Being Worldly?

“Farewell, vain world; my soul bids you adieu. My Savior taught me to abandon you. Your charms may gratify a sensual mind, but cannot please a soul for God designed.”

David Brainerd

There's a lot about planet Earth I like.

I like people. I like the peacefulness of early mornings and hot tea and ice cream. I like stimulating conversations and the smell of rain and my porches. I like laughing and connecting, the warmth of the sun and butterscotch lattes.

But there are some things I wouldn't mind getting rid of. I hate cleaning and scheduling appointments. I get tired of always having something to do, of feeling pressed for time. I hate stressing about money, worrying about my kids, wondering if I measure up. I could live without fluctuating hormones dictating my mood. I get tired and discouraged and depressed. I take things too personally and carry guilt for not accomplishing more.

So as I ponder David Brainerd's quote, I think, absolutely, let's get rid of the yucky stuff, the junk that weighs me down. Amen, brother! But I'm not so sure I want to turn my back on the good. Does God require us to?

It's a matter of where we find our satisfaction, isn't it? In my desire to escape the hard in life, if I turn to worldly solutions that give temporary relief, I'm turning away from God. Those are the "charms that gratify a sensual mind" and don't please God. But Brainerd is not suggesting we ditch everything about this world, only those things that draw our attention away from Jesus. Scripture corroborates this.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:17

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15

. . . I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

There's nothing "wrong" with enjoying the world, as long as it doesn't pull us away from our real purpose on earth, glorifying our Father.

What do you think?


For more ideas spurred by this quote, visit Urailak at LivingforGod.



Photo Credit: kretyen

Why I Talk Him Up

People tell me, "You adore your husband" or "It's so easy for you to talk him up" or "You are very devoted to him."

To which I get a look of consternation and say, "Yeah . . ."

They tell me it's unusual.

Which makes me wonder if I need to clarify a few things. Please don't miss the point in me sharing my appreciation of my husband. I'm not trying impress anyone or give the idea we live an idyllic life. We annoy each other plenty. We don't see eye to eye on everything. We've had tough times. There are things about him I don't get that drive me crazy.

But if I focus on the bad, what comes from that? When I talk about his pleasing features, about the qualities in him that make me swoon, do I cement the good in my head? When I write it down for all the world to see, do I hold myself accountable to give him credit? Can I enhance our marriage by dwelling on the noble, the admirable? If I continually look for the best, will he do the same? Do we start this beautiful, blessed cycle of admiration when we rest on the good and believe the best?

It's true I adore my husband, but is it because he's so wonderful, or because I strive to see the wonderful in him? Do I get giddy over him because I purpose to see his best, to see what he's trying to be?

He is pretty terrific, but not perfect and MERCY!, you should see what a basketcase his wife is! If he can overlook my glaring deficiencies, shouldn't I do the same? If we practice forgiving and finding traits we are truly thankful for, can we deepen our esteem for each other?

Can you find loving feelings by doing the same?

7 Quick Takes (Volume 185)

1) Ladies Man tried negotiating for a later curfew for summer weeknights.

Me: Just because you can sleep later in the summer doesn't mean Dad and I can. We don't want to be up late every night waiting for you.

Ladies Man: You don't have to wait up. You can trust me.

I said nothing, only gave him the eagle eye.

Ladies Man: How about if I design a punch card system that proves I got in on time? Then can I stay out later?

Me (being sarcastic): Yeah, that'd work.

Ladies Man: So when I get that figured out, I can stay out later?

Me: Yeah, WHEN you get that done.

I'm not sweating it.

2) There's an owl in a tree in our neighborhood. It totally adds to the effect in our newly remodeled upstairs porch, making you feel like you're in a giant tree house. Isn't this space great?

We just love it up here and have found ourselves spending lots of time reading and writing and composing. It's perfectly wonderful to sit up here in the evenings, a soft breeze blowing through. Squirrels dance across the roof and into trees and then that owl hoots and I can't help but smile. Sigh. What is it about God's creation that soothes?

