strong and brave

a doll and a white rose

I was walking around in a Big Bazar store shopping, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old..

The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll. Then the little boy turned to the cashier and asked: are you sure I don't have enough money?''

The cashier counted his cash once again and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy the doll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much . I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God.. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister...''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly..

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

'OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!'

Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the news paper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever...

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

Please DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

unknown

old and forgotten

I enjoy looking at old, dilapidated houses. I seem to favor the old farm houses. My imagination will soar as I wonder about the life that was lived inside.

The families probably had several children. There was cooking and cleaning and playing and working and resting and sleeping and learning. They had crops to plant and vegetable gardens. There were cows and chickens and pigs to be fed. Farm life could be hard. The boys would help with the animals and fish from the nearby pond. Girls would learn how to cook and to sew.


I wonder if the kids played hopscotch and red rover and freeze tag and jump rope and dodge ball and marbles. The grownups may have played checkers, but probably enjoyed spinning a tale that mesmerized the children. Families were close, and often visited with each other. They went to church on Sundays.

Thru the seasons, from Spring to Summer, were very busy times. Then the harvest of Autumn lead to Thanksgiving. That was a time when everyone came together. Grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. It was a wonderful time to be together. Then Winter ushered in the celebration of Christmas. It was a simpler time. The stockings held oranges and nuts. The gifts were simple, often handmade. The most important thing was Jesus.

These old houses once breathed life....................

choose your words carefully

.truthfollower.com

Let your words pass through three gates: Is it true, necessary and kind?

I try to live by this but not always successful. Good words to live by though! I think that is a test and lesson, for all of us.

If we carefully use words It would stop a lot of pain for many of us if people would truly ask these questions before speaking.

The preferable order of these three may reveal character traits.

Say your words in a kind way I suppose but sometimes the truth is ugly and mean but it doesn’t stop being true.

Might be true and necessary, not always kind, but sometimes truth is truth, and people need to accept it.

bluebirds

I love Bluebirds! Of all the birds that visit my feeders, the bluebird is my favorite. I'm not alone with my passion of these gorgeous little birds.

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.  -Henry David Thoreau

The bluebird carries the sky on his back.  -Henry David Thoreau

If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I? -Yip Harburg

Every time I see a bluebird, I say, well, hey, all this hard work is all worth while. -Ray Briggs

The bluebird, instantly winsome to young and old alike and to people of modern and traditional sensibilities alike, is American idealism personified - a flying piece of sky, a living poem, a crystal note, an emblem of nature's moral conscience.  -Stanwyn G Shetler

 

 

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

 

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

A man's interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town. Henry David Thoreau
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/bluebird

thoughts

shootings and attacks and killings

Adapted from David Platt’s response after Las Vegas shootings:

Here are ten ways I was provoked to pray according to the Word in light of this tragedy in the world. May we spend less time watching and reading the news and more time before the Lord on our knees.

1. Pray for hurting families and friends who awoke to news that a loved one was gone. Pray that they might know and experience God’s mercy, comfort, strength, and sustenance in their every hurt, every pain, every thought, and every emotion (Psalm 34:18).

2. Pray for those who are injured––that God might use His common grace in doctors, nurses, emergency rooms, and hospital beds to bring about their healing (Psalm 6:2).

3. Pray for those who are helping the injured. Pray for wisdom, strength, and skill for these doctors and nurses who are attending to massive physical needs all around them, many without sleep or rest (Isaiah 40:29).

4. Pray for justice. Pray for justice for anyone and everyone who played any part in this evil event, and for grace and wisdom in our civil government for executing justice (Proverbs 21:15; Romans 13:1-7).

5. Pray for mercy. Plainly put, in the city of Las Vegas and all across our country, we desperately need the mercy of God. Let’s all plead for it (Luke 18:9-14).

6. Pray for the church in Las Vegas. Pray for local churches like Hope Church, pastored by my good friend Vance Pitman, to indeed hold onto and hold out the hope of Christ in the midst of despair (Romans 15:13).

7. Pray for people who don’t know Christ. Whether in Las Vegas or anywhere else in the world watching what has happened, pray that more and more people in a world of sin, suffering, evil, and death would know the peace, hope, love, and security that are found in Christ alone (Luke 19:10).

