Author: Wendy

Choir Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
We should always be open to both sharing with others and receiving from others, the gift of wisdom that comes from living.

A few weeks ago, we were practicing a new choir song. I don’t read music. I sing what I hear, but I have learned which notes mean to go higher or lower, even if I don’t know exactly how much higher or lower. But, sometimes the music looks like complete chaos to me.

There will be three different rows of notes and different parts and then the sopranos will switch up with the altos or we will join in with the men, and I find myself completely lost. This was one of those times.

At some point, I leaned over to my choir buddy to my right and made some comment about being clueless. She’s been reading music her entire life. She gently reached over and took my song book out of my hands. She took my pencil and she made notes. She drew arrows and wrote in short directions. It only took her a couple of minutes.

She handed it back and asked me if that helped. It did and I was ever so grateful. She took a foreign language of sorts, and translated it into something I could understand.

I thought about the exchange long after practice was over. I thought about how at one time in my life, I would have never even asked for help. I probably would have just faked it somehow. If I’m honest, I probably would have been insulted that she took my book and actually wrote in it.

But, the older I get, the more humble I become. Pride is often not a useful emotion and rarely a productive one among God’s people. My friend heard me ask for help and she swiftly provided it. She has way more knowledge about music than I ever will. Why would I not be grateful for the lifeline?

She reminded me that we should all be reaching out to those around us who are struggling with something that we may have unique wisdom about. It could be how to survive a rough season with a difficult child, or a rough patch in a marriage, or a season of sickness, or financial issues. Sometimes our wisdom may involve matters of the Church or the Bible.

Every morning that we wake up, we should hear the little whisper that God is not done with us yet. We can begin each day with wide open eyes to not only reach out to others, but to be ready to receive as well.

A choir practice reminded me not to miss the many opportunities to share our wisdom with other people who are on this journey we call life. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Tree Lessons

Posted on by Wendy
Even thought the seasons change, our hope doesn’t have to.

My mama and daddy just went to the North Carolina mountains for a week, with some cousins. They had a ball and Mama sent me some pictures of their beautiful surroundings. I’ll have to admit, it was breathtaking. I love the beach and the mountains equally. I feel closest to God in those places.

When I surround myself in the sphere of His creation, I can’t help but to feel His presence and hear His voice.

As I was looking at some of the pictures, I thought about how they would be even more spectacular in a month or so, when the leaves start turning colors, with bright oranges, yellows, and reds.

Then, I began to think that the trees have no idea that something even more beautiful is coming. They are content with the green. Yet, in the dead of winter, when they are completely bare, that green looks like the prettiest color ever.

But, even when they are bare, the work of growing, still goes on beneath the surface. There’s even beauty in the bareness because the stars in the sky, become even brighter. They aren’t obscured by the leaves.

The pictures stayed on my mind all week as I felt a little nudge reminding me that our lives can be a lot like those trees.

When things are green and we are growing fast and everything is going right, we sometimes can’t imagine that God has something better for us. We get content. We settle. Sometimes we stop listening and get complacent.

The green season is probably where we spend most of our time.

Then, there are seasons when something wonderful happens, our lives are filled with brilliant colors and mountain top moments, like births, weddings, new houses or new jobs. While those may tend to be our favorite seasons, they typically don’t last for very long.

Then there’s the bare seasons, when our comfortable reality seems to drop and disappear. It may look like we have nothing left and hope can get lost. But, just like the trees, when they are bare, these are the times, when heaven shines the brightest. These are the seasons when we depend on God the most.

These can be the seasons that grow our faith the most, because when we cry out to God and seek Him, He will answer. He will restore our hope and hold our hand as we journey into a new season, one even more beautiful than we ever imagined.

My mama’s mountain pictures reminded me that on this side of Eternity, we all go through different seasons, easy ones, beautiful ones and hard ones and that none of them last forever. Whatever season you may find yourself in today, remember, as a child of God, you never walk alone. A new season is coming.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding too. Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Following Heavenly Radar

Posted on by Wendy
I couldn’t have know an hour earlier, that the light would be perfect.

Last May, I made an appointment for my son to have his senior pictures taken at the end of July. I knew the summer would be busy, with his wisdom teeth surgery, vacation, family visiting, me working, his birthday, my Daddy’s birthday, my daughter’s birthday and band camp, not to mention, school starts back sooooo early.

I knew my window was small and I knew the photographer I wanted to use, so I contacted her and I booked a date early. The pictures were going to be outside, so I kept my eye on the weather. Picture day started out with rain and the skies were gray most of the day, but the radar kept assuring me that there would be no rain during our time slot.

