Month: June 2017

Make a Lasting Impact

Posted on by Paula

 

Photo Credits to Abigail Barr

 

Photo Credit:
Abigail Barr

Daisies are my favorite flower. I can’t remember how long ago Christopher planted the daisy seeds in our yard, but I know it has been at least 3 or 4 years if not more. The daisies he planted have always been special to me, but seeing them bloom is even more meaningful now that he has moved more than 1000 miles away. This year, he just happened to be home for a visit when the first daisy of the season bloomed. He cut it for me and selected a vase. He is back in Florida now, but more and more daisies are opening up and will most likely put on a beautiful show until autumn creeps back in. Though he is so far way, his daisies have made a lasting impact and continue to bring me joy and remind me of his thoughtfulness.

I was admiring the daisies this morning and also remembered a day about 5 years ago when Christopher and his brothers surprised me by setting an aquarium up in my living room while I was at work. They used cold water straight from the garden hose and plopped two white fish named Mom & Dad into the water which was full of chlorine. Needless to say the fish did not make it, and the Facebook world was saddened (and somebody got in trouble) that evening when my son Joshua posted, “Dad died today.” The following day, they removed the chlorine and heated the water and filled the tank with gravel, decorations and colorful cichlids. Today we continue to be entertained by the fish including a few that we have watched grow for the past five years.

My little flower garden in the back yard is also a project that Christopher started for me. I missed my flower beds when we moved to town, but we have a very tiny yard now, and my husband Sam wasn’t too sure about giving up space for a flower bed that would probably become overrun with weeds with my hectic schedule. Christopher got the boys together and bought me a fountain and two pretty strings of lights. He also talked his dad into letting me have a small garden. He and the boys have helped me add to it each year, and I think of them while I enjoy taking care of my little flower bed or relaxing outside and listening to the water from the fountain trickle.

There are other pieces of artwork and projects around the house that remind me of Christopher’s thoughtfulness, and I feel his love even though he isn’t here. There are also things around that house that my other children, my husband, my parents, my siblings, my nieces and nephews and my friends have left for me and projects that they have helped me with that bring back happy memories and make me feel loved. There are even things around my house that still allow me to feel the love of people who are no longer on this earth. There is my grandma’s typewriter that reminds me of all the times I sat in her lap and got to type or draw pictures of trees with birds and nests. There is the afghan she crocheted for me even though she questioned the colors when I chose them. She admitted when she was finished that she liked the colors together, and though Grandma passed away years ago, I can remember those conversations and watching her crochet and can feel her hug as I wrap myself in the blanket.

As I was thinking about all of these things that make me feel happy and loved, I wondered to myself, “What have I done that might have made a lasting impression on someone else?” Have I helped with projects or left things behind that reminds someone else of happy memories and how much I love them? Have I left behind anything that will help someone continue to feel my love when this life on earth is over? Most importantly, have I helped anyone to realize how awesome Jesus is and how much they need Him? Praying for others and sharing Jesus with them is the very best gift I have to give. I hope that many of the seeds I have planted will be watered and that God will make them grow so that others will have a gift that lasts long after I am gone. I hope that others can experience the love of Jesus through my life and that they will accept him and have the gift of eternal life through Him.

 

Two Are Better Than One

Posted on by Paula

I have always chosen not to run. I was the girl in P.E. who walked the track with the asthma girls who had the doctor’s excuse not to run, and that was long before I actually had asthma. Ha! I’m not quite sure what possessed me, but I recently decided that I needed to lay aside my pride, stop worrying that I move like Captain Jack Sparrow, and simply give running a try. I found a spot near the end of my walking route where I would muster up all of my courage and run for a very short distance, hoping that no one would recognize me.

My daughter decided to join me on my early morning walk recently, and I ended up gaining a walking/running partner. Neither of us are morning people, and both of us had our own routines. However, she needed more consistency, and I needed someone along in case I croaked.

All in all, we felt pretty good about our decision to get our workout in together each day before it got too hot outside. Four days after we made the pact, however, our enthusiasm faded and we found ourselves dragging each other out the door and down the road. Ten minutes into the walk that day, she told me, “I’m glad we started doing this together. I didn’t want to get up today.” My reply? “Me either! I made myself crawl out of bed and get ready today because I knew you were getting up to go.”

