Exploring Creativity

One year at camp during crafts time, the helpers poured uncooked macaroni noodles onto the table in a large pile. "Make anything you want out of these", one said. Glue, glitter spray and paper were provided, It was strangely quiet as children helped themselves. The children created different items. Mainly small items.

One boy who had taken a good sized pile of macaroni was creating a model of a car. It was elaborate with all kinds of details. And the car was big. Time was up for crafts and the other children went onto games in the next room. The boy still worked and was left to work spraying the gold glitter at the end on his car. Creative efforts should be enjoyed especially in summertime. 

Let each child have free time to find out what creative talent God has placed inside. Seeds of creativity will grow with time and a bit of encouragement.

Blooming like the Flowers

The poet Keats said 

"a thing of beauty is a joy forever". 

When we see a rose bush in full bloom, there is a lightening of spirit, but that rose did not just bloom in a day. In fact, the rose here pictured is mine, and it was planted 4 years ago. 

Joyce's rose bush planted in her garden.

A big hole was dug and filled with compost and top soil and then the small rose plant was put in with a small part on the top. Frankly, it didn't look impressive, but I had picked a good location where it got lots of sunshine and water. Each year the rose has grown and this year it is a fully mature plant.

It is a joy. I am thinking that our spiritual lives are a bit like that. If we have good soil, if there is watering from the Word, and if there is love from others, we can grow up and bloom. Everyone can see what kind of plant we are and hopefully, we can look up to God who is the creator of all that is truly beautiful.

Unexpected Acts of Kindness

 We certainly know what kindness is when we receive it. Recently, a neighbor, shoveled our snow filled walk. This was done and then ice melt bought and put on the walkway.

I was not able to get out of driveway even to get mail so a neat path led down the driveway to the mailbox which is out on the street.

My door was not knocked on, but I caught a glimpse of the action of snow flying with the shovel and a figure at work.

The first ingredient of kindness is that it thinks of others. Kindness is not selfish. Kindness takes action. Kindness includes others. It may be to pick up groceries for someone while you are going. It might mean sending a card to someone who is sick.

There are countless ways of expressing our concern. The little gesture is as important as a larger one if your heart is in the doing of it. Kindness pours out energy, resources, and even surprises for others that are appropriate to the need.

Kindness is bountiful. It says "I know you didn't ask, but I wanted to do this for you." No words need to be said because the kindness is a message by itself.

Kindness is helpful. It sees a real need and goes into action to meet that need. Kindness sends a big message to the person or family no matter how small you think the kindness given. How much we need a big jolt of kindness all over America and beyond!

Kindness connects us to others. We cannot be kind without having an inner reward in our own character. "Love is kind." We can grow in kindness if we look out beyond our own small life and open our eyes to see the needs of others.

Gentleness Goes a Long Way

A number of years ago we took our family to a ranch in Montana. It was a camp for families but upscale as we had our own cabin and walked over to the main hall for meals.

A big feature of this Ranch was the horses and horse back riding. The horses ranged from very frisky down to the one called Snowy. This horse was white and had a wide back. The most interesting thing about this horse was the youngest child could safely ride on Snowy. He never bucked or startled. He was a large, beautiful horse in size but once on top, the rider could be a real cowpoke!

Gentleness is not something that we seem to value much. We might think of gentleness as weakness but that is not what it is. Gentleness comes out of the inner being and includes being mild mannered which means not over reacting to someone else's anger over issues but rather understanding them and saying things at the right time, right way, right tone, the right content or noting at all, but never to hurt.

Gentleness also includes being kind, tender hearted and thinking of the person in your path. That includes being outgoing as much as your nature allows but also not rushing on with your life because you are so entitled and important and the other person isn't.

Snowy never rushed. He plodded. Children could take the reins on top of this powerful, strong horse and he let them guide him. Snowy exhibited humility. He was majestic but he was willing to walk or jog slightly if appropriate but he waited for the small person on top to direct.

