"God's Wings" - True Love

Hello Beloved Readers! It has been a while since I have "blogged." Busy time of life - but that is no excuse. In any event, I have been cleaning out some files and I found one file entitled "Inspiration." In that file I found this email that I have received from a dear friend on February 28, 2002. It was timely then and encouraged me today. I truly hope you are inspired and encouraged!




"After a forest fire the forest ranger began his trek up the mountain to assess the inferno's damage. He found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, this mother chose to remain steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live." (author unknown)

If we want a picture of sacrificial love - that is it! The mother bird loved her chicks so much that she sacrificed for them... even her life..... that they might live.

Makes me ponder - Do I love Paul enough to sacrifice for him? When was the last time I thought of his needs before my own?

Makes me wonder - Who loves me that much? Paul has told me that he would die to protect me. Thank God he hasn't had to put those words to the test :)

And I think of God... His sacrificial love...."He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge." (Psalm 91:4) I must tell you my beloved ones - I have been encouraged by this verse many times over in my life. He does offer a love that is protective to the death. ... A love that insures a place of rest here on earth and a heavenly home after my time here on earth is done.

Ponder and wonder and think about "it" with me......

Why this blog? Mother's Day reminds me...

Hello beloved readers - and precious children,

This Mother's Day I am reminded why I started to write this blog. I want to archive for my own children - words of wisdom about the marriage relationship. I want to remind you, my blessed children, that love and faithfulness has it's rewards. I want to remind you that it is up to you to make your marriage and your family your first priority in life. I want to remind you that you will never be disappointed when you put time, energy, love and compassion into your marriage. I want to remind you that a marriage - a good, strong marriage - is built by two people. I want to remind you to love one another as unconditionally as you can. I want to remind you to always speak well of one another. I want to remind you to run to one another in times of trial and joy. I want to remind you that I love you very much and I am always here to encourage you on the paths that you travel.

I want to remind you that God has loved you with an everlasting love!

I am so proud to be called "mom!"

Times of crisis will come.... what will you do?

Hello beloved readers - I cannot believe it has been since January that I have "blogged!" Life has gotten very crazy - jobs, responsibilities, Nana and Pop and their health etc. I wonder if yours has been like mine? I have a very strong feeling that it may be.... Difficult times will come in our lives - times of crisis, busy times, financial troubles, health issues, decisions to be made, etc etc etc. Many things that could pull you apart.... stretch you to breaking....

Determine now how you will respond. From my perspective, there are two responses when a crisis hits. We can pull away from our mate, or we can pull together. We can determine that in times of crisis, we will depend on each other more than ever. We will take the time to talk it all out. We will listen to each other. We will "steal away" in the middle of our crisis times - to stay connected and thus grow stronger.

Difficult times will pepper your lives together dear ones. Be prepared. Talk about how you will respond - now - to the difficult times that will come. And never forget, "a three-strand cord" is not easily broken. This phrase is from Ecclesiastes 4:12. Read the version from The Living Bible: "And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken."

Stay close to one another - stay close to God!

(photo retrieved from www.istockphoto.com complementary photo)

Contentment... a learned "skill".....a choice

Contentment is a skill?

When you read the title of this blog, dear reader, do you agree that contentment is a skill? It is.... read my reasoning for a moment and see if you agree.

I have read Linda Dillow's book, "Calm My Anxious Heart." She has assignments in it. One was to list all the positives in your life right now. Once I got started the list went on and on. Actually - you all are one of the biggest positives in my life! Anyway, then she had us list all the negatives. And then this quote followed the exercise - "Two women looked through prison bars. One saw the mud, the other the stars...."

One of the secrets to true contentment is choice. There's that word again - choice. What will I choose to focus my eyes and heart on ???? Will I choose to focus on Paul's faults and annoying habits??? ( of which he only has one - :) Or will I choose to focus on the way that he looks at me.... and the way he took off of work for a whole day to be with me when my wisdom teeth came out last week.... and the way he listens... and the way he looks when he falls asleep in front of the TV... and the way I can cuddle next to him and be quiet and contented.....etc etc etc etc

So precious, beloved readers - practice the skill of contentment. Make the choice. Choose contentment... it is great gain!

Do you agree?

Maintain the "Adventure!"

Paul and I went to a marriage weekend through American Family Services sometime in 1987. I remember only too well... I was pregnant with Scott. Anyway, it was a wonderful weekend at a lovely hotel in Valley Forge, PA. They treated us so well - felt like I was on a cruise. The facility was beautiful, the food delicious, and the speakers were memorable. One of the things that we learned on that weekend was to keep your marriage an adventure. Keep it alive. Enjoy each other, have fun, laugh alot, cry alot ... be real. The speakers talked about all the ways they kept the "zip" in their marriage. One thing they suggested was to be spontaneous. So - on the day before New Year's Eve, we headed to NYC with our son, Kurt and his wife Stephanie and their friends Luke and Holly. Holly had never been to NYC and it was only Stephanie's second visit. It was CROWDED! And I thought, "What are we doing here?" But the spontaneity and the excitment was contagious! Trust me... it did add "zip" to our marriage!!!

So, in the sense of spontaneity and a lasting marriage, try something new tonight! Maybe a candlelight dinner at home, a cold evening walk, a movie date, .... I am sure you can think of something!!! Enjoy each other - you are a gift from God to each other and the joy, love and adventure of your marriage will pour out into others.

A New Puppy...

Meet Bailey! She is Kurt and Stephanie's new puppy and she came for a visit during the 2009 Christmas week. Now, you may ask, "What does a new puppy have to do with marriage?" I actually observed Bailey growing and changing everyday. She became more playful, more inquisitive, more challenging (at times), and grew physically. She reacted differently depending on the people and the places that she visited. And, she needed constant attention to help her grow and become the dog/companion she is intended to be.

Our marriages are like that puppy. They are always growing and changing. Our relationships with others, our locations, our stresses, our sorrows, our joys - all effect our marriages. Therefore, do not ever, ever, ever become overly confident in the strength of your relationship with your spouse. Your relationship always needs tending. Even after 30+ years of marriage to a wonderful husband, our relationship needs attention. After a busy holiday week, Paul and I finally got out alone for dinner. It was wonderful! I must admit, that Jana and Mark asked us to go to dinner with them after we went to a movie with them. It would have been good to go, however, our marriage needed "tending." We went to a lovely restaurant - alone - and just reconnected. This "attention" needs to be a priority.
May you all be blessed as you put your relationship with your spouse first in 2010. It's never too late to start!

With love to our beloved children and readers!
Paul and Kathy

p.s. - Nurture your relationship with your Lord too! He will never disappoint you!