HOW DID YOUR DAY START?

Posted on June 20, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Yesterday was a lovely day.  I made it through the first day of my 78th year on earth – received many good wishes – spent time with my granddaughter and topped it off with a visit with a dear friend who took us out to dinner.

Today started with similar style as the sun woke me up.  Sun in your eyes first thing in the morning is a good beginning in my opinion.  Still bathing in the afterglow of yesterday I was excited to start another day of almost summer with energy and excitement.  I looked all over for my husband.  I knew he was somewhere about, finally realizing he was outside with his first cup of coffee, enjoying that first glimpse of sunlight.

Actually it wasn’t his first glimpse. He was up at 5 AM to look at his tire – the one he pulled a short nail from last night.  The tire was deflated.  Fortunately we have a little compressor to fill tires and he’s currently working on that.  Of course a part is missing from the air pumper thingy so he’s now searching for the part. That’s step two of this adventure.  He’s scheduled to meet with his plein air painting group this morning at 9  and is hoping to get the tire filled enough to drive to the tire store when it opens at 8. I  wonder what step three will be.

As I write this, I’m thinking of how we plan our days and think those plans are going determine the course of the day, only to be interrupted with a new challenge.  Sometimes I think these little glitches are there to remind us that God is in charge no matter how much we think we are.  We can set goals, organize thoughts, map out the plans and even carry out those things just as we planned, but if we don’t ask God to be with us as we move forward, we can almost always count on little wake up calls to let us know that He’s got this.

Our human nature tells us that we must be masters of our own world.  The world tells us that we are in control.  The devil wants us to think we are, so he pushes all the buttons to make us think we’ve got this.  Simple problems can become huge if we let them, or they can be little blips which set up road blocks for our journey.  The way we look at them has so much to do with where we wind up.

The tire will get filled, or a new one will be installed.  The original plan for the morning has been changed slightly, but it might have prevented something else that could’ve been an even greater problem.  I don’t expect God to solve all my problems, but I do know that he has a plan for everything that happens in our lives. Therefore I’m confident that His plan is always the best.  Trust in him always and lean not on your own understanding.

 

 

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I’M NOT A TREE!

Posted on June 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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There’s something about a tree.  When it grows old it has gained great stature.  It has reached towards heaven and branched out in many directions.  The circles on your trunk indicate how many years you’ve endured.  People on the other hand, usually lose their height as they age.  The bend differently than they did 40 years ago.  They aren’t as resilient and the circles around their girth indicate that they’ve overindulged for too long.

I refuse to let my age get the best of me.  Instead of feeling old I’ve decided to consider myself a huge barrel of wisdom and knowledge.  I’ve accumulated years of both, along with experience and the scars to prove it.

I used to think 77 was ancient.  That was when I was about twelve.  With each passing year, I’ve discovered that anything older than me was over the hill.  Now in the golden years of life, 125 is looking old and I feel like a young whippersnapper.

I remember growing up in a classroom that still used black chalk boards.  I had a teacher of ample size who always wore black.  When she approached that chalk board, I imagined she must’ve been at least 60.  She’d apply the chalk and create a sentence and erase the same all in one sweep.  Her black dress was apparently smudged with white in conspicuous places when she turned around.  That woman was undoubtedly more like thirty, but to me she looked almost twice that age.

I guess you’re as old as you feel and there are plenty of times when I feel like Methuselah, but I certainly wouldn’t want to live as long as he did.  Today the seventies are considered the new fifties.  I think someone approaching seventy came up with that one.  Aging doesn’t have to indicate the end of living.  In fact in this stage of life, you have more time to think about things like the beauty of God’s creation – the joy of watching your children and grandchildren succeed – the comfort in knowing that this is not the end of life, but much more like the beginning.

So happy birthday to me.  I don’t have one foot in the grave yet.  I’m not a tree.  I am a child of God and life is good.  He allowed me this day as a gift.  I can’t wait to meet him personally to thank Him for it.

 

 

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LOVE CONQUERS ALL

Posted on June 19, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Two lives mingle into one,

Of one mind,

One spirit,

One body,

Tempted at times by distractions,

Yet always returning to each other,

God watches over these creatures,

As He sustains us in marriage,

Never leaving,

Always faithful,

Watching and protecting,

Cuddling us in His arms,

Lifting us when we fall,

Teaching us to depend on Him,

And each other,

Breaking us,

Through all kinds of peril,

Building us,

Through disappointment,

Through misunderstandings,

And always returning to Him,

For guidance.

