Homeward Bound

On Thursday, at 7 am, I am walking with my earbuds in, and Chris Tomlin’s song “Home” comes on from my playlist. As I hear the words, I think about my dear friend's dad who is lingering in his final hours of life. I tear up because I just imagine that those words must be his words this morning. He had already said “I want to go home!” to his family earlier in the week. I stop to send the song to my friend with these words "For your daddy and you this morning, sweet girl. Love you so much. "Home" by Chris Tomlin. Praying for you all this morning. God is with you so strong. I just know it." At 9:30 am, I receive this text from my friend: “He just passed into paradise!”

The day after, Friday, my usual flow of ideas for my blog isn't coming as readily as usual. I have nada – nothing, but I know to hang in there because soon it will come. It does. “Homeward bound” pops into my head. This day, "homeward bound" can only mean one thing. Since I'm at home in Frisco, it must reference the day before, when my precious friend replied to my text that I sent to her while on my morning walk.

I sent the song onto my sis-in-law because Mom’s 94-year-old sister, and Mom, 97-years-old, keep saying those words, “I want to go home!” In fact, on a recent phone call from Mom to Auntie Alma – they both said, “Let’s go home together!” Perhaps you have a loved one, or even yourself who has a longing for "home", too. This song will bless you. Here’s the link, followed by the lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIb4NC5ikYo

"This world is not what it was meant to be /
All this pain, all this suffering /
There's a better place waiting for me / In Heaven
Every tear will be wiped away / Every sorrow and sin erased /
We'll dance on seas of amazing grace / In Heaven / In Heaven

I'm goin' home / Where the streets are golden / Every chain is broken / Oh I wanna go / Oh I wanna go / Home
Where every fear is gone / I'm in your open arms /
Where I belong / Home

Lay down my burdens, I lay down my past /
I run to Jesus, no turning back /
Thank God Almighty, I'll be free at last / In Heaven / In Heaven
Blinded eyes / Will finally see /
The dead will rise / On the shores of eternity /
The trump will sound / The angels will sing /
Hallelujah, Hallelujah"

Home-goings are like a double-edged sword – we ache at the thought of a loved one apart from us, yet, oh the joy we have that they, as a child of God, are in heaven and our parting is just temporary. One day we’ll be back together again for a joyous celebration of being "home" forever.

When I think about my friend's sweet daddy, my husband, my parents, grandparents, all my siblings who have gone “home” and Mom and Auntie Alma who want to go “home”, I think about the joy and celebrating we’ll have together in heaven.

As Chris Tomlin says in his song, this world really is filled with so much suffering, so much pain, so much sorrow and so much fear. But, the beauty that this song points to is that one day Jesus is going to make it all right. God will make all things new and all our tears will be wiped away. No more sin. No more sorrow. Chains will be broken off! How amazing! The fact is -- for those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are already living eternal life -- as we'll just step through the doorway to our home sweet home one day.

Rick Warren says: “Here’s what I know -- the tears that dampen our eyes in times of mourning, are tears of homesickness, tears of longing for our loved ones. But it is we who are away from home, not they! Death has been for them a doorway to an eternal home. They are still with us, lovingly and tenderly waiting for the day when we, too, will enter the doorway of our eternal home. For us who believe, death is a preparation for eternal union with those we love, in the peace and joy of heaven. We were made for heaven. We were made to last forever.”

So, while we are still on this side of heaven.....let’s continue to finish our assignments well and live every day in the light of eternity -- enroute to our heavenly home. We are homeward bound! Let's plan to meet up there!

Being Contented in Whatever State, City or Home We’re In

I loved it when we went around our Thanksgiving table sharing what we are grateful for, especially when we all spoke of people – not things – the things money can’t buy. Thanksgiving usually brings families "home". "Home' isn't necessarily the brick and mortar of the home we live in. For example, my oldest two grandsons and Ruthie (Braden’s wife) couldn't make it "home" to us this year. They were “home” with friends and family in Tennessee. I've realized "home" is where I am at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I seem to "light". Home is family, friends, our church, the places where "contentment” abounds.

Before coming to us on Friday, Ryan, Shawntel, and the two younger boys traveled to Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband's Mom, and at 97 everyone wants to see her again – just in case. We just don't know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. Contentment in what matters most.

Then they headed to Spiro, OK, where Shawntel’s grandmother lives and where they eat outdoors to accommodate all of them. I love this year's photo of their big family gathering of 67 family members. It was pouring down rain so Grandma’s church opened their doors for them. I loved seeing them "home" with their precious grandmother – not at her home as usual, but her church “home”. Contentment.

