I Want to be God's Promotional Display

Ever notice how strategically retailers display items in their store to draw us in? It's all about them using psychology to grab us and encourage us to spend more on items we didn't even realize we wanted. Even the height of items matters. Lower items for the kiddos to see and beg for that "must have" cereal and the items that are placed in the middle of the ailse that we can't resist. Or those promotional displays at the ends of aisles. Over time we even start to look at those areas as we pass to see if there is anything we want to buy there.

When we went into the store to pick up just a couple of items, we're now loaded with a cart-full of items and we think we're done shopping when we stand in line to pay and we have one more chance to impulsively buy a package of gum or a magazine, or our child begs for the candy bar they see. It’s all a part of that establishment’s strategy to make us buy more.

I entitled my blog today “I Want to be God's Promotional Display". Like the strategically placed item in the store – I want to be strategically placed that others can’t resist. As followers of Jesus Christ, you and I are called to live exemplary lives that people around us respect and want to be around. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

We are called to be the light of Christ to others. We are called to represent Him well -- as we make choices of excellence. We are called to be noticed as others see our good works that bring glory to God. We are called to be His "promotional display"!
The choice is ours. We want to live our lives with excellence and goodness that bring glory to our loving Father.

Here we are just a week away from Christmas Day – and opportunities abound for us to be promoters of God -- His representatives. We can shine brightly in busy stores and wait patiently in check-out lines. We can use that time with our phones -- heads down scrolling through our messages and timeline or talking to someone on it -- totally ignoring others while we wait. Or, we can be promotional displays of God as we wait patiently, purposely smiling, noticing those around us -- like Jesus did with Zaccheus up in the tree, or the blind man begging. We can encourage a mama with an emotional child. We can offer to let someone go ahead of us who has only one or two items and we have a cart-full. We can spread "Joy to the World" wherever we are. May we be light-bearers and LIGHT-sharers as we make choices for how we will live our lives as promotional displays for the goodness and grace of our Lord Jesus. Then, others will be saying "I want some of that!"

A Treat for 97 Years

This morning, I’ll be heading to Tulsa to celebrate Mom and her 97th Birthday! It’s truly a day of celebrating – not just a mother-in-law, but a dear friend, mentor, and mother. God brought this precious treat to us on October 31st, 1922. I'm sure He had a hand in her being named “Lydia" which means “worshipper of God“! And true to her name, she has been a true worshipper of God. You'll find her at any given time with her Bible in hand -- reading and praying for her family and friends. Many times you’ll find her on the phone encouraging someone.

"Mom means the world to me. Were it not for her, I wouldn't have been blessed with the love and joy of having her son as my beloved husband and our children and grandchildren. She has been a true gift to all who know her, leaving her mark on so many lives, including mine. Though she's my mother-in-law, it has always been so natural to call her "Mom". She always treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was 12-years-old and was an accomplice with my mom in ensuring their two kiddos would marry AND stay married! Their strategies (and many prayers) worked well!

I know many funny, and often "catty" remarks said about "mother-in-laws". That's too bad, because if it weren't for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts. We should love, respect, appreciate, and honor them. And, isn't that the kind of "in-law" we want to be for our children's and grandchildren's spouses?

I'm putting Mom out there today -- front and center -- for you to see what a mother-in-law should look like. Not the exterior, though she is and always has been a beautiful, stately woman, but she did the best of what God called her to do. She walked His walk AND talked His talk. She has been a Proverbs 31 woman -- the one that her children ALL rise up and call her blessed. She sure makes me want to up my game!

Mom, I celebrate the gift of you in my life and to so many others who have been impacted by your grace and beauty for so many years! I love you so much.







Mom means the world to me. Were it not for her, I wouldn't have been blessed with the love and joy of having her son as my beloved husband and our children and grandchildren. She has been a true gift to all who know her, leaving her mark on so many lives, including mine. Though she's my mother-in-law, it has always been so natural to call her "Mom". She always treated me like a daughter. She loved me when I was 12-years-old and was an accomplice with my mom in ensuring their two kiddos would marry AND stay married! Their strategies (and many prayers) worked well!

I know many funny, and often "catty" remarks said about "mother-in-laws". That's too bad, because if it weren't for our in-laws we would never have been blessed with our sweethearts. We should love, respect, appreciate, and honor them. And, isn't that the kind of "in-law" we want to be for our children's and grandchildren's spouses?

