Soft Happiness

 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." ~ Romans 12:15

Art saw the young man almost every day hiking along the road with his pearl-colored dog.  When cars passed, he always made eye contact and waved enthusiastically.   

Joshua had special needs, having been born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that resulted in cognitive and behavioral issues which included an insatiable hunger.  Yet, he had the kind of smile that made you feel happy to be alive and just a little bit more human.

One rainy day Art spotted him and asked if he could use a ride.  Joshua replied timidly, "I'm not really going anywhere, just walkin'.  Thanks anyway Mister!"  

“Son, if you ever need a ride or want help, just flag me down.  I’ll do whatever I can,” Art explained.  Thanking Art again, Joshua continued on his way.

A few days later Art saw the boy walking alone.  Lacking his usual smile, the boy paced aimlessly.  Joshua recognized Art and frantically flagged him down.

As Art approached, he could a sadness in the boy’s eyes.  "My best friend just passed away.  Fighting through tears, “He just didn’t wake up this morning.”

The two headed back to Joshua’s house, an old farmhouse with a spacious porch where the dog lay motionless.  "There!  There he is, that's Randy!" he wailed.  

Art checked the animal and explained that Randy had gone to heaven.  “You won't see him anymore but he'll still be in your heart.”  

Art found some old barnwood, made a marker and helped bury him.  Part of him shared the boy’s pain too.

“Randy was never intended to be Joshua's special companion, but rather a family pet,” explained Joshua’s Mom.  “But the dog immediately took to him.  He just seemed to know there was something unique about Josh and they went everywhere together – even to school.  If Josh was upset or feeling a bit lonely, Randy would jump onto his lap and lick his blues away.  It's like he knew right away how to comfort Josh."

Driving home, Art remembered that a colleague’s female dog had given birth to several puppies recently.  One of them was the spitting image of old Randy himself.  When told of the situation, Art’s friend gave up the little furball immediately.

Art and the pup drove to Joshua’s house.  The boy must have spotted Art driving up the driveway and immediately rushed out to greet him.  When Art opened the door, the small dog barreled out of the car. "Randy!  You came back to me!" the boy said with tears of joy.

God works in such magnificent ways!  Let the joys of small things bring a soft happiness, a sense akin to gratitude and wonder.  Then, when you have won that balance of the soul, you can help others be happy too.

“With a grateful heart, with a song of praise, with an outstretched arm, I will bless Your name.  For all You've done in our lives, we just wanna say thank You Lord.” ~ Don Moen

Living in the Moment

 “Be still, and know that I am God." ~ Psalm 46:10

I’ll never be able to walk into my Mother’s home and be greeted by her warm embrace.  The phone number I called for 50+ years is no longer in service.  I’ll never smell the sweet aroma of freshly baked peach pie wafting from her kitchen sanctuary again.  These thoughts alone bring tears to my eyes, but she’s still very much alive; just living in sort of an alternate universe. 

I said a quick prayer when we arrived at the memory care center where Mom now lives.  I glanced at my 5-year-old son, Jason, engrossed in the photo album he’d insisted on bringing along.  He has autism, and although I’d reminded him that his grandma might not be as interested in the photos as he was, I couldn’t be sure that he understood.

Clutching the album, he sprung from the car toward the building’s entrance and marched in.  We hadn’t crossed the lobby when my senses were assailed by the smell of disinfectants.

“Mmm, hamburgers,” Jason noted, sniffing the air as if at a barbecue.

We passed the nurses’ station and Jason lead us to Mom’s room where she was napping as usual.  We tiptoed past her dresser, decorated with a collection of family pictures.  I felt sad thinking of how little meaning those images had for her now.

She woke - startled confusion in her eyes : “Who is this little boy?” they questioned.  Unfazed, Jason climbed onto her lap and opened his photo album.  Mom smiled briefly.

He pointed to pictures of my husband, our children and me.  But when he shared pictures of his beloved, cockapoo, Annie, his grin became contagious.  Mom’s smile turned to laughter.  Her response made little sense, but his grandma was happy – that’s all he needed.

I became known as the “the mother of the boy.”  But no matter, she knew who I was and I thanked God for that special moment. 

I looked at my son, battling his own cognitive challenges, and Mom slowly losing the fight against hers.  They snuggled, delighted in both pictures and each other, connecting on perhaps some unique yet parallel cosmos. 