The air was so thick that morning. Breathing was difficult enough, let alone trying to run. However, one of us would take the first step to run, and the other would have to run along too. We’d run until we could no longer breathe. We’d complain a while, walk while we caught our breath, laugh a bit… and then someone would take that first step to run again. We took turns being the slave driver and being the one who loathed her. Together we persevered.

If I had been going alone that morning, I probably wouldn’t have run as often or hard as I ran. I might not have gone the distance that I did. I may have even given into my temptation to stay in bed an extra hour instead of pushing myself out the door, but someone was expecting me to go.

Some days have been harder than others, and I’m not going to lie. We were both excited the morning we woke up to rain and had to wait until the evening to run.

Isn’t it so much easier to fizzle out and give up when there’s no one watching? Don’t we perform better when we have someone around to motivate us to succeed? Whatever you are trying to do, whether it is making a healthy change, breaking an unhealthy habit or striving to reach a goal that seems way outside of your grasp, find someone to travel the road with you and to hold you accountable.

You might be fighting hard and even praying for God’s strength or deliverance, but sometimes, our spirit is willing while our flesh is weak. Sometimes, we need someone who cares about us and understands what we’re going through to help us stay disciplined and obedient. Ask God to send someone to travel with you on your journey. That person will be of great encouragement when you feel like throwing in the towel, and you will be able to provide motivation for that person when they feel like giving up as well.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 in the NLT says,

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

Who is helping you succeed today, and who are you helping in return?

The Hidden Injury Uncovered

Posted on by Paula

I was having a productive day and staying on task. As I was rushing, my foot hit a hole, twisted and caused me to lose my balance. Pain shot through the top of my foot. How could this happen? I had a lot to do, and I had also just gotten back into the swing of walking & dabbling with running after being in a bit of a slump. I was angry. My mind raced with thoughts that included all the reasons why an injured foot was NOT acceptable at this time.

Suddenly, the pain was gone. I truly believed that God had healed me. I thanked him excitedly and got back to business. I unloaded the groceries, shopped for a gift, mailed a package, stopped by Homewood for gift certificates (caved in for the coconut yogurt & mango Dole Whip while I was there!), delivered a thank you card, stopped by the insurance company, ran to the bank, dropped a load off at Silk Purse and went to help my niece with a favor. I was doing just fine! However, after going up & down my niece’s stairs, my foot hurt—just a little bit. I shrugged it off and drove back to town. As I walked a few blocks to finish the last errand, I felt like I might be limping. How embarrassing! I hoped no one would think that I was one of those ladies who can’t walk in high heels.

By the time I got home, the pain had definitely returned. I had a big knot on the top of my foot and pain going up my leg. Because I had broken the same foot before and had ended up with a blood clot at that time, I thought I should get it checked out.

The doctor suspected a broken foot and ordered an x-ray. By the time I went back for that, I was unable to put my foot on the floor to walk. Reluctantly, I agreed to being pushed in a wheelchair. Sigh…

The doctor came in with the results. She was surprised that the foot wasn’t broken in the swollen area but asked if my big toe hurt. The x-ray showed it was broken.

I was confused, because my big toe was fine, but after thinking a while, I remembered it hurting really bad back in February when I dropped a heavy stool on it. I thought back then that it might be broken, but I didn’t figure anything could be done with a broken toe. I rested my toe that day and the next, but made myself get back on the treadmill the following. I had been faithfully walking six days a week for over a month at that time, and I was not going to let this get into my way. I pushed myself to walk in pain but could only manage to walk about 20 minutes. The next day was my normal Sunday day of rest. Monday, I pushed myself for 30 minutes. Each day, I could walk longer with less pain until there was no pain or limitation on how long I could last.

So, yeah, I guess I did break that toe back in February, but it seemed fine now. The doctor said I didn’t need to do anything since it no longer hurt but added that I might have arthritis in it someday.

