RAISING CHILDREN CAN BE RISKY

Posted on June 25, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

I have vivid childhood memories. Some of them have been delected from my memory bank, but there are some that stand out more than others. There were the years living in a four story apartment building on the top floor. The iceman would start out his journey to our apartment with a large chunk of ice and arrive with a small cube. Mother would carry the groceries up those four floors and I recall her making several trips to the grocery store so she could spread out the trips up and down the stairs. I remember spending summers at the farm of my maternal grandparents – making mudpies and feeding them to the dog, dressing the same dog in baby clothes and putting him in a toy high chair. We were not allowed to have dogs in the city apartment, so I took every advantage while I was at the farm.

My husband was also a city kid. He lived above the family funeral business, so had to maintain a fairly quiet childhood, but he made up for it when he spent his summers at his paternal grandparent’s summer house on the lake. There was a farm nearby where he learned to pitch hay and lead a horse to water. He remembers time on the lake as well and recalls when he was a young lad learning to swim. His mother donned him in a wool swimming suit. Can you even imagine wearing wool in the water. It would act as a sponge and soak up half the lake in just a minute. Add to that the fact that he was required to wear a life preserver jacket. After a few weeks of paddling around in the water with all these encumbrances, he decided one day to jump in without the life preserver. His father immediately called to him to put on his life jacket. As Paul got up on the pier, he accidentally kicked the jacket into the water and it immediately sank to the bottom of the lake. Wearing those woolen trunks and a useless life jacket accounted for his ability to learn to swim like a fish.

When we become parents we soon realize that it’s a risky business. You never know what each day will bring, but you can be sure it will be an adventure or a disaster. How you look at it is all important. There will be days that go smoothly and you really feel confident that you’re making a difference in your child’s life. Other days will bring disappointment, frustration, lack of communication and much more. One of the joys of being a grandparent is that you can enjoy the parenting without the responsiblity of the day to day stuff. It’s kind of too bad we can’t be grandparents first so we could get more joy out of the process, but then we wouldn’t be learning anything or teaching much. The one gift you can give your child, your grandchildren or even great grandchildren, is a love their heavenly Father – who forgives and loves unconditionally. He is the Father of all creation and has years of experience in dealing with the human race.

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 

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THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION

Posted on June 25, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

The waters part, the seas prevail,
The excess pours into streams of rushing refreshment,
Tumbling over granite, forging a new path,
We bathe in the cleanliness of it,
All our darkness is washed away,
In the sound of it, we hear God’s voice,
The taste cools the palate and brings relief,
Senses are aroused,
We are in direct communication with the Creator,
Storms rage, obstacles stand in the way,
My God is not moved,
His consistency remains,
We are at times crushed like hammered glass,
Still the peace emanating from His omnipotent voice calms,
Even in the raging which surrounds,
We come to Him confident that He will still the waters,
He can calm the storm,
He will provide a safe path,
He will lead us through His Word,
He will protect with His power and majesty,
Praise to God,
My Rock and my Salvation.

The surface of the highest peak,
The strength of granite can’t compete.
The hardest rock, the toughest stone,
Can’t take the place of God alone,
His power is much greater than,
The self-contained of any man,
He lives in every space of life,
He carries me through pain and strife,
My God is greater than my fears,
He cleanses me through all my tears,
He lifts me to the highest height,
He stays with me both day and night,
He is my strong foundation,
As He pours out salvation.

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THE BATTLE IS AT HAND

Posted on June 24, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

After kissing my husband good morning, he related that he woke up with the lyrics to “Onward Christian Soldiers,” running through his brain.  I asked him if he’d checked the news recently and wondered if we were at war. We chuckled at the possibility, since we rarely tune into the news anymore, except to check on weather conditions.  In our blindness, war could be declared and we would never know. 

