no words are necessary between two loving hearts
6
in a blink
Sixteen years later……..
My baby girl and I will go out shopping for sweet little dancing shoes. We will skip up a sunny sidewalk in town to the seamstress shop and pick up her beautiful dress; a long, mint green gown, newly hemmed for her small stature. She will talk of lipstick, jewelry, nail polish, and love.
…….she will be going to Prom.
life is a continual feast
We found out on Monday that Sarah was born with a congenital obstruction in her right kidney. And she also has reflux on that side. The mystery of how she had the stones in the first place as been solved. Unfortunately, this obstruction has caused her right kidney to lose most of it’s function. Thankfully, the other kidney is doing the job of keeping her healthy. (kidneys are amazing) The next step is to meet with the doctor about doing surgery on the ailing kidney to help it drain better…..because with no treatments she will most likely end up with ongoing infection. There is a chance that she may lose the kidney, but the doctor believes that even though it has lost significant function, it still appears to be healthy and he is leaning toward surgically fixing the blockage. We meet with a second doctor next week for her thoughts as well.
Of course, I am not a doctor and I don’t know much. I do not have the wisdom of the doctors, but I do have the wisdom of a mother. As a mother, I was very upset by the results of these latest tests. Truth be told, I did a lot of crying and lost my appetite for a day (but in the midst of it I felt I would be sad forever–strong emotions & dramatics have always been a talent with me). But the doctor and nurse were both calm and reassuring. As specialists, they told me that they see children all the time with the very same situation as Sarah so they know she will be okay.
Jesus was and is always near, so near, and I had time reading the Bible yesterday in which I read many verses that comforted and stayed my soul. I also had a nice long talk with Gary (our pastor) and my dearest mother (with Dad listening, too).
Jacob’s girlfriend Emily comforted me as well. I told her some of my imagined fears and rambling sad thoughts and she exclaimed, “Don’t think about those things!” Which is such simple advise, but TRUE, and I tell you, do not be afraid to share (some) things with your teenagers because they very often have just the words you need to hear, sweet simple childlike faith……..”out of the mouth of babes”.
Enough about that. All will be well. Doctors are a gift from God with God-given healing wisdom and talents. What a wonderful world we live in, where there is knowledge and support for so many medical conditions! This world is full of people trained to help in many ways and I am thankful for everyone I meet who shares a smile, or a kind word, or gives time and energy to be active in the schools and community. These sorts of people make me always to want to do the same. The world is much bigger than a kidney. 🙂 You can quote me on that.
And by the way, Sarah Joy is pain free and completely healthy. Like I said, the healthy left kidney is taking over for the lack in the right one. So this is a huge blessing! And she is on a daily antibiotic to keep infection at bay. She’s happy and growing and active. Not only that, but she’s still young enough that she isn’t worried about a thing (until we are in the doctor’s office!).
*****
Last week, Rich took me to the Brimfield antique show and we had such a nice afternoon together. I saw these Tasha Tudor books and looked through them. I didn’t buy because they were on the pricy end (probably worth it but not to me).
Birds we love.
Necklaces made from odds and ends.
Just as we are.
What we purchased on that day. We came home and I scrubbed everything up.
The disc pitcher and 7 tumblers are vintage and are for display only. I did tell the children that when they grow up and have a baby we will do a toast with them at that time using these valuable tumblers.
The covered casserole and three light yellow bowls are retired yellow.
The mugs were chosen by my husband — two lapis and one shamrock.
The divided vegetable bowl is a retired piece in Ivory.
Three cereal bowls in lemongrass, white, and paprika.
And then two pasta bowls in paprika.
I put the disc pitcher up high, next to my priceless Lilac one.
My sweet Grace.
darling cat paws
nature is confused…we had a second round of toads this year.
Remember the vultures? We searched for the Death Thing and we found it… a very dead muskrat waving in strips in the stream. EWWWWWWW
My children; 19, 18, 16, 13, 10, 7, 5
Rich and I went on a date Friday and found a restaurant close to home that we enjoyed very much. My salad had roasted potatoes, tomatoes, crumbled cheese, and grilled shrimp on it. Rich had a seafood pasta.
