Sunday, June 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Tulips
I've long enjoyed the tulip. I remember them from the home I grew up in and the Pella, Iowa tulip festival. After Garrison died they grew to become an even more favorite flower for me. I have always loved Spring and the promise of new life after a cold and dreary Winter.
Tulips have a very short lived blooming season. Long after the bulbs are planted they go on to survive Winter, no matter how harsh. Then, they peak through the Spring soil. They have such sharp and bright colors--I'm guessing other flowers must envy the beauty and brilliance they possess.
This week, as I served at a funeral of a young man from our church, I was reminded of the frailty of life. I noticed that some of the flower arrangements had tulips in them. I thought again of this special flower--one which lasts only a short time, but while it is in bloom, it is such a sight to behold.
My journalism teacher in High School used to say, "Bloom where you are planted." I've always thought that to mean that one should glorify the Lord no matter where or in what situation God has you. Young people should not die. It just isn't the natural order of things. I'd like to think that their blooming seasons are ones that are extraordinarily brilliant because they were cut way too short.
I'd like to believe that there are tulips in Heaven. But, in the end does it really matter? The one I can hardly wait to hold in my arms will be there and that is what matters.
I've long enjoyed the tulip. I remember them from the home I grew up in and the Pella, Iowa tulip festival. After Garrison died they grew to become an even more favorite flower for me. I have always loved Spring and the promise of new life after a cold and dreary Winter.
Tulips have a very short lived blooming season. Long after the bulbs are planted they go on to survive Winter, no matter how harsh. Then, they peak through the Spring soil. They have such sharp and bright colors--I'm guessing other flowers must envy the beauty and brilliance they possess.
This week, as I served at a funeral of a young man from our church, I was reminded of the frailty of life. I noticed that some of the flower arrangements had tulips in them. I thought again of this special flower--one which lasts only a short time, but while it is in bloom, it is such a sight to behold.
My journalism teacher in High School used to say, "Bloom where you are planted." I've always thought that to mean that one should glorify the Lord no matter where or in what situation God has you. Young people should not die. It just isn't the natural order of things. I'd like to think that their blooming seasons are ones that are extraordinarily brilliant because they were cut way too short.
I'd like to believe that there are tulips in Heaven. But, in the end does it really matter? The one I can hardly wait to hold in my arms will be there and that is what matters.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Doors...
I've find myself in a season of missing Garrison. I think I am mourning that adult to adult relationship that we can't have. The end/beginning of the school year has a way of doing that for me. I also see Grant stepping into adulthood and some of the same personality traits that he and Mark share. I miss that connection that Garrison and I shared of being first-borns.
We find ourselves at a new chapter in Grant's life. Autism and childhood is a different world than autism and adulthood. Grant shared that Mark and I were his best friends the other day. While I love him with all my heart, I want him to have that connection with peers. The social world can be a struggle for Grant--it was in his school years and continues to be now. I wonder at times if that is why he has such a love of Acting. Things make sense. This is my line, that is your line and now we sing a song.....
I was reminded last night of one of my favorite sounds. The sound of the door closing when your child returns home. I remember that with Garrison coming home from work or a date--all is well now--we are all under the same roof. I can rest easy. Last night Grant got a ride home from "Joseph's" director and husband...his first door click at age 19...
It brought about the thought of when we return home to God...does He hear that door/gate open and close and think--Ahhh, my child is safely home. At 19, for Garrison, his door on earth closed and opened in Heaven. How I wish he was here with us, but since he isn't, glory to God that he is in the best HOME ever.
Now to help Grant navigate the door that leads to the world...can't say that I know what lies on the other side and what the time-frame will look like for him. I just trust that the same Lord who holds one son in heaven, holds the other son in his arms on Earth.
We find ourselves at a new chapter in Grant's life. Autism and childhood is a different world than autism and adulthood. Grant shared that Mark and I were his best friends the other day. While I love him with all my heart, I want him to have that connection with peers. The social world can be a struggle for Grant--it was in his school years and continues to be now. I wonder at times if that is why he has such a love of Acting. Things make sense. This is my line, that is your line and now we sing a song.....
