Saturday March 12 2016  AND EVERY HUG AND KISS

Oh my goodness!  I almost forgot to write a blog today!  Tonight of all nights, when the clock springs forward, is the night I forgot to write.  And now my morning is coming earlier and all I can think about is getting into bed.

Again, busy from sun up to right this very moment.  Picked up the grandsons this afternoon and I don’t think my feet have touched the floor since.  Just now corralled them into bed at 9:30 and when we wake up in the morning it will actually be an hour earlier than usual because of moving our clocks forward.  So be it.  WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

Dave was anchored to the house today because we had a tree trimmer here all day.  Dave didn’t want to leave with him here climbing into the heights of our oak tree and white birch tree.  We still have one very tall tree that leans toward the house that we are having removed. 

After collecting the boys from their home we had a couple of stops to make so I could pick up some things from Costco and Aldi’s and then headed out to DREAM PARK.  It is a kids paradise.  I like it too.  We played “tag” and it seemed that I was always it.  Too slow to get away when I tagged them and yet not quite fast enough to tag them very often.  It was a conspiracy!  I got a run for my money.  The boys had a blast.  Then we stopped by the gym where Dave and I work out because the boys wanted to see it inside.  It was very quiet there this evening and the boys had a good time looking at all the equipment.  Sometimes it takes so little to entertain two young boys!

After that we met Dave at Subway, came home and had a dessert of yogurt and fresh strawberries, watched a movie and finally got the boys settled in to sleepy town.

These two boy are the nicest little guys you would ever want to be with.  Everywhere we go together I always get compliments on their behavior.  And that praise goes to their parents.  It is just that they are so well behaved that I think it startles people to see two little boys behave so peacefully and courteously in public.  It makes them fun to be around.  And, being truthful, I think they just behave better for gramma when parents aren’t around.  But I don’t care why they do it, I am just thankful!  It always makes for a fun day. 

So that was my day.  A day worth it I must say.  Since we postponed our date for leaving on our trip, my first thought was that we could have the boys over this weekend if we could get an okay from their parents.  I think they were very delighted to give that okay.  As a working mom, and the wife of a law student, Amy probably needs more breaks than she gets.  And since Courtland uses every spare moment he has to study and write law papers, I think a reprieve from interruptions is always welcomed.  And besides, they received special permission to use a gift certificate which had expired on December 31^st of last year.  It never hurts to ask.  They simply did not have a moment in which they could squeeze in an evening out.  So they get a good time and we get to have the BEST time.

AND EVERY HUG AND KISS

By Kathleen Martens

March 12 2016

Busy from sun up

All the way to sun down.

A precious day of memories

Will be the rebound.

There’s never enough time

To watch children grow.

Or plant in their hearts

What you would like to sow.

Every little word

And every hug and kiss

Is tucked into my heart

Never with remiss.

Their peals of laughter

Reverberate in my heart,

The sounds echoing

Like the kiss of a dart.

Making a bulls-eye

That makes Gramma proud

As if floating through space,

On a soft white cloud.

I love the touch

Of sweet little hands

As the smooch of a kiss

On my cheek lands.

Makes the day worth it

For my coffers are filled.

Overflowing with love

That’s outwardly spilled.

How blessed am I

To have two little boys

That fill my heart full

With so many joys.

So sleepy.  I hope the words I have written tonight make sense.

I leave you with a poem which I wrote on May 4, 2010 about the little boy I once had.  I hope you enjoy my reminiscing.

I HAD A LITTLE BOY ONCE

Kathleen Martens

May 4, 2010

I had a little boy once

And my heart remembers so much.

From the earliest fluttering in my womb,

As well as the kicking and such.

Such a tiny baby born too early

With such a hope for life.

He struggled for each breath he took,

His beginning was filled with strife.

I had a little boy once

And I stroked his tiny feet,

His unseen eyes covered by gauze

To protect them from light & heat.

I had a little boy once

Who one day smiled at me

With sparkling brown eyes

He found my heart’s key.

I had a little boy once

Who crawled, walked and played.

And he gave his heart to Jesus

At four years old he simply prayed.

I think back to that time in life,

Unending questions and happy smiles.

All those memories of time and space,

They seemed unending miles.

I had a little boy once,

Each day sweeter than the day before.

The days did not last for ever

And oh how I long for more.

