Posted on by landktheluckyones

Parenthood

Parenting: A lifelong journey. I, personally can only strive to be as wise as my parents were.

It has been a joy watching my own children and grandchildren develop and grow into amazing human beings. Yet, I find that “once a Mom, always a Mom” has been what rules my life, and definitely consumes my thought life. Despite the fact that my daughter and son have their own families to care for and have for many years been out on their own. In my mind, they are still those precious little ones that came to me for comfort, direction, friendship-love.

I have been told that I have empathy for others. I suppose this is true to some extent. I am always concerned with how something effects others. How will this make them feel? At times, this does not have the desired effect. I have tried, since my kids have flown the coup, not to advice, instruct or interfere unless asked. Do I do this perfectly? No. What came to my awareness just recently, is this…that in my concern for the well being of my children…what I thought was empathy and love, made them feel as if I didn’t have confidence in them. After all, as adults, it is their journey. The ups and downs in their lives are theirs to tackle. Not mine. We all are constantly growing through the experiences we have in life. My concern over my children, which comes out in the form of worry, is not beneficial. It changes nothing, except taking up varying degrees of space in my heart and mind. They have both been making decisions for many years and have surpassed anything that I could ever dream for either of them. I am proud of who they are. They have and are continuing to impact those around them in a positive way. Yes, as am I, they are continuing to grow and learn through each experience they have. Whether that be when life is going smoothly or something other than.

Does this mean my love for them has lessened, as I strive not to be a worrier? Definitely not! Does this mean that if they asked me for something or some form of help, that I would not drop everything and do whatever was in my power to assist? Definitely not! What I must remember, is that when my help is not solicited, I can remain unshaken by things in their life. For in this life, there will be trouble. There will be blessings. May they know that my love for them is unmeasurable.

I have always been so impressed with my Dad. He had a job that he was basically a computer in human form. When computers were just starting to be purchased and put in place by manufacturing plants, he was willing to learn about them. Others that worked in his office, refused. Not my Dad, because he always did what he could do to work hard and progress with the changing times. He was always teachable.

I pray that I am that wise. That I remain teachable. I have probably learned more from my kids than anyone else, other than Jesus, of course. They both attain wisdom beyond their years.

Sometimes, we just need someone to speak a word and God will use that to bring awareness to us. We need Him to open our eyes to how we are perceived and with each word, each thought, we are either speaking life or speaking death. May I speak life.

“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1

Posted on by landktheluckyones

Mild Thoughts for Today

Most people have a favorite thing. My favorite thing? Without a doubt, people, other than God of course. God has created each person so magnificently. The diversity of people is not, as some might think, a bad thing. How each person’s personality is wisely crafted by their Creator. It is an awesome thing! We were designed to need, encourage and be a part of the bigger picture. Sadly, so often, we think the world revolves around just us and our little world.

I believe that is why it is such a joy to me when I stumble across a friend,(as I did this week) an old coworker, a relative, a stranger on the street. Each of so much more value than could ever be imagined or any material thing this life has to offer.

Being that I truly love people, when one of those dear to me leaves this world…it is so hard for me. As it is for most, I think.

I remember when my Dad passed, the first of many that are close to my heart. I remember thinking, “How can life just go on like nothing happened?” This would not be the last time that I felt this way.

For some reason, once I know someone’s birthday/anniversary, when it comes to that day. Those people pop into my head and I spend a little time reminiscing, regardless if that person remains on this earth or not. I feel this is a gift from the Holy Spirit. There are things in my house that were gifts or pictures or maybe a book that was given to me that when I look at those things, they also cause me to reflect on the person who gave it to me. God has blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life.

This past week, Leonard’s two siblings that no longer live on this earth had birthdays. His sister, Phyllis. I admired her. She was crafty, witty, fun. She was such a natural with everything. I remember how excited she was to find a dress she liked for Brian and Jinn’s wedding. What a special memory. One time, she helped Brian make some brownies and he got the recipe from her. The recipe name? “Aunt Phyllis’ Best Brownies”. She loved both my kids, Brian and Tina and loved them so naturally.

