It's as easy as brushing hair!!!!

Good evening, and happy end to Monday! It has been another gloomy day here in Utah. I got to chat for a long time with my daughter today which is enough to take the gloom and turn it into pure sunshine!

In prayer this night I ask our Father in heaven to keep my daughter's grandfather in his healing grasp, he has been feeling poorly since Friday and it is now thought that he has had a stroke. We have seen the miraculous comeback from strokes and we are praying for a full healing. Father we come to you on bended knees asking for peace in heart for those who have suffered the loss of loved ones, lighten their heavy hearts, calm their fears and provide for them peace and understanding. Father I love you, I thank you for this day and for all that you fill my heart with. In Jesus' beautiful name I pray. Amen

The story I came across for tonight is sheer compassion and obedience! Look and listen my friends, God is always directing our footsteps. 

As Easy As Brushing Hair

The story starts out where she, Beth, is sitting at an airport terminal, waiting to board a plane. She was sitting there with several other people who were also waiting, whom she did not know.

As she waited, she pulled out her Bible and started reading. All of a sudden she felt as if the people sitting there around her, were looking at her. She looked up, but realized that they were looking just over her head, in the direction right behind her.

She turned around to see what everyone was looking at, and when she did, she saw a stewardess pushing a wheelchair, with the ugliest old man sitting in it, that she had ever seen before. She said he had this long white hair that was all tangled and such a mess. His face was really, really wrinkled, and he didn't look friendly at all.

She said she didn't know why, but she felt drawn to the man, and thought at first that God wanted her to witness to him. In her mind she said she was thinking, "Oh, God, please, not now, not here."

No matter what she did, she couldn't get the man off of her mind, and all of a sudden she knew what God wanted her to do. She was supposed to brush this old man's hair.

She went and knelt down in front of the old man, and said "Sir may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

He said "What?"

She thought, "Oh great, he's hard of hearing." Again, a little louder, she said, "Sir, may I have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

He answered, "If you are going to talk to me, you are going to have to speak up, I am practically deaf."

So this time, she was almost yelling, "Sir may I please have the honor of brushing your hair for you?"

Everyone was watching to see what his response would be. The old man just looked at her confused, and said "Well, I guess if you really want to."

She said, "I don't even have a brush, but I thought I would ask anyway."

He said, "Look in the bag hanging on the back of my chair, there is a brush in there."

So she got the brush out and started brushing his hair. (She has a little girl with long hair, so she has had lots of practice getting tangles out, and knew how to be gentle with him.) She worked for a long time, until every last tangle was out.

Just as she was finishing up, she heard the old man crying, and she went and put her hands on his knees, kneeling in front of him again looking directly into his eyes, and said "Sir, do you know Jesus?"

He answered, "Yes, of course I know Jesus. You see, my bride told me she couldn't marry me unless I knew Jesus, so I learned all about Jesus, and asked Him to come into my heart many years ago, before I married my bride."

He continued, "You know, I am on my way home to go and see my wife. I have been in the hospital for a long time, and had to have a special surgery in this town far from my home. My wife couldn't come with me, because she is so frail herself." He said, "I was so worried about how terrible my hair looked, and I didn't want her to see me looking so awful, but I couldn't brush my hair, all by myself."

Tears were rolling down his cheeks, as he thanked Beth for brushing his hair. He thanked her over and over again.

She was crying, people all around witnessing this were crying, and as they were all boarding the plane, the stewardess, who was also crying, stopped her, and asked, "Why did you do that?"

And right there was the opportunity, the door that had been opened to share with someone else, the love of God. We don't always understand God's ways, but be ready, He may use us to meet the need of someone else, like He met the need of this old man, and in that moment, also calling out to a lost soul who needed to know about His love.

- Unknown

Contributed by LMMyers

STOP...and drink some cool "living" water!!!!

Good evening my friends, as another weekend closes and we get ready for the new week, the week before Christmas, the week before the GRAND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF CHRIST,  I pray that you all have taken time to reflect on this, not the gift buying, not the parties, not the hustle and bustle and all the glitz and glitter, but the birth of our savior, the plan of salvation, the wonderful gift from God to each of us. 

