Glorious and Free!

As an immigrant who has chosen Canadian citizenship, I sometimes feel that Canada Day is more special to me than to someone who was born here. I did not come from a war-torn country where we feared for our lives, had no safe place to live or little food to eat. To be sure there were issues that concerned my parents and which contributed to their decision to uproot their entire family and move to Canada, but it was not a life or death situation. Rather, it was a choice my parents made, after much prayer, to give their family the chance to have every opportunity for a fabulous life.

It was just over 33 years ago that we arrived at Toronto International Airport on an uncharacteristically chilly June night. I can still picture us - Mum, Dad, five children and 33 pieces of luggage - standing outside the terminal waiting for our rides (definitely needed more than one vehicle to get us all to where we were going!). My first glimpse of Toronto was in the dark so I don't really remember much of it but by far the most enduring memory of the drive to our friend's home is a fragrant one as we passed the Dad's Cookie outlet in Scarborough. For years when I drove by that spot on the 401 I would roll down the window to catch a whiff of that welcoming aroma.

As a teenager trying to adjust to a new country, I experienced some frustrations and difficulties but it didn't take me too long to find my place here in Canada and to feel good about my new home. It was eleven years before I officially became a citizen. It had not been an issue to me before I became pregnant with my first child and I can't really explain why it became so important to me to be a citizen when she was born - but it was.

I took the process very seriously. I got the booklets and pamphlets and I actually studied them because I was told that I would have to go through an interview process during which I would be asked questions about Canada's history and political system. I can still remember poring over the pages and quizzing myself. I remember the tiny room where I sat with the judge to be questioned and the little court room in Barrie where we went for the ceremony. I remember trying to hold back tears as I sang the national anthem as a brand new citizen. I remember the celebratory lunch at Red Lobster and I definitely remember the pride I felt as I held my citizenship certificate and card as we drove home.

It is hard to adequately explain how I feel about the country of my birth and the country I chose but I am thankful for them both. I am thankful to my parents for sacrificing so much in order for their children to have the wonderful lives we currently have. I am thankful for the Canadian immigration system that accepted us. I am thankful for all the freedoms, privileges and benefits I enjoy as a Canadian citizen. I am thankful for all the opportunities I and my family have had, do have and will have because we are Canadian.

I am thankful to God for His blessings on Canada. I am grateful for those who proclaimed loudly and clearly back in 1867 that their intention was for God to be recognized as the foundation for our great country. I appreciate the freedom I have to give God praise for His many blessings to me and to our country and I am very grateful for those who have fought for us to have the privilege of continuing to acknowledge God's blessing on Canada every time we sing our national anthem...

God keep our land, glorious and free!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANADA!

Under Construction

On Friday evening I was sitting in the front garden of a home in a prestigious mid-Toronto neighbourhood. It was a beautiful night and I was enjoying the company of people I love. We heard a low hum in the distance. The increasing volume of the hum indicated that whatever it was was getting closer. I realized something was up when our host leapt from his chair yelling "Street sweeper" and ran for the hose while his wife hurried us inside. We watched from the front window as our host and his neighbour desperately tried to soak the street in front of their homes before the street sweeper could go by.

Why, you ask? Directly across the street from where we were sitting there are 60 townhouses being built. There is an incredible amount of dust as a result of the construction and every night the street sweeper goes by to clean up the street but because of the amount of the dust, all it does is move it from the street to the cars, sidewalks, front porches, windows, screens and even the interior surfaces of the homes around. Our host's mad rush for the hose was an attempt to reduce the amount of mess that would be spewed onto his property.

Even though the house we were visiting had been built five years ago, the neighbourhood is not complete. The townhouses that are currently under construction are part of the fourth phase of a subdivision that began over seven years ago. Hundreds of people in that neighbourhood have been living in their fully completed homes for years, but there is still work to be done in order to complete what was started.

