Tag Archives: Smorgasbord of sisterhood

Examples from the Nativity -Karla

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My, how our world has changed. But, it is comforting to know some things have stayed the same and have become classics: making cookies around the holidays and decorating my tree with my girls.

Some things are more than classics. They are truths, holding greater meaning than any holiday tradition. Much joy and hope is chronicled in the Christmas story found in the Bible. The actions of the people involved serve as examples all these years later.

Mary

Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Being pregnant at this time in her life was dangerous. She must have been so nervous telling Joseph and filled doubts of being unworthy. 

Yet, Mary accepted God’s will for her life. She was humble and bravely walked, following His plan and becoming Jesus’ mother. 

In Luke 2:19, after she gave birth, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” We should be spending time with Jesus, treasuring God’s Holy Word and pondering in our hearts.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was an encouragement. Finally being pregnant after being barren into old age, she had to be excited. However, perhaps she was scared to raise a son now or wrestled with the humility that God allowed her to become pregnant. 

But the Bible does not record any such actions. Elizabeth served a vital role in Mary’s story. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for several months, and they walked the path of pregnancy together…the old and the young! As we age, we too should be investing in the lives of others, encouraging them with wisdom that God has allowed us to learn along our paths.

Joseph

Joseph had so many reasons to doubt, and public humiliation was inevitable due to Mary’s condition. What a risk he was taking to believe! 

But, Joseph listened to God’s instructions, given to him by an angel (recorded in both Luke and Matthew). Our first step also is to believe—that God sent His son to change the world. If you have not accepted His gift, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16), please talk with someone who can help you understand how much you are loved by God and how He wants you to receive His love. Are we willing to believe like Joseph? Belief that is so deep we are changed.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Shepherds

The shepherds shared their personal encounter of Jesus with others. God wants us to share our story as well. My experiences in life and how God has provided strength and comfort to overcome is powerful and will minister to others if I am willing.

Wisemen

The wisemen spend a significant amount of their life seeking Jesus. They followed the star as we should be following the Word of God to find our way. While God talks to us through music, prayers, and other Christians, the principal way to learn is through His scriptures. So, we must be willing to read—-really dig in, attend small groups that study the Bible and find sound commentary to help us understand.

Share His Love

Christmas is such a blessing. It begins the most wonderful story ever recorded, the hope for us all! Share the joy only His birth, death on the cross, and resurrection can bring.

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Unknown Paths: Planned Panicking-By Karla

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Planned Panicking

I tend to worry. Over the years when a family went to the hospital, my sister Gail and I would share our concerns. Often, we fed on each other’s worries. She would say something like “what if it is or that …?” Then I would contribute, adding worse scenarios. 

On our worst panicking days, this exchange of woes continued back and forth for a while. At some point, we laughed, referring to our frets as planned panicking. We thought, if we prepared for the worst and the worst came true, we would not have far to fall with our emotions, thinking it was the best way for us to handle the stress of the trials of life.

The Unknown

Unknown Path

For me, my most difficult trials are usually the ones that accompany a large unknown element, which leave me wondering: what, when, where, and how.

The unrevealed path looms ahead, and I struggle with navigating it. Thus, planned panicking seems to help. I visualize, directing myself through the worst-case scenario, knowing I could walk anything pertaining to it. 

None of us can live without facing trials. Perhaps, these trials are as simple as spilling something on your shirt right before a big meeting or being late due to traffic. Other times, the trials can be life altering: loss, illness, death, finances, betrayal, moves, disappointment, and unwanted change.

Hardships require us to make some choices, whether we want to or not. The bigger the trial, the bigger the effects on our lives. If we stand still, the tidal wave of change can knock us over. So, I see two choices. 

World’s Way or God’s Way

Looking for a path, the world’s way will often tell us to hate our way through, find revengeful actions to retaliate, or perhaps reach for a substance to deal with the pain. We can easily view these choice actions in response to the daily hits of the situation. Click on the television, look at social media, check-out the headlines on magazines.

