Who Loves You Best?

          Back when our youngest child was the lone one heading off to school in the mornings, we read Bible devotions with him—just as we had with his siblings. Even when the others were still living at home, Min fell chronologically and mentally below their level of understanding, so he had a separate devotional time since his bus came later. Min enjoyed that attention.

          At some point we let our son choose which devotional book he wanted us to read to him. He (with his incredibly short attention span) liked books with a brief Bible story that included questions at the end, which happened to be ones he requested repeatedly.

          Sometimes I gave clues so Min could get some correct answers, which always made him sit a little taller and wear a grin.

          One particular morning we read a story about God’s love. The last question was “Who loves you best?”

          Min exclaimed, “Mom and Dad!”

          “We do love you, but Someone loves you even more than we do,” I said.

          He looked astonished yet perplexed.

          “How about taking another guess.”

          Min put his pointer finger to his cheek, as he often did when think-think-thinking and answered, “Grandma?”

          “Oh, Grandma loves you a lot, but Someone else loves you even more than Grandma.”

          Min’s shoulders dropped a bit. “I don’t know.”

          “How ’bout I give you a clue,” I said.

          He looked my way and nodded.

          “Okay. Listen carefully. The answer is spelled…”

          Min jumped up. “I’m a good speller!”

          “Yes, you are,” I replied helping him back into his chair, “so here’s the clue to Who loves you the best. It’s spelled like this…” I slowed as I said each letter. “G-O-D.”

          He jumped up again, his hands shot into the air, and he shouted with gusto, “The dog!”

          “Oh my!” I said attempting to gain some composure. “Yes, the dog does love you.” I again helped Min take his seat and rubbed his back, which always helped him settle. “But God loves you a kazillion times more than anyone or anything else.”

          Min smiled so big.

          We prayed and thanked God for loving him so very much—even more than Dad, Mom, Grandma…

          …and the dog. Then he ran out of the room to brush his teeth, grabbed his backpack and lunch, and headed outside to wait for his bus—our dog always at his side.

          Too this day, Brian and I smile when we recall this memory. Yet I’ve also thought about our son’s very real connection to animals and the animals’ affinity to him. Also, “man’s best friend” where I particularly see correlations between the dog and God.

          Now, don’t go ballistic on me and claim I said God is the same as our dog. No way! No how! I mean no disrespect to God. I revere Him above all, but think about it. On an earthly scale, aren’t dogs a great example of unconditional love?

          Parents, family, and friends can be, but they aren’t always. Yet the family dog greets you like you’re royalty every time it sees you, shows you affection, and remains loyal and true.

          God’s love is unconditional. I cannot compare His amount of love with anything on earth—only use this tiny example of one of His creations. Our dog, however, didn’t lay down her life and die for us. Only Jesus, God the Son, did that, then rose again—proving He is our Living, Loving God. That’s how He made the way possible for us to have our sins forgiven so we could be with Him for eternity.

          That is the desire of His heart. That’s the depth of His love and why He left Heaven.

          For you. For me.

          So, Who loves you best?

          I’ll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D!

The Love of God

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;

It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell.

The wand’ring child is reconciled by God’s beloved Son.

The aching soul again made whole, and priceless pardon won.

 

Refrain: O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—the saints’ and angels’ song.

 

When ancient time shall pass away, and human thrones and kingdoms fall;

When those who here refuse to pray on rocks and hills and mountains call;

God’s love so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong;

Grace will resound the whole earth round—the saint’s and angel’s song. (Refrain)

 

Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;

Were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill, and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;

To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky. (Refrain)

 

(from the hymn, The Love of God by Frederick M. Lehman. 1917, public domain)

 

#dyslexia #developmentaldisability #ADHD

#familydevotions #dog #unconditionallove #loveofGod

 

Photo credit: Pixabay

Eating Elephant

          Maybe you're not into eating elephant. That's okay, although if you are, I've heard you can purchase pre-packaged elephant ear in some major U.S. cities’ grocery stores. But eat a whole elephant? Not impossible, although looking at the creature may make it seem so.

