Category: Choosing to See the Bright Side

Last weekend my hubby and I attended a celebration service in honor of the passing of one of our church members. He was an older gentleman who was a retired horticulturist. He loved to plant things and had been in charge of planning and planting all of the landscaping at our church. He was also an adult Sunday school teacher and he loved the Bible.

On the day of his passing, he worked on the grounds at the church and then went home and worked in his own garden. He went to sleep that night, next to his bride of 35 years. Sometime during the night, Jesus called him home.

As the pastor and the speakers talked about all he had planted, it occurred to me that I will think of him each time I drive into the church parking lot. When you plant a lot of things, you leave a lot of life behind. You leave some beautiful reminders for those who are still living on this side of eternity, of your time here.

It also occurred to me that he planted some different types of seeds in his Sunday school class. Those seeds have sprouted as well. The members in that class have likely spread some seeds of their own, that they got from him. Those too, are beautiful reminders of his time here on this side of eternity. His memory will live on for a very long time, physically as well as spiritually.

My grandmother planted trees and flowers that are still growing and thriving and she’s been in Heaven for forty-seven years now. I never met her, but I’m named after her and I’ve always held the stories of her close to my heart. Although, she’s not physically here, her memory lives on, not only in the physical plantings she left behind, but in the spiritual ones too.

It seems to me, that we all have a choice of how we will spend our time on our finite journey here. We can spend a lot of time being angry about what was or wasn’t or what is or isn’t. We can spend our time mourning the past. We can spend our time fearing the future. We can spend our time focused on all of our shortcomings or on our own greatness, or we can plant.

We can plant physical seeds to leave reminders, but more importantly, we can plant spiritual seeds of the faith, hope, and love, that is Christ, and those seeds will never die.

A celebration service for a faithful servant reminded me of the many choices before us. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

As I write this post, I have just celebrated my 47th trip around the sun. While that number blows my mind sometimes and I find myself wondering how I got here, I mean there are times when I literally feel like I should still be getting ready to graduate from high school, not getting ready for my own child to graduate; for the most part, I feel grateful.

I feel blessed to have lived this long. In a society that tells us that every gray hair and wrinkle is something to be ashamed of and that we should all strive to be perpetually young, I feel blessed to have the wisdom that all those trips around the sun have allowed me to acquire.

I sometimes find myself having conversations with my daughter about issues that trouble her and I try to convince her that this or that issue will not matter in the big scheme of things. She sometimes believes me, but I suspect that she often doesn’t. I suspect that many things that trouble her young heart will only be resolved by her own trips around the sun.

I have come to believe that birthdays and age are something to be celebrated, not dreaded. Both are gifts that not everyone is given. Every time I blow candles out, I am reminded that the Giver of my life is not finished with me yet. With every year that passes, He has new things to teach me and new trails for me to blaze.

He has plans for me to make some kind of Kingdom impact. Every tear shed, every blessing, every health scare, every tragedy, every triumph and every trip around the sun, are part of that plan to make me the most effective on my journey here on this side of Heaven.

The same goes for you. But, we have a choice. We can choose to embrace the unique place that we find ourselves at the moment, our age, our health, our circumstances, and give it all to God and ask Him to use it for His glory, or we can become bitter and angry. We can long for yesterday. We can languish over mistakes we have made. We can choose to believe that our best years are behind us.

Perhaps the greatest step that we can make in our faith journey, is the surrender of the idea that we are in control. When we truly do that, we are free to see everyday as a gift and an opportunity.

We are not here by accident. We are here for a reason. A recent birthday reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂

As I write this, my daughter has exactly twenty days left of high school. As her mama, I know that those days will fly by. She’s so very close to graduation.

At the tender age of seventeen, she doesn’t think she will make it. She’s over it. She’s tired of high school, tired of her classes, tired of many of her classmates. She knows what she wants to do next. She’s made plans. She has a college and a major that excites her. She’s tired of the small town she has grown up in and she’s ready for adventure.

She truly believes she just won’t make it.

I feel for her. I remember conversations with my own mama just like they were yesterday, about how I just didn’t think I could make it another day. We called it senioritis back then. I’m pretty sure they still do.

But, as I think about her struggle, I am reminded that the hardest part of any task that we are undertaking, is the last part.

Most marathon runners will tell you that the last leg of the race is the hardest. That’s the part when they are sore and completely exhausted. They often wonder if they can make one more step even though they know the finish line is right around the corner.

A mama in labor often finds herself the most worn out and ready to give up just when it’s time for the baby to crown.

My daughter’s senioritis reminds me of the weariness that we all face when we are on a particular long, hard-fought, journey. It reminds me that we tend to be ready and willing to give up when all that we have worked for is just around the bend. It reminds me that the last leg is often when we start listening to our self-doubts or to other voices who want to see us fail.

It also reminds me to lean on faith that says we are exactly where we need to be at this moment. It reminds me that God has a plan and He’s got this.

