The Forgotten

Leviticus 19:32 "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor of the face of the old man."

This week I said a final goodbye to the sweetest lady: an 85 year old neighbor whom I've known less than three months.  When I moved to this new location, I knew no one. I knocked on the door of this sweet woman and we immediately connected. Not having my own mother here on earth, I adopted her. 
Unfortunately, she is moving away to live with family in another state. Just a few days together;  I loved my chats with her and will miss her so much!!

One thing that so many older people tell me is that they feel lonely because most of their old friends have passed on. They spend a lot of time alone.  I purposed I would try to change that. 

I feel privileged to have some quality time at the feet of the elderly. I feel like I don't have much to offer them:  just time and maybe a bowl of homemade soup. But they have so much to give. I really try to soak it up...it means so much to me!! Their memories, their stories, their values, their advice!!

I asked this dear neighbor lady if I could host a "farewell" tea for her. She said she didn't have a lot of friends and not to worry. So I went on a mission to uncover her friends, celebrate and wish her well. Oh yes, 15 ladies graciously came and made tributes to Ms Betty. Of course, she was tearfully touched and surprised that people still remembered wonderful things about her contrubution to their life!! I think she was so blessed to know she was still loved...

We have a dear couple in the south that are another set of parents to my husband and I. Every time we call to let them know we haven't forgotten them, they don't know we cherish those last words they say to us most every time, " You all are so important to us. We love you." I anticipate connecting with them and value any time or words I can share with them.

I have some widows in the congregation we presently worship with. They are so wise, so sweet and their arms so warm. I want to run to them every time I walk through the doors. I need them and I tell them that as often as I can.

I just connected with a little lady in Canada last evening. Just every so often, I get a yearning to talk to her and dispel her quiet existence in an assisted living residence. I love to hear her voice perk up when she hears mine. She spends so much time alone.

My challenge to all of us. Remember the lonely, the forgotten. They were there for us. Let's be there for them. These friendships are so rare, so precious. Let's preserve and treasure them. It's a wonderful way to bless and be blessed!

I want to thank them for being such a big part of my life's story!!
 

Judging

Proverbs 23:24 "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement."

I have, like most of you, judged others wrongly. Recently, I was made aware of this again. I attended a Jail Ministry Bible Study. I was a guest; so had time to observe. I didn't know any of the inmates, so had no reason to judge at all. However, we tend to quickly observe the outward appearance and jump to conclusions. One lady, with a shaved head, tattoos, gruff voice, and what appeared to be an indifferent attitude, sat through the hour of study and frankly looked like she was paying little attention. She distracted others; laughing and joking. So, naturally, my first impression wasn't favorable. I sort of wrote her off as not being one who would be reached easily. There were others there who were  really into it. 

At the end of the service, we sang "Amazing Grace." I felt impressed to give some detail about John Newton and his story of how God turned him around. This woman, who looked to be so hard, began to cry. Tears were pouring down her cheeks pretty well the whole song. I was ashamed. I had judged her, knowing nothing of her story. Her heart actually had some softness there. At that point, I was reminded that God is the only person who knows the heart and I purposed to try not to judge so quickly again. 

I am appalled at the quick judgement expressed on social media for situations that people know nothing about. Especially based only upon information given out by media, which is always biased, or at least incomplete. 

I read that judgement is defined as a decision reached after careful consideration of all the information surrounding it. Even then, pass judgement only if necessary. In most of life's affairs, it is not necessary to call a judgement. Let it ride. We probably will never know why some things  happen; or why some people react the way they do. Very often, we certainly don't know enough to judge.

I am not speaking of condoning sin or being insensitive to the results of the sin that surrounds us. I am just stating, that in the insensitive, yet sensational world we live in, it's so easy to thrust out our opinion on everything, and really be very ignorant and uninformed because we know little about the situation.

This is why our world is evolving into a divided culture where few people live by the Bible principles of the simple fruits of the Spirit: love, peace, longsuffering, kindness, etc. 

Consider this: " Is my opinion going to build up and encourage or create animosity and division?" 

I advocate that we all be considerate in our posts as well as any public comments and brush up on good old fashioned manners.....

 
 

Big/Little

 Proverbs 21:5 "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness but of everyone who is hasty only to want."

I have learned it takes time to live. Yes, I look back on my life and it has passed so quickly.. my only connection with yesterday is my memories. My connection with tomorrow is my dreams!!  I've lived a full life. Still got some time to go, it seems.

Many wishes for the New Year are that we have a "prosperous" year.  It sounds good. We mostly think of prosperity as being connected with financial security. The definition I like best is "in a thriving condition". The word "thriving " means to succeed, flourish, to progress towards a goal despite the circumstances.

My verse for this New Year and my prescription for prosperity is Philippians 4:12, "I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things. I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

One way I have of illustrating my thoughts is this. Several years ago, when moving to Missouri, my husband and I downsized considerably. We have lived in a little abode we built customized to our needs. We have been content there. 

Recently, we have been living part time in Oklahoma in a dwelling that would encompass several of our little houses. 

It messes with my mind a little. Going back and forth. Tiny for a week; big next week.

But you know what? I'm living life both places. Putting in time. Choosing sad or happy. Making positive choices or deciding changes aren't what I like. So I choose to " feel closed in" in my tiny house or "cozy", which I try to always choose. I can be overwhelmed at the square footage in the big house or take advantage and get my two miles of walking in per day!!!! I am also choosing that instead of the outside exercise in 19 degrees! 

So my New Year's resolution, if you want to call it that, is to "progress toward a goal despite the circumstances". To keep doing the "big/little thing" . To learn how to be hungry and to be full. To do this like the Philippians writer "everywhere and in all things". 

It's a good challenge and I think will be a hard one.  I'm so glad I don't know what the New Year holds for me. I would be questioning my endurance resolution right now.  

I want  to be Proverbs "diligent". That will get me to the end of my journey in 2017.  But if I am "hasty " , which I tend to be, I will certainly come up short of my December 31 goal. 

Here's to my "Big/Little Prosperity" Challenge. I need a whole lot of help, Lord!!!!!!