We can also allow sadness to develop into depression. Satan loves this worldly way, and he is good at throwing exaggerations our way: it is always or it will never. These falsehoods can throw us into a tornado of negative thinking, which can be dangerously difficult to recover from. 

God’s way is more difficult to find because it is hidden among overgrown weeds of this world. However, if we push back the briars, we can find His hand. Then unknowns become less frightening. 

While our world changes rapidly, God never changes. He wants to comfort, strengthen, and guide us. His principles are timeless; His ways bring healing and peace. 

Planned Preparation 

I am thankful that along the bumpy roads of our lives, Gail and I have matured in our faith. His goodness was, is, and will always be. He is there to hold us when we cry, help us stand again, and light the path ahead. Still, while we cannot understand all the whys of this world, God’s guidance allows us to navigate the way we should walk the unexplainable paths His way, helping with the whens, wheres, whats, and hows.  

Abiding in His Word helps prepare for the rains and storms. Seeking Godly wisdom from sound-Christian friends, provides an earthly crutch through the debris of the trials. Making a mental or written list of how He has carried me through previously troubled times, builds my confidence, allowing trust to breed and take flight over hardships. Planned preparation is not as easy as planned panicking because it takes time, but it brings peace!

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in troubles. Psalms 46:1

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Listen Closely: Misheard words -Karla

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black and silver turntable
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Dick Clark’s American Bandstand aired Saturday afternoons after Tarzan swung from vine to vine. (Check out our Tarzan blog entitled Solid Rock.) We listened closely to the new songs that debuted.

Long before music videos or the commonality of people going to concerts, American Bandstand gave people a chance to watch musical groups perform. I chuckled when Dick Clark would gather a couple of dancers and ask them to rank a song and explain their thoughts.

Week after week songs received high marks. “It had a good beat. It was easy to dance to.” These words were repeated so often that my sisters and I often mocked the phrase as it rolled off the tongue of the various guests.

Bad Girls

Different hairbrushes; different ages; same crazy us!

One of the songs that had a great beat to dance to was Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls”. When that beat-bopping song was released in 1979, I was only 12 and Donna 13. When together, we sang along in hair brushes while dancing around. In those days, a person could not look up lyrics easily. In fact, like many others, we often made up our own lyrics that somewhat made sense. When we could not think of any words that fit, we just hummed or dropped out for a bit, dancing on.

Fast forwarding about 40 years later, Donna and I were indulging ourselves with Baskin Robbins ice creams, which is one of our favorite past times. We licked and laughed, listening to some oldies while in the car. Donna Summer’s Bad Girls began blurring. In a flash of realization I said, “Oh, my! I think those whistles were cops! Donna! What kind of bad girls are they?”

With the handy, dandy internet, we peered wide-eyed at the lyrics we had been singing all those years! 

While You Were Sleeping

Isn’t that the way it is with many things. We just go bebopping along, not truly realizing what we are saying and doing. Often we are oblivious to how our momentary lifestyle affects our current lives and its long-term consequences.

If you have read some of our blogs, you know how much we love music. I relate to lyrics and their melodies often. Over the Christmas Holidays I heard the Casting Crowns’ song, While You Were Sleeping. It tells of how the town Bethlehem had no room and slept through Jesus’ birth. The writers share about his death on the cross while so many did not pay attention to the magnitude of the event on the third day. The final two stanzas focus on America. The song claims the obvious misplacement of our attention. When the Groom comes for His bride so many will be ignorant to the depths of His love and sacrifice. 

Read and listen to the Word, for when you listen to the Word, you are listening to your God.

Listen Closely

January is the month when millions declare their commitment to their health. We vow to eat better and exercise more. Should we not want more than physical renewal? 

