Have you ever come across a powerfully constructed learning propeller and wished you’d learned it years ago? I did the other day when I saw Sara Blakely, founder and CEO of Spanx, talk about childhood dinnertimes with her dad.

 

I was so excited I called my son-in-law to tell him about the video; and then showed it to my daughter the next day. We’re always excited to watch Faith Cora learn because she has a real knack for taking a concept and generalizing it to new areas. And lately her physical antics have brought such squeals of appreciation from Abram, that I expect he’ll soon be racing to follow her footsteps.

 

Ms. Blakely explained how her dad taught her to define failure as “not trying” instead of “the outcome of trying” by asking at the dinner table what she’d failed at that week. She said he was actually disappointed if she didn’t have a failure to report; but when she did, he celebrated it and anchored the joy of trying with congratulations and high-fives.

 

I absolutely love that he was able to separate her efforts from the results. What an amazing way to teach the joy of trying new things without the fear of failure.

 

Another thing he taught her was, that if things hadn’t turned out the way she wanted or perhaps she was embarrassed about a situation, write down the hidden gift that came in the experience; then identify what she got out of it. Ms. Blakely said she began to realize that every experience always had an amazing nugget she wouldn’t have wanted to pass up.

 

What a wonderful gift to give your children.

 

 

And we know

 

that God causes everything

 

to work together

 

for the good of those who love God

 

and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:28

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/sara-blakely-spanx-ceo-offers-advice-redefine-failure-retail-2016-7

 

I love my country, but I’ve never liked politics; and this is my first political season to be so attentive. But after taking in multitudinous debates, interviews, shows, and articles, I finally reached attitude overload and gave myself a timeout.

 

I’ve since waded back in and am again paying attention.

 

A few weeks ago someone posted a political news story and then, instead of addressing the issue, slammed the politician’s intelligence. It felt yucky and reminded me of one reason why I dislike politics. I’d much prefer to hear an honest opinion about the policy or character flaw than hear a cheap shot about the person.

 

Interesting how God’s word has answers to problems like these. He tells me I’m supposed to pray for those in authority; but if I lump the person, their policies and character issues all together, it creates a prayer problem for me. It’s hard to pray for someone if I can only see the things I don’t like— be that policies or character issues.

 

So I’m trying to maintain clear mental distinctions between the political issues, the politicians, and their character flaws. (And it helps considerably when I remind myself that I have character flaws too.)

 

He said it so I’m trying to do it:

 

 

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.

 

Ask God to help them;

 

intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

 

Pray this way for kings

 

and all who are in authority

 

so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives

 

marked by godliness and dignity.

 

This is good and pleases God our Savior,

 

1 Timothy 2:1-3

 

Amen.

(on-line photo)

 

I was the Sunday morning speaker yesterday—in the pulpit Dan filled for over 20 years. I thought about him maybe peeking down and chuckling at the sight. He would know, better than most, that public speaking isn’t very high on my “most comfortable things to do” list. But I know the pride he would have felt for me and can almost hear him saying, “Honeybun—I am SO proud of you”.

 

I deliberately sat on the far right front pew where he used to sit; and Bryson, our great-nephew, sat beside me—just like he used to sit beside Dan.

 

I didn’t want my speaking to be a sad teary event and had asked a few friends to pray to that effect. Sitting there and listening to the songs, I smiled and thought a bit about how far I’ve come in these last almost five years that have passed; and how thankful I am for all the prayers the people there have prayed for me.

 

Different memories flitted through my thoughts as I waited for my time in the service; and I prayed a prayer from a Rich Mullins’ song I’d not thought of in a long time:

 

 

So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf

 

You have been King of my glory

 

(Now) Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

 

 

For years and years, anytime I felt scared in a situation, I’d pray those words—they always worked to calm my fears back then—and they worked yesterday too.

 

My prepared words were about being BOLD in sharing my faith and Jesus; and about how much I liked the prayer concept of reversing the thunder. I’d included a funny story about Faith Cora and “Chair Leaf” Abe and pointed out that if I want people to listen to the message I share, I have to speak it in love.

 

There comes a point in preparation for me when it’s time to quit thinking about what I’m going to say and just let it flow.

 

So I listened to the words of the songs and focused on the overhead screen pictures behind the printed lyrics. Nothing was specifically sung that prompted the words that I then heard repeated three times very clearly in my spirit…

 

 

Just come to me on the water…

 

walk to me on the water…

 

just come walk to me.

 

 

Yes Lord.

 

 

My day-of-the-funeral gifted copy of “Streams In The Desert” is highlighted, underlined, scribbled in, and noted with multi-year’s dates. This May 7th partial entry caught my attention in 2012, 13, 15, and 16.

