The Little Things Can Mean So Much

When itemizing those things we are grateful for, we'll often list things that money affords, like our home, car, food, clothes, electronics, and those things that add to our comfort. Since my washer and dryer are 25+ years old, I thank God each time I get my washing and drying done, But this Thanksgiving week, my gratitude goes way beyond the big “things”. I've come to realize that the little things, that money can't buy, mean so much!

Thanksgiving usually brings families "home". "Home" isn't necessarily the brick and mortar of the home we live in. For example, my oldest grandson and wife, and 2nd oldest grandson didn’t make it to Frisco this year and that’s okay. They were “home” where they were. I've realized "home" is WHERE I AM at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I "light". Home is family, friends, church, the places where "the little things" are really the big things.

My Frisco family and I and an invited guest had our traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration on Thursday. My "Austin" family, on their way to Muldrow, OK to celebrate Thanksgiving with Shawntel's family, detoured to Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband's Mom, and at 96, though she's still sharp-as-a-tack and moving about, we just don't know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Then they traveled to spend time with Shawntel's family where 54 family members gathered at her precious 90-year old grandmother’s home for their traditional Thanksgiving meal and celebration. The little things that are really huge things to a sweet grandmother. Then, they made their way to Frisco where I had Bryson's "traditional" scavenger hunt ready for his birthday that was on November 17th. The four cousins helped him decipher the clues and find the treasure. Yesterday’s hunt won treasures for all of them – including the wax lips. LOL! My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were on the menu. Today, we’re heading to the Wallace’s for breakfast of huevos rancheros then we'll go to a movie -- another family tradition. We'll have our traditional Mexican food for lunch. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Thanksgiving traditions always included my annual family photo being taken. It was a must do that everyone tolerated and because it meant so much to me -- they always complied. I was excited that my big milestone birthday in August meant I could let the family off the hook for another photo. But, my two sweet girls, without my usual need-to-plead, wrangled up everyone for a quick Thanksgiving photo. They know it’s the little things that mean so much to me.

It won't be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own, so I realize these little things, little traditions; little intentional, purposeful moments mean so much. Yes, I'm so grateful for the blessings of the simple, little things and family and friends that keep reminding me that the greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.

How often is it that the BIG things are what stresses us out? Notice that the things that fill our hearts with warmth are things that we didn't have to look far to find. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware of how much we've been given. Gratitude shifts our focus from what our life lacks, to the abundance of what we already have. Maybe, the best prescription we could take to dispel the common "woe-is-me" attitude is to offer thanksgiving for the "little things".

Not on My Watch

My precious grandmother had 10 children. I remember her prayer “God, there’s not one of my children that are too bad for Satan to have. They will all come to know you in personal way before I ever leave this earth.” Maybe that’s what took her so long to “go home”, because when she passed away at 99-1/2 years old, every one of her children had a precious relationship with God. In today’s terminology, she might have said, “Satan, NOT ON MY WATCH will you get your hands on my children!”

Someone was asking me to pray for their wayward child and I told her the story of my grandmother. I told her to stand in the gap for her child and declare “Not on my watch” to the enemy.

When the tornado was close to my home last week, and I had my granddaughter and her friend with me at my home, I thought “Not on my watch, will I put these girls in danger!” I took them across the street to a neighbor’s storm shelter. I feel that way with those that I hold near and dear to my heart. “Not on my watch – will I stop praying for them.”

What if we had that attitude about our communities, our states and our country? NOT ON MY WATCH – will the enemy continue to invade our lives. It’s time for us to arise from our slumber and complacency and take a stand for what is right in our homes and our country. God placed us here on this earth at this time for a specific purpose – to be watch-men and watch-women. God is speaking to each of us to RISE AND SHINE.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). Paul wasn’t telling us to be passive spectators—of entertainment or anything else. He meant something far different. He meant for us to stand up and be accounted for. He meant for us to say “Not on my watch will the enemy win.”

If ever there was a time for us to resist wasting our lives away, the time is now. To waste time is to waste life. A Watchman is one who has sympathy, empathy and compassion for our fellow countrymen and for all humanity -- so much so that he or she fullfills our God-ordained responsibility to watch and pray.

