These Moments Are a Few of My Favorite Things

It is isn't the money in my wallet or the car I drive or home I live in. It isn't the TV show that made me laugh or the movie I saw that inspired me. Nothing can compare with the priceless gratitude moments that represent my favorite things.

I was thrilled to have my children and grandchildren (except for my "big" grands, Braden, Ruth (who had to work) and Barrett who couldn't make it here, to my home for our traditional Thanksgiving meal and time together. I was never in a panic mode, but, thanks be to God, I was relaxed, steady, motivated and excited to prepare the "grand" meal for those I love so much. It brought so much joy to my heart for us to sit around the table and talk about all the many blessings in our lives. Indeed, these moments are a few of my favorite things.

Ryan and Shawntel stay at my home, and their boys stay at the Wallace’s home so that the cousins can hang together. I love their love for each other, though Payton, age 17 and Alexia, age 16, are the older cousins of Brennan, age 13, and Bryson, age 11. Payton plays with them like he was their age and Alexia is like a little mother to Bryson -- cuddling and loving on him. Yes, this is another of my favorite things.

Yesterday morning, Ryan, Shawntel and I sat at my dining room table – enjoying our delicious breakfast burritos that dear Neicey made for us. I realized I was sitting in a different chair than I typically sit in. I usually face my living area but, this day I sat in the opposite chair and I saw a red berry bush outside my window that I never realized was a "red berry" bush. I had a new perspective and a new little “Thank you, God!” moment. Those moments are a few of my favorite things.

The two sets of parents had their private time together. I love seeing my grown children relating and encouraging each other in such peace and harmony. This is another one of my favorite things. I took the grandchildren up to the pickle ball and bocce ball courts where they played for hours. We came back to my house and they wanted “Nana’s sippy cups (Yes, I still have the sippy cups from their younger years that they still want to drink chocolate milk out of). Alexia and Bryson wanted me to pull out my Lincoln Logs (Yes, I still keep a few of their favorite “Nana and Papa” toys). Years ago, when they were all so small, Papa insisted on getting Lincoln Logs for the grandkids that stayed at our home. He handcrafted a thin board that he painted roads and rivers on for the set up of the logs. Those memories and these moments are among my favorites things.

I’m sure you’ve read enough of my "favorite things" moments, and I think you "get my drift". We live in such motion and speed. We get up early and go to bed late and have no time to savor "the moments". Do we want our epitaph to read "She/He was always on the go -- but she/he went nowhere!" When we are clear on what matters most in our lives, life will become so meaningful and joyful. What matters most is God's sweet moments -- those heaven to earth moments.

A lot of folks talk about wanting an “experience” as if it's going to come in the future. Yet what could be a more beautiful experience than THIS moment, right now? Though their Mom and Dad had to go home yesterday, the two boys talked their Mom and Dad into letting them stay over in Frisco until Sunday night, because Ryan’s associate, who lives in Southlake (a community just miles from here) is heading to Austin and can take them home. These are all "sweet surprise" moments that represent my favorite things.

This moment right now is beautiful and marvelous, and I’m in full appreciation of it. Who knows what the next moment will bring? Who cares? I’m here now having a glorious experience in this precious moment. Indeed these moments ARE among MY FAVORITE THINGS.

I've Got Friends in High Places

Garth Brooks sold a lot of records with his song, "I've Got Friends in Low Places....where the whiskey drowns, and the beer chases my blues away and I'll be okay." Seriously??

Goodness gracious – doesn’t that just make you want to go hang out with those friends? NOT! I started thinking about the “low life” and “low places” yesterday morning and what it must be like to chum with those folks. I’m quite sure we’d be joining pitiful, whiny, bitter, down and out, and the-world-is-going-to-hell-in-a-hand-basket kinds of people. “No, thanks, Garth! I won’t be going there to find my friends!” Why go there, when we can go hang out with friends in HIGH Places and eliminate the blues altogether?

Even though Jesus spent His entire ministry with people in “low places”, He didn’t go to their “low places” of darkness and defeat. He didn’t share their “low life” so they could feel better. Jesus came down to their low place in order to lift them up into a life they could be proud of -- one in high places.

I’ve stayed home in Frisco this entire month of August on purpose. After all my traveling since moving here in April, it was time to integrate into some groups and activities, as well as step up to be part of ministry opportunities and outreach at my church. I want to hang out in "high places". On Monday of this week, I went to play pickle ball (great sport) and met some fun, new people. There was one gal that stood out. She was as spunky and full of life as I am – even more so. We didn’t get to talk much but we did agree to play more pickle ball together in the future.

On Tuesday of this week, I attended a meeting for raising up disciples of Christ at my church. I’ve agreed to be a sponsor for new believers coming into the faith. So I sat at a table of 10 which every other seat was filled with a sponsor or inquirer/seeker. I looked across the table and there sitting across from me was this woman who I had just met at pickle ball the day before. How awesome was that? Not only was she a fellow pickle ball player, but she was a fellow sister in Christ. We marveled that God would bring the two of us together, particularly in this massive church of over 35,000 members. Don’t you love how God sets us up for friendships in “high places”, if we’re looking for them? She called me yesterday morning and we talked about our individual lives and how we make every effort to hang out with people in “high places”. She told me she changed her whole way of thinking about and living for God when her husband had two very scary bouts with cancer. I told her my story and how much I want this part of my life to be the best days of my life. I want to live strong for Christ and take lots of people with me when it’s my time to go from here to up there. She replied “Amen and amen. I want that too!” We want to introduce folks living in low places to our best friend, in high places.

God -- the Almighty One, the Creator of this glorious universe --
actually wants to be our friend! Jesus welcomed us to this privileged level of relationship when He said to His disciples on the night before He died, “I no longer call you servants . . . I have called you friends.” John 15:15

As His friends, we are welcomed to enjoy open conversation with Him and to be privy to insider information. “Everything,” Jesus says, “that I have learned from the Father I have made known to you.” John 8:38. It would be thrilling enough to be servants of God, participating in His work, but Jesus adds an entirely new dimension by saying that as friends He will tell us everything we need to know about God’s will and His ways for our lives.

What a stunning thing it is that Jesus says to us: “Let’s be friends”! And like good friends, He wants to talk and walk with us. Here's our choices: hanging out with worry, anxiety, sadness and fear in low places OR making the right choices and living a life of joy, peace, and love in HIGH PLACES. I pray "Take me to higher and higher places!"