Another re-write

I offered this devotion for a booklet the elders of Broadway Christian Church prepared during the advent season of 2000.
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THE GIFT OF PRESENCE
John 1:14

When I was about 12 years old and my sister Mary was 9, we decided to make my mother a dress for Christmas. Mom had been teaching us to read patterns and sew some of our play clothes, so we figured that we were fully capable. Money was a bit of a problem because the pattern cost 49 cents and the fabric was 89 cents a yard and we needed 3 yards! That $3.20 was a big chunk of our budget, but we hoped that the other family members would understand.

In the weeks before Christmas, Mary and I worked on the dress anytime we were sure that Mom was otherwise occupied. When we went to visit Grandma, we put all of our supplies into a blue suitcase and took it with so that Grandma could help with the sleeves or collar or buttons. Grandma was patient and helped us rip out our mistakes and fix it up right. My Aunt Shirley and my neighbor Sally were also women who patiently helped us along on our project. These caring women were present and available to Mary and me for practical advice on sewing techniques. But more than that, they encouraged us and urged us along.

Has there been someone in your life who has encouraged you in your day-to-day tasks? ---someone whose presence builds your confidence and lets you know that you are capable? Does your presence encourage someone else? ---maybe a family member, a neighbor, a child, a co-worker, an invalid, a person who is grieving, a friend? Today this person is called a mentor. But to me, in December 1964, these people were called Grandma Smith, Aunt Shirley and Sally Rice. Their presence was a gift to me. How can your presence be a gift to others?
(Oh, by the way.........Mom still has the dress!)

O Holy God, You came to be with us and among us. You came to encourage us and hold us strong. Help us to always realize the gift of your presence in our lives. May we learn to appreciate the gift of being present with one another. Amen.

A devotion I wrote for advent in December 2000

Waiting
Psalm 130:5-6

My father was a court reporter. He practiced "Take Your Daughter to Work Day" long before it was popular, so I spent some of my summer afternoons with him in a courtroom. I had to sit quietly at the back of the courtroom waiting for the judge to declare a recess. Then I would wait until the judge, jury, lawyers, bailiff, clerks and witnesses were gone before Dad and I could go to lunch. When it was a jury trial, I learned some really good waiting activities while the jury deliberated. I learned cribbage and euchre to help pass the time. (I'm still a pretty good cribbage player.) The saying "Hurry up and wait" is not exclusive to the military, but applies to the courts also.

Advent is a time when we remember the years the people of Israel waited for the Messiah. The Old Testament is filled with stories of God's people waiting for, preparing for and looking for the Savior. Read the words of the prophets -- Isaiah 40, Amos 9, Micah 5:3-4. Today we still wait -- not just for Christmas Day -- but for the coming of the Spirit into the hearts of all people so that there truly could be peace on earth. We wait for the Messiah.

What do you do while waiting? Do you read books or play games like I did while waiting with my dad? Are you wandering in a desert like the Israelites did? Are you preparing for a Messiah? What are you waiting for?

Dear Lord, As we approach Christmas Day, teach us to wait for you. Teach us to use our time wisely while we wait. Amen.

Motherhood with a teenager

I remember a time when I was soooo angry with my teenage son. I was trying to scold him. We were in the kitchen and I was holding a wooden spoon. I was so angry that I hit the wooden spoon on the countertop and broke the spoon. The situation was diffused by the fact that I had to stand on a stool in order to be taller than him.

I don't recall the issue. I do remember the broken wooden spoon and the ridiculousness of standing on the stool in my vain attempt to show that I was still the judge of behavior standards for those who lived in my house. I do recall the outcome. We both laughed and hugged. We both vowed to behave better in the future.

This Pickles cartoon reminds me of that time.

Lauritzen Gardens

Rand and I attended the plant sale at Lauritzen Gardens yesterday. This place is truly an oasis of beauty in the midst of the city. I found it interesting to wander amongst the tables of those organizations that were promoting their particular flower or plant of choice. Here's a list of the organizations:

Nebraska Daylily Society
Shady Choice Hosta Society
Omaha Herb Society
Nebraska Master Naturalist
Omaha Rose Society
Midwest Geranium Club
Great Plains Pond Society
Nebraska Bonzai Society
South Omaha Horticulture Society
City Sprouts (This group attracted lots of attention, but I'm not sure why.)
Greater Omaha Orchid Society
Prairie Plains Resource Institute
The Nature Conservancy
Nebraska Sierra Club
Benson Plant Rescue (for plants in danger???)
Ikebana International Omaha Chapter 60 (There are 59 other chapters? and what's an ikebana anyway?)
Retree Nebraska
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum

Whoever would have believed that there could be groups of people who come together for the sole purpose of talking about geraniums or daylilies or orchids or roses or herbs? These folks are very passionate about these plants. Even tho I don't share their passion, I appreciate those who do. These folks are stewards of the creation of God and help to make things better for the rest of us. Praise be to God for people who have a passion for our environment.

Prayer of Examen

One helpful tool for reflective prayer is the Daily Examen developed by St. Ignatious of Loyola. Here is a simplified version to try during this advent season.

1. Become aware of God's presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Look toward tomorrow.

During this advent season, may I adopt a rhythm of watchfulness and prayer, attention and reflection.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.

The reason

A story --
A newlywed husband watched his wife fix pot roast for Sunday dinner. Week after week, she would cut off each end of the roast and toss the ends away before she cooked it. Finally, curiosity got the better of him and he asked why she did that.
"Well, that's the way my mama fixed pot roast," she said. "I don't know why she did it, but her pot roasts were the best."
"Maybe we should ask your mama her recipe," he hesitantly suggested.
So, next time the new bride talked to her mama she said, "Mama, what's the reason for throwing away the ends of the pot roast?"
Mama said, "Well, I don't know why you do it. I did it to make the roast fit in my pan."

Reminder: Always find the reason behind the action to see if it makes sense. No blind following, even if the leader is trustworthy.

A good girl doesn't.......

1. Smoke
2. Drink
3. Swear
4. Bleach her hair
5. Ride motorcycles
6. Have a tattoo
7. Skip school
8. Skip church
9. Have a hicky
10. Attend auto races
11. Go to fortune tellers at carnivals
12. Question authority
13. Have a baby before she's married

This was how I defined being a good girl when I was growing up in the 60's. These are some of the things that I could not do if I wanted to be a good girl. Some of these seem silly to me now. Most are things I still wouldn't do, but don't define goodness or badness to me. I wonder how the youth of today would finish the sentence. "A good girl doesn't........."