Steady Steps

Getting ready to go outside and play with a bubble machine, I ran after the one year old to be sure he was safe, scooped him up and returned to his excited sister.
"Grandma! I already made bubbles!"
"Oh my - where?" I asked.
"In the house." she exclaimed.
"Where in the house?" I nervously asked, as I had left her in a room with carpeting and hardwood floors. The carpet could handle it, but bubbles on hardwood??

She ran to show me, as I set her brother down gently on the carpeting.
It was then that it happened. As I wiped up some of the slippery liquid, I could see, out of the corner of my eye, her bare-footed brother step onto another area of the hardwood floor. With feet sliding under his weight, a surprise look took over his face. Immediately, the second foot found a small pool of the slippery liquid. With both feet moving uncontrolled, he kept his balance. A remarkable feat for someone who just began walking a few months ago.
He allowed me to wipe off his feet and steady his walk, as all three of us chuckled about the slippery floor.

It can happen so quickly. We think we are on solid flooring and - yikes! Our feet slip.

So, how did he keep his balance?
How do we?
I remember the look of surprise on his face, but not a look of fear.
Therein lies the difference.

When your feet slip - be surprised, but don't fear. God is watching and ready to make steady your steps.
And, He is cheering you on when you keep your balance :)

Isaiah 41:13
"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you."

Have a blessed day,
Mary

Extending the moment

A friend, Michelle, who knows of a photography artist, presented me with artwork of a small wave splashing on the shore. It reminds me of walking along the ocean. It extends the moment of time when your feet touch the brisk ocean water for the first time in your walk along the sand. The water happily splashes across your toes and gently sprinkles your leg. Taking a photo of a photo is not always advisable, but I had to try to share it. Why? Because I pray you have moments extended that are joyful to you - playful and full of life - like my moments walking the ocean have been. And, I pray that you get to relive some of those moments - whether in a photo or in person - just for the sake of enjoying life. God bless you.

May 1st

Yes, it was a wonderful May 1st. In spite of my focus.
I think I may need a new way of celebrating this day. Four years ago, it was David's last full day and at the end of it, he said "I don't want another day like this." It was a most difficult day for him - and God was good to take him home the next day as his body had failed to support his spirit.
As I remember the anniversary of that day, I choose to focus on how good God was to take him home. And, how happy he is right now. Free from his failed body - enjoying eternity in a new, perfected body. I am so grateful.
Many of us celebrate anniversary's in unique ways and I have thought a lot about how I want to celebrate May 1st in the future.
David always said that if you had problems, take a walk along the ocean and they would be solved. I thought it was due to the "hugeness" of God there - but someone said to me this week that when you walk along the ocean, you actually fill your blood with more oxygen due to inhaling the salt water. The salt in the air you breathe does something good for you and you think more clearly.
Maybe David knew more than I think he knew about a walk along the ocean.
I am thinking of plans for next May 1st - to be walking along the ocean - Lord willing.
May God bless you as you refocus on any anniversary that is difficult for you.
And, may the Lord allow you time to walk along the ocean - sometime - to solve your problems.
God bless you :)

Moving On

We have heard it many times - forgetting the past and moving on - it is even Biblical. I believe the verse is Philippians 3:13 "forgetting the past but looking forward to what lies ahead".
I am not sure, but, for me, the past I want to forget I do forget once I've confessed them - those things that I did not do right and are now forgiven.
The good of the past, I really don't want to forget - in fact, I want to bring it with me to what lies ahead - hopefully learning something that will benefit the future.
Like love - I never want to forget the love I have received - and will bring that love into the future to love others as I have been loved.
The next verse reads "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Moving on - pressing toward - looking forward -
It all means taking a step in the right direction - and it is active - we do need to put our "oomph" (I checked - it is a word:) into it!
God bless each of us to take the next step forward - in the right direction - toward the prize - a high calling of Our Lord, Christ Jesus.
Enjoy stepping toward His calling on your life :)
MB

Good Friday

They call it Good Friday - yet, reliving what Jesus went through for my sin feels anything but good. I understand that the good is describing what He accomplished for us - and that is indescribably good! But, I am always more at peace later in the day - when I know his suffering would be over.
Thank you, Jesus, for all you went through to free us from sin - to grant us a place in heaven with you forever - to give us peace in our lives as we walk this earth.
Gratitude - eternally, I will sing praise and give thanksgiving to Our Lord for loving us so much that He gave His only Son.
What an awesome God we serve. What amazing love.
Looking forward to celebrating Jesus' Resurrection - and, like Mary in the garden on Easter morning, may we continue to search for more of Him - with gratitude :)
For Jesus' Glory, Mary

A Walking Stick

After watching a movie called The Way, I thought of walking sticks. So, beginning a walk today, I searched for something to use - could I take the shovel off of the end of it's stick and use that? No - screwed on tight. (Thank goodness for when I shovel!)
Looking further, I saw an old, wooden head golf club. It was the last one I had from Adolph. Adolph was my third Dad - Mom's third husband. I only knew him to be sweet and gentle - a really gentle man.
He loved sports, and even though he was almost 80 when we began spending time on a golf course together, we would play 9 holes slowly and enjoy it. I can still hear him on the tee box saying "See all that beautiful green, Mary?" "Yes", I would reply. "And, I can't hit any of it!" he would playfully joke.
The golf club, now my walking stick, reminded me of the round when we were standing with the entire fairway between us on the first hole. My drive had gone right and his had gone left. He stood over his and swung hard. With his hand over his eyes, he struggled to find the flight of his ball in the air. Searching, searching. I waited. He looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. I pointed downward. Unfortunately, that swing had never made contact. The ball was laying exactly where it had been. He looked down, shrugged his shoulders, swung again and laughed.
So, as I took his golf club for a walk today (it made a pretty good walking stick), I was reminded of a gentle man and a great sport.
Adolph may be celebrating an amazing round of golf in heaven right now. I like to think he is - and maybe David is helping him search for his ball :)
God bless any round you get to play - and who you get to play it with.
For Jesus' Glory.

Times Change

With their busy lives once they go to school, time together changes with grandchildren.
School is out for Spring Break - time for a sleepover.
Fun with crafts, card games and a volleyball.
But, it got late fast.
So, as he was struggling to fall asleep - could it have been a few cookies giving him too much energy?? - his sister ran through the routine. After reading stories and saying prayers, she sang to him - she gently rubbed his arm - she softly reminded him that it was time to close his eyes and stop talking. Grandma put on soft music.
He asked that Grandma rub his back as his sister rubbed his arm.
Nothing worked.
Grandma had a final thought and picked him up -
"I remember what used to put you to sleep", she gently suggested, as she stood up with him, laid his head on her shoulder and rocked back and forth.
The rocking lasted for a short time - and a little voice was heard - the same little voice that used to be silenced by her rocking - but now, out came a gentle reminder that times had changed.
"Put me down, Buster."
It was not said loudly - just playfully - as he arched his back in super hero style.
He repeated it again - "Put me down, Buster."
And, as his sister and Grandma exchanged glances, they broke into laughter - Not an easy way to get anyone to sleep!
But, a fun way to spend an evening.
So, as she put him down, she realized times had changed. Children had grown up and had different ways of falling asleep than rocking in her arms.
And, then, there was the reminder of laughter.
A good sound in any home.
And, it certainly made for a good night.
Blessings!