A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF US

Posted on August 13, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Our week was filled to overflowing with visits from dear friends on Monday – a view of another friend’s beautiful garden and short visit with them. Tuesday was spent with church friends at breakfast, made possible by those friends’ generosity. In the afternoon, we opted for a drive to the northern suburbs which led us on somewhat of a wild goose chase. The cornfields were parched and burned by the recent drought conditions. Since it was a spur of the moment, unplanned drive, mostly on the highway, it wasn’t as “picturesque as most of our travels. Wednesday was spent catching up on household chores. The hot, humid temperatures kept us inside. I was able to get a look at the new script for our next Jewels of deNial and did some editing. Wednesday night brought some much-needed rain, with storm damage in some areas of the state.

Thursday brought everything back to life with the last night’s surge of natural water. We were about to make a trip to the drugstore, but instead stopped at McDonald’s for lunch to carry out to Lake George. It was a lovely afternoon – holding hands and sitting on a park bench. We sat for a long time, just gazing at the lake and listening to the silence of nature. For those of you who are old enough to remember the comedians, Ruth Buzzie and Arte Johnson from “Laugh In,” this will make sense to you. After a few moments of silence, Paul asked me if I wanted a walnetto. I thought of that famous park bench scene and was about to respond by hitting him with my purse, but I was able to control the urge. It brought a bit of laughter to a rather serene moment. This is what I love about my man. Even when we face difficulties and tests, he is still able to make me laugh. And vice versa, I might add.

Friday, our youngest daughter drove us to our Oncology appointment and was able to sit in on it. Some of the beautiful places, sights and experiences are presented in the pictures above. Today I watched church online, while Paul attended. I am grateful that we have this option, since I was a bit worn down and hurting from all the physical activity of the week, but it was a blessing to be with the man I love and share magical moments with him – and a walnetto.

Posted in aging, cancer, ENDURING LOVE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A LUMP OF CLAY

Posted on August 12, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

There’s something about a lump of clay – it’s malleable. In the right hands, with the right tools, the clay moves and becomes a different form or shape. In the Bible, we’re told that we are the clay and God is the potter. The trouble is, “we” aren’t as easily shaped. We resist change. We try to manage our own outcome. We push against God instead of letting Him create solutions for our most difficult decisions. It is then that God pushes and prods – sometimes painfully for us. Most of the time, to get us back on track. Instead of resisting, we should allow Him to do His best work. He knows what the outcome is, before it ever happens. He wrote the book of our lives. He created us, before we were even born. His craftsmanship is flawless. When we let go of our interference, perfection begins.

As any good pot knows, there will be a fire to face at some point.  We will all have to go through trials in this life, but when we’re finished, we will be ready – for eternity with the Master Potter. It’s hard to imagine ourselves as a lifeless piece of clay or dead mass of rock, but when you see the final result – it’s an amazing piece of imagery.  God takes us and shapes us.  He sometimes has to push us to get us motivated.  There are days when he has to re-shape us – not because He has made any mistakes, but because we are unwilling to surrender to His will.  If clay would be left to its own limits, it would stay the same forever.  With God as the potter – we take on shape – we have purpose – we live. 

Dear Creator God, help me to realize that I need your presence in my life every day.  I know you have created me for a purpose.  As I approach my latter days, allow me to see that you are in control and your love for your creation is amazing.  Help me to surrender to your will, so that your artistry will make me ready for heaven.  Amen!

Sculpture made from a church corner stone of limestone by Paul T. Boecher when he was a senior in high school.

Posted in aging, art by Paul T. Boecher, death, life after death, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

HIDING BEHIND A MASK

Posted on August 11, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I have a collection of masks. They aren’t really the kind you wear, but they look interesting hanging on a wall. Since we moved seven years ago, those masks remain in the box they were packed in. I haven’t found a place to put them, so they remain hidden. I guess you could say they’re still doing what they were intended to do – hiding.