In prayer tonight I bowed my head humbly and asked God to bless each of us with strength, with "time" with quiet reflection, with all that we are in need of for harmony and peace in our lives. I asked him to watch of each of us, protecting us for hurt, from pain, from sickness and disease. I asked him to comfort us when we hurt, to give us peace when we stress and to calm us when we feel overwhelmed. Continue to bless those in need of healing, lay your hands upon them and bring them to full health. Father be with the ones suffering loss of a loved one today, the ones standing quietly by with broken hearts as they prepare to say "see you soon" to a loved one in transition into paradise. Pull them gently into your laps, allow them to rest their bodies upon your chest and let your strength become theirs as they overcome the hurdle of the pain. Father I love you, I have faith that my life is where you need me to be at this moment in time and that you will lead and guide me in all of my endeavors as long as I hold my hand out to you and walk without doubt or question. I ask mercy, favor, blessings and grace for all, in the name of our beautiful brother Jesus Christ. Amen.

The little story I came across tonight may be small in words but huge in meaning. I love, love, love this, In a sense it goes with my "filling your tank" 

Drink Plenty of Water!

I've heard it. I've read it. As long as I have been running, it's always been the same message: "drink plenty of water."

All along most race courses are water stations, and most runners slow down to drink a cup of cool water. Keeping your water level up is critical when you run. If you get slightly dehydrated, you will not run well. If you get moderately dehydrated, you will become disoriented. If you get seriously dehydrated, you can die. It's serious business.

The first year I ran was 1991, and I was inexperienced (also younger, slimmer, stupider, etc.) I passed water stop after water stop, occasionally drinking a swallow or two. I felt good, and I wasn't going to waste precious seconds drinking water, even though it was a hot, humid day.

Big mistake. As I neared the final mile, I "hit the wall." My energy level dropped to zero, I began having to walk some, and I realized I would have to work hard just to finish. I did make it across the line, but only with a tremendous headache and hardly enough energy to walk. It was not much fun.

I learned an important lesson that year. Stopping for water doesn't actually slow you down. In fact, you will run a better race if you do drink water. The bottom line is that your body is simply not designed to function without water.

In the same way, your spiritual stamina depends on stopping for regular drinks of "spiritual water." The dilemma for busy believers is finding time to invest in reading the Word and meeting with God in prayer. Like the runner intent on reaching the finish line, we tend to put off those regular drinks of water until we are totally parched.

But in the long run, you will run a better race if you will stop for spiritual water. In fact, finishing the Christian race at all may depend on it. And runners who don't ever slow down to take a drink often stumble off the course far short of the finish line.

In this year's race, I saw a man become dehydrated just a mile from the finish. Strangely, he didn't seem to recognize that anything was wrong. He was swaying from side to side as he walked, mumbling over and over, "I'm fine. I'm fine." He was so disoriented that he didn't even recognize his own sick condition.

If you let yourself become spiritually dehydrated, you may not even be able to recognize it. Stop today to drink some cool "living water." For serious runners, it's a must.

" I Never Liked My Grandpa!"

Good evening and happy Thursday night, I pray it has been a great day for you, one closer to the birthday celebration of Jesus! I know the hustle and bustle of this time is sometimes overwhelming, I pray you take some time for you during this time and that you take time to really think about the reason for the season and share it with your children! 

In prayer this night I bowed my head and humbly asked for God to bless each of you with love and happiness, to take the struggles you have been battling and replace them with calm and peace, to take any pains you may be having and replace them with comfort. I asked him to watch over each of you, to keep you behind his shield of protection and to hear and answer each of your prayers. I asked for special blessings for those waiting for test results that have been run this week, to bless each of you who are living in fear of answers to questions with positive outcomes, to hold each of you who are overwhelmed, and give you rest. I ask you to favor a sweet friend who is having surgery in the morning that the surgeon's hand will be blessed with skill and precision and that she come through the surgery with no incident. I ask you Father to continue to bless my sweet daughter and her unborn child with health. Father I come to you with love in my heart and ask for mercy, blessings and favor in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I NEVER LIKED MY GRANDPA

After I finished reading this one, I knew I had to pass it on. Some times we never know if the love we show to others is really getting through or not. But God’s love always does.

