In EVERYTHING – Give Thanks

I stopped by a friend’s home a few days ago. Understandably, she is distraught because her high-school-senior-son is missing out on his final year of baseball, as well as missing out on his Senior Prom. And she went on to feel sorry for those college students who are delayed in their graduations and other friends who are having to cancel or postpone their weddings. I get it. It’s a difficult and disappointing time for so many.

I responded to her by telling her about my morning “aha”. I know this is TMI (too much information), but it’s my truth. I say: “I am sitting on my toilet this morning. I am pooping. I say to God: ‘Thank you so much for my system working so good. Thank you for this toilet. Thank you for the water in this toilet. Thank you for this bathroom that has a door on it and it’s indoors. Thank you for water to drink. Thank you for my home. Thank you for my lights. Thank you for technology. Thank you for YOU, God – Who promises to never leave me or forsake me.’”

She got the picture. And, so do you. It’s expressing gratitude for what we do have. It’s seeing the bigger picture that this all will pass and we’ll be telling our grandchildren about the 2020 pandemic. We will talk about the faithfulness of God Who brought us through while telling them about those who got very sick and many who lost their lives. This time will go down in the history books.

Yes, we are inconvenienced. Yes, we are missing spending times with friends and family. Yes, we miss going to church and concerts and sports games and restaurants and previously planned events. Yes, we want to go back to “business as usual”. Yes, we want our “normal” to be normal again.

But, instead of what we don’t have or what we don’t get to do – let’s consider what we do have. So, what to do when we don’t know what to do? We count our blessings – even name them one by one. I mean it. Since you’re at home with your kiddos – why not play the “I am so blessed” game. “You have one minute to tell us what you’re thankful for!” I did the exercise. I gave myself one minute, using my phone app. Ready! Set! Go!

I heard my dishwasher running. I wrote down "dishwasher". My eyes went to my piano that Papa played, I play, and our grandson plays. I wrote down "piano". I was seeing -- I wrote down "my eyes", and hearing -- "my ears"; I was sitting in a comfy chair -- "my furniture"; I saw my computer -- I wrote down "computer and internet". I glanced over at my refrigerator -- I wrote down "refrigerator".

When we express gratitude, rather than being bugged and annoyed by this time when we can’t do anything about it in the natural, we can express to God how thankful we are for what we do have. A grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges and blessings they have. The grateful heart is like a magnet that collects reasons for gratitude -- for the paper clip to hold those pages together; for the milk in our cereal; for the song that soothes us; for the clock we hear ticking; for the light that turns on; for the car that takes us to the OPEN grocery store. Thank you, Lord!

May this time of uncertainty and inconvenience, become a time of really being thankful people for what we do have. May we choose gratitude as a habit that we choose daily as a way of life – even after this crisis is over. May we be overwhelmed with the beauty and abundance of all God has given us!

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are
I sent that message to my best friend yesterday. She has a busy life and so do I, but we do our best to stay connected. I forgot they were away in a remote location without cell, so no wonder I was saying "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Those words are actually from one of my earliest memories, playing “Hide and Seek”. Now, my fondest memories are playing it with children and grandchildren.

My memory of playing the game was the nervousness that would build as the “it” person started counting. I’d run looking for the spot that would conceal me perfectly. Sometimes I’d peek around the corner to see if the “it” person was anywhere near and, oh, that feeling when the “it” person was only a few feet away. My heart would beat faster. Every-so-often I’d get fortunate. They’d keep going, and I’d breathe a quiet sigh of relief. As I stood or crouched there, I would listen for the words I longed to hear -- the words I knew meant the game was over. “Come out! Come out! Wherever you are!” When I heard that phrase I knew my hiding place had been successful!

Our Hide and Seek games don't always stay in our childhood or always stay so fun and innocent. I remember David and how often he was hiding from his enemies. When he wrote Psalm 31, things weren't going well for him. He was tired, weak, and hurting. His enemies were chasing him, and his friends had let him down. His life was at risk but he was not defenseless. He knew that God was the best source of safety and that a right relationship with Him was the wisest defense strategy. That’s where he found his security. Just as a small child finds hope in calling out for his older brother when threatened by a bully, David called on the name of the Lord. Because he was living in fellowship with Him, he hid in the security of the One who had helped him so many times before.

