So Familiar - So Similar

It started with the hotel giving us a room on the 4th floor and as we walked to our unit, it was on the right side of the building. The balcony view of the ocean was so familiar - so similar to the view I enjoyed in Florida for years with David at Silver Thatch Ocean Club, Unit 412 - our winter haven from the snow. We called it a "little slice of heaven".

The second morning, as I began my day with this beautiful ocean view, I noticed people starting to walk alongside the cresting surf - some were playing, some were jogging, some were walking their dogs - but all were enjoying God's creation of the ebb and flow of the beautiful blue water and the sweet, soft, almost-pink sand beneath their feet.

Marty and I spent some time studying Scripture and then prayed together to start the day. I decided to sit a while longer and read in a comfortable lounge chair, enjoying the sweet aroma of the ocean breeze.

And, out of the corner of my eye - a very familiar sight - a tall, thin man wearing long blue swim trunks and a golf hat - talking to family - moving back and forth - and with each step - he became more familiar - more similar to David's body structure and movement. The same shoulders, arm length, size of chest and length of legs - similar in walk and movement - like watching an old video. I watched and waited for more - more reminders of David's presence on this earth. I drank in memories of David on the beach and enjoyed the refreshment of focusing on his love and the joy that he brought into my life.

As a tear began to form, I thanked The Lord for every day I was on this earth with him. I thanked The Lord for my life and for his presence in it. And, then I reminded myself that he was extremely happy right now in heaven - he was with His Lord and his work here was completed.

So, I put down my book, turned my gaze from the ocean to Marty, sitting at a patio table reading e-mails. I walked over and kissed him on the top of his head as I thanked God for his presence in my life.

We serve an amazingly loving Lord. His love overflows when we notice it.

Grateful Servant

It is a blessing - each day - and when we look for it - we will find the blessing.

My husband described something at breakfast that his mother used to make - so I googled salmon and souffle - and tried a recipe that sounded like what he described. It is the first time I felt like a homemaker in many years - grocery shopping, fixing dinner and waiting for his meetings to end to enjoy a meal together.
And, it felt good!
What an amazing God we serve - serving others actually blesses the servant!

Watching him enjoy the souffle - I didn't mention that I had spilled the egg whites - the beater bumped the cup of them just before I was pouring them into a bowl. As I scooped them off of the counter I thanked God it was clean :)
And, the ones that hit the floor - well, a few less in the recipe didn't seem to hurt it but I will have more eggs on hand next time!

Nor did I mention the things the kitchen needs to actually cook in it - I did not bring many things with me when I moved in - but then I didn't have much. After all, living alone neither of us created many meals - so it was a little bit of a scavenger hunt.

But, finally, I simply enjoyed that he was enjoying something God allowed me to create from a recipe I found online.
And, I thanked God for the opportunity to serve Him.

May you be blessed to serve someone tonight or tomorrow - for serving actually blesses the servant :)

For Jesus' Glory, Mary

Simpler

It really could be a simpler life. The Lord has asked us to take life one day at a time - and when I do, it is really a wonderful life. Each day offers opportunities to focus on good - thanking God for life, choosing to smile, looking in the mirror and liking the image looking back, using words to encourage and uplift others and myself, spending time with Scripture, stopping - even for a second - and remembering how much God loves me - and then, when thoughts of things that are not good try to crowd out the good - get in the battle - fight for control of my thoughts.
What we allow into our eyesight and our minds to focus on each day will decide how our day goes -
and for me, how I will sleep that night!

Last night, Marty watched a movie I remember watching with David - not my style, but that is compromise in a marriage. The romantic comedy I would have chosen would have been rough for him to sit through - but I know he would have - just like David did so many times. So, I showed love like it is shown to me - watching something that is not my first choice - but knowing he will do the same someday soon.
Well, with this movie, my eyes saw some tension - suspense - a lot of car accidents, etc. And, I was able to close my eyes and enjoy being a part of a relationship. I did not allow the tension - drama - suspense - to play in my eyes or mind - I chose to focus on being in a loving relationship. This allowed me to fall asleep full or love - not focusing on all the accidents that took place - or all the people that were hurt in the movie.

Now, I know there is much pain and suffering in this world - but God wants us to focus on His Love. I understand why now. When I focus on His Love, I am protected from fear - I walk in joy each day - and am able to spend each day reveling in His Amazing Glory - and sleep in peace - His love is so amazing!!