Like I said before, nature is confused this spring. We have toad nurseries in BOTH ponds now. I took this picture because the toad was funny. As soon as it sensed my presence it completely froze in this position.
Rich and I went to a Farmer’s market and I was completely impressed by this handmade jewelry—made by tatting! I bought an ankle bracelet for Sarah and she hasn’t taken it off.
Grace is going to Prom on Friday.
****
“For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:16
tired
I am currently sitting on the couch fully dressed and ready to go to yet another Children’s Hospital appointment with Sarah Joy in regards to her kidney. I have my robe on over my clothes because I am freezing. It’s 46 degrees outside with a very strong and persistent wind. In other words, it feels like a rather blustery day, today. I will take the robe off before I pick Sarah up from school, hopefully, and put on a winter coat.
I am exhausted. I am thinking about all the things that my family has planned for the next month: prom for Grace, Senior banquet for Grace (who is dating a senior) and Ethan (my senior son), baccalaureate, graduation, field trips, concerts, a church picnic and baptism at which my son Caleb will be baptized, graduation party for Ethan, Rich has two business trips, and all this along with the little league games that happen several times a week and the little surprises that life throws at us now and then…..and I am exhausted. Did I mention I am tired?
I keep thinking: “Do one thing mindfully at a time with as much love and care as possible.” This is easier said than done. Especially the “mindfully one thing at a time” part.
I also keep thinking “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
And lastly, I keep thinking “I want to sleep, but at least I’m not crying or anxious.”
This morning I found nine fiesta bowls, three plates, a bunch of paper plates, and four mugs in the basement, left there by Ethan, Grace, Caleb, Kylie, Zak, David, Caleb, and Zach. (all teenagers) Seriously? What I have to say is this: “There is to be no more eating downstairs, my dear children.”
The other day (when it wasn’t 46 degrees), David and his friends played in the stream. It’s funny because of of them is named Michael, and since we already have a Michael here all the time, we differentiate them by calling the younger one “up the road Michael”. (Because he lives… up the road.)
I was attempting a photo of the hanging baskets which are so pretty, but you can’t really see them very well. Thankfully, the house, garage, and lawns are pretty tidy at this point and there won’t be much to do to prepare outside for the picnic and party. I’ve been doing a lot of gardening, which is probably why I’m so tired. My body is trying to get back into the swing of things after a long winter.
David could not find a golf tee so used a pencil. Genius (although it took about five minutes to get the ball to balance).
Entrance to the trails (we call one the Dam trail and one the Adventure trail) by our house.
starflower
Fringed Polygala
“this exquisite, orchid-like wildflower resembles a tiny airplane without a tail.”
Lady slippers, almost ready to bloom
violets
The largest wintergreen berry I ever saw. And then I ate it.
make a wish!
I picked a small bouquet of violets, buttercups, bluets, and Kentucky bluegrass.
There is something quite calming about looking through the grass for just the right flower, bending, picking, adding it to the bouquet and then doing it over again and again until you’re done.
And this little bird…a very dark photo….which is a hazard of shooting in manual mode but then seeing something you have to photograph before it flies away so you don’t think to change your settings and then the picture is either blown out or too dark. However, I can identify the bird as an…..OVENBIRD. Thanks to my Merlin ID app on my phone (indispensable!!) “Secretive warbler that lacks vibrant colors, but compensates with its enormous voice.”
Yep, that’s right. I got a photo of a secretive bird! I do feel proud.
*****
Well that about does it for this blog post and thank you all very much for listening. As a writer of blogs and journals, I do feel better after a good scratch of the pencil or tip tap on the computer keys!
“If you’re completely exhausted
and don’t know how
you’re going to keep giving this much of yourself
day after day
you’re probably a good parent.”
