"Though *I have not seen him, I love him. Though I do not now see him, I believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of my faith, the salvation of my soul." I Peter 1:8-9
(*replaced all occurrences of "you" with "I.")
Last week, I said I'd be doing good to get one hour done on my sampler since I officially started homeschooling Mary Grace this past week, and I've been getting ready for a trip to Nashville tomorrow. Well, that would have been really good, but it didn't happen.
I am going to take it with me, though. Long stretches of interstate and ample sunlight through the car windows are conducive to a little needlework. Again, I'll report next week if that happens.
This week wasn't completely unproductive, however. Mary Grace and I now know all the territories and provinces- plus capitals- of Canada. (If you'd like to hear my mnemonic device associated with that, just let me know). We have discussed the four major tissues in the human body and can spout off the cummutative and distributive properties of math. Check. I'm almost done packing...just need to pay a few bills, watch Lou pack the car, love on my kiddos a little bit, and we are ready to head out.
I am going to my home state.
sampler my mom made
I'm not going to where I grew up, Munford, Tennessee, but to Nashville, TN's capital and the capital of country music. We plan on listening to country music all the way there. Ok, not really, but I do love my country music. Lou and I will start our visit off right by hitting the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.
My current favorite country music song is Take a Back Road by Rodney Atkins. I smile every time I hear the lyric, "put a little gravel in my travel." We probably won't be doing that this trip, but the song takes me back to the many times I did that when I lived in the Volunteer state.
Lou will be in meetings during the day, brushing up on all things EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and I'll be brushing up on something I used to have - a southern accent.
Maybe I'll report a bit about things here on my blawg.
When I was younger (below 40), and people explained their middle age spread away with the words slower metabolism, I inwardly scoffed, "Yeah right, you slug," and promptly took another bite of my 10 p.m. bowl of ice cream.
Pride goeth before a fall.
On the brink of 50, I now throw those same two words around and hastily show people my thyroid medicine to prove it. It's such an interesting phenomenon. I want to eat as much as I ever have, but find I can't. I get full more quickly, darn it. So, you would think eating less would mean a person would lose weight. Nope. At least not this person - and it's all because of that pesky slower metabolism. More cheery news came out on this front in March, 2010, when the Journal of the American Medical Association released a study that said women in my age bracket needed to exercise an hour a day just to maintain their weight - and that's assuming they weren't overweight to begin with. I exercise and enjoy exercising, but an hour a day? Good grief.
What's a middle-aged girl to do?
The help I needed has come from my doctor husband. He has attended a conference on the heart for many years in Kansas City. There he has heard cardiologist James O'Keefe speak on all issues related to heart health - our diet being a significant component. Dr. O'Keefe and his wife, Joan, a registered dietitian, have written what Lou considers the healthy lifestyle bible.
He recommends it often in his practice. I have read most of it. Warning: It does have the following statement on page 26.
Also, never eat deep-fried foods or commercial baked goods.
Gulp. And that's not a deep-fried foods, or commercial baked goods gulp. But before that scares you away, remember that the book is also chock-full of the gazillion benefits to your body, your energy level, your mental alertness, when you eat like they recommend.
I remember quite a few principles from the book, but it was actually an article that Joan referred to on her twitter feed that has really helped me to practically eat a little better. She refers to it as the perfect meal plan: It has no fancy title, just five words to guide your eating: Two colors and a protein.
For whatever reason, that has stuck with me. I don't do it all the time, for sure. But I find myself thinking that way before almost every meal - and actually following through a lot of the time. This summer, a typical breakfast for me, was an egg, a peach, and half an avocado (or banana, or tomato). So good. And I was full, but not in the overstuffed, I wish I hadn't eaten what I just ate way.
Yesterday at lunch, I had ham, some watermelon, and half an avocado. (Can you tell I like avocados?)
Obviously, I am not a food photographer, but this was yummy
The great news in all this is, I have lost some of that middle age spread that's been creeping on. It may not be anything that noticeable to the world, but my clothes are fitting better. And, I feel better.
