HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving Weekend.......Oh, the many joys and memories we have for that wonderful long weekend in November.  Some people are busy buying Christmas presents early before stores run out.  Many of us are busy cooking and baking as we expect family members to invade our houses.  And of course, the football games are number one!  Family reunions are special as we take time to visit with aunts and uncles, cousins and grandkids because we realize Thanksgiving is the only time in the year we see them.  Plane travel is especially tedious because everybody is flying to see someone somewhere.

Yes, during my 86 years on earth I still have wonderful memories of those Thanksgiving weekends.  I remember how my Aunt Frances would take my brother and me plus our cousins into NYC to visit the Museum of Natural History on the day after Thanksgiving.  We would walk a few blocks from her house in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ to Rt 17 to catch the bus into the city.  How exciting to spend hours in that museum learning about our country, its history and growth. Usually winter had not descended on us so we enjoyed local football games.

But what are we celebrating that weekend?  Thanksgiving.......giving thanks.......to whom?  Do we remember why we have that weekend and, especially that day?

The history of Thanksgiving is very interesting.  Remember, the Pilgrims arrived in New England on the Mayflower ship in 1620.  They were running away from religious persecution in England and the Netherlands and chose to sail to that new country available across the Atlantic Ocean.  About 100 Pilgrims finally signed up for the voyage and many days were passed due to legal proceedings with various lawmakers regarding permission to land in the New England area.  Their voyage was not without difficulties with storms and breakdowns of ship equipment so the trip was not easy.  Even landing was a difficulty as the Pilgrims searched for a safe area. The Pilgrims discovered vacant Indian villages which they later discovered had been struck with lethal diseases so that none had survived.  They finally found landing at Plymouth and were most grateful to meet an Indian named Squanto.  He had been captured by some explorers before the devastating diseases wiped out his village.  While in England Squanto escaped his slave holders and was able to return to the colonies. He had learned English while he was in England and could help the Pilgrims.  Squanto had become a Christian, trusted the Pilgrims and taught them how to grow vegetables and other food supplies because he had been educated in England.

Then came the time of harvest.  Because of Squanto's help and the assistance of the entire Wampanoag tribe the Pilgrims survived.  However, their first winter in the new country had been harsh.  Only 53 of the Pilgrims survived due too starvation and cold.  But now the harvest of the new year proved to be enough to last an entire winter.  The Pilgrims decided to hold a feast and invited Squanto, and Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags and another Indian, Samoset.  The Indians heartily agreed and brought their entire families.  That meant there were now 90 people at this feast.  The Indians very generously brought turkey, duck, fish, deer, berries, squash and cornbread.  What a celebration!  And that was the 'First Thanksgiving'.  The Pilgrims chose to thank God for protecting them, for giving them Squanto, for giving them food to eat and knowledge to grow food in their new country.  The Pilgrims finally believed they would survive in this new land.

Now, think about it.  What will be celebrating this Thanksgiving weekend???  Are we just enjoying family reunions, football games, and big dinners?  When I think of how comfortable we are living in the USA, able to shop for anything, protected by our country, food available at every street corner.......how much time do we take to thank God for all we have?  We are blessed and we need to thank our Lord God every day.  Thanksgiving Day was officially pronounced by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941 to be celebrated by our country and to take time to thank the God of the universe for all that we have and for all that we are.  Let us never forget to thank our great God.

Will COVID never end?

This week, Vista Springs was put on 'lockdown' again as we had five active cases of COVID.  This time however the lockdown was not as strict.  But we were unable to have visitors, were unable to participate in group activities, we were basically confined to our apartments, ate in the dining room but only one person at a table and we suffered isolation.  The management, of course, followed safe procedures to prevent the spread of COVID.  But I couldn't help asking myself, is COVID ever going to end?  And the answer is, probably not.  However, there are many communicable diseases floating around this world which makes us very aware and careful.  But do we have to go through all the rules of isolation?