Leonard’s brother, Dale’s birthday was the day after Phyllis’. My heart went out to Dale because he seemed to never fit in. Yet, to me, he was always kind and respectful. When Leonard’s Mom passed away, he gave me her Bible and said that he thought their Mom would want me to have it and he knew that I would use it. In the front it was handwritten that it was a gift to their Mom from Phyllis and Gordon. I asked Phyllis, if she would like to keep it and she told me she wanted me to have it.

During the summer, after Thursday morning Bible study, one of my other sister-in-laws, Louise, likes to go on local adventures with friends. She graciously always includes me. 🙂

This week, we are going to go on a picnic and an art walk. In honor of Phyllis, Dale and their Mom (even though her birthday is in May), I am bringing “Aunt Phyllis’ Best Brownies” to honor my sister-in-law, whom I can still hear her laugh. I am also bringing Leonard’s Mom’s Bible to Bible Study to honor Dale for his sentiment to me, knowing that their Mom’s Bible would be special to me.

I read Ecclesiastes this week. It’s kind of a sobering book because Solomon says that everything is meaningless. I heard that the context is better explained “everything is fleeting”. This is true. Good times are fleeting, bad times are fleeting. Life goes so quickly, so unexpectedly. A lot of times, not as we wish.

May we always be grateful for those we love, those we have loved, those we don’t even know, for we all need each other. If you know me, I will always remember you.

Posted on by landktheluckyones · 1 Comment

Always Evolving with Thoughts

It’s been a couple months since I’ve made a blog post. Time passes so quickly. In this season, I continue to ruminate the things of this life that I do not or cannot understand.

Despite this, life is a bit different these days. Since Leonard’s surgery, it seems that he continues to struggle to get his energy back. Due to this, his interest in experiencing life away from the confines of our property, is quite limited. My son, who has always been my optimistic and positive offspring has turned bitter since the loss of his precious wife. He now feels like life is unfair and has no meaning. He’s angry at what he has experienced. I cannot deny the fact that life is unfair. Jesus forewarned us of this, but often we choose not to listen. Thinking it will be different for us. That WE can determine our destiny. Or, that this only applies to our spiritual life. I believe that our spiritual life is the part of us that is real life. That permeates every part of our being. This is the part of us that will remain after our earthly body decays. What we experience in our daily lives is our spiritual life. Whether that is dry and we don’t want to accept a higher power or whether we rely on His Spirit for everything. Or somewhere in between.

In spite of this negative thinking, we have experienced many fun and blessed moments that I thank God for. Mainly, that He sustains us. We’ve only fished a small amount this year, but I caught a large mouth bass that was quite fun to catch. It gave up a good fight. After pics, I returned it to it’s home. That day, was not it’s final day.

I started working at EJ Cornerstone church as a part-time secretary. The people have been so encouraging. I continue to get lifted up by those I come in contact with. Whether that be friends, ladies I meet with on a regular basis or an occasional stranger.

My daughter and grandson stop by periodically to bring us joy. I was thankful that they were around for July 4th to celebrate with us, as was my son and his boys. Words cannot describe what this did to my heart! Being that temperatures were close to 100 degrees F., Water was essential! 🙂

For the past six weeks, we have been studying about the Holy Spirit in our Thursday Bible Studies.

We make Him seem so mysterious. I guess the mysterious part is how He lives within us. I am often guided by His loving hand and know without a shadow of a doubt that it is Him flowing through me. We have learned that the Holy Spirit’s mission is to reveal and glorify God.

