welcoming

I have a trip East planned in a couple of weeks. It's for high school graduations of 2 grand children and the priority is time with kids and grand kids. However,  I had hoped to link up with 2 girlfriends from years past---we had spent a wonderful night together 2 years ago. But they are busy---busy in ways that left me feeling that our friendship was not high on their lists. I know we are all busy but their reasons seemed a bit lame.

Anyway, I contacted another friend who truly has a complicated, stressful life. We haven't had time together for several years. When I emailed her with a suggestion of dinner together, her response was,"Absolutely! We will make it work!" It felt like arms open wide--welcoming me.

Is that how coming home to God is? If we have lapsed in our spirituality, in making God a priority in our life, when we ask to come home, does He open His arms wide and say, "Absolutey! We will make it work!"

I believe that. I also believe because God does that for us, we do it for others. Is there someone in your life who would be thrilled to hear you say, "Absolutely! We will make it work!"

Blessings-Penny

pet peeve

We went to a matinee concert yesterday---a beautiful classical music presentation. The usual request was given for everyone to turn off their cell phones and all other mobile devices.

And then there were two! One to our right and one to our left. As the magnificent sonatas were played the annoying lights of their phones came on. One took pictures. A few minutes later the other  answered a text. Do they think the request is not for them??!! The lights from their devices really were distracting! I wanted to tap them on the shoulder and ask what made them so important. Of cours I didn't. I just stewed.

Then as we drove home I considered how fortunate I am. If the biggest annoyance in my life is the light from someone's cell phone disturbing my afternoon concert, I really better re-examine my state of thankfulness. In Bible study in the morning we had talked about contentment. How so many of us in this day and age complain, think life is unfair. The political discourse is sad if not frightening---the anger, the discontent. Personal conversations are filled with complaints.

One woman in the Bible study who works with severely disabled children talked about the parents of the children...how some of them seem to accept that this (the child's disability) is just a part of life. They don't seem angry...they don't seem discontent. They accept and work to make the best of their situation.

What makes the difference? What makes some of us so irritable...ready to pounce? What makes some of us more content with what life presents?

"God grant me the courage to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." The truth of familiar prayers.

Blessings-Penny

another view

We drove out past Red Rock Canyon this morning to a breakfast gathering. Most of the times we drive to Red Rock Canyon we are taking visitors to enjoy the history and views within the canyon. It is so worth seeing. This time we drove past the usual route and enjoyed a different view. The massiveness and multi colors of the rocks are absolutely inspiring. Each way you turn, the sky is bright blue and the majesty is overwhelming.

It is reminder that in our lives, each incident, each conversation, each relationship is worth viewing from a different perspective. If we just take the time to consider another person's opinion, to consider their history, to consider their view of things, we might have a whole different picture.

I need to learn how to download some of these pictures on this blog. I'd love to share them with you---God's grandeur--Gods' gifts.

Is there another perspective you need to consider?

Blessings-Penny

another generation

The other grandmother, Debbie,  and I baby sat the grandchildren last week...babysitter emergency. The children are a boy almost 4 years old, let's call him David and a 14 month old girl, let's call her Elizabeth. They are precious children (of course). What struck me was watching them problem solve.

I sat on the floor with Elizabeth in the morning and played with Fisher Price little people going down a slide on the side of an amusement park toy.. Later in the afternoon as I sat on the floor and watched her the little people were spread throughout the living room floor. She was sitting next to the amusement park toy and looking at the little people. Next thing I saw was Elizabeth toddling around the floor, picking up the little people and taking them back over to slide down the slide. Fourteen months!! Isn't that brilliant??

And then Debbie had a card for David to complete for his mother for Mother's Day. The card had a series of incomplete sentences such as "My mother is powerful when...." or "I love it when my mother...." As Debbie read the incomplete sentences David filled in the personal testimonies. He got it immediately!! He only needed instructions once. That's pretty amazing for a three year old boy!

So in looking back over the past two weeks I am touched, moved and feeling blessed---watching the teenagers two weeks ago and the babies last week. I may not be the highest priority in those families but I belong.

Are you feeling blessed? Included? No matter what, we are a priority in God's family.