I can remember measles, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough, polio in my school and neighborhood while growing up in New Jersey and we all took these sicknesses in stride and just lived VERY carefully. We never had lockdowns.  Instead, I remember signs on our front porch "MEASES" or "MUMPS" indicating someone in our house currently had that disease.  But we all just respected the fact that certain diseases were communicable and the signs told people to be careful and 'stay away' while the signs were posted.

The worst part of lockdowns is that we suffer 'loneliness'.  And I'm talking now about people like me who are living in "Assisted Living Facilities".  Here we are living 'alone', no close family with us, and now, in addition the 'lockdown' intensifies the loneliness.  The management here at Vista Springs has shown great support by creatively thinking of activities we do alone in our rooms, but it is not the same as talking and joking with fellow residents.  So we are looking forward to freedom from lockdowns.

Yes, COVID will never end and neither will all the other communicable diseases in our world.  We have to live with this reality that there will always be medical dangers in our sin-filled world.  We are faced with another reminder of our constant attacks by the enemy of God, Satan.  In our environment we sometimes forget that we live under constant danger from the Enemy.  Even though Jesus died on the cross and thereby proved Satan the loser, the Enemy still invades our lives.  Whether it be attacks on our minds or attacks on our physical bodies, Satan will always try to capture us.

What do we do?  Let me share what I do.  I constantly pray for protection and guidance from my Lord and Savior.  There are moments in my day that I sit outside in the beautiful weather of these autumn days (like today) and as the warm sun engulfs me and as I gaze at the red, yellow, and orange leaves of the trees, I am immersed in the presence of our great Creator, God Almighty and I pray.  What an amazing God.  He chose these fall colors on the trees because He wanted beauty to come into our lives.  Never forget.  When we pray, God listens because Scripture tells me He listens. When I pray to the Lord I feel protected and comforted and I smile knowing God is with me.

My prayer does not mean I will never get a cold but I know God will be with me.  I did suffer from COVID.  Back in April, 2020, both Dick and I tested positive for COVID here at Vista Springs. We were confined to our apartment and I do remember being quite sick with mental confusion, flu like symptoms and extremely fatigued.  Dick began breathing heavily and I knew the COVID had hit his lungs.  He died from COVID on May 6, 2020 at age 91.  Yes, COVID hit us hard.  But, miracle of miracles I survived.

The Lord is with us and we don't understand His timing but we trust Him for His love to us.  Yes, COVID is bad and we don't like the rules and interruptions of our usual carefree lives.  But we must obey those rules, understanding that rules protect us.

In the "Amplified Version of the Bible", Matthew, verse 20 states, "lo, I am with you all the days- perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion- to the very close and consummation of the age.  Amen - so let it be."      Remember, GOD IS WITH US!

The Story of America

I have been doing a lot of reading about our early country.  We have an incredible history and story about how our United States of America was born.  For starters let's think about the men who courageously signed their names on the Declaration of Independence.  This was a brave, meaningful decision fully knowing that their names could bring sudden death by firing squad if the British so desired.  But at that time these men fully believed that this new country they were building was what God ordained.  And three to four hundred years later, look what the US of A has become!  The most powerful nation on earth.  And Who has led us, Who has encouraged us, --our Lord God.  When you look back over our beginnings you will observe that those men who proclaimed 'independence' from Great Britain believed and honored God Almighty.  They were not ALL Bible believing patriots but they respected and bowed down before God.  They openly admitted their love and respect for the One true God.

Where are we now?  We have allowed statues of our incredible brave men who risked their lives for a new country to be defaced, torn down and abused.  Have we forgotten the bravery and selflessness these men endured?  Why do we not have decency and respect for these brave leaders?  What message do we have today?  Do we encourage bravery and protecting our rights of liberty or do we just "don't care".

Take a minute and review those signatures of the brave men in 1776 who signed those documents of freedom.  Notice that the men in that day did not hide or lesson their signatures.  Instead they wrote them clearly and easily identifiable to anyone reading the Declaration.  Those men knew what they were doing.  They were following what God led them to do.....everyone of them.