I'm putting Mom out there today -- front and center -- for you to see what a mother-in-law should look like. Not the exterior, though she is and always has been a beautiful, stately woman, but she did the best of what God called her to do. She walked His walk AND talked His talk. She has been a Proverbs 31 woman -- the one that her children ALL rise up and call her blessed. She sure makes me want to up my game!

Mom, I celebrate the gift of you in my life and to so many others who have been impacted by your grace and beauty for so many years! I love you so much.

Living in Harmony Like our Animal Friends

I seem to get good blog material when I'm here in Austin as the animal caregiver. These critters -- the chickens and ducks in their pen and coop, and the donkeys and goats in their barn and field areas live together in harmony – but they do have their cantankerous moments. The goats with horns seem to dominate the larger Nubian long-eared goats. And there’s one horned-goat “Oreo” who gets very possessive of his bowl of feed. He’s not willing to share with any of the other goats. I scold him and push him back so another goat can share with him. It is a temporary solution. The youngest donkey gets possessive of the feed container for just him and his mom. I scold him and I invite Molly, the biggest donkey back in. It’s typically a harmonious kingdom but not always a peaceful kingdom.

Then there’s the longhorn Vamanos who is in a field all to himself. He is peaceful and stately, Texas-stately, for sure. No complaints out of him. He just waits patiently for his giant rubber container of feed and several stacks of hay. And, there’s the peaceful, “saintly” Havanese dog who is my shadow and sidekick. But then, he has no other dogs to compete with or to have to tolerate – just like Vamamos. Instead of perfect harmony – that’s perfect solo living. But, who wants to go it “solo” all the time?

The fact is God created animals and human beings to co-exist. He created us to not necessarily agree all the time, but to harmonize by agreeing to disagree without bitterness and hatred. To respect each other even when we are complete opposites in faith, ideals, and persuasions. My grandson took me for a tour of downtown Austin a couple of days ago -- to the State Capital Building and Congress Avenue where there are all kinds of sights and sounds and people groups, and silly photo opportunities everywhere (i.e., Willie for President). We had lunch in a trendy place with great food and packed with people. Our waiter was a proud, friendly gay man who gave us excellent service. He was hilarious and outgoing. I was overcome with love for this man and whispered a prayer for him. I’m sure we have little in common, but what we do have in common is we our neighbors and I love him as I love myself. I gave him a good tip, a hug, and told him I loved him when we left. I meant it.

Life is full of unexpected plot twists and exciting cliff-hangers, and in a world where technology is progressing at an ever-accelerating pace, it’s about high-time we learned to stop and smell the roses, the barnyards, the restaurants and the places where people are. Jesus didn’t always hang out in the temple. He was going to the tax-collectors' and sinners' homes and other places that others deemed questionable. By hanging out with the undesirables, Jesus shows me His great capacity for love and compassion. By consistently taking those with off-the-track thinking and getting them back-on-track, He teaches us real lessons we can learn when we "do what Jesus did".

I look at the peace in these animals when they are in the field, calmly co-habitating, eating grass, mulling around, sharing the space together. We humans are the pinnacle of God's creation and we are the beings created in His image. When we live and act with compassion and sensitivity, we become more like God. Maybe that’s one of the reasons He created so many varieties of animals. If we looked at the ants and took on their diligence and determination. The birds of the air how they toil not and worry not. The peace of this little dog that is laying beside me now – he knows he’s loved and cared for – and shouldn’t we feel the same way about our Father God who cares infinitely more about us than the animal kingdom? After all, He loved us so much He gave His one and only Son to die for us so that we could live with Him forever. The closer we become to God, the more we realize, that He really made us to be "caretakers of the world – caretakers of each other." A barometer for one's sensitivity towards animals and other people may eventually lead to goodwill for all mankind. I hear those Christmas words again “Peace on earth. Goodwill to all men (and women).”

Excuse Me! Could I Have Your Undivided Attention, Please?