          You might wonder what brought up this topic now or ever. This is how it happened:

          At times, when we'd been bombarded with numerous challenges and decisions, I wanted to throw my hands up and quit.

          It was time like that when hubby challenged me. "How do you eat an elephant?"

          I grudgingly replied, "One bite at a time." I knew the answer because I’ve been reminded of this many times before.

          You’d think I’d learn, but I tend to falter and need to regroup. Hubby’s good at bringing me back to square one.

          Sometimes life’s issues seem the size of an elephant. Insurmountable. You can’t see beyond the creature. What to do!

          If you are "facing an elephant," try "taking one bite at a time." One day at a time. Are you steeped in grief and cannot make it through a whole day? Then try one step at a time. And if you're totally spent, how 'bout a moment at a time?

          My life's verses are Proverbs 3:5,6~"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." I learned this Scripture in the King James Version as a child and still remember it best this way.

          Although I like some newer translations, I disagree with those reading "...and He will make your paths straight." God never promised an easy journey. He does assure, however, He’ll be with us every step of the way.

          If you've asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you do not travel even the roughest, most crooked paths alone. What comfort to know He has gone this route! We can trust Someone Who already knows the way.

          So, the next time you face something that seems too large, remember that "elephant in the room." And mind your manners! One bite at a time, please!

         

 

Moment By Moment

 

Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine; living with Jesus, a new life divine;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine, moment by moment, oh Lord, I am Thine.

 

(Refrain) Moment by moment I’m kept in His love; moment by moment I’ve life from above;

Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine; moment by moment, Oh Lord, I am Thine.

 

Never a trial that He is not there, never a burden that he doth not bear,

Never a sorrow that He doth not share, moment by moment, I’m under His care. (Refrain)

 

Never a weakness that He doth not feel, never a sickness that He cannot heal;

Moment by moment, in woe or in weal, Jesus, my Savior, abides with me still. (Refrain)

 

(from the hymn, Moment By Moment, by Daniel Webster Whittle—El Nathan, 1893, public domain)

 

 

          While working on this blog and adding the above hymn, I learned Major Daniel Webster Whittle and I share common ancestors. This was an exciting find! Here’s something my very distant cousin shared about his writing of hymns:

          “I hope that I will never write a hymn that does not contain a message—there are too many hymns that are just a meaningless jingle of words; to do good a hymn must be founded on God’s word and carry the message of God’s love.” 

                                                                                            –Major D. W. Whittle

 

#elephant #challenges #decisions #Proverbs3:5and6 #trustintheLord

Photo Credit: blogspot.com 

My Long Green Line

          I live at the end of a long green line. Two years now. Part of my “new normal,” as my doctor calls this. You see, I have a chronic lung disease.

          Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Fourteen syllables that rocked my world. Statistic-wise, I’m 2-3 out of every 100,000.

          I’ve fought writing this post, but there’s a possible therapeutic aspect. If I get this out, it could help me cope with the more difficult days. With the pain. Horrible chills. Tears and overwhelming sadness that sometimes engulf me.

          So, here I am, wanting to write to you about happy thoughts. Yet all of life just isn’t that way.

          There’s a percentage of struggle for us all—whether you have a chronic disease, deal with a broken family, experienced the death of a child, can’t cope with crushing debt, and the list goes on. All come at a price though very different and on all levels of the spectrum.

          For me? I think I’ve adjusted pretty well to life at the end of the long green line, as has my family. You see, the ever-running clunking machine sitting midway in our home takes air in and changes the nitrogen portion into oxygen, enabling me to breathe through…

          …my long green line. Tubing that pumps a continuous flow of oxygen through a cannula at the end that sits quite nicely inside my nostrils. Pretty picture. Eh? I’ve nicknamed the cannula my "jewelry.”

