With Child

Take a moment to set aside the traditional pictures of the manger and use your heart to read the following.
 

 

a gasp, a cry

an exhausted mother's sigh

a father's teardrops

a heavenly umbilical cord cut and tied

 

a sweet aroma of fresh hay

a tiny gurgle as rosebud lips find milk

a whispered prayer

a naming as God commanded

 

a squeak of rafters as birds and mice gather

a gentle breeze to fan the fire

a clip and clop of a donkey's feet

a quiet baa-aa and a gentle moo

 

a ray of starlight

a flutter of angel wings

a silence

a moment realizing God's sacrifice- His only Son

 

a yip of a sheepdog on the hillside

an owl's hoot as he hunts

a rowdy laugh from the inn

a braying camel on the dusty road

 

a mother and babe sleep

a father watches

an angel guards

a world waits

 

                               ~ Constance Gilbert

 

 

From my friend Joseph Mazzella:

T'was the day after Christmas 33 years ago. I was newly married and still in college. Only 10 days earlier my wife had gone into labor with our first child. It was a scary delivery that ended in an emergency C-section. We were so grateful to have Joseph John Mazzella II also known as JJ sleeping peacefully in the cradle next to our bed. The day before we had been on the road showing off our little bundle of joy to all of the grandparents and great-grandparents. It had been a busy Christmas and hard on my wife who was still recovering from her surgery. Now we were back in our tiny trailer trying to get a few extra winks of sleep before starting the day. Just then I heard JJ stirring in his cradle. I leaned over and picked him up before he started to cry and then carefully crept out into the living room so my wife could keep sleeping. I picked up a bottle and sat in our rocking chair with JJ in my arms I rocked quietly and fed him in the semi-dark room while he looked up at me with his loving, innocent eyes. I spoke softly to him but also felt a little fear as I watched him. How was I going to take care of him? I was still in school and had no idea what the future held in store for us. I rocked and worried and worried and rocked. After a few minutes I saw the sun slowly rising in the sky outside my window. The bright light was shining down from the heavens making the freshly fallen snow shine with a beauty that touched my soul. As I watched it my fear fled and I felt such a sense of peace, harmony, love, and joy. The Christmas spirit had snuck into my heart when I wasn’t looking and I smiled. I knew then that whatever the future held, it would be alright as long as I kept love in my heart. Christmas is such a blessed time. It is a time of Love. A Holy Child’s Love. A Heavenly Father’s Love. A Love that unites us all. A Love that forever conquers fear. Welcome that Love into your heart. Live it in your life. Make a home for it in your soul. Share it with everyone not only on Christmas day but every day. Embrace the blessing of Christmas by making Christmas a way of life.

 

STOP!!!

Most of us have heard this phrase, but you may not know that it came from a musical that opened in England in 1961 and on Broadway in 1962. Later it became a movie (1966) and had a Broadway revival in 1978.

Want more information? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_the_World_%E2%80%93_I_Want_to_Get_Off.

Lately, that phrase has been screaming throughout my mind over and over. I want to yell at everybody to

  Just Stop it!!!

"...during this difficult time, this challenging time, this trying time..." is in almost every e-mail crossing my computer. I've been coping just fine until you'all keep reminding me it's awful

Here, let me help you. Use up all the synonyms below and be done with it. It is what it is; so stop the pity parties, and the woe is me outlook. 

I'm looking for positive folks to be hearing from.They're out there. 

One place that made me smile yesterday- and we all still need smiles, right? I went to Pinterest and looked at all the creative ideas for getting our children back to school: book boats, wings, special hats, hula hoop spaces, special innovative markings for social distancing and paw stations with sanitizers. 

We need to help our schools and places of employment do things in new ways; not give into the doom and gloom of "we can't-s." 

We need to admit that we've done things wrong... allowed them to be our normal. For example, most schools have been sharing supplies like crayons and pencils vs each child having their own. Sharing facial tissue? In business we went from offices to cubbies and open workspaces. Let it siffice that there are alternative ways of doing things. 

Getting off this planet isn't the answer, but I'd like to see more positive approaches and sharing of ideas. Other countries have been doing this longer than the USA. What works is a better question. And how can I adapt the good ideas to fit my/our situation.