Women use face masks to improve the condition of their skin, to remove blackheads and exfoliate.  Masks are brought out at Halloween to alter the identity.  Masks are used during surgical events, in a doctor’s office and to prevent germs from passing from one person to another. We all got used to wearing masks for the past three years to prevent the spread of disease. Masks are useful in a lot of ways. They can be used to hide our own personality and display an entirely different one.  Artificial masks can be purchased for just about any occasion.  Masks have been used to hide, to recreate, to reenact, to entertain and to frighten. We often use an invisible mask to hide our inner feelings or to cover up the fear or anxiety that lies within us. These appendages to the face have a long history. The Greeks used them in their dramatic productions to portray specific personality traits. They had not yet learned to project, I guess.

When we go through certain trials of life, we may try to hide behind a mask, but somehow the truth displays itself after a while. When our hearts are breaking and things look hopeless, there is nothing that will obscure our true feelings. At that point we need to hide in Jesus. He is our Savior, our Champion, the Redeemer who has guaranteed us a place in heaven. As age takes over and years paint a completely different mask on our faces, we can always count on Jesus to protect us. He will give us confidence to do what we need to do. He will stay the course through all our difficulties. He will never leave us, and He loves us with unconditional love.

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” Psalm 27:5 ESV

Posted in aging, anxiety, depression, Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Posted on August 10, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Since it’s TBT, I’m sharing a post from 2014. Jesus has been my family’s shepherd for a lifetime. Even when it seems that we’re getting close to the end of our journey here on earth, we can draw comfort from the 23rd Psalm. As I sat beside my dying mother-in-law many years ago, I tried to recite this meaningful poetry to her. She was, what I considered, a Bible scholar. Though she was unconscious at the time, I felt an urgency to get the words exactly right. I probably messed up along the way, but at least I was comforted by the fact that Jesus is our Good Shepherd in all circumstances.

The 23rd Psalm has served our family well.  It was used at the funerals of both of our parents.  It was the sermon theme for our wedding.  We used it again as each of our children were baptized.  It fit every one of those occasions and continues to bless us as we continue our journey through life.

Shepherding isn’t considered a noble profession, but our Lord and King Jesus didn’t come to this earth to rule as a nobleman.  He came in the deepest of humility – born in a place where animals lay their heads.  He grew in the knowledge of His Father through His time in the temple.  He had no real place to call home as He led a nomadic lifestyle in His young adult life.  He ministered to those who needed Him the most – sinners, the sick and the broken in spirit.  He hung on a cross like a common criminal – to pay for the iniquity of all humanity.  He was the final sacrificial lamb who gave His life for all of His sheep – even those who strayed from Him.

When you read the words of this familiar Psalm, you will understand how this imagery lays the ground work for what Jesus continues to do in our lives every day.  He provides for all our physical needs – He leads us out of danger into a quiet place where we will always be under His protection – Even when we face fear, sickness and death, He uses His rod to fend off the fear that comes along with those things.  When it gets so tough that we can’t handle it anymore, He carries us to safety.  When we run away from Him, He will spend hours, days, years if necessary to find us again.  We have peace in knowing that He is always there for us and a confidence that He has a wonderful place waiting for us in eternity.

The Lord is my shepherd – I shall not want!

Posted in aging, cancer, death, eternal life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

HOLY SPIRIT, LIFE DIVINE

Posted on August 9, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Losing my ability to hear has caused all kinds of issues for me. My communication skills used to be pretty good. I spent a few years teaching children how to speak publicly. I could always memorize lines for a play without difficulty. I taught acting, emoting and use of the voice for many years. Now that has all changed. The use of closed captioning has been somewhat helpful, but even that don’t always help. They often use the wrong word and change the entire meaning of a sentence. Lip reading has been challenging, especially when you’re married to a bearded man. Then there is the problem of causing the one you’re talking with, to wonder what’s wrong with their lips.