It is easy to love those who love you back, but the true test of love is to love those that hate you or you do not like.

He never seemed to care about me. But for some reason, I had to see him one more time.

He sat slouched and alone next to his ashtray in the smoke-filled living room. The television droned on, flickering in the gloom. The shades were drawn. Only thin slivers of light pierced in from the outside world. And every once in a while, he would say the kids oughta shut up and go somewhere else to play.

Not exactly your ideal grandfather.

My parents told us about Grandpa’s hunting and fishing days. I saw photos of the deer, the mounted bass on the wall, even the bear rug upstairs, and I wished he’d take me out fishing or teach me to hunt. But he rarely left the couch. So my brother, my sister, and I pretty much stayed clear of the living room and explored the rest of the old house.

Back in those days, I noticed that Grandpa stayed behind when we went to church. When he said Jesus’ name, he wasn’t praying. And he told dirty jokes. And nobody ever told him it was wrong.

Since they didn’t, I decided I would.

My teacher at my Christian school helped me write the note. I wrote that God didn’t like it when he said those things, but that God loved him, and so did Jesus and so did I. And I wanted him to go to heaven, but he needed to believe in Jesus first.

I slipped the note under Grandpa’s pillow as we were leaving one day. Yeah, I was pretty naive, but I didn’t know what else to do. Because deep down, I cared about him.

A few days later Grandma called. She said Grandpa had found my note. My excitement didn’t last very long, though. Grandma said the note had made him worse. She said, “I’ll have to start over trying to get him to go to church.”

Why would my note make him worse? I’d thought I was doing the right thing, but now I felt rotten. For a long time I didn’t want to tell people about Jesus for fear of “making things worse.”

Whenever we’d visit after that, I’d give Grandpa this awkward sideways hug and ask him what he was watching. He’d grumble something about a fishing show, and that was it. We didn’t even make eye contact. I never knew what more to say. I wished there was something, anything to talk about.

So we grew further and further apart. But I kept thinking of him. And I prayed for him. Despite everything, I still cared about him.

Slipping away

About that time, Grandpa realized he was dying of cancer.

He kept getting weaker and weaker. No more smoking. No more leaving the house. Grandma spent all her time taking care of him, shuffling him from the bed to the couch to the bathroom. She read devotions to him. A local pastor started to visit him.

I don’t really know what was going through Grandpa’s head. Maybe Grandma’s devotions were making a difference. Maybe we just liked to think that they were.

And then one day Grandma told us that Grandpa believed in Jesus. “We pray together,” she said. “He listens to devotions and takes the Lord’s Supper.”

Months slipped away. I didn’t visit Grandpa much anymore because I was so busy with school. Grandma took care of him as long as she could, but finally he had to go to a nursing home.

I couldn’t remember ever looking him in the eye and telling him I loved him. But I wanted to.

It really hurt Grandma to see him suffer. But she was glad that as the cancer grew, so did Grandpa’s interest in God. So I decided to visit him again. I’m still not sure why it was so important for me to go. I couldn’t remember anything kind he’d ever done or said to me. But he was my grandpa, you know? Maybe I just needed to see him again before he died. Maybe I wanted to know that my note years before hadn’t made him worse.

I never liked my Grandpa, and I never would. Yet for as long as I could remember, I had struggled to love him. And somehow I had to tell him.

Tough love

“You still work at that Bible camp?” he grunted without looking at me from his wheelchair.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Do you fish?”

“No, not too much.”

A long, uncomfortable pause.

“Still driving that car? That-”

“Honda? Yeah.”

Back and forth we talked until all of a sudden it was time to go and nothing had been said.

I stood up awkwardly. Someone came over to wheel him away for supper.

But before they could, I blurted out, “Before I go, could we pray?” Without really waiting for an answer, I shut my eyes and started to pray aloud, right there in the lobby of the nursing home. It wasn’t pretty. But I meant it. It was my first and only prayer with my grandfather.

Then I said “amen” and I looked up.

He was crying. I took his hand and told him I loved him. Then I watched as they wheeled him slowly down the hall.