3) I took all my kids shopping for swimsuits yesterday. It was exhausting. I used to think dragging little kids around the mall was torture, but that was before my children got minds and MOUTHS of their own. I swear people all over the mall were staring at us. Something very LOUD happens whenever all four of my kids get together. Ladies Man gets quite animated for his siblings. Drama Queen says he's all about attention, but they're the ones who laugh at him. It must be their fault, right? I got to wondering what people were thinking as I led around my very big chicks (yes, I was leading--they have no sense of time!). Did they feel sorry for me or wonder what I'd been smoking to tolerate it?

I must admit it was fun though. They do make me laugh.

4) While the girls and I were trying on suits, I got a call from Ladies Man wondering where we were. He and Drummer Boy were finished.

Me: Did you guys find something?

Ladies Man: We narrowed it down to three finalists and now we have to pick the champion.

Drama Queen may be right that he needs to inherit her name.

When we found the guys, they each held three suits, one of which was the same. I think they were tempted to get matching suits only to torment their poor sisters, but it wasn't worth it for their own fashion, I guess, because they ended up with different ones.

Wouldn't you know it, the boys who really didn't give a flip about getting new swimming trunks found some and the girls ran out of time before we found anything. Grrrr. Men don't realize how good they have it in the clothing department.

5) Miss innocent One had a piano recital last weekend. I was all prepared to take blurry, crappy pictures as I usually do, but when I went to take a shot, my camera flashed "low battery" and shut off. Boo. I am such an incompetent mother (Just ask the shoppers at the mall who listened to my children!). It was especially bad since Miss Innocent One is the youngest and always feels slighted in the home movie/picture department.

To save face, I asked Ladies Man to snap a picture with his phone. I think we can call him worse than me.

Nice job, Miss Innocent One. Remember, do not measure my love by my picture taking skills! Think instead of my sage advice, like "Don't pick your nose in public."

6) The P90X craze continues at our house. Drama Queen, who is never to be outdone by anyone, decided to start the series with her boyfriend. Ladies Man joins them from time to time as do Kevin and I. The other night they did the Kenpo-x workout (think kickboxing) and Kevin came away with something new to tease Drama Queen about.

Have you ever seen the episode of Friends where Phoebe wants to run with Rachel?



Yeah. This is kinda what Drama Queen looks like when she tries to simulate jumping rope. It's so funny.

7) We've got a low key and fun weekend planned, celebrating the holiday with my family. We're looking forward to some chill time since our summer musical is next weekend and we'll be at church every night except Monday next week. Those of you close enough should come see the silly, family friendly show that still packs a powerful message.

That's it for me today, friends. Read more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary and have a lovely weekend.

What Good Does it Do to Pray?

When things don't go as I like, especially if I've spent some time praying, I question God. When prayers go unanswered or are answered contrary to my wishes, I doubt God's faithfulness. Does He really hear us?

I prayed my whole life for my parents' marriage only to have them split up a week before their thirtieth anniversary.

I prayed for God to sell our first house. It took seven years!

I pray things for my kids which haven't transpired.

I ask God for direction and hear the same thing, "Just keep doing what you're doing."

Is it awful of me to admit that often I wonder what good praying does? I don't get the answers I hear others get. I don't have those "It's a God thing" moments. My prayer life feels like a series of endurance tests, of waiting, waiting, waiting for God's perfect timing which never coincides with mine. Just once I'd like to see an answer right away.

But if I had my answer right away, would I forget it as quickly as it came? Does the waiting make me remember? Which requires more faith, getting what you ask for when you ask for it, or having to wait?

And what exactly does God promise us in prayer?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

It doesn't say have your prayer answered and you'll find peace. It says present your requests to God and His peace will guard your heart and mind.

Present: give something to (someone) formally or ceremonially

Does this mean prayer is not what God gives us. It's what we give God?

Have I been missing out on peace because I'm not doing my part in giving up the problem?

What good does it do to pray? Nothing, if I'm not trusting God enough to really give it up. But when I do, He soothes. He comforts. His presence brings me rest. He teaches me perseverance which His Word tells us makes us mature and complete.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8

Amen and amen.

Are you presenting your requests to God?


Photo Credit: aronki

The Summer Blues

It happens to me every year at this time.

