Invisible Heroes

Are you the hero in your own life? Are you the person who knows where the car keys are and which corner the teeny tiny part to that last "fix it" project has found its way into? Did you happen to be the one to check the air pressure in the tires and add a quart of oil to keep the car rolling along safely? Mow the grass so your children can play soccer in the back yard? Hold your father's hand while he quietly kept vigil over his brother's hospital bed? Did you lay out the clothes before they were requested? Did you make dinner, adding that extra ingredient of love that inexplicably makes it all taste that much better? Well, I can promise, you that if you answered "no" to my first question and "yes" to some of the others, or could to some similar, you, my friend, are someone's hero.

You should look at that face in the mirror and forget the freckles, the chicken pox scar on your forehead, and your unruly cowlick. Look, instead, at the person who is comfort, fun, wisdom, and the glue that the people in your life love and depend on so completely. When they look at you, this is what they see, not to mention the reflection of every good thing about themselves that can be seen in your eyes, each time they look your way.

A hero by Webster's definition: Any person, especially a man, admired for qualities or achievements and regarded as an ideal or model.....A central figure in any important event or period, honored for outstanding qualities.

When we go through our days quietly making a difference and making a mark, not seen at first glance, it is easy to miss the treasure trail we leave as we walk through the day to day "stuff". But, it IS there and it WILL make a difference that matters in the moment and eternally. Words that are lived, rather than words that are spoken, impress the heart and leave the mind and heart of those in our company with an effect that changes everything. God sent us His Word in the flesh and it is this Word lived out, not just spoken, that changed it all forever.

A hero, by my definition, is a person who lives a life quietly, leading by example all those who will follow, to the foot of the cross. There is no other path worth wasting even one footfall on, one whisper to encourage
an alternate route. I will repeat my question.....Do you see yourself as a hero?

                                                            GOD DOES!

LOTS

3/4th of an acre.....

Would you like whipped cream on that??.......

The details of life; those that are yours alone to shoulder.

Could be a purchase of property.....
Could be you loove whipped cream....
Could be your present challenge is looming large....

Take your pick. Hand in hand, God will stand with you true.
Things of old, everything anew.

For all of it
     He is with you..........

The other side is a real place, He will get you through
because first, last, and always God loves you...

LOTS and LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

Sea Shells

Sea Shells, Salty water

Grains of Sand

The sun is so bright

I protect my eyes with the shade of my hand.

Rocks smooth and shiny

tumbled and tossed

by the power of  the sea.

Rolling waves, crashing sounds

All of this is surrounding me.

Walking, looking, comparing,

rejecting, accepting.

The stones and shells I select, each one

a sweet memory.

Whispers

Whispers, Humming Birds

Soft Gentle Comforting Words

A Soft Reply...A Warm Embrace

We need the tender, the cozy 

the safe and secure spots in Life.

To rejuvenate, restore, reflect, often to give us

opportunity to detect 

a corner of our minds or our hearts in need of attention and repair.

This time is encouraged, down right necessary, to avoid

the creeping in of despair.

Ever vigilant ever aware.

Kick the thought to the curb

that you shouldn't dare.

Be at rest, receive the love, its ethereal

instruction from your Father above.

A Compliment In Disguise

Batteries are the things that are often present and rarely noticed. They are many times heavy; always hard, usually cold and without exception, full of acid. Very utilitarian objects.

Batteries are the portable energy that allows us to light up our world, give power to our projects, emergency
care to the injured, and bring music into the silence. Consider their names, Energizer, Eveready, and Duracell.. They imply strength and dependability.

So, I am thinking that if a battery was a person, it could mean they would be high energy, always ready
to lend a hand and make a difference, an individual that proves themselves loyal for the duration; someone
who lights up the room by being in it and offers words of encouragement that are like music to a hurting heart. 

Yes, it's not the norm, not close to the expected. In fact, it's a compliment in disguise, but when I consider it, I don't mind being compared to a battery!

For My Aunt Ruth

My early memories of my Aunt Ruth are not  born from experience, instead they have been formed by the telling of the early days and this is how it was. Good stories. True, I was not there, but the pictures are vivid in my mind, all the same. The most outstanding picture in my my minds eye is how they met, my Uncle Hogan and my Aunt Ruth; I've always imagined that their first meeting went something like this:

On the front steps of the hospital, Aunt Ruth descends, her dark navy cape flowing behind her. At the bottom of the steps, Uncle Hogan (for Aunt Ruth, he was her Harry) stood stock still looking up at an angel.

