At the doctor’s office this week, the physician asked us how long we’d been married. As a couple in our 80’s, that’s a question we hear Often in these days of hurry and scurry from the harried.
When we say it’ll be 60 years next February, they say, “Congratulations, Wow!” and then they ask, “What’s the secret to such a long relationship?” They can see our smiles through our masks.
“Mutual respect,” I say. “And Faith,” Bob adds. “We pray together daily because we believe those who pray together stay together.” The doc asks, “Do you have other tips up your sleeve?”
“Of course,” Bob responds with a twinkle, “Never stop showing how much you care!” And I reinforced the idea, “Mutual respect is a must. Add the element of trust – and be willing to openly share.”
“At the same time,” I must add, “Remember this: We are individuals who need to be allowed space. We’re not connected at the hip, and we can go our separate ways while sharing this place.”
Respecting one another means we value the uniqueness each of us brings to our marriage relationship – and its OK for one of us to fiddle while the other one sings.
It’s OK for me to be in the bell choir and blog while Bob watches Monday Night football. It’s OK for him to prefer history or sports while I read a novel or make a phone call.
It’s OK for Bob to sit for a while and read while I clean off the table after dinner. But when it comes time to do the dishes, Get up and help if you wanna win her!
It’s Ok to divide some of the chores. I don’t wanna learn to mow the lawn! And Bob can’t turn on the washing machine; but share some tasks – don’t be withdrawn!
Does that mean we always agree? That we never argue with each other? No, not at all… we’re human after all! But we don’t fight with one another!
You can disagree with mutual respect. The key to that statement is to listen. Honor your partner’s right to an opinion – and enjoy equality – not one forcing dominion.
What’s the secret to a long, happy relationship? Mutual respect, shared faith, and trust – equal rights, space, avoiding fights, and time apart every now & then – if you must!
Bob enjoys fishing… I don’t!
I enjoy volunteering at the Food Bank or Nursing Home – that’s not in Bob’s sweet spot!
We both enjoy a nice glass of wine with a tasty meal – and occasionally eating out. It’s important to find some common ground otherwise you’ll smile less and increase your pout!
So, my friends, what’s the bottom line? God helped us find each other from the start – And through the years we’ve leaned on Him for help. We thank the Lord for His loving heart!
Gratitude can’t be left our of the equation. Don’t forget to thank Jesus and remember to say “Thank you” to one another every day. Thank Heaven, our love is here to stay!
Hah! Do you think I should learn to fish?
What are your secrets to a long and happy marriage? I wish you a life-time of mutual love and respect.
Tonight I enjoyed sharing the Bible with friends at our local nursing center. It’s a privilege to get to know these folks whose hearts are soft and tender.
The Bible lesson tonight from Psalms was about how to handle despair. We all face such emotions at times – especially during holidays everywhere.
When our families are far away and we have no way of traveling, it feels to some they are “trapped” and their lives are unraveling.
But while Psalm 42 begins in sorrow, expressing ways life is unfair, the tone quickly changes to joy when touting the wonders of prayer.
Although the flow May feel like a free fall, Embrace the flow. There’s Someone at your call.
He’s right there to catch you When you’re about to land. He won’t let you crash – He’ll hold out His hand!
Yesterday Bob & I dashed off to Bozeman for three reasons – and there ended up being four… oh actually five:
Drop off his pickup at “Dark Horse Snug Tops” to replace the hinge on his hatch cover
Go to an appointment with the nephrologist (what’s that? -the doctor who deals with the branch of medicine related to physiology and diseases of the kidneys-)
Keep an appointment with the cardiologist (you all know that’s a heart doctor), and an unexpected
X-ray of his abdomen… oh, and I was there for a 5th reason:
To shop for the veggies to make vegetable soup for tomorrow’s fellowship at church
We were hoping that the nephrologist would say his kidneys show no signs of protein or amyloid deposits – and so a biopsy would not be necessary. God answered that prayer!
We were hoping the cardiologist would say all the preliminary tests are done and show no signs of AL Amyloidosis (the cancerous kind) – and so no more labs and scans before our trip to Mayo Clinic in January. God answered that prayer.