A couple of hours beforehand, it was raining. I contacted the photographer. She was watching the radar too. We emailed back and forth about the possibility of cancelling. She was already booked for the rest of the week and was getting ready to leave the country for a couple of weeks.

I was really unsure about what to do.

The radar promised that it would clear. We adjusted the time a little and decided to give it a shot. It rained on us on the drive there. I wasn’t very hopeful.

But, when we arrived, the skies cleared, just as the radar indicated they would. The sun came out and the light was spectacular. It was cooler after the rain and we were so glad that we didn’t cancel. We walked around for a couple of hours and the pictures turned out beautifully. I couldn’t have asked for better.

I had come so close to cancelling because I was going by what I could see.

The entire experience made me think about how often we make mistakes and miss out on blessings because we walk by sight and not by faith. The Bible, along with our prayer life, gives us the perfect radar to make decisions not based on what we think or feel at a particular moment, but by discerning what His will is for us and what He says is true.

The Bible tell us that, “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Sometimes, we feel called to do what seems like the impossible. Sometimes we are fearful of stepping out in faith, but if our heavenly radar has given us the go ahead, we can be sure the skies will in fact, clear and the blessings are coming.

A photo shoot reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy

Bird Like Faith

Posted on by Wendy
Sometimes just a tiny bit of faith can have huge results.

Last spring, a little bird decided she wanted to build a nest in our garage. My hubby and I thought it was a bad idea, so we fought her. She would gather up some twigs and sticks and put them high on a shelf and one of us would take them down. The next day, they would be back.

We didn’t think it would be possible for her to raise her babies in our garage. The door stays closed most of the time. How would she feed them? There’s also a cat that prowls around our yard. He belongs to our neighbor, but he can always turn up at any time.

We couldn’t figure out how she was building so fast. We kept the door closed, but the twigs and straw kept growing. At some point, we gave up.

One day, when I was working on a project in the garage, with the door closed because of weather, that little bird came flying through a small hole at the bottom of the garage door. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t imagine her being able to get through it to begin with, much less carry her nest materials, but she did.

It was really kind of amazing. We left her alone. She laid her eggs. She hatched them and those baby birds would get silent any time they heard us in the garage. And then they were gone. I knew they had been there because of the mess they left. Birds tend to do that, but I think every one of them survived because I never saw any dead ones and our feline friend tends to leave trophies if he’s been hunting.

That little bird reminded me of the many things that can be accomplished, when we have faith. Her quest seemed impossible to me, but she never gave up, even when we kept destroying her hard work. Her instinct told her that was the best place for her nest, (even though we have a hundred trees in our backyard). She was right and was rewarded for her perseverance.

Jesus tells us, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20

There are times in our lives when we know that God wants us to do something. Sometimes it seems impossible, but we have to remember that all things are possible with God.

A little bird reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Spiritual Sea People

Posted on by Wendy
The skies got dark, but it never stormed.

On a family beach trip this summer, we were sitting out by the ocean and the skies got dark. The wind picked up. The people who were sitting around us, started packing up their things to go inside, it seemed like a storm was iminent.

But, my hubby and I, stayed put. When our kids inquired if we were going to go inside and beat the storm, we pointed out that there were parasailers in the air. There were also two snorkeling boats with snorkelers in the water. There was even a couple of boats with guys selling ice cream and peanuts, that were continuing to do business.

We were simply tourists. We knew what the signs of a storm were, but those people were sea people. They are on the ocean everyday, close to year round. Their livelihood comes from the ocean. They have sea wisdom that those of us who just pass through from time to time, can’t possibly have.

They never headed for shelter and neither did we. The wind whipped up. The skies looked threatening for a little while, but the storm went around us. We didn’t get a drop. It wasn’t very long before those folks who panicked and ran for cover, had to drag all of their beach stuff back out.

I thought about the missed storm, long after our beach trip. I thought about how the skies in our daily lives can get awfully dark sometimes. I thought about how easy it can be, to panic and run for the hills. Fear can be a powerful force that can invade our every thought, if we allow it to. Fear can steal our peace.

But, I also thought about the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who have been through storms before, and like those sea people at the beach, know when to take cover and know when to stand fast.

When I think about the people I know, there are some that just do life well. They have trials and troubles like everyone else, but they handle them in different ways. How do they do it?

They keep their eyes focused on heaven and they retain a peace that can only come from God. They know that the true battle is always spiritual and they spend a lot of time in prayer. The storms come and go, but they weather them in a way that is different than so many people do.

A missed summer storm reminded me to not only seek out spiritual sea people, but to seek to become one myself. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Flamingo Faith

Posted on by Wendy

May our faith be like a flock of flamingos!