Psalm 32:10
"Many are the woes of the wicked (and we live in a wicked world),
but The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him."

Thank The Lord for His unfailing love - let it surround you - focus on it - and allow yourself to trust Him -
I promise you a wonderful day!

Blessings, Mary

Talk to Him 24/7

It started out as a wonderful Sunday - a beautiful worship service, a short church meeting and we were ready to go!
We had packed the car yesterday and were traveling with lamps and tables to Minocque, Wisconsin. Marty's Grandpa built a cabin there in 1939. I was privileged to enjoy a few trips to visit there since dating him, and this would be our first trip to spend time there with the just the two of us. A beautiful February Sunday for a drive - chilly, but beautiful! We should arrive around dinner time.

After driving 2 hours, we stopped for a nice lunch. With a Hallmark Store next to the Buffet Restaurant, I was able to purchase little Valentines for grandchildren and we began the next leg of the trip with love in the air :)

When the car started shaking, we thought it was the pavement. The steering wheel would shake a little and then stop shaking - shake and stop. Soon, we heard noises and he noticed the brakes and steering became unusual. Two warning lights began flashing and Marty asked me to look in the manual for their meaning. All I could find at first was the shape of their signal and the word "Danger"! He slowed down, put on our flashers and looked for an exit. Thanking God for smart phones, I looked at a map to assist him with a near exit. We were in a part of Wisconsin with very few. We drove for about 15 minutes with a feeling that the axle would drop off of the car any second - and thoughts of this automobile with us in it, tumbling down the snow covered side of the road ravaged my mind.

Marty found the exit with a BP I had found on my phone - and we clunked to a stop. I had called the girl at the station beforehand and she mentioned that there were neither taxi's or rental cars in her town. She would look around to see if anyone could help us on a Sunday. A lot more calls - finding most rental car agencies closed for the day - and the nearest one was 70 miles away. God intervened and we called one at a small airport - CWA - and they were open until 9 that evening - and would have a car ready for us - if we could get there. We searched for taxi's near the airport - found a taxi/limo service willing to drive 1 1/4 hours to pick us up! Whew!

We walked in the BP and the girl gave us a number of a towing service - that was 24 hours a day and in town! Woo-hoo!
Tom arrived to tow our vehicle - we found more information in the manual and he affirmed the problem - wheel bearings - and we sat and heard all about his life until the limo arrived.

They said it was a Lincoln and warned us that this would be a very costly ride. "We have no other choice" Marty replied. The dispatcher was excited! When the driver arrived, his car did look like it was once a Lincoln, but had suffered from either living near a golf course or getting hit by hail. Dick introduced himself - a retired driver - and his frail frame tried to move our luggage for us into his car, but we took over. We left the tables and lamps in the broken car and settled into the back seat for a 70 mile car ride.

I first noticed the car temperature - 80 degrees - and was grateful as it was very cold and I waited to warm up. Then I noticed the bright light "oil change now" calling out for attention to the engine. Once I warmed up - I really warmed up and waited for Dick to turn down the temperature in the car - to no avail. I started to try small talk about Dick's life when I noticed the car moving kind of dreamy-like toward the side of the road - and my thoughts scrambled - would he fall asleep driving?

A few more attempts at small talk and I realized he did not hear me very well. Then, Marty asked me to wait for conversation so Dick could concentrate on his driving - concentrate?? This car was the perfect temperature for putting anyone to sleep - concentrate? But, I worked hard at remaining quiet - and it was work - I succeeded except for an occasional crushing of my empty water bottle to see if Dick would flitch up front. I started praying for him and for all three of us to get to the airport. It was a long car ride.

We arrived, placed our things in the rental car and I jumped in - glad to have Marty behind the wheel - and all of a sudden it hit - the coldest car seat and car temperature I had ever experienced. Truly I must have just jumped onto a block of ice - and I pictured Eskimos living in igloos without fur. Marty started talking about how cold the car was - and I did not answer for at least three blocks. I did not want to lose any of my heat through my mouth.

Finally, I answered him and we laughed - it was the longest he had ever "not heard" me.

I learned to trust and talk to God more and talk to people less - talk to God while a car is shaking, while making phone calls for help, while others are driving a vehicle I am in, and while freezing.

