Garden Variety

A couple weeks ago, I was checking out our gardens to see how everything was looking. In the wildflower garden, I noticed these green stems with spiky balls on them. Certain they were a weed, I decided I would pull them that weekend.

When I went back during the weekend, they were no longer just spiky green balls. Sprinkled throughout them were pink and white spots. I thought they might be flower buds. I decided to wait and see what happened.

This week I went out to look at the gardens again. Those white and pink spots were beginning to open up into flowers! What looked like ugly weeds have opened up to be some of the most beautiful flowers in our garden.

So this got me to thinking. How often do we look at the outside of a person and assume they must not be anything worth keeping around because of how they look? Perhaps if we gave it time, we would begin to see the beauty within as it emerges. Can God use people we think look less than ideal? Can God use "ugly" things to bring us joy? I have always believed He could. Now I know for sure!

Tomorrow Might Be Too Late

It's late. God hasn't given me anything more profound than a brief thought. I've been waiting for something better. But apparently, this is what God wants someone to hear.

On Monday when I was driving my husband to work, there was a fatal car crash on the highway. We weren't rerouted because we weren't going that far down the road. But someone lost their life because someone else was in a hurry and put others at risk.

That evening, I had to turn around and go another way because there was a fatal motorcycle crash down the street from the pawn shop as I was heading to pick my husband up. Again, someone lost their life because of poor choices.

The next morning, our family was reeling with the news that a young man we've all grown to care for and love was fighting for his life. Unfortunately, he passed away Wednesday. His wasn't a matter of poor choices. He was extremely ill and trying to get home from work. His girlfriend thought she would be coming home to him. That moment never came.

So I ask you...are the lives of you or any of your loved ones worth hurrying for? Are you willing to risk someone's life because you're running late and trying to make up time? Think about how drastically your life could change if it was your loved one. There have been too many accidents lately. The roads haven't changed. People have. We're all in such a hurry. No one has time for anyone these days. It's sad, really.

Make the most of every moment you have. Tell your friends and family you love them. Don't tell me you'll do it tomorrow. What if tomorrow is too late?

If you're reading this, you matter to me. Don't let time slip by.

Trusting the Unknown

Trust. Such a small word. Such a big problem for many. A co-worker and I had this discussion today. Why is it that people, myself included, have such a hard time trusting God's plan for our lives? We try to do all the right things. We go to church, we read the Bible, we pray, we help others. But things seem to be crashing around us. Then we watch the news and wonder if God is really still there. How in the world could people be killing other people, countries starting wars with other countries, earthquakes, famines, destructive tornadoes that rip towns to shreds, etc. Is God there?

We work hard at our jobs every day, we work to take care of our families, yet we never feel like we're getting anywhere. We see other people not work because one spouse makes enough that the other stays home. We see people be able to get a new car every year or two. We see people buy all new furniture every year. And the list of things that we see that frustrate us goes on and on. We envy vacations, clothes, cars, houses, etc. And then we wonder why God seems to be giving so much to everyone else and ignoring our pleas even thought we're bending over backwards to do all the right things yet are struggling just to meet the most basic needs of our family.

We hear people say that God will provide over and above what we need right when He wants to. We hear people say it must not be in His plan. Then we wonder if God even truly has a plan for our lives.

Let me tell you right now...He does and He cares! James MacDonald says, "Nothing can be done outside of God's almighty plan. No event in human history is outside His influence even in the slightest. No world ruler can change God's program. Do not fear! God Almighty is working out His awesome plan."*

Job 38:35-38 says, {God speaking to Job} "Do you send the lightning blots on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'? Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?" Now, I don't know about you but I can't do any of that. But I know the One who can and does!

Psalm 8:3-4 says, "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the starts, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" If God cared enough to spread the stars in the sky, don't you think He cares enough to take care of what you NEED? Don't worry about all those frivolous
things other people have...fancy clothes, new cars, expensive purses, jewels, etc. I have what I NEED...the love of a heavenly Father Who is going to make sure I have a roof over my head, clothes to cover myself with, a family to love and care for and food to eat.