 

“…prayer not only is calling upon God but is also a battle with Satan…God uses our intercession as a mighty weapon of victory in the conflict…”

 

 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

 

but against evil rulers and authorities

 

of the unseen world,

 

against mighty powers in this dark world,

 

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

 

 

Star wars aren’t a figment of anyone’s imagination; and spiritual battles are fought with spiritual weapons.

 

I’ve never doubted the spiritual personage authenticity of Satan; anymore than I’ve ever doubted the spiritual personage authenticity of God. But I’ve also never ever doubted knowing Who holds total final authority over whom.

 

I know the power of prayer; and I know firsthand that another’s prayer can be sensed and felt. I know the presence of the Holy Spirit in the same way—an almost palpable scoop-it-up-in-my-hands sense of presence.

 

Maybe I’m living out my 2016 word exhilaration—loosely translated to mean that I’m pretty much past being bothered by what other people think; or maybe the oxygen’s just thinner at my newly reached altitude of red and purple.

 

Whatever.

 

It’s time to speak honestly about things that are real.

 

Amen.

 

(Hubble telescope photo)

 

Years ago, during the week prior to Mother’s Day, a local radio station ran a listener-driven piece called “What’s Your Mom-ism”? The gist of it was to identify whatever phrase your mom repeated to you the most times while growing up.

 

I had no difficulty recalling my mother’s words, but was far more interested in my own young adult kids’ memories; and wasted no time putting the question to each of them.

 

April’s answer, “It’s healthy to make yourself do things that make you feel uncomfortable—given that they’re legal, ethical, and moral.”

 

Joshua remembered, “Now…let’s think about this logically…”.

 

I was pleased with their answers; and do remember saying those things a lot. I also remember repeatedly saying, and was a little concerned it might be at the top for Joshua, “I don’t care if you are in bed, get back in here and turn your dirty socks right side out”. Whew! What a miss that would be, if those words were the loudest ones hollering out of the past. Although, in my quest-for-clean-socks defense, he actually called me after he got married and told me that he appreciated my diligence—because it sure made doing his adult laundry easier.

 

Maybe it has something to do with recently reaching the age of red and purple, but when I saw two small books “Forever My Little Boy” and “Forever My Little Girl” in a gift shop display last month—I bought them; and now they’re personalized with some tiny details of the young family that we once were. Time moves forward and I wouldn’t change a thing—wouldn’t go back any number of days because I’d never ever want to live through the sad bad awful ones again; BUT I will forever rejoice that I, along with their dad, was blessed by God to raise such awesome kids.

 

 

You saw me before I was born.

 

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

 

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:16

 

Dear Goody –

 

I didn’t know Bryson had a secret assignment when we headed west toward Bryan-College Station back in March; but, as it turned out, he was there to stretch out the drive just as long as he possibly could. Evidently, coordinating a surprise party for my significant birthday was taking its toll on the planners.

 

 

Mama Jan, could we stop and take a picture of me in front of the Indian Mounds in Alto? It’s sort of a school project.

 

Mama Jan, I’ve never been able to stop and read any of these historical markers along El Camino Real.

 

Mama Jan, we’re just fine with you stopping again and taking more pictures of more wildflowers, aren’t we Corbin? (Silence from the back seat)

 

You know, I always say it’s not the journey—it’s the destination. Isn’t that right, Mama Jan?

 

Mama Jan, I’d love to turn around and go back and see that 1848 Pepper Tree up close. Would you take my picture?

 

Mama Jan, that historical marker in front of the Tejas State Park entrance had some really interesting information.

 

 

Goody, it was so funny listening to him and thinking about how mature he sounded and realizing that he’s nearly all grown up. When I asked about his future plans, I could hear his voice speaking the words I’ve heard you say about him ever since he was a little boy.

 

 

I love learning and I’m interested in so many different things.

 

My grades are really good, even Math.

 

I’m considering a lot of different career options.

 

I have so many different interests.

 

There are just so many different things I could do with my future life.

 

 

 

Good job, Goody; good job.

 

 

 

So teach us to number our days,

 

that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

 

 

 

 

I asked Faith Cora if her baby brother knew his name; and if he looked at her, when she called it. She immediately ran to his resting place on the sofa, put her little mouth down to his ear and hollered, “CHAIR WEAF”!! Sure enough, he turned and looked.

 

Mama Jan is struggling a little tiny bit to replace Chair Leaf with Abram. While theoretically I agree that Abram Michael is a better name for a year 2016 non-hippie child, it’s hard to let go of Faith Cora’s whimsical moniker.

 

I also inquired if he had a nickname, and sure enough he does: Pillow.

 

Our conversations range all the way from her honest-to-goodness-application-grasp of a vortex and an interloper to imaginary talking squirrels named Salt and Pepper. Her words and knowledge make me think, smile, and oftentimes swell with pride.

