February 7 - A Gift at 11:30am, 2:30pm, 6:30pm

1)  11:30 a.m. finds me at Family Reunion time.

Today, the 7th fell upon Sunday,

and my ears, eyes, and heart
are fixed on the preaching.

I'm feasting with family members on God's Word;

followed by a solemn time for communion with

heart inspection, confession, and renewal;

followed by the famous Pot Luck get-together in the back.

I love family time!

2) 2:30 pm presented another family reunion,

this time of mother and daughter.

It was both sweet and sour.

She is always so happy to see me,

but this time she said...
"Are you here to stay with me forever and ever? 

You are staying forever, aren't you?"

And her strong hand slips to the back of my neck,

draws me close as she kisses me

and she says "I love you" over and over.

Wow.

"I love you too, mom, yes... I love you too."

She raved about how much she loves her photo-blanket.  See her there with her four children?

I share news of family...

sister and husband now 

entering a nursing home in Montreal.

We talked about the way of life

and how it just slows down more and more.

What a good tete-a-tete we shared.

Back and forth we talked about family,

and then the subject turned to Heaven.

I am always thrilled to talk about Heaven with her

because it's an opportunity to again drive home

what she recently accepted to be Truth...

Christ, Savior of the World came

to save her, and not just the whole world.

And I hope the talk deepens her assurance

 of her not-so-far-away future in Heaven.

I left with my heart full and happy.

I always leave her presence trying to remember 

that this may be the last time I see her.

So with a lingering hug and another kiss,

I leave her to sleep.

I would have no regrets if it were the last time.

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3)  6:30 pm brings us to a quiet time of reflection.

Evening settles, and life slows down.

Photo taken by my son Frank - Lake Superior, Marquette, Michigan

And I settle for a good read, 

this time one accompanied with questions 

to help me probe a little and challenge 

what in my life might I be casually accepting

as normal and fixed...

but needs to change.

"The unexamined life is not worth living."  Socrates

So I take the time and Sunday evening is perfect.

Thanks, Father, for such a lovely day!

February 6 - Three Gifts from Outside

1)  Family portraits out on the porch... 

oh what a gift it was that a friend

offered her photography skill.

And we did not know what the future would hold.

It was the season of life just before our second-born

moved south for opportunity's sake.

What a tough decision that was.

2) Then, much later, another season came...

 we enjoyed grandma living with us 

... a year and a half, to be exact.

It was wonderful.

Porch seasons where breezes 

brush up against cheeks.

Wonderfully refreshing.

Now a new season,

and she is in a nursing home...

I don't like her being away, 

outside our home.

Not at all.

3) Then an especially difficult season came around.

(No one knows what the future holds.)

That second-born stepped outside

the realm of this ol' world...

and we learn that...

 "Sometimes God allows what He hates (death),
in order to accomplish what He loves (new life)."
Judy Jeffery

It's true, when you have someone in heaven,

you carry a little piece of it around with you.

You literally feel closer to God.

And you long even more for that "outside world" yourself.

Of course you do.

This just so happened to be one of our boys' favorite books.

Lovely memory of years gone by.

I still have that book.

February 5 - Three Gifts Stitched, Hammered, Woven

1)  Stitched... knitted... woven... 

however it was... 

it's by His hand that I came to be.

There's something very comforting about that.

That the handiwork of the Master-Designer

can create such a beautiful soul.

A beautiful 

You.

2) I know someone who hammered away at the drills 

and the exercises, and the repetition,

over and over and over again.

After all, this whole piano thing was his idea.

I am thankful he asked for lessons, 

for he is gifted in a marvelous way. 

Now, every once in a while, a new composition 

comes floating our way.

What a joy.

Here, for you, the keys of an old tune are hammering away 

in response to his passion:

3) Woven...  

as in threaded through and out 

and through and out again 

and do it again and again.

Like a life that has to experience

one thing after the other,

sometimes the same thing...

 in order to learn

one

darned

lesson.

And we think it's all a mess,

undecipherable,

illogical and downright futile

to have to visit that again,

and again, 
and again.

That's not how God sees it.

Every woven thread has a purpose,

and soon enough,

you will see the beauty of it all.

It's true, you know...

February 4 - Three Gifts Found when Stooping

1)  When we stoop to admit our need for God...

He gives forgiveness that wipes away all guilt.

All kinds of guilt.

And this white robe of His righteousness

is given to us.

Imagine that.

What a beautiful thing.

2) She stoops down and sees that God works best

in hearts that embrace humility.

For God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.

She may have lost a son

at the bottom of that waterfall...

but she knows He knows

best of all

that he belonged Home.

His work on earth was done.

3) Does God require us to stoop

so He can look down upon us

with haughty eyes.

No. Indeed,

that is Lucifer's way.

Jesus, however,
stooped all the way out of Heaven and Home... 

and slipped into a feeding trough.