Blessings-Penny

the periphery

I just spent 4 days in southern California with my son and his family. It was a lovely visit---good food, comfortable home with great view, time with each of them---and especially a few private hours with my grand daughter. Lexi is just about to be 17. She has her first boyfriend. He's cute, plays football, goes to a different high school. They met at a church youth group. While I was there he asked her parents if he could have their "blessing" (his word) for them to be boyfriend and girlfriend!

Who does that these days??!! Who has those kind of manners??!! What I mostly read about is teenagers posting naked pictures on social media, bullying, hooking up. Where did these two very nice kids come from?? Of course they came from homes where parents take time to talk about responsibility, consequences of behavior, respect, manners. I'm so very pleased for all of them---the kids sense of social behavior, the pride the parents must feel.

The whole visit, however, was not "perfect." The parents went to a social event and though I was hesitantly invited it was clearly an event they felt awkward including me. They had apologized for the need to attend before I visited but I still felt "on the periphery" when the time came. My husband and I are slowly coming to the realization that we are "on the periphery" with all of our children. We understand they are all busy with children, jobs, exercise, homes etc. etc. etc. But the clear realization of our peripheral standing is giving us a bit of a jolt. We have seen it coming and talked about it but each occasion is a bit of an "ouch."

The good news is that this realization gives us an opportunity to see our relationship as a gift---strong, connected, humor filled, willing to talk and wrestle with these issues, mutually supportive; we play well together.

And we realize that we are not on the periphery of God's family. We are included and cherished in His family.

So are you---no matter where you might feel peripheral---you are one of God's children---treasured, loved and important.

Blessings-Penny

storage units

Have you noticed how many streets have big storage unit complexes? Even an investment firm is advertising that storage units are the next best investment. People buy a lot of stuff and then need to store something to make room for the new thing.

One of my family groups is selling their house. They are in the process of "staging" it so it can look beautiful to sell. They have been told to reduce their clutter so they are packing up boxes and boxes of stuff and putting it into a storage unit. Now if they can store it for several months, how much of it do they really need?

They work hard. They can afford their clutter. They have 4 children. But, again, if they can manage without this "clutter" for months, do they really need it?

I think it's a question for all of us. How much of our stuff is clutter and how much do we really need?
Our consumerism is owning us. We work hard. We put ourselves under such stress----for what? ---so we can buy more stuff to store? I'm as bad as the next guy. We went to an estate sale on Friday. I bought a set of brightly painted dishes---not a full set but enough to fill up a cupboard. They are colorful. Fun---something very different from what I have.  When I use them I call it our "happy meal." But I truly didn't need them. More stuff. More work to find space.

If I want a simple life...if I want less stress...I need to take time to think through what I buy.  Will this simplify my life or complicate it?

This clutter is just one of the pieces of life as we search for real peace... "a peace that passes all understanding." The real peace comes from knowing we are held in God's arms. No storage units...no painted dishes. Just trust.

Today, let me take a deep breath...and trust.

Blessings-Penny

topics

Sometimes---not often---but sometimes I wonder what topic I might write about in this blog. Clearly there are good people who check if there is something new on here. You seem to check a couple of times a month. And if you check it seems I need to make the effort to write something. And clearly there is enough "stuff" going on in the world that there should be an easily available topic.

But at these times I wonder if there is anything more to say---anything that hasn't been said;  like----
---the current politics in this country are profoundly troubling and embarrassing :
---Isis needs to be stopped somehow without killing innocent people
---mental illness treatment needs to be funded
There are lots of topics for which I have a strong opinion, but my opinion is nothing new or profound.

And then there are the good things:
---my son's fifth anniversary and the strong family he and his wife created---a situation that took much work and sacrifice ---one of those daily miracles
---my friend's (more than friend) continued recovery from her bone marrow transplant ---and her new curly hair---one of those daily miracles
---the gorgeous roses blooming so profusely in this neighborhood---daily miracle

Don't you sometimes wonder what meaning this all has?
How am I to be in all of this?

I guess it's an existential Monday. Sounds like a song title.---sounds like I'm a little loose today.
Relax---enjoy---and join me in my existential Monday.
Thank God---really---for a day to be a little loose.

Blessings-Penny