Getting off my soapbox for now...

Connie

Need synonyms for hard to handle? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Soft, light, unruly, and difficult to set into a style flyaway   awkward   difficult   uncontrollable   unmanageable   unruly stubborn unreasonable   obstinate   disobliging   trying   perverse unaccommodating   intractable   obstructive   unpredictable   prickly troublesome   refractory   irritable   thrawn   touchy   tiresome   contrary obdurate   froward   chippy   stroppy   bloody-minded   balky

Colors

My memory of art college was spending every Saturday buying what my son needed for his next week’s projects.
 “More colored pencils?” I asked; “You have at least a hundred by now.”
 “But I don’t have these,” he replied.
“Haven’t you learned to blend colors yet?” I asked… as I paid.

 Months later while we were traveling to Grand Rapids to spend a relaxing weekend, my son asked me to count the number of greens I saw. It was lovely spring day, my favorite season; and I wasn’t on-call for two whole days. So I smiled and began counting, but within a few minutes I lost track of whether that was a new green or not. The Creator of the Universe had painted the waking of nature with myriads of greens in all its shades, tints, and hues.

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts;” wrote Marcus Aurelius.

And this mother told her son, “You can have as many colored pencils as you’d like.”

Today, my son is a successful graphic designer and I am a colorist a.k.a., a color-er. I started with a set of colored pencils and an adult coloring book to pass the time and to keep from being bored.

 Soon I added gel pens…








                                                     then a cart to hold all of them.

 I never seem to have just the right shade. Sound familiar?

I love the flow of ink on the paper and seeing the combination of multiple shades of a color group form a flower. I’ve graduated from a 12 per box to 120 and still want more choices.

 The transition from threads and yarns to ink actually came first. The colors I use for my needlework add dimension and texture. My grandson called it threading (drawing with thread) when he was a toddler. 

Coloring does pass the time for this homebound woman. As a bonus, I have discovered bright colors becoming bridges to happy memories and problem-solving becomes easier while coloring. Best of all, coloring connects me to the author of all colors.

 I am thankful we earthlings were given eyes with “some of the most complex structures in all of nature. The human eye can take in a million simultaneous impressions and can tell the difference between eight million different colours.” (@http://www.eyesite.co.uk/news/humans-vs-animals-who-has-better-vision/)

 Jürgen Moltmann wrote, “Our disappointments, our loneliness and our defeats do not separate us from him (God); they draw us more deeply into communion with him.”It is when I’m coloring that I understand that the best.

 And it is through the eyes of others I see what my walls hide from me: [As I run each day] “ I learn to notice perfect strangers who go out of their way to share a smile; I pay attention to dogs grinning as they walk their owners; and my eyes are drawn, again and again, to nature waking up.” ~ Ryan J. Pemberton

A Gift of JOY

Like most of us, writer Mary DeMuth has struggled through hard times. She has a heart for hurting women and recognizes the stresses caused by COVID-19. While struggling through the hurts of a damaged relationship she did what she does best:... putting her thoughts into words.

"Life right now is full of grief, confusion, and angst. In order to process all that, you need to know what the Bible says about difficult times and how to navigate through them."

Mary writes through the labor pains of her hurtful emotions. While we struggle to express these feelings, she finds the right words. The outpouring of these words opens the doors of healing and gives birth to her books. Until we can communicate our pain, we cannot problem-solve... we cannot heal and restore the joy to our lives.

Whether you are struggling with the life changes brought about by the coronavirus, a damaged relationship, or other issues, I recommend this little 25-page ebook. It's available free at:

http://marydemuth.ck.page/e7f47f3755

Doing well now? Copy and save it for another time. Share it with someone who needs to mend and heal a broken spirit.

I have followed Mary since she was writing her first book* as a sexual abuse survivor. As a writer, I understand how difficult it is to re-open the pain allowing the reader to recognize you've truly been in her shoes. No matter how battered her slippers may be, they can become the ruby red shoes that takes her home to the Creator and Lover of her Soul. Mary shows us the way, the how, and Who restores true joy.

* Author of 40 books currently.