And oh, how I like to feel good. Have I sworn off the p. 26 prohibited foods mentioned above? Nope. I still love McDonald's french fries. I just love them fewer times than I used to in my younger years. I also have another confession to make. You know the healthy lunch pictured above? I certainly didn't follow it with a processed baked good -I knew this blog post was coming... but I did follow it with a homemade baked good (a horse of a different color altogether).
Homemade Peach Crisp
And you know what? Eating the perfect meal makes eating the perfect dessert pretty guilt free.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
The 2011-2012 school year began this past Thursday here in Bolivar. There was lots of talk on Facebook and Twitter about the first day of school. Our high school principal tweeted
We had a great first day of school today! We're looking forward to another great school year.
And my good friend, Sue Roweton, wrote a very sweet blog post about the first day of school. It's a big day. The beginning of something new.
The first of something typically signals the end of something else. In this case, the something else is summer. So, I found myself thinking about the last days of summer. Our family has had a very busy, fun summer. It began with a family vacation in Hawaii.
Pearl Harbor
Then I flew to Aspen with Hannah for a couple of days to check out where she was going to work. I know. I am totally spoiled.
The end of June found the kids involved with various sports camps and Centrifuge before we headed to KAA in July for our week there.
Elizabeth & Mary Grace about to tackle treetops
Faith & her friend, Heide
Home from camp to celebrate some birthdays,
Jasmine and Sara were here to celebrate 2 months after Hannah's 20th
Luke turned 22
and to watch more sports activities.
Not her usual good form, but cute
Then David headed to Kamp just as Luke and Hannah came home for a couple of weeks before they headed back to Razorback country.
He celebrated his 18th birthday at Kanakuk. We sent him lots of pictures of friends and family holding this sign
He received the 110% award
Fun! We have had so much fun. And I am thankful. However, with this much special activity occurring, routine has not been a word we have used much.
I like routine. I feel like I'm more productive, more efficient when I'm in a rhythm, a daily flow. I love getting a lot done. But I also like the "lazy" days of summer - when our schedule varies from day to day. In summer, there's a freedom and mindset that you just don't experience in the middle of February. Do I need to prefer one over the other? Can I contentedly say, "last days of summer," or am I one who pleads, "Last, days of summer!"
Here's where I adopt the Deion Sander's "both, Coach" philosophy. All of one or the other all the time would be tiresome. We need both. They both are good gifts from a good God who, in His great wisdom, gives us both on a daily basis - at least twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Sunrise, sunset.
The wisdom of God, the goodness of God, in these two times of day boggles my mind sometimes. He knows we need routine, the rhythm of light and dark, work and rest. But He also knew that the same old same old everyday would eventually cease giving us joy and giving him glory. So, every morning and every night, right on schedule, He paints a new scene for us in the sky. And even that scene changes moment by moment. It's beauty captures our heart sometimes so much, that we call our friends and family, or tweet about it, or blog about it. We have to share it with someone. That increases our joy!
Joy daily - with the sunrise and the sunset - and at the beginning of this new school year, the end of a busy summer, There's joy in the routine. There's joy in the variety. There's joy in God who's showing Himself in both, Coach.
Faith and Elizabeth - 1st day of school, 2011
18 August 2001
1st day for this senior - a member of the 125th graduating class of Bolivar High School
Note: Posting this Follow Through Friday is a follow through of sorts. I am trying to get back in the routine of posting them every week, on Friday instead of Saturday, for crying out loud. A couple of posts ago, I mentioned the sampler I am trying to finish, and I said I would continue to report on my progress here. I have one "thumbs up," and one "thumbs down. I worked on it one week, but not the next. I'll report how this next week goes.
Speaking of next week, I will be officially starting school with Mary Grace and trying to get ready for a trip to Nashville on Saturday with Lou, so an hour on my sampler work will be all I plan to accomplish over and above the joy of the routine of every day life.