When all the phases are completed, the finished development will be fabulous. Attractive homes, lovely green spaces, uniquely designed walkways and some exquisitely landscaped gardens. Everyone is looking forward to that day - no more construction vehicles, no more hammering, sawing or drilling and NO MORE DUST! But until the work is finished, they have to do their best to deal with the side effects of the completion of the project.

It makes me think of Philippians 1:6...

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Too many times I am caught off guard by the approach of God's spiritual construction crew and street sweeper. I get so caught up in enjoying the completed phases of my spiritual life that I forget or ignore the fact that there's more to be done. I have often done the 'mad dash for the hose routine', doing my best to minimize the effects of the aftermath of a street sweeper in my spiritual life.

When God begins to disturb the firmly packed earth around my current foundations bringing on the circumstances required to remove the soil and expose what is underneath so that He can strengthen and/or expand my foundation - it can be painful. I don't always greet that process with joy and alacrity. In fact, it is more likely that I do so with moans, groans and laments such as found in Psalm 55:1-2

Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! Please listen and answer me, for I am overwhelmed by my troubles.

How quickly I forget the reality of following Christ. That it is a journey, a process of becoming more like Him, a construction project that essentially does not end till my life on this earth is over. Since I chose to be part of God's Kingdom - His subdivision, if you will, I either need to move or deal with the construction process. Ironically, I have probably instigated the arrival of spiritual construction crews and street sweepers by my own words as I have asked God to make me more like Him or have agreed with Psalm 51...

Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
soak out my sins in Your laundry.
I know how bad I've been;
my sins are staring me down.

You're the One I've violated, and You've seen
it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before You;
whatever You decide about me is fair.
I've been out of step with You for a long time,
in the wrong since before I was born.
What You're after is truth from the inside out.
Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

When I am honest with myself about why I am going through a messy, uncomfortable construction process, God is able to do His word unhindered - almost. I need to be honest...I am not always 100% on board even when I give Him permission to go ahead and do what needs to be done. I am like one of those annoying home owners who calls the contractor every other day to change her mind about how she wants things done. When will I ever learn!

In spite of my frustrating interfering and foot dragging, I really do want to experience the construction process that is going to make me more like Christ and cause me to be pleasing to Him. I am thankful for the encouragement of the Psalms through this kind of process, especially from Psalm 139. Take a moment to read and pray it for yourself today. Follow along with David as he highlights the cry of his heart that God would purify him, as he acknowledges how intimately God knows him and the fact that he cannot hide the true state of his heart from Him, as he accepts the incredible job God did in creating him, as he attempts to grasp how much God loves him and as he reiterates his desire to be cleansed from anything that is not righteous.

Years ago there was a popular bumper sticker that said "God is not finished with me yet". Be encouraged. God is making you into who He intends for you to be - and that's a good thing.

Celebrating Milestones

Tonight the youngest of my four children graduated from grade 8. As part of the celebration one of the teachers created a slide presentation that had pictures of the graduates as babies or toddlers and then showed the graduate today. Seeing the picture that Jordan chose to use brought back many good memories; I'm really proud of the fact that I did not cry!

This was the third time I had sat in that gym listening to speeches, hearing families whistle and cheer for their graduate and witnessing promising young people be rewarded for their hard work and contributions to the world around them. If you've ever been to a graduation ceremony you know that we heard about tonight being the end of one chapter and the beginning of an exciting new one. We also heard about how all the hard work this year was worth it and that it would stand graduates in good stead as they entered grade 9. I don't think any graduation ceremony would be complete without comments about the opportunities that lie ahead and the need to make the most of them. Cliches? Sure, but all of them true.

The whole experience made me think of what it will be like when we get called upon to attend our heavenly graduation. What milestones will we be celebrating? What rewards will we be receiving? Just like each of tonight's graduates, all of us who have chosen Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour will receive the certificate of Eternal Life. For some of us, that may be the only award we receive but just like those who received special recognition for specific achievements, our endeavours for the Kingdom of God will gain us recognition in heaven.