I had a little boy once

Who at my table did sup.

But that little boy is gone now…

He had the nerve to grow up!

Good night and God bless you.

Friday March 11 2016   I HOPE MY EPITAPH WILL TELL

No title to my page today.  I’ll put one up later when I think of something.  Short interlude to say hello to those I know who are daily followers.  I’m praying for you Sandra.  Friends, and those I don’t know, please continue to pray for Sandra’s pain to disappear. 

Now, I must confess about yesterday’s blog.  I actually did double duty yesterday while I was writing my blog.  The day before (which I found out about it at night) I was asked if I had something I had written or would like to write about regarding Psalm 37 as an introduction to our Pastor speaking at our Prime Time event happening this evening.  I slept on it, read Psalm 37 over and realized that I would love to write a poem regarding that chapter.  After Dave and I had our yesterdays’ discussion about being wealthy beyond measure I knew immediately that I was to write a poem relating to Psalm 37 and that the title of the poem would be “Wealthy Beyond Measure”.  Very rarely do I ever title a poem before writing it.  When I checked my phone yesterday morning I had a request that if I was going to write something the title was needed so a brochure could be printed before noon.  I immediately emailed back and was able to give the title because God had already placed it in my heart.  It wasn’t written, but I now had a promise to fulfill.

So, I was able to use my poem for two-fold purpose.  One, to include in my blog, and second to write something for tonight’s Prime Time dinner event.  So today I am practicing my presentation and making modifications here and there.  I know that my blog had a myriad of mistakes yesterday because I hadn’t had time to proof it.  I proofed it this morning by reading my phone copy and then when I went back to fix the errors I could not find some of them.  Oh well, in the scheme of life I would not count that very important.

Today I will watch a bit of the tribute to Nancy Reagan.  President and Nancy Reagan were very special people in my book.  Our country was very blessed to have a president such as Ronald Reagan proved to be. 

I HOPE MY EPITAPH WILL TELL

By Kathleen Martens

March 11, 2016

We all have a purpose

In the life we live.

God who designs us

Our calling He gives.

Someday we will rest

In eternal farewell.

I hope my life

God’s story will tell.

And when my days numbered

Are no more,

Do not grieve for me,

For in heaven I’ll soar.

When I am gone

I hope my epitaph will tell

“God gave her a calling

And she did it well”.

What better words

To convey the story

That my one desire

Was to share God’s glory.

Short blog. Short poem.  Short day with lots to do.  Oh by the way.  I have two dozen of my famous delicious carrot cupcakes to share with the Prime Timers this evening.  I even made a copy of the recipe and will print some off to take with me.  When people eat them they usually ask for the recipe.  At least the women do. 

Nancy Reagan’s Memorial service is coming on soon and I would like to share in this bit of history.  I know it will be touching and educational.

Have a great day!

God bless and keep you.

Tuesday March 8 2016  A CHANGE OF PLANS ARE BREWING

It seems that Mr. Winter has a change of plans, and for the time being has skirted around our state.  It doesn’t take much for Dave to get spring fever on the first warm day that is bold enough to show up on March 8^th!  March has given us some of our most severe weather.  Not today.  The snow is now about 98 per cent melted all around town and the temperature was in the low 70’s!  WOW!!!Dave has commented so many times over the years that he could hardly wait until he retired so he could start working in the yard at the first hint of spring.  And now is that time.  However, as many of you know we were planning to leave right about now to do a little skedaddle around the country, going south, east, further south, then north through the Appalachian mountains, Pennsylvania, and on home.    Dave is having second thoughts about being gone for so long.  Though we have a wonderful couple who babysit our house when we are gone, we can’t expect them to get out and dig up the briers in the back woods while the ground is still pliable.  So, a change of plans are brewing.  I told Dave we should just tell everyone we left town, but really stay home and get all the work done without interruptions.  We talked to the couple who help us out and it was okay with them whether we need them or not.

So, as of this moment, our plans are up in the air.  We do plan to go see our daughter in Florida and those plans are solid.  It is just what we do, and where we go, before we get to Florida that will determine how long we will be gone.  Our pressing dilemma is, how can we shorten the trip, so as to have as much time as possible to be home.  We must try to stay on top of the wild spring growth or it quickly gets out of control.  What we decide to do will write our story; the story of where we go, who we will see, what experiences we may or may not have, or whether or not we even survive the trip to arrive back home.  Choices we make each and every day play an important part of our tomorrows.