Today we are led astray by our media.  I remember well the news reporting during WW II.  We heard facts......just facts about the war.  No opinions, just facts.  And short reporting about battles won or lost and battle locations, military leaders, US troops being deployed but no details of what was going on.  Today we hear opinions and little facts.

What do we do about this 'mess'?  For one thing fewer and fewer people are watching news repots any more.  In fact wasn't it a change when we heard all about Queen Elizabeth this week as she died peacefully.  And to observe a double rainbow in the afternoon sky over London was a message from Almighty God that He blessed the Queen.  What a blessed joy to hear news of a sovereign lady Queen who led her country so admirably.

Where are we now in America regarding our Christian faith?  Do we still honor it, do we still believe in it, do we still display it?  We must make those decisions ourselves.  God has given us this country as a gift.  Do we intend to keep it?  I want to quote a paragraph from the book,"The American Story" by David Barton and Tim Barton.  "The Biblical Christianity practiced by the early colonists and Founding Fathers had a powerful influence in directing the early course of the American Story.  Without true Biblical Christianity, there never would have been the US Constitution that has caused America to become the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world"  Those words and that message are significant.  Just think about that...... "the longest on-going constitutional republic in the history of the world"!!!  Nothing the Roman Empire did, nothing the British Empire did, but what God led us to do.

You cannot help but ask, where would we be today without God?  When you consider this world which our God created, where would we be?  Without God leading us, where would our country be?  We must continue to acknowledge God, recognize Him, believe in Him, obey Him.  Remember the words of the Lord........Job 38: 4    "Where were you when I. laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding."  Yes, the Lord created this earth and all that is in it.  Let us never forget Who is in charge.

MEMORIES

 Those of us in our 80s and 90s can look back in our lives to many memories.  When you have lived this long we gather tons of memories.  Many days as I sit and think I am amazed that I remember what happened to me pre-kindergarten.  I have pictures in my mind the way we dressed, the remarks that people spoke, and thoughts I had.  At this age I am just spell bound at how my mind has worked for these 86 years.  Many of these memories are filled with joy, but of course, since life has difficulties I also remember the 'bad times'.

Let's start back in 1941.  I was in kindergarten and my teacher was Miss Wilkins, who was strict but kind.  If you look on the calendar you will see that December 7,1941 was on a Sunday.  That was the beginning of WWII when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.  That Sunday evening our family attended a pre-Christmas church service.  That evening when we arrived home we suddenly heard the news on our radio.  My parents were upset and I wondered what all this meant. The next day, Monday, I was sitting in my kindergarten class and Miss Wilkins had the New York Times open in her lap.  She then, very seriously, told us Japan had bombed Pearl Harbor and that President Roosevelt declared war on Japan.  I remember how our class of 5 and 6 year olds sat there quietly as she read the news.  I will never forget that moment.  War?  What did that mean to us in Ridgefield Park, NJ?  Guns roaring down our streets?  Enemy bombers cruising in the sky?  As the war in Europe and Japan became a reality, our Roosevelt School scheduled surprise 'Alarms' when every class had to march down to the basement, kneel down on the cold cement floor and cover our heads with our arms to protect us if and when we ever faced bombing.  That was scary but we obeyed. Then walking home from school, I would glance up at the sky looking for enemy bombers.  But I do remember going home and in my house I felt safe and my worries disappeared.  My home was filled with love and that protected me.

