Slow Down

Like many of you, May was full for me! I've attended graduation ceremonies, hosted end of the year parties, clapped at award's days, bought new ferns to freshen up the porch, dug out the supply of sun screen to check the expiration dates, and the list goes on and on, doesn't it? But, today is Memorial Day and the somewhat official beginning of summer.

      On a business trip to Washington D.C. one spring, I was surprised to see that the street lights have a countdown feature to let you know how much time you have to walk across the street. So, if you come upon a green walking light, you can judge whether or not you can make it across before it turns red. Here is the phenomenon we discovered about ourselves. No matter how much time we had on the countdown clock, we would try to beat it and get across the street. Whether we had 4 seconds or 40 seconds, we were determined to get across the street. Do you feel like your life is like that? Do you feel like you've got seconds to cross every street in your life?

     When I was a teenager, I loved Simon and Garfunkel. They sang those cool songs with cool words that made you think about life. One of those songs had these words, "Slow down, you move too fast. You got to make the morning last." You may not be as old as I am and have never heard this song, but you still get the message. It would probably benefit us all to have that song on our iPod to remind us that we're trying too hard to beat the clock to cross the street.

Here's what I love about summer-- we do get to slow down even if it's just a little. If you have kids in school, the homework hassles and nightly rituals of school preparation are over for a while. If you're a grandma, you may get to schedule more time talking to your grandkids and less time watching them at an extracurricular activity. The longer days and warm temperatures give us such a great environment for slowing down and just enjoying life. Here's another famous quote you might remember, "Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." That's from someone else very popular, Jesus.

     As a former teacher, I still relate to life in semesters and school years. Summer will always be more significant than New Year's in terms of renewal and new beginnings for me. This past school year, I mean the months from August to May, may have been a struggle for you. For those of you with kids, perhaps grades didn't work out like you wanted or there's a bully you can't get away from or the teacher didn't like your child. For those of us without kids in school, perhaps you are just having a hard time at work or you've had some illness or a parent who is struggling. Whatever you faced during this past school year, summer will allow you some time to rest from it, even if it's just for a week or even if it's just one night as you sit outside and look at the stars.  So, relax, slow down, and give your burdens to God. Just let the seconds tick away and don't rush to cross the street. Trust me; the other side will still be there no matter how long you wait. 

I hope you have a relaxing Memorial Day. Remember our troops serving today and keep them in your prayers.

Continue to relax and enjoy the summer.

 Hugs,

 Chrys

 Here's a bonus: The words to the song. Yes, it really does say groovy. Enjoy!

Slow down, you move too fast
You got to make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

Hello lamppost, what'cha knowing
I've come to watch your flowers growin'
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doo-it in doo doo, feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

I got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life I love you, all is groovy  

Life is a Bubble

Sunday was a blessed day that included worship and, then, company for lunch. I hosted a group of summer camp counselors. We sat around the table, laughing and talking about our experiences at camp. I asked them to tell me about a counselor that made an impact on their life. As each one shared, we were able to point out qualities that made those counselors stand out for them. I wanted each of them to realize that camp would be as meaningful to the campers this summer as it had been for them and they would have an impact on the campers in a big way.

After everyone left, it was time to wash the dishes. First things first so I picked up the bottle of detergent and made my initial squeeze. As the green liquid flowed right unto the pan one tiny bubble broke free from the stream of soap and began floating to the ceiling. What a treat to be given this gift. I know you're saying, How is a tiny bubble a gift? I think it was God's way of reminding me of how fragile life is.

This past month I have attended five funerals and a wedding. That's right—it sounds like a movie, doesn't it? But, it's true. Five funerals and a wedding define the month of May for me. I was so honored to attend each funeral as I was to attend the wedding, each in a different way. The wedding is like that tiny bubble in that it represents a fresh, new beginning. Dreams have yet to be realized as the happy couple said vows that bound them together for a lifetime. But, the sad reality of attending the wedding is those dreams may or may not happen, so it's with some reluctance that we watch their bubble float away.

