Mildred's Piano

I'm blessed to have the piano that belonged to my dear mother-in-law. Mildred was a professionally trained musician and played with such oomph and style. My father-in-law sang professionally, so they were some kind of pair in their day. The photo below is actually an old advertisement flyer.

Technically, Mildred's piano belongs to my sweet sister-in-law, but she has nowhere to put it and asked if I'd babysit it for her. That was 10 or so years ago. I know at some point, the piano will no longer be here, but for now, I'm treating it with the greatest of care. And it rewards me by bringing me untold hours of joy and comfort. Many have been the days when I sat down and played away my blues, or played a song of praise, or just a fun song with little meaning.

Mildred's piano has made a great impact on my life, for music feeds my very soul.

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I'm linking up with Cindy's Show and Tell Friday. I hope you'll click on over and check it out.

Outdoor Wednesday - Calling All Pumpkins

Susan wants to see your pumpkins on Outdoor Wednesday today, so here are mine. To see the other pumpkins on display, click on over.

Autumn's Gifts

I finally put away summer a few weeks ago, and atop an old blanket chest at the edge of my foyer, a little candle glows, embracing all who enter with autumn's delicious fragrance.

Spiritual Sundays - Children Are The Greatest Among Us

For several weeks now, I've been linking up with Charlotte and Ginger over at Spiritual Sundays, and what a blessing it's been reading the inspirational words of other bloggers. I hope you'll click over and see who's participating today.

CHILDREN ARE THE GREATEST AMONG US

by Dayle Allen Shockley

Not long ago, I held a friend’s newborn daughter in my arms. I had almost forgotten what a delightful thing it is to hold something that exquisite and pure. As I watched her tiny hands slapping the air, I realized all over again just what a wonder children are, and why the psalmist David called them a gift from the Lord.

Not everyone believes a child has worth. Sadly, children are frequently abused and mistreated by parents. A child’s opinion is often disregarded and thought unimportant. But those who aspire to such behavior and ideas couldn’t be more wrong.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture, and one that clearly showcases just how much value God places on children, is found in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew.

As Jesus spoke to a crowd of people, the disciples gathered around. Suddenly, one of them asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

It was then that Jesus called a little child to his side. “Except you be converted, and become as little children,” He said, “you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Perhaps such an answer shocked the folks standing around, but Jesus had more to say on the subject.

“And whoever receives one such little child in my name,” He said, “receiveth me. But whoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

What a powerful testimony to the value that God places on children. And what a sobering message to those who mistreat or disrespect them.

Why would God choose a little child as the perfect model for those who strive to enter into the kingdom of heaven? Here are some possible reasons:

A child trusts his parents to do what’s best for him.
A child believes all things are possible.
A child is not worried about tomorrow.
A child enjoys life and laughs a lot.
A child is not too proud to cry.
A child is quick to forgive.
A child loves easily.


Whenever I look at the photo here of my daughter from many years back, her innocence still tugs at my heart. Children are honest. Funny. Sincere. And sometimes they blow you away with their insights.

I recall the day my little daughter stormed into the house, horrified that the neighborhood boys had killed a bird. She demanded to know why people kill birds.

Some people eat birds, I told her, hoping the necessity of eating would rationalize the boys' naughty deed.

"Well, they shouldn't!" she said, righteous indignation splashed across her rosy cheeks. "Little birds were not meant to be food!"

"Well. Okay,” I said, trying to be agreeable. “Just what were little birds meant to do on this earth?"

She sighed, placed hands on hips and said, "Little birds were meant to sing to us every morning." The expression on her face said don’t you know anything?

Children, someone once said, are unstained jewels dropped from heaven. Indeed, they are. And they should be treated with the greatest of respect, and handled with the greatest of care.


Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. — Matthew 19:14

The Black Velvet Dress

Show and Tell Fridays are hosted by the talented Cindy, over at her lovely blog, My Romantic Home. Click on over for guidelines, and to see what the other bloggers are highlighting today.

This is my first time to participate and, admittedly, what I'm showing will seem a bit lame compared to the other offerings, but it holds great meaning for me.

This black velvet dress was what I wore in my first-grade photograph, many moons ago. In the beginning, there were two identical dresses, since I'm an identical twin, but through the years, one of the dresses disappeared. Mother was always sharing our clothes whenever we outgrew them, so perhaps that's what happened. In any event, my twin and I take turns "owning" this one. For now, it belongs to me.

In case you're dying to see how cute I was in it ....

Outdoor Wednesday - Dessert on the Patio

I'm linking up today with the lovely Susan over at A Southern Daydreamer. She hosts Outdoor Wednesday, which is a wonderful break from the mundane. Click on over and take a look.

Here's my offering for this Outdoor Wednesday. Last evening, my twin sister and I enjoyed eating outdoors with our dear friend, Frankie, who so graciously bought coffee and sinful desserts in honor of our recent birthday. What a treat!

The Gift of Surprises

Sometimes you cast your bread on the water, expecting little in return. And, if you're like me, sometimes you even forget that you threw it out there in the first place, which is why the letter in the mail yesterday took me by surprise.

I had forgotten all about entering four articles in the Magazine Feature Article category of the 78th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition earlier this year. I'd never entered anything before, but when you're retired you find yourself doing a host of things you've never done before. Since this category allows for previously published pieces, and since I had dozens to choose from, I thought, why not, dropped four articles in the mail, then promptly forgot about the whole thing.

Monday's letter said one of my entries had been awarded an Honorable Mention, and there was a little certificate enclosed that might look nice in a frame. Not that the award means a whole lot, but my first words were, "Well, thank you, Lord," because if there is any glory and any praise it all belongs to Him. I remind God every time I sit down to write that I can't come up with a single word without His help, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I'm honored that He has entrusted me with the gift of writing, and I pray that I have made Him halfway proud of His investment.