The Bread of Life did this, for you and me.

He then lived a 30-year life span

that climaxed with the ultimate stooping...

receiving lashes and torture untold...

to ensure we would once again be His.

All that humility and power 

blended into one

God-Man Messiah.

Come, stoop down and see....

February 3 - Three Gifts Found In Writing

1)  Gift of Love on paper... 

older brother to younger brother.

Who's not thankful for such treasures?

2)  Many gifts are found in writing, and many times,

you discover things about yourself you had no idea was in you...

until you put pen to paper...

your own life played out in lines and swirls

of thought and meaning. 

 It is amazing, the power of the written word.

3) You know how it is...

getting a hand-written letter these days 

is a real treasure.

To think someone thought of you enough

to put love on paper...

just so you could read it

and feel its embrace.

Lonely souls know...

February 2 - Three Gifts on Paper

1)  Yes.... 

it's hard to beat the fast production of words 

pounded out on the keyboard, 

flying swiftly all over the world

in just a matter of seconds.

Amazing things, these computers of ours...

but really...

can you tell me the magic of a computer is better 

than the handwritten letter of a grandchild

who loves you and wants to connect with you...

by sending concentrated effort

of loving thoughts brought forth

through fingers on pencil and pencil on paper?

No.

I don't think so.

 Thank you Father, for little ones who show us how to love.

2)  Ha!

A magnificent discovery has been made, my friends...

right under your noses!

This lover of words has finally come to realize

that her other love... of beautiful fabrics,

cut into simple but gorgeous garments,

carefully paired with accessories

and the flair of a scarf or belt or jewelry...

all these wonderful things brought together

are not, after all...

solely the product of...

vanity.

They are the joy of a life lived with creative flair... 

(and a heart of gratitude for the gift)

a life that loves color, the feel of soft, flowing fabric,

and of a tad of drama.

(She should have been an actress that one!)

She now KNOWS it's okay to...

This paper reminder is on her office wall, oh what a delicious discovery!

3)  The following paper product 

comes from the heart of a man 

who has beautiful memories of times

spent at Grandma's Italian Deli in downtown Detroit,

or at the family reunions with mounds of food

produced by three Italian ladies in his life:

His Mom, Helen, 

his Grandma Lucy, 

and his Great-Grandma Iaconelli.

Husband took it upon himself to gift his son

with a hand-written cookbook of all his favorite recipes,

straight from the heart and kitchens of his ancestors.

And not without a touch of humor all throughout...

What a guy.

February 1 - Gifts of Red

1)  Two roses with red-edged petals...

each one a memorial of two little lives 

that didn't see the light of day.

But they do see the Light of their Father's face...

and one day soon, we will see each other

face to face.

Thank you, Father, for assurance of Life after death...

where we will be reunited with loved ones.

Forever.

2)  There was a gift given to me in 1971 by my parents.

It was a graduation present, 

a White sewing machine,

(still using it 45 years later )

along with accessories...

like the little red tomato pin cushion.

Mother did not teach, per se...

but I did inherit the gift of being creative

with fabric and buttons and bows...

Thank you, Mom, for the example.

Thank you, Father.... for making me in your image...

a creative sort...

like you, the Master Creator.

3)  Memories of long long ago...

a good portion of my childhood

played out on a Southern California beach.

This little red-scarfed toddler

enjoying the sand...

depicts glorious days gone by...

... days when my brother and I

brought toys to the beach

to make our play even more fun.

Those were the days...

and the memory still brings joy to my heart.

Thank you, Father, 

for good memories.

February - A Daily Trio of Thanks...

And let the fun begin!

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AUGUST 31 - THREE MIRACLES

MIRACLE #1

Made possible for you, by the blood of Jesus Christ,
and your humble acceptance of His work on your behalf...
John 3:16 and 17.

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MIRACLE #2

Photo taken by Frank Sade, Lake Superior, Marquette, Michigan

A sun that sets every evening,

and rises again, every morning.

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MIRACLE #3

AUGUST 30 - 3 GIFTS VERY SMALL

SMALL GIFT #1

No matter the name,

this one - rich or poor - will live for eternity.

Eternity, in something so small.

How it all happens... right  >here<.

Joseph and Danika

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SMALL GIFT #2

String a lot of these little things together and what do you get?

A glorious cooperation of sound that can form

an unforgettable experience.

>listen here<

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SMALL GIFT #3

One little mustard seed,

they say, is all it takes

to move a mountain.

Small... but powerful.

This man had some of that...

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AUGUST 29 - A GIFT ONE, TWO, THREE

GIFT ONE:  I was born in Montreal.

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GIFT TWO:  I was born again in So. California.

Church of Our Fathers, Cypress, CA

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GIFT THREE:   Soon, I'll be going home.

1,2,3... 

Just like that.

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