 

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EXCESS BAGGAGE

Posted on June 17, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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“Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust and hotels and baggage and chatter.” John Muir

We moved into our new “old” house almost three years ago.  At that time we had to downsize everything, because the house is half the size of the one we left behind.  Since both my husband and I had a huge collection of stuff, that meant letting go of a lot of things that were dear to us.  Since that move, we’ve been struggling to unpack all the things that managed to get stored in our one car garage and shed.

Some things we simply could not part with.  We’ve come up with a way to reuse some of the excess baggage which will never make it into the house. Instead we’ve begun to use some of those things in our outside area.  We have a large lot, so we’re filling the space with interesting recycled furniture, newly created sculptures out of odds and ends and things that we’ll never use again.

Being married to an artist has a lot of advantages, because this man of mine has the vision to see things and how they can be used to become part of the environment.  For a couple years we have had piles of unused wood stacked in various locations in our yard.  At one time it looked like a giant Jenga game.  He is now making use of those pieces as part of the landscaping.  Many will get sculpted, some won’t, but they’re being used instead of being piled into a heap.

We’ve created several little sitting areas, which each has its own personality.  Secret gardens and places to sit, also allow us to work and relax in those areas, because we can take little breaks as we work.

Eventually, our yard may become a showplace or an eyesore, depending on your point of view, but in the meantime we’re putting our excess baggage to use in new ways and we might even be able to get a car into our garage.

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MEMORIES OF SUMMERS PAST

Posted on June 17, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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I hear there’s such a thing as a “stay-cation,” which allows you to sleep in your own home while visiting local sites of interest.  That sounds like a good plan to me.  We do have a lot of interesting things to see right here in Minnesota, like flour mills, fur trading camps, lakes and rivers galore and the Mall of America.  Somehow  those places don’t hold the allure they once did.  In fact, our vacations always included some adventurous place which would take us as far away from home as possible without breaking the bank.

When you get into your golden years, a vacation sounds more like work, so we opt for watching the travel channel for our journeys.  I can’t help recalling some of the family trips we took when our children were growing up.  There was their first camping excursion with our first two kids.  The tent was set up.  We roasted marshmallows on the open fire, hiked, looked for signs of wild animals and explored the beauty of nature.  When it was time to go to sleep the kids were so tired their eyes closed instantly. In the meantime, we enjoyed the fire for a little longer and then went off to our sleeping bags.

It might be important to note that I am a city girl.  I’d never gone camping before.  My husband, on the other hand, is a great adventurer and even though he was brought up in the city, he knew everything about the outdoors.  It wasn’t long before rain began to fall gently upon our little tent.  Within seconds torrents ripped through the campsite and the wind had fiercely tossed our tent about – with us in it.

My husband immediately outside the tent trying to secure it to a tree so we wouldn’t be gone with the wind. Did I mention he was clothed only in his underwear.  I stayed inside and tried to help keep the tent upright by pushing on the walls.  Not a good idea.  Water began to drip down my arms and into my armpits. This was not the first or last time, but my life passed quickly before my eyes as I pictured myself and my family being swept into oblivion.  An abundance of prayers were said by both of us as the storm raged around us.

The children slept through the entire event. We, on the other hand were soaking wet and completely exhausted.  The next day as we spent the morning at the Laundromat drying our clothes and sleeping bags, we heard that a tornado had touched down in our campground the night before.  And there we were in the midst of it.

Since that vacation, I much prefer staying at a Holiday Inn, but it did prove one thing to me. If my kids could sleep through a tornado in a tent under the stars, they were ready for anything.  It also showed me that God was there to protect us even in the storm.  It wouldn’t be the last time or the last storm.

  “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.”                   \ Psalm 107:28-31

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VACATION TIME

Posted on June 17, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The city life has strangled you, in every single way,

You pack the car, the wife and kids and make your getaway.

You fight the traffic and the heat, you long for the serene.

