Highlighted

My childhood friend received a gift one Christmas from her mother that was very special. Her mother bought Bibles for each of her children. (And I believe there were nine of them!) She went through each Bible and highlighted scriptures that she wanted to bring to her children's attention or were special to her in some way.

My friend told me, later in life when we were adults, that she never appreciated that gift when she was a child from her mom the way that she should have. She didn't recognize the thoughtfulness of it until she was older and how special it really was to receive such a gift.

I have to admit that someone else bringing a scripture to your attention is not as powerful as it is when God, Himself, highlights a scripture for you and brings it to your attention. It will jump off the page and present itself to you as a present straight from God.

The scripture may answer a question you have been pondering or it might pierce your heart. It might actually change what you believe, reveal a hidden truth or bring you great comfort.

I have had my mind blown by God's word in this way many times. It is powerful.

We, too, have received a beautiful gift from our Father but as it was with my friend in her youth, it is sometimes the same with us. We don't appreciate God's word when we are young spiritually but find it's value after we've grown up a bit.

Christmas has come and gone. Presents have been given and received. We have relished in the joy of the most special day of the year and now we are all exhausted! lol

But the gift of God's word is the gift that keeps on giving. We can never get enough. It's where you will find the greatest present of all.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The Ornament

Our Christmas tree has always been very eclectic. I've got a bunch of ornaments that don't match and I like it that way. 😇

They have been given to me over the years as gifts from friends, relatives and co-workers. They have come on top of presents as part of the gift wrap. I've won them in games played at work or family gatherings. I've collected them over a period of twenty eight years or so.

I still have a bird's nest that my husband and I found in our very first Christmas tree that we cut down ourselves in 1989!

What I love most about decorating the tree each year is opening the container of ornaments and being reminded of different people or times in my life when I received a particular ornament.

As I decorated the tree this year, my little sister was on my mind. It will be the first Christmas since she lost her son, Brandon, earlier this year.

My husband was helping me get all the Christmas stuff set out and I said, "I'd really like to get Janet something special but I don't even know what to get her."

She's been blessed with many wonderful gifts since Brandon's death. She's received jewelry, blankets, benches, plants, flowers, and some co-workers even bought her a pair of leggings to remind her of Brandon. I just couldn't imagine what I could get her that would be special and give her comfort this holiday season.

All the while I was pulling out ornaments and hanging them on the tree remembering where they came from and who gave them to me. Then I gasped as I pulled out my KU ornament Janet had given me a few years ago. I'd completely forgotten I had it.

She'd written his name on the back of it along with his football jersey number. I held it up and sighed. What a little treasure I held in my hand! Forgotten treasure.

My little sister had been the one to give me the gift...not the other way around. 

My heart was full and tears welled up as I hung it on the tree and remembered him.

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

Jestin & Sydney

On June 28, 2016 Jestin asked Sydney to marry him. 

They were on vacation in Florida with her family when he finally popped the question and we were all thrilled when she said yes! They set the wedding date for March 25, 2017.

As the date draws closer, things are flowing into motion preparing for the big day.

Being the mother of three boys, I don't get to do girl-things often, so when Sydney asked me to go to the dress shop with some of her family to pick out a wedding dress, I was excited to go and have some fun!

The "She said YES to the dress!" day was this past Sunday at 3 pm. I went to church that morning then looked forward to a fun afternoon doing girly things with Sydney, her mom, her step-mom and the famous "Gandy" - Sydney's grandmother. We planned to eat dinner at Chili's afterwards, too. So, I stopped by Starbucks on my way to the dress shop and grabbed my favorite drink to start things off on the right foot! 😉

When I stepped into the bridal shop and saw Sydney in a beautiful wedding dress...I was stunned. Somehow, I've forgotten just how beautiful she is. Then as she tried on another, then another, something happened that I did not expect.

Not only did I see a beautiful bride in a gorgeous dress standing in front of me but I also saw my middle son, Jestin, as a baby in his crib smacking his legs on the mattress with a big grin on his face. (He got the nickname Thumper from one of our friends for doing this as a baby!)

Then he was a toddler escaping his bedroom in the middle of the night, getting into the kitchen cabinets, slamming their doors and waking up everyone in the house.

I flashed to him as Student of the Month making us proud, among many other achievements in school. Before I knew it, he was graduating high school.