I heard a most interesting sentence today while I was listening to an online sermon.  The minister said THAT WE EACH WRITE THE STORY OF OUR LIVES BY THE CHOICES WE MAKE.  I don’t think he said it in those exact words but it is close enough.  I thought his statement quite interesting.  Or, I mused, IS IT, THE CHOICES WE MAKE THAT WRITE THE STORY OF OUR LIVES?  I think it would ultimately boil down to how we make our choices.  Do we purposely set out with a plan, choose to accomplish certain milestones and work toward them, or do we just step out, get ourselves into predicaments we hadn’t planned for, and must now make choices on the spur of the moment that may, or may not have a positive outcome?

Every day we find ourselves making a myriad of choices that must be made on the spur of the moment.   And on the other hand there are choices that we make ahead of time and if all goes well, the plan works out.  So many variables about making choices.  So which is it?  Do we write the story by the choices we make or do the choices we make write the story?

Writing the story of our lives by the choices we make, somehow connotes having a game plan.  Planning ahead as to what decisions you are going to make BEFORE you are confronted with whatever it is you are facing..  But, no matter how fine-tuned your choices are, there always seems to be a cog in the wheel.  Many situations do no go as planned.  And many things happen that you do not plan.  Then what?  I would suspect that then, at that time, new choices would need to be made.   And regardless the choices made, there will be consequences, either planned or unplanned, but still consequences. 

So how do you chose to write the story of your life?  Are you going to write your story by the choices you make or let your choices write your story for you?  Whatever you decide to do it, there is one choice that must absolutely be made before you start deciding.  That choice is to ask yourself, do you give God control of all the choices you make, either planned choices, or those decision that must be made on the spot.  Personally, I feel a lot more comfortable having God in the driver’s seat.  He never steers me wrong.  I wold like my story to be written to coincide with the plan that God has for my life.

LET GOD BE IN CONTROL

By Kathleen Martens

March 8, 2016

A cross fire of what to do,

Many choices to ensue.

How do we determine what’s the key?

What pronouncements will there be?

Little and big decisions bloom

Until it seems there’s no more room.

Verdicts passed with resolution,

While unknown if perfect solutions.

Do those decisions write our story?

Regardless how clean or gory?

Or perhaps it is each man

Who writes the story by his plan?

With steadfastness, design to see

What it is you want to be.

With resoluteness choose your desire.

With single-mindedness light your fire.

And to make your story right

Let God be your guiding light.

He has a plan and it is good,

Even if it is not understood.

When He’s in control your story unfolds,

How God wants it, strong and bold.

Let your decisions be God’s heart,

And then your story will hit the mark.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans I have for you.” Declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

I am falling asleep at the computer.  I hope my poem makes sense.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Monday March 7 2016  ONE YEAR AGO TODAY

Today it is necessary that I write a short blog.  (Is that applause I hear?)  Again, my schedule is tight and my time is running out for this afternoon.

One year ago today was the day I left for my trip of my lifetime.  I spent some time this morning reading the first few blogs I wrote last year in February and March.  I was testing my wings with the writing bit.

Oh my goodness!  I was flooded with such memories.  It almost feels like a lifetime ago and yet, it just seems like yesterday.  I wrote infrequently when I first left on the trip because for several weeks I did not have access to WIFI, or even plug-in internet.  On a subsequent trip when I was there in October with my family I finally figured out how to get around that dilemma.  On one occasion I sat on the cement steps outside of the Russellville Arkansas  library early one Saturday morning while Dave, my sister Scarlett, and my aunt waited patiently (or impatiently?) in the car while I connected and published a few blogs.  But I didn’t know I could do that my first time through.  Thank goodness a light bulb finally clicked on in this old brain of mine.  I wasn’t experienced enough last March when I left to realize that, so unfortunately, there are some gaps in what was blogged.  I missed capturing a lot of exciting and interesting things that happened along the way because I wrote only when I had the internet hook up.  By the time I had access to internet, I then had no time to write.

Well, now I know.  Even if I cannot publish on a daily basis, I can still write on a daily basis, so as to capture my memories before they escape.  I can always publish them later.

