We Need Each Other to Finish Strong

I was (emphasis on “was”) a half-marathon runner up until a couple of years ago when my knees starting singing songs of “gloom, despair and agony on me”. I knew I needed to hang up my running shoes and put on my walking shoes. I remember the many hours and days of training and preparing for the impending marathon events. That training, combined with friends and family support, would assure me of a strong finish.

I think about all of us in these formidable times. While I am in a cozy, safe place here in my little home all to myself, I am well aware of the moms and dads working from home and/or homeschooling their children, which is an unprepared-for-way-of-life. A young single mom I know is having to confront all this by herself – with four young children. And I think about those who are struggling with enough finances to sustain their families throughout this time of job loss. And I think about all the healthcare workers and the essential services workers who are being stretched to the nth degree. And so many others whose lives have been turned upside down. They must feel like they are in a no-ending marathon because what was days has turned into weeks and maybe even months.

I’m convinced this race we’re in won’t last forever. The end may not be in sight just yet, but it is, without doubt, up ahead. I remember how long my marathons seemed. One mile completed, then two miles, then three...... The energy at the beginning was being depleted as I ran. But a bright light shined for me when, at strategic locations, my family would be standing on a corner, holding up signs and cheering me on “Go Nana! Go Mom! You can do this! You’ve got this!” It was just what I needed to help me finish strong. It seemed there was no end in sight, but I would round a corner and up ahead I could hear the crowd cheering, the announcer declaring the names of those crossing the finish line, and I just knew I could make it and hear my name being announced. Hurting, exhausted, and worn-out as I was – I crossed that finish line. How sweet the victory was for me AND for those cheering me on.

What can we do to be those cheerleaders who push and pull us through these times? My daughter-in-love sent me lots of videos and photos of what they’re doing during these times. It made me tear up – with happy tears – to see them making the most of their isolation. We can do the same thing. We can hold up encouragement signs via drive-bys or social media, texting, making phone calls. We can assure others that we are REALLY praying for them. Maybe even offering financial support for those who are at the end of their resources. Those small acts help them know their value and worth to us.

And to all of you – all of us – who are in this “season” of so many unknowns, we are not without hope. A new day is on the horizon – maybe we can’t see the end yet, but it will be seen sooner or later. That’s what this daily blog is all about. To be a cheerleader to you – no matter what you’re facing today. To be a megaphone for God shouting out to you: “You are God's beloved child and you are worthy of being encouraged and supported as you continue to run this race. Live strong during these times with knowing that God is with you, cheering you on to your Finish Line. Run strong. Finish strong. And, pass it along!

“Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings.” Galatians 6:2

HELP! I Need Hand & Heart Sanitizer

I was talking to my sis-in-law last night. They are in the professional, large-buildings (mostly banks) cleaning business with over a hundred employees working for them. Bless their hearts. They are also an “essential” business on the front lines. Because sanitizing standards are amped up, their employees are working double and triple the hours to get their jobs done as banks are requiring sanitizing three times a day.

She also told me about how God had given her the wisdom, even before the pandemic hit us here in the U.S., to order large quantities of toilet paper and disinfectant for their buildings. Wonder why I didn’t get that memo from God? I know He must be amused at us – panicking over not enough T.P., disinfectant and hand sanitizers. Among the items my cousins needed as I shopped for them yesterday, were disinfectant wipes and napkins. Nowhere to be found. I chuckled with another shopper as we viewed the paper goods aisle with no toilet paper, paper towels, or napkins. But, rest assured, if you want an Easter basket full of goodies for your kiddos, just go to the paper goods aisle and you’ll find plenty there!

I was needing hand sanitizer myself. I've had one tiny bottle that I've used faithfully when going outside my home. I’ve shopped online and store after store, but none is available. But, what a difference Spring-cleaning makes. I’ve been on a mission to get cabinets and closets cleaned out – endeavoring to make my “retreat” a successful venture of getting things done that I’ve put off as long as I could. In that quest, lo and behold, you can see in the picture here – a larger hand sanitizer bottle and several little ones. Up from the grave they arose! Hallelujah!

