The walk to the well is usually a time of catching up on the village news, but I left early this morning so I wouldn’t meet the others. As Mary’s pregnancy is more evident, the barbed remarks have increased. This morning, of all mornings, I just couldn’t face them. My tears won’t stop. I am afraid for Mary. It is too close to her time to be traveling all the way to Bethlehem. Yes, I know Joseph will take care of her, Lord, but couldn’t you have delayed the census a little while? Is this old lady’s request too much for you, Almighty G-d? Would it have too hard to have Mary’s needs considered? After all, she sings with great joy that you have chosen her. Yet you let her travel? Have mercy, G-d on this old woman. Forgive my arrogance. I just love my granddaughter and fear for her and the baby she’ll soon deliver. Lord, can you give me a sign… a little one perhaps? To show me that Mary is well? The tears continued to flow, as I neared the well. Oy, at least I can draw the water without the other woman smiling while looking at one another with their “I know the real story” expressions. I don’t even understand… how could they? “Woman, why are you weeping?” Frightened, I turned to see a Roman soldier looking down at me. What does one say to a Roman? He knows nothing about women’s trials or the promised Messiah. “Forgive an old lady, Sir. I am worried about my granddaughter traveling all the way to Bethlehem for the census.” “So you weep? I thought you Jews trusted your god to take care of everything!” He turned and marched off laughing. I sank to my knees and wept bitterly. My G-d, forgive me. A sign… I ask for a sign and you send me a Roman soldier. Oy, after all these years, this old woman still doubts . . . still doesn’t put all her trust in you. Forgive this old woman once again. You alone know why Mary must make this journey. Why she is with child that’s not Joseph’s; and yet he trusts you and takes her into his home. My G-d, my G-d, help this old woman to understand . . . to trust in you in all things. Until the Messiah comes, I am your servant. Little did I know that as I wept at the well, Mary, too, was weeping as she knelt in the hay before the manger that cradled her newborn baby. A son, as G-d had said. To be named Jesus, as Joseph had been told. Yes, Mary wept with both joy and fear as she pondered all that was and was to come. This great-grandmother will not live to see this little one grow into a man. But I will serve the Lord faithfully all my remaining days, as I promised that quiet morning at the well. ~ ~ ~ This writer spent the birthday of the Messiah at home alone and also in tears. Illness kept me from my family and I wept for understanding… for the loss of memory-building moments with my grandchildren and son. I, too, asked for a sign that God was with me for it didn’t feel that way. No Roman soldier appeared. No sign… just the loneliness, and the feeling of being rejected. The next day, I asked the Lord, “What was I suppose to learn throughout the day of tears?” He gave me the story of the anxious great-grandmother, who, even though she loved the Lord, struggled with the unknown. Her fears were real. For Jesus, who left His throne to be born frail and helpless in a stable, and came to deliver the news of hope and forgiveness, was rejected and despised. What loneliness He must have felt as He hung upon the cross for us! Then, like that great-grandmother, I knelt at the Well of Living Water and prayed, My G-d, forgive me. After all these years, this old woman still doubts . . . still doesn’t place all her trust in you. Forgive this old woman once again. My G-d, help this woman to trust in you in all circumstances and for all things. And until the Messiah comes again, I am your servant. [Christmas 2009] Posted by Constance Gilbert at 2:25 PM

Advent - Guest Post

 

HOME OUR LATEST SUBSCRIBE Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Why Advent Is Wonderful for Women Imagine yourself as a woman born centuries before Jesus                        came to earth as a baby. You have no cultural or political                        rights to speak of and your safety is tied up entirely in                              your relationship with your father, brothers,                                                  or husband. But then, you hear the words of a prophet named Isaiah. He describes                        God forming a servant in his mother’s womb who will bring freedom.                        Isaiah says that God labors like a woman for his people’s salvation,                             and remembers his people with the same intimacy as a mother                                   who remembers the nursing baby at her breast. This God, it seems, greatly values women. As Beth Stovell writes in                                a CT Advent devotional, he offers a "combination of global salvation                          and personal intimacy." We see this most clearly in the person of                            Jesus,  whose light brings freedom to those held captive. During Advent, may we celebrate the first coming of a Savior sent                                by a God who loves women, and may we look forward to the second                      coming—the day when all oppression shall cease.