You need a place to hide away, a different kind of scene,

The fence has seen its better days, the roof is leaking too,

Mosquitos fill the air at night, to get a taste of you,

The rooms are small and crowded, you think it holds such peace,

A place where you can get some rest, your troubles to release,

A cabin in the woods is great, a tent will also do,

Get further from the noise of life and touch the morning dew,

A sleeping bag under the stars will fill the space within,

But I prefer my bed at home or at nice clean inn.

 

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WANTED – A FATHER

Posted on June 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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There is no real job description associated with the title of father.  Many men have fathered children, but are not fathers to them.  It takes a man of real character and strength to be a good dad.  If you were to fill out a resume for the position, which would be rare in itself, you might see something like this list of qualifications

Wanted – man to fill the following requirements.

  • Must have strong moral values.
  • Be willing to fill a management position.
  • Able to act as counselor, disciplinarian, validator, encourager, teacher, life coach, financial advisor/provider, and spiritual leader.
  • Experience: None.
  • Pay: None.
  • Benefits: Unlimited.

It’s not an easy job and it certainly isn’t always what you hope it would be. At times it can be thankless, frustrating and one of the hardest things you will ever have to do in life. There are days when you can’t seem to do anything right. Today society is placing a stigma on the very job of fatherhood. A woman can now get artificially inseminated. She can hire a nanny to care for her children. Our government provides for single mothers in a way that a husband used to.

Who needs a man? A child does. It is so important for the father to be involved in the raising of his children. It’s even more important that the man leans on God to help him do the job. With God at the head of the household the task not only becomes easier, it becomes a blessing.

Thank you, Lord for fathers and for their impact on future generations. They are a gift from you. Thank you also for providing mentoring male role models for families that no longer have dads in their lives. May their role be recognized and revered as you established it to be.  Amen

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RAISE THE FLAG

Posted on June 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

FLAG

Originally posted 06/14/2018

A country’s flag is a symbol of what that country stands for and believes.  The American flag is no exception.  With its stripes, we’re reminded of the thirteen original colonies which fought for her independence from a tyrannical country across the sea.  We see representation of the fifty states which make up the United States of America in the white stars on a field of blue.

Many believe that the first flag was designed and by Betsy Ross.  This was substantiated by Ross’ own family members, but the truth is a man named Francis Hopkinson was commissioned to design flag by the Continental Congress, according to journals from that organization.  Betsy was a seamstress and it’s likely that she fashioned the first flag.

Walmart claims that they sold around 115,000 American flags on September 11, 2001, as compared to 6,400 flags on the same date in 2000.  I remember that being one of my first thoughts after the terrorist attack of 9/11.  I felt compelled to buy a flag and display it in support of my country – but there were none to be found.  For that one day in my memory, the flag was a hot commodity.

Flags have been placed at half staff to honor those who have died.  We raise the flag to honor our heroes.  We fly the flag as a show of support for our nation.  We salute the flag to show how much we love our country.  Flags have been used to drape coffins.  They then are folded and handed to the closest next of kin.  We place flags on graves of fallen soldiers.  A flag was placed on the moon when the Americans landed there so many years ago.  The Star Spangled Banner was written during war time, by Francis Scott Key, and is referred to as waving over the land of the free and the home of the brave.

On the other hand, flags have been spat upon, used in demonstrations against the policies of our country.  They’ve been burned, torn and destroyed as a show of protest.  Somehow, over time, our flag has been abused and scorned.

It’s time to restore our love of country again.  It was founded on Judeao /Christian value, placing its trust in God. We need to be strong in defending her to the death.  In spite of mistakes made, corruption, the power of the devil and fake news, we still live in the greatest country around – where we have the right to stand up for our flag.

HAPPY FLAG DAY! 

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WALLY’S FRYDADDY FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on June 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on June 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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CONTRAST

Posted on June 14, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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This is another favorite of Paul’s art.  The stark contrast of the lone white tree in the center of darkness is so true of us once we have become part of Jesus’ family.  We stand out from others, not because we are better or that we’ve earned our way to heaven, but because our God is so good that He loves us and washes us clean in spite of our darkness.

ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The world is filled with darkness, the sky is filled with clouds,

The hold of sin entwines you,  the weeds encase like shrouds,

But in that deepest sadness, one light remains unmoved,

His arms reach out to hold you, your life will be improved,

Just ask that Light to guide you, repent and follow Him,

By giving up the darkness, new life in you begins.

