It's Only a Game

It’s been one week since Super Bowl XLIII.

The general consensus is that this year’s game was one of the best in recent memory. Around here, at least, few people cared strongly who won or lost, even though we might have rooted for one team or the other.

When it was all over, I overheard the comment, “It’s only a game.”

Lots of people would argue with that, of course. To some, the Super Bowl is the Game of the Year. To others, the World Series or the Final Four carry much more importance.

What’s really difficult, I think, is to take that approach with life. Especially now, with business closings, job losses, retirement funds tanking, and on and on.

I don’t mean that those things are not serious and even discouraging. Basically, I want to stick my head in the sand and come out when it’s all better.

But I keep reminding myself that these are only things. Jesus cautioned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6: 19-21, NIV).”

When I start to take life too seriously, that’s the verse I want to remember. Making a difference in the lives of other people is really what this game is all about.

Coveting

"They" say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Or as Tevye pined, in Fiddler on the Roof, "If I were a rich man."

Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until someone else wants it.

Recently I met a woman--a casual acquaintance of my husband's--who raved about what a good man he is. "I didn't know there were any good men left," she said.

She only knows him because he has shopped at her store a few times, but in the course of those visits, she learned a lot about him.

She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but sometimes I need to be reminded.
That's true with many things in life.

Sometimes we wish for a nicer house, newer car, prettier hair, closer family. We get jealous of other people who are better looking, smarter, or richer. But we don't know about the debts they owe, how their kids don't talk to them, or the medical problems they're facing.

According to the Bible, God has given us exactly what we need (see Matthew 6:25-32). When we covet what others have, essentially we are telling God that He doesn't know what He's doing. At those times, what we really need to do is thank God for what He has given us.

Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34, NIV).

God, help me to remember that You have already given me all I need and to appreciate all that You have given me.

Toys

My husband thinks he’s reverting to childhood.

Now that he’s retired, he has more time to play—er, work—at things he enjoys. Like making toys.

It all started with making presents. Wooden trains, planes, and tanks. One set for each of the two grandsons, and one to keep at our house for when they come to visit (we hope).

Then it was almost time for Christmas, and we have several nieces and nephews, so he made 3 more trains—five cars each.

Then it seemed like he couldn’t stop. We ordered another 100 wheels, and today he said those are almost gone, and he’d need 200 more.

Right now, it’s planes—biplanes, jet planes, and the stealth plane, if he can figure out how to make a close imitation.

Next, he’s got ideas for cars, especially the old-fashioned kind.

He’s having as much fun making the toys as kids will have playing with them—hopefully for several generations.

Making toys for grandchildren…that may be passed on to their children.

It occurs to me that this is what God instructs us to do with His Word: “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation” (Joel 1:3, NIV).

Just as we pass on heirloom-to-be toys, so we strive to pass on our faith to our children and their children.

Gone in 6 seconds

It’s amazing how quickly everything can change.

One minute, you’re walking along, finished with work for the day, thinking about going home and what you’ll do that evening. The next, you’re flat on your back with people staring down at you, asking if you’re OK.

One day, you are independent, driving yourself to work, changing light bulbs, pumping your own gas. The next, you’re dependent on someone else for all the large and small tasks of living, dressing, eating, even opening doors.

A broken right arm makes a difference.

In the past six days, I’ve gained a new appreciation for caregivers, for people with permanent physical limitations, and for God’s incredible timing.

As I lay awake that first night, waiting for the painkillers to kick in, I was filled with gratefulness to God. After all, I reasoned, He knew this accident was going to happen and, for His own purposes, He allowed it. Yet He arranged for my husband, who had been away on business the past month, to be home when it happened, with no trips in the near future.

I am incredibly fortunate. To be loved and cared for by this man, who can make me laugh in spite of the pain. To work with a bunch of praying people who are figuring out how to get things done in my absence. To be part of a wonderful church and Sunday school class who have offered to do whatever we need and who have relieved my husband from having to cook several meals. To be loved by God, Who sometimes forces me to slow down and focus on how suddenly life can change.

God, make me sensitive to the needs of those around me, and remind me every day that today may be the only day we have to meet those needs.

Blinkers

As I sat at a stoplight waiting to turn right, I watched a flock of cars turn left without signaling. Once again I wished that people would use their blinkers.

That started me thinking about how much easier life would be if we all had signal lights to warn each other what we were about to do. If my kids would signal when they were planning to go to a party where alcohol would be flowing. My husband would use his blinker to say that he was about to spend the evening watching football when I was hoping to go out to eat. My boss’s lights would warn me that I was about to hear about that mistake I made.

Would such a thing aid communication, or hamper it? Maybe we would be like some drivers: I’d see your signal and speed up to keep you from getting in my way. Or you’d pretend not to notice me trying to get on the freeway.

I guess God has given us signals, even if people don’t. His Word shows us how to stay on the straight road, and not turn to the left or to the right.

Most of us have not picked up a driver’s manual since we first got our license. Amazing how many rules we’ve forgotten, isn’t it?

In the same way, we have a tendency to forget God’s rules for our life if we don’t review the Book regularly. Oh, we remember the “big 10”—most of the time. But how often do we remember Jesus’ words about our hearts?

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!” (Matthew 5:21-22, NLT).

A little later, He told His listeners, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28, NLT).

Ultimately, if we study God’s Word regularly, He’ll help us follow the better route of love, and we won’t need blinkers to signal our intentions to others, after all.

Missing in Action

I can't believe it's been exactly one month since my last post. I've missed writing my blog, but life got in the way, as it often does.

The past month included a wonderful visit with some of our family, attending an outstanding writers' conference, and a new twist on the work situation, as well as challenges for my husband as he headed to the Gulf Coast to do disaster inspections for FEMA. He's still there; you'd think that would give me more time to write, but you'd be wrong.

This is just a quick post to say I'm back, and I'll try to be more faithful about posting at least a couple of times a week.

When I think about it, that's the story of my life: eating healthy for awhile, then falling back into the unhealthy eating; exercising regularly for a few weeks, then missing a little, then quitting, all the while telling myself I will do it tomorrow; faithfully having my daily devotions for long periods of time, then skipping a day or two, then more, and before I know it, I've formed a "new" habit of missing my personal quiet time.

Fortunately for me, God is always faithful, and He's there waiting when I come back. Maybe someday I'll be able--with His help--to stay faithful day after day, week after week, year after year.

Right now, excuse me while I go have some ice cream.

Kicking and Screaming, Part 3

Back in July, I wrote about how God was pulling me “kicking and screaming” toward something that I really didn’t want to do.

I’m grateful that I was obedient, because God showed up—as He always does, of course.

The situation that I had been praying about for nearly three years changed "in the twinkling of an eye.” As I’ve come to expect with prayer, the answer wasn’t at all what I had prayed for or expected. But I have no doubt that it was—or will eventually prove to be—exactly the right answer.

What is even more surprising is that I suddenly found my attitude had changed. A week ago, I couldn’t even talk about this situation without crying or at least getting a catch in my throat. This past Sunday, I sensed that God wanted me to ask for prayer for other people as the changes unfold. Didn’t even occur to me to ask for prayer for myself. I told Him talking about it would make me cry. But He still insisted that I do it.

And I was able to talk about it—in general terms, of course—and ask for prayer for one individual in particular, without even getting choked up. It was the first time in three years, I think.

Maybe next time God wants me to do something, I won’t be so inclined to kick and scream.

“No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way” (Psalm 73:1-3, Message).