At last my gang made their way to Frisco on Friday where we all sat around my table with added leaves, carrying on great conversation before starting to play a new game called “Chamaeleon” (I highly recommend it – so much fun). I held yet another treasure hunt for my Bryson’s 13th birthday celebration. My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were served with all the trimmings. Then on Saturday, we had our traditional breakfast at Larry and Staci’s, then our annual Thanksgiving movie. This year it was “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (Mr. Roger’s story with Tom Hanks). It was a movie we older kids can wrap our minds around about what “nice guy” looks like. It would serve us all well to be reminded how we should be in this age of so many not-so-nice-guys-and-gals. Then it was our "traditional" day-after-Thanksgiving dinner -- Mexican food. Our time together at Thanksgiving has always included my annual family photo being taken. It’s a must-do and though it was raining outside – my little home was the spot of contentment. Contentment in embracing family.

It won't be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own. Yes, I'm so grateful for the blessings of “contentment”. The greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.

My buddy, the Apostle Paul, inspired another blog today as a read: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content.” Philippians 4:11

This is the time for counting our blessings and in finding contentment in all those things that money can’t buy. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much we've been given. Contentment 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 be contented with what we have.

We just might be re-energized, have new vitality and excitement for this beautiful life in the neighborhood and our beautiful life in Christ our Savior. Our lives are made up of far more beauty than what we realize. I had many “contented” moments over the last several days. We celebrated so many blessings of this year – so many that were all about life’s treasures – each other. I am contented.

A Big Return on our Investment

It is Sunday morning. After a month-long Tour de Texas, it’s good to be back home again – “home” home, and to my church home. I hear: “You’re back!” “Welcome home, Donna!” “We missed you, Donna!” I love those words: “Welcome home!” Can we even fathom what those words meant to the prodigal son when His dad welcomed him home? I’m in MY pew and MY seat. Well, it’s not really mine, but I get here early enough to claim my territory! Second row, first seat, middle aisle where those of us who are honored and humbled to be communion servers stand. Easy to get to my place from here.

There is no place like home with my “church family”. We are the ones who team up in volunteering, serving, sharing, loving and praying. A common goal – to let our little lights shine here and out there. Wherever I go, God goes -- so, actually, everywhere I go is home sweet home. But, I see Him loud and clear in my church family. We walk hand-in-hand in some tough times and in the over-the-top good times. We are family. We’re a part of the Family of God – we’re brothers and sisters.

As I kneel for a few minutes, I exhale all the busyness of my life and I inhale the One Who got this whole “church” thing started in the first place. He wanted us to come together in one accord. He wanted us to bear one another’s burdens. He wanted us to be Him to our world. I sense my Lord here. In this place and in my heart. I know Him intimately. He knows even more about me – even those annoying fly-away hairs that I have to keep licking my fingers to make them stay down. I express gratitude, with all this journeying I do, for getting me safe and sound back here.

I look around. I see Him in the etched glass reaching His arms out to His disciples. I get chills just thinking He’s holding His arms out to me in the same way. After all – I, too, am one of His disciples. He says: “Follow Me!” And, I follow. I see Him in the stained glass above the altar – the hand of God symbolizing the Father, the Lamb symbolizing the Son, the Dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. I’m familiar with the Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I know them well – not as casual acquaintances but as MY never-failing, always-present, Holiest of Holy team.

Maybe you don’t have a church family – those who go toe-to-toe with you in good times and tough times; those who see you and come with a hearty hug for you. I have an investment in this place – my time, my talent and my treasure. The return on my investment is peace, joy, comfort, stability, hope, love and long-term (lifelong and beyond-term) pay-offs. Here’s my humble advice: If you want the best return on investment (ROI), there is nothing like investing in the Kingdom of God, investing in people. People will endure through time and eternity.

We don’t have a mission. God has a mission and has invited us to become part of His mission. We are the people to accomplish that mission. Someone said, “Keep the main thing the main thing.” The main thing is the mission of God. If you want real ROI, be a part of a team of people who make you better because their interests are beyond themselves. Their interests are Kingdom-based, people-based. Together we’re strong and stalwart with eyes on the prize. So, onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.

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".

Being PLANTED and REPLANTED

My words of the day are:
PLANT -- sow, seed, place or fix into a specified position
REPLANT: To plant again in a new place

Seven years ago, this Peace Lily PLANT was given to our family for my husband’s memorial service. What a beautiful representation of “peace” that was given to us. And peace is what God gave us. I REPLANTED that PLANT into a larger pot, but it seems I need to go bigger as it’s been struggling some in the last couple of months. Quite frankly, it’s a miracle that plant is still alive at all, given my record of being “green thumbless”!!

