Adoption: Mother Miracle -By Karla

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My friend Tonya was born with Turner Syndrome, which is a chromosomal abnormality that affects the development in females. Maybe you are like me and had never heard of this condition, but I know you have heard of God. Having a child was impossible, but adoption is God’s miracle.

Miracle Number One: Tonya’s Birth

Approximately ninety-eight of pregnancies with Turner Syndrome abort spontaneously. Tonya was among the two percent!

Physical Features of Turner Syndrome

  • Shorter stature
  • Neck with a webbed appearance and shorter
  • Lower-set ears that often stick out
  • Elbows with a deformity that causes them to turn outward instead of having the ability to lay flat when the arm is straightened
  • Puffy feet and hands
  • Low hairline
  • Upturned finger and toenails
  • High arched palate
  • Receding lower jaw
  • Large pigmented moles
  • Broad shoulders
  • Lessen breast growth

Medical Issues of Turner Syndrome

  • Born with heart defects (often a narrowed section of the aorta)
  • Aorta tearing with age
  • Droopy eyes and cataracts
  • Frequent ear infections that can cause hearing loss
  • Kidney issues due to their horseshoe shape
  • Scoliosis
  • Diabetes
  • Underactive thyroid (often resulting in weight gain or slower weight loss)
  • Blood pressure issues
  • Stomach issues like Crohn’s disease
  • Lack of ovaries

Social Concerns of Turner Syndrome

  • Lack of ability to understand social cues
  • Low self-esteem
  • Struggles with “fitting in

Cognitive Disabilities of Turner Syndrome

  • Spatial misjudgments
  • Nonverbal learning disabilities
  • Developmental delays
  • Possible behavioral problems

Tonya has some of the issues in all the above categories, but like most who have Turner Syndrome, she does not have all. When Tonya was born, doctors told her mom not to expect her to even know what a brush was used for! However, God had other plans for Tonya. I believe that is due to His supreme knowledge. He knew her heart, and He knew how she would use this heart to love others.

Education Miracles

She did know how to use a brush–and so much more! Tonya graduated from high school in 2003. God planted a love for children, so she went to Berry College and received her teaching degree in Early Childhood Education. On her 12th year of teaching, Tonya has positively affected about 900 students. She cares for them as if they were her own. As the years have gone and she has matured as a woman, the desire to be a mom has grown as well.

Miracle of Service

Moving back to her hometown, she began teaching and started serving in her church with children and youth departments. Her sweet little ears went under four surgeries to help their physical appearance and hearing abilities when she was young. As she aged, with the help of a hearing aids, she has listened, heard, and advised many girls, who needed a Christian friend, over the years.

Music Miracle

In addition, she uses her beautiful voice to minister to others. Learning to depend on others to help her in the areas of weakness, she is careful to make sure she is blending with her praise team, singing with a voice that always glorifies the Lord! Her solos leave me inspired.

Humbling to Ask for Help

Often she asks her passengers for parking help; she eases into spots careful not get too close to obstructions. She asks for assistance and reassurance from those she trusts most to compensate in the areas that Turner Syndrome has left its permanence.

About three years ago, Tonya asked me to accompany her in meeting with a Christian adoption agency. They were encouraging, sharing that they accept singles’ applications and thought Tonya would be a good candidate to adopt. Hearing the process, I became hopeful that this could in fact be a reality for Tonya to become a mom!

However, when we left, Tonya and I discussed the money part of adoption and how this would be the biggest obstacle. She reviewed her finances as we ate lunch. Overwhelmed but enthusiastic, we prayed. As the years past, she continued to pray for God’s will and His timing.

Miracle of Love

In July of 2018, Tonya came for a visit with a tone and facial expression that could hardly be contained. Her announcement has become among the most precious miracles I have personally ever seen develop. An older teen-ager, who needed a home was taken in by a family friend. Over the years, she gave birth to a child. The family continued to provide a home for both the girl and her baby. As the girl matured and cared for her own child, she continued to have a steady, loving relationship with the couple who was providing for them.

When her first child was around two, she became pregnant again. Being a loving mother, she knew she could not care for both children. She prayed and sought Godly wisdom. It was then that Tonya’s name entered the scene. The single mother knew in her head and heart that Tonya would be the best mom for her baby. She and the foster family continued to pray as they kept the possibility to themselves. As the days went by, the reality of her baby continued to develop. In the lady’s final trimester, Tonya was asked a question that only a mother, who truly loves her child, would ask.