Comment about yesterday’s blog;  I did not realize how painful it still is for Dave to relive what happened to him so many years ago regarding his job loss.  I offered to not publish it but he said it was okay.  He felt it was as if he still had post-traumatic stress disorder from the event.  There was so much more involved than what I wrote about yesterday.  I just glossed over the easy stuff so I could tell part of our story.  And I really do want to continue it when I have more time.  I asked Dave if that was okay and he was agreeable with that.  We both feel that there may be some valuable lessons that others might learn if we share out story.  As I look back I realize how very important it was for us to have someone who was always there for us through the thick and thin of it.  My confidant was the only one that ever knew just how difficult a time it was for me.  It became so financially tight that there were times we had to decide whether to buy food or accumulate the money for our house payment.  We decided to do what was most important at the moment and trust God to provide what we needed for the next day or next week.  And over and over we discovered that God always provided enough!

To have someone in which to confide was my safety net.  She was the only one I would call and talk to when I thought I couldn’t get any lower.  She offered money but it was too hard for Dave and me to accept it.  If I remember correctly I think that at one time she sent us money.  She was the only one who we ever accepted help from.  We also paid it back.  Just having her concern and support at the other end of the phone was the most important help.  She is my sister Velma, who for so many in our family, has always been there to pick up the pieces.  And she is still doing it today for those who are in unfortunate circumstances.  How can you ever repay love and generosity, such as she has shown throughout her lifetime?  We’ve had our ups and downs through our tenure as sisters, but she is always there when someone is down.  I have tears in my eyes as I write.  Perhaps this blog is therapeutic.  Well, at least it isn’t expensive to keep up.  Thank you Velma.

So…more of that story to follow.

I must leave soon and still have lots to do.

TO TEACH THEM WHAT THEY’RE WORTH

By Kathleen Martens

March 7, 2016

As much as I would like to rest

There is no rest for the weary.

Instead I write a hello blog,

And now my cheeks are teary.

Sometimes a bit melancholy

To see the past unfold.

But I know that these memories

Really must be told.

Life is but a shadow

When it’s lived without voice.

A vapor that dissolves in time

Unless you speak by choice.

And I choose to tell my story

Not for money earned.

Rather to pass on to those I love

All the lessons I’ve learned.

If my words someday will help

One descendent not yet birthed,

How awesome that would be,

To teach them what they’re worth.

To let them know how precious

God considers them to be.

That when they give their heart to God

Someday their Lord they’ll see.

And I too will be waiting

To greet them at heaven’s gate.

So they can meet great-gramma

And in forever I’m willing to wait.

Have a blessed day! 

Job 8:8-11

“Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.  Will they not instruct you and tell you?  Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?”

Sunday Sabbath March 6 2016  THE CONCEPT OF ENOUGH

When is enough, enough?  And of what, must we have enough?

Dave gave me the title for this blog.  We were talking yesterday, and to be truthful, I don’t even remember exactly what we were talking about but he asked the question, when is enough, enough?  He then suggested it would be a good blog topic.  And then he just said I should write about “THE CONCEPT OF ENOUGH”.  So there I have it.  A new blog title without thought as to what I will write.

So here goes.

There are some absolutes as to what we must have “enough” of in order to literally survive.  First and foremost, we must have enough air.  We must have enough water.  We must have enough food.  We must have enough protection from the elements (I can vouch for that living in Wisconsin), both in housing and clothing.  And the list could just keep going if I wanted to be nitpicky.  We must have enough energy and capacity to work in order to buy enough food and housing and clothing.  We must have enough education in order to get the job to buy the “enough stuff”.  We must have a car or other transportation in order to get to the job and as you can see the list can just keep on going.

But what about once we become settled in our life and we have the education, the job, the food, the clothing, the shelter, and the water and air?  Then we want the bigger house, the better clothing, the finer car, the sparkling waters, the fine restaurants, the big screen TV’s in every room of the house, and the maid to keep it all up.  And then we must work more, to earn more, to have more…When is enough, enough?

It reminds me of the story in 1^st Kings, chapter 17 at a time when there was a drought.  The Lord directed Elijah to go to a ravine east of the Jordan and he would find a brook to drink from and God would have the Ravens feed him.  He did as he was told.  Finally the brook dried up because of the lack of rain.  Once again the Lord directed Elijah to take a journey and go to a city where he would meet a widow.  He did as he was told, and when he arrived, he found the widow picking up sticks for firewood.  Elijah asked her to bring him a drink of water and a piece of bread to eat. 