Activities slowly dwindle. School dismisses. And I'm left feeling empty. I want to die down as the busyness does. I carry a general malaise, wishing to hide and ignore everybody, everything. I long to sleep and read and nothing else. I envy my kids who seem care free. I'm just tired, wondering if any of the things that fill my time matter, if they're worth the investment. I feel dry. Used up. Unmotivated. Uninspired.

The guilt for feeling this way compounds my problem. There's nothing for me to be depressed about. What kind of a whiny baby am I?

I take it to God and am honest about my feelings. He says nothing, just let's me get it out. And I keep doing the next thing though my heart's not in it. I go on like this for a week before I realize I'm missing His touch and a sense of His Spirit working in me.

"Why have you left me, God?" I ask. And He shows me this:

" . . . Be strong, all you people of the land," declares the Lord, "and work. For I am with you," declares the Lord Almighty. "This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear."

Haggai 2:4-5

He tells me I'm just tired, to give myself a break, to remember He is with me always, even when I don't feel it. He says keep doing what you're doing until I tell you to stop. He says, "I know. I see."

And though I don't understand and don't really feel much better, I know what I must do. Be strong and work. Know His Spirit is with me. Do not fear.

It's enough to tackle some outdoor jobs I've put off, to cook a decent meal for my family, to spur me to write a blog post I don't want to write. And that is something, isn't it? Eventually these summer blues will pass. My job is to keep moving forward until they do.

Do you ever feel like this, questioning your significance, your place in life? Does the change of season put you into evaluation and degradation mode as it does me? Can you join me in doing what is right, regardless of how you feel?

Be strong and work.
Know His Spirit is with you.
Do not fear.


Join Loni to read more posts from In "Other" Words.


Photo Credit: VisualTreats

7 Quick Takes (Volume 184)

1) How was your Mother's Day? I enjoyed mine thoroughly. All my kids were home and we ate and did little else. No rehearsals to run off to. A chance to lay low on a Sunday. Heaven. An added treat was some friends stopping by for a visit on their way to a graduation party. Kevin's family came over for homemade ice cream. Very low key. EXACTLY what love.

2) Get a load of this Mother's Day card!

Getting my kids to take a decent picture was a challenge, but we eventually managed it.

3) What kind of insufficient mother have I been that my grown children cannot wrap a present? My boys thought they were being funny.

You'd think they were two years old and had never seen tape before!

4) School is out for all my kids now. Time to refigure how my days will work, how to allocate my kids' new free time. Time for a break from the normal routine. I don't do well with change. Pray for my people, okay?

5) And speaking of school, look at the note I found on Miss Innocent One's alarm clock Sunday night.

You think she was ready to be done with school?

6) Since my routine has changed, I've gotten lazy. (Change is not good for me!) I've accomplished very little all week. My house is a mess. I haven't done much writing. About the only good thing I've completed is exercising. The worst of it is I really don't care. What happened to my motivation? I've got stuff to do! But what I really want to say is, "Give me a lounge chair and a book. This girl's ready to relax." Too bad I can't.

Stupid life. Why does it have to go on day after day when we just want to sit already? Boo.

7) These quick takes are evidence of my lackluster performance in every area this week, huh? Can you say BORING?!!!! That's the best I got today, folks. Love it or leave it.

And with that I bid you adieu. Find more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

How Do You Please God?

In the last interview before his death, Jerry Falwell was asked what he wanted God to say to him at the pearly gates.

"That's easy," he said without hesitation, "He'll say, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

Not, "I WANT Him to say well done, good and faithful servant," but "HE'LL SAY, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

He was certain God was pleased with him.

I wish I knew his secret. How can one be that sure? How do you know when you've pleased God?

When things go haywire in my life, I question myself. What did I do to deserve this? Am I being punished by God? But the Bible says, "the Lord disciplines those He loves and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (Hebrews 12:6)

Are we looking for conventional displays of pleasure from an unconventional God? Do we look for what will please us--financial blessing, stress-free lives, meaningful relationships? Are we peering through human eyes with little depth or understanding?

Throughout the history of the world, Christians have been persecuted, not applauded for their efforts. Missionaries sacrifice their lives and I doubt their children left behind feel it was a reward for good service. Success in God's eyes rarely resembles what we'd call success here on earth. So how do we gauge God's pleasure?

