When Life Gives You Lemons – Make Lemonade

We’ve been making lemonade by the gallons during this season, haven't we? But, on the other hand, I'm sure we all have found some real positives. I’m thinking about those who put that quote to action by creating something needed and now have thriving businesses. For example, face masks -- the law of supply and demand sure kicked in for those who jumped on "making lemonade"! Dr. Rhys Thomas was desperately concerned at the lack of intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators. Along with engineering company CR Clark & Co., he created a machine that not only helps patients to breathe but cleans the room of viral particles. Wyn Griffiths designed a prototype 'arm' that attaches to an existing door handle, with a crook to open business doors. My son found his employees were more productive at home during this time, so now they are downsizing all that unneeded office space.

Over the last few years, families tended to see each other just in passing because of children running off to school or game practice or parents staying late at work. Family dinners were uncommon. I've loved seeing the social media posts about their love for family time together and plan on it being their new norm.

I’ve come to appreciate Amazon Prime because of a better price, next day delivery, and not having to leave my home. Zoom meetings have allowed us to stay at home. I have come to appreciate the great outdoors more and I’ve seen families walking together or riding their bicycles. Prior to the pandemic, not many people really appreciated the outdoor's beauty. I’m hoping we hold on to that feeling of getting out and breathing fresh air that's so natural and free. What if we spent more time in parks than malls? How much money would we save?”

And, add another glass of lemonade for the opportunity to watch church online for those who are homebound or out-of-town. Maybe the new normal will always include online worship events and long-distance conferencing which saves in time and expense from having to fly across country for a meeting.

Major shift in the way we see and live life happened. I believe we are better because of the lemons that were thrown our way. I still have an absolute certainty that times are going to get better and we are going to come out better than we were before this. We've learned many lessons. If we would really believe that God is on our side, that He is for us, and He is cheering us on. He is making each of us into a refreshing glass of water. I said "water" because not all of us like lemonade.

Water quenches thirst. May we take all that we have endured and conquered and use it to take a thirsty friend a refreshing glass of water. That's what we'll look like to them when we show up with good news and encouragement.The tough times are the “things” St. Paul talked about in Romans 8:28 – “ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes." As long as we keep the faith, the tenacity, the resilience and determination to conquer, we WILL conquer!

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42

God Only Knows What You’ve Been Through

I've had many eye-opening moments during the last couple of weeks, trying to analyze all that has happened since the grave injustice that most of us have witnessed on media by now. It’s the middle of the afternoon and I’m just now writing this blog unlike those I typically comprise earlier in the day. Not this day. I am soul-searching. My own soul-searching.

I hear this song by For King and Country during my walk this morning. It kick-offs my soul-search. I think about those over many years who have been mistreated, abused, mocked, and rejected – simply because they are of another race, color, or nationality – and they’ve held it in. This song's words may define those with built-up emotions of pain, fear and anger and they believe no one understands, but God does:

God only knows what you've been through.
God only knows what they say about you.
God only knows how it's killing you.
But there's a kind of love that God only knows.
God only knows what you've been through.
God only knows what they say about you.
God only knows the real you.
There's a kind of love that God only knows.

To a diverse group of women on a Zoom-cast call Tuesday night, I asked for forgiveness for my naivety as to think because there are so many black entertainers, sports figures, pastors, politicians and high-profile leaders that prejudice and racism must be a thing of the past. The past that I knew as a child and teenager when we rode the bus at the front instead of the back where the black folk sat. The past when we whispered “Look, black people are trying to eat here” at Kip’s Big Boy Restaurant. The past when my South Oak Cliff High School was segregated until my 1966 senior year when the Dallas ISD was forced to desegregate its high schools. I remember hearing the “n” word way too many times. The fact is – many of those young people in major cities rioting and looting are the children and grandchildren of generations of suffering and injustice. Tuesday night, I openly repented to God and my sisters for the past and the present. I committed to having more empathy, mercy and love for all my brothers and sisters.

