mesmerized momentarily. On the side of the home I had been admiring was a full two story cross shaped out of white Christmas lights! Awestruck I was faced with this reminder of what Christmas was really about. I had almost missed it….
The catchy jingles, the lights, the gifts….all came sharply into view. Why did I have to look behind me to see clearly Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection? Why did Christ’s demonstration of love have to be in my rear view mirror? I would have missed this powerful reminder if I didn’t look behind me.
Being raised in a Christian home had taught me that I should always look to Christ for direction, answers to life problems and fellowship with my unchangeable God. Proverbs 4:25 tells us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you”. Nowhere does the bible say to look behind me, peek around the corner, glance casually towards the Lord! The Word tells us to fix our gaze directly before us! Fix our gaze…..Wow, what has my gaze been fixed on in life? As of late, my gaze had been fixed on my life, my problems, my own gains. My focus was on raising my children, making a living financially to support them and what can I buy them for Christmas!? My gaze was all wrong!
As the Christmas season is upon us once again, what is your gaze fixed upon? As the cliche says, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” If that is truly the case, we should be focused on the ‘things’ that Christ is focused on: love, hope, joy, servant-hood, humility, kindness, generosity and empathy. Of course, there are many other aspects that Christ wants our focus on, but the primary one is that we focus on HIM and all other things will be displayed in this one simple act of devotion.
We should always have our gaze fixed on our Lord, not just at Christmas time but everyday! This year especially has been wrought with anxieties, fear and hostilities. Is this a life focused on Christ? The answer is a simple “No”. Have we remembered those who have suffered loss of loved ones, those who are lonely, those who are anxious, those who are questioning their role in life? I want to always be a reminder to others that through their hurting they can find peace, comfort and love in Christ. Not just at Christmas time but throughout daily life. We have the ultimate gift from our loving Father in his son Jesus Christ. No earthly gift can ever compare to the gift of eternity with Jesus. No greater gift can you give to those you love and to those whom you’ve yet to know! He is truly the only gift that is ‘one size fits all’.
My desire and prayer for all of you reading this is that your focus will be fixed on Him. Don’t look behind you to see Christ. Look ahead and your vision will be clear. I hope that this season with family and loved ones will be filled with joy and loving memories of how your gaze was changed and focused on Christ going forward.
“Grandma, I am planting this feather I found so a bird can grow!” excitedly my granddaughter exclaimed. I had the opportunity to have my granddaughter Elynde stay for a bit over the summer this year. On one of our walks she found a feather and brought it home. Although she knew that birds come from eggs she had decided to plant a feather in hopes that a bird would grow from it. Children are always so filled with excitement, awe, innocence and hopefulness. They hope for their birthday’s, Christmas, vacations…..just about everything! They expect and trust that around the corner is something wonderful about to happen. We, as adults should be so fortunate to still possess this hopefulness that childhood provides!
The feather having been planted and left to “grow” yesterday was still awaiting it’s young gardener. Elynde quickly got dressed, ate breakfast and ran outside to see if her feather had grown yet. “Grandma”, she said, “No bird has grown yet”. After thinking about it a bit she said, “Well, maybe it just needs more time!” Elynde was hopeful that something would happen soon.
I thought to myself how many times have I hoped for things in life. I have hoped for a career I would love and never felt as if it was just a job. I have hoped for happiness and joy for my children and my other family members and friends. I have hoped for healing, prosperity, love and the ability to show others Jesus Christ through the way I conduct myself. I have hoped that even without words, my life would point others to Christ.
Hope. What is ‘hope‘? According to the dictionary, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust. Hope, such a wonderful word! Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Wow! The Lord’s thoughts for us are to have a future, peace and a hope.
Jeremiah 17: 7 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.” Who better to put your trust in? Jesus is my hope, my Savior, my Lord. My trust and expectations are in Him and Him alone. The creator of the universe, my redeemer, the way to eternal life. I have been fortunate to have many of my hopes fulfilled. I have also had some hopes not fulfilled the way I thought they should be. However, my Lord fulfilled them the way that He knew they should be handled. Often times those times have been met with blessings beyond my own comprehension and desires. Other times the Lord had a lesson for me to be learned, or a desire from Him to deepen my relationship with Him. Trusting, hoping, expecting, moves us along in life. Where is your ‘hope’ placed?
Some days, situations and even thoughts are filled with nothing but hopelessness. We desire healing for ourselves or others. We wish for peace among all mankind. We want justice, kindness, and a sense of purpose in life. Hope gives us exactly those things we so desire! Placing our trust and hope in Jesus Christ fills that void in our lives. Sounds too easy? Try it and see…… place your expectations, trust and hope in the one who wants to bless you and truly wants more for you in your life than you could ever imagine!
Hope! Expectation! Let’s all join Elynde and ‘grow’ a bird from a feather today!
Thanksgiving, ahhh…you are probably thinking this is another post about being thankful. Well, it is, but for the wrong reasons!
Thanksgiving 2019 was one of my most regretful memories of all time. That’s saying a lot even without going into detail. Pre-COVID, who knew the year ahead would be so different.
I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I either do things 1000% or not at all, being afraid of failure. I was excited to be hosting Thanksgiving for my blended family! Cooking the meal, setting the perfect table, etc.
What happened however was completely different. My adult ‘bonus’ daughter was very eager to assist me in preparing the meal. Thankful, I should have been, but I was becoming frustrated with the assistance she wanted to provide. You see, even before her arrival I was frustrated. I didn’t have matching tableware for 11 people, my cheesecake developed a San Andreas sized fault line down the middle, and on top of that I didn’t have a square plate to put the malformed square cheesecake on. My intentions for making homemade stuffing turned into a boxed product instead. The chairs were all a mishmash of styles! Definitely not a Better Homes & Gardens moment. Ugh…frustration. By the time my daughter arrived I already felt like a failure.
Needing a place to put her purse down, she put it on the counter. Not a problem normally, but I was already feeling horrible and had an outburst about ‘cluttering’ the counter top! Being excited to help she started ‘taking over ‘ as I saw it. Completely irrational I know…, but I perceived it as such.
What memories do I have of that ‘special’ day of thanks? Well, you can clearly see my memories were quite negative!
The Bible talks about a similar event, Luke 10:38-42. As Jesus was traveling through the countryside he came upon a village where two sisters resided. Mary and Martha asked Jesus to dinner at their home. As it so happened Martha loved entertaining! Jesus agreed to come as a guest to their home. While Martha busily prepared the meal, tidied up the home, and made sure everything was perfect….her sister Mary sat with Jesus and listened to him. Conversing and enjoying his presence. Martha became frustrated at her sister’s lack of helpfulness and commented to Jesus about this. Jesus responded to Martha’s concerns by stating “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Call ‘me’ Martha! I was worried about non-essentials and missed the important things! Family, food, love, a home…all the things I should have been thankful for but instead filled that day with frustration, anger and disappointment. I have photos to prove it! Who knew Thanksgiving 2020 would be such a different day in light of COVID.
I am positive that all who gathered last Thanksgiving don’t remember all the failings I felt. The cheesecake despite the crack, was delicious. The silverware? Nobody had to eat with their hands. The chairs? Everybody had a place to sit. The tableware? Everyone had something to place their food on even if it wasn’t all alike.
This Thanksgiving 2020, let’s all be ‘Mary’ and truly give thanks for the things that matter! Love, family, and all the blessings we have in this moment! You never know what will happen in the next few minutes, hours, days, weeks and yes, even years! Stay safe and healthy! May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 💕
Encouragement for the Sojourner 