We should commit to listening closely to God’s word, not just hearing and enjoying it, like the beat of Donna Summer’s song. Our world is filled with noise, which makes it difficult to listen to what we need to focus on. Like our misunderstanding of Bad Girls‘ lyrics, we may not fully understand what we are hearing because we are not truly studying what is being said.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Trust: How Daddy Taught Me-by Donna

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My daddy loved cars and everything about them. In fact, he worked for Ford Motor Company for nearly forty years and restored many antique Ford cars. He taught me to drive both manuals and automatics. Daddy taught me how to drive and I trust his ways.

I remember the first time I drove alone. It was raining and dark outside. I asked my mama if I could go meet my friend. 

Her face said it all. Rain, dark, dangerous…. 

“Please?” I asked with pleading eyes.

So getting a second opinion, she asked my daddy what he thought about it. 

“Well I reckon she knows where the lights and windshield wipers are; don’t she?” He was not being a smarty britches; he was being funny. But, he was confident in my ability since he had instructed me.

Dukes of Hazzard Driving Style

All these years later, I still consider myself a good driver. Truth be known, if I wasn’t, Karla and I would no longer be on Earth. There have been several times when I had to resort to a “Dukes of Hazzard” driving style, which saved us. 

For example, once we were lost in the middle of the night. (Truth be known, that happened more than one time) We were 18 and 19 year- old-college students, but neither of us had ever driven in downtown Atlanta. We were so off-course! No cell phones or GPS, and the one-way-streets were a nightmare! At one point, I was irritated at being lost and driving way too fast. When all of a sudden, in the darkness, a huge ROAD CLOSED barrier appeared. I slammed on the brakes, bringing us to a stop in a sliding, digging, and spraying ice hockey style. We sat silently in shock for a moment, caught our breaths, and then moved on. 

I Trust my Ability

In 1989, when I began my teaching career, I bought a brand new Ford Mustang, fresh off the assembly line. I have purchased several used cars since with all of these being ten or more years old. Two years ago I bought my second ever brand-new car. It is a Chevrolet. Sorry Daddy, it was a better price than the Ford. 

My new car has lots of whistles and bells: BlueTooth, keyless entry, automatic lights. But, the most important luxury to me is the ability to crank it from inside my house on a cold winter day! I was all excited about the features, except one, the backup camera. My daddy taught me to drive in reverse by looking over my shoulder.

For twenty-seven years of my adulthood, I had a really long driveway through the woods. I would put my car in reverse and drive as fast as I could up the drive, just for fun. My three kids would laugh, feeling it was like a backward ride at the fair. I know I was never endangering them; I trusted my ability. But with a backup camera, the manufacturer expects me to trust them. I am supposed to peer at a screen and backup without really looking. I don’t think so! That is not how Daddy taught me.

Trusting is a Slow Process

During the first six months, when I would back up, anyone who rode with me would say, “Why don’t you use your backup camera?” 

My response, “I don’t trust it.”

While I do use it now, it was a slow process. Anytime I went in reverse, the screen on the dash automatically showed me the view behind the car, whether I wanted it to or not. My eyes couldn’t help but glance in its direction. Eventually I gave in. It took a little getting used to, but now I like it. I can even see when I am backing out of a parking space and I am beside a mile-long SUV. It gives me a little view of the side before I can see it. 

When Karla and I go to Florida every summer, we take turns with our cars. This past July, we took hers. (It is a Ford, Daddy would be proud.) Even when we take her vehicle, I am always the driver, and she is the navigator, music selector, temperature regulator, food finder, and much more.

The first time I backed up, I immediately looked at the camera, which was NOT there. I felt lost! It was bizarre. I almost didn’t trust my own eyes to look over my shoulder, even though I had trusted my capability for decades. What if there is something I can’t see, the camera always knows. Right? Yes,The camera sees all.

I thought of how this scenario is like trusting God. You go through life doing it your way. It’s comfortable, and you trust yourself. But when you finally learn to trust God, the manufacturer of each of us, it is such a relief. You know He sees what you can’t. And those moments when you fall back into your old way and don’t fully rely on Him, you will feel lost. 

If you have not learned to trust God in your daily walk you have a new year ahead of you. It may seem foreign at first, but you will soon realize, you can depend on him. He’s got your back. And you will never want to be without him again.