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MY WRITING JOURNEY

Posted on June 13, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Most people have a preconceived idea about artists.  Some think being one requires living in squalor, experiencing all areas of life and staring at the face of a computer all day.  While others imagine the debonair, carefree lifestyle of one who has tons of money and needs to fill their time.  There are also those who think that an artist is full of themselves, arrogant, time squanderers who can’t manage to get a real job.

The truth is an artist may be all of those things.  A painter or sculptor may spend days weeks and even years on a piece of work which can easily be duplicated and sold for so much less by mechanical means.  A dancer works on a piece of choreography for weeks only to injure a calf muscle and be unable to perform. A musician strive for years to compose a complicated orchestral piece and die the day before it’s performed.  A writer can write every day with discipline and dedication to the art form only to have his work disappear into cyberspace in just an instant.

As a writer I’ve made it a habit to write at a certain time of day so that I am able to remain on top of my craft.  I write about things I’ve experienced or know about.  I write because it’s an inner thing which I can’t not do.  I’ve published a few things, but always seem to fail when it comes to the submission part of the work, because of my low self confidence and unworthiness.  I’ve never felt good enough at what I do.  I suppose that has to do with having such high expectations.

Today anyone can be an artist.  The proof is in the fact that there are so many out there.  The competition is fierce.  To self-publish is the norm.  Book publishers are almost a thing of the past.  It’s kind of like the magic has been taken out of authorship.  No more do you hear about an Edgar Allen Poe, dug deep into the depths of depression – alone – suffering – pondering on thoughts of death and suicide.  Well, maybe Stephen King, but I don’t know the guy.  The multi-layered tales of Sherlock Holmes and the character driven stories of Victor Hugo are classic, but who are the classic writers of today?

Maybe I should be satisfied with my desire to write and not so concerned with my success.  I believe once we let ourselves write for the sake of feeling the need to, we are freeing ourselves to do our best writing.

 

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THE PRODIGAL’S FATHER

Posted on June 13, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Originally posted on 06/17/201

Parenting is one of the most difficult occupations out there.  You’re responsible for another’s life, for the things they learn and become, for their discipline and social skills, for their behavior, what they eat, how they dress, healing their bruises both physical and emotional and that’s just the first year.

By the time they’re old enough to leave the nest, you’ve had a profound influence of good on your children.  They’ve become outstanding citizens, hard workers and responsible adults – yeh, right.

For most of us, parenting is done on a wing and a prayer.  It’s a learn-as-you-go process not only for the kids, but the adults as well.  God gives us lots of examples on raising children, but one that imitates His Fatherly love and compassion comes from one of Jesus’ parables.

The story of the prodigal son tells how an irresponsible young man left home and spent all his inheritance (which his dad gave him in advance) on foolish living.  Within a short time he was begging for food and even eating the scraps intended for pigs.  It isn’t a pretty story, is it?

How often do we squander the inheritance God has so richly blessed us with?  We take it for granted.  We waste it.  We squander all of it without gratitude.

Most fathers would find that to be the behavior of a rebellious, ungrateful son.  God, the Father (the prodigal’s dad in the story) welcomes his wayward son with open arms, just as He does for us.

We’ve all sinned and deserve His punishment, but thankfully, His love is way beyond human comprehension and He welcomes us back without a blink or any expectations.

As we look forward to celebrating dads this weekend, let’s not forget our heavenly Father.  His love spans the breadth of the world.  His love endures forever.  He never stops loving us, even when we abandon Him.

 

 

 

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COVERED WITH HIS PINIONS

Posted on June 13, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

This place that we have loved, this lonely withered space,

Has faltered with the winter snows and cannot rise again,

Without that inner life, that comes from heaven’s place,

Our lives will be diminished and scorned as dead terrain,

Within the ashen colors, inside the lifeless trees,

The damage has been sown, there is no longer gain,

Tempests are replaced with a quiet gentle breeze,

 

Though life has been drained from it, the fight will not be lost,

The battles will remain, but victory has a cost,

The precious blood of Jesus has paid for every sin,

And wrapped us with the will to live and new life to begin.

Our loss in life will be our gain, when to the end we come,

When we decrease we will increase, God’s plan than will be done.