Besides a plant being planted, PLANTED also means being stuck, fixed and unmovable. I've proven that is not me. I've found that REPLANTED can be a very thing. It’s over a year since my home in Tulsa sold (without me even trying to sell it). I knew God was setting me up to be REPLANTED in Texas near my children. I’ll admit there have been many times of discomfort during the process of the move – finding the exact “pot”, rather "home", to be REPLANTED into and getting use to all the changes in my life here in Frisco. In the directions for replanting and repotting a Peace Lilly, it says: “Don’t worry if the plant looks a little bedraggled for the first few days after replanting because slight wilting often occurs. Give the plant time to settle into its new home.” And, God was saying to me “Trust me and my timing. You may feel a little bedraggled, but you’ll see “I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

REPLANTING me from my familiar surroundings, my family and friends, my home and church in Tulsa was oftentimes bittersweet though the sweetest part is living closer to my children. Of vital importance was to find a church to call "home" here in Frisco. Oh I know that God is with me anywhere and everywhere, but having that “family” and “community” connection has been a mainstay since I made my debut on Planet Earth. Church has been where I met God, personally, and where I found friendship and fellowship and solace during challenging times and where I found my greatest expression of worship and praise to my God.

My search for that church “pot” to be replanted in took months because I was looking for “a feeling” of home like my wonderful home church in Tulsa – smaller where you get to know everyone and everyone knows your name. That just reminded me of the CHEERS theme song. LOL! Then it occurred to me “Select one then, dive in. Get involved. If you want friends, show yourself friendly.” I did. A 39,000+ member church. WHAT??? How can I experience “family” in a church that large. “That POT is just too big to be REPLANTED in” is what I thought.

I found and signed a contract on my home on February 21, 2017 – one year ago, I settled on my new church, St. Francis of Assisi in July – seven months ago. This post was inspired by my being a Greeter/Welcomer at my church this week when we were having a 3-day Lenten Mission. As people came in the door, many said “Hi, Donna!” and hugged me or I would recognize them and welcomed them to the service. Other greeters with me who had been part of the church for years said “Donna, you sure know a lot of people for being here such a short period of time!” When they said that, I had an “aha” moment. God’s words to me had come to pass. You see I did get involved. I became a sponsor to a young woman in our church’s discipleship program (RCIA), I became a greeter, I attended a women’s ACTS Retreat and met 80 women who will be lifelong friends to me and now I’m serving on the Spring ACTS Retreat Team. I am a Eucharistic Minister, serving communion, and attend Bible Studies. I have a church community and family that I love now.

Yesterday morning the inspiration for this post came to me and I looked up on my wall across from my bed and read the words from the Bible and penned by my daughter, “Oh Lord, bless me indeed and ENLARGE MY TERRITORY (He sure did!). Let your hand be with me and keep me from evil so I will be free from pain.” 1 Chronicles 4:10.

Yes, big changes in our lives can oftentimes be uncomfortable and downright painful, but when we realize that our times of REPLANTING and REPOTTING are the ways to stretch us to take us to the next level of maturity and growth. Maybe you’re being stretched today. Maybe your “pot” is too small to hold the expectations that God has for you and you need to be REPLANTED. Trust Him and do your part to open up to new horizons, new opportunities and new friends that God wants you to love, encourage and support.

He Leads Me By Still and Rough Waters

How reassuring it is to know our great Shepherd is ever watching over His sheep (that's you and me) to guide, lead, protect and even discipline us when we need to be corrected.
If someone asks how I know God's not dead--I just tell them "I spoke to Him today, and He spoke to me." And here's an example of how I knew yesterday.

Yesterday morning, Alexia and I made a road trip that included an unexpected stop over. When Alexia got hungry for breakfast, and wanted a McDonald's breakfast burrito, I told her to watch for a Mc D's and I'd pull off to get her one. The next one we saw was at Camp Wisdom Road and I-35, just before leaving Dallas. Immediately, I had a sweet memory. Just a couple blocks from there was the first home that my sweet husband and I purchased. As soon as we drove to the home, I recognized it because of the opening on the front porch and the board that he made to put in it that described our little house as being Spanish. LOL.

My husband's uncles were in the construction business and took that little home in on trade. We purchased it from them for $7000. It's hard to fathom that that adorable little house could be purchased for so little back in 1968. My husband did so many upgrades to that little home. He learned the building trade from his uncles.