On a beach trip this summer, I saw large flamingo floats everywhere. I suppose it just happened to be their year, but I joked with my daughter every time I saw one, that I wanted one to take home with me and that perhaps we could strap it to the roof of our car.

I was just kidding, but I have always liked flamingos. Their pink color and the way they stand and bend their legs, and even they their beaks, have always been a tangible picture for me, of God’s creativity.

But, I recently learned something about them that I found fascinating; their vibrant color comes from their diet. At birth, they are gray. When they are malnourished they are white or pale. But, when they eat their normal diet of shrimp and algae, they are vibrant.

God set them up this way.

That little factoid made me think about how human beings are set up in a similar fashion. While we all know that our health and well being is a product of our physical diet and what physical malnourishment looks like, do we ever give much thought to our spiritual vibrance or what spiritual malnourishment looks like?

We’ve all met those people who almost glow with the light of Christ. There are those people who are rarely shaken by the curve balls that life tends to throw. They seem to always be at peace and when our own lives hit a rough patch, those are the people who we find ourselves seeking out with prayer requests.

They are a kind of spiritual flamingo. But, where does their vibrance come from?

It comes from a steady diet of prayer and spending time reading the Bible. Every time I have ever met a spiritual flamingo, it’s the same story. Their faith is very strong and it got that way through years of Bible study and prayer.

They become a beacon to those who seek to know God as well as those who seek a closer walk with Him. They become a comfort to those who seek them out for prayer.

I know some spiritual flamingos who are at the top of my list when I’m struggling. I’l bet you do too.

The flamingos I see in nature, inspire me to ask myself whether my spiritual being is malnourished or vibrant. Am I reflecting a dull gray or pale image to this dark world or am I flashing neon pink?

I’m going for the pink. What about you?

Have an awesome day!

Turtle Wisdom

Posted on by Wendy
We sometimes forget we are in His hands.

Early this summer, I was taking a walk and encountered a little box turtle crossing the road. It was really close to the grass, but I took my foot and gently nudged it to safety.

I reasoned that it didn’t really matter how close it was to the grass, if a car came flying by, it would have been crushed.

However, the little turtle did not appreciate my assistance. It immediately pulled up into its shell. As I continued with my walk, I thought about how it had no idea I was helping. It just knew something huge, moved it. It was afraid.

I hadn’t thought too much about the little turtle until my son came home last week and told me a similar story. He had actually pulled his car over and picked up a box turtle and moved it out of harm’s way. This particular turtle, actually hissed at him before pulling into its shell.

It wasn’t very thankful either.

I’ve thought a lot about those little turtles over the past few days. I’ve no doubt, in their minds, they were simply going the way they wanted to go and minding their own business. They were completely oblivious to the dangers of the cars flying by them.

But, just because they were unaware of the danger, didn’t make it any less real.

If I’m honest, I can admit that I have a lot in common with those turtles. There have been times in my life when I wanted to go where I wanted to go, when I wanted to go there. I liked choosing my own path and just like the one that hissed, I didn’t like to be knocked off of my chosen path. I often didn’t take interference too graciously.

Thankfully, God is always forgiving and good to me whether I’ve been thankful at the time, or not. God’s goodness is not dependent on my reactions. He has time and time again, saved me in spite of me.

With age, and hopefully, wisdom, I’ve learned that He always has a plan and I’ve come to accept that it’s often different than mine. I’ve come to understand that there are sometimes dangers that I’m unaware of, but I trust that God knows about them and has my best interest in mind.

Faith is a lifelong process and like the little turtles, I sometimes still want to pull into my shell when I’m bumped off of my path, but my trust is stronger these days. Now, I can usually appreciate the scenery of the detour. The view is often amazing.

A couple of turtles reminded me to trust God’s plan. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Restoration Business

Posted on by Wendy
In God’s hands, we are never past redemption.

This summer I spent a lot of time refinishing furniture for my daughter’s first college apartment. I have to admit, I had a blast.

There’s something amazingly therapeutic about taking something old, ugly, and seemingly past its prime, and turning it into something pretty and useful again. Old furniture tends to have a certain character about it, that you just can’t buy new at the store.

The simple years of existence, give it something unique, not to mention, it’s made much better than the newer stuff is.

I sailed through sanding and spray painting an old metal bed that belonged to my grandparents and then I moved on to cherry end tables that had belonged to my parents in a formal living room. Next, my attention went to an old wooden desk and chair.

I sanded some and primed a lot. Most of the paint I used, I already had from previous projects. Several times, I even mixed my own, with no clue what I was doing except creating a color I liked. Each piece came together better than I had hoped and I couldn’t wait to see all of my little tapestry of furniture woven together for the final product.

