CONSIDER ASPECTS OF AGING

There seems to be a Walgreen's at every corner. You know, the corner of "happy and healthy. "

So....why is it the queue at the Walgreen's checkout seems to have many unsmiling folks with walkers, canes and sad eyes and an assistant who holds their arm! Many of these seniors, "keenagers" as FUMC in Hoptown calls them, seem to frequent the corner of sad/lonely & unhealthy, because of the life curves aging sends their way.

They get their red noses and red eyes from some of life's struggles, not from frequenting Walgreen's. (Although I do like Walgreen's premise of "Red Nose" Day to feed the hungry!)


Ministering to widows has given me a front row seat to aging. Unhealthy seems to show no partiality---not gender, not race, not religion and sometimes not even age. But when aging is one of the components of the affliction, one can use extra measures of grace---God's grace that is!

Many must make hard choices and changes in their latter years. So the key seems to be attitudinal.
God does not forsake us as we age and some of them cling to that truth!
Even when I'm old and gray (or glow in the dark white, DAL) as Psalm 73:23-24 reminds us.

Aging does bring many changes---some physical, some mental and many emotional, BUT GOD is in control and can aid us as we accept and then adapt. I know because I've seen it up close and personal in the lives of many of "my" widow friends.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

Their lives have brought scriptural truth alive for me as I consider their lives.

CONSIDER HERITAGE-SHARING

Of all the influential women in my early years, several stand out. Mother, enough said. Gena, a grandmother who nurtured my love for reading at every turn. Mrs. Munday, my 4th grade teacher who helped me, a crying 10 yr. old, with "complicated" division. Christine, my across the street neighbor, who was like a grandmother to me.

But...it was my maternal grandmother, Mama Davenport, who was my spiritual mentor, before I even knew what that was. With her gnarled arthritic hands clasped in prayer and her humming in the kitchen as she stirred up stewed tomatoes in her white enamel saucepan with the red rim, her quiet gentle spirit spoke volumes. Her willingness to "walk" up that 2nd street hill to church every Sunday because she didn't drive and Dang-Dang would not take her. 

I've not known many women I could label as "never complaining," but Mama was a the top of that list. (1Timothy 6:6)

Her well worn Bible is one of my treasures and her underlined verses have offered much insight in to her suffering and her trust in the Lord. My other treasure is my heritage snowball bush.....

...which had its beginnings from her childhood home in Hampton Station, Kentucky. From there to Clarksville, TN, to my parents' home in Hopkinsville, Ky to my home in Memphis, TN, the bush is a living legacy of a small graceful woman who was and still is in many ways, my spiritual mentor.

A snowball  bush that has been propagated and cultivated throughout Memphis and to our son's home in Texas and most recently to our daughter's home in Richland Estates.

Not only do I love that this bush will be cultivated with love and spiritual memories, I love it that Molly and Corey's dog who is checking it out is named Millie. Millie was Daddy's pet name for mother. If he was getting really sassy he would call her Millie Lou.

What a legacy of love came to my mind as I typed. What a great heritage I have been given.
My "heritage snowball bush" is but a reminder to open her Bible and consider the best underlined passages to  share---not only with my children but also with my "grands," (Proverbs 13:22) as the heritage of the upright will abide forever.(Psalm 37:18, AMP)

CONSIDER VOTING

Consider voting----YES!
Yet......I was mainly considering avoiding crowds by voting early. I don't like to "waste time" standing in line. As always I had a book in tow.
I walked right in----there was no line. I should have been happy but it actually saddened me. 
It was also a comeuppance for me! How self-serving was I---worried about waiting instead of celebrating the privilege of living in a democracy which can freely elect its officials. Voting is not wasting time!
Know the character of the candidates and vote wisely. Such wisdom has Biblical roots.

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders (Exodus 20:21)

Choose wise and discerning and experienced people from your tribes, (Deuteronomy 1:13)

Consider voting for the greater good of our country---that's my new mantra!

BARBARA BUSH: A TRIBUTE TO A FIRST LADY

Today's televised funeral of Barbara Bush had me glued to the couch.

US First Lady 1989-1992. The silver fox. A woman with fake pearls but a real heart.

A woman married for 73 years to the only man she had ever kissed. a woman when bed ridden in the hospital, holding hands with her husband, who looked like "hell" according to son Jeb Bush, but when she opened her eyes, she said. "...you are devastatingly  handsome!"

Her dignity, wit and straight forwardness mixed with kindness and caring for family and beyond, to her love for literacy were all part of the accolades given. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-barbarabush/barbara-bush-remembered-for-her-dignity-and-wit-at-houston-funeral-idUSKBN1HS04S

When her granddaughters read from Proverbs 31 about their Ganny you could hear the love in their voices as their tears dropped. 

Her grandsons walked out on either side of her casket as pall bearers.

In their own way each child, grand child and friend rose and called her "blessed."

What a tribute to a lady who named the name of Jesus and lived a virtuous life!

Need more proof---read the letter Jenna Bush Hager wrote to her grandmother--her Ganny.

Dearest Ganny,

When we lost you, we lost one of the greats. You were our family's rock, the glue that held us together. I hope you know in your final days how many people prayed for you, how many people told me they loved you. It was like that my whole life - people stopped me everywhere - in airports, on the street and declared their love for you. It always felt good. We didn't mind sharing you with the world.

We called you 'the enforcer.' It was because, of course, you were a force and you wrote the rules and your rules were simple. Treat everyone equally, don't look down on anyone, use your voices for good, read all the great books (oh, how I will miss sharing books with you!)