A wonderful memory occurred in 1950.  I remember thinking what a marvelous date to be graduating eighth grade- 1950.  A year that marked a half century.  In June, 1950, at my elementary school, Roosevelt School, all 8 grades were assembled in the auditorium for a special assembly of honoring our graduating class from 8th grade in 1950.  It was an exciting day, knowing that certain students would be recognized for their high grades and special achievements.  Our class was all sitting there happy about graduating from 8th grade, some of us glancing at our fellow classmates wondering if a certain boy was going to invite me to the first dance at the High School.  We were all pretty excited.  The principal of Ridgefield Park High School, Mr. Shields, arose and made an announcement.  "This year we are giving a new reward.  This is 'The Barbiere Award for Teenage Success' and the winner is Janet Bird!  I sat there and suddenly realized he mispronounced my name.  Mr. Shields said 'Bird' instead of 'Baird'.  Everyone in my class was laughing but I stood up in a daze and walked to the front of the auditorium where our family friend and neighbor, Walter Watson, handed me the formal award document.  Wow, what did this mean?  I remembered that I had written a beautiful story of a spiritual vision that appeared to me as a young girl.  In that vision I was sitting in my back yard, and as I gazed up at the sky, I felt the presence of the Lord.  Not totally understanding what was happening, I wrote it all down.  Sitting there at that time I experienced incredible peace and love.  I believed that God was speaking to me to tell me He loved me.  I remember looking Heavenward and feeling moved by this message.  So I wrote about it.  And here it was 1950 and I entered that story in the contest.  The judges made the decision and I was honored.

Do you have special memories?  Think about them and then write down what you remember.  Your memories will move someone who is much younger today.  Memories are so special and so meaningful as our world moves faster and faster.  The Lord has given you those memories.  Don't hide them.  Share them and your life will be blessed.

Aging 101

 Most of us seniors don't like to talk about aging.  We want to think that we are in fine physical shape and don't need need help.  But the truth is in the natural progression of our bodies we do slowly decay.  Shocking, isn't it?  Instead of ignoring the aging of our bodies, we must accept the fact that we humans do become weaker and eventually die. Is that what we must think about?  Dying?  Since that is the end result of our living let's think of the positives of how we should live during those wonderful days of living.

God put us here on this earth for a purpose.  Each one of us has a different purpose so it is to our advantage to discover what that purpose is.  Then when we realize why we are living here, let us be intent on fulfilling that purpose.  I am 86 years old and as I look back on my busy life I discover how grateful I am that I accomplished so much in my life for others.

Yes, in this stage of my life I have 'aged'.  BUT is my life over?  No, so I keep producing tasks that God approves of.  Even in our senior years keep working and keep producing.  As I admit I am aging I realize this is a natural part of living.  We don't like to admit, "I can't run, I can't climb a ladder, I can't get out of bed easily, I can't make my bed, I can't drive my car, I can't walk outside by myself, I can't paint the house, I can't sweep the sidewalk, I can't cook my supper"........BUT look what I can do.  I can write, I can give Bible studies, I can study the Bible and give presentations, I can use my brain to solve problems.  I am thankful for what I can do and I don't let my 'can nots' become my 'I wish I coulds'.

In the meantime you choose how you want those last days to be.  I am a Christian and believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and believe that I will be in Heaven with Jesus when I die.  I have no fear of death.  I believe that the moment I die angels will escort me to Heaven.  What joy and beauty await me!  No one knows when they will die but trusting in Jesus gives me complete assurance I will be with Him.

So many seniors today won't even talk about 'dying'.  They are basically scared of a natural process as our physical lives end.  But why be scared?  We should be rejoicing and looking forward to Heaven.

Let's face the fact that we are aging and rejoice in what that brings.  Now many seniors will say, "Rejoice in aging?  You are crazy."  But think about this.  We have all lived productive lives, especially if we are now in our 80s and 90s,  We may think we've done nothing but we have all contributed to God's wonderful plan.  Years ago I totally gave my life to Jesus and even though I thought it was difficult i sought His will and obeyed Him.  Now in my 80s I am so glad I veered away from temptation and obeyed Jesus.  I'm sure many of us will admit, "Thank goodness, I didn't do...........because now I realize I would have ruined my life and placed my family in pain.  Thank you, Lord, I obeyed you and dd not yield to temptation."

Of course , we are confronted every day with our culture constantly repeating via the media and advertisements........"Only the young are beautiful are important, pay no attention to those 'old' people." I have decided I have to mentally and emotionally reject that philosophy.  As we all look in the mirror every day, don't think about the wrinkles and sagging skin but look yourself in the eye and proclaim,  "Wow, I'm still beautiful, my smile is intoxicating, my eyes sparkle with intensity, and my lipstick paints my lips with joy."  That philosophy will brighten your day and fill your life with praise to Almighty God.