          My problem with breathing, though, impacts my family. Oh, they’ve never complained, but it did trouble me that dragging around 50 foot tubing affected them as well—needing to navigate it. I expressed that to my husband who cleverly came up with a help.

          “We can put Command Strip hooks high up and make a path about the house that way!”

          Did I ever dream when I married this hunk of man 47 years ago that he’d come up with something so clever? Yep! Simple, yet it works pretty well most of the time…and I feel better knowing the fellas in the house (hubby and adult disabled son) don’t need to be burdened by…

          …my long green line.

          Even though they’ve never complained, it hurts them when they hurt me—which isn’t hurt but rather discomfort. You see, at times part of my long green line that's always on the floor gets wrapped around their feet and they hear me screech as they walk further away…

          “Ya got me! Ya got me! My ears!” …because the stupid cannula (oops, I mean my “jewelry”) at those times feels like it’s ripping my ears off! Oh bother.

          Now, here’s a thought: Why not introduce your readers to your “new normal” friends, Sarah? (Imagine me having any normal friends! Ha!) Well, these friends are in a class by themselves! They have “airs” about them! (Smile.)

          This is about to sound like a fashion show. So, imagine these friends as models (which they are, complete with model numbers) traveling down a runway as I introduce each!

The Beast, Junior, Windy, and Tank-illa!

          The Beast begins our fashion show. He’s a full-figured clunker that keeps me going most of the time at home—20+ hours daily. He’s heavy but on wheels. He screams when turned on or when there’s a power failure. Fun! I need to keep a humidifier bottle attached to him to prevent chronic nosebleeds. He pumps a continuous flow of oxygen. Thank you, Beast.

 

         Junior is trimmer—about ½ the size of the beast and is portable with a pull-handle and wheels. He doesn't scream. He's more of a "boooop"-er. Junior goes with me when we travel because he has options: continuous flow (which I must have at night) or pulse (which is nicer during my waking hours). He can have a short tube attached but also works with a long green line when on continuous flow. Thank you, Junior.

          And now for petite Windy! She only pulses but goes with me everywhere. She’s several pounds to tote about, which is deceptive (I think) when viewing lovely videos of trim and fit senior citizens bicycling all over with their POCs (portable oxygen concentrators) slung over them like a stylish purse or strapped about their waists (like I could find a strap that long); but I’m so grateful my insurance allows me to have her. For without her, I’d be in deep doo-doo. (Yes, I have Junior, but he arrived a year after Windy and at our own expense.) Windy came with a black tote, and we added a backpack option, which is also black. Very slimming! Thank you, Windy.

          Last but not least is tall, slim Tank-illa who’s strapped in the corner of our bedroom. Why? Because I thought something green and silver would look nice there. (Smile.) And she’s there for use during an emergency. Thank you, Tank-illa.

          See? I do have friends!

          Hmm. I guess this was therapeutic for me. I’ll likely share more about my health journey in the future with hope that my experience helps you who are navigating chronic conditions.

          Despite my “new normal,” I know God is in control, He loves me and helps me through each day’s struggles, He comforts me in my weakness, and He holds me in His Arms. As I walk closer to the time I’ll reach Him in eternity, I’m reminded I’m not alone.

          I’m so grateful I’m connected to the Savior through His long red line—the blood one that carried Him to the cross, saw Him crucified, gives life everlasting because He rose again, and reaches even me!

          When I accepted Jesus into my life as Lord and Savior, He assured me I need not worry ever that my life will end. So, even on the days I struggle, I circle back to this—the Lord, my Hope! He Who has already secured my future with Him!

