Tea Kettle

I saw a tea kettle hanging from a tree - the top of a wind chime pouring air into the cups dangling below. I first saw it years ago in a Copper Kitchen store and picked it up. There was a good friend who had a birthday coming up that loved tea. She may enjoy this wind chime, I thought to myself. She did like it - and liked me remembering her.
Our friendship was born out of pain. We were neighbors, but when her husband battled cancer followed by my husband's battle, we were drawn really close. It is kind of interesting that fighting similar battles can give you a sweet closeness to another.
God did a remarkable thing in bringing us together. Over the years, He filled many empty places in my heart with His love through her.
As I walked the streets with grandchildren and saw the tea kettle this week, I was reminded of His faithfulness. Even though she has moved, it still remains in the tree, chiming a song of His love given to each of us through friends and neighbors. It is a sweet sound.
I am eternally grateful.

Full Head

Really? Can our heads be so busy with so many thoughts that it is full?
I think so - mine is right now - and has been all day.
It seems that we have a certain number of things we can handle -
and then, the thoughts spin around so much that we get dizzy - and our head feels full.
And, when our heads start to spin, we can do some things without thinking them through.
At least, I can.
You see, in order to not drink in front of her (as she couldn't drink before surgery) I "hid" my green drink in my purse. Now, those cups with lids are supposed to keep the beverage from spilling, right? This thoughtful gesture backfired.
The green drink did not fully close on the top like I thought (or did I?).
I had green on my wallet, notepad, a book and many other things, but guess what it missed - the package of kleenex in the same area.
How did that happen? The kleenex would have "drunk" it up!!
So, I stop - take a deep breath - and there it is - God's love in the form of a laugh.
She asked why my shirt was green on the way home from the hospital.
I remember turning away from her so she wouldn't see me sip the part of the drink that escaped the bottom of my purse, and as I did, it spilled on my clothes. I didn't realize how green they were until she noticed.
I laughed.
I guess the drink missed the kleenex, but found avenues to a lot more.
Well, when our heads are full, I guess we have to look on the bright side.
The surgery turned out well - that is all that matters - even if I come home green.
Enjoy your life when your head gets full - and try not to carry opened beverages with you :)

Because You Loved Me

I was sitting on a blanket while reading Scripture to David's bones today at the cemetery, and I started writing words to a song.
Not the normal place for writing songs, I am pretty sure.
When I came home and looked up my "title", I found out it had already been written and sung! The song is beautiful with pictures from a movie in the background.
"Because You Loved Me"!
Do you know that before David loved me, I don't know if I really loved myself? He taught me that I was valuable and love-able, even with all my foibles.
He taught me so much about love - and these already famous lyrics are dedicated to him from my heart:

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand - I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love - I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

May God give us all the grace to make the world a better place for others because we love them! Much love, Mary

Gifts

He said that when he was a teenager, he remembers being in awe of the discovery and development of dental implants. I thought "if I even heard of a new discovery about anything dental, I would try not to give it any thought". In fact, I try not to allow any of my brain space to be taken up by anything relating to dentistry.
That may make the difference in our gifts.
He is one of the best dentists I have ever had work done by - and that is saying a lot because I have had a lot of dental work over the years. To think that it interested him, as a teenager, was a precursor, from God, I think, that his gifts are in dentistry.
So, where are my gifts?
I remember the first time I took a psychology course. I thought that teacher in high school was brilliant! Just brilliant. I wanted to understand all he knew.
So, I spend time trying to figure out the mind - how and why people do what they do. That is fun for me. Then, there is math. When Mr. Widicus, in sophomore year of high school taught Algebra, my finest hour was finding a solution different than the textbook. I loved putting it on the board and having him say "that will work", even though it was different than his answer. Gifts are fun.
I am grateful when I find someone gifted in something that blesses me. Like dentistry. After sitting in the chair for an hour today, I am exhausted. It is tiring for me to have someone hanging over my mouth, explaining everything, yet needing access to my open mouth with drills, water and, the Lord only knows what else, while I try to breath and pretend I am comfortable. And, to cap it off, on the way out, I had to make another appointment for two weeks away. Just think - in just two more weeks, I get to sit longer than an hour in the chair!
As I thank God for our gifts, I thank Him for yours and mine - all different, yet complimenting, and even necessary, for our work on earth.
May you enjoy your gifts and bless others through them today. :)

Chopped Liver

She watched, rather irritated, as one person after another walked in front of her and onto the plane. She kept watching, not moving a muscle. I ventured over to her, sensing she wasn't enjoying this boarding procedure.
She looked at another couple push right passed her as I approached. I guessed her to be around 75 years old and traveling alone.
"What am I, chopped liver?" she asked me.
"Well, what does your boarding pass say?" I replied.
"What do you mean?" she quipped.
I showed her the number on the right side of her boarding pass.
"This airline "groups" people to board. They have only called groups 1 and 2 and you are in group 4." I gently informed her.
"Oh", she said rather embarrassed. Her frail body calming down.
I waited until group 4 boarded and smiled as I saw her board. She smiled back.
Chopped liver. Isn't it easy to feel like the world is passing us by? Isn't it easy to think no one notices us and we don't matter?
Take the time to notice someone. Whether a smile or a nod - just recognition that they exist and are in your vision is enough sometimes.
Enough to take away a feeling of being chopped liver.
We all matter to Our Loving God - let's matter to each other.

Balance

It started with a suggestion that a gluten-free diet may bless some people. The next day, a friend suggested a "blood type" diet and, on the third day, a candida diet came to my attention. Now, I don't know what symptoms anyone else has - and, half the time, I don't know what my body has that could be "symptoms", but I am always interested in a cure.
Then I heard that if you go on a gluten-free diet and accidentally have gluten, you get sick. And, the blood type diet suggests, for my blood type, that I eat a lot of meat. I don't remember the last time I ate meat (turkey burgers, chicken and fish have been my staples for years). And, as far as a candida diet - well, I think I was supposed to take out all fruits (I am pretty sure it was eliminating sugars). Fruits have been a large staple since I gave up processed sugar as much as possible.
So, I have decided balance is the key. Maybe a little less gluten will help my system (I was told gluten is like "glue" and holds things in your system), maybe adding a little meat once in a while and maybe not having an extreme amount of fruit.
So, I am enjoying a hamburger tonight on wheat bread, but with gluten free cookies and cranberry juice I have watered down.
Do you think my system will appreciate my new diet??
We will see.
Have a blessed evening!

Climbing for fun

He is three years old and had begun to climb a plastic mountain that would give him access to a number of slides (and a lot of fun). As he ascended, his eyes caught the site of another young boy, standing at the top of the mountain, in a still position, with a squirt gun pointing outward.
Trace, slowly continued his climb, keeping his eyes on the young boy, making sure his steps were on solid footing, and waiting for eye contact. Without missing a step in his ascent, and while finally fixated eye-to-eye, Trace spoke directly at the young carrier of the squirt gun.
"Don't even think about it." he stated emphatically.
Two more steps upward and he repeated his words.
"Don't even think about it."
He finished his ascent.
The young man took a step back, lowered the pistol to his side and Trace, giggling, ran for the slide.
Next time I am "climbing" upward and something looks like it may be a deterrent, I plan on learning from a three year old.
I plan on keeping my thoughts on the steps needed for the climb and the fun - and, when necessary, stating the obvious.
Let's not give any person the power to stop us from enjoying life :)
This is the day the Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it!