There are all kinds of future blog posts running around in my head. Some that are pushing and jostling their way to the forefront right now have to do with my kids. I hope to, periodically, write a few posts with the titles, "Notes to My Daughters," and "Notes to My Sons." Don't all us moms out there have thoughts we want to make sure we've said to our children? Whether or not they're heard and taken to heart is another matter. But at least we've spoken our peace.
I'm not the first to do this. One of my spiritual mothers, Elisabeth Elliot, wrote Let Me Be a Woman for her daughter. And, the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon, wrote the book of Proverbs for his sons. Now please don't think I'm putting myself in the same category of wisdom that my two examples inhabit. A Venn diagram of our three lives would show the only common relation present between us is parent. I do, however, like it when I at least try to do what wise people have done. With that said, I want to say some things to and for my kids.
Obviously, I'm wanting to say some things that I think will help them in life. I've been trying to do that since they took their first breath. But guess what? They haven't always listened to me! I know that's shocking, but they don't just say, when corrected by me, "Why, thank you, Mom! Of course what you are suggesting is the wisest course of action. I will change how I am thinking and what I am doing right now!" They've actually said and done things that haven't pleased me.
One of the things that I wasn't prepared for as a parent, was the vast array of feelings I would experience and the intensity of those feelings. I had always heard about the selfless, loyal, "mama bear" kind of love. I expected that and I experience that - intensely. But I also experience some intense moments of displeasure, disappointment, anger and hurt. And the thoughts I have during those moments are, well, thoughts I didn't think any good, godly mother would ever have. I didn't feel very loving. Where was a mother's love in all that mess?
And then, the verse that set me free and convicted me, all at the same time.
I consider the following my watershed parenting verse - a verse that's basically repeated three times - in Matthew 3:17, Luke 3:22, and Mark 1:11 (quoted below).
And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
Do you see the order of things in this verse? God loves his son, and only after he affirms this love for his son does he talk about being pleased with him. Love first. Unconditional love - not based on anything done.
God used this verse to teach me about unconditional love for my children. I am to love them first - unconditionally. The pleasure or displeasure (which will happen) comes after the love, is second to the love, doesn't affect the love. Pleasure (or displeasure) is a feeling. Hard, un-motherly feelings during hard parenting times don't mean you don't love your child. They just mean you, like every other human, have feelings. Here's where I have to pray one of my lifeline prayers.
Lord, help me. I feel _____(here's where I spill my guts to Him). But please, help me know how to feel about this. Help me know how to think about this. Give me the wisdom I need in this.
So, where does that put love? Love -that word that the wisest of the wise have tried to define - is bigger than I can even begin to describe here. As I think about what it means to love my children, I would tell them that their mom:
-Is forever and always for you. -Is on your team.
-Wants what's best for you.
-Is praying for you.
-Believes in you.
-Thinks God did amazing when He made you.
-Is thankful for you.
-Sees you as a gift.
-Hurts when you hurt.
-Celebrates when you celebrate.
-Is cheering you on.
-Chooses you.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO OR DON'T DO. Unconditionally. For the rest of my life. I would like to say this kind of unconditional love comes naturally to me. It doesn't. But here's where the Holy Spirit helps me in my weakness. He helps me fight for this kind of love. To press hard into it.
I need to make this unconditional love clear to my children before I attempt to write any of those potential notes that I introduced in the first paragraph. Those notes will be largely about ways of thinking and ways of doing. And I'll be writing them because I think they will be helpful. I hope they are. But no matter whether or not my kids even read them, let alone take them to heart - no matter what my kids think, what they say, or what they do, I love them. I choose them. I'm for them.
August 1, 2011, is my 24th wedding anniversary. This past week, Lou and I have been reminiscing, voicing more than one, "This time 24 years ago... ____." I am thankful for the sweet memories. I am thankful for my sweet husband. I'm posting it on my blog so it's out there, for the whole world to know. I'm virtually standing on top of the highest mountain, shouting out, with a huge smile on my face,
"I'd marry him all over again!"