The story continues in 1^st Kings 17: 13-15 NIV: “ ‘As surely as the Lord your God lives,’ she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug.  I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’

Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid.  Go home and do as you have done.  But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.  For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’

She went away and did as Elijah had told her.  So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.  For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”

As I thought about this story in the Old Testament I began to realize “THE CONCEPT OF ENOUGH”.  God, in His abundance, could have given the widow an abundance and even overabundance of much more than just oil and flour.  God’s scriptures promises that God provides for all our needs.  It does not say that God is going to give us everything in the world that we could feasibly fathom.  God provided for Elijah as well as for the widow and her son with just enough.  Notice how it was even determined just how long it would be provided.  His provision was enough to last until the drought was over.

This story reminded me of a time in our lives when Dave came home from work one Thursday and no longer had a job.  Several of the executives in the bank where he worked were downsized out of a job.  It was unexpected and we were unprepared for this type of a “disaster”.  I was a full time stay at home mom and did not work.  Nor did I want to work outside of the home and leave our young children.  We prayed.  Dave was over 40, over-qualified for most of the job positions available and no one wanted to hire someone who was in his salary bracket.  Dave didn’t care about the salary as much as he just wanted to get a job and get back into the workplace.  He worked full time sending out resumes, and working with head-hunters.  It was apparent that I would need to go to work. 

We thought this situation would be somewhat temporary so rather than leave our children with someone else we decided that I would open a daycare in our home and provide care for other people’s children.  And we prayed a lot.  We also promised that we would not allow the devil to gain a foothold in our marriage and tear our family apart.  There is a lot of stress and depression that can manifest during a crisis such as this.  AND WE PRAYED!  A LOT! 

My main prayer was that God would provide all our needs and that Dave would be able to find work.  As the weeks and months and then years started rolling by, our prayers, the daycare business, and Dave’s part time jobs he obtained once in a while kept us afloat.  Barely.  It was during those three years without insurance or employment that we learned THE CONCEPT OF ENOUGH.  We felt as if   we should put our home on the market.  We surrendered all we had so that God could take us down the path he had for us.  Was it difficult?  You bet it was.  Neither of us wanted to sell but we were willing to do it if it was what God wanted.  Each month I would collect all the monies that came in week after week and scrape together enough to pay our house payment.  Only one month during the three years of Dave’s unemployment did we not come up with the entire amount needed to pay our house payment.  The month we were short we received just enough to make a late payment and it was only 5 days late.  We didn’t even have to pay a late fee because it was still in the “grace” period.  After months of keeping the house spotless for looky-loos we decided to take it off the market.  And we prayed some more.  We were still scraping by.  Dave was able to get some sales jobs at furniture stores but the furniture business was also not doing so well and the store’s ethics and Dave’s integrity were not a match.  You might be surprised at how certain businesses train their sales force.  Dave was taken aback by some of what he was supposed to do and say.  He could not stay and work with a clear conscience. 

Daily we trusted the Lord.  Daily the Lord provided.  We always had “ENOUGH” to eat.  It might not have been fancy or even very healthy, but our kids were not hungry.   Day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year God continually provided us with enough.  AND FOR EVERYTHING, WE WERE SO GRATEFUL!

I remember our son asking us if we were going to be homeless.  It tore my heart out.  So many aspects of your lives change when you don’t have a job.  My business grew, God provided all the children I needed, I went back to night school during those years for my early childhood education, became licensed and hired people to work for me.  It was still financially tight.  It was still rough and it took a lot of energy to keep my prayer life and my emotions from plummeting into despair.  I did break down a few times.  Dave and I had promised to always be there for the other if one was sinking.  And he was there for me and I was able to help pull him up a few times when he felt he was drowning.  And through it all, God was right there by our side. 