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

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Freeze Frame -By Karla

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It is fun to open photo albums seeing all the memories come to life. Amid its pages, a person might find freeze frames of the first, wobbly steps taken toward mom, puckered lips blowing out candles, a dribbling ball in midair, a slinging fishing line headed toward the water, an open mouth with fried chicken on its way inside, a winner holding his trophy, or the precious smiles posing with a loved one for the final time.

A freeze-frame photo is a type of still image. This particular kind of picture holds an action in place, freeze framing it, to preserve the moment. These shots are generally used for a purpose. These freeze frames often unleash the background story that floods our minds, producing grins, laughs, or sometimes tears. 

Freeze Frame Memories

\1986 Success

God created us with the ability to freeze frame memories in our minds as well. While I am an extremely visual person, I believe most have the capability to close our eyes and create a home movie of a past event. Seeing my daughters ride bikes with their hair blowing in the wind brings cheer to my empty-nesting heart. What a blessing memories can be to us in needed times. 

However, life does not just consist of happy moments. In fact, life is made of mountains and valleys, highs and lows. At times, I have captured some painful freeze frames in my mind and held them too tightly. Opening the envelope to discover my devastating SAT scores in 1985 seemed to shatter my college dreams, or the doctor sharing I had breast cancer. Those pictures and movies have the potential to smother a person in bitterness and harness him in pain. If not careful, a person can allow these negative freeze frames to leave him trapped in a dark room with the walls closing in. How does the person not get stuck in the muck of these moments?

Replacing Negatives

God allows us to replace our scarred freeze frames with ones that regenerate us. We can tear the negatives into pieces by praying and asking God to replace them. Allowing God to divert my thoughts from the letter that stated my horrible scores to the kind counselor who showed me an alternate route toward my dream of becoming a teacher. And the doctor’s words informing me that I had cancer? God reminds me of my camping trip. I sat on the scratchy, nylon-woven chair and watched the fluffy clouds drift in the big, blue sky. God gave me the gift of pondering how He was in control of everything. He gave me this peace for almost an hour that April morning. . . only five days before. 

Future Freeze Frames

God even gives us the ability to create freeze frames that have not actually happened…our imagination. While we often lessen this ability as we develop past childhood, these imagined freeze frames are helpful. During my mom’s two year journey toward death, I often created pictures of us walking over a big bridge. While her steps were only allowed to travel one-way, I took great comfort in this visual. What a treasure to walk with her as she traveled onward to her final home with God. 

The most beautiful future freeze frame is when Christ receives us home. We can imagine that day, when we too will walk with him in eternity, just as Mom is doing now.

2021 Failed attempt

(Previously published in Good News Magazine Dalton edition Aug. 2021)

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Mom: As Mom Would Say -By Karla

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Years ago, I was in church listening to a sermon when a pastor told a story about a woman who was cooking a roast. She cut the meat into two pieces and placed each in separate roasting pans. Year after year, the lady did the same thing. One holiday, the husband said, “Honey, why do you cut the meat into two piece? Does it make it cook differently?” The wife replied, “Ummm, I don’t know why I do that. Mom did it, so I’m sure there’s a reason.” Shortly after their conversation, the lady phoned her mom. Her mom paused; then she answered with the same sort of wording. “Ummm, I just did it because mom did it that way.” Luckily for the mom, her mom was still living. Out of curiosity, she called her ninety-two-year-old mama. Her mom kind of laughed, “Because I did not have a pan large enough.”

Mom and Music

That story cracks me. It is so true. The older I get the more I seem to say and do the things Mom did. I love music just like Mom. In the mornings, it peps me up while I am getting ready for my day. I listen to it often during my planning period at school, which helps me accomplish more. When I get home from a long day, music helps me concentrate to grade papers or get a second wind to clean my house. At night, I commonly set the timer on my Pandora app, so I can settle to fall asleep with my instrumental praise.

