Friday, May 13, 2016

When Life gives you lemons… it has a Silver lining





OK, I know it is a mixed metaphor, but it gets your attention and sets up the idea I want to convey.

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for me in some ways. I injured my Sciatic nerve and have been in quite a bit of pain. I have seen a doctor and am taking therapy, but the results are somewhat slow in reliving the pain to say the least. Quite a surprise as I have never had this type of problem before.

Next I had a filling come out of a tooth and went to the dentist yesterday for a simple repair. A few hours later I left the office after having two Wisdom Teeth pulled, a tooth prepared for a crown and three small fillings. This was a surprise as it is the first of my teeth I have had to have pulled in almost 68 years and seldom have problems with my teeth.

So, those are some of the lemons (the sour things that make you scrunch up your mouth and shake your head and say I don't like that). OK, I know you can make lemonade, but I don't much like that either. Now I can choose to dwell on those things and say, "Oh, poor me! Why do all of these things happen to me? I have to admit that I don't like the pain and am praying for quick relief, however I tend to look for the Silver Lining when I can.

A few weeks ago the church where I had previously preached in California sent us a house warming gift of a beautiful Boston fern. Now that the weather has warmed here in Ohio my wife hung it on the back porch and waters and cares for it regularly. Quite unexpectedly one day she found a Robin's nest in the fern. Now, day by day we watch it and as of yesterday it has 4 eggs in it. We also noticed one day, one the Robin's eggs lay broken on the ground and in the place of the Robin's egg was a smaller brown speckled egg. We suspect a sneaky Sparrow did this, taking advantage of the Robin's care for the egg and baby soon to be born. We are looking forward to this with great expectations.

OK, here's the point. You can choose to dwell on the Lemon's in your life, or you can look for the Silver Linings around you. I choose to try and look for the good, the beautiful, possibly the unexpected; for that which will make me smile and think good thoughts in spite of the pain life brings. 

Paul wrote these words to us on how to deal with life in Philippians 4:8 (I hope you find them helpful): "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things". (ASV) Another paraphrase of this verse says, "fill your minds with those things that are good".


So how are you dealing with you "Life Lemons"? Stop and look around you for that Silver Lining," and think on these things. 

Friday, May 6, 2016

Mother's Day Thoughts


This week my 8 year old grand daughter said, "Grandpa, come here," and she pulled me into the living room. She then whispered, "What are you going to do for grandma for Mother's day?" To which I replied, "Nothing"…. She had a shocked look on her face and I said, "Allyson, she's not my mother, she is your dads mother. My mother was great grandma Lawson." She thought for a moment and say, "Yes, but couldn't you fix her breakfast in bed or something?" I assured her that I would be doing something special for her grandmother.

Mother's day is not a religious holiday or a government recognized holiday, but it is one of the most important days we celebrate. We pause to recognize the one who is the center of most homes. Yes fathers are important, but mother's many times do most of the nurturing and spend the most time with the children. You may feel (but I hope not), like one young man recently who said, “My mother never did anything for me”. Our response was, “Yes she did,” “She cared enough to carry you for 9 months and give birth to you”. She cared for you, bathed you; fed you, changed you when you need it and did it because she loves you”. I mean, really, without your mother you wouldn't be here.

Many women choose abortion in our world and the life God has given them as a gift is ended. If you are a woman in that situation, I'm sorry if these words hurt or offend, but none the less I believe them to be true.

Mother's we who are your children are sometimes unappreciative, sometimes hurtful, sometimes difficult to deal with, but underneath it all, we really do love you. Thank you for loving us back! But mother's the most important thing you can give your children is an understanding of and love for God and His Word.

In 2 Timothy 1:5 & 3:14 Paul encourages Timothy by saying, "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them [that is, your mother Eunice and through her from your grandmother Lois]; and that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures [because your mother taught them to you] which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Thank you mother's and Happy Mother's Day.