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SUMMERTIME MOVIES

Posted on June 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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I know it’s summer, because school’s out and it’s time to go to Tuesday $5.00 movies with my granddaughter.  This has been a standing date, whenever there is anything worth seeing.  My granddaughter is sixteen, yet she is still a child at heart.  She loves Disney movies.  She still enjoys animated films and make believe.  So do I.  I guess we’re cut from the same cloth.  Yesterday, our date almost didn’t happen, because all but two seats were sold out.  I snatched them up.  Our seats were one row apart and she sat behind me so she could make sure I behaved.

I’d almost forgotten the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp, but as the film unfolded it all came flooding back into my brain.  The thought of a magic lamp, a flying carpet, three wishes and the possibility of having anything you ever dreamed of started sneaking into my memory.  Maybe this is why I’d forgotten about the story.  Throughout my life, promises of having everything necessary for a luxurious lifestyle was never meant to be.

As the story spilled onto the screen, it was apparent that luxury wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  The poor street urchin, Aladdin, was an orphan, fending for himself on the streets of Agrabah.  Straight from the tales of the Arabian nights, this story has evolved over the years, but still has one main thread running through it.  That being, the triumph of good over evil.  This theme has been manipulated over time, but I love the way this film depicts the wrongdoings Aladdin was involved in just to get a meal each day. Even though he said it was OK as long as he didn’t get caught.  The idea of a young child having to live that way is sorrowful, but he was doing what was necessary to survive.

He falls for the wealthiest woman in town and gains control of a magic lamp which houses a huge blue genie.  The genie will grant him three wishes and Aladdin learns to choose those wishes wisely. When the villain interferes there are conflicts, but in the end, the good guy always wins.  Happy endings are imperative in any good fairy tale.  The lovely lessons learned from this story is that we are all equal really.  We have the same beginnings.  Our circumstances will affect our lives, but how they turn out depends on how we live them.

My granddaughter is currently rehearsing for a stage production of “Aladdin.”  She is part of a program designed for children with special needs.  This program casts children of various special needs as characters in the play.  Each of them has a mentor who works alongside them, guiding them through the process and helping them if they forget a line or miss a cue.  In a way, she’s like that magic Genie in the lamp, allowing some very special friends to see their wishes realized on stage.

Each year, this child has astounded me with her care for others.  She is indeed a treasure in herself.  This experience has led her to contemplate a career as a special education teacher.  I know whatever she does will be part of her passion to help others.

In the meantime, we will go to the movies on Tuesdays.  We will continue to bond as grandparent and grandchild.  I will put up with her mood swings and she will speak louder so I can hear her and tolerate my driving, my breathing issues, my memory losses and my inability to keep up with her.  Why?  Because this is our story.  We love each other and want what’s best for each other.  That’s what I call a happy ending.

 

 

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ANOTHER TIME & PLACE

Posted on June 12, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

This painting was done as the backdrop for “Such a Time as This,” a musical play written and produced almost ten years ago with my children’s theatre group.  Paul researched the ancient cities of that time period and came up with this. He also found several pictures of the gods that were worshipped at that time, upon which he created the interior of the king’s palace.   This city had wealth beyond measure along with lavish lifestyles, a big party scene and lots and lots of sin. 

As a nation grows, this often happens.  As I think of our own nation, opulent and luxurious, it’s hard to imagine the seedy side of life.  Yet behind all the beauty and apparent wealth, there is another whole side to a civilization.  It includes the poor, the hurting, the sick, hungry and those who have no alternative for a better life.  When the bottom side of society becomes apparent, all the glory of that place is hidden in darkness.  I pray that our nation never succumbs to the evil that inhabits it.

 

It was at the height of it’s opulence, this city from of old,

It commanded respect and attention, its streets were paved with gold,

It shone like the brilliant sun in the sky, reflecting its bright rays,

Within the dark shadows secrets survived, infesting all the days.

 

The brilliance soon disappeared from all sight, as darkness slithered in,

No one realized what was happening,  knew nothing of this sin,

The ominous shadows penetrated the brilliance of the day,

Corruption and greed encapsulated and sent the good away.

 

That once shining and glorious city, no longer casts its light,

What remains are shards of days long ago, decay, great loss and blight,

If only the fire had been overseen, by those within her gate,

Perhaps a flame would rise from the embers, and new life would create.