The best watch-men and watch-women that we can be is a LIGHT SHINER. We must be “the light of the world” by being a godly example for others to follow (Matthew 5:14). We must go into all the world and spread the “good news” of God’s love and mercy. In such a chaotic time in our world, God is calling us with a higher calling. NOT ON MY WATCH -- will the enemy win, because if GOD BE FOR US, who can be against us!

Look What's on My BFF's Front Porch

 Day 189 of Photo Inspirations -- Look What's on My BFF's Front Porch!
So my BFFs, Charles & Sheila Michie​  and us (my husband and I) go way back.  We've celebrated the blessings of God for years, in so many ways. We've travelled together, celebrated many momentous occasions together, ministered together in conferences and seminars and have been together in the start of a new business.  

A few days ago, it was Sheila's birthday and I'm sure she would tell us that the VIP at her bd party was her new grandson, Benjamin Liam.  I loved it when I drove up to their house and saw that baby stroller on their front porch -- the epic symbol of "a baby is near....and he's HERE!"

I was thrilled to host the Grand-Baby Shower for their precious first grandchild at the clubhouse where I live.  They asked me to say a few words and I shared how this couple and my husband and I had lots of wonderful times together. Most significantly, was the time during my sweet husband's illness when they supported us on such a regular basis -- bringing communion to us, praying with us, bringing meals to us and going on prayer of faith walks around hospitals with us.  We've had a lot of things in common, but one missing was a grandchild. My oldest grandson is 23 now, so being able to celebrate this special season of their lives is so sweet.

Now, they know the profound love that a grandparent has for a little one.   They can glow with pride as they watch their son so endeared to his new son. Now, they understand what all those silly grandparents were talking about when they incessantly talked about their grandkids and showed off the latest photo of them.  In fact, as

I'm typing this post, Sheila just sent me this photo of little Benji all tuckered out from all the excitement.  Sheila is well on her way to being one of us -- one of those doting, adoring grandmothers.   I love it.

As I continued to share, I talked about friendship and what this precious couple has meant to me. "People come and go in our lives: some will be friends for a reason; some will be friends for a season, but Mick & Sheila are my friends for a lifetime.   Yes, they are LIFERS.   What a great joy it is for me to celebrate little Benji and all of his accomplishments for so many years to come.....AND, he's already on track to be the subject of many conversations.  In fact, He's already turning over.  The firsts of many firsts. And, best of all for Sheila and I -- now when she asks how my grandkids are doing,  I can reciprocate by asking, "And how is yours?"   Oh the blessings of living smack dab in the middle of God's "goodness and mercy that follows us all the days of our lives"!

Make Lots of Memories

I took Payton and Alexia to see their Great Granny today. When their home at Lake Keystone, OK was destroyed by a devastating tornado 24 years ago, my young son, who sold real estate at the time, found Mom & Dad a lovely home that backs to Page Belcher Golf Course. It's been a precious place of making many family memories. I remember Papaw (Great Granny’s husband – my sweet husband’s Dad), taking my oldest grandson out to the golf course with a little club to learn to hit the ball – at age two, we envisioned him being a pro-golfer one day – LOL. Of course, this is the only home that Payton and Alexia have ever known as Great Granny's, so it was so fun to watch them today, looking at the photos she has of them throughout her house.

And they were so pleased at how much they’ve grown, because they were able to guage their growth by being able to reach the chains on the ceiling fan or the doorway ceiling to her kitchen – which, now, is quite easy for Payton (Alexia still needs a couple more inches). And, of course, Granny gave them each $5. Her and Papaw were always known for giving a few dollars to the grandkids each time they came to visit.

I thought about the sweet memories we have all had of our precious loved ones, and those simple things -- the things that money can't buy -- that made them so valuable to us. The value of memories really does increase over time. I know it has for me. When we’re young and so busy raising our families, giving so much of our time to just making it through the days filled with so many activities and events, we don’t think about tomorrow! But, I promise you, you'll be so grateful that you savor the moments, embrace the details and cherish the times. How very quickly time goes by, and how very quickly our families grow up and out of our immediate attention. The trivial times in life become such priceless times, tomorrow. Embrace the times. Make lots of memories – tomorrow comes very quickly, and tomorrow what you did yesterday, will be the greatest treasure you own.