Monthly Archives: June 2014

Learning or Leaning?

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This week I’ve been thinking a great deal about someone precious to me, someone I love dearly, my sister Mary. We’ve all heard the expression, “You can’t out-give God.” I can say the same about her.

Hard workerMary is a giver. She never “arrives” anyplace without something special to give, a flower, a small package, a framed photo, cupcakes, or any number of other things. She’s creatively thoughtful and not just with material gifts. Her greatest giving is of effort: a willingness to sit with someone who’s hurting or to serve others by chauffeuring, making a meal, or running errands. That gift of effort also demands time, and Mary cheerfully gives big chunks of that to others, even if it means quietly setting aside her own agenda.

Youthful sistersShe’s my older sister (not by much), and ever since childhood I’ve followed her around, counting on her to have the good idea or take the lead. For example, when I was three and still sucking my thumb, my parents tried to solve the problem by pinning my pajama sleeves over my hands. Mary had a better idea and took off the pins. No wonder I wanted to stick with her.

Now that we’ve grown up, had 14 children between us, and lived separately for more than 50 years, you’d think I could maneuver through life without leaning on her, but no. I’m still calling for advice, still loving time with her, and still appreciating when she comes up with an efficient plan to reach goals… even my goals.

She’s forever organized, the kind of person who doesn’t lose track of her phone, her keys or what’s written on her calendar, and while I’m often caught scrambling, she brings calm to every storm. After decades of watching her give to others, I’m still hoping some of it will eventually rub off on me.

Mary is an excellent example of doing what God wants us all to do. He set the original standard, then sent Jesus to model what earthly servant-leadership should look like. Mary takes time to study the life of Jesus and learn from him what she’s supposed to do. But beyond that, she’s willing to actually do it. The result is a demonstration of what faith in God looks like on an everyday basis.

???????????????????????????????When we gravitate toward people like Mary, in the process we’re actually leaning toward the Lord, because godly people have become godly only by living close to him first. Their counsel is a reflection of him, and their actions mirror the behavior of Jesus. I didn’t deserve such a fine sister, but I sure am glad to have her.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. So thankful for answered prayer about the nausea! Today I had none and ate normally!
  2. Pray I will feel real gratitude for each good day God gives.
  3. Praise for the many cards and letters I’ve received, some of which I re-read today. A great blessing!

A Suggestion, by Jack the Dog

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It’s been 9 months since I got to sit at Midge’s keyboard, but tonight she’s turned it over to me. After all, I don’t know how many chances I have left to write, being over 80 years old now.

???????????????????????????????The other day I overheard her tell someone she might start giving me medicine for my painful hip joints. I sure need it. Watching me get to my feet after a nap is proof-positive. Or, should I say proof-negative.

There is an upside to this, though. My new sedentary lifestyle allows me extra time to study Midge, and I’ve been able to tell a great deal by the pace of her footsteps. In the past if she moved quickly, it always meant she was about to leave the house. Lately, though, speedy steps are her norm, even when she isn’t going anyplace.

For some reason she always seems to be in a rush. When we go out on our walks, my pause-to-sniff time has become newly limited. She tugs on my leash and says, “C’mon, Jackie. Keep moving.” Our regular walking route is getting shorter and shorter, too.

A week ago I overheard her telling a visitor she just got a new book contract. I’m not 100% sure what that means, but maybe it’s the reason for all the hurry-up. Although her #1 pleasure is writing and she’s very excited about another book, it could be she doesn’t have the time she needs to get it all done now, with the blog and the book competing for the same hours each day.

So I gave her a little advice, something she could do throughout the summer to remedy the problem. She could go back into her archive of older blogs and re-post some of them rather than writing a new one each night. And she went for the idea.

I hope none of you readers will mind. And I especially hope no one will think negatively toward me for having made the suggestion. Of course you know I have a vested interest in the idea, longing for the leisurely walks of my past when I could take my time with the scents of the neighborhood. But I also recommended the archives thing because I want Midge to do a good job on her new book.

I’ve read all 1422 of her blogs and look forward to seeing which ones she will re-use this summer, hoping she’ll let me in on the action. After all, I’ve written some pretty spectacular posts in past years.

???????????????????????????????I do know she’ll break from the archive plan if anything unusual happens to my Aunt Mary, and she’ll write new blogs accordingly. She also plans to continue posting Aunt Mary’s prayer requests at the end of each blog for those of you who are praying. And by the way, we’re all incredibly thankful you are.

And now I’m going to ease my weary old body onto my plump doggie bed for a good long sleep.

“God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Praising and Praying with Mary

Pray that the antibiotic ointment will clear the tube infection, which seems to be in surface stitches. Pray for patience with the negative sides of chemo.

Praise for only mild nausea and for friends who send words of encouragement at exactly the right moments.

 

My Father, in Life and Death

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For nearly 30 years my dad owned a successful engineering firm, operating out of a Chicago high rise in the concrete canyons of the Loop. As a kid I visited him often (often with girlfriends in tow), admiring the thick glass double doors in his reception area and his big office overlooking the skyline.

BlueprintsDad’s drafting room resembled a Disney studio with its 200 tilted drawing tables and men perched atop tall stools working on royal-colored blueprints. To him, though, it was just a way to earn a living. After retirement at 70, he didn’t look back and never missed it.

Dad did well for a little boy who started school without a word of English. His Swedish immigrant parents worked hard and expected him to do the same, which he did, finishing school with two degrees from Northwestern University.

Attending a Swedish Free Church in the city, he heard the Gospel as a child and received Christ into his life, never wavering in his commitment. A quiet man, he didn’t dictate his faith but lived it out in front of us for 92 years. As Mom frequently said, “Your father is the most Christ-like man I’ve ever known.”

The WillWhen Dad died, his last will and testament was more like a last will and testimony. I read the legal document through, no small task with its complicated legalese, but two paragraphs jumped off the pages. They had nothing to do with trusts or assets, and were written in simple language I understood:

Article I – I commit my soul into the hands of my Savior in full confidence that, having redeemed it and washed it in His most precious blood, He will present it faultless before my Heavenly Father.

Article IV – It is my hope that the beneficiaries will remember the words of Our Lord who said, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15) Let them consider themselves as stewards of their possessions, not forgetting to use them for the welfare of others, particularly with respect to bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those in spiritual darkness. By giving both time and money unselfishly, they will discover the truth of Our Lord’s words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) and “Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be the servant of all.” (Matthew 20:27)

Dad and MomDad was ready to die, because he had made the main thing the main thing. He’d led a life of quiet sacrifice, serving the poor, giving a hefty percentage of his income to the Lord’s work, and putting himself after everyone else. He’d given much and, as the Bible says will happen to a giving person, he was then given more.

He also left a legacy of harmony in his family, a large group in which there was no fighting, no anger, no bitterness. I remember hundreds of the words he spoke in life but none more vividly than those he left in death. *

“Freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)

* Re-posted from June, 2011.

Praising and Praying with Mary

Pray about tomorrow’s time at the hospital: for accurate action on the feeding tube pain, for chemo #5, and against the nausea.

I’m thankful for Bervin, the loving father of my children and grandchildren.