Thank You, Miss Rogers....

I dreaded the 'torture' of sitting through Miss Rogers seventh grade English class. At that point in life my primary focus was cheerleading and trying to persuade my mom to let me wear ridiculously short skirts, shave my legs and wear frosted pink lipstick.

Miss Rogers was stone-age by the standard of a junior high kid and, in my opinion, couldn't teach us a heck of a lot because she was too old. Gee, I imagine she was at least 60 so what could she know about life? She was an old maid who wore a 3 piece suit with stockings and heels to school everyday, had probably never been on a real date, she was proper beyond proper---even by a southern lady standard and, basically, just needed to get a life. Little did I realize then that Miss Rogers had a life.

Teaching English just wasn't quite enough for Miss Rogers. Her life was dedicated not only to educating but to shaping the life of her students. Every paper clip in Miss Rogers' classroom was lined up with a precision known only to a five star General and for the sake of teaching us common courtesy (her favorite word) she called us---the kids---Mr. and Miss So and So. Good citizenship and correct posture were mandatory in her presence and she didn't just make us read her favorite poems, we had to memorize them and recite them before the class. Sheesh. What a waste....I thought.

It had probably been decades since I had even thought of Miss Rogers until last week... when she made the local news. I found her name, 'Miss Lucille Rogers', and a few paragraphs detailing her life accomplishments listed among the local obituaries. My, what incredible works filled the space of that dash between 1912-2006. And a strange thing happened as I was reading of this remarkable little lady. Somewhere, way in the back of my mind, I thought I heard an old poem being recited. A poem that meant absolutely nothing then but, now, holds a message that is almost like a treasure. It's by Rudyard Kipling and it's simply entitled 'If'......

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

I wish I could thank you, Miss Rogers, for a lesson well taught.

FEATHERING THE NEST

I am a nester. Nesters are those among us who feel a deep-down joy whenever we arrange flowers, or fluff a pillow, or stir the soup. We find something wonderfully fulfilling about tending our own space, something therapeutic about discussing life's challenges around our own kitchen table, something restorative about the quiet comforts of our own home. Whether we've been away from home for a month or a week or from 9:00 to 5:00, our hearts sing when we open our own front door. To identify the home of a nester, you seldom need to look farther than the entryway. As soon as spring arrives, a pot of pansies will suddenly appear on the front step, a rocking chair or wicker chair will find a place on the porch. In summer, look for window boxes overflowing with petunias or bright geraniums and Old Glory wafting in the breeze. Come fall, swags of Indian corn and crocks of chrysanthemums signal a nester-in-residence. And as winter holidays draw near, nesters will deck every window with wreaths, ribbons and candlelight. Whenever a nester doesn't know what to do with something she puts it in a basket. Our baskets hold mail, produce, toys, towels, magazines---even other baskets. Rearranging furniture comes as natural to us as changing clothes. Don't be surprised to find chairs and sofa in different positions---perhaps even different rooms---each time you visit a nester's home. This may be confusing for visitors, but it's normal for nester's. Pillows---lots of them---feather the nest. Whether faded, beaded, hand-made or tag sale finds, they serve as inviting antidotes to life's rough spots---physical or mental. Nesters believe in the power of books; their bookcases overflow with volumes they have read and reread, cherished and loved. Shelves hold childhood favorites, classics, volumes of poetry, and of course, tons of cookbooks. Coffee tables hold tomes devoted to art, home decorating, antiques and travels to Rio and Paris and Tuscany. Favorite magazines are stacked and kept for further reference becuase you never know when a nester may need further reference. In every room are candles. Tall, short, chunky, tapered, and usually triple scented delights are waiting to cast a warm glow. In the kitchen, a tea kettle and a coffee pot always stand ready on the stovetop. A nester takes every opportunity to invite others to relax with a cup of coffee or tea---or enjoy one in solitude. Some nesters collect things: blue and white china, copper molds, cookie jars, art or vintage linens. Finding and living with the objects they love is an indescribable joy to nesters. For the nester, decorative objects tell stories and hold memories. Children's plaster handprints from kindergarten may hang on a wall. A card from a special someone may be in a frame. Grandma's handmade quilt may adorn the guest-room bed. Each piece is significant and special. You might not recognize a nester when she's out of her preferred domain, camouflaged in a business suit or a uniform or dress attire. But it's a strange fact that on weekends, nesters often dress alike. Well worn denims and khakis are favorite pieces; they dress them down with t-shirts and dress them up with a string of pearls. There's reason to believe that nesters are born, not created. It will not be surprising if, in the amazing new mappings of our genetic codes, scientists someday note one peculiar little gene to designate the nester. It will probably be shaped like a house...

EXPLOSIVE FAITH

He keeps bringing me to look at the mustard seed. So I looked, and I saw some amazing things apart from it being tiny. Things like: mustard seeds come in three colors. Black, white/yellow and brown. Like us. People. I also learned that a chemical reaction is responsible for the hot taste of mustard. When ground and mixed with water, two substances, sinigrine and myrosine combine to produce this molecule called isothyocyanate of allyle which produces that explosion in your mouth. So this is what He was talking about. He is the water of life and all He needs to do is mix it with our faith, as small as a mustard seed, and He's got some mega explosives going on. Satan knows this: check out your average prayer meeting attendance.

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,"Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

There's a mountain I think He wants me to move and that will be my focus in the coming weeks and months as I dedicate myself to this seemingly impossible mission.

Nothing will be impossible for me. Hmmm. What an awesome, mighty God He is.

Always On Time, Always Making A Way

"When you come to the end of all the light you know and you are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one of two things will happen: there will be something solid to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."

FOR JESUS CHRIST, LOVER OF MY SOUL.....

I love the way you look at me.
I love the way you always look forward to talking to me.
I love the way you do a million things surrounding me each day just to see if I notice you.
I love the way you always give me your 100% attention.
I love the way you're fascinated by me, always.
I love how you know me through and through and you're still fascinated by me.
I love the way you conduct the song of my days, who I meet and where I'm headed.
I love how you lavish me with your favor.
I love knowing everything's always going to be okay because of you.
Always.
I love how you've taught me patience, even when it looks like what you promised is slipping away.
I love how constant you are.
I love it when you want to come closer to me.
I love it when you kiss me with your presence.
I love knowing that you are not just with me but, in me.
I love how you wait... for me.
I love that, God.
How you patiently wait, God.
You wait through the times when I'm too tired to talk and too tired to pay attention to your voice.
You wait, even when its days and days on end.
You're always waiting...
Always waiting for the tiny moment when I'm completely focused on you.
Waiting for me to notice you, even if it's just for five minutes.
You love me...this I know...
And I love you.
Not because of what you've done but, just because you're you.............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN !!!

I was truly blessed beyond measure the day God decided that we should be friends. Wow. What a spectacular gift. I pray that He blesses you with a favor-filled day that's pressed down, shaken together and running over with God winks and angel wing swishes and all things good and perfect. Happy Birthday, Handsome!