YOU MAKE MY HEART SING

 Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right.  Psalm 98:1 (MSG)

I gaze out the windows here as I babysit and watch the deer grazing in the cool of the day.  I enjoy the contrast of colors, the tawny brown of the animal's hide against the verdant grass. 

Then I note the textures of the pointy fragile green shafts of grass next to the grainy bark of the oaks.  Up above I see the various shapes formed by leaves and branches arched up into the hazy morning sky.  All of these daily wonders delight my eyes with their variety and contrasts.

Majestic mountains in the winter with their snowy coverlets and veils of clouds.  Pine forests that provide us with materials to build homes, build fires, furniture, toys, even down to toothpicks.  Fresh springs gushing from crevices in rocks that refresh, clean, purify, and hydrate to sustain life.  Mighty waves crashing and foaming upon the shoreline.

All in nature has such an order.  Even fires initiated during a summer electric storm burst seed pods that would otherwise remain barren.  

When I see the balance in all of creation, a feel a natural high, a desire to shout your greatness, O God!  All that you have made is wonderful beyond our comprehension!  

Even looking into the organisms to see the complexities of their design and ability to heal or repair themselves.  The instincts to build hives, nests, to burrow, to fly, to hunt for food, and to care for their young.  

During a biology lab, I sat in wonder as the function of the ear was explained.  Even though I had read and studied the diagrams, it seemed utterly remarkable to be able to hear such a myriad of sound.  Then when I sang in choirs with live orchestra I felt a swell of joy in being at one with my vocal instrument in the midst of such majestic synergy. 

How marvelous are your works O God!  You have made all things for good.  My heart sings out to you and cries out for the disorder that mankind has made of creation to be silenced and put to right. 

You are a patient father.  You have allowed us our choices and allowed us to test our boundaries.  So much good has been invented, discovered, and shared by many, while others seem bent on living just a tad above the animals with no compassion for their fellow man.  Bring us back to the harmony and the wholeness we are lacking soon, I pray.

Trustingly, I catch myself in the middle of a hum.  Hope does that to me.  God set things right when he first created and soon, he will cleanse the Earth from the its impurities and set all aright again. 

Then the Righteous King will reign and we will rejoice at the fruit of his goodness and be astonished at the possibilities that lie before us.  
                                           *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   


"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell."                           -C. S. Lewis  

ROCK STAR

 One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them.  The disciples shooed them off.  But Jesus intervened:  "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me.  God's kingdom is made up of people like these."  Matthew 19:13, 14 (MSG)

Eager little eyes underlined with expectant grins catch my eye.  Then those strong lithe legs propel them with outstretched arms as they race to be enveloped in hugs and kisses.  This is a moment that I cherish.  Upon arrival when visiting my grown children, the grands come running to see Nana and Grandpa Jerry!

 What a picture of ecstasy!  What an experience of love!  I pray these precious children of my beloved children all feel the same excitement coming their way!

It is early May and Mother's Day is just around the corner.  I wanted to just share what fun it is to me at my stage of mothering.  I have six children of my own and two of Jerry's.  Between us we have eleven grandchildren.  (Our own kids are stair steps from ages in the forties down to thirteen.  Our grands are ages fifteen down to one.)

I have to tell you that being a grandparent is like being a rock star!  These children are so delightful!  They hug, they listen, they chatter, they twirl in their excitement, race around so you can see how fast they are, always glancing back to be sure that you are watching them in admiration.  They hear that Nana is coming or Grandpa and they light up inside because they know that adoring adults are on their way to make over them and give them special attention that is always so positive, gratifies their little hearts and puffs up their self-esteem.

Patience, love, praise, and attention all go so far to please these tender shoots.  Nurturing, thoughtfulness, surprises, and chases bring a harvest of giggles, joy, and a sense of importance.

Children are such little sponges.  They soak up all the good you give them and give it back again when they sense a little tender loving care is in order.  At their best, with a good dose of love and confidence building rapport they reflect to a greater degree the love that was given to them.  They thrive on belonging to you.  Unabashedly, they trust you to do the best for them.

Children are fascinated when they are exploring outdoors.  They see everything with such a wonder.  Ladybugs are little friends to stop and chat with.  A new flower gets sketched in the science journal.  Curiosity is peaked with a new bird to look up.  Sandy beaches become the medium for sketching and sculpting.

Stories told and songs sung are long remembered through the years.  Drives to the park or across the country remain unforgotten.  The time we walked the caverns, the square dance near the campground, building dams with rocks, throwing bread crumbs out for water fowl or a surfing lesson together; all memories tucked away to daydream of later on.

A never ending thirst at bedtime, a plethora of questions waiting for an answer always accompany each mighty mite.  Simple bouquets of wildflowers, hand prints in plaster, or exotic crayon filled pictures satisfied with a hug that tells them, "I feel your love!"

Sadly, they can be injected with the poison of abandonment and abuse just the same.  The anti-dote for years of ugly, thoughtless choices by the adults who should be cherishing, takes nearly a lifetime to figure it all out and then the rest of their lives to escape the pain of it all.

Even last month my grown kids thoughtfully produced a giant surprise party with such detailed artwork shaped by loving hands, a DVD filled with wishes from all my family members, photos covering boards cut out in the shape of 6-0, and thoughtful accolades expressed to me.

Sacrifices of time, money, and long travel dampened my eyes with thoughts of their love for me.  Favorite foods, hand prints on cards, memorable pictures laboriously were searched for and posted in art form.  All of these loving words flooded my heart and spilled out in tears.  They touched me to the core.

My children encourage me by their example to remain pliable and to drink in the beauty of all that is around me with a grateful heart.

God's kingdom, Jesus said, is made up of childlike believers.  Just take a look next time at the attributes of that precious little boy or girl you adore.  Ponder those sweet traits displayed in their  innocence.  This is what Jesus meant when he said that if we would become as a small child, then we would be the people who please God.  

Freedom come, so that I may please my Heavenly Father.  He is my bright and Morning Star.  Everything else will fade away when I see him face to face.  I will be in the home I have yearned for.  I will gaze all around and giggle in unbelief at the wonders he has prepared for my enjoyment... for all eternity.  

Enjoy your day moms, step-moms, foster moms, adopted moms, grandmoms, and stand in the gap moms.  You work hard.  You rarely are thanked for all that you do.  No one could ever pay you what you are worth to your family.  Take courage.  Your presence is dear and near to the hearts of your little tribe.  Your life does matter.  You do make a difference that will extend through the generations and on into eternity.  I pray that you will feel a little like a rock star on your special day!

I love you Mom!  The adventures you planned for our vacations, prayers that held me up when I needed something more than I had to give, and your faithful walk with God, made all difference in my life.  I pray that you will feel a little like a rock star this year on your special day!