*James MacDonald Gripped by the Greatness of God. Page 62

Appreciating Teachers

It's Teacher Appreciation Week in America. That means it's time to thank teachers who have had an influence on your life. As I sit here thinking about the teachers I've been blessed with over the years, I realize there are many who influenced my life. However, I would like to specifically thank those who showed me how to be more than just a teacher. These amazing educators showed me how to love the children placed in my care, how to show them that they matter and how to be the support they may need.

* Mrs. Dorothy Smith was my first grade teacher. No matter how bad of a day she may have been having, she had a smile on her face. She always had a kind smile and a friendly welcome for everyone who came into her classroom. I will always remember her reading, "Stand Back," Said the Elephant. "I'm Going to Sneeze" to our class. Since her retirement party (which I had the pleasure of being the waitress for), she presented me with her own copy of that book...the one she held and read many times during that year. She even signed it to me. I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Smith for showing me how to make each child feel special.

* Mrs. Eleanor Keller was my elementary music teacher. I remember her patiently singing silly little songs with us. I remember her giving me a Mrs. Beasley doll (hey, it was the 70's and I LOVED Family Affair! Don't judge!) I still have that doll. She lives on a shelf in my living room...except when my grandson asks to play with her. I will be forever grateful to Mrs. Smith for teaching me how to be patient with children and for learning what matters to each one.

*Mrs. Ruth Hunsberger was my 3rd and 4th grade teacher. I remember being in a portable classroom. We had individual desks that she would have us move into different configurations for holidays. They were in the shape of a pumpkin for October and November, a Christmas tree for December, a heart for Februar
y, a shamrock for March, an oval Easter egg for April...I remember her teaching us to write "My Heart Pants for You" in pictures for our Valentine's cards. I remember her reading Old Yeller. I never liked that book. I still don't. But I remember listening to her read it. Her husband was on the pastoral staff at my childhood church. I remember being so proud to tell kids that we went to church together and then telling people at church she was my pastor. I'll always be grateful to Mrs. Hunsberger for teaching me how to make things fun for children.

*Mrs. Margie Juroff was my 6th grade teacher. I can almost smell her lotion (or perfume or whatever she wore that smelled amazing!) I remember her long fingernails as she would brush them across my shoulder to encourage me to keep working on my math facts. I remember her patience as she came to my house during the summer to help me learn to do better in math. I remember the impatiens she had on the windowsill in the classroom. I remember her reading Caddie Woodlawn to us. She eventually became my kids' teacher also. I couldn't have asked for anything better. But something better came...she became my coworker. I am proud to say I was standing on the sidewalk as I watched her climb into a limousine on the last day of school the year she retired. I remember tears streaming down my face as I watched her be driven away from the school. I'll always be grateful to Mrs. Juroff for teaching me to encourage children to be persistent and never give up just because something is hard.

*Mr. William Smith was my middle school science teacher. I will honestly tell you that I don't remember a lot from his class. But I do remember him turning off the lights, lighting candles all over the room (back when that was ok) and reading The Telltale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe on Halloween. I remember him having a huge stuff tiger on top of the cabinet in his classroom. I remember telling him how much I liked that tiger. I remember being in Mr. Yenna's English class when he was pulled out of the classroom. When he came back in, the words that came out of his mouth devastated me. "Mr. Stewart collapsed and died this morning while getting ready to come to school." I cried buckets of tears that day. On the last day of school, the sub that had been hired to finish out the school year in his place was packing up the things in his classroom. When she pulled the tiger off the cabinet, she found a not attached to the bottom of it that said, "Give to Brenda Hatfield [my maiden name] on the last day of school." I am still the proud owner of that Tiger. I will always be grateful to Mr. Stewart for teaching me a love of Edgar Allen Poe and for teaching me how to pay attention to things that make children happy.

*Mrs. Marcia McBride was my middle school choir teacher. She taught me that there is more to music than just listening to the radio. She taught me a genuine love for singing. She taught me that so many different styles of music can be loved and appreciated by the same person. She was also my kids' choir director. I was proudly there for her final concert. I will always be grateful to Mrs. McBride for teaching me that you can encourage children to explore the world around them and appreciate the beauty contained within.