As for the new injury, the doctor told me that it was probably a sprain that could last a few days to a couple of months. I left on crutches, thinking of all the reasons why this absolutely could not last for a couple of months and continuing to beat myself up for stepping in the hole. I went home that Friday night determined that I would be better by Monday and running by Friday even though I couldn’t put any weight on the foot at all. The next morning, I could put a little weight on my heel. I ran errands on crutches and rested my foot in the afternoon and all day the next day. By Sunday evening, I could hobble. By Monday, I was able to take a 50 minute morning walk and another walk that evening. By Friday, I ran!

I am so thankful that I can walk and run just a week after the injury and I am glad that I went to see what the problem was. However, I wouldn’t have known my toe had actually been broken back in February if I hadn’t gone in June for the injured foot.

This whole scenario made me think about old wounds we can have deep down. Feelings of resentment, unforgiveness, guilt, bitterness, anger and hopelessness if not dealt with can be buried and hidden away in denial. Everything might look fine on the outside, but on the inside we know that we have broken fellowship with God or someone who was once close to us. Another incident can pop up that needs attention, and during that time of examining the new incident, the old hurt is exposed and brought to our attention.

When we don’t deal with our hurts but choose instead to ignore the pain, our relationship with God or someone here on earth can become damaged. Sometimes, when that old hurt is brought to the surface again, we are able to properly deal with it and find complete healing. Other times, we have waited too long and must learn to live with whatever consequences result. The important thing is that we eventually come to terms with that hurt.

Maybe someone has hurt you, but you haven’t forgiven them. Jesus said, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15). If you’re having trouble forgiving someone, ask God to help you forgive.

Maybe you are the person who needs to ask forgiveness. If pride has been getting in your way of asking forgiveness, humble yourself and apologize.

Some relationships will heal quickly, some may take time and others might not mend at all if the other person chooses not to accept your apology. However, no matter how the other person responds, you can have peace in knowing that you did your part to make things right again; unforgiveness on the other person’s part is sometimes a consequence that you must live with. However, when it comes to God, He is always ready to forgive. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

So when an injury takes place, the best thing to do is address it and take the necessary measures for healing as soon as possible. If by chance you do examine yourself and find that you have hurts that you’ve been ignoring and trying to bury deep where they can’t be seen, give them to God. Remember that God’s forgiveness and grace are always available. You just need to ask. He will also enable you to forgive those with whom you’ve been holding a grudge. Let your hurts come to the surface and find peace through God.

What Do These Shells Mean?

Posted on by Paula

I love the ocean and I love to hunt for seashells as I walk along the beach. I have accumulated hundreds if not thousands of shells over the years as a result of my relaxing pastime. Some of the shells have a hole. I had always intended to use those particular shells to make jewelry and wind chimes, but I haven’t found the time to do that. Today, I was inspired to sift through those shells and get to work on my first wind chime.

I was reading from the book of Joshua this morning and was reminded of the time that God’s people crossed the Jordan River on their way to the promised land. God actually stopped the waters of the Jordan from flowing to allow them to safely cross. God told Joshua to instruct one man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel to pick up a stone from the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and to bring them over and lay them down in the place where they would lodge that night. He told them that the stones would be a memorial to the people forever.

So the twelve men brought the stones, and Joshua set them up at Gilgal and instructed them, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:20-24).

I started journaling years ago and especially like to write down the times that I experience God in my life. I do this because I tend to forget a lot of details.

When I am discouraged, looking back at the times that I have had an encounter with God helps strengthen my faith. It helps me remember who He is and what He has done in me and through me.

Looking back over those encounters with God can also help me when I need direction. By examining the places and events that I have been through, I can have an idea of where He is leading me next.

Another great reason to remember these special moments with God is so I can share those stories with other people. My hope is that when others hear about the impact that God has made in my life, they can see that God is real and “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty,”  and that they may fear the Lord God forever. (Joshua 4:24)

I decided to use my seashells for my memorial stones and to use those “stones” to make a wind chime. I will have to finish that project another day, but I do have a nice little pile of memories to read through now. There are some other encounters with God that I didn’t get a chance to write down on a shell, and there will be several to add in the future as God continues to work in my life.

I am so thankful for a God who reveals himself to me through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church. I am also forever grateful for a God who desires an intimate relationship with me through His Son, Jesus. My prayer is that I never miss an opportunity He gives me to share with others how awesome He is.