Thursday, August 27, 2015

Stones

To my Grandfather, stones were things that had to be removed from his farm fields. They were his nemesis. He painstakingly removed each one he found.

To my grandson, rocks symbolize his favorite Sesame Street episode. He's watched it enough times that he can shout "Rocco" with the best of them.

To many people (the Wohlford family included), rocks and stones may mean ground cover in an area where grass won't grow or even what their driveway is lined with.

In the Bible, stones were used to punish and kill people, to build altars, and Jesus even told Peter that "on this rock" [Peter] He would build His Kingdom.

Stones (and rocks) have different meanings to different people. This past week, stones became an important symbol to me. Former pro football player Frank Gifford passed away recently. That in itself had no impact whatsoever on my life. However, the tribute his wife, Kathie Lee Gifford, made on national television sure did. She openly shared about their belief in Christ. She told how Frank accepted Jesus as a boy.

Then she talked about stones. She talked about David and how he chose 5 stones to use in his battle with Goliath. But then she pointed out that it only took one stone because David threw it right where God wanted him to.

She went on to issue a challenge to each viewer. She asked where God would have us throw our stone. It got me to thinking. I've been pondering this question for more than a week not. I even have a stone on my desk at home, my desk at work and on the dashboard of my car as reminders.

God has given each of us a stone. He wants that stone thrown somewhere particular. If we throw our stone in the right place, we'll have the outcome God intended.

So, I ask you, as Kathie Lee asked millions of viewers last week:
Where does God want you to throw your stone??

Monday, August 24, 2015

It's In the Bag

For some reason, this morning started out rough. I woke up fine. But then I seemed to drop everything I picked up, the fish tank needed filled, I was running late. I made it to work with a few minutes to spare. Along the way, I prayed that God would erase the frustrations of the morning and make it a good day despite the rough beginning. I started my work day just like any other day. I checked my email, poured a cup of coffee and went to do my breakfast duty. When I came back to my room, there it was in the middle of my desk - a bright orange gift bag with polka dot tissue paper sticking out of the top. I couldn't fathom what might be in that bag or where it came from. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm here to tell you that this gift bag was God's way of turning this day around! You see, last Sunday I "visited" our old church. With my family all working, I went to my comfort zone to see "old" friends. There's a family that now goes there. They have two girls who go to my school. I saw them there. They were surprised to see me. At school during the week, the older girl asked me how I liked it. I explained to her that I had gone to that church for a long time. My husband and I had our wedding reception there, our daughter was dedicated there, I was baptized there. I told her it was great to be back and see everyone. 
On Friday, she asked me if I had gotten a visitor bag. They give little bags of "goodies" to people when they visit. Kind of a way to let people know they care. I've never been given a visitor bag at a church before. I know there are other churches that do it. Even when I've visited, I've never been given one. I explained to her that I hadn't picked one up because I didn't really feel like I was a visitor. 

Yesterday when she was at church, she picked up a visitor bag and brought it to me at school today. This bright orange bag contained a candle, bookmark, hand cream, bag of microwave popcorn and a nice letter from the church. But it contained more than that...something invisible to the naked eye. It contained love. This sweet 5th grader cared more than many adults do. Or at least she knew how to show she cared. I got lots of hugs from many friends last Sunday. But this little gift bag may have been the best result from "visiting" that day. 

Thanks for thinking of me and showing me you care, Katelyn! I needed this today! And God, thanks for using Katelyn to turn my day around!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Simple Things Can Be Big Things

My phone has been reminding me I'm supposed to blog today since it's Thursday. After several reminders, I told my phone (yes, I know it can't hear me!) that I can't blog unless God gives me something to blog about. Then I brushed my hand against what God wanted me to blog about.

Today, I was in the cafeteria during breakfast time. One of the fifth grade girls came up to me and said, "Mrs. Wohlford, do you have pierced ears?" I told her I did and she proceeded to present me with a pair of earrings she made for me. She said she was hoping that would be my answer since she had picked this color for me. (I have no idea what made her choose this particular color). 

Then, I looked down at the shirt I pulled out of the closet last night to wear to school today. I couldn't believe my eyes! These earrings were a perfect match to the pinstripes in my shirt! Did she know that those earrings would match anything I had to wear? Of course not! Did I know that she was going to give me earrings in that precise color? Not a chance! But God knew! He prompted me to choose that shirt so that I could take a step that would make this child's day. 

I thanked her profusely for the earrings, gave her a big hug, told her how beautiful they were...and proudly put them in my ears to wear for the day. I couldn't have asked for a better start to the school year!

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Not Like the Other

I remember watching Sesame Street as a child and then again when my own children were little. They often had a little thing where they would show four different things, three that were similar in some way and one that was completely different. While showing them, they sang a song that went like this: "One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn't belong. Can you tell which thing is not like the others by the time I finish my song?"

I was struck with that song as I walked through a garden at Bonneyville Mill County Park in Bristol, IN yesterday. As I walked through the garden, God showed me another way I could apply what I was seeing. Here goes...

Just four of the dahlias in the garden
The park has a dahlia garden. It's filled with beautiful flowers of varying shapes, colors and sizes. I started thinking about the fact that you can see roses and they all look relatively the same even though they may be different colors. But there is a pretty distinctive look to roses. It's the same with daisies, carnations, sunflowers, etc. Not so with dahlias. I counted at least 10 different types of flowers...but they weren't different types actually. They were all dahlias. But they were very different shapes, colors and sizes. Drastically different. The thing they all had in common was their beauty.

I then started thinking about another one of God's creation that is the same as dahlias...people. Yep, humans. Look around you. Is everyone the same shape? Size? Color? Even in families people aren't the same shape, size or even color. So does that mean they aren't all beautiful in their own way? NO! It means that God created variety. He created a diverse world. How boring would it be if everyone looked exactly the same? How very "Stepford Wives" that would be. I for one would not be interested to live in a world like that.

So I challenge you. When you see the people around you at work, church, in your neighborhood, the grocery store, etc...don't treat them differently because they aren't exactly like you. No matter what they look like, dahlias all need sun and water to survive. Similarly, no matter what they look like, people all need love and respect.