I don’t know if he even remembered the note I wrote. But I don’t feel guilty about writing it anymore. Telling people about God’s love never makes them worse. Sometimes it makes them uneasy, sometimes it shakes them up, sometimes it even makes them angry. But sometimes, it might just put them on the road to getting better.

Grandpa died soon afterward. Pretty peacefully, I guess. Grandma had been sitting with him. She stepped into the other room, he closed his eyes and slipped into a coma. Forty-five minutes later his journey was over.

When God tells us to love people, I’m glad he didn’t say we had to like them. It’s just way too hard to like some people. But to love them? Yeah, it’s tough, but with God’s help, I can do it. I know that, because I’ve done it.

Love the Unlovable?

We’ve all got people in our lives that we just don’t like very much.

Maybe for you, like Steven, it’s a grandparent or another family member who just isn’t very much fun to be around. Or maybe it’s that guy in homeroom who drives you crazy with his need to be right – all the time.

As Christians, we’re not only called to love those we like, but even those we don’t like (Luke 6:35; Romans 12:9-17). When we show love to a person who doesn’t show love back, it hurts. But people who shy away from being loved are often the ones who need it the most. Maybe they never learned how to show love. Maybe they can’t understand why we would love them despite how they’ve treated us. It seems there’s a tough shell that has formed around their hearts that doesn’t allow love to come in or out. But don’t underestimate God’s power to break through that shell, just like he did with Steven’s grandfather.

God gives us numerous insights in his Word about love and our responsibility to love others. Here are a few:

Love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-44).

Love others as you love yourself (Mark 12:31).

Love with your life (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Love with patience, kindness and more (1 Corinthians 13:3-8).

Love like Christ loved (Philippians 2:2).

Love others because God first loved us (1 John 4:11-12).

In learning to love people we don’t like, we should keep in mind that we don’t even deserve God’s love – but he loves us anyway. God loves the unloveable, and we should try to imitate that.

Here are some practical ways to do that:

Think before you speak. It’s a lot easier to lash out at someone who offends or irritates you than to give them a word of encouragement…or not say anything at all.

Put yourself in their shoes. Try to look at life from their perspective. Maybe they come from a difficult home life, or maybe they’re trying to overcome some major hurdles. Empathize with that person, and try to understand what he or she might be going through.

Don’t give up. Steven kept pursuing his grandpa’s love, even by sending him a note. His honesty might have made his grandpa uncomfortable, but that didn’t stop him from sharing about God’s love. His persistence eventually led to a breakthrough where his grandpa showed signs of love through the tears in his eyes.

Pray for that person. Pray that God will change their heart and yours as well, as he helps you see them through his eyes. Remember to always (P.U.S.H.) Pray Until Something Happens.

By: Steven James

Judge me by the Footsteps I leave behind!

Good morning and Happy Wednesday! I pray your "hump day" will be a great one, one filled with grins and giggles, It is another gray day here with a fresh mini blanket of snow forecast we are in great need of a good windy storm to blow away the foggy haze and return to us blue skies and sunshine! 

In prayer this morning I sat outside bundled against the cold and listened to the morning, the haze made it appear really gloomy and the lack of sunshine made me a bit melancholy, I sat and thought about all that I had to do today, prioritizing, listing, and planning. I thought about how this type of day is how my heart feels without seeing my daughter on a regular basis and I thought about how this type of weather was a symbol of someones life each and every day. I began to feel great empathy for those who live each day in "gloom" I know we all get into a gloomy state every so often, but we are able to work through our "gloom" and move back into the light. For some the "gloom" is a daily way of life, they feel as if there is no other way, they get themselves out of bed each day with "gloom", they lay themselves down at night with the same "gloom". It is our responsibility to see these "gloomy" people and be the light that might make them wonder...how, why! We need to shine brightly and be open to them so that if they have a wish to crawl out of their "gloom" we might be God's helpers. God leads people in our path at all times we just many times are to busy to see them. I pray this day that you open your eyes, get past any "gloom" that might be shadowing you and see those who feel they are eternally engulfed by it! Open yourself up and let them share in your light! I asked God to bless all those in "gloom" with you today, to provide you with calm, comfort and peace and to touch your hearts. I asked God to bless my friend having the CT scan on her lungs today that they see only pneumonia and nothing more and for her to be healed completely, and to bless each of you who are suffering any malady with his love and healing hands. I asked these blessings in the name of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Share in this story with me and try to imagine what you would have said and done in the shoes of this man's parents! God is good all of the time and will never lay more upon your shoulders than you can handle. Love to you..be an angel today...so many are in need! 

