The Medium Club

Today I was challenged by Chuck Swindoll's thoughts for today. He told a story about some children who created a special clubhouse. Their club rules were simple. "Nobody act big. Nobody act small. Everybody act medium." In other words, don't act like you are bigger or smaller than anybody else. Everybody treat everybody else in the same way.

Every kid enjoys the sense of belonging to an exclusive group of other kids. They create forts and clubhouses that they can meet in and join together for fun. Being part of a team or fan club gives kids the excitement of doing something they love with other kids that have the same interests. We adults are just the same way.

We surround ourselves with people we feel comfortable with. We feel more relaxed and at ease with people we have things in common with. We form hobby clubs, book studies, and social groups to participate together in common pursuits. Now, don't get me wrong, all of this is harmless enough. These are acceptable and good things to do.

The trouble comes when we begin to think that because of all these good things, we are better than someone who doesn't participate in the same way we do. I see this so much in the Christian world. We commonly treat others differently if they don't do things in the same way that we do. If others don't like to study or worship or read the same as we do, we exclude them. If they have different standards or behaviors that we find repulsive, we treat those people different than we do other people who act and believe like we do.

This exclusive behavior is usually justified by lots of Scripture quotation and protectionist thinking about guarding our children from harmful influences. And then when we do come into contact with others who have lower standards or behaviors than ours, we somehow think we are doing good for society by reaching out to them in God's name. The root of the problem is that deep down inside, we think we are somehow better than others by acting in this way. Many times we don't want to see it this way, because that makes us have to question our heart motives.

Pride and self-righteousness are the roots that hold us to our exclusive clubs.

These thoughts make me ask some hard questions. Do I act the same way with everyone? Do I treat everyone I come into contact with the same kind of responses? Do I show favoritism toward certain people over others? Are my motives for doing kind deeds or reaching out to others for selfish reasons? Do I really think that I am any more acceptable to God because of any THING I do?

Or... Does love and compassion drive me to treat everyone the same, no matter their behavior or belief system? Do I belong to the Medium Club?

On Guard

The dusk light was still shining through the trees; just enough light to reveal the figures of four young boys playing under the tall oak trees. Makeshift swords and plastic shields were swung wildly as my four young warriors battled one another and defended each other all at the same time.

If I could forever imprint these few minutes on my brain, the youthfulness of boyhood would never be gone.

I know they will all grow into young men, but I pray that the immaginations and companionship of their youth will always be with them. May they always appreciate the simple joys that come from brotherly relationships and a hearty good time. May they always be courageous comrades and never fear fighting for the Truth.

Star-Struck

The lyrics keep going over and over in my head. "Who am I that You are mindful of me? That You hear me when I call?"

On our camping trip last weekend, one of the guys in our group brought out a telescope. Now, our family loves to lie on the trampoline and gaze at the stars. We love to howl like the coyotes ~ for yes, we do have coyote packs that roam our neck of the woods. We giggle and giggle so much over the silliest things. Most of the time only a few of us actually see the falling stars because the littlest kiddos are wiggling too much. We have some rousing family fun outside at night star-gazing. We get out our telescopes and binoculars and talk of the constellations and gallaxies so far out into space. But we don't have any of the high-tech equipment to REALLY star gaze.

But... this telescope was different. It so very powerful that we could see Jupiter and two of her moons! I was truly star-struck. I am without words to describe the intensity of delight that I got out of seeing so clearly. To observe the colors and vibrancy of the planet that I couldn't see before with my naked eyes. What a thrill to experience.

A Psalm of the God-worshiper, David, says that God sees me in just that same way. He has known me since before I was born. He knows when I am sitting down or standing up. He understands my thoughts. He is aquainted with all my ways. He knows my shortcomings and my strengths. God formed me to be unique and special just for Him. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God, the one who created all the stars and sands in the oceans, everything imaginable, has precious thoughts toward me! Such knowledge is truly too wonderful for me. It is too high, I cannot attain it. (Ps. 139)

I am special enough that God is star-struck over little ole' me! Wow. He is good. How can I not praise Him!

You Just Never Know

You just never know when you are going to be in the right place at the right time to say what someone needed to hear.

The trip to the grocery store was that for me tonight. The pantry was getting a little bare. As much as I dislike grocery shopping, I know it's something I have to do, so I headed off to the grocery store. Once there, I was basically focused on my own agenda of manuevering around other shoppers and getting what I needed as quickly as possible. At one point, I remembered an item and went to get it. That's when it happened.

A recent aquaintance and her young son recognized me. She answered my question, "How are you?" truthfully: "Not very good right now." I listened as she explained that her father was recently told that his cancer had returned and that their whole family was in emotional upheaval. She apologized for being flustered and said she felt so awkward grocery shopping at a time like this.

As her story poured forth, my heart was touched with sympathy for her, her father, and their family. Immediately, I felt compelled to share my story of how many years ago, I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. As a young adult and a new mommy, my life was totally altered by a long and tiring year of chemo treatment and radiation therapy. The contradition of doing mundane daily chores and of battling a life-threatening disease is emotionally exhausting. I could truly sympathize with her.

I used to wonder why God allowed such a hard thing to happen to me. I don't wonder anymore, though, because my story has opened up so many doors to touch other people's lives. God chose to heal me through the wisdom of the doctors and the correct medications. Why He chose to heal me while others have battled cancer much longer and harder than I, I will never know. All I do know is that, because of my battle with cancer, I can truly identify with the heartbreak of those who experience it now.

My story isn't the exact same as anybody else's. Every time I share what God has done for me, I am glad for the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time to encourage someone else who is struggling. You just never know what will happen if you are willing to share what God has done for you.

A Pond Surprise

I walk beside
Our pond, so murky.
Just to see
A snake a lurkin'.

With in a second,
He leaps on in.
Then slithers out
With something above his chin.

I look real closely.
To my surprise,
There is a frog
Below his eyes.

I run right over
To catch a snake.
I scoop him up
With a rake.

Within a flash,
I hear a splash.
Oh, shoot,
I lost my prize.



by J.M.

Babies are for Cuddling

I have always been thankful that I chose to stay home with our children when they were small. At times throughout life, I have been tempted to go back into the workplace, but everytime, I am reminded how special it is that I am able to stay at home with my children ~ even though they are not so tiny anymore.

I spent time this weekend falling in love with a sweet, cuddle-able little girl. This four month old sweetheart is about as cute as they come. She cooed and smiled the whole weekend. What a darling. My heart strings were pulled every moment spent with her. She just needs to be loved, cared for, and taught how to love.

Every touch, every smile, every cuddle, I prayed for her. May God's hand of protection and care be over her. May she come to know love in such a way that ALL her needs are truly met. May the lullaby that she hears at night be the voice of her Godly Father reaching out His love to her. May she be rocked to sleep with the stars twinkling and smiling down on her.

How many other small ones feel the same pain that she will eventually feel? I wish I could gather them up and just love on them for a while. I wish I could just take away all that pain. My heart breaks for those who just need to be loved. My heart breaks for this little darling. It is easy ~ for all of us ~ to become so busy with meeting our own desires that we don't have time to meet others' needs.