Bunmi Laditan
with seth
I know right away when I love a song……as soon as I hear it, it sort of stops me in my tracks. I travel away into the song, forgetting everything around me….
and this is one of them!
A song for a Friday.
(Grace sent it to me one day in a message through FB.)
Today was Senior Skip day. Ethan made homemade pancakes for breakfast using his Grandma’s recipe for himself and four of his friends. While he was making them, I got ready to go out shopping and then the phone rang. It was the elementary school nurse calling me in regards to Seth. She wanted me to come and get him because he was uncomfortable with an allergic reaction in his eye.
Do any of you have this problem? Or a child with this problem? It’s the dust. It gets in his eye and the eyeball itself swells, sometimes the lid and the “bag” underneath also swells, but the eye gets red and itchy, too. It happens randomly now that it’s springtime and most often when he is on the little league field playing ball in all that dust. I normally do nothing about it but a cool washcloth because it resolves within a few hours, but it does look and feel terrible.
I asked him when I walked him out to the car, “Seth, Mommy was about to go to Target but I suppose you probably can’t go because of your sore eye, right?” And he sighed like a martyr and said, “I can go. It’s just an eye.” “Oh, Seth! Are you sure?” “Yeah”, he says, with that same little sigh but I know very well he’s dying to go to Target with me.
“Why are there so many cars there?”
“Is this the road Aunt Amanda lives on?”
“Can I have batting gloves?”
“Can we go to Dick’s?”
“Can I get a batting helmet?”
“What’s your age plus Dad’s age?”
“Is anyone at home right now?”
“When does David get home?”
“Can we listen to music?”
“Am I going to practice tonight?”
“Are we still in Connecticut?”
He had lots of questions and as is typical, whenever one child is with me, that child talks nonstop to Mom and I sit and drive and smile and listen and my heart….it swells up so big with joy. I say, “You are so cute.” and I reach over to pat their shoulder now and then.
We went to Goodwill first and I actually found a piece of fiestaware. It’s a seamist sugar bowl without the lid. It was super exciting. I also got a springtime wreath for 3 dollars and some other odds and ends.
Mainly, the purpose of the trip was to have fun getting a few summer items for Seth and Sarah. Sarah has grown so much that her last year’s shorts are much too short. I keep saying to her, “Yes you can wear those shorts to school IF you put a skirt on over them.” The one pair of longer shorts she has she refuses to wear because she thinks they are swimming shorts.
Seth found a Land’s End swimming shirt at Goodwill. He says he likes it because it will keep him warm under the water. He also got a pair of swimming trunks (Lego Movie) from Target.
This bottle was 50 cents at Goodwill. I brought it home and put dandelion seeds in it.
We ate chick fil a drive thru for lunch and he said, “Thanks, Mom.” And he also said, while eating, “I bet fries are made of potatoes.” He said this after he noticed the waffle fry had skin on it like a potato. It only took him seven years to figure it out!
He bought a calculator from Goodwill for a dollar and made up math problems to ask me. He was so surprised, stunned really, when I got them right. Mind you, it was first grade math.
When we got home he played baseball for a little while and I planted carrots and sunflowers.
Now he’s snoring on the couch, five minutes after telling me he didn’t want to take a nap.
It’s been a super delightful morning with my Sethie.
the very interesting outdoors
During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks.
John James Audubon
Several days ago, after Aunt Colleen and Uncle Roger visited me, I meandered back to the interesting patch of violets we had discovered. We liked them because of their pale and dainty purple faces. I took a photo while flat on my tummy and, unsurprisingly, it proved to be a quite comfortable spot for a short rest. I could hear my two youngest children playing together on the trampoline. They called to me, “Mom! Hi, MOM!” and I waved to them and smiled. I soon heard a beautiful bird song in the trees. Often I hear bewitching birdsongs but alas, cannot see the bird. But this time, as I sat and folded my legs up Indian-style, I peered into the trees with my chin high and saw a startling spot of red. As Colleen and I visited, we had talked of birds and flowers. I asked her if she ever saw Scarlet Tanagers at her house. I told her how a few years back I had seen one and would like very much to see another, never expecting that after her visit one would come close enough for me to hear its singing, and see it’s bright red feathered coat.