Joe 's Gift of Life

 

SO MANY GIFTS

By Joe Mazzella

I was sitting on a long, black, folding medical table. Beside me was a woman in scrubs talking about the cold change the weather had taken recently. A radio in the corner was playing Christmas music even though it was still weeks away. I took a sip from the bottle of lemonade I had brought with me so I wouldn’t get dizzy. I looked around at all the other people laying back on their medical tables too. Each one of us had a needle in our arms with a long tube running down from it filling a plastic bag below. Each one of us had come to give a precious gift to help others, make the world a better place, and perhaps even save a life.

It was the local blood drive and I had driven 12 miles across snowy roads to get there. I tried never to miss one even in the wintertime. In spite of all the time it took I felt blessed being able to give this gift back to others. I had been given so much in this life: a loving family, many friends, sweet adorable pets, a comfy home, and enough money to meet my needs. Every day my prayers always included the words: “Thank you God for my life.” The gifts I had been given felt wonderful, yet the one thing that brought me more happiness than anything else was giving something back. You see, in this life nothing brings you as much joy as taking your place in the great circle of Love that God created for us all. In this circle you receive and you give until it all becomes one. The more you give back, the more you get in return. The more love you let flow from your heart, the more love flows into it from above.

There are so many gifts you can give in this life too: a smile, a kind word, a few dollars, a hug, a caring letter or e-mail, and even a pint of blood. Each one of them is priceless and precious. Each one of them brings a little more Heaven into your heart. Each one of them makes God smile. May you fill your life with giving then. May you fill your life with Love.

~ ~ ~

I'll leave giving blood to Joe and my son & his wife as I am unable to do so. I am home-bound and unable to gift folks with a smile, a kind word, or a hug as I go about my day.

 Howeveer, I can write thank you notes, pen pal letters, and pray for those in need. I can also write words of encouragement via emails, my blog or through sharing short stories.

Did you know that the Lord commands* us to be encouragers? I even have a red, heart-shaped  "Official Encourager" badge that humor writer, Liz Curtis Higgs gave me in 1996.

Years later, using Florence Littauer's book, Silver Boxes as the basis, I taught about encouragement at several women's conferences. Every lady in attendance left with a tiny one-inch silver box with a silver bow on top and a magnet underneath. I suggested that they keep their tiny gift near the spot they talked on the phone the most often. It was to remind her to speak only kind words.

For me, encouragement as a part of Thanks-Living each and every day. How about you?

__________

* Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

[Ephesians 4:29, NIV]

Guest Post from my online friend, Joe

 Joe, you always touch my heart and encourage me with your stories... I wait for them every Monday to appear in my inbox! And I appreciate that you always send me a thoughtful reply the next day; when I've sent you a message. Today I'm sharing this week's "story" on my blog including your email address.

Readers: If you'd like Joe's messages on Mondays, send him an email at joemazzella@frontier.com

THANK YOU

With Thanksgiving fast approaching I have been thinking of all the things 

I am thankful for in my life. The funny thing is that the things I am most thankful 

for aren’t things at all. It is all of the special people who have blessed my life 

over the years. I am so thankful for Mom, Dad, and Nana. We may not have 

had much growing up but one thing is certain. I always felt loved.

I always felt cared for. I always felt supported and encouraged by them all. I am 

so thankful for my two brothers, Eddie and Tony. Even though they were five 

and seven years older than me they often made time to play with their 

little brother. Yes, they may have picked on me from time to time but they 

always protected me as well. 

I learned a lot about growing up by watching them both. I am so thankful 

for my wonderful wife, Fonda. We may have grown apart and divorced 

but we also had 3 beautiful children who blessed our lives so much. 

And we remained friends through all these years to this day. I am so

thankful for my two sons, JJ and Casey. You guys may have come

into this world with mental disabilities but it was your spiritual 

abilities that taught me so much about how to live and how to 

Love. Because of you both I laugh more, smile more, and am closer to 

God. Because of you both my life is blessed with Joy every single day. 

I am so thankful for my daughter, Beth. You will never fully know how 

much your love has helped me and touched me over the years because 

words cannot express it. You are a true Earth Angel even if you don’t 

believe it yourself. I am so thankful for all of my friends, some who I 

see everyday and some who I’ve never met in person. Your kindness, 

encouragement, and support uplift my spirits always. And I am so 

thankful for all of my beloved pets over the years. I doubt I could

 love as openly and unconditionally as you loved me, but I do keep 

trying to learn from your example.