The unexpected x-ray showed yes, the abdomen area is full of air (that’s why it sounds like a kettle drum when you tap on it) – but it’s not fluid – and he’s not showing signs like pain or vomiting – so we won’t deal with that issue right now. God is good! We trust His timing on this – (and all our other decisions).
I got my veggie shopping done (Thanks, CostCo, for your lovely fruits and veggies) – and …
The pickup latch cover hinge was fixed and BONUS: they replaced the key mechanism that was troubling (God answers prayers you didn’t know to mention … He’s way ahead of you!)
So, go with the flow…
John 7:38
“Out of the believer’s heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Today’s word in Unity‘s Daily Word is FLOW. The introductory thought is, “I flow with the nourishing life of God.” John 7:38 is the featured scripture. The devotional (quoting Lao Tzu) says, “The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things, without trying to.”
As believers, we know that “supreme good” is God. We know God is “The Flow.”
Unity‘s Daily Word goes on to say, “Whether I experience this flow as a current of a river, the swelling of ocean waves, or my body’s life-sustaining circulation, I am in sync with this flow, which by its nature knows which way to go and what to do.”
How refreshing is that thought to you? It nourishes my soul. By the Holy Spirit, I know God’s life is in me – moving, changing, dancing and singing. I am one with the flow. I need not dash and rush and worry about things happening on time! I need not worry about Bob’s heart and kidneys, his abdomen or his pickup. I need not worry about his lack of stamina on the drive home. Just go with the flow – and trust. Follow along in the car – and honk if his pickup drifts and he seems to be falling asleep!!
Sometimes the flow is slow and steady … and I am out there in a fiery mood, trying to rush it along.
Don’t be in a rush To try to get too much done. Let the smooth flow of God Stop you mid-run!
Delight in the sneakiness Of a red sunset’s glow, And take time to relish The soft taste of snow.
Embrace the joy Of vegetables’ texture and smell, The magic of herbs as they cook, And bid stressing farewell!
Embrace the flow Of God in your life. Let Him slow you down As you eliminate strife.
Don’t worry about health. Don’t stress over unfinished tasks. Just go with the flow – And take time for some laughs!
Overflow this Advent season with the love of Christ Jesus, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the easy flow of God answering prayers in your life.
Oh, the joy of being great-grandparents is a joy many never live long enough to experience. We do not take this for granted. An afternoon with our granddaughter, Hope, and her two children, Xander and Sienna, reinforced for us why God gives children to the young!!
In Genesis 17, when God
himself appears to Abraham and tells him that Sarah will bear a son, Abraham falls on his face laughing and exclaims, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” (Genesis 17:17).
(Genesis 18:13-14) After Sarah laughs, God turns to Abraham, asking, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? ‘ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Sarah has been caught in the act of her private laughter and mocking commentary, a response which catches God off-guard.
We understand why when God granted Sarah the child she longed for all her life (she was in her 90s – so it was quite a miracle), she laughed (not believing God could really do that) and then she gave Isaac to the church. The priests there raised him!
Oh sure…. she gave her child to God in gratitude for God’s generosity. Suuure!!
I’ll bet she didn’t have the stamina to care for that lively little guy!
Hah! We loved visiting with our great grandkids, but we’re sure grateful it’s Hope who took them home – not us! Embrace those great-grandchildren… and then kiss ’em good-bye. You bet!!
I’m headed to bed. I’m exhausted! See ya tomorrow (God willing) Love, JanBeek
I couldn’t lift her!! Her mama had to help me get her in my lap!
The wind is like a lion The wind is a howling hyena The wind is like a frisky lamb The wind is a cotton ball
The part of Montana where we live (Madison Valley in Madison County) is a wind tunnel. Right now as I sit here at my computer, I can see it. I can hear it. I can read my barometer telling me that it ranges between 15 and 25 mph this morning. Occasionally gusts of 35 mph rock the flaps on the exhaust pipe above the stove in the kitchen. People who visit us here in Ennis often comment, “How can you stand it?”
We really don’t mind it when we stop and think about what it does. The wind blows the rain clouds in. It blows the storm off to the east and over the mountain range. We can see the clouds moving and we marvel at the way those wind gusts keep us from becoming an overgrown city! Our response to those visitors’ comments is, “Oh it’s terrible! You wouldn’t want to live here!”