The peace I so badly needed suddenly enveloped me.  I’d been worried about Jason understanding what was happening to his grandma.  Yet I was the one who didn’t understand.

I smelled the nursing home odors.  He smelled hamburgers.

I grieved for the mother I had known.  He loved the grandma who was here now.

I pulled up a stool next to them and basked in the joy they shared so effortlessly.  The positive memories flowed unrestrained; good and nourishing, supportive and kind.  I’ll Iet the sad ones wander off on their own and encourage the good ones to blossom and flourish.

Heavenly Father, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don’t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity.  Amen

The Best is Yet to Come

"Be careful what you think, because your thoughts will dictate your life." ~ Proverbs 4:23

Eileen, an eldercare aide at the Oxford Assisted Living Home, lowered Ruth into the therapy pool for her strengthening exercises.  The 88-year-old was giddy with excitement as heated water greeted her.  Of all the seniors at Oxford, Ruth was a favorite among her peers and caretakers because of her infectious positive attitude.

After an energetic session in the pool, Ruth wrapped herself in a warm towel.  Her eyes twinkled brightly like a child observing a winter snowfall for the first time.

She leaned into Eileen and spoke softly, “I’m building strength in my legs so I can walk without my walker again one day.”  Her voice was full of hope.  Ruth continued outlining her plans as Eileen listened intently.

“To me,” Ruth continued, "life’s a glorious kaleidoscope; an evolving pattern of shapes and colors.  I’ve accumulated a mountain of memories, but I’m not just an old lady reliving her past and waiting for my time to expire.  It’s never too old to dream: the best is yet to come.” 

Eileen immediately felt both inspired and ashamed.  She began reflecting on her negative outlook on life; especially the constant ingratitude of her current stock. 

Here was an aspirant octogenarian planning for the future, while Eileen, a healthy 30-something female was spending too much time dwelling on the simplicity of her past: no mortgage, no waking up to go to work every day, and on and on.  How pathetic she thought to herself.

When responsibilities and hardships confront us, having the right attitude to keep pushing forward is essential to our mental health and success in life.  It’s easy to shrink back into simpler times when faced with setbacks, thinking to ourselves that the good days are long gone. 

The problem with living in the joys of the past is that we become more skeptical of the future.  Once you’re holed up in that perpetual state, the future becomes discouraging, depressing, even desperate while holding on to the elixir of yesteryear. 

Are the best days of your life behind or in front of you?  Our outlook on life - and our answer to that question - can change with time.  When we’re younger, we look ahead, wanting to grow up. And once we’ve grown older, we yearn for the past, wanting to be young again.  But when we walk with God, whatever our age, the best is yet to come!

Each of us has a finite time on this earth.  So, go ahead and reminisce about the good old times.  But as long as your clock hasn’t hit zero, there’s still hope for a brighter future ahead; days full of laughter and joy.  Beautiful memories and new experiences await you every single day.

Dear Lord, thank You for filling my future with heavenly blessings.  Remind me that You’re saving the best for last – when there’s no more death, sorrow, or pain.  A glorious celebration awaits those who totally trust in You!  Amen

The Second Arrow

 “Take nothing for granted; be thoughtful in prayer." ~ 1 Peter 4:7

Jackson rushed around, particularly anxious to get to work today when WHAM, he stubbed his toe on the solid, immovable patio table.  Sharp pain dropped him deck.  “I don’t have time for this!” he shrieked, clutching his throbbing toe. 

“I’m such a clumsy idiot; this always happens to me.”  Inspecting his darkening toenail, Jackson realized it wouldn’t fit into his dress shoes.  “I’m not even going to be able to wear shoes today, and I have a presentation to give, it’s going to be a disaster.  I’ll be hobbling around all day.  I’ll probably look like a fool in front of my colleagues.”

Toni, his wife, overheard him moaning.  She cocked her head playfully and gently asked, "Do you really need to shoot the second arrow?"

Jackson’s brow furrowed; feeling a mixture of confusion and curiosity.  "What's the second arrow?" he asked.

She spoke deliberately, relishing the opportunity to share her Eastern wisdom.  “Buddhists say that any time we suffer misfortune, two arrows fly.  The first arrow is the actual bad event, which can, indeed, cause pain.  The second arrow is the suffering.  That's actually optional.  The second arrow represents our reaction to the bad event.  It's the manner in which we chose to respond emotionally.”