They say that if you could only say one prayer in this life: 

“Thank You!” would suffice. 

Let me say then: “Thank You, God for all those you have brought into my life”

ReplyReply allForward

A.A.A.D.D.- KNOW THE SYMPTOMS!

 Easily distracted, hard to remain focused, not concentrating well this week, and thought about this poem by David Eig. Maybe you can relate to it also.

Thank goodness there's a name for this disorder: 

Age-Activated Attention-Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests:

I decide to water my garden.
As I turn on the hose in the driveway,
I look over at my car and decide it needs washing.

As I start toward the garage,
I notice mail on the porch table that
I brought it up from the mailbox earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay my car keys on the table,
Put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table,
And notice that the can is full.

So, I decided to put the bills back
On the table and take out the garbage first...

But then I think,
Since I'm going to be near the mailbox
When I take out the garbage anyway,
I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my checkbook off the table,
And see that there is only one check left.
My extra checks are in my desk in the study,
So I go inside the house to my desk where
I find the can of Pepsi I'd been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks,
But first I need to push my Pepsi aside
So that I don't accidentally knock it over.

The Pepsi is getting warm,
And I decide to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

As I head toward the kitchen with the Pepsi,
A vase of flowers on the counter
Catches my eye--they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and
Discover my reading glasses that
I've been searching for all morning.
I decide I better put them back on my desk,
But first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses back down on the counter,
Fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.
Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when we go to watch TV,
I'll be looking for the remote,
But I won't remember that it's on the kitchen table,
So I decided to put it back in the den where it belongs,
But first I'll water the flowers.

I pour some water in the flowers,
But quite a bit of it spills on the floor.

So, I set the remote back on the table,
Get some towels and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to
Remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:
The car isn't washed,
The bills aren't paid,
There is a warm can of
Pepsi sitting on the counter,
The flowers don't have enough water,
There is still only 1 check in my checkbook,
I can't find the remote,
I can't find my glasses,
And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.
Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,
I'm really baffled because I know I was busy all day, 😉
And I'm really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem,
And I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail....

Do me a favor
Forward this message to everyone you know,
Because I don't remember who I've sent it to.

Don't laugh -- if this isn't you yet, your day is coming!
P.S. I don't remember who sent it to me, so if it was you, I'm sorry. 

                                                                ~  David Eig

 ??????????????????Me????????????????????

Halloween Is Not for Me

 

Halloween is not for me, But books! That's my happy place.

Friendships, Part 2

What do sheep, The Frog Prince, and a pig herder have in common? 

Clue #1: Many of us remember the Grimm's brother's fairytale of good over evil vs. the younger generation's tamer Disney animated version. They tell of a prince turned into a frog by an evil hag as punishment. Removing the curse requires a real princess. Remember? Well, I heard a new version while at a church family camp. The chaplain wanted to reach all ages- from preschoolers to teens and adults. The essence was that everyone has bad times in life. From down days to depression to actual tragedies. The church's responsibility is to be attentive to possible needs and to provide help as God directs;  ranging from a simple smile or hug to providing for needs, such as food, babysitting, cleaning, running errands, or offering transportation.

That week resulted in me being asked if I was having a froggish moment and receiving more hugs than I probably had all of my growing-up years.

Clue #2: A story, shared by Ann Spangler.

 "I  met Judith Fain when she was a doctoral candidate at the University of Durham. As was her habit at the time, she was spending several months of the year in Israel. One day, while walking on a road near Bethlehem, Judith spotted three shepherds approaching each other with their separate flocks of sheep. When the three men stopped to converse, their flocks began to intermingle. Judith couldn’t imagine how the shepherds were ever going to sort out which sheep belonged to them since by now they had melted into one large flock. Several minutes later, as the men said their goodbyes, she learned the trick. 

"Magically, as the shepherds called out to their sheep, the one large flock sorted itself into three separate flocks, with each sheep following the voice of its shepherd.

"Her experience illustrates why the land of Israel has often been called the fifth gospel. Two thousand years after the death of Christ it still testifies to his words and teachings. Hadn’t Jesus assured those who had flocked to him: I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me?