Would you take my child and raise her as your own?

I worried more than Tonya that the girl might change her mind, and who could blame her! It takes unselfish love to sacrifice for your child.

Tonya shared that she concluded her two choices: Exist with worry for the next twelve weeks living guarded, or freely enjoy every moment on this possible path God was unfolding

So, enjoy she did, going to every doctor’s visit and buying necessities. Praying for the little girl’s lungs to fully develop, her nails to completely form, and perhaps to even find her thumb to suck as she progressed in pounds and length, she delighted. Tonya also prayed for the mother’s health and her emotional well-being. While others worried; she rejoiced for the upcoming birth of a newborn.

Insurance Blessing

Her insurance allowed her to not only have maternity-leave, but they also covered a room at the hospital for Tonya and Baby Evie to share! When she was born, the nurses helped both mom and baby transition and bond.

Walking into the hospital the day after Evie was born, I was the one who could not contain my tone or facial expressions. In fact, the realization of the Lord’s grace left me almost shaking in awe.

Holding little Evie, tears rolled down my face. I look to my precious friend, whose face held the glow of a new mother. While I was comprehending what was taking place, she had already accepted the magnitude of God’s gift that she had been granted.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms37:4

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12

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Easters: He Lives – By Karla

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Looking back on the numerous Easters as a little girl, I am flooded with memories! The remembrances make me smile, but the loss of those people in my life, sometimes causes a flood of tears. 

Past Easters

Like many families in the South, I too received a new Easter dress every year.  Mom made sure that the four of us, the set of four as she referred to us often, always matched. I can vividly remember the yellow year and the lavender year. To be totally honest, Easters were not the only times Mom dressed us in matching outfits. There is a famous story of how she accidentally corralled five girls together at Six Flags because a random girl around our ages happened to be wearing the same shirt!

Poor Julie, the youngest, she likes to joke about how she had to wear the same outfits for years since she received the brunt of all the hand-me-downs!

 At times, we had our Easter pictures made at Maloof’s, a local store in McCaysville, Georgia, but we always had our photos taken at Nana’s after church. Kids, colored eggs, and green plastic grass were everywhere.

Like for all our family get-togethers, the saw-horses and plywood from the basement was carried up onto the porch to make tables. They were quickly adorned with the most delicious variety of meats, vegetables, cornbread, biscuits, desserts, and sweet tea. In my young years, Granddaddy’s hand-squeezed lemonade in the big green Thermos cooler and cousin Kathy’s bunny cake with coconut sprinkled all over were a ritual. Most of us ate until we felt sick.

Easter Egg Hunt

A few of the men hid the eggs afterwards, while most of us hunted—disregarding any age limit. My nana and Donna’s grandmother were always among the hunters. They walked along with the littlest ones and delighted as they pointed out the eggs.

After the twelve or thirteen dozen eggs were hidden and we were out of the starting gate, we ran in every direction looking in trees, under clumps of grass, on the tops of a car tires, and in shirt pockets of the uncles. I miss Uncle James. He would yell in this boisterous tone, “I see one!” All the grandkids would flock to him, fighting to see who could retrieve the egg first! I miss the rides our uncles would take us on as we piled onto the wooden attachment behind the tractor and rode into the mountains. The games we would play in the front yard: kickball and hit the can were tons of fun. Life doesn’t get much better than the simplicity of those days. 

Easters Now

This past Sunday, there were sixty-seven at the home that I still fondly refer to as Nana’s. Although she nor Granddaddy are with us anymore, we continue to carry on the traditions.  A couple of the kids did not have a basket with them, but in our family, nothing gets in our way. Two light-weight canvas coolers and a circular casserole cover were used! 

Beyond all the grub and giggles, we know the reason we celebrate a day called Easter. We believe that God loves us all so much that He sent His son to be born in a manger.  We proclaim that He died on the cross for our sins and rose again on the third day. God desires us to choose Him as our savior and we can receive ever-lasting life. 

I am thankful that God is a living God who wants a relationship with us all, and I am thankful that my grandparents and those before me chose to teach me the reason to sing.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today.