I’ve never had too much of a problem writing down my thoughts. I guess this is the way I can express myself without actually speaking the words. There are times though when I can’t find the words – when my mind just won’t wrap around the thoughts intelligently or in a logical way. I have lately been using the wrong word – like the captioning – changing the entire meaning of what I say. For someone who is supposed to be a wordsmith, this can be problematic.

The same is true in my prayer life. There are times when the words pour out of me and other times when I just don’t know what to pray for anymore. At those times I feel like I need someone to help me find the right words. God’s Word tells us, that even on those occasions; He provides an intercessor for us. My words have meaning through the Holy Spirit because He knows my thoughts and my heart. Isn’t it great how God provides for every aspect of our lives – even the words we send to Him? He is our interpreter – our mediator – our inspiration and our power source. We should never underestimate the Holy Spirit.

My God is an awesome God!

Posted in aging, God, Holy spirit, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

NEW SUMMER MEMORIES

Posted on August 8, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Last year, at this time, we were on the shores of the river in Hudson, WI, watching young sailors having fun and learning how to sail. It was a beautiful memory of a day. The air was fresh and clean. Paul was involved in a plein air painting event. As the sailors brought their boats to land, it was their turn to watch. The tables were turned as they came to see what Paul was painting. Their young, inquiring minds were full of questions and interest. The artist, of course, took time to share his knowledge of art with them. They even talked about sailing, since the artist had been involved in this activity when he was a young boy. Having spent his summers on the lake, he would often act as crew for some of the regatta contestants that sailed on the weekends.

A year has passed. The artist is still painting. The man has not given up his love for teaching. He has experienced a lifetime of adventures along with adversities and always has a story to tell. He is no longer competing in art contests or hoisting the mainsail. His adventures, however, will never be over. Memories are wonderful ways to capture special moments and that is what we’re trying to do right now. We’ve been so fortunate to have wonderful friends from past and present. God has blessed us to overflowing with them. As we take this new path that God has planned for us, we’re learning to let go, but also to hang onto the important things in life. Family, friendship, relationships, love, comfort, caring, compassion, past accomplishments will remain with us until our new life begins.

Yesterday we spent the morning with friends from a long time ago. Later, we were with more recent friends. Today we will do the same. It has become a way of life for us, that cannot be replaced or taken away. If we have memories in heaven, we will have many to take along with us.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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PUTTING BOUNCE BACK INTO YOUR STEP

Posted on August 7, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

It’s Monday again. Thank you, Lord, for giving us another week. Each day is a blessing from you, because you are at our side no matter what. When life is filled with anxiety, worry and sadness, You are there. When we celebrate the happy times, the blessings, the hope and promises, You are there. When we struggle with daily problems – when we see the end of life coming – when we hang on to life with all our might – when we cry out to You for any kind of help, You are there. When our last hours approach, when our aching bodies won’t allow us to do normal tasks, when time has slipped away like melted butter on a cob of corn, You are there. You pursuit us. You hear our prayers. You celebrate with us. You enjoy our laughter. You are always available. You lift us out of the pit. You never, ever, ever, let go of us. You are always there. Thank you, in Jesus name for allowing us another time of grace to share Your love with others. Amen!

As you face another week, you might be considering all the difficulties that may come. You may be looking forward to something special. You might be wondering about what God has in store for you today. You may be dreading an appointment – a test result – a financial loss – a relationship problem, but do you know that through it all, God is there with you. Maybe you’re concerned about making it through another day, because of your aging body. Death is imminent. We will all face it one day. We will all die, but by God’s perfect grace, we will never die. We may mourn those who pass on to eternity, but God has promised to give them new life and that makes us happy. Still, we miss them. We long for their presence in our lives. We feel sad when they can’t be at a graduation, a wedding, a celebration of any kind. Tears fall and yet we are supposed to rejoice.