I watched the Scarlet Tanager until it flew away. Then I saw a small red thing in the grass next to me. I picked it very carefully up, expecting it to be a mushroomy fungus type of thing.
But it had legs.
It was so all over red! Quite fascinating indeed.
dandelions and apple blossoms
planted peas and radishes in the garden
took care of the hens
checked on my toad babies
sat on the front porch to chat with a friend
watched as two turkey vultures landed in the trees by the stream down at the edge where our property meets state land
There is a sense of glorious freedom in the air this week. In the beginning of the month, for dreary days on end, there was nothing but gray skies and cold rain. But now, once again, the sun is shining and every plant, bird, animal, and human can’t help but be a little more active, a little more cheerful.
I sat against a pine tree by the pond to watch the vultures. At first I wondered if I was watching a courtship, since there were only two and they were staying close to each other. At one point they were both on the same branch, side by side.
But then I saw a rustling in the bushes underneath them. Jacob and I walked over and looked, but we didn’t see a dying animal. However, we did not search thoroughly because I, for one, had a very creepy crawly feeling and he kept saying “I have to leave in 10 minutes for school, Mom.”
They are a rather gothic-looking bird, wrapped in long black feathered cloaks. Red bald heads and a white beak complete the deathly attire. They are useful but chilling birds, as they are attracted to the scent of dying animals and dumpsters.
They flew away as they sensed that Jacob and I were observing them but they came back at the end of the day while Rich and I were away at a little league game. Sarah told me later that she saw one up close while she was on the play set.
I feel like there might be more to this story. I will investigate later on and see if they return today.
I always look for this turtle, as I can usually find it out sunning himself as I walk along the edge of our lawn. We have a stream that goes along the far side of our property, and the water is always a good location to see a variety of different flowers, birds, and other creatures.
I loved how the turtle had its funny legs hanging loosely out of his shell, soaking up all the warmth of the sun. His neck was stretched out as far as it could go, to keep an eye on me (his enemy, he thinks, but I would never hurt him). Soon he slipped back into the dark water. It was fun to imagine his sweet and simple life.
I want to try to draw these curly, swirly vines with green leaves just popping out. Wouldn’t they make a nice border for a picture?
Watching fish swim this way and that way is mesmerizing. Meditation is quite natural while watching them. There are fish of all sizes in the pond, which I like to think of as our own giant fish tank. The smallest minnows stayed closer to me and I was able to watch them for a long time. The way they swim is a marvel. Smoothly they swim along and then *STOP*– with no hesitation or slowing down, before swimming along again.
Every black speck is a toad tadpole. Sometimes a bunch of them get stranded on dry land from living too dangerously on the edge of the water. They die, but if I happen to be walking by I do some life-saving and scrape them back into the pond again. Their little tails wriggle. I ring Jacob on my cellphone to tell him to call the dog up to the house. If Parker the dog is outside he does whatever I do, and a dog watching tadpoles is never a good thing.
rather elegant, wouldn’t you agree?
bits of purple in the woods
what a wonderful way to clear the mind
and dazzle the eyes
with shades of pink
and blossom time
I sat by the stream in the open meadow at the dam and saw a tiny speck of orange. A Baltimore Oriole!
This sweet little bird wanted me to leave.
It had a nest nearby.
But my seat was soft. It was moss.
I saw a Solitary Sandpiper next! Oh what a day for birds.
This bird bobbed up and down as it walked, so very charmingly! It made me want to hum a song. A bouncy song.
I love the refection it made of its solitary self as it edged along the calm water of the open stream.
I wanted to get a little closer to it, so I took my seat off the soft moss and climbed up on the rocks.
But then……….