"One after another, the promises of our Good Shepherd are intended to communicate who we are and who He is. We are weak, vulnerable, and beloved.  He is our strong, protecting Shepherd."

Clue #3:  A missionary from Africa, shared he was trying to teach the meaning of the 23rd Psalm. All faces looked blank. No one was comprehending anything even though he had a translator. That week he wrote a paraphrase, which read "The Lord is my pig herder, I won't need anything." His African congregation responded with great joy. They had never seen or heard of sheep, but they understood how the pig herder cared for this major resource.

In the previous post, Balaam, a prophet was not listening to the Lord. So God spoke through his donkey. (Dee Numbers 22:21-35.)

All three clues allude to Jesus, our role model for being caring encouragers, which can result in deep friendships. We are only asked to be available or as Max Lucado says, "Let God use you as a conduit" to reach out to others.

The key is being open to God's plan and learning good communication skills.  

My electric company sends a monthly magazine & I actually look forward to reading it. Regional events are highlighted, an article on photography with good tips, the latest electrical news or explanations,  and a page for requests. 

Every few months I send birthday cards requested for 90-100-year-old folks. This month I sent 3 cards plus a brief letter in response to a senior wanting some books.

She wrote me right back & I sent my first package to her. We've decided to also be pen pals to encourage each other. We both have health issues including decreased mobility. We probably will never meet, but that is the joy of cyberspace and postage stamps.

I'm excited to have a new friend!

9/13/22

I've sent 2 more large brown envelopes & received a long letter plus a homemade card. What fun getting to know each other.

9/20/22

On the topic of friends, I read this today. Mull it over with me.

Friends come and go throughout our lives. Some friendships are brief; others last, but...

"The best kind of people are the ones that come into your life and make you see the sun where once you saw clouds. The people that believe in you so much, you start to believe in you, too. The people that love you, simply for being you. The once in a lifetime kind of people."

Author, Joyce Landorf calls them "Balcony People." I have been blessed with several over the years. Only 9 months with a teacher, who nurtured me and helped me realize my potential. Another teacher taught me more than English and took me underwing for over 3 years. My childhood babysitter still remains my dearest friend for over 70 years. My nursing school classmate proves that miles apart don't matter when you're connected by the heart.

Many doctors, nurses, pastors, and even a Scottish Bible Scholar have mentored me and are a part of who I have become.

My silver-white hair reminds me that it is my turn to encourage and share wisdom... to be a Balcony Person through my writing and relationships. 

Because if God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through anything and anyone. We need to be attentive to the words of others, always listening for the voice of the Lord. For after Balaam's donkey talked, life was never the same. *

* from God's Graffitti by Tim Bertram

(See Numbers 22:21-25 for Balaam's story.)

 A TOOTHLESS SMILE

I was in a local thrift store the other day. I love shopping there. It isn’t just that you can get bargains on used items, but it is the experience of being there that I enjoy. It is calmer and more peaceful than the big box stores. It isn’t as lonely as shopping online. And you also get to meet so many good people and have so many interesting encounters. You can even learn a bit about life and love there.

I learned something there just the other day from a tiny teacher who was much younger but much wiser than me. I was looking at the used books on the shelves for sale while my son was checking out the old DVD’s and CD’s. Suddenly, I felt a gentle pressure on the pinky finger of my right hand. A little hand was wrapping its fingers around it. I felt a warmth climb up my arm to my heart and looked down. A small boy no more than 18 months old was looking up at me with love. He had toddled under the clothes racks and ditched his Mom for a moment. I bent down, picked him up in my arms, and smiled at him. He grinned back with a toothless smile and sparkling eyes. Then he wrapped his little arms around my neck and gave it a squeeze.

Just as he did his Mom saw where he was and ran up to take him and apologize. I told her there was nothing to apologize for. Her son had given me a great gift, a wonderful moment of pure, unconditional love.