Then it was time for our morning devotional.  We’re using David Kitz’s “Psalms 365 – Volume Two, for this time together and guess what the title of the message was?  “They did not believe in God or trust in His deliverace.”  This message from Psalm 78:17-22 references the Israelites and their rebellious ways.  These were the same guys who were led out of bondage by Moses and guided by a pillar of fire and a pillar of cloud.  The sea had been parted by God’s finger and yet they foolishly strayed from Him.  Our first inclination is to wonder why their faith was so weak when they had God right there physically in their midst.

So David’s devotion and my husband, Paul’s waking thoughts coincided and I thought maybe I should write about God as our Commander in Chief – the general who expects us to follow His orders without question.

When young men and women enter the armed services, they take an oath to that end in the Oath of Enlistment:

I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

As followers of God, we are also taking a similar oath to follow His orders or commandments as part of our relationship with Him. We are submitting to His authority by doing so. Unfortunately, we often fall short f doing His will. We tend to stray, just like the Israeliites were often tempted to do. Because we can’t perfectly submit, God provided someone who would take our place – someone who would lay down His life for us. That obedient soldier was Jesus.

We are so blessed to have someone who stands up for us daily, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue to follow orders. As soldiers of the cross, we must be even more diligent. With Jesus’ help that’s possible. With Him leading the way, we can be assured of victory. for He has already won the war.

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WHERE LIES YOUR TREASURE?

Posted on June 23, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

 

Almost five years ago, we downsized our house of 24 years and an accumulation of over 50. We painstakingly waded through things that we considered eventual treasures and got rid of many of them. We moved into a renovated 1885 house so were able to use the antiques we managed to save. So we’re now working on “furnishing” our yard. This requires us to go scavanging at garage and estate sales or use many of the online ways of buying junk. It is true that one man’s trash is another’s treasure.

As you’ve seen photos of some of the things we’ve done, you’ve seen unusual things turn up. There’s the baby bed that served my husband and his sister in the 1940’s-50’s. There are old bikes, urns, pottery, rebuilt adirondack chairs, wagons, kitchen chairs, signs, old decaying wicker furniture and carts along with various things we put plants into. Our house sits on two city lots. Paul purchased a spacious shed which he uses for one of his painting spaces. His artistic eye has created various art locations – things that artists like to paint. I in turn have refurbished and repainted some of those old things. Our team effort has raised many comments. “Hmmm, interesting,” “Ecclectic,” “Busy,” “Cluttered,” Looks like a museum,” “It’s like walking through a piece of history.”

Last week I found an old wooden sled that appears in good working condition. I plan to stain it and paint a little rosebud on it (reminiscent of “Citizen Kane.) We have an old pair of ice skates from the early 1900s and some snow shoes which will create an interesting corner somewhere out there. It’s fun to create little areas in which people can see something different each time they come to visit. This will eventually serve as our entertainment area, since we don’t have nearly as much room inside.

There are many little seating areas too. Within the addition of some original sculptures and paintings made for the outdoors, people can converse in fun spots. Paul even designed a new form of croquet. Instead of making it through the hoops, he created it so that people hit the ball to one seating area – sit down and talk for a while – get up and hit the ball to the next sitting area. I imagine the game would catch on for other senior citizens who would like to remain active, but need a little rest in between

So what’s my purpose in this days post? I’m not really sure if there is one, but I thought it might be fun to share some of the things we do when we age. Life can be downsized and brought right back to what it was now that outdoor yard sales are being held. We’ve found many items for little money. Soon we will have to downsize our outside space.

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BESIDE STILL WATERS

Posted on June 23, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

You lead me to the waters still, you fill my soul and quench my thirst,

You guide me through the paths unknown, you’re with me at my best and worst,

In valleys green you watch my steps, and carry me when I can’t walk,

You treasure me in every way, you’re there to speak when I can’t talk.

 

If water carries me away, I’ll live to fight another day,

With confidence I know full well, you’ll never leave me when I stray,

You love me with a love unknown, my heart is filled with you alone,

And when I die my comfort is that you have crushed my heart of stone.