I Know Who Holds the Future by Alfred B. Smith & Eugene Clarke

I know who holds the future - YouTube

 

#chronicillness #fibrotichypersensitivitypneumonitis #oxygentherapy #oxygenators #breathing #newnormal

#Godwithme #Godmycomfort #Godcares #JesusSaviorLord #bloodline #eternallife

 

Photo Credit: all images from online medical sites

Valentine Miracle & an Extra Pair of Pants

          ’Twas a year ago this month we learned of an emergency and a miracle—both within days! You see, on February 12^th, seventy-nine-year-old Mr. Murray decided to go for a walk. This wasn’t unusual for him, but it became so when he didn’t come home.

          As the day wore on, alerts went out through police, community, and their church family. People not only began to pray, but they went out in vehicles and on foot—adults and kids alike—all searching for this dear man who simply…

          …lost his way home, for Mr. Murray had dementia.

          When night fell, there’d still been no signs of him. The Murray’s pastor and other of their church family comforted the Mrs.

          And the prayer warriors prayed.

          Temperatures dropped below freezing, as they could that time of year—Louisville KY nights quite chilly for the south. How would Mr. Lynn survive, and how afraid and disoriented would he be?

          The next morning, searchers went out again—adults and kids—until Day Two came to a close.

          Was there any way Mr. Lynn could survive another night in the cold—who knows where?

          God knew where! And as you read on, you’ll surely see God in this story too, as did we.

          We kept up on this situation long distance through our son, Michael, and his wife—they updating the prayer need. I’ll be honest with you though. To us it seemed almost impossible Mr. Murray could survive another night in the cold.

          South of the rural road where the Murray’s lived stretched acres and acres of rough, hilly woods—some areas so rough it’d challenge even a very physically fit person to scale it.

          The Mr. hadn’t been spotted along the road during searches. Could he be in the heavily wooded area?

          Everyone prayed on, hundreds searched, and Mr. Murray remained in the Hands of his God.

          But God wasn’t just with Mr. Murray. He surrounded his wife as well—this loving bride who trusted her husband into the care of her Lord, believing He would return her groom to her! Those who came to her aid found a woman who inspired their trust in God’s care of Mr. Murray.

          God was also with the prayer warriors. Some of the men seeking His Guidance believed they should go the next morning to a remote area of those woods.

          Valentine’s Day. Day Three.

          Not only did God’s Spirit speak to the hearts of the church men, but He was in the change of plans for another team that morning.

          Tree trimmers! They hadn’t planned to head to a remote area of the woods that day, yet that’s where they went. Unbeknownst to them, this was the same place the praying church men believed they should begin searching on Day Three.

          Not coincidently, another fellow joined the Murray’s church that Sunday before. He was a first responder and would play a part in the hours to come.

          Then the miracle came full circle! One of the tree-trimmers spotted a body lying below a bluff—an area that wouldn’t’ve been noticed usually or easily. And there?

          Mr. Murry! Bruised and scraped some, but…

          …alive!!! He opened his eyes, saw his rescuers, then closed them again. When he reached the hospital, his body temperature registered 85.

          You see, God protected Mr. Murray and even used his dementia to do so. For on that first day—the day he took this walk—he forgot he’d already gotten dressed and put on a second pair of pants!

          Tears of grave concern turned into ones of great jubilation on Valentine’s Day 2024! And there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that a miracle happened that day!

          A miracle of great love! 

My Father Watches Over Me—Mahalia Jackson sings:

My Father Watches Over Me

 

I trust in God wherever I may be, upon the land or on the rolling sea;

For come what may, from day to day, my heav’nly Father watches over me.

 

(Refrain) I trust in God, I know He cares for me, on mountain bleak or on the stormy sea

Though billows roll, He keeps my soul, my heav’nly Father watches over me.

 

He makes the rose an object of His care, He guides the eagle through the pathless air;

And surely He remembers me, my heav’nly Father watches over me. (Refrain)

 

I trust in God, for, in the lion’s den, on battlefield, or in the prison pen;

Through praise or blame, through flood or flame, my heav’nly Father watches over me. (Refrain)

 

The valley may be dark, the shadows deep, but oh, the shepherd guards His lonely sheep;

And through the gloom, He’ll lead me home, my heav’nly Father watches over me. (Refrain)

 

(from the hymn My Father Watches Over Me by W. C. Martin—1910, public domain)

Our son posted this on Facebook when Mr. Murray was found:

“Lynn has been found alive! Praise the Lord!! God sent tree trimmers up there doing their job to find him this morning in the woods!!!!