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life’s narrow way

He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

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Singing: Ain’t Nothing Gonna Steal My Joy- by Karla

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I have never been one to enjoy the spotlight.  I will help do whatever, but I don’t like the lead. About seven years ago, I began singing in my church’s praise group. When the girls were younger, I sang in the choir. When I would make a musical mistake, I would find myself shaking my head. Over the years, I broke the habit since I feared people would notice my negative, recurring motions that might distract their worship. The church I attended at that time was larger, and I felt like I blended in with the thirty or so choir members. Our praise team only has about ten people, and I am expected to stand in front of a microphone. Uh, yuck!

The men in the sound booth were constantly encouraging me to step up closer to the microphone. I would shake my head no and keeping singing. Some Sundays, I would see them mouthing, “Your mic’s not on.” I would reply with a nod, a smile, my soft singing voice, and never make any attempt to flip the switch!  

Joyful Noise

As the years went on and I drew closer to the Lord, I unconsciously grew nearer to the mic. I’ve even sung a solo or two along the way.  My anxieties of being in the limelight subsided more and more. I learned to realize that I am just me, human and not perfect, when I make noticeable mistakes.

God never ceases to amaze me. I have no idea how the transformation took place, but somewhere along the way I quit thinking that I was on stage with all eyes on me, which made me feel dreadfully self-conscience. Unreserved, I began singing to the Lord, not for any person, rather making a joyful noise and praising the Lord. What a blessing!

Spring Sinuses

Recently, the praise team was leading worship through song. I was fully aware of the freedom I felt lifting my voice to the Lord. I continued song after song with devotion, not restriction.

Constantly battling with my sinuses every spring, I began coughing a little during the first song. With each song, I could feel the tickle in my throat. I sung a couple of bars; then I coughed a couple. “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” began as I felt a coughing attack emerging. I knew I needed to depart from the stage so I would not interrupt anyone’s worship. Just slowly put the microphone into its holder and ever so softly walk down the steps and slide out the side door.

OOPS!

I turned, eased the microphone into its clip, and tried to be invisible as I moved. However as I stepped, I felt my foot catch on the cord. Being long-legged, my stride is wider than most. I realized I was in danger of falling right there on the stage in front of everyone. Yep! That would not have interrupted anyone’s worship.

To regain my stance, my arms instinctively went outward in the “walking a tight wire balancing” motion. I did a half hop/half lunge, and I almost made it! My foot was free, but my arm had gotten looped in the upper part of the cord.  The momentum from the stumble had thrust me forward and yanked the mic onto the floor with a thud! My legs continued to toddle until I reached the steps. I felt my fingers filtering through the leaves of the plants that surround the piano as I somewhat sailed off the platform and stopped just short of the front row.

By this time, I had lost lost sight of the door.  Instead, I found myself behind a friend hiding my face. A man, who sits on the second row, had jumped forward to catch me and I heard one of the youth say, “I thought Ms. Karla was gonna take me out.”

Ain’t Nothing Going to Steal My Joy

Shaking my head, I walked to the car to get a cough drop.  Funny thing, my urge to cough had dissipated. As I neared the sanctuary, my pastor’s wife urged me to come back into the service. “Everyone’s concerned you are hurt.”

I attempted to ease back into my spot, as I realized Pastor Scott was reassuring everyone that I was okay. He stopped when he saw me. I am not sure what he said, but as an actress in a show bows, I did so as if to say “yep, I did that, but at least I am okay.”   

Sitting down, I summarized my reflections of God freeing me from self doubt while singing and how I was trying to ease out not to disturb anyone’s worship. A friend whispered to me, “Ain’t nothing going to steal your joy!”

The old me would have ran to crawl in a hole and replayed the incident repeatedly.  But the new me, restored through Jesus, decided to laugh repeatedly!

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Fear: The Itsy Bitsy Spider….NOT -by Donna

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Recently, as I was following someone in my car and illegally talking to Karla, I glanced to my right and saw a huge spider sitting on my purse “looking” at me. I screamed and flew over two lanes of traffic into the Walgreens’ parking lot. Spiders terrify me and are the creepiest things alive.