 

As this life ebbs and death appears, I know that I am not yet done,

You have prepared a place for me, a perfect room above the sun,

Where I will live eternally in peace and love forever more,

The gate to Heaven opens wide and you will guide me through the door.

 

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RETURNING TO NORMAL

Posted on June 22, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

We all seem to be eager to return to life as we once knew it. I can’t help wondering if we’re rushing too quickly back into it. Personally, I like alone time, yet part of me yearns to be with those I enjoy spending time with. I had low points during the pandemic, as did many others. I was fortunate in that I never fell into complete times of depression, but Iexperienced loneliness, sadness, frustration, fear of becoming sick and other emotions which hindered me in various ways. Still in all of it, I tried to maintain a positive outlook and see the benefits of this time of isolation. It got me thinking about the things that really matter and those I care about the most.

There were many positives that came from that time. We saw a return to family life – even though many considered it too much. Priorities changed too. We longed to gather, but were held back from attending church, coffee time, small group meetings, visits from friends and all of that became intense over time. However, our need to be involved took on a new meaning. We began to find other ways of communicating even though it lacked physical touch or interaction. We learned about forms of technology that would open our doors again and allow us to shop, worship, teach and learn because of it.

So now in this huge rush to return to life as it was, it is really time to look back and see if we learned any valuable lessons during this time. Did you? We discovered that we had more time to spend on daily devotions, home Bible study, conversations between the two of us that had gone by the wayside in the busyness of every day living. We learned that we didn’t have to go to the doctor every six months. In fact the entire time we were probably more healthy than we ever were because of our imprisonment. We ventured into online church services that were offered and were edifyed by them.

Over the past month, the numbers have dropped. People are getting vaccinated. Suddenly it’s like night has turned into day in an instant. We seem to have no fear. We walk into stores without masks. We dine in at restaurants that are still struggling to maintain staff. We are gathering at church, attending graduations, weddings, funerals and other events with no apparent concern for possible new strains or resurgance of another pandemic. I’m not suggesting that we continue to separate ourselves from the world, but I am asking that we don’t jump right into the same kind of careless, selfish behavior that was going on before this all began. If we’ve learned anything during this time it should be how important we are to each other. The value we place on relationships is so important. Instead of becoming angry and hateful, we need to reevaluate what this pandemic has done to us and what we can glean from it in a positive way. Above all, we should thank and praise God for getting through this time and providing another day.

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WISDOM REVISITED

Posted on June 22, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Have you ever looked at a word and it just doesn’t seem right? I did that this morning as I looked at the word, “WISDOM.” For some reason it looked weird. I’ve seen this word a billion times. I’ve written about it many times. I’ve typed it into a poem or post on several occasions, but as I looked at the word today it seemed strange to me. Maybe it’s because I’m growing old and things aren’t always what they appear to be. Maybe it’s a lapse in memory. It could be that the word itself is difficult to understand, because man has been searching for it for centuries. As I kept looking at the formation of letters it occurred to me to look it up in the dictionary. Here’s the definition – “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.”

When we’re in our teen years, we tend to think we’re the only ones who know anything, but there is some merit in age. As young adults, we’re often too busy making a living to be very wise.  Our focus is on things that require little or no wisdom.  When we reach our golden years, we’ve gathered a lifetime of knowledge, but often we still lack real wisdom. Old people have had the benefit of years of experience which they can share with those who are just starting their journey, but even then, perfect wisdom doesn’t come from education, experience or living.

When Solomon pondered over the age old issue of wisdom,  he came to the conclusion that there was nothing new under the sun.  Everything that was had already been experienced by man.  We are simply living in a revolving door of sorts, going around and around, making the same foolish mistakes, trying to live life by ourselves, attempting to be the masters of our very existence.  Jesus shows us, through His own life, that this place is just a stopping off point for us.  We’re simply passing through and our true existence is beyond the grave.  In the meantime, the things we learn in life will prepare us for the perfection of paradise.

