Even in the season of Thanksgiving, we can forget precious blessings from God. This week, when I read an email from a friend, I realized my gratitude list needed work. In the email, our friends, Chip and Susie, requested prayer and shared news of Will, their friend who’d been bedridden since January 2—for ten long months. One illness had led to another until Will was too weak after hospitalization to make the required progress for admittance into rehab. He believed he’d never walk again. Hannah, Will’s wife, cared for him the best she could and called for medical transport when…
Tag: jeannie waters
Resist the Holiday Rush: Accept a Gift from God’s Table
Dear friend, Pull up a chair and notice the gift on the table. The tag reads: “From: God, To: You.” Yes, this present is for you. Take a deep breath and lay aside your to-do list for a moment. Ready? Now, remove the ribbon. Lift the lid and move the tissue paper aside. Is that not the most beautiful gift you’ve seen in ages? What? You don’t see it? The box looks empty? That’s the beauty of it, my friend. The box is empty by design. When I explain, you’ll love your one-size-fits-all, yet personally designed, very-much-needed present. Rest is…
Appetizers for Effective Conversation
Whether we’re dining with friends and family or waiting for our table with strangers, we can offer warm greetings as an appetizer to fruitful conversation. Let’s think about dinner appetizers. Imagine sitting on your friend’s sofa as she serves an appetizer tray. You pop a small slice of green fruit into your mouth and immediately wish you hadn’t. One eye closes involuntarily like you’ve been sucking lemons all day, and you shudder to the core of your being. Your mouth purses into fish lips as the inside of your cheeks pucker and meet in the middle. Green persimmons do not…
Finding God’s Gifts at the Table
Our grandchildren’s eyes widen when they see the focal point of family birthday celebrations—the coffee table laden with gift-wrapped packages. Throughout the year, our daughter-in-love notes the toys the children admire, and she considers their needs and interests. Her process ensures the gifts will be both delightful and appropriate. My husband and I join our co-grandparents and contribute to the purchases. Then we all enjoy watching the children open gifts, selected especially for them. Our grandchildren’s mom spends more time with them than anyone else, and she knows their preferences, needs, and sizes. Therefore, the gifts—some needed and some…
Are You Feasting at the Table Where God Fulfills Your Needs?
When my brother and his wife invited my husband and me to observe elk in their natural habitat, they failed to mention one detail—the nine-mile, single-lane dirt road that wound up a high mountain and down again. We navigated curves that doubled back on themselves like a snake changing directions. The window view on my side of the car included an almost non-existent shoulder and steep, rocky terrain. When we descended from the heights and drove into a valley, I unclenched my teeth and took a deep breath. Near dusk, we parked beside a grassy meadow that bordered a forest…