 I called Karla screaming and scaring her to death. The young man I was following, either saw my sporadic driving or noticed I had disappeared from behind him and quickly called to see what happened. I switched from talking to Karla and in a hysterical voice, let him know about the creature. He said he was turning around and coming. I beeped back over to Karla, but I was not taking my eyes off that spider. My fear was what if it crawled away and disappeared somewhere in the car; I wouldn’t know where it was? Then at anytime in the future while I was driving, the spider could creep back out and crawl up my leg, across my shoulder…

Karla recommended I take off my shoe and hit it. But I was afraid I would miss and send it hiding. I screamed as it finally decided to move and began crawling across my purse scaring poor Karla once more. (Who continued to ask, “How big is this spider, really?” Obviously doubting I should be so afraid) When the young man finally arrived, he picked up my purse and shook it off into the parking lot, setting it free. (Much to my dismay!)

Torment

Life is often like this scenario. Something unexpected rears its ugly head sending us into a panic. We fret over it, not taking our mind or eyes off of it. We are so focused on it that we aren’t aware of things around us. Even when it seems hidden for awhile, we have the fear that it may come crawling back at any moment.

For the rest of the ride in the car, I caught myself continuing to glance back over at my purse, looking for the spider, that I KNEW was no longer in my car. Why am I doing that I thought?

It can often be difficult to forget about something that sent us over the edge. It taunts us in our minds. And just like Karla doubting the size of the spider, others may doubt the magnitude of your problem, not thinking it is a big deal. Yet we are filled with dread, expecting it to rear its ugly head again. Satan knows what triggers us. He knows our weakness. He will torment you, letting it plague your mind, if you let him.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

 

 

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Rain, Rain Go Away -by Donna

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Rain, rain go away. Come again another day. We all sang that familiar verse as a child. If you currently live in the South, you may be singing this song as an adult. It has rained day after day. When the rain finally ceased briefly and the sun came out, social media was flooded with comments about the wonderful sunshine.

When Karla and I were in college, we had a small black and white TV. One Friday night “The Wizard of Oz” was coming on. We were so excited as that is one of our favorite movies. I ended up getting asked out on a date, which interrupted our evening plans for popcorn and a movie. So, Karla had to watch it alone. 

When I returned, I remember her saying, “It just wasn’t the same with the whole movie being black and white.” I envisioned that dramatic moment when Dorothy opens the door, leaving the 1939 gray scenery, and enters the colorful “Land of Oz”. Without the color, it just wouldn’t be so breathtaking. If Karla had always seen the movie in black and white, she would not have known difference.

Sunshine

If all we knew were the rainy or cloudy days, we wouldn’t recognize any difference. But we know the sun so well. The light it gives off, the warmth on our faces, and the way it glistens on the water. We admire how it colors the sky in the morning and at dusk. So, after days and days of clouds we look forward to its return.

Life is very much the same. When we are dealing with tough times, we long for relief. But if we didn’t go through struggles sometimes, we wouldn’t know how great the good times are. We must experience the dreariness to really enjoy the sun.

We all know that plants need both the sun and the rain to grow. As children of God, we need both the struggles and the joys to grow in Him. When you feel you are walking in the rains of life, say a prayer of thanks. For Romans 5:3-4 states, “No only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

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God’s Omniscience: Take a Number! -Karla

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 When I was a child in the early 70’s, life was a little more carefree. The things that might have caused an adult to be inconvenienced or annoyed were actually little pleasures to me. You can probably think of some examples. For instance, when a kid on the elevator quickly pushes all the floor buttons so they can see them light up. To the adult who is in a hurry, this means an added delay for the appointment.  When a child squirms around and gets distracted as he/she is getting in the backseat. Instead of buckling up themselves, the parent has to take a deep breath not to be frustrated needing to be somewhere in minutes.

Other little annoyances have nothing to do with time, but keep adults from talking or concentrating on the task at hand. A kid thinks it is funny at times to repeat your every word you say or imitate your every action and just die laughing.  Meanwhile you are standing with your hand on your hip trying not to lose your cool.

Take a Number Machine

Though I am sure that I did many of those fun things when I was very young, I remember one that brought me great joy! When I was around eight or nine, living in a small town our out-to-eat choices and shopping choices were a little limited. We often drove to Cleveland, TN for outings. If we were there for the day, our trip usually included a light lunch and a stop by Dunkin’ Donuts. It was popular in those days to have a “take-a-number machine” on the wall. I would try to grab that number before any of my sisters. Why I considered that fun, I have no idea, but it brought me some sort of pleasure to have the ticket in my hand and wait for them to call our number.

