A God for Emersyn

The ending of the story was already written. A carefully formed nest lay fallen from my redbud tree, beside it a shiny, turquoise egg. A frail, broken, newborn robin lay on the cold, rain-soaked ground, abandoned, apparently forgotten. Heartbeats pulsed visibly beneath translucent pink skin, slowing as the bird blindly twisted his body, hopelessly fighting for life. I held the bird in my hands, powerless to save it, yet comforted to know the truth as I placed it beneath the soft, green Lamb's Ear leaves. The God who created this bird sees every moment of its life. It is tenderly loved.

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? - Matthew 6:2

A fragile, newborn Christian is entering a life of faith this week. I accidentally gave her a wrong phone number for my cell. I've been concerned because, while she can email me, I'm not as immediately available to her as I had hoped. She's a survivor of a cold, pain-soaked life and I feel powerless as I wait to hear from her. It comforts me as I realize she knows the truth. The God who created her sees every moment of her life. She is tenderly loved.

There is a God who sees and is available always. There is a God who is able to do more than we ask or imagine He can do. There is a God who loves with an everlasting love.


Emersyn was born into our family this week, and, after months of waiting, she has arrived wrapped in warmth, safe from the storms of life and cherished beyond measure. Her body was covered with prayer multiple times daily as God knit her together in my niece's womb. As her story unfolds, I know Emersyn will have disappointments, pain and losses. It comforts me as I realize she will know the truth. The God who created her sees every moment of her life. She is tenderly loved.

The ending of your story is not yet written. Pain and disappointment may have left you broken. You may feel abandoned, apparently forgotten. The God who sees you every moment of your life Is available to wrap you in warmth and hold you in His hands, safe from the storms of life. You are worth more than you realize, cherished beyond measure. You are tenderly loved.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have tenderly held you with compassion. -Jeremiah 31:3

Johnathan's Marvelous Miracle

"Wook!" Johnathan shouted in the middle of our walk around the block, "Oh, otay! Wain!"

"It's not raining. That's the flower petals blowing from the tree," I laughed.

His pudgy toddler hands raised toward the sky as he blinked in wonderment at the hundreds of tiny white petals raining down and the thousands more piled at his feet.

"There shall be showers of blessings," I sang to him. "Showers of blessings we need. Mercy drops 'round us are falling! But for the showers we plead." (D.W. Whittle, 1883)

Johnathan began to laugh at this event too marvelous for words as we twirled and danced in the shower of soft petals.

He was delighted at the prospect of rain showers and mud puddles on our walk. He was prepared, dressed in rain boots and a jacket. But, this miracle of flowers in what looked like rain was too marvelous for words.

What if His mercy comes through raindrops? What if His blessings come through tears? What if our greatest disappointments are his blessings in disguise? ("Blessings", by Laura Story)

Perhaps the secret to seeing our disappointments as blessings lies in being prepared to splash in the mud, to having tucked into our jacket a faith in the God whose ways are too marvelous for words.

We danced through the flower shower then ran to the top of the hill laughing. Looking back down the street, knowing what we knew now, the petals falling were pretty, but not nearly as wondrous as when we were dancing and singing in the middle of it, watching the petals falling around us.

Some moments you cannot do over. You only get one chance to see the marvelous miracle unfolding around you. It may look like rain or it may look like flowers, but you have to be prepared for both, eyes wide awake to the possibilities on your walk with the God who makes all things glorious.

Maisy and the Ragamuffin

Luna, Maisy's doll, has bright blue eyes in a clean, polished face. She is sturdy and easy to hold, ready to travel through life with Maisy.

"Can I play with Rockitty Ann?" asks two year old Maisy.

Raggedy Ann has been with me since childhood. The decades have crippled her, left her with stains and scars. She is neither pretty to look at nor easy to hold. Printed over her heart are the words "I Love You" and to a little girl, this gives her great value.

Maisy is cautious and gentle when she plays with Raggedy Ann. A special name is given and Maisy sings over her with love and kisses the limp doll's boo-boos.

We are created by a loving, versatile God. He gives each of us a knapsack of gifts, prints "I Love You" on our hearts and sends us on our life journey.

Nobody but me can see the rough moments my ragamuffin doll has survived. I am the one who first saw her heart. I am the one who walked alongside her through the years. She was a gift in my knapsack and that gives her value.

Who are the ragamuffins in your life?

Raggedy Ann children with annoying habits. Raggedy Ann teenagers with rebellious attitudes. Raggedy Ann workers with boasts and complaints. Raggedy Ann elderly with urine smells and boring words.

You are poor if you do not spend time with ragamuffins. Find one and give her a special name. Sing over her with love and kiss away her boo-boos.

You may be the first one to read "I Love You" on her heart. God put it there for you to discover.

Seek and you will find.

A Bird's Eye View

A garbage truck bangs through the neighborhood and some papers escape the bin, blowing into the yard. Children are yelling, running about as they wait for the school bus. A tired man coming home from work glares at them as he slows to wait for a bouncing ball. The roar of a lawn mower interrupts my conversation with a neighbor.

"Sometimes people can be so annoying!" my neighbor comments in frustration. "I feel like exploding and it's not even 8 o'clock in the morning!"

And, it's true, isn't it? We annoy one another with our smirks, our shrugs and our sighs. Our decisions, politics and opinions quite quickly escalate. Instead of being people who merely annoy others, when unchecked, we quickly become harsh, rude and unkind.

