Gram Gram

    Pain, sorrow, anger, numbness, hurt; those are just some of the emotions I'm feeling right now. I recently wrote about how grief is a gift. Well, sometimes it can feel like a burden, especially when it is fresh. Right now, it's fresh. At 3 am on December 27th, 2024, my grandmother passed away. So, right now, I'm feeling these things.

   When someone you care about passes, it's hard not to think about memories, who the person was, what they meant to you, and things they did with you. Before Gram Gram even passed, I thought about the memories I had with her. Many of them were from when I was younger. Grandma was our primary babysitter for years. She took care of us while mom and dad were working. I remember mostly little things. Things like how I would ask her to tickle me, her homemade pot pie, how she enjoyed coloring, how she patiently answered all my questions, that she would watch whatever we were watching without complaint (even if it was Lion King for the hundredth time), how she came to events to support us, just to name a few. 

  But as I looked back, I realized something: I was lucky. While I didn't have many specific memories that stood out, I did have little memories. And those little memories spoke to my grandma's character more than anything. For at least nine years of my life, grandma was consistently there to watch me. She showed me how to love. She showed me patience and compassion when me and my siblings were going crazy. She showed how to support and encourage when she came to our school or sport events. She even showed me how to do things that I wasn't that good at, like gardening, I did not inherit the green thumb. 

   Love, joy, thankfulness, peace; those are more emotions I'm feeling right now. Odd to feel when someone close to you has died. But I feel love because of who grandma was. She loved others. She loved her family. She taught her family how to love. I'm feeling joy because I know where grandma is. I know she's feeling joy and pain free because she's with her heavenly father. I'm feeling thankful because I got to have a grandma for as long as I did. I'm thankful I got to say goodbye to her. I'm thankful because of what she taught her family. She taught them how to love, compassion, how to encourage, and about Jesus. I'm feeling peace because I know her story isn't over and one day I will see her again.

   Grief is still a gift. It is painful and can be a burden, but grief reminds us of what we have. It reminds us to be thankful for the time we do have and to make the most of it. This Holiday season has included more grief than I can ever remember having in my life. But it has also had some of the most loving and cherished times I can remember. Perhaps that's because this season has taught me to look at each moment as a gift. That may not have happened without the gift of grief.

   So, grandma, thank you for who you were. Thank you for teaching our family so many good character traits just by being you. A godly, caring mother, grandmother, wife, and friend. We will miss you while we are here, but we'll see you someday.

https://youtu.be/W8bFysfU0ZM

The Gift of Grief

    Christmas is a time of year that we associate with gifts. I mean, other than Birthdays it's probably the only time of year we get gifts and give them. It's a time of year where we think about hope, peace, joy, love, and Jesus who came to bring that all. This year I was struck by something different than I was usually this season. Sure, I thought about all those things Christmas usually brings but something else happened that made me think of something new: grief.

   On Thanksgiving Day, my family went to visit my grandmother at a rehabilitation facility where she was at for physical therapy. While there, across the hall, a man died. After leaving, my husband and I both said in an odd way it made us more thankful for what we had. 

   Later, toward the middle of December, a family friend who was a part of my parent’s church for as long as I can remember, suddenly died. It was a shock to everyone. And it made me think of how hard it was for me and my family, let alone his family, to deal with his passing.

   Yes, Christmas and Thanksgiving are times we remember to be thankful, have joy, give gifts, and that Jesus came to be our Savior but sometimes it's hard for people to have those things and remember them. Grief is real and it's okay to have. Jesus even grieved over the loss of his friends. But it's also a time to remember the good. To remember the gift that life is. That God gives us this life so we can get to know him, grow in him, help others know about him, and help others grow in him. 

   This life has pain and sadness. This life isn't always easy. We have hurts and hang ups. But God is with us through it all. He sent Jesus so we could have hope in a future eternity with him. So, we could have peace in this life and the next. He came so we could have joy in knowing everything will be okay. That we can spread his love to others so they can have eternal life. Isn't that an amazing privilege and gift?