Remembering Daddy

 IF you missed my post last month, I admit I did not write.  I had a bad fall, was in the hospital 2 weeks BUT I am healed and back with you.  HALLELUJAH!

"Remembering Daddy"

I remember when I was a little girl and I wondered why they called it "Father's Day".  I called my father Daddy, and loved that!  To me, Daddy meant someone who loved me, hugged me, read the Sunday comics to me while sitting on the sofa with me on one side and my brother, Donald, on the other side with Daddy in the middle. Father's Day sounded so formal to me .  Slowly as I grew up I began to realize that was the typical way a lot of fathers and sons and daughters thought of each other.  I am so glad in our family we were warm and cuddly!

I'll admit I accepted the formal mention of "Father's Day" in our culture but never accepted it personally.  I was fortunate to have a Daddy who was so proud of me when I was singing professionally as a mezzo-soprano soloist all over the US and Canada that he told his friends buttons popped off his shirt.  Yes, Daddy was very proud of me and I'll never forget that.

As we celebrate "Father's Day" this week, How do we think about Dads?  Have you had a healthy, warm relationship with your father?  Dads are so important to us.  When you think about it, when we were growing up, Dads supplied our household money to live on.  Most of us, at that time were not working mothers. We stayed home and raised our children and Daddy was the one who commuted to work every day.  Remember that time?  Of course I remember not just sitting in the house all day, but getting my own projects done.  Yes, mothers were very busy, actively contributing to improvements in the way we lived.

But I remember well also living close to our monthly budget.  One day, our son Glenn, came to me and reported how he desperately needed a new pair of sneakers.  I checked in the 'clothing' envelope......EMPTY.  So I told Glenn he would have to wait for Dad's next paycheck.  After I left Glenn checked other budget envelopes.  "Mom, there's money in the church envelope!"  An interesting conversation developed over "tithing".....what a great opportunity to teach!

How did Father's Day start? The idea first appeared in the early 1900s but never caught on until Lyndon Baines Johnson's presidential term. Amazing how long it took for the USA to realize fathers were important like mothers.  I do remember that first Father's Day.  No particular excitement but it seemed people were glad to see 'fathers' were at last recognized.

Now maybe you did not have a loving father like I did and you find it difficult in these days of loving fathers to love your father. Unfortunately there are many people who walk around with bad feelings about their dads.  In fact as I talk deeply to friends I'm amazed how many instances of bad feelings there are in families.  What do we do with those feelings?  Just push them aside and try to forget them, which  we never seem able to do?  Or do we reach out and forgive?

Forgiveness is difficult because it causes us to accept the 'words' that were spoken to us in jealousy or meanness and that hursts us. But forgiveness is vitally important to us.  If we don't forgive, the bitterness stays with us.  Many times we seek to forgive but receive ugly words and no forgiveness and understanding from the other side.  I have found forgiveness is so important to me because when I forgive, my bitterness disappears. Several years ago I reached out to a relative who had been mean to me.  The man was dying but I knew I had to say something of forgiveness.  So there he was on his deathbed and I told him I forgave him.  I told him with loving words that he was forgiven.  The relief that engulfed me was overwhelming.  Don't hesitate to forgive.  You will be doing the Lord's work and discover what forgiveness really means.

The battle between Love and Evil

We just celebrated God's message of love on Palm Sunday and Easter.  And what a life  changing message that is.  God sent His only Son to earth as a baby who grew to be our Savior, half human and half spiritually grown man.  And then He voluntarily let Himself be crucified to wipe away our sins.  A crucial, painful, horrible death.  Hands and feet nailed to a tree, body stretched so that breathing was excruciating and death coming slowly over terrorizing agony.  Because of God's incredible love, Jesus died for us.  He took our sin upon Him and fully forgave us so that we will live with God in Heaven. All we need to do is surrender our lives to Jesus, believe in Him and follow Him.  God is Love. 

