I am the luckiest man alive and Sheryl is my precious treasure.
I'm sitting in Barnes & Noble, trying not to be overwhelmed by another materialistic holiday. I used to love Christmas, but these days it seems to have become one giant shopping/marketing frenzy. Makes me want to give everyone mathoms.
I want to withdraw from the madness and try to remember what the season's supposed to be about. I don't have kids, but if I did I'd want to take them to someplace beautiful, emphasize togetherness, and teach them charity for the poor by going to work at a food bank or something. I think I'd emphasize making crafts for presents, defining them as tokens of meaning, remembrance, and craftsmanship. That's what you do when you don't have money. Often a much more appreciated gift, especially now, when the economy is on the skids. Or (and I have many treasured gifts of this nature) hit the thrift shops and recycle.
All the spending makes me want to throw up.
This Thanksgiving, look around the table at your friends and loved ones, look into your heart, and give thanks for just how lucky we all really are.
This is my 4th Thanksgiving since being diagnosed with terminal cancer. I'm grateful beyond belief to be here, and thankful for all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sent from my iPhone
Of TypePad Micro? Is it just another Facebook contender?
This three dish set is avilable on Etsy if you're interested. I'm crazy about lidded items lately so if you have any requests (that you can receive after the Christmas rush)...don't hesitate to drop me a line.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I am thankful that my spouse makes mistakes with our kids.
If
he didn't, they might not learn humility; when he fails in what he says
or does in the parenting department, he takes the time to go to them,
admit he was wrong, and make it right.
I am thankful that my spouse doesn't always treat me like a princess.
I
am sure it'd be nice – at least for a while – to be spoiled at every
turn and always get my way. But there are times that, quite frankly, I
am just being a brat, and I need him to stand up to me and tell me so.
I am thankful that my spouse doesn't always say the right thing.
If he did, I might not see Matthew 5:23-24 modeled.
I am thankful that my spouse doesn't always think I am beautiful – either inside or out.
If he did, he might not tell me about that chunk of food stuck in my teeth. I probably wouldn't care what I ate or if I ever ran another mile. And even more than that, I'd never have anything bigger and better to strive for in character, grace, and mercy.
He's not perfect, to be sure. But thank God, because neither am I!
And the truth is, I wouldn't have it any other way.
We finished up our final One Month to Live small group
session tonight. One member quipped that since it's been more than 6
weeks, which obviously equals a bit more than 30 days, we could at
least be thankful to still be alive. That was good for some hearty
chuckles.
The wrap-up of the series has me pondering my own take-aways. Sure, if I only had 30 days to live some big things would change. But what about the little things? Through this whole process, it's the little things that have begun to mean so much more.
- Sitting next to one of the kids, watching a show they like
- Taking a few extra minutes to snuggle up to Rob before starting my day
- Letting that person with only an item or two go ahead of me in line
- Saying thank you, even for the smallest things
There are many, many more.
We often don't realize what one act of kindness, one word of
encouragement, one pause in our day to allow a "God-moment" to happen
can do. The possibilities are endless! One group member shared
tonight how a nun gave his mom a Good News Bible many years ago. She
laughed it off and stuck it in a drawer. One day, while still a child,
he found that Bible and asked if he could have it.
"It was in reading that Bible that I found God. Years later, I was able to lead my mom to the Lord. That nun probably has no idea."
One small gift changed several lives for eternity.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It
is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden
plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its
branches.” -Matthew 13:31-32
God, please give me many mustard seed moments as I live out the rest of my days!
It seems like we're all in Reader's Digest mode these days. Has Vox lost its freshness, or are we just reticent to discuss the darkness that frames the days, or both? Are we wandering away to other networks? Facebook seems compelling, but once there I feel like, Meh-- Who cares? I don't post anything, but visit to see photos and goings-on of various and sundry friends. Sometimes it's more painful to get in touch with people I haven't seen in ages. When they ask what I've been up to, do I say, "Trying to stay alive for the past 3 years...hanging on for a cure to cancer?" Yeah, that's a real conversation starter.
She's such a sweetheart