The wisest man to walk the face of the earth, didn’t live beyond 33 years of life, yet He possessed the wisdom of God, because He is God.  He taught us how to love one another unconditionally.  He demonstrated how to serve one another.  He mapped out a plan for getting His Word spread to all nations.  He served as an example of what unselfishness is all about.  He fulfilled God’s promise to the world by giving His life for others. His wisdom is beyond our human comprehension.

Knowledge often comes from experience. Experience comes from living. Life comes from God.  Jesus is God and He is the source of all wisdom.

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MONDAY MINDSET

Posted on June 21, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

It’s Monday . . . again. The Mondays seem to come faster and faster as we trudge through our journey here on earth. As we age, time in general goes rapidly, unlike the days of our youth when it seemed like an eternity for each day to pass. Last week, I lived through another birthday. I didn’t die. In fact, I’m not dead yet! Life goes on for this old bird and a new week is at the door. Summer is now in place, even though we’ve been living it for the last month. With each new Monday, we’re at the edge of a new beginning no matter what our age. We compartmentalize our week, set up a litany of things necessary to get done, we make appointments for new things to do, we go through the motions of living without really thinking too much about where we’re going to be next week at this same time.

This Monday I plan to start a yoga program. My doctor recommended this form of exercise for me, to improve my balance. I always knew I was a little off kilter, but now the truth is known. So I plan to search for a video that will allow me to venture into this new way of daily activity, without falling flat on my face in front of an audience of many other aging folks.

I’m also going to resume my weekly coffee meeting with my friends from church. This is one of the special times that went by the wayside during the pandemic. We worshipped in the sanctuary yesterday. Things are slowly getting back to normal, but what is normal? People are traveling again. They’re hugging. Tears of joy are falling as a sign of renewed gatheriing turns into an emotional experience I can’t help wondering how this is going to play out in future months. Will there be another surge of COVID19 or will there be a new strain? Will we sink back into a state of isolation? Will we finally meet our maker? I don’t knw the answers to these questions, but I have confidence that God is in control of the whole thing and He has a purpose for all of it.

So, make this Monday a fresh canvas where you can spread your own colors and create a masterpiece. Your state of mind on Monday will set up the mood for the rest of the week. It is the first day of a new week -t he first day of summer – the first day of the rest of your life. Happy Monday!

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FEAR LESS

Posted on June 21, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER ©

We were blessed with a gentle rain for the past day and night. It was a much needed refreshment for grass that has turned brown, trees and shrubs sapped by thirst and flowers that seem to be dying. With that much needed quenching, the Lord again has provided for the lilies of the fields. He will also provide for us. Even though we walk through the shadow of death, the Lord is with us.

Shepherds fending off their sleep, while they tended all their sheep.

Suddenly were startled by the hosts of angels in the sky.

“Do not fear,” was said to them – “We bring good news and peace to men.”

They followed God’s bright star above – and came to see their God of love.

In lowly manger there He lay, upon a scratchy mound of hay.

This King of glory promised long, had come to earth to right our wrong.

Again we wait for Him to come to take us to our heavenly home.

May we be ready for that day, pressing on where angels pray.

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I AM A PARADOX

Posted on June 19, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

PARADOX: noun a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

Here it is another birthday for me. At this stage of life, I feel blessed to have lived so long. On the other hand, my mind is still telling me that I’m twenty one and have the energy to accomplish great things. That is my mind. My body has another opinion altogether. I rise each day with thanksgiving for another opportuniity to share the love Jesus has shown me with those I meet. On not so good days, I wonder why I’m still inhabiting this body. On yet another hand, I am blessed to be sharing my growing old years with a man I’ve known most of my life. We can still laugh at our infirmities. We chuckle at some of our failings. We encourage each other with words of compassion, but don’t take life too seriously. In a way, I guess being a paradox just shows the many different facets of our exstence.

When I think about the life I’ve lived and the years that passed through time,

The memories flood my empty mind, overflowing thoughts sublime,

I shuffle around this mortal coil and wonder why I’m still here,

I struggle throughout the aging signs and meet yet another year.