I froze (and so did he). I considered. The rocks I was upon were the very best apartment complex for the snake population I ever did see. Surrounded by water, open sunshine, and many small meals. But while I admired the wise choices of this snake, I decided not to take another step on those rocks……good bye snake, good bye birds. I’m going home now.
In my hands I carried a stick covered in ridges and indentations from a bug?or worm? The bark was off so it was smooth other than the hollow tracking marks. It looked like a secret message written in another language, if only I could decipher it. I had a sprig of apple blossoms, two sweet white violets, a marsh marigold (which promptly wilted in the vase at home) and another yellow wild flower.
I revelled in my alone-ness. It felt so good (nature’s spa treatments) to walk in my flip-flops through marshy cool waters. I had been prowling about for an hour or so and felt quiet, dirty, rested, and as deliciously solitary as the Sandpiper I had met. I came out of the woods at the end of the long pond to see that I had company. The lawn men had arrived, and one of them was busily cursing his weed eater as he worked along the side bank by the pond.
It was very tempting to turn around and go right back in the woods.
sometimes
Sometimes life is very crappy.
But, I think you will agree,
that much of it is
very dear.
Mother’s Day, 2016 began with my husband waking me up from a very sound sleep, with two small sons on either side of him. They had made me breakfast to eat in bed. As soon as they exited the room, leaving me to struggle awake and try to open my mouth wide enough to bite into a huge bagel egg sandwich, my Mom texted me “Happy Mothers Day!” When I was done eating, I called her and we had a nice little chat. By that time, Grace and Sarah were awake and snuggled on each side of me.
So the day began with love.
Rich left to go to church with four of the boys. I stayed home to take Ethan and Grace to school so they could prepare for their final performance of Mary Poppins. Sarah insisted on staying with me, even though it would mean she would see the play three entire times over the weekend. We dropped Ethan and Grace off four hours before show time, and then drove in the rain to the grocery story to get flowers and snacks for them to take to the cast party.
As I was putting things away, I received a text asking me if I would like to go back to the school because there was a “Character Tea Party” being held in the cafeteria which Grace thought I would enjoy. Sarah had just started eating her special soup that she chose at the store to have for lunch (it was 11:00 am) but when I told her the message she put the lid back on. “I can just put this in the fridge for later,” she explained, which I thought was so sweet. Sarah was all set to run right back out the door which encouraged me to go ahead and text Grace, “I’m on my way.”
We had a nice tea party at a pretty blue and white table with Jenna and her mom and aunt. Sarah liked the cucumbers and pickles and her tea cup full of lemonade. We were also served jam sandwiches and several other tasty bite-sized foods and treats. Grace, as Mrs. Brill, sat with us and kept saying, “I’m so happy, Mom, I’m so so happy. Happy Mother’s Day.” Grace herself was the highlight of the tea for me, and I hold her sparkling eyes and joy in my heart even now. Ethan and Caleb were there, too, begging for food from our plates. We were able to see and meet Mary Poppins and Burt, and the other characters, too. Sarah blushed several shades of pink when Burt spoke to her.
We attended the 2pm performance, me and my little friend Sarah, along with my sister and her family, and Isaac and Cassandra.
It was a wonderful production and I will post photos of the play, very soon.
Sarah fell asleep in the backseat while I drove the kids to their cast party. Back home, I got into bed with Sarah and read a book with her snuggled up next to me. David came in and out of the room to visit, too. I have such comfortable children. The afternoon passed by so quickly. Soon it was the end of the day and I was on the couch with Rich when Emily and Jacob arrived with a mother’s card for me with SIXTEEN signatures on it. It was such a surprise and I will treasure it always. Jacob had his siblings sign it, plus Emily and eight of their dearest friends, who are at our house so often that they are rather like part of the family and my children, too. (Thank you all!!!!!) Jacob, Ethan, Grace, David, Caleb, Seth, Sarah, PLUS Caleb T, Zak, Zach, Allie, Emily, Emily, Tessa, Michael, Cody. God bless you.
From what I understand, Jacob had driven all over the place gathering up the signatures.