The funerals, though, are a different story. When we journey to heaven, our dreams and reality have already collided. Words that are spoken at a funeral depict an actual life. The words spoken at a wedding hold possibility instead of actuality. With modern technology, funerals now include photos and each precious life is shared though words, stories, and Bible verses. There were many good deeds recounted, many relationships affected, many happy times shared, but their bubble already is now gone, except for the memories. Life passes by very quickly.

Someone once said that our children never see the beginning of our life, only the end. As your children get older, they will be storing away the memories they will tell at your funeral one day. It's true, they won't remember the hundreds of peanut butter sandwiches you made or the thousands of loads of laundry you washed, but they will know if you loved God and loved them with all their heart. Like the camp counselors I had lunch with, your life as a mom will make an impact on your children for now and eternity.

You serve an awesome God who values your life and has plans to protect it as if it's a fragile bubble. Don't try to blow it higher yourself or it might end up in a direction you don't want it to go and don't try to hold it in your hand, it will not survive. Let God be in control and you will float through every trial with ease and confidence and when you do reach the top—you'll float right into the hands of a loving Father.

Have a super great week.

Hugs, Chrys

Expect the Unexpected

Last week was one of those "topper" weeks. You know the kind—just when you think life can't get busier; you have a week that tops all the previous busy weeks. My oldest daughter was out of town, so once again, I stepped out of my full-time grandma mode and into full-time mom mode. I hosted the second grade party for Will and got him to two baseball games, watched and cheered for Sadie's first pep rally and two softball games, cheered again for John Luke at his spring football game, took pictures at Bella's end of the year chapel, looked at and signed all papers, passed out lots of dollars, helped with homework questions, braided hair, encouraged teeth brushing and baths, took lots of pictures, drove to and from ball practices, school, birthday parties and church and tried to keep something fairly nutritious in them. Of course, I couldn't neglect my grandma role to the other kids, so I also hosted a swimming party for Asa and Aevin, attended their ball games, and had all three over to spend the night. Whew! What a week.

When John Luke, my oldest grandchild was seven years old, I had taken him to the grocery story with me. I always love it when I have the rare opportunity to be in the car with any of my grandchildren. There's something about the car that brings out conversation. That day, John Luke surprised me when we said that he had learned three things about life. Since I've learned some things about life as well, I knew when a seven year old says something this profound, one should pay attention. "What have you learned?" I quickly asked. "Well," he said, "I've learned you have to work hard, play hard, and expect the unexpected."

Now sit back and let that part sink in. John Luke went on to explain how the hardest one was expecting the unexpected. My mind went to Abraham and Sarah and then to Hannah and then to David and Goliath. The Bible is full of God's people who were blessed by the unexpected events in their life. As a busy mom, your days are partly planned out in your calendar book or your iPhone. Your life could not function if this were not true. But, there's that other part that never gets written down, the daily surprises. Like all good moms, when my daughter left town, she had my week carefully planned out, but she couldn't know what she didn't know. Those are life's surprises.

Guess who is not surprised? God, your heavenly father. In fact, scripture lets us know that God rejoices in delivering surprises such as when He blessed Sarah with a baby boy in her old age. But, God is also there to help us through the surprises in life that are not directed by him, but are just the result of our fallen world such as job losses, sickness, and death.

John Luke, at the tender age of seven, was right. Expecting the unexpected is the hardest part of life. But, if we look at each day as a brightly colored package with the hidden contents ---no matter what is in there---a gift from God, then our days will be more about Him and less about us.