“We get to choose?” he questioned.

“In essence, yes!”  she responded.  “Consider this alternate scenario.  “Sharp pain drops you to the floor.  Through the tears you let out a little chuckle about your miserable, but painful situation.  You inspect your toe and realize you’ll need to wear sandals to work today.  Jokingly you add that ‘Casual Friday is coming early this week!’ before hobbling to the closet.”

“As soon as we realize we’re suffering, we can give ourselves some compassion for that first arrow (pain).  Most of us have some sort of low-level hum of frustration running in the background.  Ask yourself ‘Do I really need to shoot a second arrow?'  If you choose to shoot it, you may be trying to extinguish whatever just happened by layering on some sort of negative story about how the situation defines our character.”

Friends, if you’re like me, the Arrow #1 represents things I can’t control about life: illness, old age, the slow guy in line in front of me at the grocery store ...

Arrow #2 arrow is the tension I create around the pain: whining about having the flu, hating my thinning, gray hair, firing imaginary laser daggers at the elderly guy unloading his shopping cart one … apple … at … a time.

Prayer is the ultimate stress reliever.  There’s nothing better than giving your problems, stressors, and anxiety to God.  Giving it up to God isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding.  He wants your problems.  He wants you to rely on Him for help.

Almighty Father, forgive me for trying to fix my situations all on my own.  Forgive me for running in different directions and spinning my wheels to find help, when true help and healing must be found first in You.  Amen

Salty Dog

 “God arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." ~ 2 Samuel 22:31

After glaucoma robbed Omar Rivera of his eyesight 14 years ago, the 43-year-old continued to work for the NY Port Authority as a senior systems designer.  His office sat on the 71^st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower.

On that now-fateful September day in 2001, he and his trusty companion Salty, arrived for work early.  Salty, a yellow Lab, became Rivera's guide dog just a few years before.  At 8:45 a.m., Rivera printed documents to prep for his meeting.

Salty sat calmly beside his desk when they both heard a deafening noise which seemed to rattle the building 22 floors above.  Salty (his olfactory senses 40 times greater than human’s), instantly smelled smoke, peaking his ‘warning’ instincts.

As the electricity shut down and panic set in, Salty could have fled and escaped to save himself.  But there was no way he would his owner behind.  Pacing with a sense of urgency, Salty seemed to be implying, “I’m with you, no matter what!  We need to get to the stairwell NOW!”

Omar snatched up his dog’s lead; Salty led him to the crowded stairwell.  Salty had always loved the city’s fast pace; possessing an uncanny ability to navigate through crowds and cut open a pathway.  For Salty, subways, crowded Manhattan sidewalks, escalators, and revolving doors were no problem.  Despite all the chaos, 9/11 was just another normal day on the job for him.

Given Omar’s condition however, they weren’t making much progress climbing down the stairs.  Believing his loyal K-9 might have a better chance of surviving without him, he unclipped Salty’s leash telling him to go and save himself.

But Salty refused to leave his master’s side.  Spiraling down the emergency stairs, he worked methodically through heat, smoke, falling debris, and confusion.  At floor 30, firemen began climbing up past them, loaded with equipment; unaware of the dangers above.  Most would not return alive.

The faithful dog successfully guided Rivera down 70 floors into the lobby where they were met by fire fighters and FBI agents helping survivors out the main doors.  They were just 3 blocks away when the tower collapsed, killing 1,466 people.

For his bravery, Salty received the Dickin Medal, the animal metaphorical equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award given for valor to members of the British Armed Forces.  The citation that read, "For dutifully remaining at the side of his blind owner, courageously leading them down 70 floors of the World Trade Center and to a place of safety following the terrorist attack on New York on September 11, 2001.”

Omar retired Salty from guide service in 2007.  He lived out his remaining years by sleeping late and chasing tennis balls.  Salty passed away in 2008, at the tender age of 13.

God of all living things, bring the wisdom of Your animal kingdom into our home.  We call upon the power and the glory of Your holy wisdom to treat this loved one as a holy child  of Yours.  Amen

Ever the Beauty

 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." ~ Psalm 19:1

A dear friend sent me a card in the mail today.  On the outside of the card was a Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park on the eastern foothills of the Qilian Mountains in Gansu, China.  The geological park has a spectacular Danxia (/dan-sshyaa/ ‘red cloud’) landform area that covers about 19 square miles.  A masterpiece of nature, the colorful mountain ridges resemble an inverted palette from heaven. 

