Category Archives: Love

Home is Number 5

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cell phone

We were sitting around the dinner table when the subject of numbers came up. Addressing my husband I joyfully said, I know what number I am -number 2. To understand the very special meaning of that statement, please read one of my most popular blogs, “Second Place Love.”

“Yes,” he said, smiling. “You are even number 2 on my speed dial.”

That surprised me. “I thought home would be number 2 and my cell would be number 3,” I replied.

He pulled his phone from its case and turned the keypad toward me. The number 5 is in the center of my phone, he explained, so home is number 5 because everything revolves around home.

I already knew that my husband’s life revolved around his family, but to hear this little tidbit just blessed my socks off because I love the imagery of it.

Dear reader, no matter how strong our prayer lives are, there will always be those times when we need to ‘speed dial’ the LORD. After all, urgent matters can arise very quickly. When they do, (and even when they don’t) it is good to know that our Heavenly Father is already right in the center of our lives, where He belongs.

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1-2

Second Place Love

“I Want to Be My Dad!”

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father son

“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice” – Unknown

October is my favorite month. In fact, I would consider it to be just about perfect, if only we could somehow get rid of Halloween for good. For the record, I dislike this holiday very much.

Nonetheless, my very sweet friend, who does allow her child to go trick-or-treating, shared something with me the other day that blessed me greatly, and I would like to share this with you.

After some deliberation, this adorable little boy decided he wanted to be either a Power Ranger, or Optimus Prime, the Transformer, for Halloween. His parents shopped on the right day, for they were able to get both costumes for the price of one. Understandably, they considered this to be a blessing because they were then prepared for whichever choice the lad finally made.

Later, a family friend asked the little boy, “What do you want to be for Halloween?” His father answered for him. To his parents’ surprise, however, he had changed his mind; he didn’t want to be either a Power Ranger or a Transformer.

“I want to be my dad!” he proudly stated.

This little boy’s father is his super-hero. Normally, this wouldn’t be such an unusual thing, but it is pretty awesome that of all the make-believe characters that this little guy could dress-up as on this night, he wanted to be just like his daddy for real. And that is exactly what he is going to do. Father and Son will dress exactly alike, beard and all, as the little ‘man’ goes out trick-or-treating.

I think this touching little story blessed me so much, not only because of the genuine love and respect this boy has for his father, but also because it reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s exhortation that we be imitators of Christ. And we do this, not out of a sense of duty, but rather because we deeply love and cherish Him, and long to be just like our Heavenly Father.

But whoso keepeth his [Jesus’] word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:5-6).

pencil lady

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Beautiful Prayer of an Aged Woman

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praying nun

Have you ever taken a few moments to examine your own life and said, “Lord, the older I get the more (fill in the blank) I become, and I don’t like it one bit!” Well, I sure have. And I must not be the only one. A few years ago I came upon a beautiful prayer written by a seventeenth-century nun whose identity is unknown. I find the prayer to be so inspiring I wanted to share it with you. If it touches your heart in any way, we can both praise God for the heartfelt words of an anonymous nun.

Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details- give me wings to come to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others’ pains. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains -they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint- some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

*This Prayer of an Aging Woman was taken from Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes. Morgan, Robert J.Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, Tennessee. 2000

“Everyone but Judas” Clause

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HATE

We hate some persons because we do not know them;
and will not know them because we hate them.
Charles Caleb Colton

In John 13:35, we find Jesus instructing His disciples, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” It would be easy to assume that the Lord was instructing  each disciple to love the others who were gathered  in that room, or perhaps, to love every follower of Christ, whether they were present or not. However, in this passage of Scripture, Jesus had just informed the disciples of a traitor in their midst; one that would soon betray Him. Were the disciples supposed to love him as well?

Judas was obviously not a true disciple, but he was amongst the other men when Jesus commanded them all to love one another; there was no “everyone but Judas” clause. There is a great lesson to be learned here, one that is taught in many  passages of Scripture, including Matthew 5:44, wherein Jesus admonished, “….Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you.”

It isn’t very difficult to love others when you know them, and they love you back, but loving someone that hates you can be quite difficult;  especially if they hate you for no apparent reason. Nonetheless, Jesus forbids us to repay hatred with hatred, no matter the circumstance.

Dear reader, there is little doubt that in today’s cold, impersonal society, some folks will hate each other for no reason other  than the one stated by Mr. Colton. It is all the more urgent, therefore, that you love others as Jesus intended. And that  includes every ‘Judas’ in your life!  Remember, there is no “everyone but Judas” clause in the Lord’s book.