I am completely confident that she will make it another twenty days, just as you should be confident that you too, will make it to the finish line of whatever race you find yourself running today.

Say a prayer. Lean into Jesus and keep going, remembering that all things are possible with God.

A case of senioritis reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

Back in September, my family and I, took a hike at a place called Raven Cliffs Falls. We had never been there before and were looking for a new adventure.

We got one. The GPS wasn’t working very well. Cell phones and mountains do not mix. We got lost on the way and ended up in North Carolina, but we enjoyed the warm weather and when we finally got there, we were super excited to just get out of the car.

It was early afternoon and we didn’t eat lunch because we had a late, heavy breakfast. The trail was beautiful and we got some fabulous pictures of waterfalls, but as it got later, we got tired and hungry. We didn’t know how long the trail was and we didn’t bring any provisions.

As the trail began to wind away from the creek we had been following and we kept seeing fewer people, we decided to turn back. Our cell service wasn’t working and we weren’t sure if there was anything else to see. We felt like there might be, but weren’t willing to chance it. We gave up and went searching for an early dinner.

As it turned out, we gave up too early. When we returned home and Googled it, we realized that there was something really beautiful at the end of that trail, a waterfall running between two cliffs. We vowed to return when it was a little cooler and the leaves were changing colors.

On Sunday, we went back to try it again. But, this time, we knew the way and I brought water and snacks. The Gaines Family was on a mission.

We moved easily through the first part of the trail. We passed by all of those pretty waterfalls once again. But, then, just as before, the trail began to wind, with nothing to see, but trees. There were parts that were kind of narrow as we continued to walk. We were hot and tired. My son asked me if I was sure that there was anything at all at the end of the trail. I stubbornly assured him that there was.

We trudged on and we passed someone coming back from where we were heading. We asked him if we were close. He assured us we were.

Encouraged, we walked a little further and there it was. There was a clearing and then a huge mountain stood right in front of us. And there was the waterfall we had been seeking.

It was beautiful. It was worth the hike. We sat and rested for a while. We drank some water and had a snack. We took lots of pictures and my son even wanted us to climb up the steep rock face. We did, but that’s a story for another post.

As we headed back down that trail, we met a weary couple who asked if they were close. This time, we could encourage someone and assured them they were.

Our hikes reminded me how it’s very easy to give up on whatever we are pursuing when we get tired and aren’t prepared. Whether it’s a dream we are chasing, or a relationship or even our faith. The right provisions make all of he difference.

When we pray, read the Bible, and surround ourselves with others who have been successful, we can find what we are seeking, and it’s always worth the work. But, we can’t give up. After we make it, then we are called to encourage others on their journey.  It’s a beautiful circle.

A second attempt at a hiking trail reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

As Halloween draws near, it makes me think of the years when my kids were little and we went trick-or-treating. My neighborhood is very hilly and spread out, so another neighbor and I got together and organized a hay ride for the neighborhood kids. It was a huge success and became a tradition that we carried on for the next five years.

The parents enjoyed it as much as the kids because they got to ride along too. The neighbors enjoyed it because they got to hand out candy to several very large groups and then they were done for the evening. The kids loved it because they got a ton of candy.

One year, the weather forecast called for rain. The parents were concerned. Would the annual hay ride go on if it rained? But, that wasn’t what concerned the kids. The kids wanted to wear and be seen in their costumes. Raincoats would cover them up.

Many of them had taken a lot of time to put together that perfect outfit and whether they were zombies or princesses, they wanted to show off each unique outfit. My own two children were no exception.

I couldn’t stop the rain from coming, but I could do something to help them celebrate their creativity and stay dry. I went to Walmart and I bought every clear poncho they had. Luckily, they weren’t but a dollar. When I returned home, I assured my nervous kids that all would be well.

The evening started out dry and we loaded up the trailers and headed out. Eventually, it started to rain and as the kids began to complain about their evening being cut short, I reached into a bag and pulled out clear ponchos. I wish I could have captured the delight on their little faces when they realized that they could stay dry and show off their costumes.

The Halloween hay ride continued and everyone had a ball.

I always find myself thinking about that Halloween this time of year and I remember the life lesson I learned from it. There are so many things in life we simply cannot control. The weather is definitely one of them. Sometimes it’s going to rain. Sometimes it’s going to be dark. Sometimes it’s going to be loud.

While we can’t control those things, we can control how we react. Do we stay indoors and miss out? Do we go out but cover up our creativity and who we are? Do we just cower in the corner? We can do all of those things or we can choose another way.

We can get out there anyway. We can find creative ways to let our light shine even thought it’s dark, even thought it’s rainy, even thought it’s scary. We are each uniquely made and we aren’t meant to cower. We were meant to be creative and courageous, remembering that all things are possible with God and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

As Christians, it’s up to us to bring some light into the darkness. When we walk with Jesus, we never walk alone.