I found it thought provoking to consider the fact that there were many special awards so that students who excel in their areas of giftedness would be honoured for using those gifts. The Bible clearly tells us that we have been given gifts and that we are to use them. Doing so provides us the opportunity to be rewarded in heaven.

Can you picture it...a huge auditorium...if there are streets of gold, what will the chairs look like? Millions of people - and a sound system that's so amazing everyone can hear every word spoken! An emcee who has all the lines memorized, who calls each person up in the right order and has all the awards correctly assigned. Surely that would be the epitome of 'thunderous applause'? If I could experience pride over the achievements of my son's grade 8 graduation, what will it be like for my Heavenly Father when I receive my Heavenly awards.

One more 'cliche' type comment - alluding to the next graduation ceremony that will come in 4 years, the admonition to make the most of those 4 years and be prepared for the next milestone. Similarly we are encouraged to press on for the prize that awaits us...

I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. Philippians 3:12-14

One reason I am typing this blog so late is that we chose to 'reward' Jordan with the gift of a party with some of his friends. As I write, there are nine 14 year old boys in our basement, eating snacks, drinking pop (Sorry, Catherine!), talking, laughing and reminiscing about the past year. They are, in effect, celebrating the milestones that matter to them. I think I will take some time when I am finished to reminisce about some of the milestones in my life; the ones that will last for eternity. I will also look forward to being able to celebrate them with my Heavenly Father when the time comes.

It's Who He Is

It's always been about Who he is...my Dad. Anyone who knows him will tell you that. And because of Who he is, he has impacted more lives than we can count.

All over the world today there are people who remember how my Dad...

• Danced with and sang to their child - just because he loved to.
• Laughed with them.
• Cried with them.
• Prayed with them - wherever they were when a need was mentioned. And I do mean wherever - the subway, the mall, the parking lot, the grocery store. Wherever.
• Shared encouraging words.
• Comforted them.
• Invited them over for meals or gave them a place to stay when there was a need.
• Taught Sunday School, New Believers classes and youth groups.
• Sang so beautifully.
• Conducted himself with integrity.
• Choose to serve God rather than seek his own way.
• Did what needed to be done, especially the things that no one else would do.
• Went above and beyond.
• Loved his wife and children fiercely, protectively and loyally.
• Honoured God with his whole life.

Even though Alzheimers has stripped him of his ability to speak, he continues to communicate clearly simply by being Who he is. He is joyful, smiling often and even laughing at times. He is loving, hugging and kissing us when we get close to him. He is demonstrative, holding hands and stroking arms as we sit beside him.

It's Who he is. My Dad. I am blessed to be his daughter and to have had his example to follow.

Happy Father's Day, Dad. From your heartstring.

Beyond The Thought

It's just a thought. Sometimes fleeting. Often ignored. You know the kind of thought I mean..."Maybe I should give my friend a call or send an email..." You have those kinds of thoughts sometimes don't you? What do you do with them? Do you ever go beyond the thought? If so, what kinds of responses have you had?

Sometimes when I get those kinds of thoughts, I make excuses not to act on them. I feel foolish for even thinking them. Why, I ask myself, would I do that? On the occasions when I want to investigate that response rather than make the question hypothetical, I come up with some pretty good responses...

1. Because if I'm having that thought, there's probably a reason.

2. That reason might be God-inspired and directed.

3. It's the kind of thing I do; it's part of who I am.

4. It wouldn't hurt to do it.

Most times when I follow through on those thoughts, I get a positive response. The truth is that people appreciate being thought of. Not only that, it's amazing how often the thought comes at a time the person on your heart/mind really needs the encouragement that comes from your action whether it's a call, card, email or kind gesture.

You know that Bible verse that talks about doing to others what you would like to have done to you? (Luke 6:31 if you'd like to look it up.) When you are having a rough day, need some help making a difficult decision or are wondering how to proceed in a sticky situation - would you appreciate getting a phone call, email or note from a caring friend? Would you like to have someone deliver a meal or a goodie when things are simply crazy in your life? Have someone remind you how special you are to them? I've been on both sides of this situation; I've really appreciated the contact and I've been blessed by the response I've had from others when I've been the one doing the contacting.