While we lived in that home, our Staci was born. While we lived in that home, she was so sick with pneumonia over and over again and was eventually diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. It was in that home that our faith grew as family members and friends joined us in prayers that reversed that diagnosis. It was in that little home that our faith begin to grow and see God perform miracle after miracle in our lives. It was at that little home that my husband not only worked for his uncles in their construction business, but went to college at Southwestern College in Waxahachie, Texas, and also worked at HL Greens department store so that we would make ends meet for our little family.

As I look back on that time I can't help but realize that was the start of a lifetime of living under the guard of our great Shepherd and He has not only led us during the times of still waters and during the times of storms and violent winds, but I'm still here to witness the faithfulness of my great Shepherd.

You ask me how I know He lives? Because He lives, I continue to face day after day with great resolve and determination to not only talk to Him but to see Him face-to-face one of these days. It is so worth the journey of faith.

Gratitude for Simple Pleasures

When itemizing those things we are grateful for, we'll list a lot of things that money affords -- like our home, car, clothes, food, electronics, appliances and all those THINGS that add to our comfort. But now, in retrospect, I realize those precious treasures that money can't buy. The Simple Pleasures.

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 couldn't make it "home" to their families, but they were "at home" with friends who invited them to their Thanksgiving meal. Our 2nd to the oldest grandson couldn't make it home, but was also invited to the home of friends. For me, I've realized "home" is WHERE I AM at the time. Home is Austin, Frisco, Tulsa and anything in between where I seem to "light". Home is family, friends, our church, the places where "simple pleasures" abound.

Ryan, Shawntel and the boys made it to Frisco after spending time with Shawntel's family in Muldrow, OK. I loved the photos she took of their big family gathering of over 60 family members. I loved seeing the cousins having such a good time playing together and being "home" with their precious grandmother. Simple Pleasures.

On their way to Frisco, they made a stop in Tulsa to see Granny for a couple of hours. Granny is my husband's Mom, and at 94, though she's active and vibrant, we just don't know if it could be the last time, so spending time with her is so important. Simple Pleasures.

Then, they made their way to Frisco where cousins could frolic and play and have great fun times together. Ping Pong, Light Saber battles, movies, roller blades, and turkey hats. My traditional day-after-Thanksgiving Waikiki meatballs were the menu yesterday, plus our annual movie theater visit. We loved the new Disney movie, "Moana". The day ended with our "traditional" day-after-Thanksgiving dinner -- Mexican food. Simple pleasures.

Our time together at Thanksgiving has always included my annual family photo being taken. It was always a MUST DO -- that everyone tolerated and because it meant so much to me -- they all always complied. I was excited that my grandson's wedding photo would be this year's photo and it would let the family off the hook for yet another photo. But, my two sweet girls -- without my usual need-to-plead, got everyone dressed in grays, black and white and all I had to do was find a gray top and whoa la -- this year's Thanksgiving photo. Simple pleasures.

It won't be long before all these grandkids will be grown up with families of their own. Yes, I'm so grateful for the blessings of "simple pleasures" -- family and friends that keep reminding me that the greatest blessings on earth come without a price tag.

This is the time for counting our blessings, noticing simple pleasures. It means learning to live our lives as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much we've been given. Gratitude even 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 "simple pleasures". We just might be re-energized, have new vitality and excitement for this beautiful life that is made up of "simple pleasures"!

I had many of those these last couple of days. We celebrated many "simple pleasures". Yes, it's the simple pleasures that are life's treasures!

Home is a Heart Matter!

John Denver sang "Hey, it's good to be back home again!" And Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, said, "There's no place like home!" Even though I sold my home and am staying in a friend's home in Tulsa, I'm still singing with Dorothy, "There's no place like home!"

"Home" has changed for me many, many times over the years (way more than most) -- home once was when my sweetheart met me at the door with a sweet kiss and hug, and home was where my kids brought their friends to for comfort and FOOD, and home was where a light was always burning when one of us would be out late. Home was where the yummy smell of chocolate chip cookies were baking. And home was where we could be ourselves -- no masks -- no pretense -- just real, authentic, truth spoken in love....and even sometimes....when the truth hurt. But still, all those things were what made home...HOME!

The meaning of home changes over time -- when we were growing up in our parents' home, then a college dorm room was home, then our first home as a married couple, and then home was where our family came "home" to after they moved out and we were empty nesters. Or sweet loved ones left us for their real HOME in heaven. "Home" has so many different meanings.