Have a blessed day of surprises,

Chrys

A Mother Job: Priceless

 
 

      We have a new baby in our family. On May 6, my sweet nephew and his precious wife welcomed an 8 pound, 12 ounce bundle of boy-joy into the world. On May 8, as they walked through the doors of their little home, their lives would never be the same. How was the first night, was the question of the day on Mother's Day, May 9, as our family gathered for lunch. The new parents, who live many miles from us, had wanted no help on their first night. As all of us "older" moms suspected, the night was a little challenging—a huge departure from the previous nights they had spent as a married couple with no children. Dirty diapers, feeding, crying, walking, rocking and dirty diapers, feeding, crying, walking, and rocking seemed to rule the night. But, as a mom you're not surprised by that at all. Even if you haven't had a baby in your home for thirty years, you can remember this scenario like it was yesterday. Your brain may even be going a step further and thinking, "They have no idea."

     It's true, a new dad and mom have no idea what lies before them. That's probably a good thing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss! As I look back over my "mom" career, I see so many things I did right and so many things I did wrong. Many have said this, but I'll say it again, babies don't come with instructions. While we can learn from other mothers and read books by famous authors, each new day with a child is like opening a new deck of cards—slippery, hard to manage, and quickly gets out of order.

     So, Mother's Day is for all the moms who have spent the night crowded in a twin bed while they comforted a sick child; for every mom who skipped Bible study group because a child suddenly remembered they were to bring brownies to school the next day; for those moms who anxiously stayed up until their teen came home from that important first date; moms who have never even seen a soccer ball, but volunteered to coach eleven first graders down a soccer field; for the moms who have worked two jobs to keep food on the table; and for the moms who haven't had a good night's sleep since their blissful college days many years ago.

I want to say thank you to all you moms who put your "mom" job as number one! That doesn't mean you don't divide your time a hundred ways, it just means you know what's really important. You know that at the end of the day raising healthy, happy children who love the Lord and want to make a difference in this world is the most important job you do. 

     There have been calculations done to put a price on a mother's job, but being a mom isn't dependent on the money you make, it's dependent on the love you give and receive. My mother used to use the expression "It's a labor of love" when she would volunteer her time to help someone in need. That's what being a mother is all about—it's a labor of love. From the time we truly "labor" to deliver our babies, we "labor" in love to feed, clothe, and nurture our children.

Moms, keep up the great work. Know that your children will grow up to reflect what you have instilled in them. They won't be perfect, but neither are you and neither am I. I'm just a mom who did the very best I could do and so are you!

      Happy Mother's Day to a group of outstanding moms! Thank you for the example you are to me and each other.  

Hugs, Chrys

Listen Up!

Mollie was use to repeating almost everything she said. Three years of speech therapy hadn't taken away the impediment the seven-year-old struggled to correct. Still she was a confident little girl and talking to strangers never bothered her. It was as if she felt it was their problem for not understanding her. One day she was out walking in her neighborhood with her mother when they came to a house where the owner was working in her garden. "It's a beautiful day for a walk," the woman commented as Mollie walked by. That was all the encouragement the little girl needed to stop and visit for a minute.

Soon, the woman ended the conversation with another comment about what a great day it was for a walk. Mollie's eyes brightened as she said, "Do you want to go with us?" "Thank you for asking," the woman replied, "but I have to keep working. Please, ask me again." To that, Mollie responded with, "Do you want to go with us?" Again the woman said, "I can't today, but please ask me again." Very politely and a little slower and a lot louder Mollie said once again, "Do you want to go with us?" Smiling, Mollie's mother jumped in this time so the exchange between the woman and the little girl could end. "Sweetheart," she said, "She doesn't mean to ask her now, but to ask her on another day and she might be able go with us."

I love this story told to me by a good friend about her precious daughter. It's a beautiful story of childish innocence and the value of really listening. Our lives are so busy; it seems we don't take the time to really listen to the people who really matter to us. More times than I want to admit, I have to ask someone (usually a grandchild) to repeat something, not because I couldn't understand them, but because I didn't listen the first time. Proverbs warns us in chapter 18 verse 13 that anyone who answers without listening is foolish and insulting. I can see some of you raising your eyebrows at this. Who wants to appear foolish and insulting? None of us. But, many times I've given the "uh-huh" to my husband or kids without really knowing what I was saying "uh-huh" to.