Will days continue to capture me within this dismal planet.

Or will my breath soon be extinguished – not be taken for granted,

The light at the end of the tunnel will be waiting just for me,

Eternity will soon be calling and at last I will be free.

My days on this earth are numbered, God knows how many remain,

I’m trusting in His intervention to lead me to His domain,

Instead of viewing my sinful heart, the Lord will see only One,

The sacrifice made with precious blood of His one and only Son.

Birthdays will come and go with little fanfare these days, but we can be sure of one thing. When we die, we will live forever. That too is a paradox – one that makes no sense, but also gives complete understanding of the love of God.

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FATHER’S DAY FUNNIES

Posted on June 18, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
  • “For Father’s Day, I’m giving my dad an hour of free tech support.”
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TO THE DADS OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN

Posted on June 18, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

When our daughters chose the man each would spend the rest of their lives with, they brought with them a whole additional set of baggage, which includes another entire family.  We’ve been blessed with two sons in  law and they are as different as the two women they married, but they are perfect for each of them.

Our first born decided to marry her husband after only a few weeks of dating.  It was a match that suited both of them.  They were both quiet, contemplative, compassionate and followed all the rules.  Since our family is known to be rather outgoing, I was almost afraid we scared him away with our bold and sometimes over confident behavior.  He managed to grow used to us and has proven to be a wonderful dad to our two grandsons and husband to our daughter.

Our third child was more of a free spirit, yet one with solid values and a good Christian base.  The man she chose is funny, hard working, dedicated to his family, willing to help others and did I mention funny.  The blend of their two personalities has created a lovely young woman of eighteen who shares the same strong will as her parents. We call her granddaughter.  This marriage took a little longer to happen, but it has weathered the test of time.

We always hoped that our children would find the same kind of happiness we’ve experienced in our marriage.  They’ve grown up realizing the importance of having a strong male role model along with a faith in God that will sustain them through all trials and obstacles along the way.  We are truly blessed to have these men in our lives.  Each of them has strong family ties.  They have fantastic work ethics.  They love their wives and children.  They are available to help us when they can.  They have become so much a part of our family that we don’t think of them of in-laws.

I’d like to thank God for giving our daughters husbands that fill the bill completely.  They have accepted our family as theirs.  They’ve inherited us along with our daughters.  They know that they are deeply loved and appreciated by us.  Happy Father’s Day to our two additional sons.

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MY SISTER FIX

Posted on June 17, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Part two of my cup running over including special time with my Tennessee sister, Carol. She’s my only sibling and the miles between us prevents us from seeing each other very often, but when we do get together it’s as though we never skipped a beat. She has been through a lot this past year, but steel magnolia that she is, she knows how to rise above and put her faith right where it belongs. I will miss her and my S. Carolina family for a long time until our next opportunity to gather.

I know of no realm of life that can provide more companionship in a lonely world or greater feelings of security and purpose in chaotic times than the close ties of a family. Charles R. Swindoll

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FATHERHOOD – WISHING YOU HAD DONE BETTER

Posted on June 16, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Of course I don’t know what it’s like being a dad, but I’m quite sure that it’s a lot like being a mother. We have the same hopes and dreams for our kids, we want them to have a better life than we did, we want them to succeed, we want the best for them. Still, I think the common goal in parenting is knowing when and how to discipline.

“Just wait until your father gets home.”  How many times we’ve said that to our children, when I was just plain tired of dealing with the issue of discipline.  It was my way of copping out and also a way for the kids to believe their dad was some kind of monster who would administer justice even if he didn’t know what happened.  I think they refer to it as passing the buck.

When I was a child, spankings were not considered a form of child abuse, but I do agree that they shouldn’t be necessary after the first one.  Discipline should be administered as a means to teach the child and have him learn something in the process.

My husband recalls placing a book in the seat of his pants when he knew he was in for a spanking.  It worked for a while.  My dad never used his hand to discipline, but there were always the looks of disappointment, anger, frustration, followed by a painful tongue lashing.  Often that reprimand was more hurtful than the back of his hand.  Words can often strike harder than any physical pain. On the other hand, my son recalls comparing the handprint on his backside to that of his sister.

