I am sharing this post today from a new blogging friend because I think it is so beautifully written … and so powerful. S/He wrote it about three months ago, but it is timeless. Read on and see if you agree…
… I was inspired by a podcast episode that I was asked to be a part of concerning prayer. I chose …
Well, it depends on how you’re looking at the word, huh? ASSet? Or maybe who you are and what you do?
If you are a gastroenterologist, (a GI doctor) like Dr. Gentry, who last Sunday performed Bob’s colonoscopy, then you’re looking for a clear anus!!
Oh my! TMI ?? Too much information!!
BUTT (oops!) BUT, hey, we just went through this weekend from hell… and if you’ve read my previous coupla blogs, you know what I mean. And maybe you are waiting for an update?
Bob received wonderful care at the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. The nurse, Ann-Marie, was the reason he was smiling like this! She was as efficient as she was beautiful!
What’s a woman’s greatest asset? She was kind, caring, efficient, and professional. A real delight! Aren’t those the perfect qualities for a nurse? (Or any of us, for that matter!)
Let me digress for a minute, OK? While Bob was waiting and waiting for his procedure, (it was scheduled for 8:00 am and got bumped twice because of emergencies), I decided to go get something to eat. Neither Bob nor I had anything solid for about 48 hours!
I was sitting at the counter at Jam! (my favorite breakfast place in Bozeman) when the hostess seated a coupe next to me. I glanced up from the CA church service that was live-streaming on my cell phone and said, “Hi!” to the couple. Then I went back to listening to our son, Ty, who was delivering the sermon at his church in Placerville, California. (Isn’t modern technology wonderful?!)
That’s Ty with me – taken last summer… We’re so proud of his decision to pursue the ministry.
Anyway, I digressed… What I wanted to share with you was the way God worked miracles in our lives every time we turned around last weekend!
I was listening to Ty’s sermon when I heard the customer recently seated to my left say, “Hello, Mrs. Beekman.”
Surprised, I looked up… and I studied the handsome young man’s face. “Neighbor? Crowley?? Are you Cole?” I had not seen him in a coupe of years. He and his family live right across the road from us. He’s been away at college. What are the chances in a restaurant with 100+ people that Cole would be seated right next to me??
“When things happen in your Christian walk of faith and you say to yourself what a coincidence, you should know that it’s not, it is God’s hand in your life.”
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Open your hands and your heart for God to fill them!
Cole and I chatted for a while, got caught up on what’s new with him and with us… and I went back to listening to Ty’s sermon on-line. Cole & his girlfriend said their good-byes with “Let me know if you need anything.”
When the sermon was over and it was time to get back to Bob before he went in for his procedure, guess what? I asked for the bill…
“That couple that was next to you paid for your breakfast!”
Every time I turned around, God was working His miracles through the generosity, kindness, professionalism, and compassion of others!!
See that latte pictured up there? Do you think it was a coincidence that a happy bee is floating on the top?
Remember, Bob is a retired beekeeper/almond farmer. No accident that they made my dirty chai latte with almond milk and God sent the bee here to say, “Hah! Here I am to remind you Bob is in good Hands! I’ve gotcha covered!”
I got back to the hospital in time to say a prayer with Bob before he was wheeled in.
It was only a short time when he was wheeled back to the room.
Shortly, the doc came in with the good news, “You have a beautiful anus for an 84 year old!” (See, there’s that asset I was telling you about) Only a GI doctor with 25,000 colonoscopies under his belt would be so observant, right?
“Everything is OK! Whatever was causing the bleeding (no doubt diverticulitis) has healed itself. No surgery needed. Eat more fiber. Drink more water.”
Bob was given his marching orders with instructions to follow-up in a week with his primary care doc here in Ennis.
But before they checked us out and sent us happily on our way, Bob was given solid food (ah, a turkey sandwich never tasted so goood!) We were sent home with grateful hearts. Praise the Lord!!
I believe in miracles. We just experienced more than one. Look for God’s miracles. Expect them. He is busy delivering them every day!
God bless you! Thank you for all your prayers. We love you. Bee well!!
Oh, by the way, what do you think is Man’s Best Asset?
I have heard it said When you point a finger out Three come back at you
Maybe this flu bug Who attacked me Sunday night Was sent to teach me
You’re not perfect, Jan Go grab some humility Don’t knock someone else!
I didn’t mean to… Impact is often hidden Never meant to hurt
Four days of the flu Is enough to wake me up And teach me this fact:
You better…
“Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.”
We just said good-bye to our guests from Switzerland who stayed with us for a week. We did a lot of sharing with one another while they were here. But, even though each of us has had a lifetime of experiences in various fields (technology, social work, teaching, coaching, and beekeeping), none of us tried to come across as an authority on anything! What a turn-off that attitude would be!!
