If Life is Such a Bowl of Cherries

One of my favorite authors, now passed from cancer, was Erma Bombeck.  I found her as a young mother when I had 3 kids under 6 years of age.  My hands were full, my knees were calloused, (from mandatory daily baths whether they needed it or not), and suffered from too little money and not enough time.  Erma became a friend and co-conspirator during some days when getting my own bath was only possible with careful timing of naps and the school bus returning in the afternoon.

She wrote a book called, "If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits."  Just the title made me laugh out loud and thus began a long adventure of motherhood, the American flag and peanut butter and jelly.

Earlier this week there were some situations that brought on a bout of depression.  I think being single around the holidays has something to do with it.  That, and the kids are grown and have their own lives.  (I sure hate it when a plan works so well that the kids are actually gainfully employed and happy!)

But as I spent the day with my 7-year old nephew Sam, things brightened.  Sam is my only reason that I get to be called Auntie.  His parents were working so he came over around 7:30 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving.

By 8:00 a.m. we were deep into playing Monopoly, talking about things boys talk about like, well, you know, noises and stuff.  By 9:00 a.m. we had put on the Star Wars dvd.  At 10:30 a.m. he remembered he was hungry.  Four mini bagels with sugar and cinnamon later and we were on a roll.  Fred Meyers saw our faces as we needed icing and candies for the gingerbread house and when we got home we started a game of Sorry that turned into three games (we had to have a tie-breaker).

That evening when his parents came over, we ordered pizza, built the gingerbread house, made Thanksgiving pies and played a rip-roaring game of Monopoly (which thankfully, my brother won, as we are not very good losers in the Holzbach family).

I went to bed that night feeling so fulfilled.  FAMILY.  That's what makes the difference.  It's not the big things like a job promotion, a new car, bigger paycheck, or spendy vacation.  Those can all be wonderful but if not with FAMILY, what does it all mean?

God renewed my spirit of thankfulness.  I was reminded to Count My Blessings, Name Them One by One.  My mind wandered back to many a dark time when God was with me, when He knew all along exactly what I needed, even when I didn't.  As I counted the blessings, the blues just blew away.

I didn't go to bed sad and tearful as in past years, missing my children and the family life.  My heart was content and at peace.  Counting my blessings, and the love and care of my family, made all the difference.  I felt so ashamed of my earlier emotions of sadness and regret.  Just counting the times God saw me through put a skip in my step.

That little song that I have heard and sang all my life goes like this:

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings,
See what God has done.
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

As we enter into the Christmas season, there will be many who feel they don't have enough.  They will feel shortchanged by life and cheated by love and the feeling of loss will fill their heart.  YOU and I may be the only ones who can share and show how a thankful spirit can change our circumstances.  Be sure to look outside of your circumstances.  Don't miss the opportunity to reach out a hand of hope and a heart of caring.  Like family.  We all need each other. 

There's Gotta Be Something More

Ever have an emotional week?  One that just leaves you feeling powerless and drained?  This week was filled with topsy-turvy emotion that literally left me bewildered.

During these times, I never doubt that God is with me.  And I know He has done so much for me.  But I found myself saying several times to myself, "there's gotta be something more."

It is because God has done so much for me that I ask this question.  I don't feel like my life demonstrates all that He has done.  I doubt anyone looking at the messy failings and brokenness of my life would see much of what God has to provide.  There just has to be more.

I'm not talking about things.  I don't mean trips, money, success or fame.  I just don't feel my life is the testimony it should be, even though I have had some pretty dark days that God has helped me through.

And can you believe it?  After this week, I go to church and the title of the sermon?  SOMETHING MORE.  (Hey God, guess you got tired of listening to me all week?)

Throughout the sermon, I kept thinking the words to this song:

Jesus is the answer for the world today.
Above Him there's no other
Jesus, is the way!

No matter what our confusion or question, He is the answer.

Then the speaker said, "Be thankful for what you have.  Whatever you have plus God is more than enough."

And then the speaker said something that I felt was right at me:  "Someone here today has been disqualifying themselves long enough."

Wow.  That hit me in the gut.  I cannot tell you how long a voice inside has repeated over and over destructive comments to me.  How unworthy, how ugly, how bad, how old, how broken, how fat, how unloveable.....I need to overcome this and get back in the game.

There is a country song that has been my theme song this week:

There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking any chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more

As I look back over the sermon notes, I reread the title of the sermon.  It is actually RELEASING Something More.  It says thankfulness RELEASES us into something more.  Being thankful for what you have releases what you need and changes your perspective.

So what a great week to look back over the times in our lives when God was there.  Take note of the way He answered your need.  That same God is with us today to release "MORE" into our lives.

Whatever you hold in your hand is enough with God.
Thankfulness releases us into something "MORE".
We must stay connected to Him.

Dear God,  I continue to shortchange Your impact on my life.  I let the circumstances raise doubts and questions and I try to handle everything by myself.  Show  me again, where you brought me from and where I could have been.  Help me to be grateful for every day, every minute, and to always, always look to You for the anwers.  Amen.