A choir of birds is singing sweetly from my redbud tree this morning. The noise and fray of government and community do not bother them. Unfortunate interruptions such as an early morning lawn mower are unnoticed. Birds awaken for the purpose of praising their Creator and drawing attention to Him.

People, however, awaken with the awareness of our burdens and disappointments. Even during the night, we may battle stress and problems.We may not number our losses or brood over them, but aches and wounds, physical as well as spiritual, fill life with annoying conflict. We can be primed for irritation and frustration before we are even out of the bed.

A red breasted robin has hopped over to rest on a branch beside me. He has been working for hours this morning. His wife was injured and their home, ready and waiting for their little ones, was mangled in a recent hail storm. Yet, he is calmly watching me write, resting from his work...singing to cheer me along my way.

I smile at my little friend as he finishes his song and bobs his head at me. My eyes are directed to the heavens as he flies away into the morning sunshine leaving me with a gladsome heart.

Watching Life Happen

Spring invites and invokes curious pondering. My basket of research books and journals beside me on the patio are being ignored.  The robins searching for worms when I left on my walk are now building nests. A rabbit is bravely exploring my newly planted grass seeds wondering where the garden patch went this year. Are those zinnia seedlings growing so fast I can catch them at it if I sit and watch?

Living in an atmosphere of children draws me continually to nature.  Why is it called a robin?  Did you really find a snake skin?  Will you blow dandelions with me?  Can we plant something?  Did you know this is the biggest flower in the garden? Come, look at this spider I found!

Hot lazy summer days all too soon push spring behind us. I am allowed this moment to view the Creator as He brings to life a new season of bold color and passionate wonder.  Am I growing like a weed, Father?  Do you see new fruit ready to blossom in my life? Am I like a tree planted near the water?

Meditating on Him quite readily invites and invokes prayer, changing not only my day, but changing my life. And it is a fine day in spring when I pause long enough to watch it happen.

"No learning can make up for the failure to pray.  No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack. ~E.M. Bounds

Goldfinches Come to Tea

Six goldfinch couples landed quietly in my redbud tree. I had become frustrated in my morning prayer, impatient and weary, grateful for a restful distraction. I refilled my tea cup and settled in to watch their antics.

Zipping to and fro, apparently stretching their achy flight muscles, the female goldfinches settled on a branch, looking ready for someone to pour tea and pass out scones. They seemed to be chatting with one another and I laughed. What encouraging words does a Lady Goldfinch have to share with her friends? Were they wanting the menfolk to stop and ask for directions? Were they, like me, nervous about the future and longing to see God's plan?

As I returned my thoughts to prayer, the wrestling with God didn't seem quite as desperate. I had been wanting a "burning bush" like Moses was given, some evidence of God's plan for the rest of my life, His vision for my heart, for my next adventure. Do you ever feel that way? "I'll do whatever You want, Lord. Just please show me the plan so I can get started."

I had asked for a burning bush and God set a redbud tree afire with goldfinches. I finished my tea, smiling at them, refreshed from their visit. The Goldfinches had stopped their animated chatting and had begun to sing. I sang along with them: "I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free. For His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me!"

"He holds the future in the palm of His hands and He has never failed us yet. I know He's reigning and He still has control. So why should I worry or fret?"

Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered, "Snow."
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned, "Frost."

All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly -
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.
~Rachel Field

Geese in the Corners

Yesterday, as though Robert McCloskey's picture book, "Make Way for Ducklings", had come to life, traffic stalled. Two adult geese and five little goslings toddled across the road and went merrily on their way toward home.

I like living in a world where we still pause life long enough to be delighted by the surprises God tucks into the corners of every day. This morning I took a walk, hoping for sunshine to meet me on my way. I usually see geese on the pond or in the yards and they often make me laugh. I didn't get far before the heavy rain returned and I splashed through puddles all the way back home.

Standing at my window, sipping coffee, I watched geese standing still as the rain showers pelted down on them like blessings from Heaven. Reminded once again of the beauty God has placed in nature to draw our eyes toward Him, I pulled the warm quilt around me and sat down before the crackling fire to enjoy a book of poetry. I found this treasure tucked into the corner of my day:

Spring Rain
The storm came up so very quick.
It couldn't have been quicker.
I should have brought my hat along.
I should have brought my slicker.
My hair is wet, my feet are wet,I couldn't be much wetter.
I fell into a river once
But this is even better!

~Marchette Chute

Of Redbuds and Bluebirds

They moved silently into the neighborhood, setting up temporary camp in my garden. Then, to herald their arrival, the two bluebirds sang with glee all morning in my redbud tree. I stood at my window marveling at their beauty. Though I found it a challenge to sing along with a bluebird's song, I welcomed kindred spirits to share my joy. Lo, the winter is over and spring has arrived on the earth!

Day by day I have watched them flitting about, taking a restful break, viewing the neighborhood or singing a song. They played tag in the tree branches. They navigated sprouting bushes and flowers, searching for hidden dangers and secret passages. Such busyness! What delight in life!

This morning as they were discussing nest locations, I was amazed to discover that the redbud tree was covered with beautiful, stately buds. When had this happened? Only the week before I had thanked God for the gorgeous snow covered branches. I had been watching the bluebirds in that tree multiple times daily. Yet, charmed by the busy, fascinating bluebirds, I had forgotten the steadfast strength and beauty of my comforting favorite tree, missing the loveliness simply because I was distracted.

"For lack of attention, a thousand forms of loveliness elude us every day." ~Evelyn Underhill