In truth, I have no idea of their first encounter, however there are a few things I do know as fact.The navy brought them together; she was a navy nurse and he was a sailor. That man should have had a caution tape wrapped around him where ever he went. A charmer, most certainly; he could talk the birds out of the trees and the bees out of their honey. And talk about handsome.....move  over Cary Grant.

We all have our foibles and my Uncle Hogan had his, there is no denying , but Aunt Ruth loved him period, and he her. It is impossible not to lose your heart to Aunt Ruth.

The notion of a glass being half empty is lost on her because she can only see that the glass is half full.

Before she was a "Mrs.", she was Miss Ruth Murphy and her tenacious Irish blood remained. Strength and steadfast gumption has continued to carry her through life's valleys on to the mountain tops and given those all around her, reason to strive for the mountain top themselves.

In the whole of my life, I have never heard her say anything contrary about another person. She is not blind, she  simply has made a habit of finding the good, no matter how small, she will capitalize on it

When I was about three, my parents, my two sisters, and myself went for a memorable visit. Staying with Aunt Ruth was plain old fun. One afternoon, we did something most Californians do not do. We went to Beverly Hills to look at the homes and apparently stalk the rich and famous. A very touristy type of activity. The highlight of the excursion is permanently imprinted on my mind, in my heart, and without question on the crown of my head. There we were in some perfect moment driving down a street with beautiful houses on either side. Of course, each of these homes lived behind gates that granted no one entrance. In a stroke of luck, Irish in origin, I am certain, this particular house we had stopped to look at, had gates that were opening and a car emerged. My Aunt Ruth, the absolute definition of calm, began jumping up and down with wild abandon, screaming in a state of excitement I had not witnessed until that day. That was not an easy feat, considering she was sitting in the car at the time. Me, well, I had the distinct privilege of sitting on her lap. With every upward "yippee", my head hit the ceiling of the car. Who can blame her exultation?  Before her very eyes was Mr. Pat Boone and his wife, Shirley. There is even a photograph as proof of the happening taken in hurried confusion. I could possibly have a lingering headache from it all, but it makes me smile to think of it.

Aunt Ruth is like magic, she has always made everything fun, sweet, and a feeling of safety was wrapped around that, as well.

When I was just a bit of a thing, I discovered this toy, to me, it was the best thing ever. Aunt Ruth kept it for little people like myself when they came to visit. I fell completely in love with it. It mesmerized me. She noticed my attachment and bestowed upon me what is to this day, one of my greatest treasures. A few years ago, I wrote a couple children's books and in one of them, I was able to have a picture of that toy placed seamlessly into the story. To others, that toy is part of the book. For me, it is my way of sending an enormous "I love you" to my beloved aunt. My way of honoring her forever.

Aunt Ruth is this "one of a kind" human. She isn't like someone else you meet along the way. She is genuinely thrilled to see you when you walk in the room. Embracing you as only she can, caressing your ears with this tender vocal velvet we privileged ones know as the sound of her voice.

So many moments I could recall with joy and laughter. For now, for today, I will leave it here and look forward to the days to come, and the pleasure of adding into my treasure box all things Aunt Ruth.

Go Out With Confidence

Jam Jars, Rose Petals, 
Rain Drops, Honey Drips

Cooked Spinach, Sour Pickles, Twisted Pinched Faces

 Carnivals and Buckets Full of Nickels

Warm Cinnamon Buns in Bakery Display Cases, 

Cold, Damp, Dreary Places

Life....it offers the sweet, the sour, the cold, the cozy, the fun, the beautiful. It's a mixed bag. This fact, it's indisputable. Some days are filled with unbelievable pain. Others, it's all sunshine and rosy.

The trick is to stay steady in an ever changing climate. It's not the weather I speak of, but of the heart. Circumstances of life sure don't make it easy. It's enough to make you feel downright queasy. You might fear you are going to bleed to death from the continuous blows, every relentless dart.

To pull ones self up once again, where to start.....how to begin? With the dawn, you awaken with sleepy eyes, a deep, drowsy yawn. Be strong, don't be shaken.

 Imagine freshly baked blueberry muffins, just out of the oven, the aroma fills the air. With enthusiasm, you take a generous bite..... bringing comfort to all your senses.

                           Take a bite out of life because

grace and mercy will meet you just the same, 

fully loaded with all you need 

to meet every challenge, every unwanted weed. 

Go out with confidence; just be sure where ever you go, 

let the Lord take the lead.