Those of you who know me know that my pontifications often come out of personal experience and this is no exception. Last night I picked up my friend at Pearson International Airport as she came back to Canada after 10 months teaching overseas. As she was leaving this morning my friend told me how much she appreciated my ongoing contact; having a connection with someone back home was a huge boost for her. To me, it did not feel like I had done much and I know I could have done more but to my friend, it meant a lot. You know what's interesting? What I did was quite simple, not terribly time consuming and certainly not very expensive.

As Esther drove away I decided - yet again - to be better at paying attention to and acting on the thoughts I have about doing something that would encourage and/or uplift someone else. This blog post is one step in that direction. I hope that you will pay close attention next time you feel the prompting to do something for someone else.

Do me a favour - let me know how it goes? Thanks!

The Recipe..

Some of you have asked me for the Curried Chick Pea Salad recipe so here it is...

Dressing

4 tsp. apple cider vinegar

4 TSP. lime or lemon juice

1/2 c. olive or vegetable oil

4 tsp. maple syrup

1 tsp. salt

4 tsp. curry powder

Salad ingredients

1 cup raisins

2 cans chick peas (drained and rinsed)

1 red or green pepper, diced

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped parsley or cilantro

4 tsp. toasted cumin

Optional: Grated carrots, diced celery

Mix dressing ingredients; combine all vegetables, put cumin seeds aside. Pour dressing over vegetables and marinate in fridge for 2 hours. Sprinkle cumin over salad before serving.

Can be served as is or over a bed of greens.

ENJOY!

Better AND Worse

Last Saturday I attended a shower for my niece. Due to the pouring rain, our "Tea Party Shower" was moved indoors where we enjoyed yummy goodies, played the requisite games and oohed/aahed at the lovely gifts. At one point our hostess gave each of us the opportunity to share words of encouragement and advice for Lisa. Some of the comments were humourous, causing us all to laugh uproariously while others were deep and meaningful, even drawing a tear or two. In the midst of the tremendous joy and anticipation of wedded bliss, we all wanted to share positive, encouraging advice - and we did. But in just a few days, Lisa and Andrew will be pledging to love one another "in sickness and in health, for better or worse". How do you go about sharing that without bursting the bubble? On the 90 minute drive home I took to reminiscing...

It's been just over 24 years since Derrick and I got married. Over that time, we have experienced the 'better' AND the 'worse'; I don't think any of us can escape that reality. The intricacies of our 'worse' are well recorded in the corners of my heart and mind; I've found it's best for me not to go there if I can help it. The glorious details of all our 'better's are emblazoned in the forefront - and I know that's the best place for them.

Recently as I was having tea with a friend she said something that underscored today's thought. After years of debilitating pain and surgeries in the double digits, her husband is finally in a good place. The years of disability were horrible and the toll they took was heavy. Now that the proverbial sun is shining brightly on them, life is definitely better. She told me she can look her husband in the eye and say, "You were worth sticking it out for." WOW!

Another friend has walked with her husband through a back injury that prevented him from working for many months and which led them to the brink of insolvency. Today, he is a business owner and things are definitely better. She told me that she loves her husband dearly, is glad she stood with him.

On any given day, most parents could relate their experiences of 'better' and 'worse' with their children. Employees/employers could do the same in regards to their experiences at work. Students would probably focus more on the 'worse' aspects of school even though they might grudgingly acknowledge the 'better'.

My Mum often quoted the following verse from Matthew 5:45...

...for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Sort of sounds like 'better AND worse" to me.