One of Webster’s definitions for discipline is – training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.  There’s nothing in there about the means whereby you obtain that result.  However, the Bible is very clear about it.

  • Proverbs 13:24   Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.  (remember the rod was used by shepherds, to guide as well as admonish their flock.
  • Proverbs 22:6    Train up a child in the way he should go;  even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Many of the Bible verses I was told to memorize often come in handy today.
  • Ephesians 6:1-4    Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.    Here we’re reminded that we are subject to the commandments of God.  Honoring our parents isn’t always easy, but it is a requirement that comes with promise for a good life.
  • Hebrews 12:9    Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?   We are constantly faced with choices that will bring good or bad results.  What we learn as children, will give us the tools to decipher the difference.

Whatever method you use, should be laced with love and forgiveness.  Once a child is reprimanded, he should know that you still love him in spite of his mistake and told that he’s forgiven.  Hugs are great reminders of your tender care.

Giving children rules – setting boundaries – teaching them right from wrong and how to treat others – teaching them to be responsible for their actions and apologize if necessary  – all of those are necessary components to discipline.  We are in fact guiding, teaching, preparing our children for the world outside.  They need every ounce of preparation and learning we can give them, because the world is an ugly place.  They will discover, all too soon, just how ugly it is.

Some parents use spankings.  Some resort to time-outs (which is a short internment which doesn’t often mean much to the kids.)  Some take things away from their kids like cell phones, video games, electronics.  Some require some kind of action from the child to show their penance.  I’m no expert on the subject, but as a former parent, I know that no form of punishment works unless there is an interweaving of patience, love and forgiveness.

Always using Jesus as our guide, we show mercy to everyone – especially those we love.  We should exude patience, but always have guidelines and rules.  When the storm is over, we should take them in our arms and remind them that they are loved.

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FATHER IN LAW

Posted on June 15, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
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MY FATHER IN LAW ON HIS GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL

I was blessed to have wonderful in-laws.  My father in law was an undertaker – a kind and caring man with compassion for everyone.  His job was not an easy one.  Add the fact that they made their home in the upstairs quarters of the big mansion which housed the funeral home.

He passed away at 56 years of age.  It was far too young for this man, but many years of hypertension and cigarette smoking took him before his time. He died as he lived – peacefully.  He never lived to see his grandchildren.  His wife suffered greatly at his loss and grew more and more paranoid and disturbed as time went on for her.

During his short life, he accepted the occupation of his father, and carried it forward into a time when the neighborhood had become run down.  It was the location in Milwaukee in which many race riots occurred in the sixties.  Still, he persisted keeping the business going and doing the best possible job he could.  He was determined, dedicated and had a genuine sympathy for the families that came to him for service.

He was active in his church. Took his children fishing and swimming.  Taught them how to be independent, with great people skills.   He also gave them a Christian upbringing, a quiet sense of humor and enjoyed a good laugh.

I never got to know him well in the short years I knew him, but his legacy was passed down to his children.  Both my husband and his sister have the ability to work through difficult times, stand tall in adversity and have an amazing work ethic because of the example their father set for them.

The greatest gift he gave his children, was his love for God.  Their home was only a block from the church, so there were no excuses for not attending.  He came from a German heritage, with strict upbringing, but his gentle spirit made him a great dad, because he had the best of both things.

I wish my children had known him, but they see him in their own father.  He continues to live in him and the lessons they’ve learned will be carried on to their children as well.

We tend to immortalize those who have passed before us, but I sincerely believe my father-in-law had a great influence on me, even though I didn’t know him for long.  I thank God everyday for producing the son that would eventually become my husband and for giving me a chance to see the beauty of the relationship that grew through them.

