“The old dreams were good dreams. They didn’t work out, but I’m glad I had them.” Clint Eastwood’s character—Robert Kincade—in The Bridges of Madison County.Pay off my home and retire early, that was my dream for many years. Then I got married and we bought a home together just six years before I had hoped to retire. That dream was shot.
It was a while before I was able to let go of the old dreams I had lost to be able to see with new eyes and embrace the even older dream of marrying a wonderful man who already had children. Since I had passed my childbearing years, that dream had fallen off my radar. But when I married I became not only a stepmom to two amazing grown kids, but I became grandma to seven beautiful grand-kids.
Lord, please give me Your perspective so I may see the details of my life’s dreams, events, and outcomes, and be able to recognize the wisdom of Your timing. Amen “Do not lean on your own understanding; I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content; God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose.” Philippians 4:11b; Proverbs 3:5b; Romans 8:28 What are your thoughts? Libby
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“It is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg AddressWhen the bully is picking on one of the smaller kids, it’s up to the bigger kids to protect them. If it’s possible to condense a sermon into one sentence, this would be it. The Sunday before Dessert Shield turned into Dessert Storm in January 1991, my pastor gave this sermon. A Scottish-born, naturalized citizen of the United States, he was trying to help us US-born citizens come to terms with why we were going to war half-way around the world. Our pastor shared that many other countries felt the same sadness, injustice, and longing to help, while watching Iraq invaded Kuwait. But, the smaller country of Scotland could do little without the coalition headed by the US, ‘the biggest kid on the block.’ So our volunteer military go around the world to defend freedom that will keep the smaller countries from falling, one by one. This will, we always hope, keep the Bully from eventually coming to our shores to challenge the freedoms we enjoy. Everyone who enlists in the military has to face the fact that their choice may include a call to the front line. This is no different from firefighters and police who know the dangers of their chosen profession. They all know that the costs, but when weighed in the balance, they choose to server and protect.
The past two weeks my husband has been riding through all kinds of weather from Auburn, CA, to Washington D.C. with the National Veteran’s Awareness Organization. They honor veteran at thirteen veteran’s homes and hospitals; they honor the fallen, POWs, and MIAs at eleven memorial sites; and they educate the youth at four schools to better understand the role of our military and to encourage their ROTC programs. Although not all of us will join the military, police, or fire department, we all need to be “dedicated to the great task remaining before us,” to carry on the work of freedom. Picnics are great. Gathering to enjoy time with family and friends is among the freedoms we enjoy. But let’s not take it for granted that our children will absorb the history of Memorial Day through osmosis. We need to do the work of freedom by teaching them that Freedom isn’t free; to prevent all who have perished to not "have died in vain." John F. Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." Will you join me in committing to do the work of freedom? Are you doing something today with family or friends? How can you incorporate a sense of remembrance into your Memorial Day celebration? Lord, You were the first to teach that all people are created equal and the concept of ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’ May we keep alive these values, ”…with liberty and justice for all,” in our country and around the world. “For you were called to freedom…only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13 What are your thoughts? Libby
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” Plato
They couldn’t backspace and tweak the first sentence for minutes or hours. When I first started to write I could literally spend hours on the first paragraph. Hence the term ‘analysis paralysis.’ This kind of writing never leads anywhere…I learned the hard way. Like those with pen and paper or a manual typewriter, we must just begin. Start! Do something. There is plenty of time to edit later. Any published writer will tell you that editing is far more enjoyable than getting that first draft onto the page.
Lord, help me not get stuck in analysis paralysis, or thinking it has to be perfect before I move on to the second sentence; help me leave room for Your inspiration where my work really begins to be creative. Amen “…one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead; I press on…” Philippians 3:13-14 What are your thoughts? Libby
Note: Gladys Louise Smith, a.k.a. Mary Pickford (1892-1979), a Canadian actress and producer whose career spanned 50 years; she was one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has earned the name “Queen of the Movies,” credited as having defined the ingénue archetype in cinema.
Note: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) an English novelist, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer; best known for her novel Frankenstein. She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, Percy Shelley, the famous English poet and philosopher. Herself a philosopher and advocate for women's rights of the day; her father, William Godwin, was a political philosopher and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, was a philosopher and feminist. “Don’t speak unless you can improve upon the silence.” Quaker Proverb
I’m learning—very slowly—that when I get a thought based on what someone else is saying, it’s frequently because I’ve experienced something similar. But it isn’t necessary to share my experience when a nod of recognition will do. I likely still speak too much (ask my sisters), but I believe I’m talking less than I used to. Do you hear others talk and you think of a time a similar event occurred in your life? Are you tempted to interrupt their story with your been-there-done-that experience? What can you do today to add focus and listen, thereby demonstrating to your friends your interest in them? Lord, thank You for helping me hold my tongue; I could not have done it on my own. It’s so much nicer to show my friends that I really do value them and what they have to say. Amen “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23 What are your thoughts? Libby
“Que sera' sera', whatever will be will be, the future’s not ours to see, que sera' sera'.” Ray Evans, songwriter for the music composed by his partner Jay LivingstonI think my husband is tired of hearing me talk about our future trip to Europe; a week-long river cruise followed by another week in Europe and a week in the British Isles. He’s talked about going, and I don’t want to be too old to walk the miles needed to see all the places we want to visit. Is it wrong to plan a trip? So many people say, you have to set a date and plan to go or it will just be a dream and you’ll never actually go. I’d like to think my planning is really about being prepared, knowing all the things we want to do and see. On my last trip to Europe I remember the planning was half the fun. Another thing I remember from that trip was, we grew tired of spending just one or two days in each location, packing and moving to a new Bed & Breakfast every other night felt like we were spending more time traveling than sightseeing. So we made a decision at one point to skip Bath and spend an extra two days in Stratford Upon Avon.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:34a What are your thoughts? Libby
“10 ways to love: listen, speak, give, pray, answer, share, enjoy, trust, forgive, promise.” Will SmithStudents from a local high school joined me at the Assisted Living facility the Sunday after their Valentine’s Day dance – while the young men still had their tuxedos. They were excited to be part of a fashion show for the seniors...another opportunity to wear their formal clothes (and get community service hours doing something fun). The girls brought multiple dresses and the young men took turns escorting them down the ramp to the ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ of the seniors.