*Mr LaMar Holaway was my high school choir teacher. He continued teaching the love of music that Mrs. McBride started. I remember traveling to Indianapolis for State Choir Competition the year before I was even in high school. I got to turn the music pages for the accompanist. I became known as the "State Champion Page-Turner" for several years after that. I remember traveling to Florida with the band and choir my senior year and how he and my parents got their first ever senior citizen discount on that trip. He was my kids' choir director as well. I will never forget him walking in the door for my son's graduation open house. I will always be grateful to Mr. Holaway for sharing his love of music and giving me the desire to go to Fort Wayne Bible College to major in Music Education.

*I've had many incredible college professors, staff and faculty through the years as well. Dr. Jay Platte, Mr. Dana Collins, Dr. Roger Ringenberg, Dr. Doug Barcalow, Dr. John Schutt, Dr. Alice Joy Weddle, Carolyn Arthur, Joyce Laurent, Dr. Susan Karrer, Dr. Rebecca Wilson, and many others.

Thank you to each and every one of these amazing people! Thank you for teaching me to love children, let them know they matter and showing them I'm always there to be a listening ear. May I be half as great as you taught me to be. I truly love you all.

Listening to His Voice

I heard God speak today. I'm not saying I felt a prompting from God. I'm not saying He moved my hand to do something. I'm saying I looked in the rear view mirror to see who was talking to me. I only saw my Dad sitting there. But I know it wasn't his voice. I know beyond a shadow of doubt it was God's voice.

His sign was much like this

We were on our next to the last stop of the day. We had been shopping at many different stores. I was tired. I was ready to get home. I was done shopping. As we pulled out of the Walmart parking lot, I saw him. A scraggly man with white hair and a beard. He was wearing faded camouflage pants and a dingy white sweatshirt. His face was long and drawn. His eyes seemed tired and empty. In his hands he held a beat-up cardboard sign with the words "Homeless and hungry. Please help."

I did the "normal" human thing. I let all the reasons why I couldn't help swim through my mind. I didn't have cash and wouldn't give him cash anyway. Someone else will help him. All the food I have in the trunk of the car is earmarked for meals. My family needs that food. Then I heard the most beautiful voice say, "There's a McDonald's right there on your left." I thought to myself, "No, I've already gone past the drive to get in there. Someone else will help him."

Then I heard the voice again. "You can turn at the next light and go in the back way." The words sounded like a suggestion. But the tone of the voice was most definitely a command. The words said, "You can." The tone said, "You WILL!" So, I turned at the next light and went into McDonald's the back way. I got in the drive thru line. I ordered a meal complete with fries and a drink. I headed back to Walmart.

There he was, sitting on the ground where he had been standing. He looked tired. He looked forgotten by society. He looked sad. I parked in a close-by parking spot and walked over to him. The joy in his eyes when I reached the bag of food and the cup of soda out to him will be forever etched in my memory. He said, "God bless you! God bless you! God bless you!"

Then the words, "Can I pray with you before I go?" came pouring out of my mouth. Those who know me well know how out of character that was for me. I don't pray out loud with people I know (besides my family) let alone complete strangers. But I know God spoke those words through me. It wasn't me. It wasn't my thoughts. But it's what God wanted. He gratefully agreed to allow me to pray with him.

I asked if he minded telling me his name. He introduced himself as Danny. Then, right there in the grassy area by the traffic light outside Walmart, I knelt beside Danny and prayed for him. I prayed that God would bless him in ways neither of us could ever imagine. I prayed that he would feel God's love in profound ways. I prayed that he would be protected and guarded. I prayed that he would feel blessed. And then we wished each other well.

As I got back in the car and headed down the road, the last words I heard from the backseat (besides my dad), were, "Thank you for doing as I asked." May I never be hesitant to follow God's leading.

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40

**Author's note: I usually blog on Thursdays. I didn't have anything to blog about. Nothing came to mind. God kept telling me He'd have something for me when He was ready. As I got down the road today, God said, "There's what you're supposed to blog about this week."