It would take a book to tell you all I learned in those three years when Dave was without gainful employment and the two years following his return to work.  It certainly felt like we were going through a desert at the time.  I look back now and I know it was during those times when God worked on my heart in so many ways.  He taught me how to not be so judgmental.  People would come and see our home and wonder why we were in need.  I can’t begin to tell you how humbling it was to accept food boxes from church for holiday meals.  We never asked, but undoubtedly, someone else asked for us.   And I can’t tell you how much joy and gratefulness was included in those two boxes filled with a turkey and a ham and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner.  Never underestimate what your giving is doing in the lives of others.  And never judge a book by its cover.  Yes, our house was beautiful, well decorated, comfortable, and like any house, expensive to run.  If you don’t know the details of another’s life, there is no room for judgement.  Those food boxes fed us a lot longer than just one Thursday in November.   We probably ate for two weeks or more on the meals I prepared from that turkey dinner.

We found that a lot of people we knew were uncomfortable around us, yes, even some from church.  I don’t think people know what to say or perhaps they were afraid we were going to ask to borrow money.  It was painful but I never held it against them.  Our experience taught us how to interact with people who were experiencing what we experienced during our time in the desert.  I tried to figure out ways we could help.  And that is another whole story in itself.  God filled my heart with compassion and concern for those going through similar situations.  God doesn’t waste a lesson on any of His children.  He uses all that we go through to show us how we can be the best we can be.  He takes what the devil meant for harm and turns it into something good. 

Because of the length of this blog I going to draw it to a close, but this story is far from finished.  I would like to tell you the journey of the years following, once Dave was again gainfully employed on a full time basis WITH INSURANCE!  It was in a totally different line of work than being the Vice President/Manager of the main office of a large bank.  He was hired for less than half of what he made previously.  Guess what, I was the owner of a day care for many more years.  AND GOD ALWAYS PROVIDED…ENOUGH!

JUST ENOUGH

By Kathleen Martens

March 6, 2016

When trials come

And troubles brew

It could be

God is talking to you.

When life is weary

And full of pain

And by a thread

You are staying sane.

So many times

So unprepared

For the unexpected

And all the cares.

The world falls silent,

And you feel alone.

There is one

To whom all is known.

It is God

Who by your side,

Through all your woes

He will abide.

What you need,

Regardless your sorrow,

He is with you

In all tomorrows.

Regardless how destitute

You may become,

He will pick you up,

Because you’re His son.

And those times

When out of stuff,

He will offer

Just enough.

He is your port

In any storm.

And His comfort

Should be your norm.

And He will shield

You from all harm.

And He will hold you

In His arms.

Do not despair

Or turn your back.

Our mighty King

Provides all lack.

His scriptures promise

Adequate supply.

And your essentials

He’ll not deny.

Just pray and ask

When things get rough.

He always provides

What is enough.

Good night and God bless you. 

P.S.  If you did not read last Sunday’s blog you might find it interesting to read in light of today’s topic.  It is the true story of a recent event when God did even more than provide “just enough”.  It shows the miraculous power of him providing above and beyond what was needed in quite a remarkable way.

Saturday March 5 2016  TIME, OUR TEMPORARY HOME

If my mother were still alive she would turn 98 years old this year.  I remember when she was in her 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s it seemed as if she attended at least one or two funerals every single week.  She lived in Arkansas in an area where she had friends that dated back to her school days.  And she also had a lot of relatives.  During those decades in Arkansas she lived part of them with her mother and some of the funerals were for her mother’s friends as well.  Her mother was actually the last surviving person of her graduating class.  It is a sobering thought to experience the death of so many in your later years.  Either you are attending the funerals of those you knew, or they are experiencing yours.  Dave’s father stopped reading the obituaries in his 90’s, because by then, all his contemporaries had already died.  He lived to 101 years old.

Well, today I went to a funeral.  As far as funerals go, it was mighty fine!  I mean that in all sincerity.  It was a funeral such as I have never attended.  John, the deceased, marched to his own tune.  At times he could  be hard to live with and did not always have the best of manners.  However, seen through the eyes of his son, who was the minister that delivered his eulogy, an entirely different perspective was brought to light.  The son himself, admitted to the adjectives I used above, but also showed his father from the perspective of a child’s love, expressing honor to a father who was always there for him.  And as always, it seemed that I left knowing more about the person from what was said after they died, than I ever knew while they lived.  Funerals are a place of education.  I always learn a lot when I attend a funeral.  And today I learned a whole lot more than I expected to learn.  It was enlightening and it was refreshing.  I walked away understanding that there is so much more to the inner workings of some people than I even imagined.