Not as easy as it sounds, when you are the one going through this situation. We struggle to hang on to life and do all that we can from a medical standpoint. We trust the medical community to make decisions for us, without weighing the consequences of those choices. Quality of life vs. end of life becomes the last point of surrender for us. Do we trust the health care system, or the One who created all things? Letting go and letting God – has always been difficult for me. Wrestling with Him has been a way of life for me at times. Maybe that’s why my hips and knees hurt so much. I put up a good fight, but there is nothing within my own power to change things – to make them better – to improve them – to find solutions. God is forever consistent. He never changes, even though we are in a continual state of flux. Giving in – even to Him – is a struggle all of us will face at one point or another. Since He never changes, we have the assurance that He will always keep His promises – He loves us – He will never let us go – He paid the ultimate price to save us – we can rejoice, even in the trials we face each day.

It’s Monday – again. Thank God for being at your disposal 24/7. His love endures forever!

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GOD KNOWS WHEN . . .

Posted on August 6, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Our days are numbered in God’s eternal calendar.

We don’t know how long, where or when, but we will all die.

There is no question about it.  We have no control over it.

Consider these days He has given us as a time of grace –

A time to realize all the wrongs we have done,

To repent and ask for forgiveness,

 And appreciate the gift of God’s sweet mercy.

For some it is a lifelong relationship where growth continues.

For some it happens after they’ve hit rock bottom,

For some it is revealed right before they take their final breath,

For others it is never realized.

But as it was with a condemned criminal on the cross next to Jesus,

The compassion of the perfect Lamb of God Is still available.

Our seconds, minutes and hours are consumed with Him.

His message is satisfying food for those starving for it.

His Word can heal wounded spirits and renew hope.

His use of ordinary people to do extraordinary things is evidence.

His love endures forever!

These numbered days should be filled with thanksgiving and praise.

To our God and King.

It is with Him that we can look ahead with anticipation,

To life eternal, where time no longer exists,

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, death, Jesus, life after death | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

TURMOIL OR PEACE?

Posted on August 5, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART BY PAUL T. BOECHER & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©

When fears and worries are so real,
We sometimes wonder why we feel,
The pangs of deep depression.

The weight’s extreme – we lose all hope,
Our hearts grow sad – for strength we grope,
To lighten this progression.

We look within and try to cope
There are no answers in our scope
It now becomes oppression.

We try so hard to rise above,
We search in vain for any love.
To deal with this obsession.

We cannot do it on our own,
We need one advocate alone,
To bring our full confession.

God takes our hand and leads us out,
Relieves our pain – our fear – our doubt.
He is our best possession.

His love is great – it sees us through
When there is nothing we can do.
Our words hold no expression.

He lifts us from the pit of death.
He died for us to give us breath.
To wipe out our transgression.

Posted in anxiety, Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, healing, peace | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TURMOIL OR PEACE?

ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE

Posted on August 4, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Today, being Friday, I thought I’d post some pictures of me doing what I love to do. I’ve always been an actor, since probably the age of three when I would be the entertainer at all family events. My role has changed since then. I’ve gone from child actor to student, playwright, author, wife, mother, companion, director, teacher, caregiver and back to being a child – of God. Whatever direction God leads us in, is always for our benefit. Even if it means wearing a fake nose and glasses.

William Shakespeare once said, “All the world’s a stage and all the men merely players. They have their exits and their entrances and one man plays many parts. His acts being seven.” If that’s the case, I should be nearing my final curtain, but I believe that God’s will for my life will prevail.