A Unique Mother's Day

My family brought Chinese for supper. Because visitors are still restricted at the senior complex where I live, they ate outside by my livingroom window. While I enjoyed their company from inside along with my favorite cashew chicken.
The oldest grandchild was missing. "How long has he been working at Subway," I asked. His mother looked at her watch and answered, "5 hours."
Our time together was shorter than usual, but larger in laughs. Meal over... masks on... we formed a circle with arms outstretched for a group hug. Who says social distancing can't include time together!
Never had a Mother's Day like this one and doubt that it will occur again, but it was SPECIAL.

~ ~ ~ 

My Monday chuckle from my friend in the WV mountains, Joseph J. Mazzella:

 

 It had been raining on and off for days.  The gray, overcast clouds felt more like the gloom of

 Winter than the joy of Spring.  The ground was saturated from the downpours.  The grass in my

 backyard was swampy and large patches of mud had grown in the well trafficked areas where I

 walked my dogs.  But on this morning I suddenly saw a break in the clouds.  The beautiful, rising

 sun was sliding out from behind them and playing a delightful game of peek-a-boo with the

 earth.  I longed to feel its warmth on my face again so I slipped on my shoes and headed outside. 

 

Just as I got there the sun slid behind another cloud.  I frowned when I saw it but noticed that a

few sunbeams were still shining through on the grass down the hill from me.  I started to run

towards them before they disappeared.  That is when it happened.

 

Suddenly, I felt my feet go out from under me as I slipped on a muddy patch.  Down I went

into the brown slop.  My jeans were filthy.  My shirt was stained.  My hands were covered with

the goo. “Ugh!”, I said.  I wiped my hands in the grass and shook my head.  Just at the moment,

however, the sun broke through again.  I lay in the mud and looked up at its light.  I smiled when

I saw it shining on a determined little dandelion growing in the middle of the mud.  Then I

laughed and felt the light coming on within me too.  It was certainly worth another shower and an

extra load of laundry to see this sight.

 

Sometimes we need to slip in the mud in order to see the flowers.  Sometimes we need to be

flat on our backs in order to look up to Heaven.  In this life God gives us both the sunshine and

the rain. It is up to us, though, to bloom through the mud and to shine through the clouds.  May

your love always shine bright and may the flower of your life become a meadow.

From my friend, Joseph

  GROWING YOUNGER

 

   By: Joseph J. Mazzella

 

          I was about to shave this morning when I caught my reflection 

in the mirror.  There was no doubt about it.  My body was growing 

older.  My formerly thick hair which used to be brown with a touch

of gray was now gray with a touch of brown.  It was hard to see on 

top too with little of it left there.  My forehead wrinkles had become 

permanent and when I smiled a hundred more curled up around my 

eyes and mouth.  I thought about letting my beard grow for a second

but didn’t really want to look like Santa Claus.  When I stepped back 

I could see I had gotten chunkier as well because while my 

metabolism had slowed my eating hadn’t.  My muscles also tended to 

be achier and my body creakier.  And the file clerk in my mind seemed 

to be misplacing things a lot more often.  I was even thinking of writing 

stuff down more so I could remember what I came into a room for.  

In spite of it all, though, when I looked in the mirror again I caught a 

sparkle in my eyes. I smiled and felt a joy in my heart. I knew that 

no matter what my reflection looked like, my soul was forever young.

 

       The truth is while I have been steadily growing older on the outside 

I have for a while now been growing younger on the inside.  I can 

remember how serious, stressed, and worried I was in my twenties 

and thirties.  I often felt like the weight of the world was on my 

shoulders. Now at fifty three my heart feels lighter and my days look 

brighter. I feel like a true “Child” of God free to laugh, to sing, to 

dance, to love, and to help others do the same.  I worry less and 

smile more. I have a lot more faith and a lot less fear. I let my love 

lead me and face the pains and problems of this world with the 

loving-kindness of the next.

 

       In the end all of our bodies will wear out and die, but WE won’t. 

Our young souls will go on forever.  Spend your days growing younger 

then. Let the child within you live and love.