Where on earth did all the time go?

Tears welled up and I was overcome with emotion. I did not expect that. I planned on a fun time not an emotional time.

When Sydney found the perfect dress, they asked her to ring a bell and make a wish. More tears! Sydney's mom had them rolling down her cheeks.

It was an emotional relief when the sales lady bagged the dress and we snapped a few pictures of Sydney holding it up.

After dinner, I drove home alone with my thoughts.

How did my little child grow into a man so quickly?

How am I going to get through this wedding without bawling my eyes out?

How did I get so blessed?

The Tangle...

When I was very young, probably around four or five years old, I took a piece of chewing gum out of my mouth and placed it into my cousin's hair.  

We were laying down trying to take a nap in the back bedroom at our grandparent's house. I remember thinking about doing it and then I followed through, with no thought to the problem it might cause my cousin. I don't know why I did that. I guess I wanted to find out what would happen. (lol)

I regretted it right away and asked her not to tell anyone how the gum got into her hair but she immediately went to her mother and told on me. 

Looking back, I can't believe nobody gave me a spanking!  The severe look of disappointment I received from my aunt and grandmother were punishment enough. They were completely disgusted with me. 

The sticky gum set in causing a terrible tangle and they couldn't get it out of her hair. They ended up having to cut it out, leaving my beautiful cousin looking a bit unkempt. 

It's a strange thing to have on my mind but a scripture made me remember the tangle and the trouble of it all. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Nobody likes having tangles combed out of their hair. It hurts. It's easier to go around with a rat's nest on our heads than to make the effort needed to completely remove the tangles. 

It's the same with sin. It easily entangles us and once it sets in, it's hard to remove. 

***So keep the tangles combed out and whatever you do, stay away from ornery, impulsive cousins with sticky pieces of gum. 

A Little Bit of Love

My parents raised nine children the best way they knew how and I'm so very thankful to have them both as parents.

They are now in their upper seventies and retired, relaxing on their farm in Missouri. They used to have cattle, goats and pigs for a time but these days it's mostly a few chickens. Mom crochets lots of afghans and Dad reads, rides his four-wheeler around the farm and takes care of his chickens.

For the past thirteen years or so, they have had a dog named Ducky.

He has been the light of their retired years. Riding the four wheeler all over the farm with Dad, chasing squirrels, rabbits and any other wild animal he happens to cross.

Then about a year after they got Ducky, they got a little female dog and named her "Little Bit".

These two dogs, I tell ya! They have been treated just as us kids were growing up. One of them (or both) are in one of my parent's lap most of the time. 

Sometimes Little Bit gets jealous of Ducky and they fight over scraps of food or chewed up bones. But each night, they go together to their kennels and sleep beside each other in the mud room.

They have been my parent's children since all of us have grown up and moved away. They have always been there when we went home for visits it seems like FOREVER.  They are part of the family. 

So, we were all concerned when Ducky got into a fight with some other dogs over Little Bit. He's old and didn't fare the fight very well. They ended up taking him to the vet and sadly, had to put him down due to the wounds.

Dad and Mom were crushed. 

Then after Ducky was gone, Little Bit stopped eating. She searched everywhere for Ducky. She would no longer sleep in her kennel beside his but slept on the couch. My parents took her to the vet but she died in Mom's lap one week to the day after Ducky died.  It seems, of a broken heart.

There's no doubt that Little Bit loved Ducky. She didn't want to live without him. There's NO doubt that Dad and Mom loved both dogs. Now, they have to learn to live without them. 

As Alfred Lord Tennyson once said, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." 

Rest in Peace

 Ducky & Little Bit 

October 2016

No King...

I've been reading The Message which is the Bible in everyday language written in novel form. It's easy to read which I like a lot. :)

As I read through the book of Judges, the following verses jumped off the page at me each time I read them.

Judges 17:6  In that day Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

Judges 18:1  In that day Israel had no king.

Judges 19:1  In that day Israel had no king.

Judges 21:25  In that day Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

It struck me that they had no king so everyone just did as they saw fit and reminded me of my own country today.

The definition of king according to Webster's dictionary is:

King: a male monarch of a major territorial unit; especially : one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life 

Honestly, I was taken aback by the last part who rules for life. I know that it means he rules for as long as he lives in this definition. But as Christians, Jesus is our King - he rules our natural and eternal lives. He literally rules for life. 