No Ticket Needed

 As an adult, I have come to Jesus so many times to pray.  He is always there for me. God is good like that. He NEVER asks me to “take a number”.  In fact, He is not really just there; He is here. I have the Holy Spirit with me at all times, no number required.

“I love the Lord, because He has heard

 my voice and my pleas for mercy.  

 Because He inclined His ear to me,

 therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.”

Psalm 116: 1-2

  
Recently, I discovered Psalm chapter 116.  What comforting words! He is there for me when I am saddened, unsure of decisions, or life is unfair.  He is amazing. When I call on Him in prayer, He is with me no matter if it is because I have lost my keys for the 1,000th time or if I am hurting with pain. He does not make me wait my turn when I need His help even if it is because I have sinned.

The Psalmist goes on in verses six and seven to discuss how the “Lord preserves the simple” and reminds us to rest in our Lord. You know, there is no line to wait in when life is too much. “Be still and know He is God” (Psalms 46:10). He reminds me to rest in His understanding of the situation, not my own. He will deal with the issue in His most simple way. Bringing myself lower than my God, I am allowing Him to take control.

As I come to Him for comfort or for solutions, in His timing and His ways, He will take control of the circumstance. On my part this takes some serious trust. For His ways are not my ways, but His ways are far superior.  In allowing Him to guide me through the issue, I have the benefits of His steadfast wisdom and guidance during the meantime while waiting for resolutions.

God’s Omniscience

Time and time again.  He requires no ticket for me to hold while waiting on Him, nor does He require one from any other person.  I sometimes think, how cool!  God, in His omniscience, has the ability to hear us all at once and treat us with individual care.  Gracious! That is amazing. At least once a week I find myself telling my students, “Okay, guys.  Remember I only have two ears that connect to the same brain. One at a time please.”

 How can I repay God for His diligent, loving attention to me? I can’t! His love doesn’t work like our minds do. There is no repayment.  However, I can share what God has done for me, and pray that others will see that He will do for them.

“I will offer to you the sacrifices of thanksgiving

and call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord

in the presences of all His people.”

Psalm 116: 17-18

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Comfort: Shaking Like a Leaf- by Donna

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    A few Sundays ago, a young man, who is close to our family, came to my house. He was dealing with some things and came to share his heart. As he spoke, I glanced at the tears that sporadically trickled down his face. But, my focus was on his hands. Oh, how they were shaking. I noticed his entire body was quivering. I wanted to just hold him in my arms and comfort him. However, he was much bigger than me! 

    The next day in the car, the song “Hold me Jesus” came on.    

          ” Sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all

       When the mountains looks so big

          And my faith just seems so small

       So, hold me Jesus cause I’m shaking like a leaf

          You have been King of my glory

          Won’t you be my Prince of Peace.”

    When the lyrics, “shaking like a leaf”,  were sang, I thought of the boy who I wanted to comfort. I pictured Jesus holding him. He was in much better hands than mine. And it was clear from our conversation, that he knew God had him close. What a sweet and comforting thought. The Almighty holding us tightly when we need solace. 

The Shepherd

    This incident reminded me of a dark night years ago when I watched as Karla shook from despair. I remember feeling so helpless, but I knew God was there with us. All my life I have heard Jesus referred to as the Shepherd. “He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to his heart.” Isaiah 40:11. I believe our Shepherd was holding Karla close to his heart.

A Mother

     While looking at verses about comfort, I read Isaiah 66:13. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” This reminded me of a time I was distraught. It really spoke to me. The day after I brought my baby girl, delivered by C-section, home from the hospital, the Blizzard of ’93 hit Georgia. We were stuck in the middle of 200 wooded acres with no heat, no water, no phone, no power…not much of anything! My mama had come to stay a few weeks. We were surviving on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fruit from the basket someone sent as a gift to the hospital. The thermometer in the house, which only went down to 32 degrees, was bottomed out. To keep warm, we were all lying under blankets. Mama on the love seat, me on the couch and my husband on the floor. We all took turns keeping the baby warm. Whoever had her would lay her on their stomach and cover her in a blanket, leaving only a small air hole. When she would awake to eat and be changed, we would pass her to the next person.  

    So many trees had fallen that the driveway was not visible. We were stuck for five days, until someone came and “cut” us out. Trees had to be sawed and removed for us to get to a road. Living so isolated from everything, Georgia Power estimated our electricity would not be restored for another week. So, the sensible plan was for us to go stay with relatives in town.