If we cleave, rely on and trust Christ, the Holy Spirit (The Living Water) will flow from our innermost being, continuously. This study suggested that we think about the attributes of water. (Refreshing, satisfying, flowing). These are all things we receive from the Spirit. Isaiah 55, reminds us that we don’t need anything to come to Him except self-surrender that accepts the blessing. It also says to “incline your ear and consent to the Divine will”. I think this is where we struggle. We don’t want to consent to the Divine will unless it goes along with our will. If we can’t tidy it up in a little bow and say we understand everything, we don’t want to consent or accept it. God says His thoughts/ways are higher than ours. We know this to be true, but do we live as though we know it to be true?

Another chapter that we have read is Psalm 42. Many times, I have read the section which states, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God”. Thinking of myself, that this is not true of me. As I meditate on this verse, I believe that it IS true. I need the Living Water of the Spirit every moment of everyday, for encouragement, for love, for direction. When He prompts me to reach out with word or deed, He never steers me wrong. Psalm 42, continues on with ‘My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” People often say this to us when bad things happen. This psalmist claims that he will remember God’s kindness to get Him through those tough days. He will remember those days of blessing. Yes, in my life, there have been many days of blessing.

When bad things happen, we tend to blame God. We don’t cling to those moments of kindness. We become discouraged. The Holy Spirit’s job is to remind us of the things of God…of His goodness. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us to “praise God, the Father of compassion and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

To be honest, I have struggled with this verse, because sometimes, I have not felt comforted by God in my distress. Except of course, the distress I had from the results of my sin and the comfort I received from knowing He forgave me. Or felt that I could comfort others. As I have been meditating on these passages, I believe that it is the goodness of God’s nature that comforts us. Those times when He did answer prayer, when we were comforted by knowing His love for us. That Jesus knows and has experienced betrayal, rejection, unanswered prayer for the higher good. That God does what He says He will do. Sometimes, it’s the things the Holy Spirit points out to us in Scripture. Therein is our comfort and also when we have experienced something devastating, it can give us more compassion for others that too, are experiencing devastation.

John Wilmot ( I really don’t know anything more about this man, other than this quote), wrote, “Before I got married, I had six theories about raising children, now I have six children and no theories.” I heard this many years ago, and have thought of it often. Isn’t it so the truth! So, it is with life. We can have many theories, but until we experience something, theories don’t mean much. It’s the same with God, with the Holy Spirit, with Jesus. We can have many theories but until we experience Him, it doesn’t mean a whole lot.

I shared this song with my Bible Study group and it has brought me comfort through the years.https://youtu.be/Y3TBiuIpjDA?si=xIrF6Dyrsg-xBFzg

“Halleluiah for the heartache, halleluiah for the good days, Halleluiah for every breath we get.”

Yes, let us sing “Halleluiah, Amen” to our Lord for all we experience.

My disclaimer: Even though we thank God for this life and all that we experience, it does not mean that this process is quick or easy or to be taken lightly. It does not mean that I always handle hard times well or that my heart doesn’t break for my son and the loss of his wife or the changes I’ve seen in my husband, which are small compared to the loss of a beloved spouse. Losing someone so precious is so very hard all the way around. Yet, Jesus has experienced all and is right by our side, loving us…because that is who He is. In this, we say, “Hallelujah “.

Posted on by landktheluckyones

Contemplating

It seems that I am in a season of contemplation. Many thoughts of life, death, blessings, disappointments. Many times, we think we have life all figured out, only to find that we don’t. So many things that we can’t understand or explain away.

I have seen devastation and blessing. Every week, there are so many prayers for hurting people. At the same time, people are receiving blessings in their lives. Isn’t that how life is? A series of ups and downs that change our lives from here on out. We are either making memories or clinging to the ones from the past.

It challenges me to not be so self-centered. There are many opportunities to rejoice with someone over the blessings they receive. Or to be blessed myself over spending precious moments with a friend, as I did this week. I feel the Spirit within me is encouraging me to endure and be long in my prayers for those whose lives have been forever altered by the loss of a loved one, an accident that they may not fully recover from, a diagnosis or a host of unfortunate events. Often, people pray when the event occurs, but quickly go about their lives as if nothing happened..but, the people whose life has forever altered, there is no more normal. They have to learn to navigate broken.