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MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

Posted on June 14, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

I will be talking about dads this week, since their special day is right around the corner. What would we be without them? Well we wouldn’t BE without them. As I recently watched the movie, “I Can Only Imagine,” I could totally relate to the relationship between the father and son. I also had the opportunity to watch Mitch Teemley’s movie, “The Healing River.” Both of these films had a common thread – forgiveness. When we learn to forgive others for what they may or may not have done to shape us, we’re freeing ourselves from future hurt, shame and anger.

The first film deals with a young boy who is abused by his father, but overcomes by turning to his music. Eventually the heart of his music is revealed through words of forgiveness. It was about the son’s forgiveness of the dad who had hurt physically and emotionally. Mitch Teemley’s flick also deals with relationships and forgiveness. A young man’s life is snuffed out by another young man who has made some poor choices, based on his relationship with his father. In both cases, the boys eventually were able to forgive their dads and became free to change their lives and move on to the freedom that God gives us through His forgiveness.

I’d venture to say that almost every young person has had a run in with their dad at one point or another. I recall many. My dad was not one for physical punishment, but his words or lack of them could often inflict more pain than any spanking. Like all of us, he had many problems to overcome as a child. His own father deserted the family when dad was just a young boy. He became responsible for his three siblings from then on. That explains a lot. Most of us have a dark side. My dad did too. He had a strange way of expressing his love. We never really knew how he would react from one minute to the next. He drank excessively. He worked hard to give us a Christian education. He cheated on his wife. He went to church every Sunday and had the most beautiful tenor voice I’ve ever heard. Instead of words of encouragement, he often spoke criticism. For all my years living under his roof, I never really knew him.

When I became a parent myself, God began to reveal in me the ability to forgive him for the way he related to us. I can now say that I truly understand what he was going through. Parenting is never easy, even when you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth and all your needs are provided for. There will be tough bridges to cross – decisions to be made – every day life experiences that get in the way of moving along smoothly.

For a long time I had difficulty understanding who God, the Father is. I compared my own dad with Him. I didn’t honor my father, so I couldn’t get into a close relationship with my heavenly Dad. When I had children of my own, I began to understand. I was so fortunate to have married a man steeped in the love of God, that it eventually rubbed off on me, but it took me a long time. Even though I’d been trained in God’s Word for most of my life, the idea of a Father who was willing to give up everything for me, because of His love was almost foreign to me.

Once we see what God, the Father did for us, the door to eternity opens and it makes it so much easier for us to forgive others. Even when our hearts have been hardened, God doesn’t give up on us. He loves us in spite of ourselves. As we approach Father’s Day, let’s place the honor where it truly belongs. God first loved us. He gave His Son to die for us. He rose Jesus from the pangs of the grave, to show us where we will be after our death.

Dear, Father, God,

You’ve shown us what fatherly love is all about. Your love comes with no strings. Continue to lead us through our journey by reminding us that we can always count on you. Help us remember that you created fathers to be the spiritual leaders of the family and even when they misuse that power, you forgive them. Help us learn the kind of unconditional love for one another. Bring us back to the knowledge that you are the head of each family and teach us to learn to forgive. Amen!

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ATTITUDE

Posted on June 13, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company…a church….a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”
― Charles Swindoll

Is it a sign of our times?  Have we become a stubborn people?  Has the voice of those we employ as our political representatives, given in to the dogged determination of their own thinking, rather than doing the work of we the people?

Throughout the history of man, attitude can be a great motivator or an even greater detriment.  When we’re stubborn, we’re often immovable as well.  Nothing anyone says or does will change our mind.  We believe we’re right and no words, deeds or other solutions are going to influence us.

In God’s Word we hear about the stubbornness of God’s people, Israel, as they hardened their hearts against their Creator. We see it as they fled from Egypt and found more and more to complain about.

Psalm 81:11-12 ““But my people did not listen to my voice.   Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own counsels.”

Attitude is one of those attributes that conjures ideas of negativity to most of us, but it can be a great tool as well.  When we’re stubborn for the right reasons, we are taking a stand and fighting for our beliefs.  It takes a certain amount of tenacity to be stubborn.  The word itself is connected to be persistent, adamant and determined.  It’s also associated with being headstrong, unreasonable and pigheaded.