I spent just a little time tonight, looking through a few old photographs and found a few items from those first months and years. No real rhyme or reason. Not exhaustive (aren't you glad for that). They just made me smile, so I thought I'd share them here. Kind of a little wedding anniversary celebration on my blog.
Announcement in my local paper
One of my favorite pics of us - summer 1987
At our rehearsal dinner
My first backpacking trip - July 1988. And just fyi, his pack was heavier.
Costume party. Lou wore his dad's WWII uniform.
I love how our child pulls us together
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of this man. I'd marry him all over again.
The good news is I haven't let myself start any new needlework projects until this one is done. The bad news is I've been working on this project for about 20 years. Which is why I mentioned it last week in my Follow Through Friday.
MyFollow Through Fridayswill return...we've just been traveling so much this summer, that I'm all discombobulated. Just to help me get back on track, I'm giving myself a small goal this week. I have a sampler that is 22 years in the making (embarrassing). I worked on it some while we were at camp, and I'd like to work on it for at least an hour a week. So, next week, I'll report if that happens.
My report begins with a little background information. Not long after moving to Bolivar in 1988, we met Jim and Emily Frost, a Godly couple who led a ministry called Chi Alpha. Lou and I, young and kidless, helped with this 1990's version of the high school ministry, K-Life. We met in Jim and Emily's home on Wednesday nights, for fun, music, and teaching from God's Word. In their home, displayed on a wall near the entrance, was the following sampler.
I was admiring it one night, when Emily came and stood beside me. When I asked her how long it had taken her to make it, she told me that someone had made it for her. I had known before that moment that Emily was a Proverbs 31 woman, but it was triply confirmed knowing someone else had poured that much time into a project that said so much, and then given it away - to Emily. And I can say, after 22 years of knowing Emily, my respect and admiration for her has only grown. She is one of many women I have met that have inspired me to work at becoming a Proverbs 31 woman.
So inspired, 20 years ago, I decided to make that sampler - to have before me a reminder of what I want God to do in me.
My instruction booklet is showing it's 20 years old. Once that corner came off, I laminated it to keep it from completely falling apart.
There's a serious crease in the middle and I can't really tell what to do there, so I may need to purchase new instructions for the home stretch. I have everything done in that creased area - except the cat. And really, I do have a lot done! It's mostly outlining that's left.
My work in progress
And, I'm happy to report, I did put that hoped-for-hour in this week. It was on Thursday night, about 10 p.m., but it did happen. Follow through success! I'm so pumped about how close I am that I am purposing to work on it for at least an hour each week until it's done. I'll continue to report a thumbs up or thumbs down here no matter what my future follow throughs are.
Besides having a few stitches to put in, I also have a few stitches to take out before all is said and done. My poor little husband and wife in the picture below have an eye issue going on. It seems my french knot skills are inconsistent, to say the least.
But, if my eyes hold out and I stay consistent, it won't even be another year before this sampler will be frame-able. It's definitely been a work in progress. But I think know it will be worth it.
I'm a work in progress, too. Thankfully, I have some great examples to follow along the way. Some real Proverbs 31 women. Their worth is far above jewels.
Thanks, Emily
Next week: Company's coming, so nothing new this week - except more work on my sampler...I know. I'm outta control.
Scrolling through the blog, Into the Book, I saw a review of a biography of J.R.R. Tolkien,
author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. However, his real claim to fame in my book (wink), is that he was good friends with C.S. Lewis.
Lewis' writings have influenced my life greatly, whereas Tolkien's have not. I confess to not having read any of Tolkien's. I tried once, but got bogged down in the strange names given to people and places. But because Lewis admired him, I knew, even though his writing didn't grab me, he was an articulate man of deep faith, thought, and intelligence. So I have appreciated him without being an ardent fan of his books.