Some Christians don't even seem to want a king. They want a politician who makes promises they won't or can't keep once they get elected. Granted, we have to elect a president and someone has to be in charge. But will they really do anything for us? Do they really care about us?

Once they get the position of power they desire, they will do whatever they want. They will have their own best interest at heart - not ours. At least until the next election...(It's called politics. lol)

If we are Christian, then first, we are ruled by our King - Jesus. His will comes first in our lives.  

He has your best interest at heart each and every moment of your life. He will do what He says He will do and keeps His promises.

Here are just a few of the things He has ALREADY done for you:

He lived a sinless life...for you.
He endured betrayal...for you.
He was humiliated and mocked...for you.
He wore a crown of thorns...for you.
He was beaten, bruised and bled...for you.
He hung on the cross...for you.
He gave his life...for you.
He lay dead in a tomb three days...for you.
He was resurrected...for you.

The problem with America today is that everyone does as they see fit because they have NO king. 

The trouble is...there IS A KING. 

Intimates please...Intimates...

I recently got a little part time job working in a department store where I love to shop in an effort to save some money. I only work about three evenings a week so it's not too bad. Since I was going to get a part time job though, I figured it should be somewhere I would get a discount. :)

Normally, I work in the children's department or home. Either of those two are fine. I love folding all the little kids clothes and thinking about who I can buy clearance items for. (Which defeats my goal of saving money working part time but you gotta live...right?)

I never dreamed when I accepted the job that I would be forced to work all night in the dreaded department of intimates.

There are SO many different types of bras! I've learned A LOT that I never wanted to know.

There are strapless adhesive bras, convertible plunge bras, minimizers, maximizers, undercover slimming bras, extra coverage, smoothing, body caress underwire bras, ultimate lift and support bras, natural boost push-up bras, ultra light lace with lift spacer bras and 'This is NOT a Bra' bras...to name just a few!

It's overwhelming. I'm not even going to talk about the panties I've seen. It would be a whole other blog post!

It is mind-boggling trying to clean up the fitting room. People try on bras, pull everything off the hangers and leave them laying all over the dressing room floor. Some don't even make an effort to put them back on the hangers.

When I see my name on the schedule and it says Intimates underneath...I sigh. I dread it. I don't like that department. I don't want to answer all the questions about bras and undergarments that customers expect me to know the answers to and I'm completely clueless.

About twice a night or so, someone pushes the customer service button. A computerized female voice announces over a loudspeaker, "Intimates, please...Intimates..."

I groan and sigh while slowly making my way over to help. Inside, I'm hoping that it got pushed on accident and when I get there nobody will be waiting.

But usually someone is there, waiting for me to assist them and the questions have ranged from, "Do you have a Triple G in this style?" to "Do you sell hosiery?"

Hosiery? Do you mean...pantyhose?

How did I end up in this department? Why am I being forced to learn about intimates? I have to admit that it is good, physical exercise. I can spend fifteen minutes walking around with one bra trying to figure out which rack it goes back on.

Heaven help me when I get a call from the check outs and a customer is questioning a price. I must have looked frazzled the last time it happened because as I made my way to the front toting a bra from the clearance rack to confirm a price, the manager saw me walk by and asked, "Are you okay, Melinda?"

"I'm surviving..." I answered then he went on to offer the names of a couple of co-workers who were more familiar with the department that I could ask for help if I needed it. (I heard he won't step foot into the intimates department. You didn't hear that from me, though.) Tee Hee

As with pretty much everything in my life, God used this experience to remind me about Him.

"Intimates please...Intimates..." I hear Him speak softly to me instead of the computerized female voice calling me over the loud speaker.

This is what He wants from His children.

But as with the awkwardness I feel working in this dreaded department, it can also be awkward being completely intimate with God.

Like the many different items we can buy to make our bodies appear better looking than they really are, I also want to hide my imperfections before God. Using everything imaginable to make myself look better. 

Allowing Him to see the part of me that I'd like to keep private and hidden underneath what I allow others to see is sometimes hard to do. But God sees underneath that anyway. He already knows how I feel, what I think about, my attitudes and my true heart.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. Psalms 139:1