AMAZING AT 100

Can you imagine living to be one hundred years old?  Of my personal friends I have only know two who have lived to celebrate the century mark and both of them are women.  When I was in my twenties I was mentored through weekly Bible studies by an amazing woman Grace Burke who was in her eighties.  The last time I saw her she was 101, still living in her own home, and full of thanks to God for His goodness to her.

Just recently my friend June Green became a beautiful centenarian (pictured here).  She also lives in her own home and keeps active with making cards and cookies, and praying for many people.  Recently when I was visiting her I particularly noticed her amazing agility in sitting down and standing up quickly.  But, more than anything she loves the Lord and praises Him for the physical strength and mental alertness that He has given her.

These two women are among the most admired in my life.  God willing, I want to graciously and usefully grow old as they have.  What examples for all of us that are coming behind them.  Proverbs 31:30-31"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."

THE HIGH PRICE OF FREEDOM

As a child Memorial Day marked the day our family picked cherries and began preserving them for the coming year as we listened to the vroom of race cars coming from the big family radio as the Indianapolis 500 progressed. Today this holiday has a much richer and more sobering meaning for me.

Our grandson Gabriel at his father's gravesite on Memorial Day.

Ten years ago when our son-in-law was killed in action in Iraq the true meaning and purpose of Memorial Day suddenly became clear and meaningful. All the wonderful freedoms we enjoy in America have been preserved for us by men and women who were willing to give their lives in the process.  Truly, freedom is not free.

An even greater freedom has been purchased by Jesus' death on the cross for us.  John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  But, this freedom is forever--freedom from the consequences that were due us because of our selfish thoughts and actions.  And freedom to do all that makes a life blessed--His will.
 

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

One beautiful morning this week my doorbell rang and as I opened it I suddenly realized that flowers were being delivered to my door!  Oh, wow--that doesn't happen just every day.  But, beyond that these were not just ordinary flowers being delivered by a regular delivery person.  No, I was receiving a foxglove plant with the roots recently pulled from the ground and the blossom end appearing to be looking down at those little roots. 

What made this flower delivery most special is that it came from the chubby little hand of one of my two year old grandsons.  His eyes sparkled with love and joy as he proudly presented his gift.

Just today I came across an entry in my journal from six years ago when Mark and I were returning from our trip to Ireland and I was thinking about life.  "It doesn't matter--rich or poor--to have fine character makes life beautiful;  humility, kindness, compassion (the fruit of the Spirit of God, really).  The opposite of fine character brings misery no matter one's station in life."

And so, I see this little delivery of flowers to be a good illustration of the unfeigned love, joy, and kindness we all need to show toward other people.  Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law"  God always leads us to a life of beauty.