I appreciate him even more after reading this review of the biography, J.R.R. Tolkien, by Mark Horne. The review included the following:
Tolkien had a very hard childhood. His father died when he was very little, and his mother died when he was a teenager. His mother’s conversion to the Roman Catholic faith isolated him and his brother from other family members, so he bounced around through different homes throughout his school years, eventually ending up in the care of Father Francis Morgan, a friend of his mother. Even from a young age, Tolkien loved inventing things, and was particularly interested in language, quickly becoming bored with the Latin and Greek his school offered.
With the help of Father Morgan, Tolkien was accepted into Oxford after two unsuccessful tries, and there began to become interested in the Nordic languages, particularly Finnish.
In case you're wondering what part of that excerpt struck me, look for the bold print. How could a man of that caliber fail to get into Oxford? Not just once, but twice? I have no idea how college admissions worked back then, but wasn't his intelligence and potential just oozing out? Did somebody fail to see it? Or, was God weaving, working in those failures, to shape the character of a man?
"After two unsuccessful tries," are four words that convey what happened, but are devoid of the anguish that must have accompanied such disappointments. Don't we all have to work through our unique, yet similar anguishes? But, oh, how helpful it is when I read about someone - so successful, so influential (in good, deep ways) - that failed at something he tried, but didn't let it take him down. Those failures were part of the growing pains of a man who has influenced millions.
I want to see my failures that way. As growing pains. At the moment they are happening, the emphasis is definitely on the word pain. But with time, as I look back at my failures, some of which I would put in the "doozy" column, the emphasis has shifted to growing. Which is exactly what I want to keep doing. And, if I want to keep doing that, pain will be involved.
I hope, like Tolkien, I am always willing to risk the words "unsuccessful tries" being written or said about me, knowing that the un will never possibly come off successful unless I try.
Of all of God's good food gifts, the peach has got to be near the top of the list.
Every year, around June 1, I start getting giddy over that soon-to-be bite of juicy, drip down-your-chin-goodness of the first peach of the season. I was actually surprised this year at how early they appeared at the Farmer's Market here in Bolivar, MO. Pate's Orchard in Stockton is our local supplier and I have yet to be disappointed in any of their produce. We also frequent Plaster's Orchard at the Polk/Green County line. Plaster's people drive over to the Bootheel once a week and pick up peaches grown in Campbell, MO, from Bader Orchards. I am eating one even as I type - a process that is going slower than usual, since I am stopping every bite to close my eyes and say yummmmm....
It's fitting that the delicious peach I'm eating now is from Campbell, MO, where my Mom was born and raised. It's her recipe that I want to share with you. When my parents first moved to Bolivar, they ran over to Stockton to buy peaches. My mom overheard a lady in the building talking about making Peach Conserve. Never shy, she asked for the recipe on the spot. To say we like it, love it, is an understatement. It now occupies a hallowed place in our family. Mom usually makes 30 pints or so every summer, but this summer, she's felt a little more under the weather than usual. So, the girls and I tried our hand at it. Thankfully, Mom has been just a phone call away...
I was actually on the phone with her when I copied down this recipe. A couple of clarifications:
-a #2 can is 20 oz.
-3 oz jello pkg
My mom emphasized the "don't skimp" part, so I set my timer to make sure I didn't.
Recipe ready, it was time to start. I googled how to get my jars and lids ready. I went here, found it interesting, but ended up doing what my mom said, and boiled everything. Then, the girls and I started peeling.
Many hands make light work
And tasting. You can't help it. That goodness is just begging to go in your mouth.
After the peeling and crushing, we boiled.
It takes a while to get that volume to a boil - and don't have your pot too full. I combined two recipes the next time we made it, and it boiled over. Not fun. Then the "no skimping" part and - done.