We've got to trust His Word, don't you think?

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
John 14:27

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Hebrews 13:6

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:17

Do you obey His commands?
Do you do good and share with others?
Are you His child?

If you can answer yes to each question, chances are you're pleasing God.

It takes faith to trust that you please Him, doesn't it? Did Jerry Falwell have certainty because he had strong faith? Can I have the same assurance if I take scripture seriously and believe it? Have I been trying to prove myself to God and others instead of relying on His Word at face value?

The truth is we please God if we are His child, if we love Him, and do what He says. End of story. He is not more impressed with us if we perform mighty works or evangelize thousands. I don't love my children more when they achieve a certain status. They don't gain more favor in my eyes by being the valedictorian or winning a regent's scholarship or securing a high-paying job. I love them, period. I just can't help it. And likewise, if we are His, if we have professed Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts God raised Him from the dead, He is pleased with us. Period. The hard things we go through are not a punishment. They are meant for our growth.

If you're feeling picked on or going through a tough time or wondering if God's forgotten you, fight the urge to think God doesn't care. He must be pleased with you, must be planning something special for your life to bother with discipline. You may be on the right track. Hang in there. Keep pursuing God hard. Know, as Jerry Falwell did, that you are His faithful servant, no matter what your circumstances suggest.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 138:8

Do you struggle in feeling God's pleasure?


Photo Credit: elycefeliz

7 Quick Takes (Volume 183)

1) I found a great Bible verse to spring on your children when they're being less than respectful.

The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother's instructions will be plucked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.

Proverbs 30:17

Are they arguing about something you want them to do? You can now say, "Well, I guess it's up to you if you want your eyes plucked out." Teasing you about your new shirt? "I guess that vulture will have a tasty lunch today." It will bring passive aggressive commenting to a whole new level.

There you go. Parenting ammunition. You're welcome.

2) And speaking of parenting, it's hard to believe I'm now the parent of a 22-year-old. We had a great time celebrating Drummer Boy's birthday at Carlos O'Kelly's last Saturday, but I must admit I was slightly disappointed there was not more hoopla with it being Cinco de Mayo. I thought we'd walk into some special decorations or unusual dishes at the very least, but nada. It was like any other day we ate there.

It was impossible to get a good picture of Drummer Boy to commemorate the occasion, but in trying I got this shot which verifies what everyone's been saying. Drummer Boy is starting to look like his dad.


And here is what happens when you give Ladies Man the camera. When will I learn?

Be very glad his glasses hide exactly how creepy his eyes look. Ew.

Hey! Here's a good spot for Kevin to whip out that verse!

And Drummer Boy's usual response to his brother.

It's fun to watch them enjoy each other, but sometimes I gotta gear myself up for the noise!

3) Remember me talking last week about Drama Queen and her way of determining what animals people look like? Here's some she came up with this week.


I don't know why I can't look at these without laughing!

4) How 'bout another blurry concert picture? It seems appropriate as that is how most of the parents in our town are feeling after the concert extravaganza of the last two weeks. This one includes Miss Innocent One (on the right end) singing with the kids who made it into the UNO Honor Choir. She looks like she and her partner were either messing up or having fun.

5) We also enjoyed a family graduation party over the weekend. My brothers' kids are way younger than mine, but it doesn't prevent my kids from loving to hang out with them. I love these pictures.



6) Last Sunday night was the Band Banquet where Ladies Man and his cohort were announced as Drum Majors for next year. They're going to have a lot of fun with this huge height difference.

7) As I type this, I'm enjoying the beautiful evening in our upstairs porch my husband recently converted into a music studio/office space. A gentle breeze floats in around me, reminding me to calm down after an emotional book search for a book we never found with tomorrow's homework in it. Pray for my child today, people. She's gonna need it.

And with that we'll call it Friday. Enjoy your weekend and sneak in more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

Looking For Mercy

You may want to take a step back from your computer if you dare to read this. There's no telling what may happen if you venture forth.