If I still have something to offer this world, He’s going to let me stick around for a while. I pray that He will always be my Director, guiding me tenderly and with discipline, so that when I finally reach my last curtain call, I will be ready to serve Him on a totally new level

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UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS

Posted on August 3, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Life is full of blessings if we just look for them. I’ve mentioned that we’re experiencing some very hot days with extreme dew points lately. Yesterday, we took another weekly drive. I was able to make it from the house to the car, without running out of breath – a blessing. I took some pictures of beautiful places – a blessing. Paul had time to chat with his plein air painting friends. I spent the day with my husband – a wonderful blessing. I did two loads of wash – a blessing. We had a phone call from our daughter in S. Carolina – another blessing. I cried – yes, a blessing. As we sat together in the evening, there was the sound of a lawn mower outside our window. We looked out and saw our neighbor, cutting our grass. It was not quite dark, but temperatures has dropped a little and she included us in her own grass cutting – a triple blessing. A simple act of kindness was a beautiful act of compassion and caring. When I think about our current situation, I believe that even illness is a blessing. It has brought us closer together as husband and wife along with strengthening our faith in our heavenly Father.

We never know when these blessings are going to occur. Especially when we are focused on the difficulties we face. We become wrapped up in the negative and often forget to see how much our lives are filled to the brim with blessings. The devil comes knocking at the door and tries to convince us that God doesn’t care about us. He does that in ways that we don’t even realize. When that happens, we have to confront him and kick him out of our minds. He has no power over us anymore. He was defeated by our Jesus many years ago. God remains merciful to us in all situations, even in facing our enemy.

When you’re thinking about the cards you’ve been dealt and the troubles you face, stop for a moment and count the blessings you’ve experienced today. I believe that they will far outweigh the difficulties. God is so good!

Posted in aging, compassion, God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

LIVE YOUR LIFE

Posted on August 2, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

When we’re limited by our age, by our health, our thinking, we tend to hold back on things we might still be able to do. I’m learning this more and more each day. Yesterday, a simple task of picking up sticks and putting them in a wheelbarrow, was nearly impossible. The air quality has been an issue all summer. My physical self is growing old and full of creaks and groans, so putting myself into that position was really silly. Still, the sticks needed to be picked up so the lawn could be cut. I also needed to get myself off the couch, before I started growing eyes on my backside. (Subtle couch potato humor.) Getting the wheelbarrow turned over and moved to where it needed to be, was a task in itself. By the time I got that done, I was gasping for air. OK, I over-dramatize a little. It’s in my nature to do so. I began coughing. So, I decided I better return to the air-conditioned house.

There are often extenuating circumstances, which cause us to be wise about our limitations. When you get older, those limitations can cause you to think of a million reasons why you shouldn’t be doing something. As you age, you need to be responsible for your own safety and use common sense and caution. I wouldn’t consider getting on a skateboard. I certainly wouldn’t go water skiing. I would never consider jumping out of an airplane. When it comes to picking up sticks, I thought that was an easy enough task for me to handle.

Wisdom is supposed to come with aging, but often we forget what we can or cannot do. We rely on others to handle various tasks. We feel less important when we can’t accomplish things on our own. We have to admit that we aren’t as young as we used to be. However, we can’t stop living. If we become glued to a chair in front of a TV, we’re not serving any real purpose and God wants us to have fruitful lives – even in our senior years. I think it’s important for all of us to find things in life that give us a sense of purpose. Throw in a little fun along with that purpose and you are filling your days with a reason to get up each morning. With the shortness of the average age span, we need to continue living with a bit of gusto.

I’ll leave the sticks for another day. They aren’t going anywhere anyway. When I decide to do the job, I will not be competing with the air quality or temperatures. Maybe I’ll just wait until fall, and they will turn into mulch for next year.

Posted in aging, Humor, Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

HOMEWARD BOUND

Posted on August 1, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The photo attached to this post made me think of the journey my husband and I are traveling right now. We started our life together as high school buddies at the age of 13. He was a fun person to be with, so our friendship grew, and we eventually fell in love when we were seniors. The expedition at the point was just the beginning of a partnership that would last a lifetime. When we look back on this pilgrimage, we had no idea what we were in for. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months and suddenly years pass as quickly as the air we breathe. To say that a man and woman become one person is an understatement. Eventually you take on the same characteristics. Your life is centered around each other. You make decisions together. You raise a family. You make mistakes – some bigger than others. You begin to look alike. You share in each other’s aches and pains. You comfort each other. You get angry with each other, but you don’t give up. You continue to work things out – jump over boundaries – reach new heights and fall on your face when you fail. Then you pick each other up and start over again.