The aforementioned article first ran in The Dallas Morning News in 2007. It was a joy to write, and a joy to interview the subjects of the article. The article is available to read on my website.

A Lesson In Geometry

Charlotte and Ginger host a blog called Spiritual Sundays, describing it as "a place to share your inspirational heartfelt thoughts." This blog has been a blessing to me in the short time since I discovered it, and I always look forward to reading the writings of other bloggers on Sundays.

I hope you'll click on over and see who all is participating today. Better yet, I hope you’ll join in and share your "inspirational heartfelt thoughts" with us.

A Lesson In Geometry

One afternoon I sat tutoring a young man in geometry. He was having trouble grasping the concept of how to complete a proof. Invariably, he would argue with what is referred to as the "given" statement. Today was no different.

Studying the problem, he said, "Those lines don't look parallel."

"But they are," I said.

"How do you know they are?"

"It says so in your "given" statement. It is something you can assume to be true."

"But they don't look parallel." He was referring to the diagram in the workbook.

"Forget what they look like," I said. "All you have to do is accept the fact that they are. You will build your proof, and base your conclusion, on the given statement."

Later that evening, feeling despondent over a personal situation, I reached to pull a promise from my little promise box by the bed, "Please give me a special promise tonight, Lord," I said.

Then it came, as clear as the clanging of a bell. The Lord spoke to my spirit: "I have given you many promises. Believe them!"

That jolted me to an awareness. If there were deficiencies they were on my end—not in God's treasure house. No matter what circumstances might look like, I needed to work on believing what He had already promised!

Just like completing a geometry proof, we will never be victorious if we doubt God's "given statement.” Instead, we must take the wonderful promises He has given us and build our lives upon them. Then let the winds blow, let the rivers rise, let the whole earth turn into quick-sand. We will survive it all. For the promises of God are sure. They cannot fail.


Adapted from the book, Whispers From Heaven by Dayle Allen Shockley. All rights reserved.

The Gift of Gayle, My Identical Twin

Gayle is my identical twin. Tomorrow, she and I celebrate another year of sharing our life together. Having the gift of each other has been an experience like no other.

It started in the womb, where we shared a secret for nine months.

In those days, there were no ultrasounds. The only way doctors knew if twins were on the way was by hearing two heartbeats. In our case, only a single heartbeat was heard throughout the pregnancy, and Mother weighed a mere 125 pounds on the day she gave birth, so there was no clue there.

Mother says delivery went something like this: I was born, weighing in at 6.4 pounds. After a few minutes (seven, to be exact), Dr. Landry turned around and exclaimed, “My Lord! There’s another one!” And out came Gayle—all 6.1 pounds of her. The only person who knew she existed, up until that point, was me, and God who created all things. Gayle was my womb-mate. Today, we often refer to each other as “wombie.”

Gayle and I have shared everything that makes up the essence of our lives—heartaches and tragedies, dreams and successes, hobbies and careers. That doesn’t mean we never argue or bicker, but no matter how upset we may get with each other, we are forever friends, and that is something most people spend a lifetime looking for. I thank God today, and every day, for blessing me with Gayle.

Join Emily at her delightful blog Chatting At The Sky, and see what other gifts have been unwrapped on this Tuesday.

Oasis In A Field

Charlotte and Ginger host Spiritual Sundays, a place where believers gather to be refreshed on the Lord’s day. I hope you'll click on over and see who all is participating today. Better yet, I hope you’ll join in and share your insights with us.

Here's my offering for this Sunday. It's a story that affirms my belief that with God, anything’s possible. I hope it inspires you to believe in miracles, as well.

OASIS IN A FIELD

“Ask and it shall be given” (Matthew 7:7).

Margaret Jensen's fine book, First, We Have Coffee (Here's Life Publishers), is the stirring chronicle of her Norwegian family's migration to the States, and life thereafter. Her father, a minister, was always hearing what Margaret refers to as "the call." When Papa heard "the call" the family packed up and moved. "The call" came quite often during Margaret's childhood, sending them from pillar to post.

Papa had just accepted "the call" to the Province of Saskatchewan. He and the family piled in the old Model-T Ford for the long haul from Winnipeg. Mama had prepared bread and sugared waffles for the trip, but soon the food was gone and everybody grew hungry.

Longingly, Mama spoke about how nice a bowl of soup and a cup of coffee would taste. They only had enough money for coffee, but in an effort to please his wife, Papa stopped at a lovely white house sitting off in a field and went in to inquire. He emerged with a smiling Oriental man who invited the whole family into his restaurant for dinner.

Papa worried about not having money, but the nice man would not take no for an answer; dinner was on the house.

Margaret and her family trooped in and were awestruck by the beauty of the place. Never before had they been inside a restaurant. Except for their little family, the restaurant was deserted. Mama sat like a queen at a table covered with a white linen cloth. "For once," Margaret writes, "she was being served."

After enjoying a delicious meal, they left, Papa vowing to return some day and repay the Oriental man for his kindness.

Sometime later, Papa did return to the place to pay the man for the food they had consumed that day. But he could not locate the little white cottage. Intent on accomplishing his mission, he inquired around and was told that there had never been a restaurant in that field, no white cottage, no house of any kind. And, no, there had never been an Oriental man living in the area.

Papa, the one who was always answering God's call, was convinced that God had sent an angel to serve his hungry family that day.

What a loving Father we serve. One who knows our needs, and cares so much that He would build a restaurant in the middle of a field, just to make a simple wish come true.