If you have the attitude that you have more knowledge than anybody else around you on a certain subject, and you speak with unabashed authority, I hope you’re being asked to do so, and you’re paid a lot for your opinion! I hope that knowledge gives you an opportunity to have authority with your authority! But…
… in my experience, the one who flaunts his authority (rather than living as an open-minded, humble, life-long learner) seldom finds life very satisfying. Tim McGraw spells it out pretty clearly in his song, “Always Stay Humble and Kind.” You can listen to it below.
There was a space Where weeds were growing A promising spot Where neglect was showing.
So the Nursing Home Auxiliary Started a No-Show-Fundraiser And hundreds of givers Gave to hire the labor
Weeds were removed And a concrete pad was poured A pergola was built The residents and staff were floored!
The pergola looked bare So barn quilts were added Flowers in the flower bed Some benches (no, not padded)
The Lion’s Club bought the benches For a sprinkler system the MV Woman’s Club paid A resident’s daughters donated the flowers Amazing improvements were made
This inviting space brought joy To the residents and staff alike More flowers and colors were added It matched all the fundraising hype
This Friday there will be an Open House A Thank You for all the kind folks Who gave to make this possible Come have a look and share Rootbeer Floats
That’s as close as I could come to a rootbeer float!
Well, they won’t be THAT fancy!!
Ecclesiates 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in His time.”
We are making everything beautiful in our time, too!
Come and visit our beautiful, inviting, peaceful space. We’d love to sit a spell and chat with you!
2:00 to 4:00 PM Friday, June 30 Madison Valley Manor 211 N Main St. Ennis, MT 59729 madisonvalleymanor.com
From my Christian perspective, this prompt is a no brainer for anyone in the USA with a moral bone in his/her body. But I have good Christian friends who disagree with me, so why open the gap and create more divisiveness?
His description of the Day 3 poetry prompt intrigued me:
NaPoWriMo Day 3: Find a shortish poem that you like, and rewrite each line, replacing each word (or as many words as you can) with words that mean the opposite. For example, you might turn “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” to “I won’t contrast you with a winter’s night.”
Then Rahul shared a poem he wrote using that “Opposite” prompt: On his blog site you can see a link to the original poem.
When I am standing on the edge Revelling at the vista, which the mist blurs I forget the lovely image, hers, as She fades… fades… fades away Over me, joy has taken me in its veil More a creature of this world And one less angel on the earth I want nothing more, nothing less When I am standing on the edge Revelling at the vista, which the mist blurs I think I recall the image, hers, again She passes…passes… passes by I want nothing less, nothing more
I picked up on Rahul’s prompt and decided to write a poem inspired by poet, Holly Haley.
The original poem: “Friendships”
Write life without friendships And who would read it through? Paint life without its friendships Where is the rainbow hue? Build life without its friendships Who would live therein? For friendship’s glow leads to the goal That each of us would win.
poet: Molly A. Haley
And mine:
“Enemies”
Live life with enemies And no one would join in Scribble life with its enemies And forget to add a grin. Tear down life with its enemies And regret the choices you choose For death darkens your door When you’ve no friends to lose.
Jan Beekman
Want to try your hand at this opposites poetry? If so, I’d love to have you share it in the comments section here.
Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com Friends are such an important part of every happy life!
On the other hand, enemies are sometimes hard to find (at least for me). If you look at everyone through your Jesus glasses, you will see the divine in them. You will pray for them, and you will realize that they are placed in your world to teach you. What do your enemies teach you? Well, for one thing – they teach you what you don’t want to be!!
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com Hmmm… what does that mean, “Front Toward Enemy”??
You want that person at your back to be your friend, right? When your friend says, “I’ve got your back,” what’s that mean? To me it means, when my back is turned and someone intends to harm me, my friend will be there to protect me. Turning your back on your enemy can be dangerous!
How do we avoid having enemies? Can we really live a life without them? The PollyAnna in me says, “Of course!”
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
I’m never giving up I want to be proud Of who I’m becoming With God’s help I’m reaching for the sky I’m gonna get up Dress up Show up and Never give up
You, too?
I pray you have wonderful neighbors/friends who come, help, encourage and inspire you in your Daily Walk, like we do!
Yes, count your blessings!
I made green eggs and ham yesterday for St. Patrick’s Day and then we shared corned beef and cabbage with those dear neighbors who inspire us to get up, dress up, show up, and never give up.
What have you done recently to thank those who inspire you to show up everyday and never give up?
I send my love and encouragement to you. Thanks for showing up at JanBeek and encouraging me to keep on keepin’ on!
