Whistle While You Work

I felt blessed to be able to watch these birds

Does a bird whistle or sing? This morning I watched as a pair of Carolina wrens brought twigs to a house I had hanging on my deck. The thing that I noticed most

was their singing. They worked in and out of the

singing joyfully as they fulfilled their created

purpose. Then I thought of all the people who had

a hand in providing me with the blessing. The

birdhouse was made of old barn wood from

Wisconsin. I felt thankful for the one who made the

barn. I am thankful for the one who saw value in

an old barn and made a birdhouse. I am thankful

for the craft store who valued the craftsmanship

and purchased the house to resell. I am thankful

for my daughter who saw the house and thought

of me, bought the house and spent way too much

in postage to get it to my home here in SC. The man who built the barn is probably dead, but his concern to shelter his animals is continuing to bless others. I wonder if he enjoyed building the barn. Did his wife help like the mother wren? Were there neighbor men to help with the work? Did he help his neighbors to build their barns? How did the man feel who made the birdhouse? Was it just for money or was there a memory of an old barn? How about the lady at the craft store? Did she think this was just money or a thing of beauty? I think I know how my daughter felt. She saw beauty and she felt love in memories. Obviously the birds saw it as a thing of beauty and love. They sang joyfully as they worked carrying twigs for their new home. Christ taught us to love one another and to care for one another. I think the birds demonstrated that very well by the way they worked together in song to build a new home.

Father, thank you for generations of hands that worked together to bring a house to birds who showed me how working together brings joy.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:16,17

Have you built a birdhouse or made something that will build a memory for you and others? Leave comment to let us know how God is blessing you and remember to at least whistle while you work!

Roses and Rain

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The arching pink rosebush in my yard blossomed in all her glory this morning. By noon the rain weighted her down, her blossoms scattered on the ground. She needed the rain. It had been more than a week since our last rain. Everything was parching. I knew tomorrow would bring the sunshine, the canes would lift again and new blossoms would open. She would be more beautiful than ever. Had the rain never come, the blossoms would have dwindled and the leaves would have spotted and died.

We are so much like the rosebush. Life can be going along just great until some major event comes along and bends us low with its burden of cares. Maybe its finances, or sickness, or a big bump in the marriage road, whatever, it just may be that God intends to use this burden for our good. This rain event will ultimately help us grow and be a greater witness than we ever would have been without the trial. When I think back to the many things we have gone through as a couple and with the children, I can see how each storm has brought us low and then lifted us up, closer to God, to each other and better witnesses. It’s always nice when the storm passes, but rest assured another will come along and we will ultimately be glad for the growth it will bring.

Father, help us to see the storms of our life are part of your loving purpose to help us grow.

In Jesus name. Amen.

In Honor Of Mother's Day

When I call to remembrance the unfiegned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. II Timothy 1:5

My favorite book is When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant. Hers was a mentor text for me to write in honor of my Grandmother. Hope this post brings fond memories to your remembrance as well.

When I Was Young

When I was young, I lived just up the path from my Grandma and Papa. The privet hedge that separated my house from the path was my time tunnel. I lived in the twentieth century but they lived in the past.

When I was young, I helped Grandma draw water from the well. We drank sweet water from a common dipper in the bucket in Grandma’s kitchen.

When I was young, Grandma would hold me up so I could see the robin’s nest in the hedge just outside her bedroom window. We would watch the mother bird feed her babies fat juicy worms and little green bugs.

When I was young we sat under the oak tree and peeled peaches for peach ice cream. We took turns cranking the ice cream churn until our arms ached and the crank no longer turned. Then we would eat peach ice cream until it gave us a brain freeze.

When I was young, we chased birds around the front yard with a salt shaker. Papa said if we put salt on a bird’s tail, we could catch it. In the evening, Papa would call bob whites up to the edge of the yard. I tried to whistle too. Sometimes the bob whites would answer my call.

When I was young, Grandma taught us to play mumbledy peg with Papa’s pocket knife. It would easily stick in the pine boards of Grandma’s kitchen steps.

When I was young, we spent winter evenings around a coal heater in the sitting room, playing checkers while the sleet beat against the windows. We didn’t have any story books but Grandma was a good story teller.

When I was young, Grandma made all my dresses for school and church on her treadle machine. She tatted lace for my collars. Once she let me help serve when the Women’s Missionary Union met at her house.  She always made me feel special.

When I was young, I never wanted to go to the city. I never wanted to fly in a plane. I only wanted to slip through the hedge and down the path to my grandparents’ house.                                               Based on When I Was Young in the Mountains

 

Perhaps you have a favorite book that brings special memories of your mother or grandmother to mind. Please let us know.   Blessings.

The Rule Book

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalms 1:1,2

Strike 3! Out! The umpire clasped his fist so all could see the little fellow was indeed out. Mom’s shoulders slumped for the third time this game. Dad pressed his face to the backstop. “He’s just a kid. Give him a chance.” The coach helped the child back to the dug-out. The child had no idea why his turn was up. He had no idea why Dad was yelling and coming inside the dug-out. Dad grabbed the boy and his equipment and stomped out on his way to the car.

We all feel sorry for the child and his parents but if the ump made exceptions for him why not all the kids? Rules are there for the good of everyone. Teachers have rules and parents have rules. Policemen have rules. Like I said, rules are for the good of everyone.

God has rules too. God’s rules help us live happier, healthier lives. Most of the time we don’t have trouble obeying the teacher or the policeman and most of the time we obey our parents but what about God’s rules? What are God’s rules? God’s rules are all about love. The first is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second is to love your neighbor like you love yourself. Jesus said all other commandments hang on or are dependent on these two. It would seem that loving God and loving others would be easy but what about when we are tired or angry? Do we take it out on others who have no clue what is wrong? Do we put others first or do we put ourselves first. I hate to admit, I want to do what is best for me more often than doing what is best for others. Serving others and doing what is best for our neighbors will give us the most joy. Pouting won’t make anyone happy, least of all ourselves. One of the 10 commandments says “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain….” Simply put don’t say you are a Christian and then act like the rest of the world. If we follow God’s rules of love, others will notice. They will see Jesus in us. When our actions are part of the process of leading others to Christ we will be truly happy.