Preparation

The kids went back to school this week. With that came the annual back to school preparations.

We tried on clothes to see what fit. (Why do they keep growing?!) We made and gathered lists of clothing and school supplies. Because the closest large shopping area is an hour away, we made arrangements around practice schedules to have enough time to hopefully get just about everything finished. Each child, with list in hand, searched for the perfect whatever - pencils, pens, backpacks, lunch box, notebook . . . . My older two needed totally new wardrobes - they literally had nothing except maybe a few holey shirts to wear. Thankfully, the youngest didn't need clothes; his patience for apparel shopping is slim. They tried on this; they tried on that. This fit, but not in the right color. He didn't like that shirt, and there weren't any in the right size. Whew! What a day!

You know me by now . . . that got me to thinking. We spent an enormous amount of time, preparation, and money for the kids to return to school. They will outgrow the clothing, the pencils will be sharpened to stubs, and the paper will run out before we know it.

I'm guessing that those of you with kids do the same thing every year to prepare your darlings for another nine months of learning. We spend that much time on something temporary, but how much time do we spend preparing for our eternity with God?

P.S. - My youngest got up the first day of school and none of his jeans or belts fit. They fit two days ago - what happened?! AH! Back to the store again . . .

P.P.S. - I'd post a picture from their first day of school, but for the first time ever I forgot to take one. The kids cheered when I realized too late on the drive to school. So much for our preparations!

Thoughts to ponder

Let me know your thoughts . . .

Yesterday, Pastor G talked about 'WHY I Trust.' He encouraged each of us to delve into that question this week. Several questions popped into my mind as I listened. Below is one of them.

He said that most of us trust because of past experience with someone. I agree with that. Some of us trust people until they prove unreliable. But, most people trust someone only after they have had interactions with them. You are who you say you are, and you have done what you said you would do - so, I trust you. O.K.

Later, he brought up the story of the woman at the well. She met Jesus and began to explore her reasons to trust Him. Then, she ran back to town to tell everyone else that she possibly met the Messiah. Now, here's my question for you: Why did those people trust her? She was a woman who obviously had a bad reputation. Past experience with her would have proven to them that she may not be the type of person to trust. Why did they trust her enough to go check out the claim?

Were they just curious? Were they that hopeful for the Messiah that they didn't want to miss a chance to see Him - just in case? What are your thoughts?

Here's to you, Grandma & Grandpa!

In a world with divorce rates soaring and many people skipping the marriage covenant completely by merely "living together," it is a rare happening to find long-lasting marriages. God created the marriage plan. It is a covenant between three: a man, a woman, and God. Without God as that third leg of the stool, a marriage will not stand.

I am pleased to say that two of the most important and special people in my life have been married for 65 years. Yeah, you read that right - 65 years!

So, here's to you, Grandma & Grandpa. You are a blessing and role-model, demonstrating how God intended marriage to be. I love you both!

Bound to be free

This summer we installed an invisible fence to give Nugent more room to run yet keep him safe. He learned quickly. What a good boy! The big day came after several weeks of training - the day we let him run totally free. I was terrified. What if he ran off? What if the collar didn't work? What if . . .

I checked the collar at least five times. With a deep breath, I opened the door. He tore out of the garage. I think he might have missed the two steps. I ran out to keep an eye on him. The exercise just to keep him in sight exhausted me. He darted from one boundary to another, turning back only after hearing the warning signal from his collar.

Then my worst fear was realized. He crossed the line! Suddenly, he yelped! How could I get to him before he got badly hurt or ran off? He yelped some more and darted back inside his play area. My baby scurried back to my arms. I breathed a humungous sigh of relief and generously praised him. After a slobbery lick to my cheek, he was off again, free to run in his safe zone.

While crossing that boundary hurt him, if he had continued on, he could have been hurt much worse. He could have gotten hit by a car, hurt by another animal - many dangers awaited him on the other side.

That got me thinking. God gives us boundaries designed to keep us safe. Sometimes we cross the line. It hurts. Sometimes we keep going anyway, and we begin a downward spiral in our life. The cool thing is that God will always be there to welcome us back. He is so happy that the angels rejoice! While I probably wouldn't lick God on the cheek to show my gratitude, I should definitely thank Him - for the forgiveness and the limitations.

For within those God-given boundaries, I am free. Thanks, God.