I can so recall Mom stating, “Girls, turn down the radio, or just leave it off please. I need some peace and quiet.” Just like Mom did, there are days I am driving home from school when I say the very same thing to myself.

Mom’s Sayings

At school, I have grown from the young and hip creative teacher to much more of a grandmotherly figure over the years. I seek every opportunity to affirm and brag on their accomplishments both large and small. However, I also fuss at them when they do wrong. I strive for my students to know that I love them unconditionally. In the instant world youngsters live in today, having to work for something is foreign to them at times. I have refrained from letting loose with Mom’s words, “I’m gonna pinch your head off!” But in recent years, I have found my lips mouthing her familiar words, “Don’t just sit there like a bump on a log. My mom would’ve looked at you and said, ‘Am I gonna have to lite a fire under your bottom?’” The kids seem to like my mom’s little country sayings, motivating them to get busy.

Mom’s Advice

Mom passed over fifteen years ago. During this time, many things have happened in my life that I wish she had been here to help me through. When I get into a mood, Mom’s words invade my mind. I have even said aloud, “Yes, Mom, I’m having pity party. And yes, Mom, I remember what you taught me. A pity party should only last so long! Don’t invite too many people because not many people really want to come. I remember that my sweet friends who are willingly to come don’t want to stay long.” So, I rest, and even pout a bit. Often I call Donna to vent or cry. Then I get a hold of myself to move forward little by little.

The other day my sisters and I were in a group text trying to encourage each other. I stated that God does not desire us to live with guilt after we have repented to the Lord. Continuing, I reminded the four of us that God does not want us to be trapped in a place that Satan wants to confine us, but to move forward to do His will. For a short moment, one sister commented on how wise I was. Another sister quickly deflated my pride stating my insight came from Mom. We had all heard her say so many times, “Satan, get behind me!” I just died laughing when that sister texted those words. I replied with my thoughts, “I used to think that Mom was kind of crazy when she declared those words, but the longer I live, the more I profess those words myself.” Mom was the wise one! We just try to follow in her footsteps.

I once saw a tote bag that said, “Sometimes, I open my mouth and my mother comes out.” I started to buy it because it is so very true and it cracked me up. However, I could hear Mom saying, “Just window shop, Karla, you have enough bags already.”

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Cousins: Fruitcakes –By Karla

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Recently, “the cousins” got together for a snowball fight! Okay, actually our reason for our gathering was a Christmas celebration. However, we did not leave before large, synthetic snowballs started flying! As Donna and I drove over the mountain back to our houses, I started thinking about how my cousins and I are a bunch of fruitcakes! 

At first thought, the word fruitcakes can conjure up a negative connotation, but chew on the following and let these words simmer in your thoughts. 

Variety

Like most fruitcakes, a variety of fruits add to the mix. In our cousin mix, we have a lawyer, some bankers, a receptionist, a dental hygienist, some insurance specialists, some housewives, a nurse, a seamstress, some government workers, and a home title-researcher, and teachers a plenty! We are unique as are the different fruits in the cake, and when the fruits blend together, it creates something special Over the years, all fruitful cousins have bonded together to help each other survive and thrive. 

Nutty Cousins

Nuts! Oh, we have those too! While none of us are truly nutty enough to be institutionalized, we have questionable moments. I will simply share a few because if I shared them all, you would be bringing several straight jackets!

One was known to have carried a leftover biscuit in her purse to have when needed, and her daughter once brushed her teeth with Preparation H! One of us must not be drinking anything when a funny story is told, lest she spew it everywhere. Another was testing out a media chair in Walmart, when it unfolded. She was sprawled out on the floor and laughing so hard that she could not get up! Perhaps one of my favorites is the one who was searching for funnel clouds because of an apparent “newly installed city tornado warning siren” only to remember ten minutes later that she had changed her ringtone. And during the “snowball fight” that evening, we caught a glimpse of one of us stuffing her bra with two! I guess our nutty sides add spice to our lives resembling the nutmeg in a fruitcake loaf. 