How the Virus Stole Easter

HOW THE VIRUS STOLE EASTER
by Kristi Bothur (with a nod to Dr. Seuss)

'Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began
Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,
Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,
The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.
They You Tubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.
“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.
No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.
The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.
“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.
The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.
The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.
“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!
Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”
So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.
It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn’t depressed.
Why, this sound was triumphant!
It couldn’t be so!
But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.
Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,
Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine
Stood puzzling and puzzling.
“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,
It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then?
Well... the story’s not done.
What will YOU do?
Will you share with that one
Or two or more people needing hope in this night?
Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty – but so is the tomb,
And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,
As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see Hope when it looks at God’s people.
May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.
May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,

 May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.

With thanks to my friends for sharing this with me.

Hope

Jesus' final words from the cross, "It is finished;" was not an ending, but a beginning filled with hope for each of us.

As I read an Easter Meditation this week, I was impressed with James Tissot's definition of sin. "Sin isn't pretty or petty. Our world dresses it up as cleverness, as happiness, as fulfillment. But despite its many deceitful faces, sin at its root is about asserting power. It is rebellion against God's authority, an undermining of His Kingdom. Sin is turning up our nose at God and doing what we want in spite of what he says-- and there's nothing pretty about that...

"Our sins demanded that Jesus to break away from his Holy Father, for holiness cannot cohabitate with sin."

We have been so desensitized by the media that bombards our lives daily that it's easy to see the crucifixion and resurrection as just another movie... another news report.

Then we become like Pilate, who spinelessly sacrificed Jesus to the crowd. It was easy to turn his back and avoid his responsibility. Sadly, I'm seeing this happening today as people chose to ignore CDC recommendations. Their assertion of power through their self-centeredness endangers others. People, that is sin. That is separating oneself from the Creator. I cannot focus on the hope without the reality of how much it is needed today, right now. 

Today we focus on the resurrection and can miss the first miracle. The hearing of the curtain at the entrance of the Holy of Holies chamber of the temple, which was reserved for the presence of God and could be entered only by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. It was a barrier between God and man. At the moment Christ died that barrier was torn down, giving us direct access to the Father!

The earth shook...tombs broke open and saints were raised to life. Signs of hope from God that all was as planned. Can you imagine the terror of the Roman soldiers guarding the sealed tomb? To allow Jesus' body to be stolen meant death. So seeing that huge boulder roll away from the burial tomb entrance by a glowing being dressed in white... They couldn't fight or flee as they were probably paralyzed by fear.

Enter, the women, who experienced fear then great joy!

We, too, as followers of the Risen Lord have much to celebrate! 

Jesus died... was buried... rose...

But that's not the end. He was seen! Touched! Ate breakfast with the disciples! 

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (NLT)

Blessed Easter,

Connie

From the Heart

From my Prayer Journal:

Lord and Lover of My Soul, I am at a loss for words. I am not 

sure how to pray for this COVID-19 situation. But You know my

heart’s desires. I trust in Your promises of comfort, support, 

protection, and strength for myself and those within my world. 

Help us overcome all temptations that will cause harm to ourselves

or others. With deep gratitude, I thank you for blessing us beyond

what we need. And I ask Your blessing upon all those who are 

working to provide our needs and those making the difficult 

decisions. It is in You, we find peace and joy. Thank you

for loving me and mine no matter what! Amen.

The Red Balloon

Last week I felt like setting aside the book I was reading to switch to something more relevant to the current COVID-19 crisis.

Scanning my bookshelves I found several possibilities; then my eyes settled on:

                                                  Study Book

Because I purchase books ahead when I find something I might enjoy, I often find I already have what I'm looking later on. Fight Back With Joy and it accompanied study book is about the author's physical, emotional and spiritual battle with breast cancer.

True joy is not dependent on being happy or feeling good. It is like a rainbow with multiple hues and layers. 

Fight Back With Joy is her journey of discovery "using joy to fight back fear, regret, and pain while learning a new way of living - a life radiant with joy." Her humorous writing style makes you want to join her when she gets into her jammies, laughing and being silly. By the way, the workbook is as good as the book. I did not purchase the DVD, but I'm sure it's an added bonus.                                                                                           

As I was reading the book, which is touching my heart, and doing the pages in the workbook, I had a AHAH moment.

I am going to "fly" a red 🎈 balloon in my front window until this COVID-19 is tamed... to symbolize my fight back with joy. 

I highly recommend all my readers to read this uplifting battle plan! And maybe fly a red balloon? 🎈