It was one of those mornings, actually one of those weeks, where being a woman got the best of me, hampering my sleep, bringing out the growly in me. No doubt Satan took advantage and started pointing out all the injustices in my life, all the stuff I do that fills my time, that leave me wondering if it's worth it. He suggested it didn't matter and no one cares and why in the world do you kill yourself doing it and what's in it for you?

I had to go to Bible study and thought it would be good for me anyway, but my heart was not in it. Every verse made me wonder why God makes it hard on us here, why He asks so much of us sometimes. Why teach us hard lessons and give us relationships only to tear them away later? Why is He cryptic, forcing me to feel like a toddler wandering in the dark?

Then someone mentioned the ark of the covenant and how the Law was housed in the ark, the mercy seat sat on top and the presence of God rested in the mercy seat.

"Whoa, isn't that wonderful?" she said, "What rests between God's Law and His presence? His mercy!"

Tears filled my eyes. I couldn't see God's mercy.

(Here is the part you may want to scootch back to avoid the lightning strike.)

Every time I think I'm going to get a break in life, a chance to do things I want to do, God says, "Okay, now I want you to do this." I understand to whom much is given, much is required and most of the time I'm okay with that, but that day I longed for God's mercy, for time that wasn't full, for a getaway with my husband and nobody needing anything from me.

I wanted mercy and didn't feel it. All I had swimming in my head was my inability to do anything worthy of Him, my limitations, my failures, my selfishness, the repulsive attitude residing in my spirit, that sickened me, but wouldn't let me go.

"God, can I have a little mercy?" I asked, "Can you save me from myself?"

I kept pushing on, because that's all you can do on those days. Everything may be a struggle, but nothing is gained by closing yourself off to wallow in misery alone. I just kept doing the next thing, doing what was before me and got through it. Once I had some quiet time to myself and reflected on the day, I realized His mercy followed me everywhere.

It was all around me in having to go to Bible study and buck up a little instead of sit at home feeling sorry for myself, in hugs that squeezed the stuffing out of me and whispers in my ear asking what my deal was, in an impromptu lunch with a friend I'd wanted to get together with for months, in a chance to get all the ugly feelings out at a friend's house and still be loved, in basking in the sunshine and a special fizzy drink I could feel good about ingesting, in a sweet email from a dear woman, in half an hour of quiet on the couch nestled with my sweet husband, in a family who didn't mind leftovers for dinner, in direction for an upcoming speech and ice cream at the end of the day.

God's mercy was there, even when I didn't feel it, even when my putrid attitude didn't deserve it.

Truly God is good and patient and kind.

It would be tempting to feel ashamed of myself, and if I'm honest I must say I do, but it's necessary to push those feelings aside too for God has already forgiven and forgotten. Instead I choose to thank Him for His mercy now.

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:19-23

Thank You, Lord for showing me mercy.

How has God shown you mercy this week?


To read more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Laurie at Women Taking a Stand.



Photo Credit: lovestruck.

7 Quick Takes (Volume 182)

1) Drama Queen has this way of sizing up people and deciding what animal they look like. The other night at dinner she was saying someone looked like a cross between a hippo and a bug and that another guy looked like a bull with an ant head.

Me: Where do you come up with these things?

Drama Queen: That's just what they look like. Dad is a koala bear. We all know it.

Me: What did you say I am again?

Drama Queen: A meerkat.

Everyone else laughed, but I was not amused.

Me: Now how do you figure that?

Drama Queen: You're kind of twitchy like a meerkat. Your eyes dart around from person to person. You have a meerkat kind of nose and a skinny neck. When you get excited about something you talk in a really fast high pitched voice. You're a meerkat.

Me: What?! I am not twitchy!

I looked at my darling husband for support.

Me (to Kevin): Am I twitchy?

All he could do was laugh. Traitor.

I'll give her the darting eyes and skinny neck and maybe the meerkat nose (maybe), and yes, I do talk a little fast when excited, but twitchy I cannot accept. Boo on you, Drama Queen.