I remember the one thing that could ruin a good game of Hide and Seek. It was the cheater who peeked while they counted. They always knew where everyone was hiding and was quick to find them. Well, that’s the enemy of our souls who cheats and wants to destroy us. It is the cheater who makes us go into hiding when things don't go our way and life gets difficult But where we hide can make all the difference. Often, we hide by becoming reclusive – staying away from fellowship and friendship with others. We may hide in regret for mistakes we’ve made. But today, it's time to stop playing those games and "Come out. Come out. Wherever you are."

The cheater-enemy has been caught so we don’t have to stay in hiding places any longer. The Psalmist said, “You are my hiding place." (Psalm 32:7) "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High (Psalm 91:1) -- NOT he who dwells in the closet of negativity and doubt, but in the shelter of the Most High where we abide under the shelter of the Almighty and we find our strength and hope in Him. David knew where his hiding place was. Are we as quick to seek that same security? God was a sure hiding place for David, and He is also the One we hide in and cling to for our protection. Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.

I Want to be a Lite-Brite and Break Darkness

The Lite-Brite toy came out in the 60s and is still considered one of the top 100 greatest toys ever. For memories' sake I bought my daughter another one a couple of years ago. A Lite-Brite consists of a light box with a blank sheet of black paper placed on the panel over the light. When inserting small, clear colored, plastic pegs that fit into the panel, darkness is broken and light shines through and is illuminated. Let there be LIGHT!

As a child, I was very afraid of the dark which was fueled by innocently going into haunted houses at the Texas State Fair. Subsequently, I imagined all kinds of ghastly creatures creeping into my bedroom in the dark after that. My mom came to my aid by placing a night light in my room. Now I could distinguish what was around me. But, beyond those fears, there were emotional times of darkness that lurked around me when I was fearful that my dad might have another seizure that could lead to his passing. I was a young girl that needed a bright light in my life.

I have friends who are living in darkness because of many emotional concerns and fears. We all need to hear these words today: "The darkness is afraid of OUR light and when our light shines, darkness will run in fear."

I heard Australian speaker, Christine Caine, tell this story: "When my daughter, Sophia, was very young, we were shopping at a Walmart. We love America for your Walmarts! Sophie wanted a flashlight and had the perfect one picked out. Walmart’s fluorescent lighting doesn’t make for the best conditions to test out a flashlight. She was so excited to go home and try out her new little gadget. She said, “Come on, Mum! Let’s go find some darkness.” I was so excited about the insight of my little girl at that moment. ‘Sophia, what you just said shows more spiritual maturity than most Christians ever reach. We will absolutely go find some darkness!’”

That "enlightening" story speaks volumes about us and our lights. Often, we are so introspective about our fears, anxieties, and the darkness around us that we fail to realize we don't have to stay in that darkness. We can literally combat that darkness by turning on THE LIGHT within us, and when we do that, we will be LIGHT-BRIGHTS that shine so brightly that the darkness just can't stay. And, the best part? Not only will the darkness be dispelled in our lives, but it will light up the world around us. I’m no longer afraid of the dark because I have Christ’s bright light within me. Let's go find some darkness and turn our LIGHTS on brightly and see the change we'll make for ourselves and those around us today!

"For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:8

Connecting the Dots

While we're waiting for our food to arrive at the restaurant, my youngest grandson and I enjoy playing "Connect the dots". I'm sure you've played it many times. Once upon a time, I let him win, but what in the world -- now he skunks me! Remember when we connected the numbers on a page by drawing lines to the next number and soon it unveiled a picture of something?

It's amusing to hear the latest phrases that are coined like "Let's connect the dots". It's used as a metaphor to illustrate an ability to find the "big picture". Yesterday my blog/post was about the action in the new Mission Impossible movie. It was because you never know what's going to happen next. It's what made the movie great. Twists and turns. Ups and downs. Victories and defeats. Fast-paced and, well, a few slowed paced times. But, ultimately, (Spoiler Alert!), the good guys win! The dots were connected and everything came together.