The wind blows the storms in and it blows the clouds out again.
The wind is like a scooper The wind is a funnel The wind is like a filter The wind is a sieve
The wind sifts out the weak of heart & spirit!
No, we don’t get tornadoes here! Our winds are not that bad! But they can be inhospitable. We’d move if that’s all we had!
Welcome to the Madison River – Flyfishing capitol of the world!
The wind is like a welcomed monitor The wind is a necessary friend The wind is like a vacuum cleaner The wind is a friendly lion
Simile/ˈsiməlē : a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox ). Metaphor: compares two things directly without using “like” or “as”; the subject IS the object. Metaphors are more direct than similes, which can make them seem stronger or more surprising. Example: The sunrise this morning was an ocean of honey dusted with powdered sugar.
Nope, you wouldn’t like living in Madison County! Hah!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek. I am sending love, joy, peace, faith and a sense of unity your way this day. Don’t let them get blown away!
Blogging is like a private jet. It can take you anywhere!
My high school buddy from the Stone Age, Doris, sent me a story today. It was written by a guy (no name available) who recalled an experience that stuck with him and changed him forever.
Did the title of this blog draw you in? Stay with me.
The story writer told about the way a young Downs Syndrome man impacted the hearts of all he touched. I was moved by the story – and decided it was too good to keep to myself. I hope it touches your heart, too.
In 1979, I was managing a Wendy’s in Port Richey, Florida. Unlike today, staffing was never a real problem, but I was searching for a someone to work 3 hours a day only at lunch. I went thru all my applications and most were all looking for full time or at least 20 hours per week. I found one however, buried at the bottom of a four inch stack, that was only looking for lunch part time.
His name was Nicky. Hadn’t met him but thought I would give him a call and see if he could stop by for an interview. When I called, he wasn’t in but his mom said she would make sure he would be there. At the appointed time, Nicky walked in. One of those moments when my heart went in my throat. Nicky suffered from Downs Syndrome. His physical appearance was a giveaway and his speech only reinforced the obvious. I was young and very sheltered. Had never interacted on a professional level with a developmentally disabled person. I had no clue what to do, so I went ahead and interviewed him. He was a wonderful young man. Great outlook. Task focused. Excited to be alive. For only reasons God knew at that time, I hired him for 3 hours a day, 3 days a week to run a grill.
I let the staff know what to expect. Predictably the crew made sure I got the message, “No one wants to work with a retard.” To this day I find that word offensive. We had a crew meeting, cleared the air, and prepared for his arrival.
Nicky showed up for work right on time. He was so excited to be working. He stood at the time clock literally shaking with anticipation. He clocked in and started his training. Couldn’t multi-task, but was a machine on the grill.
Now for the fascinating part… Back in that day, there were no computer screens to work from. Every order was called out by the cashier. It required a great deal of concentration on the part of all production staff to get the order right. While Nicky was training during his first shift, the sandwich maker next to him asked the grillman/trainer what was on the next sandwich. Nicky replied, “single, no pickle no onion.” A few minutes later it happened again. It was then that we discovered Nicky had a hidden and valuable skill. He memorized everything he heard! Photographic hearing! WHAT A SKILL SET.
It took 3 days and every sandwich maker requested to work with Nicky. He immediately was accepted by the entire crew. After his shift he would join the rest of his crew family, drinking Coke like it was water! It was then that they discovered another Rainman-esque trait. Nicky was a walking/talking perpetual calendar! With a perpetual calendar as a reference, they would sit for hours asking him what day of the week was December 22, 1847. He never missed. This uncanny trait mesmerized the crew.
His mom would come in at 2 to pick him up. More times than not, the crew would be back there with him hamming it up. As I went to get him from the back, his mom said something I will never forget. “Let him stay there as long as he wants. He has never been accepted anywhere like he has been here.”
I excused myself and dried my eyes, humbled and broken-hearted at the lesson I just learned. Nicky had a profound impact on that store. His presence changed a lot of people. Today I believe with every fiber of my body that Nicky’s hiring was no accident. God’s timing and will are perfect.
