This Painting is Worth the Search

I spotted this painting in Larry’s office. It’s considered a treasure to he and Staci because Payton, their son, painted it for them years ago. In terms of value in dollars and cents, it might not have a high sticker price at the At Home store. But in terms of value in sentiment – priceless.

When Staci and Larry moved into their new town-home here in Frisco Square, Staci and I were on a mission to find items like accent pillows and rugs that would pull the living area together. This painting had the exact colors in it that we were looking for. We headed to the At Home store to find our accessories, toting the painting with us. I put the painting in the shopping cart and we began our search. Before long, we had what we needed, made our purchases and headed back to their home.

The next day, my lightning-fast mind didn’t remember the painting coming out of the car with our purchases. I realized that I must have left the painting in the shopping cart. I called the store and inquired about the painting. No one had seen it, but promised they’d watch for it. Mind you – it is on a canvas, very similar to their paintings. I couldn’t wait. I headed to the store -- spoke to a manager, but it had not shown up. Now, I was in high-energy prayer-mode. What is lost -- must be found! I saw a young man stocking in that area and asked if he had seen it. He said “No, ma’am, but if someone found it without a price on it and took it to check-out, they would probably set a price for it.” That was no comfort at all. Isn’t that just like the enemy who makes us quit believing – to come up with reasons that a relationship can’t be restored or keys or a precious treasure can’t be found?

I would not be denied. I slowly paced up and down the aisles – looking in all the stacks of canvas paintings, and if you know the At Home store, you know they have hundreds and hundreds of paintings. Now, I’m praying in my heavenly prayer language (tongues) – yes, I’m bilingual AND in English. I am interceding and I’m asking all my heavenly support team to intercede for divine intervention with me! God knew right where that painting was and I would not relent. After more than an hour of flipping through paintings, tightly squeezed in between two larger paintings was Payton’s painting. My heart was overcome with gratitude – so much so that tears began to flow. My young store clerk saw me and rejoiced with me. He took this photo that you can see my red, tear-stained face! Oh, happy day!

What once was lost – now was found. Like I said – the price tag would not have been very high to someone else – but it was priceless for us. Did you know that is how priceless we are to God? He paid a great price to redeem mankind. We use the term "priceless" today to illustrate that there is no amount of money on earth that could buy or purchase something "priceless." And, all the wealth of the earth couldn’t purchase man's redemption. It took something of far greater value to pay the price, so God sent the most valuable and precious gift He had, to pay the price for our salvation and that was His dear Son, Jesus. So, in God's eyes we are "priceless." Nothing on earth could purchase us but the value God saw in His Son is the value He sees in us. Thank you, Lord, for the incomparable price you paid for us. And, as for you and me, our Lord calls us "priceless" too, so we should start treating ourselves and others as treasures -- like God does!
"For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:20

Just Push Back Those Curtains

You have met my dear 97-year-old mother-in-law via my blog before. She gave me a “lift” yesterday when I made my check-in call to her. If I don’t call her every couple of days, she calls me. She lives at my brother and sis-in-law’s home in Tulsa. They are among those I’m missing during this "at home" time, along with my Austin crew.

Mom amazes me. When I called, she had just returned to her bedroom, after cleaning up the kitchen from her breakfast and walking (using her walker) up and down the hall five times (her daily “staying-alive” routines). She added: “Now, I’m working on some purchase orders Karen gave me to check for her (for their business). Some of it was new for me, but I double-checked it and they are all right!” I said, “Mom, you are amazing. You don’t quit!” She retorted: “When the dark curtains start to close, I just push them back open. Too many people just sit and do nothing! We’ve got to be determined to keep moving forward! I put me behind me and try to help the guy in front of me!! Forward march! Onward Christian Soldiers (singing that line)!!”

She went on: “Maddie (her 18-year-old great-granddaughter) was here yesterday. She asked me about my family. I told her the name and placement of each one of the twelve: First there was Mary, then Molly, Ann, Dan, (me, Lydia), Penny, Dave, Alma, Amy, Richard, Hilda and Buddy.”

Typically, our calls are just a "check-in" call, but she was on a roll yesterday. Mom knows tough times. She finds great joy in talking about the past because she knows WHO brought them through those times. Floods of the 1950s in Winnipeg (Canada) filled their home. They had to move in with her parents when my husband was 4-years-old. It took a lot to get their home restored. Then there was the tornado in the late 80s (aftermath is pictured here with Dad, Mom and my husband). Mom and Dad were in a bathroom shower stall in the middle of the building, crying out to God for mercy. They came out unscathed and so did the big Family Bible you see here under Mom's arm.

Here we are in almost unbelievable times of 2020. If we listen or read news reports and take them just as they are, it may seem as if the best escape is for God to open up a window above us in the sky and snatch us away to a better place beyond the clouds. But, maybe we should take on Mom’s way of thinking. She has a habit of saying "And that's the way it goes". That's kind of the way she looks at life. When she could be down because she’s a widow, her only son died, has physical issues, must live with her kids and has to use a walker or wheel chair -- she just patiently and calmly says, "And that's the way it goes."

Perhaps that’s the way we should view life – “and that’s the way it goes”. It has a care-less tone to it, doesn't it? Not that we don’t care – but that we “Cast our cares on He Who takes over and handles the cares for us.” (Psalm 55:22) All of this is not too much for God to handle. Whatever the circumstances of our lives – no matter who we are and what our responsibilities are – we will never stump God, or leave Him wondering what in the world to do next. I'm quite certain that none of the stuff is enough to make God throw his hands up in surrender.

Mom is a “Bible-thumper”. It’s her daily go-to for answers. "That's the way it goes" -- trusting, leaning on and depending on He Who has us all in His mighty hands. Let’s leave the figuring out to God. His way (and Mom's way) is to live a calm, peaceful, and assured life. I think Mom's 97-years prove it works!