This photo may look familiar. It should because I was in this very spot two years ago. I’m back in Tulsa for a few days that lead up to my mother-in-law’s 96th birthday on Wednesday. After my home sold two years ago, I stayed at a dear friend’s home for another six weeks because I had speaking engagements and other responsibilities here. I am back in this sweet spot and I get to enjoy this little piece of heaven again. This city holds so many precious memories, precious people, and so many favorite places to go. It’s not a vacay, but it sure is a favorite place to be.

I sat in this very spot each morning for my morning devotions when I was here before. I’d look out across this beautiful pond that my home backed up to. I received so much peace and comfort in this spot. I like to think that God also enjoyed my stay here because He got my undivided attention.

I wonder how God must feel about the lack of our attention because I get a little frustrated when I don’t receive full attention when I’m with someone. I can be having a nice conversation with someone, and then their phone rings or dings and, without even a second thought, they leave me hanging while they answer their phone or text message. Okay! I'll admit it. I've been on both sides....the one singing "All By Myself" while others were heads down in their phones and I've been the one with my head down in MY phone. What in the world? Where did our respect for others go? I'm ashamed of us!! It's time for putting those phones in another room or turning them off so we can get back to what's REALLY important -- being a sincere, caring, and respectful friend and family member.

Even worse is how disrespectful we can be to God. We can be right in the middle of sweet fellowship with Him when our phone dings and we can’t resist checking to see what that text message is all about. After all, it could be the plumber, the friend that we’re meeting later or one of our children or grandchildren who might need us. Right? But, oh so WRONG! We can be fully engaged in conversation with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Who gave His life for us and we allow ourselves to be interrupted. Sound familiar? God must be tapping His fingers on the arm of His royal throne as He tenderly and lovingly says “Excuse Me....could I have your undivided attention, please? I have secrets to reveal and plans to give you for your good.”

Just look at the object in this photo that the enemy of our souls uses to steal our alone time with our Best Friend, our Father, and our CEO? There it is, smack dab in the middle, instead of away from being a distraction to my one-on-one time with my royal guest. Jesus sat the example for us in Mark 1:35-36 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a DESOLATE PLACE, and there He prayed."

Living Our Christianity Out-Loud -- "One Another Living"

Yesterday on FB, I saw this first photo of two family members with opposing opinions about who our next Texas Senator should be. The caption read: "This Longhorn fan prefers Ted Cruz. This Aggie fan prefers Beto. We may not agree on political candidates, but we definitely agree that relationships matter more than politics. Our families play games together, break bread together, drink wine together, float rivers together, and love a great party with other friends and neighbors. We treat each other with respect, disagree agreeably (and often with humor), and try, although not always successfully, to show our kids how responsible adults who don’t agree on everything should act. Be civil. Have conversations with people who don’t think like you. If everyone thought the same it would be boring anyway. And love your neighbor.”

I loved those sentiments enough to pass the message on. Remember the battle cry of the Three Musketeers? "All for one and one for all"! That sounds like a lofty goal, especially in light of the many different, opposing groups of people. If ever Christians needed to become "All for One and One for All", it's today. What does that mean? It means that our lives should become so "Light" bearing, that it is completely obvious who the Christians are. People need to see Christians who manifest the character of Christ, speaking the truth in love with courage and compassion. The more bitter others are, the more persuasive OUR witness will be. Right now is a great opportunity for Christianity. If we actually lived our faith and actually lived Christianity it would be extremely attractive to people. It differentiates Christianity from all that’s going on in the world.

In Galatians 5:14, Paul wrote, "For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” I think what Paul is talking about is the kind of love of neighbor that the Musketeers had for each another. We can learn from their unity and loyalty. As followers of Jesus Christ, not only do we strive to serve, protect, and love God, but we are also called to serve, protect and love each other.

Today, I'm thinking of ways that we can join our hands and hearts together to be a part of something greater than "my four and no more" -- greater than "What's in it for me?" What if we began to pray and humble ourselves to become God's servants who live a life of ONE ANOTHER LIVING? "What can I do for you? What can I do for the cause? What can I do for the team? What can I do for others that helps them to win?" Let’s live our faith. Let’s let people know we are Christians – not by screaming it out off the rooftops. If we know anything about this culture, they’re screaming at Christians “Don’t tell me. Show me." Let’s live our Christianity and teach others how to do the same!”

What are Your Credentials?