“Love one another.” This command was given to us over two thousand years ago. Yet, so many of us ignore it. We grow up guarded, fearful, and angry. Sometimes it takes a tiny teacher with both innocence and wisdom to remind us what it means to love again. I thank God for the one I got that day and I am so happy to share his message with you. Make your own life a gift of love then full of joy, kindness, laughter, hugs, squeezes, and smiles. -----

Guest Post from Joe

A WHIFF OF SPRING

The up and down, back and forth, twisty and turny weather of March had carried over into the first few weeks of April this year. We had clouds and sunshine, rain and snow, below freezing frost in the morning and t-shirt-wearing 70-degree sunshine in the afternoon. Even the heater and AC unit were taking turns in my house. But at last, we seemed to get enough sunshine and warmth for Spring to “really” arrive here. Apple and Cherry blossoms appeared on the trees. The grass started to green and grow again. And the flowers finally started to shoot up through the dirt and bless us with their beauty and wonderful scents.

Just this morning I took a nice, slow stroll in the sunshine through my neighborhood. In it I saw yellow daffodils, purple phlox, crocus, hyacinth, and multi-colored tulips all blooming at once. I also saw hillsides covered in thousands upon thousands of dandelions with their little, yellow faces smiling in the sun. I could even smell the “Spring” in the air. After a long winter of smelling only smoke from wood stoves, it was a pure joy smelling all of these flowers again. I even got down on my knees and bent down close to enjoy the smell of each one. I was amazed too at how God gave each species of flower its own unique scent.

I walked back home with a smile on my face and peace in my heart. This whiff of Spring had lightened my spirits, brightened my day, cleared my mind, warmed my heart, and touched my soul. I felt the Love of God in every living thing and I thanked God for Love, for this world, and for this life.

Like a flower in the field, each one of us is unique as well. We are special. We are beautiful. We are a part of God’s creation and we each have our own unique talents and love to share. Let this world get a whiff of who you really are then. Make your life a gift to everyone.----- 

                                                                          ~  Joe Mazzella

Singing the Psalms: Part 3

 FAST FORWARD...

Frances Elliott Clark, A Woman Before Her Time

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Frances Elliott Clark (1860-1958) was an early music-appreciation advocate. As a teacher in twentieth-century Ottumwa, Iowa, Clark spent ten minutes in each of her chorus rehearsals telling students about composers or helping them recognize the stylistic features of a work that made it possible to place it in its correct historical context. Shortly thereafter, the phonograph added new opportunities for students to listen to music. Clark, who by 1903 had moved to Milwaukee, told of her introduction to Edison's invention and of its potential. She realized the difference it could make to her students if they could hear professional recordings. Her principal agreed, and approved the purchase of a machine for the schools.

Victor Talking Machine Company
"His Master's Voice" logo with Nipper
Founded	1901
Founder	Eldridge R. Johnson, Leon F. Douglass
Status	Merged with RCA in 1929; known today as RCA Records
Genre	Classical, blues, popular, jazz, country, bluegrass, folk
Country of origin	United States
Location	Camden, New Jersey

Curriculum Development

Clark made herself an authority on the use of the phonograph to teach music to children and in 1910 spoke to the Wisconsin Teachers Association on "Victrolas in the Schools." Edward Bailey Birge, president of the Music Supervisors National Conference (later MENC), invited her to present this subject at his MSNC program in Detroit. Within a year she had moved to Camden, New Jersey, where she established an education department for the Victor Talking Machine Company. She supervised the preparation of recordings designed for use in the classroom*. Recordings were also developed to correlate music with English and American literature. Among other responsibilities, Clark assisted record and Victrola dealers in setting up educational displays to help music educators learn the benefits of the phonograph. Victor issued a number of instructional booklets prepared by Clark and assistants. Clark remained with Victor for the rest of her professional career but kept up with the times in the 1920s when she promoted the radio as an avenue to music appreciation.

~ ~ ~

Although a distant cousin of mine, I have been told that I am very much like Frances: I visited another cousin who was a close friend to Frances. While talking about family history, she interrupted me saying, "It's like going back in time. Like the chats, Frances and I used to have over a cup of tea." She then got up and returned with a letter from Frances. It read like a diary while Frances was traveling around England on a Shakespeare tour. She included a special detour to see the stained-glass window honoring John Eliot. 

Like both John and Frances, I write. Like John, I tend to lean toward helping the underdog. Like Frances, I adore music and was a children's choir director for many years. I feel very special knowing I have some DNA from these two extraordinary people.

____________

* The recordings paved the way for music as a separate class. And she fought an uphill battle reaching her goal of music for every child during a still male dominate world.