So, I decided - why not just talk to Him 24/7?
God bless your communication with Him :)

A Quiet Season

It always seems like something huge makes us stop. Surgery, sickness or pain will become an opportunity to stop.
Opportunity? Yes, that is what I believe it is - an opportunity.
When I prepared myself for surgery in late January, I took the time to withdraw from all my commitments. After all, how could I minister to others when I did not know what I would need myself.
At that time, I did not see it as an opportunity - I saw it as a heavy interruption in my life.
It was very difficult. It is always difficult to walk through a season of life you did not want - or plan.
But, why is that?

Why is it so hard to stop and take care of ourselves and so easy to interrupt our lives to take care of others?
I wonder if I value others more than I value myself.

Well, my quiet season changed me. I took time to rest and recuperate - took time to build up my body and make it strong for the future - I took time for myself.
But, when you are quiet, you have to wrestle with thoughts of worth - value.
How can I be of value when I am just being still?

Now, it turned out that, even though the quiet time seemed boring, I learned a valuable lesson - just "being" has value.

My value is not dependent on anything of this earth - it is dependent on communion with Jesus. I am valuable because I was created to "be" - and He is at work continually - I do not have to be. And, when I have a quiet season, I need to embrace it to make myself stronger.

I believe I have been "busy" about My Father's Business - but I was also sidetracked with a lot of thoughts and actions that were not from Him - thoughts of "doing". It reminded me of the Biblical story of Martha and Mary - Martha was so busy and Mary just sat at Jesus' feet. And, He commended her for sitting at His feet.

So, whether you enter into a quiet season - or are in a busy season of your life - enjoy every opportunity to just "be" with Him - and He will take care of the work.

For Jesus' Glory, Mary

Your True Colors

OH - what a beautiful time of year in the Chicago area - all the true colors of the leaves are pushing through their green overcoat.
I think my favorite is the bright red - it looks like it is on fire, yet pure and not burning. I wonder if that is what the burning bush looked like to Moses.
And, I wonder - what is my true color under this green (actually peach) overcoat? Could it be an on-fire red? It seems to me that it could be when I am on the dance floor :)
Maybe I can display my bright color more often than when I let myself loose in dance?

And, I wonder about your true color - and how often you display it.
Well, no matter how often we get to display our true colors - I do know I never tire of seeing them.
And, I think they are even more beautiful when in a bunch of other colors - the variety is such amazing eye candy.
It takes the yellows, oranges, reds, evergreens and browns to truly display the beauty of this season.
God's unique creation of each of us is even more beautifully displayed when next to another unique creation.
Enjoy how God made you and display away!
For Jesus' Glory, Mary

Warning Lights Part II

Walking up to the door of Tuffy, I prayed for the right words. I had already decided that I did not want the tip back, but did want an apology.
I asked for the mechanic that worked on my car and the manager asked me "Did the warning light go off?"
"I just want to speak to him in private, please." I said - not wanting to get anyone in trouble with their manager.
The manager stood alongside me as the mechanic approached.
"Can I talk to you about my warning light?" I asked.
"Did it go off?" asked the manager.
"Yes, it did," I said as some emotions started to form. I liked these guys - have done business with them for years. "It went off when I lowered the spare and filled it up to 32 - it was at 24."
The mechanic was the first to reply with "It was at 32 when I measured it."
"Well, pebbles and dirt fell when I lowered it - so it was not moved yesterday." I answered.

"We do not have to lower the spare to fill it. We have an air tool that can fill it in its position - here, let me show you."
He walked me over to his tool box - around two other mechanics already busy at work.
He took the tool over to a car over our heads and showed me the reading.
"This is how we can do it underneath - never lowering the car. And, I filled and measured yours yesterday."
"Either your spare has a leak or my tool is broken and not measuring correctly."
He took the tool over the the car above us again and the reading was different the second time.
"If the light does not go on again this week, you do not have a leak - and I need to replace this tool." said the mechanic.

The manager apologized for my trouble - the mechanic apologized, too - and I realized they had not lied.
But, I did not have all the facts - and it seemed to be the only conclusion.

I wonder how many times in life I have jumped to conclusions without all the facts.

On my way in there today, I thought it would be easier to just not go there anymore - but I wanted to confront them because I would want to be confronted - even if it was a lie - I could have forgiven them - and we could have had good business between us again.

"I am a Christian and working on not lying myself," I said. "But, have been known to do it at times. I am grateful you did not lie to me about my car."

They smiled.

It is going to be a good day.