2) Miss Innocent One experienced major stress with her band concert this week. She was to play a solo in one of the jazz band pieces and last Friday her saxophone quit working. Her instructor said he'd get her another one to use since hers would not be fixed in time for the concert, but she couldn't practice her solo all weekend like she wanted to. She didn't have band on Monday and wasn't able to get a horn until Tuesday, the day of the concert. She brought it home, hoping to practice on it a little only to discover she couldn't find her music! She really wanted to run through it because the borrowed horn had a few idiosyncrasies her sax doesn't and she wanted to make sure she compensated for them. No music, a borrowed sax and then to top matters off, the skirt she hoped to borrow from her sister was too big. So then there was a clothing issue! Any of you with a 13-year-old daughter understand the crisis that ensued. To top it all off, once she figured out what to wear, she cut herself shaving. It just wasn't her night. The poor girl kept pushing herself along through tears. Despite all the odds, she looked good and her solo sounded great. Nice job, babe!

I'm a terrible picture taker (I blame it on my cheap camera. It can't be user error, can it?), but if you look closely, you can see her flashing me a whatever-I'm-glad-that's-over look after the jazz band performance (she's the only girl playing saxophone). Is it any wonder she had a headache by the time it was all over?

No worries, babe. You did it. And did it well. I'm proud of you for pushing through and giving it your best. We thought you sounded good.

3) Since he's finished his P90X routine, Kevin's been looking for alternative programs to follow, something that isn't quite as strenuous or time consuming, but helps him maintain what he's worked so hard to get. He downloaded an app that gives you short 15-20 minute routines you can group together yourself to make your own workouts. We tried a couple the other day and found them to be pretty good, good enough to get the sweat rolling, but the free app is a computer telling you what to do. Imagine the most deadpan robot voice you can think of and see how these would motivate you.

"Good job."
"Remember to breathe deeply."
"You are doing fantastic."
"Lay on your back and chill out."

I don't know about you, but hearing robot lady at 6:30 in the morning didn't really do it for me. She lacked any kind of Tony Horton charm. Not that she didn't try. At one point she did say (again, think computer generated monotone), "Bring it." I never thought I'd say it, but we miss you, Tony!

4) We have this bad habit at our house of teasing each other about our strange physical flaws. Drama Queen always gets it about her freakishly small ears and ugly toes. Drummer Boy gets teased about how hairy he is (Now that I think about it, I believe Drama Queen's animal name for him is Sasquatch.). Kevin consistently hears about his lack of an upper lip along with his freakishly small ears as well (wonder where she gets it). Miss Innocent One's thumbs do not look remotely the same. One of her thumbnails is very short and stubby and the other is quite a bit longer. They look like they come from two different people. One of the kids calls them toe thumbs because they look more like toes than thumbs. Of course Ladies Man is constantly teased about his size, but Drama Queen and Drummer Boy like to bug him about his "lady hands" too. I'd swap him if I could because they get on me about my "old lady hands."

I guess the good thing about it is we're all included and we've all accepted the truth about our flaws and can laugh about them. Somehow the laughing provides a perverse form of bonding. Is that bad?

5) We have a ceramic bowl one of our kids made in pottery class sitting on the edge of our kitchen counter. We've gotten in the habit of dropping our keys in it whenever we come in the back door. It gave me a practical use for yet another pottery project (how many different sized bowls can a family use?), and the upside is we always know where to find our keys. The other day Ladies Man put his keys in the bowl, heard the familiar plunk of metal against ceramic and said, "Ah, the sound of home. When I go to college, that will be the sound that tells me I'm home again."

I couldn't help but smile. For me, the sound of home is rain falling on a tin roof outside the back door or train whistles blowing in the middle of the night. Cows mooing and locusts humming take me back to childhood immediately. There's aromas too. But I wouldn't dream of asking Ladies Man what smells like home. It's hard telling what he'd say!

6) Happy Birthday to Drummer Boy who turns 22 on Saturday. How did my baby with the funny ears (hey, there's another one I forgot) grow into a man so quickly?

I was teaching the year he was born and lucky for me, had a student teacher my second semester. I got to spend every afternoon with my feet up in the teacher's lounge, preparing finals for when I'd be gone on maternity leave. He arrived a few days early on my principal's birthday, one of our good friend's birthdays and the birthday of Kevin's deceased grandfather. He was the first Boesiger to carry on the family name and being born on the same day as his great-grandfather was a thrill for Kevin's grandmother.