I've seen friends posting about the newly graduated medical doctors in their families. They have credentials and titles now. They earned them after years of hard work, intense training, and much effort! Along with those credentials comes respect, plus enormous responsibility to medical ethics. Their new titles and credentials will forever be a part of their life story.

I don't have a suffix that could be added to the end of my name, but I DO have credentials, and if you are a child of God and earnestly follow Jesus....so do you. Here are mine, and yours, too!

Donna Wuerch, COG -- Child of God
“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

Donna Wuerch, NC – New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” II Corinthians 5:17

Donna Wuerch, AC -- Ambassador for Christ
"I am an ambassador for Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Donna Wuerch, FD – Forgiven Daughter
“For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

Donna Wuerch, WDF – Worth Dying For
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Donna Wuerch, FB -- Fruit Bearer
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

You can obtain those credentials, too. No tests required. Our God-given credentials don’t belong to us because of who we are, but rather because of to Whom we belong. We have a tremendous responsibility as representatives of Jesus Christ to exemplify Him in our attitudes, our character, and in our love for others.

Maybe we should have business cards made with our God-given credentials on them!

Army VALUES. Family VALUES.

Yesterday morning at church, a man from my neighborhood and I visited a few minutes and our conversation led to his two sons who have made serving in the Air Force a career. One was just promoted to Colonel. He quickly pulled up a photo of his sons and two of his grandsons, who all serve in the armed forces. Those four men are bringing such pride and joy to this man, who is himself, retired from the army. I was inspired enough to hone in on some of those values that this family lives by.

My word for today is VALUES -- a person's principles of behavior; standards, ethics, moral code, morals. VALUES are those specifics that define who we are and are the absolute non-negotiables in our lives.

I am always touched when I see a young man or woman in their military uniform or fatigues. They represent such commitment and selfless sacrifice. The Army's 7 Core Values are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Courage. It causes me to look introspectively at my own values..

When God made us, He planted within us certain things that we value deeply. They’re hardwired in our heart. Through our life experiences – from the environment we are raised in, the schools we go to, the friends we associate with, and the religious foundation we receive, God made them clear to us. These are the things that we would be willing to die for. They explain how we come by our personal priorities AND the absolutes . If our values include the 10 Commandments, God’s Word and God’s love….I’d say, “We’re making this world a better place.”

Every one of our politicians came from families – either they were taught the Golden Rule or they weren’t. They were taught character, honor, respect, human dignity…..or they weren’t. If family values are instilled in each other, all those qualities of how we want to live our family life will be passed down through all generations. Values help define the way we behave in various situations. They help us make right and good choices, and they solidify the bonds we have together. If our family members respect each other – chances are very good, they’ll respect others. If they live by “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” that’s how they’ll treat others. If they support each other, they’ll support their fellow man. If they respect their family’s lives, they’ll respect other lives.

Moses delivered God's Ten Commandments on a tablet of stone and if those commandments were followed, the Israelites would experience God's favor and blessings. Just imagine the blessings that would be on our families if we not only followed God's Ten Commandments, but also the family values (non-negotiables) that we stood for in our homes and lives.

Perhaps it's time to put a stake in the ground on behalf of our families and define those things that matter most to us and when we do, then we'll be blessed in our homes and we'll pass them on to our children and their children. Indeed it would be a HOME SWEET HOME.

Psalm 128:1 “Blessed are you who fear the Lord, who walk in His ways!”

Are You a NO Respecter?

As I sat down for my morning devotions yesterday, I read these words of St. Peter from Acts 10:34 “I perceive that God is NO RESPECTER of persons”. RESPECTER: a person whose attitude and behavior is influenced by consideration of another's rank, power, ethnicity, religion, culture, social class, wealth, etc. A “No RESPECTER” is someone who treats everyone else in the same manner regardless of their status or wealth.

God is NO RESPECTER of us. We ALL have access to God’s mercies and blessings. He loves each and everyone of us. That's why He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, so that we would believe and live in the royal family FOREVER! The prerequisite is acknowledging Him as our Father and we are His beloved children that love and respect their “Dad”.