Mama

Already emotional from hormones, this news devastated me. I wanted to keep my baby girl home. All her “new things” were at home, where I wanted us to be! I did not want to stay with relatives. Upset, I went in the bathroom and sat facing forward on the edge of the toilet lid. I began sobbing like a baby. My mama came in the bathroom. Amid my tears, I felt mama ease her small frame behind me, as she too straddled the lid. She encompassed me with her loving arms and just held me. I was twenty-six years old, being held by my mama! To this day, I cannot remember this moment without tears. Though we were both sitting on the toilet, it was such a precious memory.  When I think about Isaiah 40:11, that is what I picture. Just leaning back and letting Jesus wrap His arms around me and love on me when I am shaking like a leaf.

Revelations 12:4

    Life is hard. Sometimes we are the one shaking like a leaf, and other times we are watching someone we care about suffer. During the bad, we sometimes feel like God is far away. But He hasn’t left us. He will comfort us. He will comfort us like a shepherd, like a mother. And we have the promise of Revelations 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOon2xQNZX0

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Fifteen -by Karla

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On January 22, Tuesday of this week, marked the fifteenth year of Mama’s death. She fought hard with her twenty-seven-month battle. I have often compared that period of time to crossing a very long bridge. Once we stepped on, there was no going back to the side in which we began. Like all journeys, some days were long and difficult filled with pain and some with pure agony. But, there were also sweet, precious times as well, desiring to make every moment a memory.

I have numerous words that could easily ramble into days worth of stories when I think of Mom. Her presence in my life is matched by no one else, and the period of days, months, and years that followed as I mourned her death were among the most difficult of my life.   

For several weeks approaching the twenty-second of January, I seemed to almost fixate on the number fifteen. How could fifteen years have passed since I had heard her laugh, watched her tear up for one less fortunate, or seen her red-headed temper flare a bit?

Honestly, I had fallen into the trap where I found myself looking around to see fifteen years worth of not having my mom while others still have theirs. Fifteen years that I could have been asking questions, learning more, and enjoying time with her. It is the stupid little things like “Mom, where’s the recipe for those cabbage rolls you used to make when we were kids?” The girls and I could have been watching so many “life lesson” movies with her. She loved the type of films where lessons could be learned. Sometimes, I have wanted to scream! Why?

Frankly, there are more days over these last fifteen years when I have felt her absence within. I have longed for her voice to cheer me and offer encouragement on days when I was overwhelmed. The need or reaction of picking up the phone for her advice has ranged from paint colors for the kitchen to “Mom, how did you do it! I only have two girls; you had four! How did you survive?”

Thankfully, I have learned to look up. During the weeks leading up to the twenty-second, I have realized that I focused on the wrong fifteen. My concentration of looking around and looking inward was not bringing me any happiness. Rather, I brought myself unneeded sadness. That is just like me to forgot where God has always told me to direct my attention…upward on Him.

This past week, I should have been thinking of fifteen blessing about Mom. Of course, I have many more wonderful things I could list than just these. But for now, with my eyes set on the right fifteen, in no particular rhyme or reason…here goes.

God, thank You for giving me my mom!  Mom blessed me by…

  • Making hot chocolate on snow days
  • Tucking me in bed at night
  • Teaching me about Jesus and taking me to church
  • Not “pinching my head off” like she said she was going to all those years, but forced me to take responsibility of my wrong doings
  • Teaching me the importance of hard work
  • Teaching me to eat my fruits and vegetables daily
  • Taking me fishing and reminding me to stop to smell the roses
  • Showing me that God is always by my side
  • Showing me how to care for people and giving to those less fortunate
  • Loving a good game of football
  • Reminding me that when I feel bad, brushing my teeth and washing my face makes me feel better
  • Giving me three wonderful sisters
  • Making me understand that family is a rare gift
  • Modeling being a mom who sacrifices
  • Teaching me why and how to respect myself and others

Now, I pose a challenge for you to do one of the following:

*Make a list

*Pick up the phone or write a letter if you are so fortunate

*Say a prayer of thanksgiving

*And perhaps…Post a few here to honor your mom!