Last weekend we witnessed results of purposeful evil, slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians in the city of Mariupol, Ukraine.  As we watched the TV reports we were horrified to see bodies strewn on the streets, bodies thrown into trenches, hearing reports of beheadings, civilians shot with their hands tied behind their backs.....and we wonder.  If God brought all this love to us through Jesus, why are people acting in evil ways?  When you look at history, when have we known perfect peace in our world?  Why is war, strife and evil in our world today?  When we hear details of Russia's Putin, and how he indiscriminately makes war decisions to purposely kill thousands of innocent Ukrainians, we wonder how can a man be so evil.  Putin is Evil.

That is the battle between love and evil.  The battle has been going on for years...from the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, continuing even now.  Our hearts cry out for love but evil tries to silence us.  In the meantime, we should help those in need, those who suffer from ruthless, evil warfare and help them to return to their country which they treasure and honor.

Yes, I'm talking about the Ukraine and its people.  Are we doing everything to help them in their fight against Russia?  All the pictures I have seen of Ukraine before the horrible bombings show a country with attractive buildings, classical architecture, well cared for property and homes.  The Russian bombings have devastated Ukraine, cities and homes must be rebuilt.  People have lost all they have and they need financial assistance.  Who is going to help them?   Not only is much of Ukraine already devastated, but Russia, under Putin's leadership, has placed an evil general to continue the devastation, so Ukraine will be suffering even more.  But if we honor our Lord by reaching out to people with love we have obeyed God.  Unfortunately, we are unable to make detailed decisions on a global nature but we can certainly send our messages to people in government.  Since the United States is the most powerful nation in the world, we can let our government know we need to help the small country of Ukraine with love.

Remember how we watched thousands of citizens of Ukraine gathering at train stations and bus stations, with their families of innocent babies and frightened young children pushing their belongings in small suitcases?  I remember thinking, why don't they take more clothes with them?  And then, a week or so later, their homes and apartments bombed out of existence.  Just think how those innocents felt about not only losing their life long possessions, but losing their tangible memories too.

One powerful result of watching the Ukraine tragedy is that it made me so thankful that I was born in this great free country of ours.  Born here, raised here, living here where I and my family are safe and secure makes me thank God.  How can we live in such safety and ignore the evil?  Let us conquer evil by reaching out in love.

Ukraine is not the only place that needs our love.  Unfortunately, our world has continually been in the throes of evil governments and evil rulers.  The United States of America built our country on freedom.  Let us never forget the liberty we have and pour love on those who are suffering from evil.

Stages of life.........

As we seniors look back over our long lives we are amazed at what we have experienced.   In our 70, 80, 90 years much has changed and we have matured and grown through it.  Every generation experiences growth and change.  We realize that is life.  Nothing stands the same.  We grow through stages of life, totally different from one generation to the next.  Just think about it.  We start as tiny babies newly born totally dependent on maternal love to care for us since as babies we are helpless.  Then our bodies begin to change and grow pushing ourselves to do more walking, standing laughing, and talking.  Toddler stage then moves to more independence as we begin to demonstrate our ability to care for ourselves, even at times becoming demanding, wanting our own way.  Then our lives become more serious as we realize we are here to learn and mature our minds as we work our way through school.

At high school graduation we experience victory holding our diplomas though many of us realize we must continue our education to find a job in this competitive world.  Finally, in our 20s we experience big adult decisions as we meet and marry our loved one, settle in on our adult employment and start our family.  Life goes on as we raise our children, continue to love them wherever they are, and we realize how important parenting is.  Then suddenly our families become smaller as our children marry and leave to build their own lives and families.  At that point we begin to contemplate retirement.  Where will we live?  What will we do?  Big decisions are made as we might sell our family home and move across the country. We carefully read the retirement ads and picture ourselves living carefree without worries.

By the time we are in our late 60s or 70s surprises pop up, usually health.  Oh sure, we have read about our friends whose health is deteriorating but we are convinced that won't happen to us.  And then one day the heart breaks down, the legs have difficulty holding us up, we have trouble breathing, and our mental thinking becomes confused.  What we are then experiencing is normal aging process.  As we all grow older we must understand that our bodies are in the process of aging.  Aging is normal and we must be prepared.  By denying aging we cause problems.  For one thing we must recognize that we all 'age'.  Let's face it!  We can't run around the block, we can't do push-ups, we can't stand in the kitchen and bake pies all day.  But there are always some jobs that we will always do......help our neighbor by visiting, write a poem full of cheer, tell jokes and hear the laughter.