What it really comes down to is our final journey. Where do we go from here? How do we make the most of our latter days? Will we make it through the grief of losing each other? Will God give us the strength to go on? None of us knows when our last day will come except for the One who created life. Take time to share the time allotted you. You can never regain those special moments, but they will create beautiful memories for the future.

Today is now. We need to make the most of those “now” moments. We may not have them tomorrow. Thank God for time. Thank Him for the many blessings He has given you. Trust in Him throughout your life. Remember that He is with you always, even on your final walk to your eternal home.

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WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LET GO?

Posted on July 31, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The idea of wrestling with God seems pointless to me. The results are obvious. We can’t win that battle, no matter how hard we try. Every struggle in life has a connection to that very subject. When we come into the world, we take our first breath and scream our lungs out in protest. When we learn to walk, rather than crawl, we tend to fall a few times before mastering the craft. When we fall in love the first time and our love is rejected, it might take us down a slippery slope. When we take our first job, responsibility is now a must, and we have to learn fast that the world doesn’t revolve around us. When we marry and have a family, we continue to see that it isn’t about us anymore. When we approach our final days and long to be in heaven, the wars of life seem hopeless. We cry out to God to bring us home. Each of those little battles – those wrestling matches – those losses – disappointments – ups and downs – are all like playing tug of war with the Creator of the universe. We know the outcome. He wins.

Life takes us on a journey of growth – not just physically, but spiritually – if we let it. If we surrender to God’s will for our lives, we’re not saying, “uncle,” we’re simply submitting to the plan He has already designed for us. With each stage, we are being refined, molded, shaped, pounded at times, crushed and come close to caving in. If we consider each of these steps as a path to heaven, we can see the real end result. We win.

The spiritual walk to heaven is never an easy one. Some may think that’s true, but once you recognize that the victory has already been won by Jesus, the wrestling turns into a perfect win for all those who believe. Everyone wins!

Posted in aging, armor of God, Uncategorized, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

SUMMER VACATION – FAMILY STYLE

Posted on July 30, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART BY PAUL BOECHER

Summer vacations – ah, the days of swimming at the lake, long walks, lazy days, fun times with family. I remember one family vacation in particular when our two oldest were in high school and our youngest just entering her tweens. We looked forward to that trip and planned it for months. We were going out west to take a ride on the Road to the Sun.

The sun didn’t show up for more than a few minutes on that whole trip. Everyone got very tired of being together in a van that was on a quest to the west coast and a first look at the ocean. No more singing camp songs. Tensions were mounting fast and to tell you the truth fun times with family just weren’t happening. When we finally reached Washington state we never actually got to see the ocean. It was fogged in.

Sometimes the things we plan for in life don’t turn out the way we want them to. Our expectations are high in the beginning, then we fall prey to disappointment. Our natural tendency is to feel sorry for ourselves and try to plan things that won’t discourage us. Instead, God tells us not to be discouraged. He has wonderful things in store for us. The truth is, we aren’t going to have smooth sailing in this world, but our future life in eternity will be a breeze!

Posted in America, Family, summer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

FIRST & LAST LOVE

Posted on July 29, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

My husband, Paul, studied Northwest Coast Indian Art when he was at the Chicago Institute of Art many years ago. Much of this style has carried into his paintings and sculptures over the years. His love of nature and the outdoors is also reflected in his art. This post today, written in 2021, honors a greater love than we can even begin to understand – God’s love for us.

His love is like none we have ever experienced here on earth.

His love is beauty beyond our wildest dreams.

His love is precious, merciful, compassionate.