 

We should learn from our own sweet history, but we often fail the test,

We think that we have the perfect answers, we think that we know best,

Instead of trusting our almighty God, we struggle and we fall,

Still patience abides in His gracious love, His love is meant for all.

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THOUGHTS ABOUT MY DAD

Posted on June 11, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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This rewind was first posted on 06/14/17.  The photograph is of my dad on his wedding day.  He was only twenty years old. He died at the age of 61 – a short life, but one filled with more love in his heart than he dared to show.

My dad taught me how to tie my shoes.
He grieved with me when my box turtle fell off the ledge
of our fourth floor apartment.
He came with me to the five and dime to return a trinket I had stolen
and apologize for not paying for it.
He caught me taking one of his cigarettes – A camel without a filter.
He then taught me the proper way for a lady to hold a cigarette.
I was probably fifteen.
My dad taught me the difference between right and wrong
And let me know that I would always be accountable for my actions.
When I became a teenager, he was the one who told me the facts of life.
It really made him squirm.
He always “interviewed” my dates.
They had to pass his inspection, but their opinion of him didn’t matter.
He would be at the door to greet us when we got home.
I tried my best to live up to his expectations, but I never felt I could.
His words of praise were few and far between,
But I relished each one and held it tightly in my heart.
He worked two jobs so I could attend a private high school.
He wanted so much more for my sister and me –
More than he ever had.
He must have thought we needed extra attention.
He had a beautiful tenor voice and always sang loudly in church.
His Irish heritage boomed on St. Patrick’s day as he sang “Danny Boy”
And raised another glass. He could drink more beer than the rest
Of them and it didn’t affect him in the least.
Time passed and I fell in love. My dad went a little crazy for a while.
He put the newspaper in the refrigerator
and the bread down the clothes chute.
He became an emotional wreck.
He held my arm tightly as we walked down the aisle to meet my husband,
I could see tears glistening in his usually stoic eyes. He was so proud.
He died at sixty one – a long time smoker – he suffered with lung cancer.
He clung tightly to life – maybe feeling he wasn’t
quite ready for what lay ahead.
Maybe he hadn’t yet made peace with God for his past sins.
Finally knowing that he was forgiven allowed him to give in.
It gave him comfort.
I wasn’t at his side when he passed. We were driving to be with him.
As I looked at the brilliant blue sky, a cloud appeared and took on the
Form of a dove. It quickly floated high above and dispersed into heaven.
It gave me comfort.
I look forward to seeing him again so I can let him know
what a great impact he had on my life.

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FATHER’S DAY WEEK REWIND

Posted on June 10, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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Since Father’s Day is less than a week away, I thought I’d pull out some of my previous posts on the subject.  The following, “WHAT MAKES A GOOD FATHER,” was originally posted on 06/15/2017.

Opinions about fatherhood have changed drastically over the past 30 or 40 years and I would like to address that today.  Somehow, maybe as a result of the feminist movement, men have been lowered in value and the role of father has diminished tremendously. in their attempt to get better paying jobs or achieve higher status, many women have placed men lower than themselves.  Maybe (and I know I’ll get a lot of heat for this) in trying to achieve equality with men, women have created a nightmare in the scheme of God’s plan for families.

Parenting is a partnership, just like marriage is.   When even the smallest portion of the job is taken away or lacks respect, the job loses value – and whether you believe it or not, parenting is a full-time occupation.

In Psalm 103:13 we have a good job description for fathers.

“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”

Compassion is defined as a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it.  The word probably isn’t used much today, because many are more concerned with self than the needs of others.  A father is expected to be the spiritual leader of the family, and he needs to take that job seriously.

Today’s world is geared to narcissistic values and often the ability to serve others gets lost in that.  Fathers have often been depicted as the buffoon in such television shows as “All in the Family” up to “The Simpsons” and beyond.  It isn’t easy being a good dad in today’s world.  Single parenting has become the norm in many situations and leadership takes a hit there too.

This week as we prepare to honor dads, let’s remember how God fathers His children.  He loves us unconditionally.  He will lay down his life for us.  He will continue to care about those who have strayed from Him.  He looks at His children’s forgiven hearts rather than their sin, because of the death of His Son, Jesus.  He corrects them, He protects them, has a blueprint designed for their lives and He is with them throughout those years into eternity.