This golf team that was in an accident has been on my heart. The coach is not doing well. All the kids on this team have been affected. Newspaper articles claimed the team had minor injuries. Yet, I have learned that many have years of rehabilitation needed for their broken bones and also for the emotional impact. Will we remember them when they are out of the hospital and have that long recovery period? Do we remember those who have lost their significant other, child or close friend? May this not be.

I have decided that I will not quit bringing all I know who are hurting before the Lord, for their hurting does not end. It is altered. They will function again in a different way. I will continue to ask Him for His comfort and strength to surround them. Not just for a time but until they meet Him or I do, which ever comes first.

Even though I have always felt extremely blessed when I see someone that I haven’t seen for awhile or those I used to see on a daily basis. I will thank Him more for each moment that I get to spend with these precious people. Whether that moment is just a brief “Hello” or an afternoon of enjoyable conversation. In doing this we will continue to be…The Lucky Ones, blessed by God.

Posted on by landktheluckyones

Warning: Controversial Subject

For the most part, I try to keep upbeat. Sometimes, I fail at this attempt. Recently, I have found that it is more of a struggle with some of the ideas in our world. I am utterly devastated and appalled at the views on abortion. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that in my lifetime they would be stating that killing another human being is a right…that they label it not as killing another human being, but women’s reproductive health. What is healthy about damaging a woman by the devastating physical and emotional procedure of exterminating a living being? The procedure itself is pretty barbaric. Sucking the baby out, or dismantling the baby to sell the parts. Some claim that it is not a baby yet. I believe that life begins at conception. According to even an older medical encyclopedia that has a copyright of 1965, claims that development at the end of the first month (way before you realize you are pregnant), the brain, heart, liver and spine are already developed. I am sure that at this date, they are more aware of earlier development.

When did we become a nation that sold human body parts for profit? This is a midterm election year and a lot of politicians are using this issue as part of their campaign. I just can’t believe it!! “Vote for me! I’m all for killing babies for profit.” Of course, they don’t say that…no one would vote for them then. Killing babies is big business. Planned Parenthood, should really be called Planned Un-parenthood, because that’s where they get their money and lots of politicians are backed by Planned Parenthood. Would they push so hard for abortion if they weren’t getting donations from Planned Parenthood?

Our state will have the debate of abortion on the ballot this November. People are being brain-washed into thinking it’s a good idea and it will probably pass. The devastation of this being written in the Constitution will make it irreversible. This, if passed, would be the most extreme in all the world. It would allow termination of babies after birth, during birth. It would allow minors to be sterilized, get puberty blockers and sex change surgery without parental consent or knowledge. Part of the wording of this proposal states that it would “allow the state to regulate abortion in some cases”. So, if a parent didn’t want their child to have an abortion, and the state wanted to give them one. You would not have a choice, your child would not have a choice. This does not sound like freedom to me. It also states that this proposal on the ballot would” Allow state to regulate abortion after fetal viability“. I had to look up fetal viability and this is what I discovered: “Fetal viability is the ability of a human fetus to survive outside the uterus.” So, this proposal is saying that even if a baby can survive outside the uterus, it would be up to the state whether that baby lives or dies. This seems pretty barbaric to me. Seems rather holocaustic. Even if you are pro-abortion, this proposal seems way too extreme. When you give the state the right to determine who lives or dies.

Of course their are no pat answers for things that happen in our world, but… could it be that the mindset of it’s “okay” to abort a baby and not have a reverence for life, has caused a lot of these shootings? If we don’t consider life the most valuable thing there is, what does that say about us?

I realize this is a downer post. It is just something that I am struggling with. As a disclaimer: These are my thoughts and everyone has them.