We're very proud of our church family, Valley View. As you may have heard, one of our members, Lynn, who suffers from Alzheimer's, went missing for the last two days in a wooded, hilly area. He spent two full nights in the cold.

Dozens of volunteers from the church scoured the area…sacrificing untold hours…drove, used ATVs, walked, and hiked. So many passed out flyers, shared the golden alert on social media, and prayed continuously. Two of the search volunteers are just ten years old. Some of our widows--Louise, Betty, and Elizabeth (who's 100 years old)--helped in the search effort. Some of the volunteers have gone to Valley View for decades. Others joined on Sunday, the day before Lynn went missing.

We're proud of our staff. You came alongside Brenda right away and ministered to her. You drove the area late into the night. You printed at least 700 flyers for volunteers to distribute. Immediately after Wright Tree Service discovered Lynn, you went to the scene to care for him and assist with carrying him down the mountain. Our pastor ministered to Brenda the whole time this was happening.

We're proud of the community. So many people from other churches and neighborhoods showed up to help search, distribute flyers, posted signage, organize search parties, and spread the word.

We're proud of the first responders--PRP and Nichols Fire & Rescue, EMS, EMA, LMPD, and the Bullitt County Sheriff's Office. What would we do without you?

We're thankful for the medical staff at the hospital working tirelessly to nurse Lynn back to health. And we're indebted to the tree service employee who spotted Lynn. We would love to know who you are.

Finally, thank You, God, for allowing Lynn to be found and cared for. We see Your providence in the timing and location of his discovery. We continue to pray for the family. Seeing the church and the community rise up together was truly amazing, so we thank you for this special moment.” 

                                                                                                    –Mike Hampshire

#ValentinesDay #miracle #Alzheimers #dementia #search&rescue #LouisvilleKY #ValleyViewChurch

#prayer #goldenalert #faithfulwife #volunteers #treeservice #firstresponders

 

Some content from KENTUCKY TODAY, “Church Comes to Aid in Crisis with Miraculous Ending” by Mark Maynard—managing editor

https://www.kentuckytoday.com/baptist_life/church-comes-to-aid-in-crisis-with-miraculous-ending/article_e461e62c-d7f2-11ee-8767-777cf6fa753d.html?utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0W4gf1t0oSSdpGVqSXrmV5ZbCFR1GPP5YUoYqnMGSuv9akVMRU5bb_ysU

 

Photo Credit: Rescue: Pleasure Ridge Park Fire Department—Louisville KY

Lynn & Brenda Murray: Used with permission.

Personal sources: Mike & Shannon Hampshire

Hope in the Unexpected

 

          Dear Readers, may I introduce you to Tracy Crump, a fellow believer and author friend I met?

          Well, actually we haven’t met. Not face-to-face, that is.

          A couple years ago I attended on-line “Reality Coaching for Writers” classes to hone my writing skills. One of the guest instructors? Tracy Crump—specifically sharing how to write for Chicken Soup for the Soul, having been published in more than twenty of their books.

          I’d not considered writing for Chicken Soup, but after listening to Tracy’s presentation, I communicated with her and gave it a whirl.

          Tracy patiently led me through the process, cheered me on, and gave me the courage to submit a couple stories. How grateful I was for her coaching!

          But Tracy went even further. She helped launch our son’s memoir, writes me notes to see how I’m doing with my physical struggles, and prays for our family.

          I’ve been touched by Tracy’s testimony—her faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and her dedication to caregiving as well as her strong commitment to writing and writers.

          Tracy also ministers to caregivers through Instagram reels, monthly blogs, and her devotional book. She understands the isolation and helplessness caregivers often feel.