His love is given freely without question.

His love doesn’t look at our past mistakes.

He is blind to our transgressions.

He loves in times of anger, hatred, self-pity, depression.

He loves it when we love each other.

His love is a gift – more precious than diamonds or gold.

His love is the greatest love ever known or experienced by man.

No kiss or caress can compare with the touch of our Savior, God.

He cuddles us in His strong protective arms.  He shields us with His strong wings.

He lifts us up when we fail.

He encourages us when we think we can’t go on.

He inspires us to go the extra mile.

He walks with us through all the joy, bliss and excitement of life.

He carries us through all the trials, burdens, hassles, fears and frustrations.

His love is like no other – it endures forever and ever!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Faith, God's plans | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE?

Posted on July 28, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

This week has been filled with re-runs of past posts. I often use this process to regroup – to heed my own advice – to find a topic of interest. This post was written at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At that time, we had no idea of the vastness of that disease or the repercussions and loss that would result. Since then, people have become more cautious about washing hands, wearing masks when necessary and general sanitary ways of avoiding the spread of any disease. How has COVID changed your life? Many of my friends lost their sense of smell or taste. Many succumbed to isolation and became social hermits. Entertaining friends is finally coming back into being. Gathering of any kind has lessened. The biggest change for many has been the loss of a loved one. When faced with any alteration to our lives, we are called upon to respond. Our emotions play an important role in this, but our relationships often take a hit and need to heal. As we look back on this horrible time, let’s never forget that God was always there in the midst of it – watching over those most affected by it – healing some and taking some home to heaven – using man’s intellect and science to find a vaccine – listening to our prayers. Though time has changed a lot of things in the past three years, our God remains the same. With that in mind, here’s my post from April 2020.

The thousand-mile checkups and replacement parts are getting more and more intense as time marches on. We come to a point in life when we resemble the six-million-dollar man from the 1970s TV series.  Change is inevitable, but why does it happen so fast? As we grow older, everything is in a state of flux. We do have an indoor bathroom, but now we need an extra-large toilet seat. Our bodies are in a constant race to the end of our lives. We lose inches from our height and add girth to our middles. I like to tell people I used to be six feet tall, but gravity has caused everything to fall down to my hips. Our arms resemble tree trunks with fingers.

When our homes start to show wear, we give them a facelift with paint, or we might add something new to dress them up. When we get old, everything we try to do to improve our health, our looks, our outlook, our daily living, seems to be just a cover up for what’s really going on within. We take our cars in for oil changes. We buy new appliances when the old ones fall apart. We upgrade our electronics when new ones become available. There is a lot to be said about planned obsolescence, but when it comes to our end game on this planet, we need to know that there is a final upgrade that will never change.

When we start looking at the dark side of things, there’s nowhere to go but downhill.  The aging process includes ponderance on our demise.  We tend to feel sorry for ourselves.  We sometimes feel left out, lonely and useless.  When we start slipping down that slippery slope it’s time to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and move on.  There’s nothing funny about being in a state of depression for your final years.  We need to put things in perspective again and put on a happy face – even when we don’t necessarily feel that way.

Over my lifetime I’ve seen massive changes in the way things are done.  I’ve witnessed a change in things designed to make our lives easier. The way we come up with solutions, how we live, the family unit, the networks of communication and how we worship have changed, but the Word of God remains the same.  It has survived for all these centuries, because it is the truth directly from God. When our final breath is taken, we can be sure that God will carry us to paradise. 

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GOOD GRIEF!

Posted on July 27, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

Poor, old Charlie Brown – never could cut a break. One of the world’s most favorite cartoon characters, created by Charles M. Schulz had a daily struggle with the same kinds of problems we often face. If it wasn’t being chosen last on the baseball team, it was trying to get his kite to soar in the air. In these cute comic strips, we can often see ourselves and some of the difficulties we encounter in our daily walk.