Do you have seniors in your life?...grandparents?...parents?...friends? Do you take the time to listen as a way of showing your love? How will you prioritize your activities the next time you’re with them? Lord, help me prioritize my busy to-do list at family events so I allow time to sit and talk with my aging relatives...but more than talk, help me love them with my listening. Amen “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:4-8
“Two roads diverged in the wood and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost
There were parts I learned a lot from and other parts that weren’t clear to me. In the end I primarily gave feedback on wording, format and layout. I thought it was my fault that I didn’t fully understand all their points. I thought if I gave this feedback it would just reveal my ignorance?
Lord, help me be bold, to take the road less traveled and trust my instincts, believing my perspective is valid, useful and helpful. Amen
“But God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” Genesis 3:3-5 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Robert Frost (1874-1963), an American poet, initially published in England before being published in America; known for realistic depictions of rural life in New England as they relate to the complex social and philosophical issues of the early twentieth century. Frost, thought of as an artistic institution, was awarded four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the Congressional God Medal in 1960, and named Vermont’s poet laureate. “No thinking, that comes later. You write the first draft with your heart, you rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is to write, not to think.” Mike Rich, screenwriter for Finding Forrester
My muse is application, how I can absorb wisdom from quotes—words and saying from other’s life experiences—as a way to inspire me to be better, or sometimes just to be. So, when my writing is stalled I turn to quotes and ideas like:
Lord, take my fears and replace them with Your purpose that I might be all You made me to be in this life. Amen
“Habit is habit, and not to be flung out the window…but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” Mark TwainWhen I first began to exercise, I started and stopped many times. All sorts of things got in the way. Travel, injury, vacation, or just an early appointment were all reasons to skip nonessentials. But the flip-side is a challenge, too. It doesn’t have to be a vice to be a habit I want to give up. In my unwillingness to give it up I still struggle to find a way to retain it. But, when parts of my life are unmanageable due to something as frivolous as watching videos during the day, then I have a habit that needs to go.
The thought of giving up video watching during the day is like saying goodbye to an old friend. As much as I want to re-gain the time wasted, I still struggle to give it up. I’m learning the best way to overcome a bad habit is to only attempt to do it a day at a time. If I think I’ll never again watch a video during the day, the thought is overwhelming. ‘Always’ and ‘Never’ rarely work for me.
Do you have a habit that's running you, making your life less manageable? Are you wanting (but not yet really willing) to give up this habit? How will you begin to coax your habit downstairs “a step at a time”? Lord, thank You for Your help when I turn a habit over to You and see how You change my life as a result. Amen “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” I Corinthians 10:13
“A lot of my life happened in great, wonderful bursts of good fortune, and then I would race to be worthy of it.” Julie Andrews“Libby, you got the highest grade so you’re first.” My eighth grade English teacher used to rearrange the seating chart after each exam and seat us in order of who got the best score. After the exam on diagramming sentences I was seated—for the one and only time—in the first seat in the front row. Other classes had the back seats fill up first, but in English it was a reward to sit in front and all the students tried to be first. It worked for our class in those days, everyone learned grammar and composition and (speaking for myself) I was able to skip bone-head English when I got to college. Even at work at a high-tech firm in the Silicon Valley, I used to get recognition for reports, proposals and executive summaries, partially as a result of what I learned in eighth grade.
I spent the first few years as a Christian trying to pay God back for blessing like all green lights when I was running late, or recognition for things I felt were just common courtesy. When I finally recognized that God does not wait for me to do something good before He blesses me, I was able to stop feeling guilty that I had not earned it.
Are you more familiar with the perform/reward system? Do you ever feel as if you need to pay God back for a blessing you don’t feel you have earned, or deserved? What will you do differently today to shift your thinking to a love-motivated paradigm? Lord, I find it hard to fully comprehend Your unconditional Love. Help me make progress at tearing down the walls of my natural self-centeredness and learn to love unconditionally. Amen “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love…” I John 4:16a What are your thoughts? Libby
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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