I was reminded last night of one of my favorite sounds. The sound of the door closing when your child returns home. I remember that with Garrison coming home from work or a date--all is well now--we are all under the same roof. I can rest easy. Last night Grant got a ride home from "Joseph's" director and husband...his first door click at age 19...
It brought about the thought of when we return home to God...does He hear that door/gate open and close and think--Ahhh, my child is safely home. At 19, for Garrison, his door on earth closed and opened in Heaven. How I wish he was here with us, but since he isn't, glory to God that he is in the best HOME ever.
Now to help Grant navigate the door that leads to the world...can't say that I know what lies on the other side and what the time-frame will look like for him. I just trust that the same Lord who holds one son in heaven, holds the other son in his arms on Earth.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sow, Sew, So...
I have really been struck this week by 2 different quotes:
This one I saw on a friends Facebook page:
What you allow is what will continue.
This one on the page in a Bible:
Romans 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
What am I sowing? Thank goodness--it's not sewing--all sewing skill genes are in the shallow end of my pool.(A hot glue gun shouldn't count for sewing in my case.) My grand-mother, mom and aunts can sew---me no SO much.....
I love the many illustrations of sowing from the Bible---also having farmers and gardeners in my family again,.... me--not SO much.
James 3:18 "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." So, what is my problem? Why do I seem to live as though if I sow contention and strife that my garden will yield righteousness? If I'm not sowing patience and kindness how in the world do I expect a great crop to come forth?!?
SO what?....I have a choice in what I sow---it can be greed, envy, bitterness--that is up to me. I'd much prefer a garden that people would like to see--one NOT full of weeds, rocks, thorns...I'm just sayin...
This one I saw on a friends Facebook page:
What you allow is what will continue.
This one on the page in a Bible:
Romans 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
What am I sowing? Thank goodness--it's not sewing--all sewing skill genes are in the shallow end of my pool.(A hot glue gun shouldn't count for sewing in my case.) My grand-mother, mom and aunts can sew---me no SO much.....
I love the many illustrations of sowing from the Bible---also having farmers and gardeners in my family again,.... me--not SO much.
James 3:18 "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." So, what is my problem? Why do I seem to live as though if I sow contention and strife that my garden will yield righteousness? If I'm not sowing patience and kindness how in the world do I expect a great crop to come forth?!?
SO what?....I have a choice in what I sow---it can be greed, envy, bitterness--that is up to me. I'd much prefer a garden that people would like to see--one NOT full of weeds, rocks, thorns...I'm just sayin...
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Aren't they adorable?!?
Kids say the darndest things.....Well darn it--one of them did today...
Got the privilege of reading with a group of kids at school. After they'd finish reading they can take a quiz on the computer that tests their comprehension skills. Of course I had to go to the "when I was a girl speech of we didn't have computers." Wide-eyed they were astounded, "REALLY--what did you have?" "Well, paper and pencils." One youngin' spoke up, "They didn't have any FUN. It was the OLD DAYS!" I would have to disagree with her statement...but I let it go!
What did impress them though was when I told them about our fire drills at school. We jumped out the window. They wanted to know how tall the school was and didn't you get hurt a lot etc....in reality we didn't have far to jump and playing on the playground had to be much more hazardous, I'm sure. After all, we did have to cross the street to get there. But alas, I can just hear some of the boys at supper tonight--Mrs. Ringenberg jumped off her school when she was my age and they had a fire-drill...you can't make this stuff up-- I'm just sayin'...
Got the privilege of reading with a group of kids at school. After they'd finish reading they can take a quiz on the computer that tests their comprehension skills. Of course I had to go to the "when I was a girl speech of we didn't have computers." Wide-eyed they were astounded, "REALLY--what did you have?" "Well, paper and pencils." One youngin' spoke up, "They didn't have any FUN. It was the OLD DAYS!" I would have to disagree with her statement...but I let it go!
What did impress them though was when I told them about our fire drills at school. We jumped out the window. They wanted to know how tall the school was and didn't you get hurt a lot etc....in reality we didn't have far to jump and playing on the playground had to be much more hazardous, I'm sure. After all, we did have to cross the street to get there. But alas, I can just hear some of the boys at supper tonight--Mrs. Ringenberg jumped off her school when she was my age and they had a fire-drill...you can't make this stuff up-- I'm just sayin'...
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