Judge me by the footsteps I leave behind

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.

He called his parents from San Francisco.

“Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.”

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.”

“There’s something you should know the son continued, “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us.”

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him.

A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn’t know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There’s a miracle called -Friendship- that dwells in the heart. You don’t know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift It always brings and you realize that Friendship Is God’s most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

HE is waiting!

Good morning and happy Saturday, it is bitter cold this morning, we are at 18 degrees with a bit of a breeze and a bit of an overcast sky, small patches of blue are trying to claim a spot and the sun is trying to push through, without the sun it is much to cold to sit out so I am writing this morning from behind the glass. I pray your morning is off to a positive start and that positivity stays with you the entire day! 

In prayer this morning I sat and wondered if God gets tired of me basically praying the same every morning and every night, sometimes I add specific prayer for circumstances that are brought to my attention, I continue to give him thanks for something different each day and I ask him to bless you with peace, calm and comfort each morning and each night! I was wondering if any of you feel like you are praying in vain, and if you just sometimes determine not to as it will basically mimic an earlier prayer! I thought about that and then I prayed, I then went in search of a story to include into this message and this is the first one I came across...fitting I would say...and an answer to my question...HE does not get tired of hearing from us! I pray that your Saturday is filled with grins and giggles and that you share your light for all to see, if you see someone in a struggle, be the hope they need today, I ask you father to place us where we are needed this day. In the beautiful name of Christ I come to you. Amen.. And oh...don't forget to chat with Heavenly Father , he is waiting! 

What GOD Wants

As you got up this morning, I watched you, and hoped you would talk to me, even if it was just a few words, asking my opinion or thanking me for something good that happened in your life yesterday.

But I noticed you were too busy, trying to find the right outfit to wear. When you ran around the house getting ready, I knew there would be a few minutes for you to stop and say hello, but you were to busy.

At one point you had to wait, fifteen minutes with nothing to do except sit in a chair. Then I saw you spring to your feet. I thought you wanted to talk to me but you ran to the phone and called a friend to get the latest gossip instead.

I watched patiently all day long. With all your activities I guess you were too busy to say anything to me.

I noticed that before lunch you looked around, maybe you felt embarrassed to talk to me, that is why you didn't bow your head. You glanced three or four tables over and you noticed some of your friends talking to me briefly before they ate, but you didn't.

That's okay. There is still more time left, and I hope that you will talk to me yet. You went home and it seems as if you had lots of things to do.

After a few of them were done, you turned on the TV. I don't know if you like TV or not, just about anything goes there and you spend a lot of time each day in front of it not thinking about anything, just enjoying the show. I waited patiently again as you watched the TV and ate your meal, but again you didn't talk to me.

Bedtime I guess you felt too tired. After you said goodnight to your family you plopped into bed and fell asleep in no time. That's okay because you may not realize that I am always there for you. I've got patience, more than you will ever know. I even want to teach you how to be patient with others as well. I love you so much that I wait everyday for a nod, prayer or thought or a thankful part of your heart. It is hard to have a one-sided conversation.

Well, you are getting up once again. And once again I will wait, with nothing but love for you.

Hoping that today you will give me some time.

Have a nice day!

Your friend,

GOD

~~THE STUFF OF LIFE~~

Good morning and happy Friday to you! It is another cold clear morning here in Utah, 19 degrees with little to no wind at all, the sun is up and the warmth of it on my face as I sit bundled against the cold..AMAZING feeling! I pray your morning has started off with a calm and peace that allows you quiet time to share in conversation with our Father in heaven. 