After making an impromptu funnel out of a styrofoam cup, we poured that conserve goodness into our jars. After all the lids had sealed and jars had cooled, we took them down to the downstairs frig where they will live until they are gone. Because of careful rationing, especially at the end of our supply, we usually don't eat our last jar until about March - which gives us a couple of months or so to miss it and long for it again!
We still have 1 or 2 more recipes to make - each one makes about 6 pints. I'm getting the hang of it, thanks to Mom's good recipe and her good coaching. I'm glad she wasn't shy that day in Stockton. And I'm very glad God made the peach.
Note: My Follow Through Fridays will return...we've just been traveling so much this summer, that I'm all discombobulated. Just to help me get back on track, I'm giving myself a small goal this week. I have a sampler that is 22 years in the making (embarrassing). I worked on it some while we were at camp, and I'd like to work on it for at least an hour a week. So, next week, I'll report if that happens.
I heard a sermon one time that pointed out something about the ten commandments that now seems quite obvious to me, but until that time, I had never noticed before. One of these ten is not like the others.
That these 9 - no other gods before me, no idols, honor God's name (I wonder what He thinks of our casual, constant OMGs?), honor your parents, don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, and don't covet - made the top ten, is understandable. It's #4 that is the surprise.
SABBATH/REST
Is our resting really so important to God that He would put it in this list? Right in there with do not murder?
This is on my mind because we are at KAA this week. Lou has been a volunteer doctor here at Kids Across America for the last 12 years. He's on call for emergencies and has sick call 2x/day, but all the other time, we rest. Our only scheduled event is mealtime, which is graciously provided for us. And, of course, we also enjoy all the other amenities a camp offers. But it is all rest. Purposeful rest. Not only is there more time to walk, swim, read, think and visit, but there is more time to be with God, to be in His word, to talk to Him, listen to Him. That is real rest and renewal. We always come back from KAA rested and renewed. Strengthened for the battles of every day life.
Purposeful resting strengthens. It's essential for physical and spiritual health. That's why God put it in the top 10 as something we need, not just for a week every summer, but every 1 in 7 days. Is that mind blowing to anybody but me?
So what does a sabbath rest look like in 2011?
Well, it would certainly look different for me now than it did when I had 6 kids at home ages 9 and under. Back then, a sabbath rest was going to the grocery store alone. It was moments here and there when everybody happened to be napping at the same time and I gave myself permission to rest too - in the middle of the day, no less! If any young moms are reading this right now, please, please hear this. Give yourself permission to rest. Or even more compelling, obey God, and rest. Ask God to show you what that looks like in your family with its schedules and demands. He always equips for what He commands. And, don't be shy about getting a babysitter just so you can rest. Periodically, when I felt I couldn't dog paddle one minute longer and I couldn't find any time or space at home, I'd hire a sitter and go to Dunnegan Park for a couple of hours to just sit in my car and think, read, pray, and yes...nap. Rest.
My kids are older now (ages 21-12) and, believe it or not, no longer want to spend every waking moment with me! I actually ask them to go to the grocery store just so I can spend a little more time with them. My struggle now is not time to rest, but how I rest. During my sabbath times, am I coming away renewed and encouraged, which is the product of real rest, or have I spent my time on weak substitutes? Am I hoping that my continual doses of distraction and entertainment supply what God says I need? That duo has been through the studies and the test trials of the ages. While they may seem to work in the short term, they've been shown over and over again to have just the opposite effect.
In Isaiah 40:31, we are told what is needed for real rest, real renewal.
"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
We have to set aside time to do this verse. It's a command. Rest. Sabbath.
One last thought. In that same sermon I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Matt Chandler referenced the following quote by Abraham Heschel that has pushed me to think more deeply and more practically about the sabbath rest and what it might look like. Lots of grace and freedom in these words.
A man who works with his mind will sabbath with his hands. A man who works with his hands will sabbath with his mind.
God gave Moses a top ten in Exodus 20. He meant them. Let's take another look at #4.
When Andy comes to visit, I know I'm going to learn something.