How does God feel about whether or not we are RESPECTER of persons. It’s easy to love, respect and honor the clean, nicely dress, well-mannered people that look like us, smell like us and behave like us, but is that God’s example to us? He is NO RESPECTER of persons. In other words – the homeless people that beg on the street corners, or that road-rage guy that honked at us, or that disrespectful sales clerk, that angry politician who used disparaging words, that neighbor who revved up their motorcycle in their driveway AGAIN, or the person who just doesn't have the same color of skin as we do.? The question is “Do we show discrimination toward others? Where there is RESPECTER of persons – there are always divisions, resentments and hostilities. Where there is NO “RESPECTER” of persons and impartial treatment of all, we find mercy, love, unity and, above all, PEACE!

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.” This little song was written by George Frederick Root in 1864, right in the middle of the Civil War. There were many causes for the Civil War, but slavery was cited as the main cause. There were many other political and cultural differences between the North and the South that also contributed to the GREAT DIVIDE between the two.

I couldn’t help but think about the GREAT DIVIDE in America today. It seems the writer of that little song was trying to bring an awareness that WE are ALL God’s children. The common denominator we have is God and His love for humanity. We are all precious in God's sight and He was encouraging us to see His children as He sees and loves them -- like little children who have no prejudices. They just love. In Matthew 18:4-5, Jesus invited us to come to Him “like little children” and said “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Maybe it’s time for a check-up from the neck-up. Are we a NO respecter of persons or are we partial to some and not others? Are our children just like us -- they are kind because we are kind; they are impartial to others because we show no partiality; they are tenderhearted to those who are down and out, because we emulate tenderheartedness daily. They love regardless of background, race, class or financial status. Just like us!! Or, are they just like us in the opposite ways. What is our reaction to the poor? The needy? Do we show favoritism? When it comes to the “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” TEST, will we pass it OR flunk it? 1 John 4:11 “If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

What Makes a Champion?

I guess it was my 13-year old grandson’s love for baseball, that drew me into watching the Little League World Series on TV a few weeks ago. The team from Lufkin, TX won the National games and went on to the World Series.

All teams, at that level, were great, but I was particularly impressed at the excellence and respect displayed by the Tokyo, Japan team. In the finals, they beat Lufkin 12-2. It was the 4th year for the Tokyo team to win the World Series. Here was what set them apart from the U.S. teams. They practice more than any other team -- 11 months out of the year. They play only one sport – baseball. On game day, they practice 4 hours before the game. As reported, “They have the marathon versus sprint mindset. Everyone else HOPES and DREAMS to get to the World Series. The Japanese kids EXPECT to get there." When the Japanese coach was asked if his kids were genius, he replied “No – they and their families just single-heartedly give everything they’ve got to get here.” I watched with amazement as they had such great respect for the umpires, opponents, elders and when they came onto the field, they stood in a line and bowed to the American fans. There was so much attention to detail, even after the win. They ran to stand in line, left to right, from the shortest player to the tallest. They bowed to the American team and fans. You could tell they had rehearsed the win, because they knew exactly what to do when they won.

I don’t profess to know it all about the Tokyo players or their game, but I must have been impressed enough to take notes about what I saw to share with you. An attitude of “expecting” to win so much so that they are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure it happens. That was a lesson for me, for sure – getting my "expector" up on whatever I’m attempting to conquer and win at. But, more than their excellent game play, I was taken with their team spirit, their manners and respect. I’ll admit it gave me pause to think how wonderful it would be to see such behavior by our U.S. teams that extends to their homes and lives, In fact I started thinking how we could ALL step it up in respect with each other.

I remember being “coached” by my parents to say “please” and “thank you”, “yes, sir” and yes, m’am” and I think it stuck, because, unconsciously, I’ll say those words even at my ripe age today. We are the best role models for our children. When they see us respectful and honorable, they'll pick up on it.
When they see us slamming” and “degrading” others, it carries over to our children and their respect for others deteriorates. By our modelling respect, our our children gain the confidence that comes from knowing the right thing to do. That respect for others isn’t just the right way to act, but respect and good manners will set our children up for a lifetime of success with others.

Maybe I'm "old school", but I admire seeing a child, when introduced to someone, reach out his/her hand and say, “It’s nice to meet you!” I appreciate it when a man, woman or child, opens the door for me. It wasn't that long ago that men respected a woman enough to get up from the table and pull out her chair for her. If a woman was standing on a bus or event, a man or even a boy would give her their seat. I realize we live in a much more casual society today than when I was growing up, but, it seems we need to revive the spirit of respect, honor, dignity and appreciation for our fellow man and woman.