The truth is that after the rain there's sun; once we get to the bottom of a hill, we begin the ascent to the peak of the next one and after weeping comes joy.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)

By the time I got home from the shower, my reminiscing and ruminating had culminated thus: I don't think it's possible to choose 'better' all the time nor is it likely that our lives will be 'worse' all the time. No, I think the reality is that life is an ongoing cycle of 'better AND worse'. And if I may offer some advice...throw yourself into the 'better' so that your heart and mind are filled with hope, joy and energy aplenty to sustain you through the 'worse'.

Simple Pleasures

Today I maximized the pleasures of my day...

• I enjoyed the sunshine as I washed our patio table & chairs and swept the patio stones in preparation for having friends over to lunch.


• I enjoyed the anticipation of spending time with friends.


• I enjoyed preparing and sharing a new favourite salad - Curried Chick Pea Salad (I'll share the recipe if you'd like it).


• I enjoyed walking around the house without shoes because I love the feel of a clean floor on my bare feet. (See yesterday's post for explanation.)


• I enjoyed the joyful greetings of my friends and the excited chatter of the first few minutes we were together.


• I enjoyed the opportunity to share about what's going on in our lives.


• I enjoyed the lovely breeze that rustled the willow leaves above us.


• I enjoyed watching the customers in the u-pick farm behind our back fence.


• I enjoyed the laughter.


• I enjoyed the privilege of being able to pray together...in the sunshine, with the breeze rustling in the willow leaves.


• I enjoyed the image of my husband coming through our front door with two beautiful cushions for our couch - he did a great job picking them out.


• I enjoyed the image of my husband smiling.


• I enjoyed the image of my husband in a 'new to him' shirt.

• I enjoyed the thrill of my husband coming home to me.


• I enjoyed listening to my daughter enthusiastically speak about the summer job she started this week - a job which is a huge answer to prayer. Thank you God!


• I enjoyed hearing my son tell me he has had an awesome day.


• I enjoyed watching my husband indulge in his passion - gardening.


• I am enjoying the knowledge that when I go grocery shopping in a few minutes, I will be able to find what I want and I will be able to afford to pay for it.


• I am looking forward to being able to put on my p.j.'s, recline comfortably on a couch or in bed and read a few pages of the book that has currently captured my attention.

Choosing to maximize my pleasures today was a good decision. I think I'll do it again tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing my Simple Pleasures with me today. I hope you will be able to identify and enjoy the Simple Pleasures of your day.

Taking Care Of Stuff

I have made a conscious choice to do the things that I really don't like to but need to do. You know what I mean...the closet you haven't cleaned, the mail you haven't gone through, the mending/dry cleaning you haven't taken care of. There's an odd satisfaction that comes from doing this. It feels good to deal with things that I've been putting off for days or weeks or maybe even months.

For years I've talked about the fact that I often hear God talking to me when I am doing the dishes - I can't explain it, but it really happens. A few months ago when I was speaking at church I joked about the fact that I wished God would speak to me when I was cleaning my floors because then they'd get swept/mopped more often. I'm happy to report that I have been mopping/sweeping my floors quite frequently lately and God has been meeting me during those clean ups. Which is a good thing because I've had lots to work through. I can't explain it but it seems as though dealing with those mundane, simple things is helping me to feel more productive and, in an odd way, frees me up to do more. Not only that, but it has given me the courage and determination to tackle issues of greater importance than cupboards, floors and mending.

Tonight was the final gathering of a group of ladies I've been meeting with for the past 7 weeks. Together we completed a video Bible study on the story of the exodus of the children of Israel. Working through the lessons forced me to confront some personal issues that I have been ignoring because I really did not want to have to deal with them. I had lots of excuses but none of them was really valid. Through the lessons and our weekly discussions, I came to realize that it was time to get take care of those things. As with the mundane tasks I have put off, once I began to honestly deal with the issues I knew I needed to work through, it was not as awful as I envisioned.