          And now, Readers, you'll become acquainted with Tracy too!

Tracy, thank you for guesting on my blog. I’m thrilled to share sweet you with the world! –Sarah

 

 

Hope in the Unexpected

By Tracy Crump

 

          Well, my year didn’t start out as planned.

 

          A few days after Christmas, my throat began throbbing on one side with pain shooting into my ear each time I swallowed. Over-the-counter pain meds barely dulled it. I saw my primary care provider, who prescribed an antibiotic, but the pain grew worse over the next few days. When I couldn’t get an appointment to see my doctor again before the weekend, I went to an urgent care clinic.

 

          The nurse practitioner took one look down my throat and said, “You have a tonsillar abscess.”

 

          She confirmed it with the other NP on duty.

 

          “The swelling could close off your airway,” the nurse said. “You need to go to the emergency room now.”

 

          So off to the hospital I went. ER personnel said the condition is usually diagnosed by CT scan, so I thought the nurses had overreacted. But no, they were right. A CT scan done at the hospital did show a tonsillar abscess. I received IV steroids and antibiotics and went home on oral meds. Two days later, I had to return to the ER when the pain and swelling increased and received more steroids.

 

          The following day, my husband and I both tested positive for Covid. Sheesh!

 

          We can’t predict when emergencies will happen, but we can find hope that nothing takes God by surprise. My online community of caring prayer partners bolstered me, and I even found reasons to be thankful for my predicament.

 

          When I posted about it on Facebook, one friend commented, “God led you to the right people.”

 

          So true! If the nurse practitioners at the urgent care clinic—a facility I had never visited before—hadn’t correctly diagnosed the problem, things could have turned ugly fast. I was also grateful that the ER doctor treated me conservatively rather than opting for more invasive intervention.

 

          God used the situation to minister to someone else, too. When I walked into the emergency room that first night, there sat a friend from church. She single-handedly cares for her husband, who is on hospice for cancer, so I knew something was very wrong. She had driven herself to the hospital after falling off her porch and injuring her ankle, which she thought might be fractured.

 

          “That’s all you need right now,” I said.

 

          My friend’s concerns for her husband overrode her pain for a while. He hadn’t eaten anything all day. Fortunately, she was able to secure someone to stay with him and texted back and forth with the caregiver about what to feed him. She hadn’t planned on a trip to the hospital that day, but managing care for her husband brought her peace.

 

          As her pain set in again, we talked about how hard caregiving is and the importance of a support system, but even in that, I felt God’s hope infusing the conversation. Just then, our pastor stopped by the hospital and prayed with us both, confirming that God knew our needs and would take care of them one by one.

 

          No, hospital trips and illness weren’t what either my friend or I had envisioned for the new year, but God often uses unexpected paths to lead to renewed hope in Him. That’s one reason I love the old Irish hymn, “Be Thou My Vision.” God is ever with us, whether in the emergency room or the hospice home. He brings hope and light to any situation.

 

Be Thou My Vision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Optrm7lF16s

 

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought by day and by night; Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

 

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord.

Thou my great Father, I Thy dear child; Thou in me dwelling, with Thee reconciled.

 

Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.

Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tow’r. Raise Thou me Heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

 

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise; Thou mine inheritance, now and always.

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.

 

High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’ns Sun!

Heart of my heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

 

(from Be Thou My Vision—Eleanor H. Hull, versifier & Mary E. Byrne, translator. 1905—public domain)

Tracy’s links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracycrumpwrites/

Blog: https://tracycrump.com/blog/

Devotional book: https://amzn.to/2OinraH

 

#writing #RealityCoachingforWriters #DianaLeeFlegal #EddieJones #ChickenSoupfortheSoul

#caregiving #nurse #emergencies #tonsillarabscess #emergencyroom #hopeinGod

 

Photo credit: “HOPE”—istock & additional via T. Crump