by Cathy Baker | Faith |
With a new picket fence now installed, I’ll soon be able to transplant flowers and shrubs that have been anxiously awaiting their new address in the garden, where they can grow and flourish to their finest potential.
While I enjoy the transplanting process, my plants often do not. If transplanted too soon or too late in the season, they often suffer from all types of stress. Some of which will temporarily set them back in terms of growth, while others will set them back in terms of life…permanently!
Thankfully, no guesswork is involved when it comes to our heavenly Father deciding when we are in need of a little “transplanting” – emotionally, spiritually or physically speaking. He lovingly moves us to precise places of growth, especially those areas where we would not take root and grow otherwise. Unlike the novice gardener, His timing is never too soon, nor too late, although they often appear to us as the most inopportune times possible.
If a mere gardener is aware of a plant’s potential in new surroundings, how much more aware is the Master Gardener when it comes to His children? Unlike the earthly transplanting process, stress need not be a factor as we entrust our lives to the One who loves us too much to keep us from places where His fullest potential can take root and flourish!
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Picture it.
What you hear:
- 70’s music galore
- the sound of magazine pages slowly being turned, one by one
What you don’t hear:
- bluegrass music
- lots of laughter (thankfully, Brian and I have the same sense of humor which is sorely missed when he’s away)
What you see:
- a very pathetic puppy named Rupert (see above)
- empty Breyers Ice Cream cartons
- dancing that only Elaine fans could appreciate
- chick flicks into the wee hours of the morning
What you smell:
- coffee brewing
- candles burning
- Eucalyptus Mint Method Tub & Tile Wipes (have mercy! They almost smell good enough to make me enjoy cleaning…almost.)
What you don’t smell:
- anything cooking in the oven
It’s times like these when Brian is thankful to be married to an only child (aka loner). I love being by myself for short periods of time but not nearly as much as I enjoy the hubster being here. He’s heading home from France today (yea!).
Goodbye Eucalyptus Mint. Hello Easy Off Fume Free Oven Cleaner.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
While scurrying around the yard I caught a wiff of something wonderful. The old adage “stop and smell the roses” immediately came to mind as I was drawn to this plant and away from my yard duties. If only you could “scratch-n-sniff” these old-fashioned lilacs!
I’ll admit it. Pausing in general isn’t easy for me. How about you? When is the last time you paused to receive those things which God has placed around you as specific reminders of his splendor?
“Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10, 11
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
If you were to search for the definition of “creature of habit”, this is who you would find. Rupert, our Lhasa Apso. He does the same thing every day. He sleeps on the same chair. He waits by the door beginning at 4:45 for Brian. He only eats Burger King cheeseburgers, not McD’s. I can’t believe I just admitted that.
Change is hard for me too, under most circumstances. However, making changes based on what I believe to be true is not as difficult. Painful, yes. But not difficult.
I spent the first 27 years of my life stumbling around, searching for something or someone to fill the divine gap in my soul. When I became a Christ-follower and saw the transforming power of the risen Christ in my daily life, I was no longer satisfied in letting my days simply “go by.” I long for every day of my life to be a living “thank you” letter to Jesus Christ. I don’t have the desire or the time to play guessing games when it comes to the use of my time, energy or resources.
So, yes. I am a creature of habit in many senses of the word. Probably too many (just ask Brian!), but not in those areas I treasure most.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ John 19:25-27
Today, as I read through these verses, I was struck by the love Jesus showed for his mother by referring to her as “woman” instead of “mother”. This wasn’t the first time. Remember John 2:4? Mary informs Jesus the wedding party was out of wine. “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” At first glance, the term seems a bit harsh, but if you were to dig a little deeper, you would find this to be a polite term used in their culture. Polite, yes, but it’s obvious that Jesus is distancing himself from his mother. He is gently breaking the news to her that He is no longer her responsibility.
Let’s linger in John 19:26 a little longer. Moms will find this pause especially uncomfortable. We have an innate knowledge of the power our children’s words hold over us, whether they are 3 or 33. Jesus knew it too.
The word “woman” must have brought immediate comfort to Mary’s heart or else Jesus would have remained silent. As a loving Son, Jesus wanted His mother to remember who He truly belonged to. As her Savior, Jesus wanted her to remember His only purpose in life. His time had now come.
The lesson for us as parents? Remember that our kids are not our own. It was God who wove them together in the depths of the earth. It was His eyes that saw his/her unformed body. It was His omnipotent power that ordained their days before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139: 15, 16) Jesus’ words to Mary over 2,000 years ago holds incredible freedom for parents today who are willing to grasp these truths and live accordingly.
As a mother, I’ll admit there are times when I become fearful over my sons’ futures. I want them to be safe and secure (and okay, close to home.) But as their co-heir in Christ, I desire only God’s plans and purposes for their lives. Whether or not I can see or understand those plans makes no difference. That’s not my calling as a parent.
While gasping for every word, Jesus reminded Mary, and us today, that while parents play a vital role in the lives of their children, it is God alone who gives them a purpose for it. We must decrease that He might increase.
Thank You, Jesus.
With a new picket fence now installed, I’ll soon be able to transplant flowers and shrubs that have been anxiously awaiting their new address in the garden, where they can grow and flourish to their finest potential.