My cousin was buried yesterday and had no funeral.  Most of her family have moved away from the area where she lived and her mother, my aunt, is in an assisted living facility and cannot get out easily due to her own health.  She is in her mid-eighties.  At a later date there will be a memorial service for my Cousin Cynthia held at the facility where my aunt resides.  Our family is aging and there are but just a handful left here and there around the country.  There are lots of cousins but they are all spread out.  It is my generation that now bids farewell to the cousins of their youth.

And my sister too will be attending a funeral this week.  Her close friend and neighbor for the past 54 years died within the same few days as did my friend’s husband and my cousin.  I wish I could be there in California with my sister as she grieves for the loss of her friend.  Perhaps there would be some comfort I could extend.  I was only acquainted with Ruth through brief encounters but I can still imagine the loss my sister must feel.  It does not matter in old age that your friend is old.  What matters is the person you know deep inside, and it has nothing to do with how many wrinkles are on their face.

In the book, “A GIFT OF A YEAR” I read a sentence that said, “Time isn’t our enemy.  It’s our home.”  Relating to some instances I might agree with that to some extent.  At least, that time is our home WHILE we are here on earth.  The way I really see it, is that this earth is but my temporary home.  I am just passing through a period of time that earth measures on a calendar.   Time is the measurement of how long I live in the confines of earth.  My spirit is eternal, and it will continue to live, even after my time on earth ends.  And it is only then that I will truly be home.  I know I am taking this statement out of context from the book, but just from reading the few pages I have read, I surmise that the author and I are coming from two different perspectives as to what time really means to the person who knows God.  From my point of view “TIME” is like living in a holding pattern, waiting for the landing.  My landing comes when I take my last breath on earth and step into the light of my Savior’s arms.  OH WHAT A “TIME” THAT WILL BE!  And when my “TIME” comes, I think John will be one of those that will greet me for my HOMECOMING right along with my cousin Cynthia.   I fear not when my time on earth is done.  I just hope that I will not leave grieving hearts behind, but rather hearts that are rejoicing because they know that I have come in for my “landing”.  As cantankerous as John could be at times, I know he consecrated his heart to God, and today I stand rejoicing for where he is, not that his time on earth has ended.  John has come in for a “PERFECT LANDING” and I’m just a bit envious that he is already in the Lord’s presence and my run-way has not yet been cleared for landing. 

Time on earth is our friend when we use it to become better acquainted with the God who created us.

TIME, A GIFT OF PURE LOVE

By Kathleen Martens

March 5, 2016

This world is our home

For but a short stay.

It is our training ground

To learn God’s way.

We are born for a reason,

For God has a plan.

He has designed an eternity

For each woman, each man.

Our very days numbered,

Counted in time.

When we walk on earth,

In days confined.

Time has no constraint

For what is to come,

When we cross into eternity

To meet God’s son.

Hours will no longer hold

Us hostage in a world.

Forever we’ll be

Into eternity hurled.

And oh what a day

Of rejoicing it will be,

When we meet Jesus,

Forever more free.

Time isn’t our enemy

But a gift of pure love

To introduce us to God

Who lives in heaven above.

My Prayer of Thanksgiving:

O God, I give you great thanks for giving me a godly mother who taught me Your way.  Thank You for the prayers she prayed for her children, that they would open their hearts to You.  Thank You for opening my heart and accepting you as my Lord and Savior who died on the cross to forgive my sins. 

Thank You too God for being with me each step I take, for giving me comfort when I need comfort and for giving me strength when I need strength.  And most of all, I thank You for loving me first and teaching me to love You, and teaching me to love myself, and showing me how to love others. 

Thank You for all the healings you have done in my life, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  Thank You for abiding in me through Your Holy Spirit so that I am never alone.  Thank You for taking all my cares upon You and that I need never worry about tomorrow.  You are my strength.  You are my deliverer. 

And Thank You God that you have promised Your children in 2^nd Peter 1:11  that we “WILL RECEIVE A RICH WELCOME INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST”.  Thank you Lord for the rich welcome you made possible for John and Cynthia and Ruth.  I thank You that I have Your promise to hold in my heart until the day that I too shall see You face to face.  Amen

Good night and may God bless you richly.  Remember, His promise of eternal salvation is extended to all who just reach out in faith, and receive it.