I think those Japanese kids had learned the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That means, for all of us, to treat others as we would like to be treated, to be a good sport, to say "please and thank you", to ask before taking, to not talk with food in our mouths, to not take bites that make us look like we’re stashing away for the winter, to not make fun of others, to be compassionate, helpful, and when we say “sorry”, we really, really mean it. In no way am I suggesting that we "Bring back the good old days!" I love these days, but I think it's time to step up our "game" in being the best WE that we can possibly be.

THE END of this Nana’s “The Making of a Champ” post, but I hope and pray it’s the beginning of a “Once upon a time” a champion was created. That champion isn't only our children -- it's the making of a champion in you and me!

It Starts With the Family

As part of the leadership team on retreat for an upcoming event next weekend, we were privileged to have Tulsa’s new Bishop, David Konderla, as our guest speaker. At the end of his talk, we had the opportunity to ask him questions. One of the questions asked was “What comments would you give regarding the upcoming election?” I liked his “straight to the point” approach. “Know the party’s candidate and platforms and vote for the one which aims you the closest to what you believe is God’s heart. Our role is to make the world a better place.” What he responded to in the next question made clear sense about what our roles should be. “As women, what can we do to support you?” His response was “You are women who are in charge of your families. Beat them every day, boys twice daily….just kidding.” LOL! Then he said, “Teach your children to love being a productive citizen – that will be the foundation for who they are and who they will become. The people we vote for in an election come from families. Home is their first training school.”

I loved that. Think about it. Every one of our politicians came from families – either they were taught the Golden Rule or they weren’t. They were taught character, honor, respect, human dignity…..or they weren’t. Family values involve all those qualities of how we want to live our family life, and they are passed down from previous generations. They help define the way we behave in various situations, help us make right and good choices, and they solidify the bonds we have together. If our family members respect each other – chances are very good, they’ll respect others. If they live by “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” that’s how they’ll treat others. If they support each other, they’ll support their fellow man. If they respect their family’s lives, they’ll respect other lives.

I learned character from a young age. I remember when I was just a little tot finding some wrapped candy on the floor in the grocery store and slipping it in my pocket. My Mom marched me back to the store to apologize for the error of my ways. That day, I understood the value of honesty. So much so, that as a grown woman, I will still give back change if the cashier gives me too much.

VALUES are those specifics that define who we are and are the absolute non-negotiables in our lives. When God made us, He planted within us certain things that we value deeply. They’re hardwired in our heart. Through our life experiences – from the environment we are raised in, the schools we go to, the friends we associate with, and the religious foundation we receive, God made them clear to us. These are the things that we would be willing to die for. They explain how we come by our personal priorities. If our values are on the side of the 10 Commandments, God’s Word and God’s love….I’d say, like Bishop Konderla said, “We’re making this world a better place.” What if we could see into the future as to where our children would land? Would that vision help us with being the examples of strength, integrity and honor to them? What if we were the only measure of rule they knew? Perhaps it’s time for us to look inside our 4 walls instead of peeking into others and judging them.

Love begins at home. It's not how much we do, but how much love we put into that action. -- Mother Teresa

Forget the diamonds. A backpack is what I want!

Forget the diamonds. A backpack is what I want!
I read a friend's FB post a few days ago, and I, along with many others, were so touched by this Mom’s love story. It is a love story that her sweet little 6-year old daughter is experiencing. The Mom started her post with….”When a man buys me a backpack with the words Joshua gave Meredith, then I will know it is love.”

That's Meredith and Joshua in this photo. Christie, Meredith’s Mom, a single parent who, by the way, is doing ALL the right things in raising Meredith in a love-filled, God-filled home and environment. She essays her single parent life as a faith journey. She doesn't complain about the hardships of raising her little girl single-handedly. She is so inspiring and encouraging in celebration of her walk of faith. Christie went on to say: “Forget the diamonds, I will never settle for less than a backpack!”