 

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Waiting: Help is on the Way -By Donna

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One recent morning Karla sent me a picture of her dog Teagan. At first glance I smiled and thought, How cute. She’s watching the world go by. But then I read Karla’s text, which stated, My current situation!   

Please tell me her head isn’t stuck! I responded.

Her reply: Extremely stuck!

Have you called someone? I texted back, feeling so helpless. I have a big heart when it comes to animals. Karla and I were just having the conversation the other day about how I don’t cry watching movies about people, but give me an animal movie and I’m toast.

I waited for her reply, but that was the end of the conversation for a while. Without knowing what was going on, I tried to piddle to occupy my mind. But I just kept thinking about the poor dog. I zoomed in on the picture and could see where she had chewed on the rails around her. Oh no, she has been there a while. But if her head fit in, it should be able to come out. Being 45 minutes away, all I could do was pray.

The Story

After quite some time, Karla texted, Sorry. Rick and Lisa were here. She is free.

Later Karla came to Rome to have her car worked on, and I got more of the story.

She had heard whining, went to check on Teagan and discovered she was stuck. The dog was too tense to get her head out, so she called her friends Lisa and Rick. The dog had panicked and pooped everywhere. She was also flailing her body (in all the poop) at times, trying to get free.

When they arrived, they tried working the dog’s head out, even rubbing oil around the fur on her neck. The conclusion was drawn that the board above Teagan’s head would have to be unscrewed or cut. They first tried a drill. But the angle of the wood wouldn’t allow it. So out came the hand saw. Karla gently held her mouth closed and loved on her to keep her calm. As the saw moved back and forth, Karla worried that when the wood gave way, or the saw would drop down quickly, but Rick had it under control. Soon Teagan was free, received a warm bath, and much needed TLC.

Help is On the Way

Later that day, my brother was telling Karla and I about a song by Doyle Lawson entitled, “Help Is on The Way.” It made me think about the dog and people. Sometimes in life, we are like poor Teagan. We are in a place that seems hopeless and we struggle and stress, but  just can’t get free. We have those around who love us, worry, and stress with us. They try to help us every way they know how. But what we forget in all the commotion, is that if we are believers, help is already on the way.

Teagan, being a dog, could not understand that concept. No matter how many times Karla told her, “Help is coming. It’s gonna be ok. Hold on a little longer.” She did not know that relief and freedom were forthcoming.

When we feel stuck in life, whether it is from relationships, finances, work, or health, we need to remember help is on the way. God will help. It might not be in the timing you would like, but He has a plan. Teagan would have liked to have been released much sooner, but he had to wait. Waiting is the hardest part. The chorus of Doyle Lawson’s song is so true:

“Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way

A brighter day is coming, for those who believe and pray

Help won’t help tomorrow, if you give up today

Just hold on a little longer, help in on the way.”

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Christian Walk: Do You Hear What I Hear? -By Karla

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Song By: by Noël Regney
Music By: Gloria Shayne

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb?
Do you see what I see?

Jesus, Name of All Names

The babe who was sent by God, is called over 50 names in the Bible. He was born to be our Savior, Emmanuel, Counselor, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, Wonderful Counselor, The Lamb, The Lion, the Alpha and Omega…

Many thousands of years ago, He was born in a stable to give us more: more life, more peace, and more joy. It is amazing to me, that the greatest gift of all mankind started with such simplicity and humility.

What does He Hear from Us?

Our world is so different from those days. Sometimes I am cringe thinking of what God hears, sees, and knows about us. Mankind most surely disappoints Him daily, and here in America, I fear we have strayed a million miles from being One Nation Under God.

What Do We Hear from Him?

Why can’t we slow down so that we can hear His Word and see the simplicity of His message?  He so desires us to know His plan, but we must stop and listen.  For only then, we will flourish.

Being More Like Him

So, I pray for us to . . .

To share far more than we desire to receive,

To love far more than we expect in return,

And experience contentment far more than jealousy.

To appreciate more than we complain,

To give grace more than we hold grudges,

And laugh with others more than snicker at them.

To display respect more than we retaliate in rebellion,

To respond in true praise more than we criticize, 

And love more even when love is not deserved from others.

So, I pray because . . .

For our Savior was born to give us abundant life,

For we must completely rely on God to navigate us through trials,

And give Him praise during all times.

For we should draw close to our Savior daily,

For His ways are not our ways,

And His love will prove tenfold over the world in which we live!

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