When Life Gives You Lemons – Make Lemonade

We’ve been making lemonade by the gallons during this season, haven't we? But, on the other hand, I'm sure we all have found some real positives. I’m thinking about those who put that quote to action by creating something needed and now have thriving businesses. For example, face masks -- the law of supply and demand sure kicked in for those who jumped on "making lemonade"! Dr. Rhys Thomas was desperately concerned at the lack of intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators. Along with engineering company CR Clark & Co., he created a machine that not only helps patients to breathe but cleans the room of viral particles. Wyn Griffiths designed a prototype 'arm' that attaches to an existing door handle, with a crook to open business doors. My son found his employees were more productive at home during this time, so now they are downsizing all that unneeded office space.

Over the last few years, families tended to see each other just in passing because of children running off to school or game practice or parents staying late at work. Family dinners were uncommon. I've loved seeing the social media posts about their love for family time together and plan on it being their new norm.

I’ve come to appreciate Amazon Prime because of a better price, next day delivery, and not having to leave my home. Zoom meetings have allowed us to stay at home. I have come to appreciate the great outdoors more and I’ve seen families walking together or riding their bicycles. Prior to the pandemic, not many people really appreciated the outdoor's beauty. I’m hoping we hold on to that feeling of getting out and breathing fresh air that's so natural and free. What if we spent more time in parks than malls? How much money would we save?”

And, add another glass of lemonade for the opportunity to watch church online for those who are homebound or out-of-town. Maybe the new normal will always include online worship events and long-distance conferencing which saves in time and expense from having to fly across country for a meeting.

Major shift in the way we see and live life happened. I believe we are better because of the lemons that were thrown our way. I still have an absolute certainty that times are going to get better and we are going to come out better than we were before this. We've learned many lessons. If we would really believe that God is on our side, that He is for us, and He is cheering us on. He is making each of us into a refreshing glass of water. I said "water" because not all of us like lemonade.

Water quenches thirst. May we take all that we have endured and conquered and use it to take a thirsty friend a refreshing glass of water. That's what we'll look like to them when we show up with good news and encouragement.The tough times are the “things” St. Paul talked about in Romans 8:28 – “ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes." As long as we keep the faith, the tenacity, the resilience and determination to conquer, we WILL conquer!

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42

The Old Wahoo to the Brand New

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents. His artistry and craftsmanship were recognized in the many homes, churches, and furniture he built with such attention to the details. He was a perfectionist. He was never satisfied with "good enough”. He was a Master Craftsman with a capital "C". He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

Five years ago, I saw a woodcarver carving game boards. It reminded me of the round Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young. I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing with it. I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game like we had. So, I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families: The Wallace's, The Wuerch's and The Anderson's (my godson’s family). The words pictured here are what I attached to each game board at Christmas of 2015. I seized moments that represented more than memories.....it represented today's joys and tomorrow's. It has blessed me, over the years, when each family sends me photos of their children playing the game. But, last week, while in Austin, the game was taken to a whole new level.

A welcome surprise came during quarantine. My grandson’s girlfriend’s family also play the game but with their new rules for strategizing – unlike the usual, only-win-by-luck game we played before. This photo explains the new rules of having partners and using two decks of cards instead of dice and playing as a single. Oh, what fun we had playing by the new rules and even more so, filling this heart of mine with all the sweet family time playing with the “old” and making it “brand new”.

There’s something to be said for making the old, brand new. Many of us really take off on DIY projects that make the old, brand new. My old piano bench was made new by adding an upholstered cushion to it. Outdoor furniture was made new by spraying on a new coat of paint. Homes are made new when we update them with fresh paint, adding more space or taking out walls to make larger rooms.

God is in the business of making the old, brand new, too! I love Bill and Gloria Gaither’s old song that went like this: “Something beautiful, something good / All my confusion He understood / All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife / But He made something beautiful of my life.”

And those song lyrics tell my story of God’s amazing grace. When I asked Christ to forgive me of my “old girl” past of regret, mistakes, failures, sins – He forgave me and took it all and threw it into His Sea of Forgetfulness. “He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19) My “old” became “new” – new outlook, new heart-look, new attitude, and new awareness of my need for Him every day. Like the new Wahoo game strategies, now my new life strategies – partner with His strategies and everyday is brand new in Him. Maybe you’d like to play our new Wahoo rules and new God’s ways, too!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Seizing the Moments -- Wahoo Style

Seizing the moments!  That's the way I live today....more than ever.  I know how valuable and precious those moments are as each day, month and year goes by so quickly.   So I define the moments.  I don't let them define me.

My sweet husband was a man of many skills and talents.  His artistry and craftsmanship is recognized in the many homes, churches, furniture he built and the attention to detail that he had.  He was a perfectionist.  He was never satisfied with "just getting by".  He was a Master Carpenter with a capital "C".  He was also a woodcarver and could make such beauty out of a simple piece of wood.

This summer, I saw a woodcarver making game boards and it reminded me of the Wahoo board game my husband carved for our family when our kids were young.

I don't remember what happened to that beautiful board, but I do remember the hours and hours of fun we had playing it and I know that I wanted my grown children and their families to experience that fun game he'd made again.  I had three Wahoo wood board games made and presented them as a special family Christmas gift for my three families:  The Wallace Family, The Wuerch Family and The Anderson Family.

This is the note I wrote and read to each of them when I gave them their game this Christmas:

"Once upon a time, a very fine man,
Lived here on earth and made lots of things with his hands.
He could build houses and draw planes and even more,
He could carve wood and even doors.
He once made a board game out of wood.
It was called Wahoo, and his family played as much as they could.
They had hours and hours of so much fun.
It was bedtime before they were done.
This wonderful man went to heaven one day.
And I know if he were here, he would say,
“Merry Christmas, I love you so!
From the top of your heads to your little toes!
When you play this game, think of me.
One day you’ll get to see.
The joys and peace and the happy place,
That heaven is.  It’s better than playing Mario’s Kart Race.
I’ll be having Christmas with Jesus – what a treat!
It’s so awesome to be here – I’ll save you a seat!
But until that day, when we meet face to face --
Have lots of fun and run your race!
The next time you play Wahoo,
Remember how much your Papa and Nana
….really, really LOVE YOU!”
MERRY CHRISTMAS -- 2015

Yes, seizing the moments represents more than memories.....it represents joys for today, AND tomorrow!  Over the Christmas holidays, each family has played hours and hours of Wahoo fun -- as seen in these photos
#Wahoo #FamilyTimeRocks #SeizingTheMoments