 

I hope my life and conversations with my Father are doing the same. I know he wants to smile at me because he told me so in a win-win loop around blessing in his book of Numbers:

 

Then the Lord said to Moses,

 

“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel

 

with this special blessing:

 

‘May the Lord bless you

and protect you.

 

May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

 

May the Lord show you his favor

and give you his peace.’

 

Whenever Aaron and his sons

 

bless the people of Israel in my name,

 

I myself will bless them.”

 

Numbers 6:22-27

 

 

Would it hurt your feelings if I used your given name as my habitual just-for-added-emphasis word? If I didn’t mean anything personal by it, but just used it to punctuate my sentences; and if I coupled your name with a few other choice words—would you mind? Could we still be friends—and would you overlook my casual disrespect—especially if something really bad happened to me and I needed your help more than anything else?

 

Jesus’ words are so powerful. I often have to pause and mull—because how else could I ever absorb their fullness? I can only imagine his disciples trying to drink from that torrent of word-wisdom during those last hurried hours before the cross.

 

 

 

Now I am departing from the world;

 

they are staying in this world,

 

but I am coming to you.

 

Holy Father, you have given me your name;

 

now protect them by the power of your name

 

so that they will be united just as we are.

 

During my time here, I protected them

 

by the power of the name you gave me…

 

John 17:11-12

 

 

Name. Power. Protection. Amen.

 

Faith Cora and I played addition and subtraction yesterday. It all started when she told me she needed to make some “imbitations” for her friends Jonathan and Vivien (who, I understand, are quite accomplished dancers). I never discerned the event calling for imbitations, but that didn’t deter us. She put smiley faces on railroad tracks, stars on sticks, and signs on zigzags; but near the end, told me that I should finish them because it was too much work.

 

She’s been counting for a while now and has a pretty good numbers sense; so when I asked her how many there were, she dutifully counted out eight.

 

She loves new words and, if I purposefully use an unknown interesting one without slowing the conversation, she’ll stop me and ask what that means.

 

I suggested we take the imbitations and do some addition. She agreed and we began playing “plus” cards and “take away” cards. She’d make the equation, I’d voice it, and then she’d count out the answer. Then I’d make a huge whoop-de-whoop-gimme-five celebration over her correct answers; and she’d gimme-five with her feet. Eventually we did all our gimme-fives using my feet and hers.

 

Probably the reason my back hurts today.

 

Then we did subtraction and celebrated with many more feet-ed gimme-fives. We stopped before she got bored; and then she found a safe hiding place for each of her imbitations.

 

Later, when mommy came to get her, we demonstrated our new addition and subtraction game complete with multiple feet-ed gimme-fives.

 

That evening when her daddy asked what she and Mama Jan had done that day, she responded, “Oh, we did addition and subtraction”.

 

I’m pretty sure we nailed some of those learning moments with our feet-ed gimme-five celebrations.

 

Celebrations are wonderful, but I’ve not reached my brand-new age without learning that life is also full of non-celebratory moments and seasons. However, it makes me smile to know that Jesus, the quintessential Man of sorrows, was also a celebrator of the highest glory order. He whooped-it-up with the very best for last; and everything about his life is worth emulating.

 

So. My goal is to celebrate all the moments that I possibly can—especially with the people who call me Mama Jan.

 

 

 

“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said.

 

“Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink,

he brings out the less expensive wine.

 

But you have kept the best until now!”

 

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee

was the first time Jesus revealed his glory.

 

John 2:10-11

 

It’s official today. My Aunt Doris has lived to be 90. I wrote about her approaching birthday a few weeks ago in “Ready To Go”; and then about my mixed feelings over turning 60 yesterday. She posted a picture of 90 this morning—and told me to feel better about 60.

 

Beginning 70 yrs ago, seven siblings produced 27 cousins; and 25 remain. Our lives still connect and intersect, by deliberate choice; and it makes me smile when our children and grandchildren call each other cousin. It makes me smile more when our great-nieces and nephews think we’re their grandparents; and first cousins, twice removed, are called uncles.

 

I just see family; and here’s my response:

 

Doris, what I see is different from what you see in your reflection. I see family reunions when I was 5 and sand in envelopes when I was 13. I taste lemon meringue pies and hamburgers cooked in the park. I hear years of laughter over funny stories and goofy games at Christmas parties; and I remember tears at funerals. I feel kindred spirit in our love for the Lord and for husbands in heaven; and, best of all, I share anticipation that the best is truly yet to come.

 

So Happy Happy Birthday today because…

 

 

…”No eye has seen,

 

no ear has heard,

 

and no mind has imagined

 

what God has prepared for those who love him.”

 

1 Corinthians 2:9

 

 

 

Family.