This Christmas, I hope we all understand what we are celebrating. We are all like Nicky. We each have our shortcomings. We each have our strong points. But we are all of value. God made us that way and God doesn’t make mistakes. Nicky certainly wasn’t a mistake. He was a valuable gift that I am forever grateful for.
We are celebrating the birth of the ONE that leveled the playing field for all of us. God doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, republican or democrat, or black or white. He doesn’t care if your chromosome structure is perfect. He doesn’t care what level of education you have attained. He cares about your heart. He wants us all to love and appreciate the gift HE gave us on Christmas, His son, the Savior, our salvation. His Son that was born to die for our sins. To pay our debt. To provide us a path for eternity.
So this Christmas, let’s check our hearts. There is a little bit of Nicky in all of us and I suspect there is a Nicky somewhere in your life who is looking for the chance to be embraced. Thank God for that. Thank God for His perfect gift, Christ Jesus.
Merry Christmas!
Alice Paschal Nativity
Peering Down
Another of my high school friends, Kristy, sent me that sketch up there done by a 93-year-old friend of hers, Alice Paschal. What a wonderful rendition of that glorious Christmas Day! Like those two doves, my husband, Bob, and I are sitting in the rafters, peering down on that magical scene – marveling at the love Christ brought down to earth. Grateful for those who share His love in stories, words and actions.
Ready to Learn
May we all be like the workers in that restaurant long ago – ready to learn to love, learn to accept, learn to wrap our arms around the most vulnerable. May we learn to see one another through Jesus glasses, from the inside out.
I first posted this in December of 2020 … and here it is a year later … December of 2021 … and in many ways, we are more engulfed in the effects of COVID-19 now than we were then!
My New Years glasses
My resolution for 2020 was to “Walk the Talk.” Little did I know when I created those 20/20 Perfect Vision glasses January 1, 2020 what a challenge that would be!
I posted the picture of that little girl in early January, determined to talk less and to do more.
Lenten Breakfast 2020
No Way of Knowing
I had no way of knowing when we celebrated the first of five planned Lenten breakfasts leading up to Easter that it would be our last. COVID-19 hit, our gatherings were shut down, and social distancing eliminated these opportunities.
Time
Time to read more, time to think more, time to reflect on stories like the one at the top of this blog.
I asked you, my WP readers, “How will you spend the rest of this 2020 year? What will you do to Walk the Talk and Show the Love of Christ with those you meet?”
I asked you, “Think about it.”
And here it is another year gone by, still dealing with the effects of COVID-19, and still asking the same questions. still making the same requests:
And I still want you to know, “I love you.“ I hope you have avoided the ravages of the virus. I hope you are well, and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with loved ones.
Thanks for taking time to read JanBeek. I hope it inspires you. Bee well! Bee LOVE.
Who am I to tell you How to live your life? Who am I to suggest Ways to eliminate strife?
Simplicity’s elusive In this world of more and more. Simplicity’s evasive For both the rich and poor.
When we live in a world of plenty We have more than we need, lots more. We have so much it pushes its way Onto the chairs and into the floor.
We go out shopping for others And find a book we can’t live without. No more room on our bookshelves – “Stop! Embrace Simplicity!” our houses all shout.
Embrace Simplicity!
We go out shopping for others And some absolutely essential gift Jumps off the shelf and tells us, “You need this for your own spirit lift!”
But living with less stuff and clutter Is the best spirit lifter you will find. Let’s embrace simplicity, my friends. It’s an important clearing of the mind!
Like weeds in an otherwise garden of beauty, Your mind and your home need clear space! Get rid of the clutter and give your brain room To live in simplicity and to exude love and grace.
Maybe this Christmas my shopping Should be in my own cluttered house. Instead of searching, stressing, and buying, I wonder who’d like that lovely red blouse?
I’m off to see if I can follow my own advice. Wouldn’t that be nice? But, I really like that blouse… Maybe I’ll have to think twice!
