Al Rocker, the Today Show weatherman and co-host was featured this month on the cover of one of the magazines I read each month, “Guideposts.” On turning 70, he shared with readers how he is approaching life differently after a 2022 health scare.
He wrote:
“It may sound strange, considering I make my living on television and have been the weatherman and co-host of the Today show for 29 years, but in my personal life, I shy away from the spotlight. I’d musch rather celebrate someone else, make a big deal out of their birthday instead of my own. Which is why I tried my best to dissuade my wife, Deborah Roberts, from throwing a party for my birthday last August. But I knew I couldn’t stop her. It was a milestone birthday, after all – my seventieth. The truth was, I was feeling a little melancholy about turning seventy. My dad never made it to this age. He passed away at 69. Dad was my role model and inspiration for being a good husband and father. I was theoldest of six kids, and three of my siblings were adopeted, Mom and Dad brought foster children into our home, too. Sometimes people would ask why they’d taken on raising so maky children, and Dad would always say simply, “There is no limit to how much you can love.”
After describing his near-death experience, he concluded:
“My health scare reminded me that life is an ephemeral gift that we’ve been given by God, and we need to appreciate and honor it. So I spent a lot of time talking to people… telling them how I feel about them. The people I care about, the people I love, I want to make sure they know. I’ve been more intentional about that, evn after I made a full recovery and returned to the Today show.”
I challenge each of us to commit to this same message. Let your feelings out! Let the people you love, the people you care about, KNOW! Be intentional!!
Love, JanBeek
P.S. I love you for visiting my blog. I’ll love you even more if you leave a comment below so I can hear from you and respond.
The words to the hymn below hit me square between the eyes last Sunday as we sang this in our church… and thought about how desperately I want God to “hear our cry and heal our nation.” I hope you find these words meaningful, too. Churches were singing it a decade ago… It was true then. It’s true now. We, as a nation, have lost the truth we need… I do believe that. Lord God, help us!
In an age of twisted values
In an age of twisted values we have lost the truth we need; in sophisticated language we have justified our greed; by our struggle for possessions we have robbed the poor and weak – hear our cry and heal our nation: your forgiveness, Lord, we seek.
2. We have built discrimination on our prejudice and fear; hatred swiftly turns to cruelty if we hold resentments dear. For communities divided by the walls of class and race hear our cry and heal our nation: show us, Lord, your love and grace.
3. When our families are broken; when our homes are full of strife; when our children are bewildered, when they lose their way in life; when we fail to give the aged all the care we know we should – hear our cry and heal our nation with your tender fatherhood.
4. We who hear your word so often choose so rarely to obey; turn us from our wilful blindness, give us truth to light our way. In the power of your Spirit come to cleanse us, make us new: hear our cry and heal our nation till our nation honours you.
Let us pray this song as a prayer… pray for God’s forgiveness, love and grace. God, please hear our cry and heal our nation. Heal our world!
God bless our nation, our world, and God Bless YOU!
Today’ Guideposts devotional compared the two animals and explained why Lions are King.
Sometimes I don’t relate to either of those cats! This morning I felt more like a monkey! 🐵 Sitting around waiting for our new Boston puppy to arrive – selecting toys and a dog bed & blankets! “Kenny” should arrive around Feb. 6 or 7!!Named Kennedy by his Missouri breeder, we’ll call him “Kenny.”What animal are you identifying with today?
Gone from home for three weeks Wonderful holidays and birthdays Shared with family and friends Missed my daily sanctuary quiet time
Back home and falling into routine Up around 8: and make coffee Climb the stairs to my “sanctuairee” Spend time with Jesus and His Word
Spend time with David Jeremiah Spend time with Guideposts devotionals Spend quiet time with God in prayer Ask God to be with each of you
Meditate with “All God’s Creatures” Contemplate love and life with Bob Goff Compare scriptures with Eugene Peterson “The Message” paraphrasing inspires me
What’s your favorite way to spend Quiet time? Do you carve out space for it everyday?
Where?
When?
With whom?
Regardless of when, where, and with whom, May your day always include space for Quiet Time
Pray with me, will you? For all those who are in distress: the homeless, the sick, the frightened, the lonely, those who feel helpless or hopeless. “Bee” the Light. Shine His Light wherever you go in this world. Lord, help us to reach out and to love as You love! Amen
“I am a Treasured Child of the Most High God.” That is what Steve McNitt wrote in his book, Simple. Enormous. Love.
I adopted that definition. I agree 100% with Steve’s next statement: “The more I learn about that, the more I feel like I understand myself, my God, my roles in life, and how I make a difference in this world.”
I am a Treasured Child of the Most High God.
Steve McNitt elaborated: “Where did I learn about who I am? The Bible holds a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome. The eighth chapter of that letter… revealed a boat-load of life-changing stuff about me. In Romans 8 I found out about God, about myself, and about how , when we mesh together, I live a better, more purpose-filled life. Yes, I said God. He is the key to this whole thing: my life, my purpose, my role in the world, and who I really am.”
That’s me… with my lovely sister-in-law, Margie.
As a Child of God, I am called to be a loving sister, a loving wife, a loving friend, a giver of love and compassion to all. Not just to the Margies of this world, but to everyone! Even those I might choose otherwise to dislike or to ignore. God’s greatest commandment, according to His Son, Jesus, is simply that: “Love one another.”
So, that’s who I am. I am a lover! I love you!! And I wish you a 2025 filled with nothing but LOVE ❤️ You, too, are a Treasured Child of the Most High God. Let’s live to show the world our love everyday. Okay?
December birthdays shared with Christmas and New Years celebrations often are slighted, but not Bob’s!
Bob was treated royally by Brother Bruce, his wife, Ann, and their son, Nephew Matt & his wife, Sarah. He may not look delighted here, but he was!
We started our day with the former pastor of this church in Ceres, Brent Mitchell. Sooo good to see him. Then we attended service and saw old friends at Harvest Presbyterian in Ceres, CA. Pastor Jim Stochl gave a delightful sermon.
Then we met friends at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. So good to see Isy & Dick again. And the wait staff sang to Bob & gave him an ice cream treat. Happy 86th, Bobby Bee!!And a Happy New Year to you all. God bless you!