8. Pray for repentance. The sight of sin and evil in the world around us should not just provoke us to look at the horror of sin and evil in others, but to turn from the horror of sin and evil in each of our own hearts (2 Peter 3:9).

9. Pray for perspective. Events like these remind us that every one of our lives is a mist—here for a moment and gone tomorrow (James 4:14). We all stand on the porch of eternity, so let’s pray that today we might live for what’s going to matter forever.

10. Pray for the coming of Christ. My son said to me this morning, “Dad, at least we’re in a safe place in the world,” to which I responded, “Son, unfortunately there is no safe place in this world.” But then I told him, “The good news though, buddy, is that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth where everything will be safe.” Let’s pray and plead for the coming of that day (Revelation 22:20).

DAVID PLATT

along the way

Traveling along in the country, the back roads, miles from big city lights, it’s amazing what you happen upon. It can be magical.

I listen carefully down Whispering Pines Road. Go slowly down Dusty Drive. I actually saw a fox beside Fox Trot Way. Crystal Creek trail was a perfect place with wildflowers and bunnies and beavers. I had to stop and walk along River Mill Lane. I really love mills, even old and dilapidated. I love rivers as well. Wooden Bridge Road was long, but well worth it. I have loved wooden bridges since I was a young child. Gap Ridge Road had breathtaking views. Next I turned onto Babbling Brook Trail. I pulled over and walked along the brook. So enjoyable.

Pine Tunnel Road actually had a tunnel of pine branches, even if only for ten yards. Echo Gap Drive was gorgeous. Boulder Lane was aptly named. Tons of huge boulders, quite impressive. Shadow Lane was lined with large, old trees. River Bluff Way had the most amazing views of the winding river below. Ravine Road was a long curvy drive. I found a spot to pull over to see the huge gorge. While on Hollow Branch Trail I happened upon a buck and a doe. Wow, I sure love deer. 

I drove higher up on Wandering Way. I stopped for a while and soaked in the sunshine. The day couldn’t have been any more perfect.

church

Church is hard. Church is hard for the person walking through the doors, afraid of judgement.

Church is hard for the pastor’s family, under the microscope of an entire body.

Church is hard for the prodigal soul returning home, broken and battered by the world.

Church is hard for the girl who looks like she has it all together, but doesn’t.

Church is hard for the couple who fought the entire ride to service.

Church is hard for the single mom, surrounded by couples holding hands, and seemingly perfect families.

Church is hard for the widow and widower with no invitation to lunch after service.

Church is hard for the deacon with an estranged child.

Church is hard for the person singing worship songs, overwhelmed by the weight of the lyrics.

Church is hard for the man insecure in his role as a leader.

Church is hard for the wife who longs to be led by a righteous man.

Church is hard for the nursery volunteer who desperately longs for a baby to love.

Church is hard for the single woman and single man, praying God brings them a mate.

Church is hard for the teenage girl, wearing a scarlet letter, ashamed of her mistakes.

Church is hard for the sinners.

Church is hard for me.

It’s hard because on the outside it all looks shiny and perfect. Sunday best in behavior and dress.

However, underneath those layers, you find a body of imperfect people, carnal souls, selfish motives.

But, here is the beauty of church—

Church isn’t a building, mentality, or expectation.

Church is a body.

Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.

Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by an eternal love.

Church is a holy ground where sinners stand as equals before the Throne of Grace.

Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.

Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation. Where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.

Church is a lesson in faith and trust.

Church is a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.

Church is a family. A family coming together, setting aside differences, forgetting past mistakes, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.

Church, the body, and the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where He resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.

So even on the hard days at church—

The days when I am at odds with a friend, When I’ve fought with my husband because we’re late once again. When I’ve walked in bearing burdens heavier than my heart can handle, yet masking the pain with a smile on my face. When I’ve worn a scarlet letter, under the microscope. When I’ve longed for a baby to hold, or fought tears as the lyrics were sung. When I’ve walked back in, afraid and broken, after walking away.

I’ll remember, He has never failed to meet me there.