In prayer this morning as I sat enjoying the sun on my face, I began to thank God for all of the goodness in my life, my Wayde, my child, his children, my G~babes, my health although a bit off at times I still am so thankful that I don't have more problems than I do have. I thanked Him for the warmth of home, the food provided and the happiness in my heart! I asked God to give you happiness in your heart today, that you might see something in a new way today, that you may stop and take time to enjoy your world. I asked God to bless my friend whose is fervently praying for her father who had a stroke and is now having more health issues slowing the healing process of the stroke, she is worried over her mom who stands by so strong and poised, afraid that she might break. Father give this family renewed strength and a sign of relief today that in time all will be well. I asked special prayers for a sweet family struggling with one having cancer and another having issues with her heart. Bless them father with your healing hands, comfort them in this storm and let your light shine upon them so that the fear is laid still. I ask Father that you bless my daughter and soon to be son with love and joy in their new home, that you continue to allow them to feel the love they feel for one another growing stronger and stronger each day. Bless the baby growing within her, allow him/her to feel the huge amount of love there is for him/her. I ask mercy and blessings upon those who cannot conceive a child that their bodies be healed and the beauty and the joy of being with child be given them. I pray for those who are battling illness, depression, addiction, financial problems, thoughts of suicide, unruly children and all the other problems that may be in their lives, be the light they need Father that confirms you are there with them. Let them feel something special today as knowledge that you have a plan for them. Comfort those with the why's today father! In the name of our beautiful brother, our savior and our friend, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I love the story below, it is something that I cannot stress enough, we spend so much time in life looking for the bigger things that we tend to step right over the little things! God bless you all with peace, love and joy this day! I love each of you in Christ

Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America

If you remember, she's the wife of Todd Beamer who said "Let's Roll!" and helped take down the plane that was heading for Washington, D.C. She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him.  She is now the mom of a beautiful little girl, Mary.

Lisa recalled this story:

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Class is over. I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important."

"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the power's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on. "So, I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see. It could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them, for although it may sound trite to some, these things are the 'stuff' of life."

"The little things were put here on earth to enjoy, and these are the things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for any anytime it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.

Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot, or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

~Lisa Beamer, from an interview on Good Morning America

Family traditions..for generations to come!!!

Good evening and happy Wednesday night, as I sit there this evening reading short stories to share with you I realize that I am an emotional boob this evening. With each story that I read I found myself crying! I pray your day has been a great one and that you are now settled in for a nice cozy rest and relaxing time at home with your loves! 

I sat in quiet solitude this evening in a deep conversation with my Father in Heaven, it seems this week that many of the stories I have read have been based on the basics of family and CHRISTmas and on tradition, as I was reflecting on them I realized that this is something I am in need of mentioning. I have read several really cute family traditions that are taking place since December began, and I love, love, love it! The Ashley family had a pretty wonderful Christmas eve tradition and while I was sitting and reminiscing I found myself in tears once again! I miss my family very much, especially this time of the year, it was wonderful having so many brothers and sisters to share in the excitement! I pray that when my child has her baby and she and her sweet (soon to be) husband celebrate that they will instill traditions into baby's life...they are so very important and give us something to cling to, to smile about and to cry over when we are older. Children don't think they are making memories but as we all know as we get older that is all that we have is our memories. Tonight I ask you to join me in prayer in asking our  Father to bless those who are in the darkness and to cling to the promise in Psalms 112:4, he will never leave us in the darkness if we have faith in him. I ask you to join me in praying for the ones suffering illness and disease, for the ones coming through surgery, rehabilitation, addiction, depression, financial problems, children issues, and loss of faith. We all can use a prayer or two so please do pray for me and my family. I ask God to provide for us~~ peace~~ in our heart that we be able to love as Jesus wants us to, not thinking only of ourselves but of all, calm in mind that we might spend our days worry free and find it easier to keep satan at bay, and comfort in our body that we might be pain free and be able to enjoy the CHRISTmas holidays. I ask these blessings, favors and mercies in the name of Jesus Christ our savior. Amen.

Tonight's story is one that is very heart touching, I hope you are touched and remember to make some traditions!!!

The Red Envelope

Slice. Scoop. Plop. I don't feel like doing this. Slice. Scoop. Plop. I don't want to do this. I don't want to shop . . . Slice. Scoop. Plop. I don't want to decorate. I just want to skip it . . . Slice. Scoop. Plop. And pretend I didn't notice this year.