It seems that Meredith and Christie were having a lunch date and in walked Joshua who attends a different school than Meredith. The following are her words:

“He hugged Meredith and said, ‘You are the most beautiful girl I know. I'm glad you are still my best friend.’ He takes the gift from his dad, handing it to Meredith. Once she opens it, Joshua turns to her and says, ‘I picked Frozen because I remember how much you would sing the songs when we were in Ms. Hamilton's class. And since I live too far away to come to Kendall-Whittier again, I can't help you carry your stuff. That is why I got you a backpack, and it is a good backpack, not the cheap ones, so it should carry your stuff really good. And look at this, Meredith, it has a lunch box, too, and it snaps on, so you don't have to carry it either. It all fits together, so your hands are free if you fall, but I hope you don't fall, because I don't want you hurt. A backpack is kinda like I'm helping you, even though I'm at a different school again. And you can think of me, if you want, when you use your backpack. My dad says best friends think about each other and pray for good things to happen, even if we are at different schools.’ Christie added, “Tears were rolling down my face, my heart totally in my throat, as Brenda is giving me a hug. Joshua walks to me, saying ‘Ms. Loeffler, thank you for letting me still love Meredith. I asked my dad if I could ask Meredith to play more, but he said it is polite to ask Meredith's mom first. So, can I take Meredith to Chuckie Cheese one Saturday? I've been saving my money, so I can buy her coins, too, and I'll show her the best games to play and share my tickets with her. I know you and my parents have to come, because you guys drive, but I would like you to think about it please. No amount of counting in my head could stop the tears rolling down my face, nor have I ever hugged a set of parents as tightly as I did Joshua's mom and dad.”

Isn’t that the sweetest story? It almost sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? And were it not for my own love story that started at the age of 12 and my sweetheart at age 13, I would only say “It’s just puppy love.” But I assure you, just as my Mom and my husband’s Mom prayed for the future spouses of their children and completely believed that their two kids were meant to be together, I sincerely believe it can start with us and our prayers for our children. One of the friend's remarks on Christie’s FB page following her post was this: “Being that you have prayed every night, for years, over Meredith’s future husband, it does not surprise me if you prayed Joshua right into Meredith’s life so young.” Another gal remarked “OK, they should totally get married right now and spend happily ever after….now, I say, now. Where did this kid come from? Because I totally want one just like him, only my age!”

Don’t you love this? And as I read other comments, I saw a common thread….all women want to be treated with so much respect and tenderness. We want and need to know that we are so loved and cared for. And we want that for our little girls too. Maybe this post today is to remind us that seeing the results, begins with praying daily for our children, creating a faith-filled environment for them that nurtures the God-factor in their lives. AND, this story about two young children, can be the story for love in your own life, too. God answers prayer. I have to agree with Christie – “Just maybe diamonds really aren’t a girl’s best friend. Just maybe a backpack delivered by a handsome prince is.”

Forgive Them Anyway

Remember the good ole' days when chivalry, good manners, courtesy, compassion, sensitivity, concern for each other, patrioticism, kindness, politeness, respectfulness, graciousness, consideration, and thoughtfulness were the norm? At least, it seemed like the norm, but as I just typed that question, Eddie Haskell from "Leave It To Beaver" came to mind. Okay, I know there are just a few of you who remember Eddie, but those of us who will admit it, we remember how considerate and polite Eddie was when Mrs. Cleaver (June) was around, but when out of her sight and hearing, he was as ornery and mean as the day was long.

So, while it seems like things have changed from the past, there were always those who leaned toward the wild side, the mean, disrespectful, angry, and bitter side -- those who could find something negative in every situation, instead of looking for, and finding the good.

Case in point. Today I clicked on my FB Newsfeed when there was a news station announcing that a specific political candidate was LIVE right now. It sidetracked me and I watched it. While I watched, there were comments after comments being made, "likes and love" symbols were flashing across the screen, and "sad faces" were too. I could hardly believe how mean and angry some of the comments were and I could hardly believe how polar opposite the upbeat, celebratory and happy comments of others were on the same feed. It didn't take long for me to "x" out of that feed. Why would I want to lend myself to such rivalry? I get that people are afraid, angered, upset, and confused about this world we live in, but there is such a better way of expressing ourselves. My Mama said it best, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

My Mama and Mother Teresa had a lot in common when it comes to loving and caring. Here's the way Mother Teresa put it:
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa

What are Your Credentials?