Let's all concentrate this week on being better listeners to our husbands, children, co-workers, and friends. And while we're at it, let's REALLY listen to God. We don't want to be guilty of answering His questions without really knowing what He's asking of us, do we? After all, you can be sure God always listens to you and never needs you to repeat it. He gets it the first time.

Have a great week of "listening."

Hugs, Chrys

The Eye’s Have It

I have long eyelashes! For real! Not the kind in a box that look like two halves of a spider and require a steady hand, lots of glue, and carry the possibility of falling off, but real, as in my own, eyelashes. Being a blond, I have spent a lifetime (well, not my whole life, but from about age fifteen) layering on Maybelline mascara (very black, for maximum coverage). I can't begin to tell you how many layers of mascara are required to get my eyes perky and ready for the day, but I will say I've been known to have to prop my arm up to finish the job. J Surely, some of you can relate to this. Don't tell me I'm fighting the eyelash demons alone. So, here's the good news. If you've been watching the beauty ads you know that sometime last year a new product hit the market that promised long, luxurious eyelashes. Not since contact lenses replaced my brown, horn-rimmed glasses have my eyes felt such promise. This invention could be in the "dream come true" category for "hard to solve beauty dilemmas."

Surely, you've seen the ads. The absolutely beautiful Brooke Shields bats her perfectly groomed eyelashes right into the camera. I tried to listen to my head when it told me she was still sporting a perfect pair of false eyelashes, but my heart kept saying it's worth a try. It seems my daughter was tempted by the ads as well and purchased the tiny bottle before I had the opportunity. Yes! I told myself. A guinea pig for the experiment! I was like a mad scientist, rubbing my hands together in eager anticipation of the outcome. After all, as much as I would love a new, improved set of eyelashes, I am practical to the core and was willing to wait a few weeks to see how it worked on someone else. Deep down, I knew that at the first sight of a hair longer than a quarter of an inch, I would get my own bottle! My daughter, the avid reader, read the instructions carefully, and then set about following the plan. However, this was at Christmas and soon, I was too busy to think about it.

After the first of the year, the mad scientist in me returned and I found myself staring at her eyes for the promised growth. After a full inspection, I stated the product must be another beauty gimmick as I couldn't tell any difference. She nonchalantly explained that it made her eyes itch, so she quit using it after about two weeks. What! She let a little itch stop the wheels of eyelash progress. My daughter was clearly NOT ready for the promised Betty Davis eyes.

The door had just been opened! Eyelash heaven was in my future and at no cost to me. I told her I would take her little bottle off her hands and give it a try. The instructions had long been thrown away so I turned to Google for my questions and answers. Here are the instructions: apply nightly to the base of the eyelashes. Look for results in eight to ten weeks. Simple enough. I was already in the habit of washing my face, applying night cream, and brushing my teeth at night, I would just add this to the list. Now I'm going to make a long story a little shorter. After eight weeks I saw NOTHING! I started whining and complaining and Googling the product for answers. Then, I decided to continue on and be patient. And guess what, after TWELVE weeks, when I applied my morning mascara, my eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw the fruits of my labor come through in such a big way. Just as promised, my eyelashes looked like Brooke Shields'—it was uncanny. I could be her eyelash sister! J

I was on the receiving end of proof that consistent behavior can get desired results. Wow, what a lesson to be learned here and it's not about eyelashes. IT'S ABOUT LIFE! Every one of us wants to be successful in the long term. I don't mean financial success, but this can happen as well. All of us want a good life, complete with loving family members, a church family that supports us, a job that we feel benefits the world, outside activities that enrich our life journey. We want to leave a legacy and be remembered well. And in the end, we want to spend eternity in Heaven. But, sometimes we're not willing to the right things, consistently, that will assure the results we are striving for. Sometimes the journey gets too hard, or itchy, and we want to stop before the desired result is reached. Sometimes, we think it's just taking too long and it's not worth it, so we give in to our own desire to take one thing off our work load. Sometimes, we just don't trust God's word when He says, if you do THIS, I will do THAT.