I plopped the last of the ready-made cookie dough onto the cookie sheet and shoved it into the oven. These standard-issue chocolate chip cookies would be a far cry from the bejeweled affairs I'd baked for 26 years, but the only reason I'd even summoned the effort was because my youngest son, Ross, had opened and reopened the cookie jar four times the previous night, saying with 14-year-old tact, "What? No Christmas cookies this year?"

A big piece of the family was now missing-or hadn't anybody noticed?

Since today was the 23rd, and his older siblings, Patrick and Molly, would be arriving Christmas Eve, Ross informed me that they would be "big-time disappointed" if there wasn't "cool stuff" to eat. This from the same kid who had never watched a Christmas TV special in his life and had to be dragged into the family photo for the annual Christmas card. I never considered a family picture this year. A big piece of the family was now missing-or hadn't anybody noticed?

The First Christmas

All my friends had been telling me the same thing since the day of the funeral: "Pam, the first year after you lose your husband is the hardest. You have to go through the first Valentine's Day without him, the first birthday, the first anniversary . . ." They hadn't been kidding. What they hadn't told me was that Christmas was going to top them all in hard-to-take.

It wasn't that Tom had loved Christmas that much. He'd always complained that the whole thing was too commercial and that when you really thought about it, Easter was a much more important celebration in the church. The phone rang. Molly was calling collect from the road. She and two dorm buddies were driving home after finals.

"Do you know what I'm looking forward to?" she said.

"Sleeping for 72 straight hours?" I said.

"No." She sounded a little deflated. "Coming home from Christmas Eve services and seeing all those presents piled up under the tree. It's been years since I've cared what was in them or how many were for me-I just like seeing them there. How weird is that?

"Not weird at all, my love, I thought. I sighed, took a piece of paper, and penciled in a few gift ideas for Ross; Molly; Patrick; his wife, Amy; my grandson, Shane.

A Sense of Normalcy

And then I snapped the pencil down on the counter. A part of me understood that the kids were in denial. Tom's sudden death 11 months earlier had left them bewildered and scared. And now at Christmas, their shock was translated into exaggerated enthusiasm.

The Cobb family Christmas traditions provided a sense of normalcy for them. Patrick had even asked me last week if I still had the old John Denver Christmas album. But as far as I was concerned, there just wasn't that much to deck the halls about. Tom was gone. I was empty and unmotivated. At worst, I wished they'd all just open the presents and carve the turkey without me.

When the oven dinged, I piled two dozen brown circles on a plate and left a note for Ross: I don't want to hear any more complaining! Gone shopping. I love you. Mom.

The complaining, however, went on in my head as I elbowed my way through the mob at the mall. Tom was right, I thought. This is all a joke.

It really was everything he hated-canned music droning its false merriment, garish signs luring me to buy, tired-looking families dragging themselves around, worrying about their credit card limits as they snapped at their children.

Funny, I thought while gazing at a display of earrings I knew Molly wouldn't wear. All the time Tom was here pointing this out to me, it never bothered me. Now it's all I can see. I abandoned the earring idea and took to wandering the mall, hoping for inspiration so Molly would have something to look at under the tree. It wasn't going to be like years past-I should have told her that. She wasn't going to see a knee-deep collection of exquisitely wrapped treasures that Tom always shook his head over.

"You've gone hog-wild again," he would always tell me-before adding one more contribution. Instead of buying me a gift, he'd write a check in my name to Compassion International or a local food pantry, place it in a red envelope, and tuck it onto a branch of our Christmas tree. "This is a true Christ-gift," he'd tell me. "It's a small demonstration that Christ is real in our lives."

I stopped in mid-mall, lettings the crowds swirl past me. Tom wasn't there, a fact that the rest of the family didn't want to face or discuss. But he could still be with us, maybe just a little.

Christmas Decorating

I left the mall and quickly found a Christmas tree lot. The man looked happy to unload one very dry tree for half price. He even tied it to my roof rack. Then it was off to Safeway, where I bought a 24-pound Butterball and all the trimmings. Back home, the decoration boxes weren't buried too deeply in the garage. I'd barely gotten them put away last year when Tom had his heart attack.

I was still sorting boxes when Ross emerged from the kitchen, munching the last of the two dozen cookies.