Here's the deal about connecting the dots of our lives. God is the One connecting our dots. We think "Why did that happen?" My most quoted scripture is this one that explains God's way of thinking about the "Whys" in our lives. Romans 8:28 "All things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose." Think about this:

~ Without Judas, the betrayer, there would have never been the death of Jesus on the cross and then be risen from the dead which leads to our salvation.
~ Without the pit and prison, Joseph would have never made it to the palace and receive the highest position of the land to spare His family -- the brothers that betrayed him.
~ Without the lion, the bear and the giant, David would never have become king.

And, what about you and me? What crisis or setback caused you to stretch and pray and ultimately arrive at your present situation that is the one you were hoping for or at least the one that opened the door to the next one? In my case, my husband's illness and passing created this desire and ability to blog and post daily. I started blogging to display our trust and faith in God during some tough times, but it led me to find a new passion and dream new dreams. In your case, it might be that the loss of your job, opened the door for a better job. The pain and suffering you've experienced might have led you to encourage others by using your tests as a testimony of God's amazing grace.

We don't have to know it all and understand everything about this race we're running. Instead of looking to the left or right, we just keep moving forward. We should never fight it if we don't like it. Our setbacks just might be the greatest comeback of all time. God is connecting all the dots for our good. And that last DOT is where it comes all together and we arrive at our ultimate destination -- to live forever with the original DOT MAKER!

Stop Playing the Waiting Game and Start Enjoying the Journey

We've all played "The Waiting Game" -- waiting for the birth of a baby or a doctor's report, waiting for a job, waiting in line to buy a ticket, or to ride a thriller roller coaster, or for a cashier to stop chatting and get on with checking us out. In due time, our wait comes to an end. Our situation or "wait" can change suddenly. Waiting is a fact of life — no one gets out of it. So the question is not IF we'll wait, but rather HOW we’ll wait -- and often-times, HOW we wait during the journey -- determines HOW LONG we wait.

If we are expectant and hopeful, praising and trusting God in the middle of the "wait" -- believing the answer is just around the corner, and expecting this problem to be solved at any moment. then "suddenly" what we've been waiting for actually happens.

A pregnant woman carries inside her the promise of a baby, and even though she can’t see it, she knows it's there. And she begins to plan for her baby's arrival. She loves collecting items the baby will need, is excited about the baby shower, and gets the nursery ready. She actively prepares for the arrival of the baby because she knows the promise will be fulfilled—it's just a matter of time. And, even better -- is when she embraces the season of waiting -- enjoying the journey of hearing the first heartbeat, seeing the first ultrasound, feeling the first kick in her womb, and celebrating the sweet moments of expectancy with her husband.

When we settle down, and start praising God in the middle of the WAIT, full of hope and expectation, God, whose power is limitless -- WILL break through for us. So let's stop playing the "Waiting Game" and let's start enjoying the sweet journey to our promised answer -- it will be so WORTH THE WAIT!!

Mama's Got Game

This Mama's "Got Game"! When someone says that about me, it means “She’s NOT just a fan watching from the sidelines or the stands -– she’s in the game, playing on the field, and not only hitting the ball – but knocking it out of the ballpark (well, at least in my imagination).” And I've got game in many areas of my life, but, I just felt it's time to explain my WHY about playing in the Solavei Game!

In October, 2011, my son, Ryan, and his amazing wife, Shawntel, were talking strategies about what their next business enterprise would be. After all, Ryan had, just a few months prior, exited from the company he founded, built to a $1.2 billion valuation and took it public on Nasdaq. After 10 years of diligence and hard work, they could have relaxed back and enjoyed the fruit of their labors.

It was in that same month that Ryan had an epiphany – to create a company, uncharacteristic of typical “big enterprise mentality”. This company would be one that placed its values on relationships and core values and providing a tangible means of helping people make a better living for themselves and their family. Of course, I wanted to be a part of something that had that vision leading it. When I first heard that vision, I said, “Game on!” But, then Ryan said, “Mom, I told Dad I was going to take care of you. You just be the grandmother of Solavei (the new company). Initially, I thought, “Beautiful – Mama can be a cheerleader and support the “Sol Train” (aka Solavei Team)! But after hearing my daughter, Staci, share her passion for seeing our country’s economy revived and many people’s lives transformed, I could just hear my Honey speaking to me from heaven and saying “Donna, what are you thinking? Really, you’re going to sit back and watch what we believed, prayed and planted the seeds for – for over 40 years? Do you really want to be the grandmother of anything besides our six grandchildren?” And to that, I responded with a resounding, “NO!”