The Holy Spirit

Many recipes call for the bread to be soaked in “spirits”. Honey, I tell you the truth when I say that my cousins know the true spirit that we need to immerse ourselves in: The Holy Spirit of God. We’re bred from a lengthy line of Christians. Fruitcakes can get better with age, so can we! Christians that don’t just say they know God; ones that desire to learn more of the true bread of life. (John 6:25-59). 

December is declared the fruitcake month; these breads are made for special occasions. They are not intended to sit on the shelves taking up space, but given to others. As we are God’s special creation, we are to give of ourselves to others. 

Fruitcake Cousins

While doing some quick research, I learned that fruitcakes can get stale. To refresh them, one only needs to steam them. Christians too can become stale; life can beat us down. By spending time in God’s word, we can revive. God amazes me! He designed Christian fellowship to help us out. Fruitcakes are known for their solid consistency. Well, my friend, my fruitcake cousins have serious substance.They know the Lord, and they surely know how to rejuvenate me with laughter, listening ears, kind words, and hugs.

Did you know a fruitcake once traveled into outer space? Yep, it launched its way on Apollo 11. I have no idea why, but it did! Since it was not eaten, it now sits in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum! But, I do know where my fruitcake cousins and I will be traveling one day: to be with our Savior far beyond the space we can see in this world.  

While fruitcakes are known to last for a long time; some even say “forever”. I know my fruity and nutty friends will live eternally with the true Bread of Life. 

Snowball fight!

(Thanks Mental Floss: 15 Fun Facts about Fruitcake; April 16, 2016 & Fill Your Plate: Interesting Facts About Fruitcake; Dec. 9, 2011 for providing me with some quick research.) 

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God Knows Best: The Planner – By Karla

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When I was 21, mom remarried. Berry immediately gained four daughters and eventually gained twelve grandchildren. Sometime over the years, he affectionately gave my sisters and me nicknames. Lynn, the oldest, became “The Boss”. What a perfect name for her! Gail, my twin separated by two-and-a-half-years was called “The Planner”. The youngest Julie earned her title easily, “The Princess”, and Berry gave me the name “The Sweet One.” While I am not sure that I am the sweetest one, I do enjoy the name he gave me.

Our family: 2007

The Planner

God-love Gail! She really is “The Planner”, desiring to know when and how things will happen. Gail doesn’t care for the unknown and operates best when things are just so. When the sisters are discussing some event, Gail is the one that makes sure the plan is carried out with as few hiccups as possible. I just love her inquisitive mind that is always thinking ahead about the what ifs. Her gift of planning has helped us all  many times over the years. With such a large family, we often have to change the plan. Gail deals with this well, as long as the alternate plan develops quickly and firmly. 

Truly, I don’t think Gail is alone. Many of us take comfort in a neatly formed and executed plan. If the truth be known, I think some of my most frightening times in life were the “unknowns” that leered ahead. In fact, I have had stomach aches, raw lips (where I have peeled off the top layers of skin), and added wrinkly lines by fretting over what lay around the corner. 

It is not always that the plan is unclear that upsets me. Quite honestly, the problem is I question God’s plans. At some point or another, hopefully not after too much time has passed, I remember that God’s ways are not my ways. (Isaiah 55:8) 

God’s Orchestrated Plans

Below are just a few events God orchestrated that I never would have thought was the best plan:

  • Crossing the Red Sea:  (No way would I have been brave enough to walk through on the dry land believing the walls of water would not come crashing down.) But, God knows best! He created a safe path for all Israelites to get through and destroy their enemies with His perfect timing.
  • The Battle of Jericho. (I wouldn’t have believed an army we could make the walls fall down just because we were marching around blowing some horns.) But, God knows best! To beat it all, no Israelites got hurt! 
  • Jesus’ birth. (If I had known Mary was in labor, I would have knocked on every door insight, trying to find a ”proper” place for Jesus to be born.) But, God knows best! He wanted Jesus born right where He had him, in a meek and lowly stable, The King of King, but not of earthly royalty. 
  • Jesus’ death. (I certainly would not have wanted my Jesus to be beaten, mocked, and crucified!) But, God knows best! He knew how to give us the most incredible gift; Christ taking our sins away. Thus, He provided the way to eternal life if we accept it. 