Now, in this season between living in Oklahoma and Texas, home represents for me....my space in my friend's home or my mother-in-law's home or my children's home, I've got the "gypsy" wandering vibe going. That's been at my children's urging -- "Mom, take your time on buying a new home! Trust God's timing and the place He's planned for you." I'll admit -- I have been a little antsy about that because this little bird would like a "nest" to go to that she can call her own. But, right here in my friend's home in Tulsa, I'm typing my next FB post with complete peace and sensing that God knows where I'm headed tomorrow.....so that makes this spot, right here "home".

In reality, it doesn't matter where the structure of a home is, because home is where our hearts are at the time. I've learned that home can be outdoors, in a chapel, in a comfy chair, riding in a car....or even a motorcoach -- really, just anywhere. In this season of my life, I've come to appreciate that my most precious "home" place to be is where I spend time with the Lover of My Soul -- that place of peace and comfort -- where "in His presence -- is fullness of joy"! I'm "at home" with the One Who always wraps me in His loving arms and He assures me I am home....right where He is -- is home -- any where and any time. Give me that -- and I'm home -- my quiet place -- my refuge -- my shelter -- my secret place of the Most High -- abiding under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1).

Yes.....there really is no place like HOME SWEET HOME -- because Home is a heart matter -- not a place matter -- because any where (and that's everywhere) He is, I'm HOME!

Is Your Home Built on Solid Rock or Sinking Sand?

We were just kids when we married (I was 17; he was 18). Funny the dreams we had back then. Often, we'd go “looking” for our dream home…. the newest mobile home models, in hopes of owning one someday. That was pie-in-the-sky dreaming back then, because my husband was a college student, and I was working my first $1.25/hr clerical job. Our “dream” changed when his uncles, who were in construction, took in a home on trade, and sold it to us. We purchased that cute little home in 1967 for $7,000. Our house payment was $67 a month which seemed astronomical at the time. A couple of years later, we sold it for $14,000 – we thought we had struck it rich! How far we came over the years of maturing, growing our family and depending on God more, as we took many more steps of faith”. And, each step continued to solidify our foundation.

In the 70s, we moved to Oklahoma, and, before we knew it, our young dreams came true. We purchased a mobile home that backed up to Lake Keystone. And, you’re probably thinking, “Are you kidding me? You bought a mobile home that backed up to the water in "Tornado Alley"?” Indeed we did. And we encountered many opportunities to stretch our faith, especially during every one of those tornados that came barreling down the lake. Thanks be to God -- we weathered them all. And with each one, whether it was a literal storm (tornado) or financial storm, or illness storm, or relationship storm, our HOME's foundation grew more solid. It was with each storm, that our HOME and our lives, became more secure and blessed.

Jesus likened the person who hears and keeps His teachings to a wise man who builds his house on the ROCK (Matthew 7:24). Not even the fiercest storm can bring it down. So I ask you today....solid rock or sinking sand? On what foundation are you choosing to build your life, and the lives of your family, today? If we want life’s truest treasures -- say "NO" to sinking sand, and say "YES" to building upon the Rock of Ages. It sure does make for a blessed, secure and comfortable home AND life!

WE WIN!!!

I'm so thankful to be on the winning team! Life, with its ups and downs, is still just temporary -- this place is NOT home. We're simply on a journey to get home, and along the way, we have to fight some battles and conquer some wars.......and I'm so grateful to know -- come what may.....WE WIN -- Big TIME! 

In the Light of Eternity

One of my favorite sayings is “In the light of eternity….it just won’t matter”! And, I usually say it when discussions go controversial, or when I'm making a trivial decision. Bottom line, like the “God quote” here, this life is just so short, why should we sweat the small stuff? We’re going to spend much more time in heaven, than we are on earth. In his book, "Purpose Driven Life", Rick Warren said “Earth is the staging area, the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity. It is the practice workout before the actual game; the warm-up lap before the race begins. This life is preparation for the next”.

When we really understand that there is so much more to life than just the here and now, and we understand that this life is just preparation for eternity, we’ll begin to live differently. And, my saying “in the light of eternity” will make much more sense. We’ll be able to handle every task, every circumstance, every relationship “in the light of eternity”. Those things that once seemed so important to us—the activities, the problems, the conquests will seem quite unimportant on the radar. Maybe on this earth’s radar, a BIG DEAL. On heaven’s radar, not even a blip on the radar screen.

That’s why, on the day of my Sweetheart’s graduation to heaven, I became his Mid-Wife. I coached him to “Push, Baby, Push!” to the other side….for there he would be living where the wonder and splendor of heaven is beyond explanation. What I knew, is that I loved him too much to keep him from one more minute of the bliss that awaited him. It was time for his BIRTH-day in heaven -- where "in the light of eternity", he was home sweet home.