   So, yes, grief can be a gift. It is a reminder that this world is filled with sorrow, but this world is not the end. We can rest in knowing that God is with us in Spirit here and one day we will be with him in heaven. Thank Jesus that he came as a baby, with the plan in place to eventually die as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so we could be with him forever. He is the perfect Christmas gift

https://youtu.be/Du0ZsDLwH_0

Making Mistakes

   One day I was out watching my students at recess. I saw one child playing on a piece of playground equipment. This child is very strong and outgoing. He had gotten himself up on top of a pole. He then grabbed another pole and was trying to get across to this other pole to the point where his body was horizontal across these two poles.
   Now, with today's standards many parents would probably be saying "you need to stop him, that is dangerous." I thought about stopping him but I knew he would learn a lesson no matter what happened. He did make it across to the other pole and then he celebrated. He worked hard to get where he wanted to go and was rewarded because he made it.
   I know there are parents out there who want to protect their kids. I'm not saying that some protection is wrong. What I am saying is what I say to my students, "you need to try. If you try your best and you mess up will Miss Scheuing be upset?" The students always say, "no." My students know that they learn by making mistakes.
   I think that we have forgotten that in this day and age. We are so afraid to mess up that we stay inside our comfort zone. We end up missing opportunities because we choose to not do new things. My students would not be rewarded with the ability to read if they did not try something new. My players would not have the skills they have today if they did not join a new team or try a new drill. I would not be rewarded with all the gifts and opportunities God has given me if I stopped trying new things.
   Making mistakes is okay. It may not be fun, but if you make a mistake you are more likely to try something new next time. Above all else, when you make a mistake remember, "there was only one perfect man and he walked on water. Can you do that?"
   So will you choose to step outside your comfort zone to gain new opportunities and grow? Will you guide and encourage others to step outside their comfort zones? How can you step outside your comfort zone today?

   Joshua 1:9, 2 Peter 3:18, Romans 5:2-6

   Image found here.

Accused

   Have you ever been accused of wrongs you did not commit? I know I have, and I think many people have. How should we act when we are accused of things we haven't done?
   Once again God give us an answer through his example. In Mark 15 Jesus is brought before Pilate. The Sanhedrin had just told Pilate about Jesus. Pilate asked Jesus "Are you the king of the Jews?" (Mark.15.2). Jesus answers by saying "You have said so" (Mark.15.2). Jesus doesn't say "yes." He could have but he didn't. Why?
   Jesus knows that this must happen. He knows what will happen next because he is God. He does not want to go through the pain of being separated from God, but he still does it. Jesus has the whole picture. When we go through these times we wonder "why is this happening?" When God is saying "just wait till you see what I have in store for you."
   But, the accusations don't end there. In Mark 15:3-4 the chief priests accuse him of other things. Pilate asks Jesus if he wants to say anything. Jesus doesn't answer and Pilate is amazed. Jesus keeps his mouth shut even though he didn't do anything that these men were accusing him of.
   When we get in an argument or are accused of things what's one of the first things we want to do? We want to defend ourselves. Then after we defend ourselves what happens? We get into an argument and things become worse. People then become offended and relationships are ruined.
   It does us no good to try to reason with people whose minds are so clouded that they only care for their own needs. Our actions speak louder than our words. We could yell, scream, and accuse back but in the end that will make people think that those accusations are correct.
   People can taint what we own, our reputations, and even our relationship with others. But, one thing people can never taint is our relationship with God. God knows who we are. He knows our character. It may be hard to keep our mouths shut when we are being accused of wrongs but in the end we will be rewarded in heaven.
   So, how do you act when you are accused of wrongs? Are you following Christ's example? Does your good character show when no one is looking?

   Mark 15:2, Isaiah 54:17, Romans 12:19

   Image from here.

Going Out With JOY!

“You shall go out with joy

And be let forth with peace,

And the mountains and the hills

Will break forth before you.

There'll be shouts of joy

And the trees of the fields

Will clap, will clap their hands.

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,

And the trees of the fields will clap their hands,

While you go out with joy.”

   Have you ever had to leave somewhere? Maybe you had to move somewhere, left a job, or maybe you just left on vacation. We have all had to leave someone, some place, or something. When leaving somewhere we all have different emotions. You may feel sad, happy, or even angry. Here’s the thing: you choose how you leave.