God’s plan for all these situations was just that–God’s plan! His plans are never too late, never too early, never too big, nor never too small. 

An Unplanned Move

In 1992, a series of events led my young family to move from Oklahoma back to Georgia. The move was not what we had planned! In fact, the events caused a serious financial issue and uncertainties for several months. Many times I cried out to God trying to understand the reasons why the situation occurred, which caused so much turmoil. 

However, around March of 2004, I had a realization. While I had not been toiling over the situation all those years, it hit me one afternoon. Nana died in December; than six weeks later Mom passed away. As I was grieving and processing that day, I finally understood that God knew exactly when Nana and Mom would leave this earth. He knew how I needed their guidance in the years while they were still with me and the advice that I still live by today. 

All that time, what I had thought was a bad plan, turned out to be a precious gift from God. He led me home, so that I would be only a short drive from them both. He gave me 21 years with them that I would not have had if life had followed my plan. 

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Drawing Nearer: Just a Closer Walk with Thee -Karla

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Sunday Night Madness

Loving music as I do, when I sing in church, I feel so close to the Lord. The songs draw me nearer to God as I prepare my heart and mind for His message. With the peace that only God can give, I always love Sunday mornings as I feel God’s spirit nestled within me. For years I longed for that peace and closeness to stay with me throughout the week until I could be in the Lord’s house again.

However, Sunday evening would rear its annoying face as I thought of Monday’s stress engulfing me like a hurricane. The weight of the undone laundry hung on my shoulders and the load of ungraded papers would leer at me from my bookbag. 

  • ungraded papers
  • laundry basket still full
  • dishes in the sink
  • floors unvacuumed

Sure enough (as Nana would say), as Monday’s sun would rise, I rushed around getting the girls and myself ready for school. I was lucky if I remembered to whisper a prayer asking Him to be with me throughout the day. As the hours ticked and Tuesday dawned, my sprint continued, hoping to survive the day. Often I would make a promise to God that I would spend some time with Him that evening, which might or might not have been kept. 

Monday Morning Rush

Sure enough (as Nana would say), as Monday’s sun would rise, I rushed around getting the girls and myself ready for school. I was lucky if I remembered to whisper a prayer asking Him to be with me throughout the day. As the hours ticked and Tuesday dawned, my sprint continued, hoping to survive the day. Often I would make a promise to God that I would spend some time with Him that evening, which might or might not have been kept. 

Hump Day and Beyond

Wednesdays were better; I knew that by dusk I would be back in church with the kids for their activities. At times, I drug myself through the motions after a long day. Still I enjoyed the Christian fellowship and felt a little recharged. 

On Thursday mornings, I might have remembered to murmur a prayer at the red light while the girls were talking in the backseat. 

Gracious! When Friday would roll around, I was beyond thankful. Saying TGIF was about as close as I got to thinking of God. 

You might think that on Saturdays I could have found time for Him, but usually I was busy sleeping late, doing chores, and chauffeuring the girls to and fro. 

Come Sunday morning, after fighting the devil to make it to church, I would feel Jesus’ peaceful presence embracing me again. 

Drawing Nearer

Why was it so difficult to feel His companionship Monday through Friday? I was like the kid dashing out of a department store, obliviously running in the parking lot with cars everywhere. Meanwhile, the mom is trying to help guide the child safely to their van. Likewise, God had been by my side trying to guide me all week, but I kept wandering around amid the hazards of life.

I roamed from daylight to dark and meandered from Monday to Saturday amid obstacles, trying to find strength and peace to survive, but discovered little. I was attempting to navigate my daily life alone, while I had put God on a shelf during the week. Yes, I acknowledged Him as I stumbled along, but I was not asking Him to travel with me holding my hand. 