God doesn’t promise us a perfect life. There will be problems and they could easily overwhelm us. In a way we should look at these interruptions as “good grief.” They keep us on a steady track with our Creator. When things are going well with us, we often forget to communicate with Him. When the path is cluttered, we don’t waste any time reaching out to God for answers.

Lord, I need to be reminded to pray when I am thankful as well as when I need your help. Sometimes I can’t even find the right words to say. When that happens, I know you will still hear what is in my heart. Thanks for placing good grief in my way. I know that it soon will pass. I know that you will provide a way to deal with it. It reminds me that you are in charge of my life. Please, Lord, let me know that you are with me through all situations I face each day – good or bad. Amen!

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IS AGING REALLY LIKE FINE WINE & CHEESE?

Posted on July 26, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

The idea of growing old never occurred to me until I became part of the silver haired generation.  It still doesn’t hold much interest.  In fact I’m trying to avoid it completely.  Age isn’t particularly where anyone in our society wants to be.  Youth is everything, right?

We’re fed with the notion that we can achieve higher cheekbones, supple skin, bodies that never sag.  We’re told  that once you get old your life is over.  NOT!  For one thing, you have earned the right to express your opinion and not really care if anyone listens to you or not.  You can do anything you want as long as you can pull your aching body out of bed.  Your mind is filled with so much information, but you often shut down or repeat the same things over and over.

Unfortunately, our society is so focused on youth that they have forgotten or dismissed old age.  It’s one of those things we don’t talk about much until we become old ourselves.

I am in my eighties and I don’t really consider myself old.  I still get out of bed at 6 AM.  I continue to work.  I put my make up on each morning, fix my hair and get dressed.  I can still tie my shoes, but it’s harder to reach them.  I have acquired a lot of knowledge over the years, but I often forget it.  I don’t look as good as I used to, but I can still see a sparkle in my eyes.  I love to listen to the rain falling on the roof but can’t always hear it.  My body sags, my face is wrinkled, my senses have become dull, but I don’t consider myself one of those old fogies I remember from my youth.  I know that God has a plan for me and someday, all you young whippersnappers are going to be walking in my shoes.

1 Timothy 5:1-2  “Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity”

Every living human being has value in this world – from the very young to the very old.  Let’s never forget our place in the scheme of things.  Getting older is just bringing us that much closer to heaven.

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MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER

Posted on July 25, 2023 by atimetoshare.me

I’ve posted this article many times but keep hoping that someday I will be a great-grandmother. The post was submitted to “Chicken Soup for the Soul” a few years ago and appears in their book, “My Crazy Family.” Hope you enjoy going back in time with me.

Her hands were gnarled and disfigured from years of arthritis – a hefty woman of less than five feet tall. Her swollen legs were encased in stretchy elastic bandages. Though her short body was bent and disabled, her mind was as sharp as a tack. I don’t recall her wearing anything but a black dress with a dainty crocheted lace collar. Her slightly peppered white hair was always braided into a bun.

Her six-foot husband towered over this diminutive character. Her face was almost always stoic and sullen. I rarely saw her smile and when I did it was ever so slight. She wasn’t one to show her emotions – until her children bought her one of the first televisions purchased in the small town. She thought it a frivolous gift and a total waste of money – until she discovered what it had to offer.

There wasn’t much on the tube in those early years except local news shows, some children’s programming and WRESTLING. It didn’t take the woman long to become addicted to these staged events. She was convinced that it was absolutely true.

She would wring her lace handkerchief tightly around her twisted fingers. Her wrinkles seemed to deepen as she became involved in the “contest.” Chairs would fly across the mat along with one person and then another. When it was over, she ranted on and on about the savage behavior of the two wrestlers. She didn’t miss an opportunity to tell anyone about what she had witnessed and how vulgar it was. With each of her own narratives, the story grew more and more intense.

The next Saturday, she would plant herself in front of the TV and go through the same excruciating thing all over again.

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