Wooed by a Whisper

Could someone please turn down the volume? 

Noise pollution is wreaking havoc on my spiritual well-being. The whoosh of traffic streaming by my home and office windows. A TV or radio spewing news of racial intolerance, political upheaval and unrest around the world. A voice-activated countertop device that pumps music into the room on demand and a handheld tool that connects to voices, videos, music and mayhem with just the touch of a finger. Noise! It surrounds us on every side and it is making it ever so difficult to listen for the one who longs to have our ear. Maybe it’s time to put it all to hibernate. 

New Year’s Resolution: Live Loud in 2019

I could resolve to lose 10 pounds and exercise more, or eat healthier, or spend less money and save more in 2019. If I made any of those my New Year’s resolutions, I’d be in good company. Those good intentions are the most popular New Year’s resolutions for 2019, according to YouGov.

But what if I instead challenged myself to do something far more meaningful? What if the path I ventured to take is not something I do for myself but for someone else instead? Most people who make resolutions don’t stick to them anyway. So why not try shifting my focus.

I had considered resolving this year to not give any unrequested advice and vow to be a better listener. And I may decide to do that anyway because it makes good sense. Seems these days people are way too quick to give unsolicited advice or to opine loudly when they’d do better to remain silent. Speaking loudly might get you noticed, but will it make you a better person and have a positive impact on someone else at the same time? New Year’s resolutions should be about fresh starts, a new you and striving to make the world a better place.

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

If I’ve learned anything from the pain and heartache of a fractured marriage, it’s that true love can endure, does not fade nor falter, and hurts like mad.

When you choose to love, you run the risk of being hurt. But in knowing that, forgiveness must also share a space with love in your heart.

Love does hurt. Sometimes. Oftentimes. Because sometimes and oftentimes we hurt the people we love the most. And because hurt people hurt people. So, when you stand for a relationship and for another imperfect human being, you must accept that love can and does hurt, but having a spirit of forgiveness can help with healing.

I’m not advocating that you live life in love as a doormat. I’m only suggesting that some love stories are worth fighting for and that even when lovers hurt each other, marriages can be resurrected if there is room in your heart for forgiveness and second chances.

Hugs When There are No Words

It’s not often that we must comfort our children in the still of a brisk, cool night and admit we are powerless to rescue a dying animal.

In a moment like this, we can only offer them a hug and a prayer, and reassure them that our presence as the dying animal breathes its last breath is more than anyone could ask of us.

So there we were, my daughter and I, crumpled on the side of the highway, weeping over a dying deer. My daughter had witnessed a young doe get struck by the car in front of her as the deer attempted to cross over with several others in its herd. The car kept going, but my daughter with a soft spot for all animals immediately swerved to avoid hitting other deer and stopped to check on the unfortunate one who had been struck. 

Blissful Childhood Memories

(Guest blogger, Mary Gaston, shares vignettes from her childhood.)

By Mary Gaston 

I swung on the swing set, my feet kissing the baby blue sky. Toes painted a pastel pink, reminding me of cotton candy.

I dipped the stale dough ball into the water, creating a moldable piece of bait. I slid it onto the copper rusty hook and tossed it into the murky water. Within moments, the ball of dough found itself in the mouth of a bass. 

From Behind the Mask

(Guest blogger, Mary Gaston, shares a glimpse of what depression looks like in the mind of a teen-ager. She wrote this piece four years ago.)

By Mary Gaston

The grotesque, false face bears a forced smile, disguising the perpetual façade of sadness that lies beneath. A permanent crease rests between my brows and tears threaten to spill and stain my face. I tighten the mask.

“I’m fine.” Those two words hold such falsity. My voice is deprived of sound. I sit in silence and tighten the mask.

Night time is such a cunning villain. I am unable to silence the thoughts that flood my fatigued mind. I so desperately desire to find tranquility, but darkness tightens its grip like spindly fingers around my body. I tighten the mask.

A Memory Bank Depleted by Dementia

It was a day for banking memories.

We shopped, dined out, laughed and cried. We chatted about missing Chris, her son; my brother, who passed away last July. At the end of the day, mom remembered none of what we’d done or where we’d been.

When I tried to help her recall, she said sadly, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I remember?”

“Mom, it’s OK. I’ll remember for you,” I told her as we sat on her front-porch steps under the apple tree, me fighting back tears.

“Sometimes I think it’s better when you can’t remember some things,’’ she said.

Growing Old Is a Blessing

When I turned 40, I remember looking in the mirror and grimacing at the few gray hairs that I could thankfully stay ahead of with a pair of tweezers and a box of Clairol.

Then, when I turned 50, I noted the additional aches and pains as well as the loosening neck skin, thinning mix of gray and brown hair, and deepening crevices on my forehead and around my eyes. The brown-eyed girl in the mirror stuck out her tongue at me and chortled: ‘Girl, there’s no way to turn back time! You’re stuck with this face that’s beginning to look more like a Google map in terrain mode than the sleek, smooth surface of a well-maintained interstate. 

In His Silence, He Spoke Volumes

Count it all joy even when life is hard or unfair. That’s what we are encouraged to do throughout Scripture.

It’s not easy, but I find when you try to focus on the simple things that bring you joy, life is much more bearable and tolerable. But can there be joy while you keep vigil for days while a loved one clings to life and ultimately passes from this life into eternity?