I'll never forget the response we got from Kevin's mother when we called to tell them the good news. She knew we had chosen an unusual name for him (Keygan) and immediately asked, "And what did you name him?" When Kevin responded with her biggest fear she said, "Well, we'll love him anyway."

Now of course, she can't think of him as anything else. To her defense I remember dreading it when people would ask what my baby's name was. It undoubtedly led to "What?" and me doing my best to get them to understand. But I've never regretted choosing it and he's always liked it. When he writes it on a piece of music, it definitely stands out.

Happy Birthday, Keygan! We love you!

7) We've got a full weekend with a bridal shower, graduation party and celebrating Drummer Boy's birthday on Saturday. Sunday brings our regular activities and rehearsals along with a band banquet for Ladies Man. Why is the end of a school year such a marathon? I think school administrators ought to be passing out protein bars or energy drinks at every event. The teachers should get a double dose. No wonder they get the summers off. They put in 150 hours a week the last month of school!

And that's all I got this fine Friday. Hope your weekend is good. Find more Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.

If they knew how much they were loved . . .

I went to pick up my daughter from school and cars lined the streets for blocks.

"Hmmm, must be a track meet," I thought, but then I noticed people walking to the church adjacent to her middle school and remembered.

There was a funeral, for a young man who took his own life.

Traffic was slow and backed up as parents came to pick up kids and funeral attenders looked for parking. Forced to wait, I watched hoards of people approach the church doors. It must have been full inside, as a long line stretched down the sidewalk, waiting to get in. I saw coworkers of the mother, teachers, friends and many, MANY teenagers. The setting was so somber I felt guilty about the purr of my engine. I wanted to shush the kids leaving school, yelling to their friends in usual fashion, unaware of the pain inside the building next to them.

A long line of people. And they kept coming and coming and coming.

I didn't know the kid. Never met him. Only knew his mother as a teacher at school. But that line made me sad. My nose burned. My stomach got queasy. It struck me ironic the way life intersected death in that church parking lot. It wasn't that long ago he would have been one of these middle school kids running through, in a hurry to get home from school. Who could have predicted his life would end this way?

People kept coming. The line moved, but never diminished.

If he knew how many people would attend his funeral, would he have found a reason live? Was he aware of the multitude he touched?

Are we any different? Do we muddle through life assuming no one cares, feeling desperate, but too afraid to say something?

Do you know how much you are loved? Do you have any idea how many would attend your funeral?

If you knew how much you are loved, could you press on?

It makes me think I need to tell people more. I need to express every appreciation no matter how small. I shouldn't let the moment pass, even if it's embarrassing, because what if that person thinks they don't matter?

Sigh. We've failed each other, don't you think? We save face instead of saving tender hearts. I want to do better. You too?

How can we show people how much they are loved?


Photo Credit: PurBlanca

How Can I Do That?!

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read, and your life is under scrutiny every day. What do others learn from you? Do they see an accurate picture of your God?”

John MacArthur

Can you say PRESSURE?!

I get huffy with my husband and yell at my kids and speed when I'm running late and get sassy with the Verizon clerk and mumble under my breath about all the church activities I have to attend. I'm emotional when I'm tired, snarky when I'm hormonal, dwell on myself too much and whisper curse words when I bump my leg on the dishwasher door for the 100th time.

And I'm supposed to be a BIBLE?!

I'm not perfect and I can't be perfect. How can I have the loving, gracious spirit I'm supposed to display at all times? How can I possibly live up to this responsibility?

I don't have to.

Yep, you heard me right. I don't have to live up to this microscopic scrutiny.

JESUS does.

Your very lives are a letter than anyone can read just by looking at you. Christ himself wrote it--not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives--and we publish it.

2 Corinthians 3:3

I can only be a living Bible through Christ's touch, through His Spirit living within me. Left to myself, I will fail. I will disappoint. But in the loving hands of a skillful potter . . . ah, now we're talking.

. . . by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.

1 Corinthians 15:10

HE will make me a Bible. His grace will fill in my cracks. His work will open the eyes of others, not anything I do.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Clean me up. Shine in me.

Make me a Bible.

Find more ideas spawned by this quote or link up yourself at Sunflower Faith.