It seems to me that God wants us to follow Him in all our ways.  When we’re considering things that will effect millions of others, we should consider carefully and look to God for answers that would serve Him well.  We need to be steadfast in His teachings and strong willed when it comes to doing His work.

Unfortunately our people have lost some of that original stubborn as a mule mentality.  We’ve become stiff-necked, resistant and often unreasonable.  Being stubborn has positive connotations too.  Maybe it’s time to look at that side of it.

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MY QUIVER IS FULL

Posted on June 13, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

There are no words to describe how I feel about my family. They are my greatest treasure.

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VERY SPECIAL DAY

Posted on June 12, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Today is June 12th. The sky is cloudless, the air is fresh and clean. All the plans leading up to this day are in place and it’s going to be a blast. Today is our second grandson’s birthday. He has grown into a self sufficient young man with a lot of hopes and dreams for the future. We are proud of his accomplishments so far and look forward to seeing those goals met. Our only granddaughter, Kaeli, will be celebrating her graduation from high school with friends and family after months of preparation for this day by her loving parents. Our family will all be together again today, minus the two grandsons. Their parents arrived yesterday and will be here until Monday. What a joy to spend some long awaited time with them.

As I think back to when these two were youngsters, so many memories are stirred. I recall their times together on stage – their individual personality traits manifesting themselves – their relationships growing and their love for each other building. These two will make a difference in the world ahead of them. They both possess the love of God and have faith that He will influence their journey.

Our children and grandchildren are our greatest heritage. We can leave monitary things behind when we die, but nothing will replace the lives, the closeness, the family bond that has resulted from our joining together some 57 years ago. When we married, we had no idea what would come from that union, but looking back, we can be assured that God has been with all of us throughout our lives and will continue beyond our existence.

Happy birthday, Josh. May you continue to travel through life with the Lord at your side and behind your back. He has great plans for you. Congratulations, Kaeli, for reaching this next step on the ladder to your future. We know that you have made wise decisions in your short life and will continue to prosper throughout your days. May God continue to bless the work He has already done in you.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.” Psalm 127:3-4 ESV

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THE FABULOUS FIVE

Posted on June 11, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Dateline June, 11 1776

On this day in history, the Continental Congress appointed a committee of five to write the Declaration of Independence from their mother country, England. The men chosen for this committee consisted of Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjament Franklin of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut and Robert R. Livingston of New York. Adams and Jefferson would one day become presidents of the United States. We all know that Franklin became a world ambassador and played with kites occasionally. Very little is known about the other two men, so curiousity got hold of this Kat to delve into the history.

Roger Sherman would go on to be a U.S. senator. He started his career as a lawyer, went on to become a judge and was the only signer of the Declaration of Independence to go on to sign all four of the great state papers of the United States, including the Declaration,  the Continental Association, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. He was 55 years old when the Declaration was drawn up and lived to be 72.

Robert R. Livingston – 1746-1813 became the Chancellor of New York in 1777 at the age of 31. He became a lawyer and joined a prominent law office and later became quite eminent in his profession. He administered the Oath of Office to George Washington when he became the first president of the United States in 1789. He later became the ambassador to France and negotioated the Louisiana Purchase.

It took a while for the Declaration to be completed before being presented to the Congress. Thomas Jefferson, because of his way with words, was assigned to write the first draft. This document has served our country along with the Constitution for many years. It’s hard to imagine a document maintaining itself for over two hundred years.

So today take a look at the Declaration and imagine, if you will, five men determining the way of the American people. The rough draft would undergo changes, with regard to slavery. It would seem that the slave trade would be untouched for another hundred years. I believe that God was in control during the writing of these ancient documents. His brand is written within the words. Unfortunately our country has nearly forgotten about the American dream and hopes of a government that would work for the people and be governed by the people still needs to be revisited. It might be a good idea to put God back into the equation.

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