My sweet BFF, Sheila Michie, is shout-from-the-mountain proud of her son AND his new credentials, M.D. (Doctor of Medicine). He earned that title and suffix after his name, following many years of hard work, intense training, preparation, and much effort! Joseph worked hard for the right to place them next to his name. and along with those credentials comes respect, plus enormous responsibility to medical ethics. Joseph's new title and credentials will forever be a part of his life story, but they don't define him. He is also a husband, a daddy, friend, son, nephew, etc.

While I don't have a suffix that could be added to the end of my name, I DO have credentials, and if you are a child of God and earnestly follow Jesus....so do you. Here are mine, and yours, too!

Donna Wuerch, COG -- Child of God
“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

Donna Wuerch, NC – New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” II Corinthians 5:17

Donna Wuerch, DW -- Doer of the Word
"I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions." James 1:22,25

Donna Wuerch, AC -- Ambassador for Christ
"I am an ambassador for Christ." 2 Corinthians 5:20

Donna Wuerch, LW -- Light of the World
"I am the light of the world." Matthew 5:14

Donna Wuerch, MC -- More than a Conqueror
"I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me." Romans 8:37

Donna Wuerch, FD – Forgiven Daughter
“For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28

Wuerch, FWM -- Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14

Donna Wuerch, WDF – Worth Dying For
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Donna Wuerch, FB -- Fruit Bearer
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

How can you obtain those credientials, too? We don't have to take a test or do anything special to deserve such distinctions. Our God-given credentials do not belong to us because of who we are, but rather because of to Whom we belong. And, like the responsibility that Dr. Joseph Michie carries with his new title, we have a tremendous responsibility as representatives of Jesus Christ. We exemplify Him in our attitudes, our character, and in our love for others.

Maybe we should have business cards made with our God-given credentials on them!

Respectaholics Anonymous -- Teamwork Made the Dream Work

Day 13 of 365 Days of Photo Inspirations
It started with the call from our leader, Staci, "As 3 to 6 year alumni of the Unstoppable Leadership Summits, you will be the Coaches of the teams, and those who have attended for 2 years, will be the Captains."

And these were her instructions to us -- "You and your teams will choose a:
1) Team Name and Chant/Cheer. 2) Team Branding (Colors, shirts/costumes, etc.); 3) Team Leadership Skit based on a "law" from John Maxwell's book: "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership".

NO BIG DEAL. Right? Wrong!!! It was a huge deal to each coach and captain and their team -- we're all about being "in it -- to win it"....and each team produced over-the-top table decorations and awesome chants that spoke to what it takes to be an effective leader worth following. Every team gave it their absolute best, but I'll admit, I'm particularly partial to my team, Team Respectable Me! We spent weeks brainstorming, letting our imaginations and creativity come to life, and getting full costumes together. Sincerely, T-E-A-M -- together everyone accomplishes more.

We chose the Law of Respect. You know the little minions in Despicable Me? We used them as our model, except turned them into Respectable Me Minions. Our chant? (After the minion "Banana Song" -- Ba ba ba ba ba ba de -- I respect you and you respect me.
We gotta treat each other RESPECTFULLY. We are Team Respectable Me!

Our costumes? We each had on our minion overalls, shirts, hats, gloves and goggles.
Our GIVE? The most amazing minion cookies made by our captains, Miguel Cervantes and Zoila Cervantes, who have a bakery in Kansas City -- a treat given out to all of the attendees.
Our skit? Respectaholics Anonymous -- we were recovering Disrespectful Minions who had become Respectable Minions. We each spoke to the kind of leader we once were, but now, we were respectable. Staci was our "guest minion" and was, of course, the rogue minion who demanded respect by singing Aretha's "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"! It was our job to tell her our "despicable disrespectable" transformation to our NEW and IMPROVED Respectable Me stories to help her become respectable, too! Absolutely so hilarious -- we could hardly keep from laughing our sides out.

This day 11 of my 365 days of photo inspirations shows our team in all our glory -- but the glory isn't in all the hard work, the determination, the effort or THE GLORY! It's about a "cause" -- a "commitment" -- a " MOMENT" to give it our all -- the best way we could. I give our TEAM a standing ovation, high five's, big pats on the back and request for a big ENCORE in our everyday commitment to do our best in any situation and circumstance we encounter. To Team Respectable Me -- I say, "WELL DONE, you good and faithful Respectable MINIONS!"