One of the problems we have as we 'age', we deny we are growing older.  We state, "Oh, I'm fine", denying our inability to swallow successfully or denying our inability to remember what day it is.  When we have 'aging' problems, get help.  Our senior population is multiplying and many doctors are available to help.

Look at me!  Here I am, a woman who turns 86 in April of this year.  I am living alone in an Assisted Living facility because my husband died in May of 2020 from Covid.  I have trouble walking because of nerve damage following cancer of the brain in 2010.  Also that nerve damage causes me to type on the computer with my left hand (born right-handed).  But it doesn't stop me from writing my monthly column and blog, giving Bible studies, and communicating with friends all over the US and Canada.

You can do anything if you are determined!  As we grow older we must remember our physical lives don't last forever.  Death is part of living.  I am surprised many seniors refuse to even talk about death, won't even use the word 'death' but rather say 'passed away'.  We will all die, so let's prepare for death.  Read the Bible, read books about Heaven, know where you are going.  God has prepared a beautiful eternal home for us.  Study it, seriously, KNOW where you are going.  You plan and research vacation trips.  Why not research your heavenly home so that you will be comforted and not be afraid when you die.

"And God will wipe every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21: 4.

"Attention Seniors: Always keep learning!"

As the years pass by we must always be open to learn something new.  Many of us have lived into our 80s and 90s and we have learned a lot.  We remember primary grades reading "Dick and Jane" books.  I was always thrilled to read about 'Jane' who was close to being 'Janet' and then I married a man named Dick.  In second, third, fourth and fifth grades came arithmetic with division and multiplication.....such fun and maybe a little difficult.  Remember 'penmanship'? That was a course we all took. There were words written above the blackboards in the classroom with perfect handwriting.  We were taught to emulate that handwriting.  Look at the penmanship of many seniors today.....beautiful!  Yet penmanship in our present school rooms is not taught because of computers.  Why write with your hand and fingers if you can quickly push letter keys and get your thoughts out?

Yes, learning is always challenging.  But we feel so good when we accomplish something difficult.  Now that we are older we should never think we can stop learning.  Learning is education and every age needs to keep learning.

Unfortunately there are some seniors who have decided they have had enough of 'education'.  And consequently they lose contact with our culture.  Just think of all the abbreviations we now see in news articles.  For example....SCOTUS.....a familiar title you see in capital letters abbreviating for 'supreme court of the United States'.  Knowing what SCOTUS is, then you should know who POTUS is...'President of ---'.  Makes sense when you know what it means but you could certainly be confused.  When you consider how vital our participation is as citizens of the USA, we need to be continually updated to terminology.  If we don't we will lose meaning and content of what is going on.

I have often thought of our journey through our earth-bound life as constant education.  We learn about God, we learn about the positive thoughts of believing in God and Jesus, we learn about health and how we keep physically strong, we learn about how other people in different countries live, we learn about life in general and how we choose to live, we learn about evil and how to avoid it, we learn about love and living.  The test is when we finish our lives are we rejoicing in our wonderful lives or are we regretful of bad decisions we made.

I have heard elderly seniors say, "Oh, don't bother me with more education.  I've had enough!"They laugh and turn away.  But then you talk to them about what is going on in the news and they have no idea.  Who wants to live uninformed?  How do you know how to vote in any election?

How do I stay informed?  First of all, read!  Yes, read books that you trust, read books written years ago but filled with truth.  Read news articles, but then use your brain and interpret if it is truth.  We have the inner ability to know what is right and what is wrong.  And we are given that gift of discernment via the Holy Spirit.  Many times I will read something and know in my heart that it is wrong, thanks to the Holy Spirit.

