A Gift of Love

A little baby in a manger

Wrapped in swaddling cloth

That was a gift of love

A little boy in the temple

About his Father’s business

That was a gift of love

God the man who walked the earth

Teaching, healing and forgiving

That was a gift of love

A baby born to die on a tree

Suffering for you and me…

That was a gift of love

This Christmas season – stop and think what a gift of love it was when God sent his only son down to earth to die for us. It was the ultimate sacrifice - the best gift ever given. Be blessed.

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Forgive our sins as we forgive others...

My father was 96 years, old battling cancer and pneumonia, plus suffering with the pain of two fractured vertebrae, when he died on November 11—Veteran’s Day. What an appropriate death for a decorated World War II veteran. During those last days, Dad knew that his time on this earth was limited and so family rallied around him and so we should, for the coin of God’s realm is love.

So often little things come up in life that causes pain and leaves a sting…a harsh word spoken, a misunderstanding between brothers and sisters, the loss of a friend over some silly argument that covered up at once would not amount to anything, but, when we hold these things up to view, and brood and sulk and fret, they grow greater before our eyes. When we refuse to set things straight, offer an apology, say “I’m sorry” we allow ‘offense’ to over take us and before we know it there is distance between us that pushes love further and further away. Would it not be better to forget?

As I watched my father laboring to breathe during those last hours of his life I knew if he could speak for himself it would have been his wish to tell the world, especially his family, reconcile your differences, tell your loved ones that they are loved and truly cared for. Don’t wait until you think it’s the end to ask for forgiveness or to forgive. Life is too short to wallow in pain and bitterness.

There is a little remedy to ease the life we live and make each day a happy one – it is the word, ‘forgive’. Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that crushed it. (From Apples of Gold).

I am thankful that nothing can separate us from the love of our Father who art in heaven, who forgives our sins as we forgive the sins of others.

(Thanksgiving article for His Banner 2011 Paraphrased for this column)

Commitment

Hello Blogger Friends,

It's a good thing I don't make my living writing blogs. My apologizes for those who follow me for being lazy when it comes to blogging.

There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. But when you commit to doing something (like writing a monthly/weekly blog) you simply do it, accepting no excuses, only results. So friends please forgive my lack of commitment and look forward to more enlightening blogs from author Connie L Hawkins.

I trust you had a happy Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year. God Bless us every one.

An Irish Blessing

May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets hold always a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your window pane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you
- Irish Blessing

I love being "Grandma"

I got the cutest card for Mother’s Day from Little J.

It said: Wanted – Grandmother
Odd hours. No pay.
Must be willing to work as babysitter-on-call.
Holidays required.
Must have patience, a sense of humor,
And above-average hugging skills!

Fringe benefits include: Lots of love and fridge art!

Now tell me friends, how could any Grandma resist an ad like that!
I love being “Grandma”. Hope you all had a Happy Mother’s Day!

Easter Message

Easter will soon be here. To the kiddo’s – jelly beans fill their baskets and chocolate bunnies dance in their dreams. I’m a kid at heart when it comes to holidays. No matter which holiday I’m celebrating it involves ‘chocolate.’

When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile, at least it is for me. The big question here is why would anyone want to resist chocolate? It’s good for stress. It’s good for the heart – it’s just good, but then man does not live by bread alone or chocolate, but by the Word of God. And, with Easter fast approaching, we need to be mindful of why we celebrate Easter – the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was dead and buried. On the third day he rose again that we might have abundant life with Him ever after.

Forget the jelly beans. Forget the chocolate. Focus on the one who died for our sins – Jesus – Savior of the world! Choose life in Christ and maybe one Kit Kat bar!

O Spring Whereforth Art Thou?

Just when you think spring is almost here Mother Nature dumps another winter mix on us! Mother Nature and I need to have a chat. I would say to her: I do not like the snow. The rain and sleet it needs to go. I want to run barefoot in the grass and laugh in the face of spring at last.

So, who is this ‘Mother’ that we tend to blame weather disasters upon? Some say, she is the Goddess of Green. Others refer to her as “Mother Earth” so then, she is earth? Or is she the environment? Are the earth and its environment the same? Perhaps she would best be described as Mother Weather. Does she laugh when it’s cloudy and we are sad? When we look into the deep blue heavens is Mother glad? Does she bring the rain, the snow the sleet? The secret of Mother Nature is not for man to know.

The thing that a lot of people cannot comprehend is that Mother Nature doesn't have a bullet with your name on it; she has millions of bullets with “to whom it may concern” on them! And you never know when Mother is going to shoot off some of those bullets.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "In order to adapt to the pace of nature, we have to learn ‘her’ secret – patience.” Mankind prays for snow, prays for spring, prays for the fragrance of summer but Mother Nature does not hurry and yet everything is accomplished in time.

“If we had no winter, spring would not be nearly as much fun. It’s in sitting quietly when we are doing nothing that spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.” Zen Proverbs