That’s a tough act to follow, but it gives us a guide for what God expects of dads.  Let’s pray for their continued presence in their children’s lives.

 

 

 

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ONE MORE ANGEL IN HEAVEN

Posted on June 10, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

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About a year ago, a few of us ladies from church decided to get together socially once a week.  We’ve grown from a small group of three to a total of about 8 depending on who is available.  We usually meet for coffee and conversation.

On Friday night, one of those friends went home to heaven.  In the brief time of getting to know her, we all watched as she struggled with COPD and other health issues.  For her, this little weekly diversion was more than necessary.  It was a way for her to feel connected, loved and open to talk about her life.  It has also become a nurturing time for all of us.  We can bare our difficulties without being judged.  We can talk about things funny or serious and share our common faith through adversity.

This friend grew up in the Christian faith.  She served her country in the military.  She dreamed of some day becoming a librarian, because of her love of books.  She talked about her sons and grandchildren a lot.  She was so proud of those little ones and wanted them to be a part of her church as well.  Her life was full of tragedy beyond our comprehension, yet she clung to the cross and her hope of a future in heaven.

Through this interaction, we became bonded as friends.  Her death came as a complete surprise to us, because she seemed so happy the last few times we were together.  She had some frustrations with using the prescribed oxygen for her breathing a while back.  She quit smoking and seemed on a path to physical recovery.  Last week she sat with us in church and worshipped alongside us.  Her face was radiant and I had a feeling of comfort when I talked to her.  She seemed to have come to grips with her illness and at peace with it.  She also talked about another grandchild on the way.

Life is so fragile.  On Saturday, I wrote a post about aging and never knowing when our time will come to an end.  For my friend, life is just beginning. She is in the presence of our Savior. She will no longer struggle for air.  She is wrapped in glorious robes of salvation and will live eternally because of what Jesus did for her.  Death has no dominion over us when we believe in God’s everlasting love for us.  Rest in eternal peace, my friend.  We’ll all get together again someday.

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,”  1Corinthians 15:51

 

 

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COUNTDOWN TO 77

Posted on June 8, 2019 by atimetoshare.me

Every time I go in for my six month physical, I feel like I’m getting an oil change.  Each of my levels is checked to make sure they are functioning the way they should.  I’m asked the same questions I was asked six months ago.  Are you getting enough exercise?  Are you eating right? Do you feel safe at home?

The answers don’t change.  I’ve never done the right amount of exercising.  I’m physically active when I know I’m moving, which often is as simple as getting out of bed.  I eat the same way I did when I was twenty five, but now the exercise I’m not doing is catching up with the caloric intake.  I feel safe at home.  I’ve always felt safe at home until someone started asking me if I feel safe at home.  The thought never occurred to me before.

Suddenly when we get older, we are somehow treated like little children again. It is assumed that we have lost all our mental faculties – our physical stamina – our ability to think, reason and take care of ourselves.  Today there are more people who call themselves senior citizens then ever before.  I used to think being a senior was a place of honor.  Now that I am one, I’m having second thoughts.

I’m still a viable part of my community.  I am active in the community theatre scene.  I have a social life.  I am involved in church activities.  I spend time with friends,  but I also enjoy being alone.  I have lost a few inches in height, but still feel I stand as tall as most of my peers.  I believe I am here for a purpose.  I’m still trying to figure out what that is.  I love to write and spend hours a day doing so.  I still enjoy puttering in my garden, though now my body requires more H2O because I sweat more than I did when I wasn’t doing all that exercise as a youngster.

As I approach another birthday, I always like to take a look at what I’ve accomplished through my time on this planet.  It’s like getting a 100,000 mile checkup.  Things are beginning to break down and parts have to be replaced.  The spark plugs need changing and the belts need tightening, but the engine is still OK and should last for a while longer.

We never know how long we have left.  My time could be up today.  I could live another twenty years.  When looking at a life, we should really look forward rather than back. The miles we’ve put on during our existence have taken us on many adventures.  We’ve seen many things and discovered much about the world around us, but the truth is looking back isn’t always the best way to live.  Pressing on to the final victory, which has already been won for us, forces us to look ahead.  God has given these years as a time of grace – a time to make a difference in the life of another person – a time to share the love of God – a time to spend wisely.

 

 

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