I will never forget when Barbara and I as 7-year-olds snuck to the bowling alley and ordered presidential peanut butter sandwiches. We couldn't wait for someone to deliver what was sure to be the fanciest sandwich of our lives when you opened the door, scolding us, telling us under no circumstances could we order food in the White House again, this was not a hotel. You taught us humility and grace. You and Gampy embodied unconditional love. At our wedding Henry and I asked you to read because we so hoped we could emulate your love story. Your love letters will be passed down to my girls so they know what true devotion looks like.

You always said, humor helps. Our nights spent sitting around the dinner table in Maine laughing at old family stories were made better because of your laugh. And humor was necessary because of summers surrounded by 17 raucous grandkids in Kennebunkport. Grandkids who filled the hot tub with soap, creating a giant bubble bath. Rowdy kids who loved doing cannon balls over your head while you peacefully swam laps.

From you Ganny, I have learned the gift of uniqueness and authenticity: from wearing mix-matched Keds, to your signature pearls, and snow white hair. You taught us that humor, wit and grace are the best accessories and that worrying too much about looks is (in your words) is boring. Words matter, kindness matters..looks fade.

One of your final emails to me you wrote very little. The subject line read: YOU. In the body of the email you wrote: 'I am watching you. I love you. Ganny.'

Well, Ganny we have spent our lives watching you. Your words inspired us, your actions an example to follow. We watched as you held babies living with HIV to dispel the stigma, as you championed literacy across our country, as you held Gampy's hand.

You always said that you were one of the luckiest women to ever live, but Gans I am filled with gratitude because you were ours. We are the lucky ones.

You did things on your own terms up until the very end. And now, you are reunited with your little girl Robin. She died so young, you called her your sweet angel in heaven. And though I never knew her, her words are still today and forever will be a treasured part of our family.

And so Ganny...we love more than tongue can tell.

Love, Jenna.

CONSIDER PRAYER

Dad is in Israel. Mom is juggling his four brothers' schedules with him (Nathan) assisting when possible.

A bad fall at practice. A break occurs. Pain ensues. Doctor visit factored into all the schedules. 

Break in collar bone is evident. VERY evident. Surgery is needed soon.

Prayer should be the first consideration. But....anxiety reigns until Philippians 4:6-7 kicks in....in everything let your request be made known unto God.

Consider prayer. Intercessory prayer that is.

When one is 1,267 miles away it's the only consideration that makes sense. (1 Timothy 2:1)

An intercessor is a mediator.  One who pleads another's case. One who cries out to the Lord on their behalf---for healing, peace, protection 

Our example is Jesus Christ who lives to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25) In the same way, my Christian friends/prayer warriors continue steadfastly in prayer for Nathan. (Colossians 4:2)

It's the way intercessory prayer works. Others are there for you regardless of the distance and consider such prayers a privilege!

CONSIDER THE HANDIWORK OF GOD!

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. ((Psalm 19:1)

What great glimpses we've had of the work of His hands as we have traveled the eastern coast of Florida!

From banyan trees and palm trees .....

to bald eagles perching & soaring at May Port......

.............to a sand crane family on the golf course....

and the deep rich blues of the Atlantic Ocean,

God's creative hand has done a great work!

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, (Psalm 150.6) let all rejoice
as they consider the handiwork of God.

CONSIDER: FIVE 4 FRIDAY

Happy "Fri-Yay," as toddlers' often dub the day, as you consider this list!
Five journal jottings this week concern Bible Study reminders. Tips, of sorts, for searching the scripture.

Most found in the margins of my "well worn" New American Standard Version" Bible. Mama Davenport used to say, "A well-worn Bible is a sign of a well-fed soul." (Not one of the five but one dear to my heart because it came from her.)

1. Text without context is just pretext. (Ronnie Stevens) Text - Context = pretext.
2. All Scripture is equally true but not all scripture is equally clear. (Cathy Crowe, BSF)
3. Always let the Bible interpret the Bible and let lucid text interpret obscure text. (C. Crowe)
4. Bible is "the" text for relational guidance. (Larry Crabb)
5. Encouragement is like verbal sunshine! (K-Love in the "Sunshine State.")

Consider jotting notes in the margin of your Bible on this "Fri-Yay!"

CONSIDER THE BACK ROADS

For a goal oriented traveler sometimes the backroads get left behind in favor of highways and expressways. 

What a travesty! Had we not veered off the beaten  path yesterday, we might never have encountered the legacy of a kind and caring man----well displayed in the rooms of his former high school. A godly man!

As a child he both painted and attended the Baptist Church in Plains, GA.

These days, at 93, he teaches Sunday School at Maranatha Church just down the road, surrounded by pecan trees! (Don't pick them.)

A man who went from peanut farmer....

.....to President of the United States                    ....to Nobel Peace Prize winner......

from small town to DC & back home again!

to become a humanitarian extraordinare--

always with his beloved wife by his side!

ROALYNN & JIMMY CARTER....71 years 9 mos. of marriage,so far.

....Considered by me a "Storybook Romance " discovered on the backroads of GA.

CONSIDER GIVING THANKS EVEN IN HARD PLACES

This morning as I was praying for friends who suffer from chronic pain, this toe tapping song came up on my playlist.

So, my prayer for them was that hearing it would "move" them to tap their toes.
If it moves you to "tap" your toes, give thanks that you are able to do that. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Beyond that, I pray that it moves you to consider praying for other suffering souls, especially those with chronic pain.

CONSIDER THE EASTER STORY

Consider the "real" Easter story as told from the mouth of a very "southern" 3 year old.

Is our "grand" nephew, Asher, a budding preacher?