"Oh, I thought we weren't going to have a tree this year," he said between mouthfuls.

"Well, we are. Can you give me a hand getting it up?"

Two hours later, Ross and I stood back and admired our Christmas tree. The lights winked softly as I straightened a misshapen glittery angel Molly had made in second-grade and Ross' first-birthday Christmas ball. I wanted to cry.

Christmas Eve

The house sprang to life when everyone arrived Christmas Eve. In the middle of our church service, however, my spirits sagged. There was no lonelier feeling than standing in the midst of one's family singing "Silent Night" -surrounded by a vivacious college daughter; a sweet, gentle daughter-in-law; a handsome, successful 25-year-old son; a wide-eyed, mile-a-minute 3-year-old grandson; and an awkward teenager whose hugs were like wet shoelaces-and be keenly aware that someone was missing. Back at home, everyone continued to avoid the subject.

"The tree is gorgeous, Mom," Molly said. She knelt down and began hauling gifts out of a shopping bag to add to my pile.

"I love what you did with the wrappings, Pam," Amy said. "You're always so creative."

"I forgot to buy wrapping paper," I told her. "I had to use newspaper."

It was Christmas as usual-easier to pretend everything was normal than deal with harsh reality. Ross and Patrick sparred over whose stocking was whose, and Shane parked himself in front of a bowl of M&Ms. They all got to open the customary one present on Christmas Eve, and after doing so, we schlepped off to bed. It was Christmas as usual-easier to pretend everything was normal than deal with harsh reality.

But there was one more thing that had to be done. I went over to Tom's desk, found a red envelope in the top drawer, and stuck into it a check made out to the American Heart Association. It seemed appropriate. "I know the kids-and even I-have to go on with our lives, Tom," I whispered. "But I wish you were here." It occurred to me as I tucked the red envelope midway up the tree that one of the kids would say, "Oh, yeah-I remember he always did that."

And then there would be an awkward silence and perhaps sheepish looks. I hoped so.

Christmas Day

Morning-or at least dawn-came way too soon. Shane was up before the paper carrier. I dragged myself into the kitchen and found it already smelling like a Seattle coffee house.

"This is what we drink at school," Molly told me and handed me a cup.

"Is anyone else awake?" I asked.

She nodded her head, and for the first time I noticed a twinkle in her eye that was unprecedented for this hour of the morning.

"What are you up to?" I said.

"Mom!" Patrick yelled from the living room. "You've got to see this!"

"At this hour of the . . ."

What I saw was my family perched on the couch like a row of deliciously guilty canaries. What I saw next was our Christmas tree, dotted with bright red envelopes.

"Man, it got crowded in here last night," Ross said. "I came down here about 2 o'clock and freaked Amy out."

"I almost called 911 when I came down," Patrick said. "Till I saw it was Molly and not some burglar."

I had never heard a thing. I walked over to the tree and touched each one of the five envelopes I hadn't put there.

"Open them, Mom," Molly said. "This was always the best part of Christmas."

>From Patrick, there was a check for Youth for Christ, to help kids go on missions trips like the one Dad supported him on to Haiti five years earlier.

>From Amy, a check to our church for sheet music, because some of her best memories of her father-in-law were of him helping the children's choir.

>From Molly, several $20 bills for the local crisis pregnancy center, because many of the women who go there have probably never experienced the love of a husband like Daddy," she said.

>From Ross, a $20 bill for a local drug program for kids, "since Dad was all freaked out about me staying clean."

The last envelope was lumpy. When I opened it, a handful of change spilled out. "Mine, Gamma," Shane said, his little bow-mouth pursed importantly. Amy finished his thought. "He wants this to go to the animal shelter-you know, for lost dogs, like the one he visited with Dad just before he died."

I pulled all the envelopes against my chest and hugged them.

"You know what's weird?" Molly said. "I feel like Daddy's right here with us."

"Yeah, that's pretty weird," Ross said.

"But true," Patrick said. "I feel like he's been here this whole time. I thought I'd be all bummed out this Christmas-but I don't need to be."

"No, you don't, my love," I said. To myself, I added, Neither do I. I have my family, and I have Christ.