My brother and sister-in-law, Debbie, and 4 of their 7 kids visited last week. We played putt-putt, rode go-carts, visited Bass Pro and ate at Lambert's. But those were just the different settings to do what I like to do best with them...talk.
I think it was after our first meal together that Andy pushed back from the table and asked, "You know what Joaquin Andujar says is one word to describe baseball?" Potential answers started flying. I suggested "depressing." (It's depressing because of baseball stats. How can you be a really great hitter when, batting a solid 300, you are messing up in one way or another 7 out of 10 times at the plate?)
He then proceeds to tell us Andujar's answer: "You-never-know."
Obviously not a one word answer, but when you read a little about Joaquin and a few more of his quotes, it quickly becomes obvious that he would not change the phrasing of that question.
"You-never-know." We talked about the truth of that, not only in baseball, but also in life, as we sat around a table full of empty plates. My contribution to that conversation took us back to January 2008, when Luke and the Bolivar boys basketball team beat the Branson Pirates in double overtime at their place. Branson, always a formidable opponent, had just won the Blue Division of the prestigious Blue & Gold tournament. Bolivar was their first game after that little accomplishment. Right before the game started, there was a presentation of the trophy, an honoring of one of their players who set a 3 point record for the tournament, and the announcement that there would be a reception for their coach - celebrating his career wins - immediately following our game. Lou and I never said what we all thought was a given - "We are about to get killed." I was just hoping it wouldn't be too mortifying.
But, you never know.
I couldn't possibly do justice if I tried to describe that game and my blood pressure. Suffice it to say, we stayed with them (obviously), and played our hearts out. Thankfully, Lou and I succumbed to Faith begging to go to the game that night. She just happened to have her movie camera, and captured the excitement of that final minute. She was going crazy too, so the video jumps around a bit, but it's good enough to give us a lot of pleasure when we watch it and remember that game.
Hands down, the most exciting, happiest basketball game I've ever been to. It's also the example I use with my kids when we are facing some opponent in the sport du jour that is supposedly unbeatable. It's my "Remember the Alamo" of sports. "Remember Branson!" You never know.
This theme that Andy introduced their first day here cropped up again when Andy, Debbie, and I were walking in Dunnegan Park. Out of the blue, Andy mentions another "you never know" moment. He asked if I remembered the story in the Bible about the lepers outside the gates of Samaria. I didn't, so he told it to me, and I'll share the gist of it with you. It's from 2 Kings 7.
During a horrible famine in Samaria, with no hope in sight, Elisha prophesies that "this time tomorrow" there will be food - even enough food to sell. What those suffering from the famine didn't know was what was happening just outside their city gates. Four lepers were trying to stay alive also and were considering their options. If they ask to go into the city, they'll die from the famine. If they stay where they are, they'll die. But if they go over to the camp of their enemies, the Arameans, and surrender, they'll either be spared or killed. The Arameans seem like the only option with a possible win, so they go. The Lord had taken care of the Arameans himself, and the lepers find an abandoned camp with abundant food, drink, silver and gold - all left behind. The lepers then shared their find with the famine afflicted city. And all that happened by "this time tomorrow." So, once again, you never know.
Since my brother's visit, I've thought about our conversations even more. They've made me think about God more. I tested the "you never know" principle on Him. Do we "never know" with God? Well, kind of. That certainly was the case described here from 2 Kings 7. But while we may never know for sure what God is going to do (could this be possibly in part because we often think way too small?), we can know Him. He's told us who He is in His word. He's become one of us in His Son. And He's given us His Holy Spirit to live in us. And when you know someone, when you look at their track record, you know whether or not they are completely trustworthy. God has proven He's trustworthy. 2 Timothy 1:12 says it best.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
My brother, Andy, came to visit. This trip, I learned a little more about baseball, the Bible, and God. That's a little entertainment and a lot of encouragement - a winning combination. He always packs those two when he comes. What will it look like on their next visit? You never know.