   If you know me you know I am all about having a good attitude. However, it is not easy to always have a good attitude. It is especially difficult to have a good attitude when things don’t go the way you planned. The key words in that sentence are “the way you planned.” In America we are really good at making plans. We are not the master of our lives God is. Proverbs 16:9 says “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” God has great plans for us. His plan will come about one way or another. We could choose to follow his plan kicking and screaming, but is that the example we want to send to others? Do we want others to look at us and say “he calls himself a Christian and yet he has a bad attitude?”

   I do not know about you but I would rather have people look at me and wonder how I can leave somewhere joyfully when I have every right to be upset. My prayer is that wherever I go and wherever I leave I go with God. I would rather walk beside him, where he wants me to go, than walk alone. Not only that but I want to go out with joy because that is what we are called to do (Isaiah 55:12).

   So, when you leave somewhere what will your attitude be? Will you choose to follow God no matter what? Will you walk beside God and trust in him?

   Isaiah 55:12, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:5-6

   Image from here. 

   Link for Trees of the Field song.

Leading by Example: A tribute to Deloris Carlson

   My family and I have been going to Family Camp at Camp YoliJwa for the last 9 years. We have met many friends by going there. One family we have met is the Carlson family. Del was the nurse at Family Camp for all of those years.

   If you know me, you know I can be stubborn when it comes to my health. I do not like to go to the doctor unless I have to. I did not have to go to Nurse Del that often but one year I did. I play soccer and before camp I was doing my fitness workout. While I was running, I twisted my ankle. That was about a month before camp. I had nursed my ankle for a while and stopped running, because ankles can be finicky. While at camp I was playing and my ankle started to swell up again. I decided I should probably go to the nurse.

   I found Nurse Del sitting on the rocking chair in the lobby with one of her grandchildren. I told her about my ankle and I said I probably just need an ice pack. Nurse Del did not argue she just showed me where the ice packs were at. I appreciated that she did not try to baby me. She was able to read people and she could tell I knew what I needed.

   But, Del was so much more than the camp nurse. She loved others in the way that they needed to be loved. She knew I was not touchy feely but she was able to give a kind word and sometimes a hug when you needed it. She impacted so many lives not just as a nurse but also through teaching middle schoolers at camp but she did not preach at them. She led by example, which is not easy to do.

   Nurse Del will truly be missed by her family, coworkers, church family, and those of us at family camp. She was able to impact so many people because she cared and loved others like Jesus did.

   What about you: do you follow Jesus’ example? Would people say that you loved others no matter what? 

   Philippians 2:3-4 and Philippians 4:13

   Thoughts and prayers to the Carlson family.

Rejoicing Through the Pain of Loss: Remembering Esther Hennigh

   On September 27, 2016 I lost an amazing family member. My Aunt Esther went home to be with the Lord that day. It was hard to see her go; but I know she is much more comfortable now than she was here on earth. Esther was kind, caring, supporting, and loving. Not only was she my aunt; but she was also an amazing sister. And, on top of that, she was a caregiver for many years before retiring.

   Aunt Esther could be counted on to do many things when we came to visit. She was an amazing cook. And, she always found some way to put something healthy in everything we ate; but it still tasted good so it was okay. Esther always supported us in everything we did whether that be sports, musicals, or fundraisers. A fond memory I have of her, that happened many years, is sharing a birthday celebration with her. Every May we would go to her house and celebrate her birthday and mine; and each time a phenomenal cake would be made, or an ice cream cake would be bought. During Christmas time Esther would be sure to get everyone in the family practical gifts that were really cool, like ear warmers (I have sensitive ears okay?).

   Aunt Esther will be missed by many; but at the same time I rejoice in her going to be with her Father. Esther was in a lot of pain her last days on earth; but when she took her last breath she was able to be in peace in heaven.

   I don’t know about you, but I have lost a lot of people in my life. Every single person I have lost elicited some pain in my heart; but at the same time my heart rejoiced. You may ask why. And, the simple answer is because one day I will get to be with her. Aunt Esther knew Christ as her savior and so do I. Because we have that connection, we will get to see one another in heaven again. I am so excited for that moment because then I will have no more pain or sorrow. Instead I will be with my Father and family forever.

   What about you? Have you lost someone recently? Do you have confidence that you will be with that person again? If you don’t know Christ as your personal savior I encourage you to check out this link in order to become a member of God’s family. Then, one day, maybe we will meet and I can rejoice with you in heaven.

   John 14:1-4, Romans 8:16-17, Psalm 23:4