Second, develop intelligent conversations with your friends.  Why spend time gossiping about your neighbors which produces nothing worthy?  Instead talk government policies, local rulings, certain community rulings that will affect our lives.  Keep informed and stretch your mind.

Third, be aware of your neighbors' weak points and try to help them.  We all need help from time to time.  By thinking outwardly and not on ourselves we feel better and we are happier because we are unselfishly helping others.

Proverbs 4: 7-8...."Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in your getting, get understanding.  Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her." Proverbs 3:  5-8......."Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Who is the source of all knowledge and who is the One who leads us into all understanding?  Almighty God, of course!  Proverbs 3:  19-20  "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew."

Let us continue to learn about our world, about all peoples and about our God.  We will rejoice in God awakening our minds.

Birthing a baby is God's Miracle

Have you ever wondered how your baby grows before birth?  It is a fascinating and miraculous story.  I had seven pregnancies and birthed four live babies.  When you see pictures of that developing life in the womb you are overwhelmed with God's design.   Life begins at the moment of fertilization.  But a woman doesn't know she is pregnant until she misses that menstrual cycle.  By that time she feels queasy and knows something is going on in her body.  After reading Dr. David Menton's book, "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made", I knew I had to write about the birthing process.

I remember my first two pregnancies.  First was a miscarriage, no reason.  Second was a full term stillborn which was a dreaded moment in time and left me in grief and depression.  There seemed to be no reason for that death.  In the second stage of labor the heartbeat stopped suddenly and my OB quickly brought the baby to birth.  I never saw the baby nor held her.  I know it was a girl because the nurse said, "Oh, she's beautiful!"  That's the way things were done in the 60's.  Don't let her hold her baby.  'Let her forget'.  Well, I did not forget.  I suffered heavy grief for a year.  And then, one year and 4 days later, our son Glenn was born, healthy and normal.  Ecstasy filled my heart as Glenn's baby room was decorated with over 100 congratulatory cards plastering the walls.  At last, Dick and I were parents of a delightful male child.

Then, soon after Glenn's first birthday, I suddenly suffered intense abdominal pain which lasted one afternoon.  Upon my OB's examination during surgery, I had endured a tubal pregnancy which burst into my abdomen.  However, miraculously peritonitis never occurred because my body built a wall around the open wound.  What a blessing!  Then followed 3 more normal pregnancies with the subsequent births of Beth, Carin and Diana.  How I rejoiced!

Yes, how. a woman rejoices at giving birth to her baby.  When you study the progression of the baby in utero, you realize God has a plan of development for each baby and you are amazed when you realize no chemist, scientist, or doctor orchestrated the step by step of the baby's development.  You learn the egg of the female lies in wait in the fallopian tube for a sperm cell to pass through the egg's outer layer and touch the cell membrane.  Then fertilization occurs when the father's DNA from the sperm combines with the mother's DNA within the egg.  Life has begun!  Cell division continues as the placenta is formed and the tiny baby is implanted in the uterus.  By day 22 the heart begins to beat, by day 24 the eyes and ears start to form, by day 40 hands, arms, feet and legs are recognized and by week 8 you know whether the baby is a boy or a girl.  By week 10 the baby weighs less than an ounce, by week 12 the baby is able to suck his thumb, by week 19 he kicks and stretches and by week 37 - 40 he is ready to be born.

The placenta has an interesting function.  The mother's blood and the baby's blood never mix even though both flow through the placenta.  The placenta is very important because it functions as the baby's lungs, liver, kidneys, digestive system and immune system.  After birth the placenta is no longer needed and thus is discarded.  All this happens because God planned every detail.

Then upon delivery, the baby takes his first breath.  The baby spent nine months in fluid so how did he breathe?  In utero, blood bypassed the lungs, but then flowed through the heart and the body.  After birth the blood does not flow through the right and left atria, which closes, but flows through the lungs and then the baby can take his first breath.  No wonder that 'first breath' is so important.

As you can see, no human governs the birthing process.  Only Almighty God planned and created our own individual lives.  As Psalm 139: 13-14 says, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."  Thank you Lord, for creating and loving even me.