A dear black sister-in-Christ and I have texted and encouraged each other daily for the last two months. Not once did I think of her as having been one who might have been the object of racism. But I asked her: “Has your family suffered prejudice and discrimination?” I was taken back when she shared that her family has been threatened, disrespected, physically abused, and many other instances of mistreatment that she refuses to dwell on. This gentle and kind woman said, “I just say in my heart: ‘I forgive you; you know not what you are doing. I compare with back home (another country), we never treat people this way; we embrace; we wholeheartedly accept other people of other nationalities. Why is it different here? Why can’t people just accept one another? Why can’t genuine love exist between all human beings as God intended it to be? It isn’t fair to hate anyone. The person you hate today, may be the one to save your life tomorrow or be a blessing to you tomorrow as God wills it."

I’ve read posts of many other friends of color who have opened up and described their realities and their children's realities. I believe it’s a time of reckoning; a time of true repentence by all God’s children to ask for forgiveness of passivity, of closing our eyes, of sweeping racism and prejudice under the rug. It is truly time to humble ourselves and pray and ask God to forgive us for carelessness, thoughtlessness and blindness to humanity.

Jesus was anything but racist. He went out of His way to minister to a woman from Samaria (the outcast group of the times). He loved her so completely, that she ran to her town and told everyone about this Man – and the whole town came to believe in Him. Maybe that is what God is placing on our shoulders – to go out of our way to make amends, to love the hurting, take up for anyone who is marginalized and misused in any way AND to humbly pray for each other. Love is the answer. Following the example of Jesus -- to love as He loved and His bold example of being a difference maker.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

Just Breathe!

I’m a doer. I like to be busy. Just sitting around is not my ideal. My project today is getting my master closet cleared out of unused clothes and organizing for spring and summer. But, this day, I break up my project to breathe. I leave my bunker to socially-reconnect with the great outdoors and my girls. How sweet it is! They take me along for their kayaking adventure on Lake Lewisville. It is a beautiful day to be outdoors. I take a long walk while they have their kayaking fun. Staci put her busy-day, full-of-projects, aside also because Alexia wants us to “breathe” with her. Thank you, Alexia, for the reminder to just breathe.

Then I go to their home where Staci leads her EMnation group for a teleconference on Zoom. It makes my day to see those beautiful faces and hearing Staci's message about our attitudes during these times, as well as hearing the blessings these people are experiencing right in the midst of this C-virus crisis. And, to encourage each other.

On Monday, my ACTS retreat team sisters connected via Zoom also. Our retreat was canceled, but, hopefully, we’ll be back on in the Fall. In the meantime, we’re staying connected though apart. It’s a great way to encourage and support each other. Thank you, Lord, for technology that affords us this kind of opportunity to join together from our separate spaces. If our world is going to be turned upside-down – what a great age for it to happen – when we have so much technology to keep us apprised of what’s going on. We’re even enjoying “going-to-church” from the comfort of our homes.

But, sometimes – even better – when we disconnect ourselves from technology and just BREATHE in God’s goodness. I started this blog with the word “breathe”! Typically, just breathing is taken for granted – amidst our daily challenges. Yes, we're remedied by calculated thinking and purposeful elimination of unnecessary stress. But, it is different with this uncalculated and abrupt change to our “normal”. We’ve never had to face these challenges that we’re facing right now. Homeschooling, business from home, church on-line, disconnected from friends and loved ones, depression from isolation or a loss of income. AND, not being able to go to our loved ones in a nursing home or hospital or traveling by air to be with one who is critically ill.

Maybe you’re one that is facing these challenges today. Maybe you are overwhelmed by this tumultuous storm and nothing anyone says to lift you up makes you feel better. Breathe, sweet friends, breathe. Inhale Jesus and His peace. Exhale the fears and worries and concerns. Erma Bombeck said, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but you get nowhere!” There’s always hope and peace found in the midst of our storms because of He Who is our peace-maker, the storms eradicator and the comfort provider.

There’s an old song that goes “Mama said there’d be days like this”, and Jesus agreed with Mama when He said in John 16:33 “In the world, you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” He knew we’d face hard times, storms that dump buckets of troubles on us. But He also knew that’s why He came to this earth in the first place. He came to give us an abundant life, went back to heaven and He is ever-interceding for us to the Father.(Hebrews 7:25) And, even better, He is right here with us to help us survive the winds and waves!

So, breathe, sweet friends, breathe! Go outside for a walk in nature. Listen to the birds chirping. It really does seem that they’re chirping louder. Or, is it I’m listening more? Breathe, dear friends, breathe today and let God be God for you.