I know I'm wordy. I said all this to get to the point of today’s blog. See that big bottle. It is left over from an ACTS retreat that I served on a couple of years ago. We printed the labels for the hand sanitizers to be placed on our tables. The label included our retreat theme scripture: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” Psalm 24:3-4. And St. Teresa of Calcutta’s quote: “A clean heart can see God, can speak to God, and can see the love of God in others.”

Yes, we are doing our best to have clean hands in these times. I wear gloves when I go to the grocery store and use hand sanitizer after. It’s an absolute must for us. But even more critical are those words on the bottle. "Clean hands and pure hearts." Those are the hands and hearts who know better than to only think about the purity of our external selves. Far greater – in the light of eternity – and in the light of letting our lights shine brighter than ever before, is what is in us that might "soil" the relationship we have with God. We do our best to keep our hands and hearts pure and clean because we want to please our Father so much. I’m thinking that we may need to apply some of His Holy sanitizer to our hearts that removes the bitterness, strife, anger, resentment, worry, fear. God's holy sanitizer cleans all those things away when we pray along with King David: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!” Psalm 51:10

Clean hands. Pure heart. Dear Lord, please apply your Holy sanitizer to my life – inside and out, today!

Turning Difficulty into Opportunity

When I’m out and about, I can always count on lots of content for my daily blogs. I’ll admit that when we were placed into this season of “stay at home”, I wondered if I would get enough subject matter, but, oh not so! It seems every day brings a fresh word and fresh inspiration. I’m so thankful.

But, on this day, I hang out with my furry bestie, 80-pound Australian Shepherd, Buddy. My kids live in a trendy area of town called Frisco Square. Right now, other than the occasional dog-walker, it’s very quiet there. The theater and library and other historical places are closed. Restaurants are open – but only drive-thru or drive-up for your order. Apparently, Fruitealicious, where my granddaughter works (basically specialty teas, fruit and frozen drinks), remains open as an “essential”. My favorite is the fresh peach and strawberry frozen drink. Yum (and she adds extra peach chunks to mine – she knows my loves)!

Buddy and I take a nice stroll through the historical district. Everything is closed but we enjoy the “history” we find there. Buddy falls in love with the bronzed statute of John Milton Turner’s seeing-eye dog. Mr. Turner was born in Frisco. He lost his sight as a teenager yet became very successful in business and was appointed by six Governors to serve more than three decades on the Texas Commission for the Blind. This photo is of John with one of his eight seeing-eye dogs. He outlived them all. I love this quote on the memorial: “Blindness is an inconvenience, not a handicap.”

Wonder if we’re “blind” in this inconvenient time we’re experiencing right now. I learned something from this excursion around Frisco. No matter our situation-in-life (i.e., isolated to our homes, without work, having to be home-schooled, detachment from our friends and family, unable to go to church, etc.), we can turn difficulties into opportunities. That’s the quote of Albert Einstein “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

We can find the good in every circumstance, AND, like John Turner we can make something out of our inconveniences. This time is not forever but what we make of this time can possibly be a miracle break-through with the idea we received. It can be a closer connection to our family than ever before. It can be a first-time EVER of connecting – REALLY CONNECTING – with God.

Yes, I know it is challenging in so many ways to be cooped up. But, taking a walk to get closer to God in creation can sure be an eye-opener. When we spend time with God, everybody else knows it. We become calmer, we're easier to get along with, and we don't lose control of our emotions as quickly. Our patience increases, and our heart soon understands what God likes, and the more time we spend with God, the more like Him we become. He’s the ULTIMATE Creator – being like Him means we have creative abilities inside us. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons He has allowed this crisis – for us to tap into His genius.

I'm on my way to spend that time with Him, right now. God knows....that's the secret to my inward peace and comfort, and I sure do want everybody to know by what they see in me, that I've been hanging out with Him AND my pal, Buddy -- regularly.