If we value something like gentleness, we will be more open to ask the Lord for the fruit of gentleness in our lives. When we aren't being gentle, we will have the error before us and we may hurt others. We can correct our attitude and learn to walk on in gentleness, blessing others with our calming air.

Foundations

Years ago, we decided to double the size of our house to accommodate our growing family. Part of the plan was to extend the kitchen and dining room to make a walkway to the new family room. This extension and the family room required extensive knocking out of walls, and tons of digging up of dirt and reinforcing all kinds of mysterious things I didn't understand. What I did learn about is the foundations. It took longer than anyone could predict. It was messy and sometimes seemed endless.

The same can be said of Christian work. Foundations must be laid down carefully. The digging done in the quiet of prayer is essential. It may be unseen and sometimes prolonged but there needs to be this foundation laid and continued if a work built is to survive. Prayer is not an accessory, it is pivotal and powerful to be discerning, empowering, encouraging and even directing the coming edifice.

So much has been forgotten about this necessary part of building that I want to moan and cry. We see great works fall down easily without prayer.

God's ways are not man's ways. A work for the Lord is only as strong as the ongoing real, heartfelt prayer of the saints.

Sprinkles of Love

Have you noticed how much children like to chatter? From the time they learn a few words and they use them. It is easy as a parent to tune out on some of this chatter, but in order to teach them to listen, we need to give undivided attention, one at a time if possible.

When our children were young, I would take each one out, for what I called "special time". It was something fun for the child and what he or she was interested in. A favorite place was a large toy store. And after a little shopping, we would go for ice cream and I would listen. Special time says "You are valuable and I like being here with you."

On a daily basis, the time at bedtime for each can be important, especially for younger children. Listening about their day. Hearing their hearts about what was important. We never underestimate the impact of these moments on children as we are telling them: you are valuable and important.

I know parents get tired and this is a trying time with them, when they are with them all the time. But, the ingredients for building some strong relationships for later starts now, plus you can imprint children with solid values as well as learn a little yourself.

Sprinkles of love start with two ingredients: Time and Patience. We give the time and God gives us grace for the rest.

The Open Door

In winter the doors are shut where we live. It is cold! But in spring, it is a delight to open the door, let in fresh air and to look at the new green leaves on trees.

We shed coats and gloves and go through open doors to take a walk without all the layers of winter. Plenty of us are walking more than ever because that is what we can do with gyms closed. Walking can give a great uplift to our spirit; and how we need to get away from all the bad news and take in the beauty of spring. We can feel renewed like nature around us stretching and producing something new for others to see.

Because God is infinitely creative he can restore us in surprising ways. Today on a long walk by a river I paused on a bridge and looked down to see on the small shore a couple of women with their children in swim suits frolicking in and mainly out of the very cold melted snow water. They were having a wonderful moment, and the mothers were enjoying sitting on chairs just watching them and nodding to each other.

It was a glimpse of a mini vacation, and I realized it was just what I needed from what has seemed an endless time of constant demands. I can't get on a plane or go away, but by putting myself in a relaxing scene, it can be a time to feel the warmth of the sun and hear the rushing river beneath my feet: A river that, like the spirit, keeps moving us from one place to another. And that river knows where it is going and is powerful to lift and move us onto paths that are ordained for us. 

God has set before us an open door. Let us boldly go through the door we need today and into His marvelous light.

Hummingbirds

A small hummingbird came to visit me early this morning. I watched quietly as it took sips of water off a rose leaf outside my window. Such a small bird requiring only a few drops of water to be refueled. And then in a second it flew off at top speed.

I felt watching that this was a little visitor from above, perhaps with a message. The birds are free to fly. They come visit in season, and they have to stop to have a sip of pure water now and again.

We, like hummingbirds, especially in this season, need to find where our drops of refreshment are. We need to stop beating our wings and flying around at a terrific pace in order to benefit from the times we are in. We are in a place where we can find new places to pause and rest and rehydrate, drinking in all the drops of joy and peace God wants us to have.