Have a Simply Happy Week, my friends. All I want for Christmas is YOU visiting me here!! See ya tomorrow (God willing) Love, JanBeek
Light Dispels Darkness Open His Word Let it enlighten you Brightness
Brightness Is yours If you ask Take it to others Share
Today at Madison Valley Presbyterian Church, here in Ennis, Montana, Pastor Mary Grace Reynold’s sermon was inspired by the New Testament scripture Matthew 2: 4-18
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[a]
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”[b]
What a terrible scripture to focus on during this season of Advent! But… the “Take-away” from the message was this:
Sermon Notes:
If something unnerves you, pay attention! The realm of unpleasantness is not what we expect in Advent as we wait for the Messiah. Killing all the boy babies? Worse than unnerving!
The season of Hope, Faith, Joy and Love is not supposed to be unsettling. Let’s weep with Rachel over the loss of children. Let’s weep over the bleakest of backgrounds.
Life is frequently bleak, but take heart! Into this bleakness a star appeared in the sky. Into this bleakness the vulnerable baby was born. Into this bleakness, a cruel king felt threatened.
Herod, the king sat in the stain of his own shallow angst and envy. He looked foolishly to the stars, believing in his own deity.
Threatened by an innocent baby, reported to be coming as a king, Herod ordered the death of all boys under the age of two in Bethlehem.
God heard the cries of “the least of these.” Jesus remembered those cries when He reminded us to care for “the least of these.” And friends, we each are part of “the least of these.”
Jesus/God knows the hearts of the bleak. He injects hope in the hearts of the hopeless. He injects love, joy and peace into our bleak world today.
Rejoice in the brightness of God’s love. Rejoice that God claims us. Do not be surprised by God’s compassion. Bask in the warmth of His bright love.
May peace, love, hope and joy be yours this Advent season – and into the new year. May the brightness of Jesus/God be within you. Share His bright light with others.
Amen?
Wreath Advent Memories Light each candle Remember what each symbolizes Jesus
Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds & me
Embrace Brightness!! Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow (God willing)
From Wikipedia: Living water … is a biblical term which appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In Jeremiah 2:13 and 17:13, the prophet describes God as “the spring of living water”, who has been forsaken by his chosen people Israel. Later, the prophet Zechariah described Jerusalem as a source of “living water”, “half [flowing] east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter” (Zechariah 14:8). The Pulpit Commentary notes that the city of Jerusalem “was, as we know, abundantly supplied with water by many conduits and subterranean channels; but standing, as it does, surrounded by hills higher than itself, it is physically impossible that the waters could literally flow as stated. The description is symbolical…”[1] …”
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
In this Christian season of Advent, the season described in Britannica as “Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ” it is appropriate that we consider who Christ is, why He came, and what His presence as the Holy Spirit means in our lives.
Living Water (an Elfchen = 1,2,3,4,1)
Living For Jesus A Loving Life Accepting His Cleansing Grace Water
I have a Bible that I gave to a friend years ago. When she died, her family returned it to me with a thank you. The Bible is titled, “Living Water.” Every scripture in it that contains the word “water” is printed in blue ink. All the photographs in the Bible are of water. It is beautiful!
The family wrote a note to me thanking me for this gift to my friend. In this Bible my friend found her salvation. Her family knows she accepted the “Living Water” into her heart – and accepted the gift of eternal life. We will meet again in eternity!
Sometimes reading the Bible can feel like looking at “muddy water,” especially the Old Testament when it gets into the wars, the sexual escapades, the genealogical lists… but stand still in the scripture; study it with a devotional written by a Biblical scholar, and the muddy water can become clear!
Inside the “Living Water” – for those who thirst – I copied a quote from D.L Moody: “This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
May you find peace this busy season – peace as you intake Living Water for your soul. My prayers are with you this day… and always. Thanks so much for following JanBeek. I pray you find here love, peace, joy, faith, and the invitation for UNITY in this world. Let’s just LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
I am headed to our local nursing home to help with Bingo today. I have a few Christmas decorations displayed in my home. A dear neighbor/friend came and helped me. God bless her! What will you do to spread your love to others today?
Peace be with you! Hugs, JanBeek
We’re surrounded by “Living Waters. Sometimes we feel like we’re swimming in them. They’re not murky! They are clear and calm. The Lord is swimming with us… He is our “Life Preserver!” Praise God!