A rainy Halloween reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

When you work in the office at an elementary school, you begin to notice that there are some kids who are frequent flyers. Some are in the clinic all of the time. Some have regular discipline issues. Some are never sure how they are going home for the day.

One of those kids was in the office yesterday. He has good days and bad days. He struggles. He has a tough back story. But, he knows that the staff at our school cheers for him on his good days, the days when he gets it right.

Yesterday, he came into the office with a smile on his face, something that’s kind of rare for him, and announced matter-of-factly, that he was snackless. We keep snacks in the clinic for the kids that can’t bring one from home. We chuckled at his terminology as we ushered him into the clinic to claim a snack.

Our nurse proclaimed rather loudly to him how happy she was to see his smile as she got him a snack. He thanked her and headed back to class.

I thought about that little boy for the rest of the afternoon. I thought about how everyday is a struggle for him to get it right, to make the right choices, to see the bright side. I thought about how even though he has spent a fair amount of time in trouble, he knew that he would be welcomed when he was in need. He knew he would receive if he only asked.

Haven’t we all been there? Haven’t we found ourselves making the wrong choices? Haven’t we found ourselves with the inability to find the good in the place we find ourselves? Haven’t we found ourselves so far down that we wonder if we can ever climb back out?

I know I have. But, I have also found myself in situations where if I was willing to look outside of the darkness, I could see others cheering me on, praying that I would get it right. I have found myself so far off of the right path, that I wondered if I would ever make it back. But, I did.

When I admitted my need for Jesus, He willingly stepped in and provided. Just like that little boy came in and announced that he was snackless and we reached out to him, Jesus reaches out to us and gives us what we need. I think heaven cheers for us when we admit our need, when we get it right, just like our staff at school cheers for that little boy.

The Bible says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

We’ve all been lost. We’ve all been snackless. When we admit our need, Jesus will find us and feed us.

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

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Due to the fact that my son waited to the last minute to write a paper for his lit class and the fact that my brother was unable to install Word on his computer a few weeks back, I was unable to use my computer last night. I don’t really have a post today. But, as irritated as I was with him, I reminded myself that in a couple of years, he won’t even live at home anymore. My time with him is flying.

In the big scheme of things, not having use of my computer for the evening is really not a big deal. Getting angry over trivial matters is a waste of my emotional resources. The older I get, the more I have come to realize that most of the things that drive us crazy in life and eat up so much of our emotional energy, are in fact, trivial.

So, I leave you today with one of my favorite scriptures: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

That’s great advice from Paul, advice I think we can all use. There’s a lot of really negative stuff going on, but there always has been. Chaos and evil are not new and it’s rather presumptuous of us to believe that we ware somehow living in the darkest moments of history. We have all been chosen to live at this time, in this moment, for a reason.

Let us remember there’s a lot of good stuff too. May God touch our hearts and turn them all to the light, the light of Christ. When we have that light, the world is a brighter place. Perhaps you needed reminding today.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

A couple of Sundays ago, I learned that the women in our church choir were going to sing, “I’ll Fly Away.” I was ecstatic. I have always loved that song. I sang it in church as a kid. But, as we began to sing, I learned that the sopranos were going to sing it completely differently than the version I know and love.

Unexpectedly, I felt my eyes fill with tears. I took a deep breath. What in the world was going on with me, that the changing of a church song would bring me to tears? What was the big deal?

But, age, and hopefully wisdom, has taught me that tears are an indicator that something deep within is bubbling, something I likely have not given attention to. I filed the knowledge away and finished the song.

But, I didn’t forget, nor did I try to. I knew that I needed to spend some quiet time in prayer to get my answers, so I found some time to do just that.

The quiet answer that came to me was simply one word, “change.” I really don’t do change very well and this season has been one of many changes for me, good changes for the most part, but changes, just the same. Instead of allowing myself to truly deal with saying goodbye to what was, I have just powered on full steam, to what is. The song was just one more change.

Dwelling on yesterday is a waste of time, right?

Maybe. But, when the chapter that you are closing was a long one and was filled with many wonderful memories, perhaps, actually closing it, takes some time and thought. Maybe, missing what was, doesn’t mean I’m not super excited, grateful, and happy about what is, as well.

Maybe, I need to make room in my heart for both and if I find some tears flowing along the way, that’s okay. As I’ve written here before, there’s great healing in tears.

After praying about it and thinking about it, I sang the new arrangement of that old favorite hymn again, the next week. It was then I learned that our choir director had arranged the piece herself. I’ll have to admit that I really found myself enjoying it and the joy I saw in her eyes when she saw us singing it, made the change well worth it.

An old favorite hymn sung in a new way, reminded me that although change is often hard, it can be beautiful too. Embracing the new doesn’t make the old any less special or relevant and missing the old doesn’t mean the new isn’t wonderful.

We have room in our hearts for both. Perhaps you needed reminding today too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