Then we pulled out the old dresser we were planning on using. It had been stuck in the very back of our under deck storage, for years. Unfortunately, some rats had set up shop. It was a mess and it smelled awful. I got out some bleach and went to work and even put the water hose to it, just to clean it.

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure it could be saved. But, my hubby felt differently. After a thorough cleaning and lots of sunshine, he cut the bottoms of the drawers out and replaced them with new ones. I sanded, primed and painted and it looked much better.

But, the mirror was black and blotchy from age. I couldn’t fix that.

My hubby had an idea. we replaced the mirror with a memo board, so our daughter could pin up pictures. Instead of looking at herself, she would see photos of fun times with people who love her the most. For a college student, this was a much better option than a mirror. It came together beautifully.

The entire furniture experience reminded me of God’s never ending love for us. There are times when we all feel out of date, past our prime and even useless. But, God is never done with us.

He’s always in the restoration and redemption business. He can take even the most damaged among us and make us new and useful for His purposes. And just like that old mirror, when we put our lives in His hands, He can create something even better than what was original. All we need is a little faith.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Taking a Step Back

Posted on by Wendy
We have lots of restoration to do.

Today is the first day that my son is out for summer break. My daughter came home from college a couple of weeks ago and all of my chicks are back in the nest. It’s a temporary season, but one I’m going to treasure. June at my job means ten hour days Monday-Thursday, so we can have Fridays off. The Fridays are wonderful, but ten hours is a long time to sit at a desk.

My daughter is moving into a small house next year. We are going to carve time out this summer to refinish some furniture for her. All of the pieces are old, solid and special. Her bed belonged to her great-grandparents on my side. It was their first bed. Her dresser belonged to her great-grandmother on her daddy’s side. Her end tables belonged to her grandparents on my side and her desk belonged to her grandmother on her daddy’s side.

We have been blessed with lots of unique pieces that belonged to some very special people, that also need lots of work, but restoration is one of the things I love best and she and I will work on them together.

My sister is coming to visit for a few weeks. We are taking a vacation.

With all of that said, I’m taking a break from writing on Graceful Gaines this summer. I may try to post here and there. I’m sure God has so much to show me in my furniture endeavor, but I won’t be posting regularly. I really want to intentionally take the time to love my people well this summer and to be fully present. It sometimes takes longer than one would think to write a post.

My son will graduate next year and I’m well aware that our family dynamic will soon change for good. While I’m okay with that, I’m excited for my kids and their personal journeys; I want to soak up every drop possible of the present. Time is the one thing we never get more of.

I want to thank all of my readers for reading and commenting. The encouragement always means the world to me. I pray that you have a wonderful summer and I plan on meeting you back here in the Fall.

Have an awesome summer!

Wendy 🙂

Senior Inspiration

Posted on by Wendy
Although graduation ends one chapter of the journey, a new one is just beginning.

A couple of days ago, the seniors from our local high school who attended the elementary school where I work, were invited to come and walk the halls in their caps and gowns. It was such a sweet spectacle. Their parents came. The current elementary students poured out into the halls and clapped for them as they passed by, sometimes giving them high fives.

One group, I’m sure, wondered if they would ever be that big and the other probably felt like elementary school was a lifetime ago. Then there were the parents who I suspect, wondered where all of the time went and could have sworn that only yesterday, their kids were the ones walking the halls as elementary students.

There were lots of pictures and videos and more than a few bittersweet tears. We had some of the seniors come into the office to ask if they could see their former teachers, those who had been standouts in their journey to this point, those who had believed in them, and connected with them, inspired them and made a difference in their lives.

I suppose we all have teachers like that, those standouts who we will always hold dear and will always be fresh in our memories.

As I thought about it all later, it occurred to me that while those seniors have reached the end of a chapter in this particular journey, a new one is just beginning. They will have new standouts and mentors, not only for the next few years, but for the rest of their lives, because the journey never ends on this side of Eternity.

I began to think of the standouts in my own life, from elementary school, high school and college. I have been blessed with many, but, there are so many more, family members, bosses and coworkers, friends, neighbors, in-laws, members of my church family, and members of my Salkehatchie family.

There have been so many people along the way who connected with me, believed in me and made a difference.

I think teachers often understand the call to connect with, encourage and inspire others. I think that’s often why they choose to do what they do. Yet, we are called to do the same with the people God puts in our path.

We all have the opportunity to encourage others and be a part of someone’s journey just as others have chosen to be a part of ours. If we pray about it a and keep our eyes open, God will send us the very people who need our individual wisdom and experience.

Because the journey never ends until we graduate to heaven. Until then, we should make all of the difference we can. Some seniors reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