They also gave me two broody chicken figurines, which make me smile. Sarah said, “Where are their FEET?” and I explained that when a hen is sitting on eggs they tuck their feet all up underneath them so they cannot be seen.
In fact, we currently have two broody hens in the chicken coop nesting boxes and no amount of common sense conversation is making them understand that they are sitting on eggs which will never become chicks. One of the hens has even plucked all her feathers off her “underside” so as to warm the eggs better. Every time I go in I remove any eggs from under her, receiving several sharp peck on the hand for my efforts. But the warmth she can generate is wonderful.
*****
(Some) of the mothers in my life; Grandma (holding my son David) Great Grandma, and mom.
Thirteen years ago.
I honor and love you.
short n sweet
If we triumph in the little things
of our common hours,
we are sure to triumph in our lives.
~Anonymous
Happy Friday!
I took this photo of Seth after school one day this week. He’s hugging Gentleman Gray and eating a snack of Pringles, raspberries, and strawberries, on a vintage amberstone (“sister” of fiesta ware) small plate.
Yesterday, at the end of the day, I did a five minute photo shoot of Jacob’s girlfriend, Emily.
♥ with Sarah ♥
♥ with Jacob ♥
I’ve been making homemade coffee creamer and it is delicious!
It’s one can of sweetened condensed milk, mixed with two cups of half n half, and a 1/4 teaspoon of extract. (I used vanilla the first batch, and almond the 2nd batch).
Rose bud vase,
marigold java mug.
i’ll triple the recipe for you
My dear little children,
I love you so much.
I’ll give you all the hugs you want.
I will wash your dirty clothes every day.
I will drive you all over the place.
I will bring your forgotten stuff to school for you.
I will watch your plays and games.
I will laugh at you, and with you.
I will take many pictures of you, because I think you are cute.
I will let you stay up late sometimes.
I will read you books.
I will nurture you.
I will triple the cookie recipe for you.
That’s a lot of cookies.
blown away by grace (book recommendations)
More than anything, my mind is opened up and my soul is refreshed by the written word. This list of books is for any of my friends here who like to read and would benefit from a good dose of grace.
Call the Midwife, series by Jennifer Worth
At the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in postwar Lond’s East End slims. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, Call the Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone. ~From the back of the book
Those who perform a service well must do so without judgement. The women in this book who serve their community as nurses and midwives do so in a way that will leave you breathless because they value and learn from those they serve. These are stories of true need, heartache, and love. Squeaky-clean Christians would do well to read these messy-beautiful humble stories that will make you laugh and cry.
“Now and then in life, love catches you unawares, illuminating the dark corners of your mind, and filling them with radiance. Once in a while you are faced with a beauty and a joy that takes your soul, all unprepared, by assault.” Jennifer Worth
(also a great TV series on PBS!)
Same Kind of Different as Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Gritty with pain and betrayal and brutality, it also shines with an unexpected, life-changing love.
“I found out everybody’s different – the same kind of different as me. We’re all just regular folks walkin down the road God done set in front of us. The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or something in between, this earth ain’t no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless – just workin our way toward home” Denver Moore
Grace for the Good Girl, by Emily P. Freeman
What would happen if we let grace pour out boundless acceptance into our worn-out hearts and undo us? If we dared to talk about the ways we hid, our longing to be known, and the fear in the knowing? Emily Freeman invites you to release your tight hold on that familiar, try-hard life and lean your weight heavy into the love of Jesus. ~from back cover
The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, by David Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen
No one should leave church feeling manipulated, controlled, shamed, or condemned. But places of shelter and encouragement can become abusive if spiritual leaders begin to use their authority to meet their needs for importance, power, or spiritual gratification. Here you’ll discover how to identify an abusive church and also how to break free from its destructive legalism. Insightful, practical, and solidly grounded in Scripture, this book has what you need to recover a grace-filled relationship with God and His church.