To be perfectly honest, it was not a very comfortable process, particularly when I felt I needed to share it with the ladies in the group. Even so, I did it and it feels GREAT. I am thankful for the support, acceptance and encouragement of the group memebers. It was a good example of the Biblical principle found in Hebrews 10:23-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I don't know if you've been putting off anything simple that you could probably get done rather quickly and/or easily. Today's a great time to decide to get it done. While you're at it, take the opportunity to talk to God about stuff He's got for you to deal with too. If it seems a bit daunting, utilize your 'life line' option and call a friend for support. I think it'll feel good to cross some stuff off your to-do-list; both the one on your fridge and the one you have in your head because you don't want anyone else to see it.

Now the challenge will be to ensure that I keep this habit going so that my lists don't grow long again. I'll let you know how that goes.

Mathematical Gratitude

Recently I have found myself humming, sometimes singing, an old chorus that goes like this:

Count your blessings name them one by one

Count your blessings see what God has done

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done

At the oddest moments these words pop into my mind. It's okay when I'm at home or with my Christian friends but not advisable when I'm working at the library! I got to wondering why this chorus was on my heart and mind so much and I came up with some ideas...

• I HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR! I am blessed with a husband who loves God, me and our children, four beautiful children who are doing well in life, a great extended family, fabulous friends, good work situations and so much more!

Years ago we attended a service at an African Episcopal Methodist Church in Pennsylvania. One of the things I remember vividly was how they took time to thank God at the start of the service. Several people began their 'thank-fession' with the statement "I thank God He woke me up this morning". A simple but powerful fact. Each day I am alive I have the opportunity to positively impact the world around me - do I?

Recently I heard Carol Burnett speaking about her daughter, Carrie, who died of cancer some years ago. She said that due to the nature of her illness, Carrie spent the last number of weeks of her life in the hospital. One day a nurse stopped Carol and told her that she could not get over how positive, upbeat and cheerful Carrie was even though she knew she was dying. It puzzled her so much that she asked Carrie how she managed to be that way. Carrie's response? "Every morning when I wake up I determine that I'm going to love my life today." That has really impacted me. If I take time to focus on the positive and love my life today, I will make a difference in my world.

I also read an article about a man in Toronto who, when going through a hard time, began a website on which he posts positive thoughts every day. This gentleman now has a huge following and his site gets thousands of hits. He has had feedback from people who have been encouraged by his focus on the things he has to be thankful for or which are good in life.

When I was a teenager if I made the mistake of complaining to my mother about something that I did not have but thought I needed, she would always remind me that I was better off than many other people. I always put that in the same category as the comment about eating up my supper because there were starving children in Africa. What did that have to do with me? As an adult, I understand what Mum was trying to help me see. There may be many people who have bigger, better, brighter stuff than me but there are many more who have less, much less than me. Even so, I have a LOT to be thankful for.

I have often been challenged by the Bible verse in Philippians 4:11 which says:

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

I have learned that taking the time to be thankful for what I have goes a long way to making it possible to be content with what I have.

• When I don't take time to count my blessings, be thankful for all that is going right in my life, focus on the positive, I get discouraged, dissatisfied and delusional.

Delusional? Yes, delusional. When I ignore the blessings of my life, it's easy to fall into self pity and envy. Ever read the Berenstain Bears books? Remember the one where the kids got the "Gimme's"? (I love the green faced grimaces on the kids!) Sometimes I get to believing the ads that bombard me with the message that I deserve to have the luxuries they are promoting; it's my right to have the products they're hawking; if I don't get it now, I'm missing out. We live in a twisted world when fast food becomes a right, something I have to have and if I don't have it, then I have been ripped off.

Most days I can silence the pesky thoughts of being deprived of that which I deserve. It's really easy on the days when I have gone to the effort of counting my blessings but somewhat more difficult on the days when I have not.

When I simply cannot find my way out of my dissatisfaction and discouragement, I tend to consult my Bible because I know it is a source of Truth that will help to get me centred. I hang on to this Truth to help me fight my delusion.

God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. 2 Corinthians 9:8

That's a mathematical equation that excites me! Here's to every blessing I need and the ability to do good things for others.