So, then, I had to put a plan together, a case for Mama being in the game. No handouts expected. No rules of engagement any different from any other player on the field. I couldn't just “talk the talk”. I had to “walk the walk” and put my plan to action. I set out to be the “Poster Mama” – showing others what can happen when we stop whining about being “too little or too big; too old or too young; too female or too male; too black or too white; it’s too difficult or too easy”……and to JUST DO IT!! And, so I did, and so I am!!

Yes, here I am today….playing in this game. I’m loving it. And, my team is loving it too! I’m a Founding Member of Solavei, on the Social Commerce Advisory Committee and blessed with the extra $$ I really needed at this time of my life. My son said, “Mom, you’re a machine!” Some of my friends are probably thinking, “What happened to Donna? Where is she?” Would you please tell them for me? “Donna’s in the batting cage – she’s practicing her swing, throwing the ball – practicing her pitches, she’s on the field doing her warm-ups, getting the plays down and working hard to be her best -- from sun-up to sun-down.” Oh, yes, Donna’s got game! And, it’s not a competition with anyone other than ME! And at the end of this game season, I will have fulfilled my game assignment!! And you won’t hear me saying “I wish I had!” Oh, no! I’ll be saying “I’m so glad I did!" Now, Bat - Her - Up!

Mama's Got Game!

Have you heard it said about someone “He or She’s got game”? Typically that means – “They are really good at something!” But when someone says that about me, it means “She’s NOT simply a fan watching the game from the sidelines or the stands -– she’s in the game, playing on the field, and not only hitting the ball – but knocking it out of the ballpark (well, at least in my imagination).” This Mama’s got game!In October, 2011, my son, Ryan, and his amazing wife, Shawntel, were talking strategies about what their next business enterprise would be. After all, Ryan had, just a few months prior, exited from the company he founded and built to a $1.2 billion valuation. After 10 years of diligence and hard work, it should have been time to relax back and enjoy the fruit of their labors, but that was not to be.

It was in that same month that Ryan had an epiphany – to create a company, uncharacteristic of typical “big enterprise mentality”. This company would be one that placed its values on relationships and core values and providing a tangible means of helping people make a better living for themselves and their family. So, of course, I wanted to be a part of something that had those kinds of ambitions. When I first heard the vision and plans for this company, I said, “Game on!” But, then Ryan said, “Mom, I told Dad I was going to take care of you. You just be the grandmother of Solavei (the new company). Initially, I thought, “Beautiful – Mama can be a cheerleader and support the “Sol Train” (aka Solavei Team)! But after hearing my daughter, Staci, sharing with an individual about Solavei, and hearing her passion for seeing our country’s economy revived and many people’s lives transformed, I could just hear my Honey speaking to me from heaven and saying “Donna, what are you thinking? Really, you’re going to sit back and watch what we believed, prayed and planted the seeds for – for over 40 years? Do you really want to be the grandmother of anything besides our six grandchildren?” And to that, I answered with a resounding, “NO!”

So, then, I had to put a plan together, a case for Mama being in the game. No handouts expected. No rules of engagement any different from any other player on the field. I had to not just “talk the talk”. I had to “walk the walk” and put my plan to action. I set out to be the “Poster Mama” – showing others what can happen when we stop whining about being “too little or too big; too old or too young; too female or too male; too black or too white; it’s too difficult or too easy”……and to JUST DO IT!! And, so I am!!

Yes, here I am today….playing in this game. I’m loving it. And, my team is loving it too! I’m a Founding Member of Solavei. Last week, my son said to me, “Mom, you’re a machine!” Some of my friends are probably thinking, “What happened to Donna? Where is she?” Would you please tell them for me? “Donna’s in the batting cage – she’s practicing her swing, throwing the ball – practicing her pitches, she’s on the field doing her warm-ups, getting the plays down and working hard to be her best -- from sun-up to sun-down.” Oh, yes, Donna’s got game! And, it’s not a competition with anyone other than ME! And at the end of this game season, I will have fulfilled my game assignment!! And you won’t hear me saying “I wish I had!” Oh, no! I’ll be saying “I’m so glad I did….and look, now I’m going to Disney World….oh, actually, it will be Hawaii – Solavei rewards its players for their “WINS”!