Families Where Grace is in Place, by Jeff Van Vonderen
Here is a message about how God’s grace can transform relationship within a marriage and family. The first step is learning the simple difference between God’s job and ours. God’s part is to fix and change. Our responsibility is to depend on the Holy Spirit, serve our families, and help to equip them to be all they can be. ~back cover
Freedom From Performing, by Becky Harling
My aunt read this book and knew my heart needed the message, too. I will always treasure her copy of the book that she gave to me, full of her underlines and notes.
For years, author Becky Harling lived for the rave reviews of others, until God directed her from performance-driving theatrics to a leading role as a grace-motivated follower of Jesus. She only needed to be herself, and so do you. ~back cover
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
The late Lewis, Oxford professor, scholar, author, and Christian apologist, presents the listener with a case for orthodox Christianity. This is definitely not the shouting, stomping, sweating, spitting televangelist fare so often parodied; Lewis employs logical arguments that are eloquently expressed. ~quote from Michael T. Fein on amazon.com
I love Lewis’ honesty as he writes in a logical way regarding Christianity. The words he writes about “religious” people and their pride make me want to shout “Amen!” There is good reason that this book is considered a classic. I learned much from Mere Christianity at just the right time in my spiritual journey.
What’s so Amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancy
Recommended to me by my friend Christie, years ago. This is one of the first books I read that showed me the practical ways grace is lived out.
In What’s So Amazing About Grace? award-winning author Philip Yancey explores grace at street level. If grace is God’s love for the undeserving, he asks, then what does it look like in action? And if Christians are its sole dispensers, then how are we doing at lavishing grace on a world that knows far more of cruelty and unforgiveness than it does of mercy?
“Having spent time around “sinners” and also around purported saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group: I think he preferred their company. Because the sinners were honest about themselves and had no pretense, Jesus could deal with them. In contrast, the “saints” put on airs, judged him, and sought to catch him in a moral trap. In the end it was the “saints”, not the “sinners”, who arrested Jesus.” Philip Yancey
101 Cups of Water, by C.D. Baker
My friend Kathy discovered this book a few years ago and bought me a copy. It was a much needed dose of real grace for both of us.
For every time you’ve tried too hard, fell too far, or struggled too much, the refreshing cups in this book–or reminders of God’s infinite grace and mercy–will renew you like cool, clear water after a long, dry walk on a dusty, pitted, uphill road.
“I’ve been a believing Christian since childhood,” author C. David Baker explains, “but it’s my personal failures that have led me to the deep well of Grace.”
David poured his dashed hopes, broken dreams, haunting doubts, and paralyzing fear down that well and found all that’s collected here, all he, like you, needs for living with peace, joy, and purpose: cool cups of relief, comfort, revival, and sustenance.
Because Water Is Life ~from amazon.com book description
He Loves Me, by Wayne Jacobsen
My friend Hannah read this one first and sent it to me. She knew I would benefit from Jacobsen’s words, too.
“So many Christians believe God’s love is fickle: when they sin, He turns away in disgust and anger. They vacillate between “He loves me” and “He loves me not” because of their behavior. That reasoning, writes Wayne Jacobsen, is as flawed as pulling petals from a daisy. Rather God’s love is sturdy, enduring, and undisturbed by people’s failings because God loves humankind not for what they do–but who they are. They are God’s beloved creation.”
Tattoos on the Heart, The Power of Boundless Compassion, by Greg Boyle
The latest book in my journey of discovery regarding God’s grace and love, this book was so gripping that I immediately sent a copy to a kindred spirit friend. It blew us both away. Why? Because this man LIVES out grace. The book he wrote is rich-full of his thoughts and stories as he works with and learns from the gangs in his neighborhood.
For twenty years, Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he distills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.
Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyle’s gentle, hard-earned wisdom.
These essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love and the importance of fighting despair. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.
***
As I write about these books, I am struck by how they all came into my life at just the time I was ready to read them. That’s God for you! I hope that they are a blessing to you, as well.
Happy Grace-Full Reading!
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty. Zeph. 3:17
Good to be Home 