Thursday, February 26, 2009

Favourite Things Beginning with "S"

My favourite things beginning with "S" - not necessarily in order of importance are:

1. Sovereign God: Although I view my heavenly Father with awe, worship, fear, mystery and simple faith, I am glad I believe in Him and He believes in me!

2. Scriptures: The older I get, the more precious the Bible has become. There are still many parts of it I don't understand and that make me uncomfortable but, at the same time, the verses challenge, comfort and convict me. I am even beginning to love the Old Testament prophets because amid the doom and gloom there is always a note of hope.

3. Seasons: There is something about each of the four seasons that I love. I love spring. That's when the promise we have held onto all winter comes to be with green leaves and daffodils. I love summer and the warm, although not the very hot, sunny days. I love fall and the wonderful harvest of vegetables and the vivid colours of the maple trees. And I even love winter. The pure, white snow covers up all the dirt and grime the world collects.

4. Spouse: I have the greatest husband in the world. The past few years have been incredibly difficult at times but Jim has been with me every step. He often doesn't understand me but he accepts me for who I am at any given moment.

5. Sandwiches: There is nothing like a sandwich made by someone else. The ladies in many churches that I have attended over the years make the BEST sandwiches I have ever eaten.

6. Silly songs and limericks: Only the clean, clever and creative ones make my list. Anyone can make an off-colour rhyme but a true genius can make us laugh in a way children can enjoy as well as adults.

7. Serendipity and surprises: Especially the pleasant, unexpected things that happen in our lives. But the unpleasant have their place, too. They make us appreciate the good times and keep us from getting too arrogant.

8. Sister: I am so fortunate to have a wonderful sister. I don't think I could make it through the visits to Mother without her. It is so difficult to see my dar mom so frail and feeble and know that she has no idea who I am. Without my sister there, I would have a complete meltdown, I'm sure. We have not always been close but sisters understand you like no-one else can.

9. Snail mail: I do love getting letters and cards in the mail. I am afraid that as a culture we are losing the ability to communicate by handwritten ( or even hand typed) correspondence. And, no, emails are not the same.

10. Sunsets: I used to have a sitting room that faced west and I so enjoyed the gorgeous sunsets we get every so often. I truly felt that God created them especially for me!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday - whatever you prefer. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday or the first day of Lent.

Many Christians choose to give up something for Lent, the forty days before Easter. I have chosen to give up chocolate or sugary treats some years. Another year I decided to write a card, note or letter to someone every day for 40 days. I managed to accomplish this too and rather enjoyed it.

This year there have been too many things going on around here and I completely forgot about Lent until Kathy mentioned it in her blog this morning.

There have been times this winter when I have considered just giving up PERIOD but that is not my style. The women in our family generally have not been quitters. My mother turns 96 tomorrow and although she hardly knows her own name these days, last week she told my sister the exact month and date of her birth.

If she's not ready to give up, I have no excuse!

I'll have to think about Lent. It is the most important period of the Christian calendar although Evangelical churches rarely mention it any more. Considering the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf, 40 days meditating on His death and resurrection and commemorating it in some way, seems a small thing.