 

There is a Biblical principle that says "Be obedient to your master for a long period of time" which is just like my eyelash instructions that said, "Apply EVERY night." If you follow the instructions, you will see results beyond your expectations. While the word obedient isn't the "coolest" word of our day, it is the word that is capable of giving you and me a life of freedom and hope. At the end of your life, your legacy can say, "Through God's grace and blessings, I did what I was told for a long period of time and here are the results—a family who loves God, friends who know I am there for them, a church family that was blessed by my services to them, and a community who knew what I stood for."

 

I know the eyelash journey was just for fun. There are so many life issues I face every day that challenge me to stay strong, stay focused, stay connected, stay, stay, stay in God's word. And I know, without a doubt, God will hold up His end of the deal, if I do just that.

 

Join me in my journey to be obedient to God's word today and every day.

 

Hugs, Chrys

  

The Applause Is For You

Last night I attended the opening of Seussical the Musical. As much as I love musicals, I don't always make it to the local children's theater. But, last night was different. Three of my little grandchildren have starring roles in this spring's production! Yes, that's right. They are three beautiful fish. Brightly colored, glittered faced, silver-shoed fish! Okay, it's true confession time--they don't have lead roles, those roles went to the older kids. The Cat in the Hat, the people from WhoVille, and Horton the elephant are all teenagers who can SING (I'm talking Broadway baby), but our two seven year olds and one eight year old didn't disappoint the director. They put all they had into their fish-roles (ha-sounds a little like sushi).

My daughter and I have taken turns for over a month making sure our little actors were at practice, gathering up the necessary parts for fish costumes, coaching from the sidelines with words like "smile" and "don't scratch on stage," and recording the moments on video and still photos. As for the kids—they have loved every minute of it. Here's another true confession, the play could go on if our three little fish didn't show up. In fact, this coming Saturday it will, as the kids all have other things to go to that afternoon. But, there will be a hole on the right side of the stage where three adorable little fish should stand.

Last night was family and friends night. You can imagine the laughter and applause as those people who love these children the most watched them perform. I wish I could have been behind the stage, peeking out, so I could see the faces of each mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister and friend as they observed what they believed to be a "perfect performance" out of their shining star. What love filled that room! The curtain call was amazing. Everyone was standing, the clapping was nearly deafening, and smiles were bigger than the one of the tricky Cheshire Cat in Alice's adventures.

Anytime I am in an event such as this I can't help but think of the first verse in Hebrews 12. Of course, to know why that verse was written you have to go back to Hebrews 11. If you haven't read Hebrews 11 in a while, take time this week to do that. Anyway, Hebrews 11 is the curtain call of the cast of characters in the play of life titled, "God's Most Faithful Followers." It's a curtain call EXTRAVAGANZA! Great men and women like Abraham, Joseph, Sarah, Noah, and Moses are named because each of them has a starring role in this life-changing play. Each one was given a part to play and each one performed it as God called him or her to do. Then the first verse I love in chapter 12 is this:

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

I LOVE IT! You see we all have starring roles in this play of life. There no insignificant roles! In life, if you don't show up---YOU ARE MISSED! And here's the great part—we have an audience of the great men and women recorded in the Bible cheering us on. Their faces are glowing with love and joy as they watch us carry on the job they began many years ago. As they watch us faithfully take up our "mom cross" each day and help with homework, drive carpools, kiss bruises, say prayers, watch ballgames, hold hands, nurse, nurture, and nourish the children God has place in our care. YOU are in a starring role and YOU have a host of heavenly cheerleaders smiling down on you today.

Enjoy this day! It will never come again. Take comfort that no matter what the day brings, you are loved and being held up by the greats that have gone on before you.

Hugs, Chrys