Though I don’t recall the words from the sermon that prompted the desire for change, I can distinctly recall tears in my eyes as I claimed I didn’t want to walk my daily path alone ever again. I wanted Jesus nine to five, five to nine, and repeat. 

close up shot of an elderly woman reading a bible
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

The process to have Him with me in my highs and lows and everything in between was so simple. Connect everyday. 

  • Read His word
  • Talk to Him in prayer
  • Be still and know that He is God

After making a commitment to spend quality time with him each day, I have found these words to be true: “The closer your walk with God, the less room for anything to come between.” 

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Armor of God: Never Leave Home Without It -By Karla

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Dining at Cracker Barrel, Donna and I noticed an elderly man. Simultaneously, we said, “Bless his heart.” We whispered about him having to eat alone. At a second glance, I noticed he did not have his teeth in. 

Donna and I often joke about how we promise to make sure that the other does this and that or does not do this or that when we reach that certain age. Please note that I mean no disrespect to anyone who has dentures; we all have things we must deal with. (I especially mean no disrespect to Aunt Anna. She has entertained the little ones over the years by flipping hers in and out with just the push of her tongue!) 

It was no surprise to Donna that I mouthed, “Never let me leave the house, forgetting my teeth.” Of course, she agreed and added some other words that I could not hear. So, she suggested I need to buy a hearing aid and add it to the list of things I should never leave home without. I shook my head as I realized my list was getting longer; I made a mental note to add my glasses too. 

When the waitress brought his food, Donna grew concerned about him getting sore gums noticing he had ordered crispy tater tots. 

Our Mom’s List

Our conversation then wandered into the list of items our mothers made sure we were never without when in our cars. 

  • Always have a blanket in case you are stranded on the side of the road on a frigid night
  • Make sure to have a flashlight in case you need to walk at night because your car breaks down
  • Have a pair of scissors–though I am not sure why…maybe in case you meet a bear while you are walking with your blanket and flashlight! (But, honestly, those scissors have come in very handy over the years!)
person holding flashlight during nighttime
Photo by Wendelin Jacober on Pexels.com

My List

Among Mom’s advised car list, I have added a few “musts” for my purse as I have aged.

  • Yes, like the American Express commercial said, “Never leave home without it”: your credit card (It comes in handy during emergencies or if you see a really, cute little dress.)
  • Your phone cord and charger (I have learned a dead phone and worried children can be a problem.)
  • A healthy snack & a bottle of water (No one wants to hear a growling stomach in church.)
  • Safety pins (Those buttons can pop off at the most inconvenient times.)
  • Band-Aids (Nobody wants blood on their clothes.)
  • Hand sanitizer (Covid-19…Need I say more.)
  • Tissues (I’m snot kidding)
  • Lip Gloss (A shiny smile says so much.)
  • Breath mints or gum (You remember the Big Red commercial: “say goodbye a little longer.”)
  • Small tube of lotion (Who wants rough hands?)
  • Power compact (Will this oily skin ever end?)

In my young adult life, I would have included an extra tampon or pad on the list, but at my age I will have to say a clean pair of panties. Mom might have said those are needed in case of a car wreck, but I am much more concerned about getting tickled with a friend and need a pair to change into. 

 We can powder our noses, gloss our lips, stick on the Band-Aid, clean and smooth our skin, pin a hole, quench our temporary thirst, and disguise our breath, but to be prepared in life, we need more than supplies from our purse.  

The Armor of God

All kidding aside, “Mama said there would be days like this”; ones filled with the devil’s schemes. The Bible gives us a list of things never to leave home without. We must guard ourselves with… (Ephesians 6:10-18)

  • Belt of truth 
  • Breastplate of righteousness
  • Fit your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
  • Shield of faith
  • Helmet of salvation
  • Sword of the Spirit

The armor of God is the thing to truly never leave the house without! When we make time to read God’s word, pray, and listen, we armor ourselves with a relationship with the Lord, the most important thing to never forget!

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