The inside verse read “Beauty will save the world.”  It brought a smile to my face and to my heart as I considered all the beauty of this world.

I thought about the soulful melodies of summertime cicadas, butterflies dancing in a twirl of color, and the dedication and teamwork of tiny ants.

It made me think of brilliant, jagged bolts of lightning against a graphite sky, spiking silently to an unsuspecting ground - its thunderous warning always too late.

The forest comes to mind - its orchestra playing one enchanting symphony after another.  Her leaves dance to a silent rhythm, whispering their songs to the wind.

Everyone loves the serenity of a desert sunset, but sunrises filling the skies with shades of peach and magenta, amber and rose, radiate hope, a fresh start, another chance to live.

I thought of the endless variety of animals from humble beetles to enchanting birds of every color, from beluga whales to red pandas; from chameleons in disguise to blinking lightening bugs; from cheetahs to sloths – each unique and spectacular in their own way.

And as I remembered the deafening roar of Niagara’s waterfall, the sweet smell of jasmine and honeysuckle, and the overpowering magnificence of the Grand Canyon, shots of adrenaline rushed straight to my soul.

Yet, I knew that it wasn’t the splendor of any of these things that could save our world.  Instead, it was the beauty of human souls - so full of love for God, for each other, and for all He created that would save our planet.  It’s His love working through wonderful, caring people that will transform our world into the place God intended it to be.

The friend who sent me this card is one of these people.  She, her husband and their dying son face many struggles right now.  Still, she continues to share her love and God’s grace every single day.  Her shining example makes God smile, Heaven sing and the Angels rejoice.

Focus on silver linings.  Count your blessings.  Smell the roses – these are not clichés.  The health benefits of practicing gratitude are wide-ranging - and maybe even a bit surprising: improves your immune system, lowers your risk of mental health issues and increases your tendency for exercise, healthier diets and more rewarding connections with others.  If you believe it you can achieve it!

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below.  Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”  Amen  ~ Thomas Ken 1709

A Dad's Love

 “Whoever follows Me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” ~ John 8:12

Satyana knew of her biological father, but wanted nothing to do with him.  He bailed before she took her first steps.  Negligent.

Not many men would take on a relationship with a single mom and a three-year-old daughter, but Sanjay did!  He was the only dad she’d ever known.  Honorable. 

He never missed a birthday, holiday, or family gathering.  His family accepted them with arms wide open; his family easily became their family.

He cheered for her at every sporting event.  The term, “rub some dirt in it, kid,” would inspire her forever; this she reminded her own kids when they got knocked down.

Satyana learned responsibility from the chores he gave her.  He taught her to take accountability for her actions.  When she showed immaturity and selfishness, he gently corrected her.  Sanjay even embarrassed her in front of her friends - like dad’s do.

Sanjay was the Best Man in Satyana’s wedding.  Her youngest son shares his name.

Now as he lay dying, she realized that perhaps the only person who could see her through this kind of grief was never going to call again.  They would never go out for breakfast again and swap stories about their lives.  She’d never get to hear his laugh again.

“It’s crazy,” she thought, “how many features they shared physically and mentally; almost as if that had always been God’s plan.  He helped shape her values, morals, and Christian faith.

Her mother’s soft voice broke the silence.  “There’s something he wanted to ask of you,” she said, retrieving some papers from her purse.

“He always wanted to, but we never had the extra money,” her voice choked with sincerity.  “He repeatedly apologized for not having done it sooner, and worried that you wouldn't want to, especially after all these years,” she hesitated.

“There’s no legal, social or other imperative to do this.  He just always wanted … to adopt you.”

Her mother waited desperately for Satyana’s reply.

Satyana had always questioned why her bio dad didn't want her or love her.  But being a dad to a girl who needed a father figure in her life would forever be more important than DNA.

“Dad,” she began, kissing his cheek lightly.  “In every storm you were my lighthouse, the direction in which to swim.  There were days I felt that I’d drown.  You couldn’t fashion a boat, or pull me from the waves, but your love was oxygen in my lungs … and that was enough.” 

“So, I thank you eternally for your light, for your graceful persistence.  Gratitude feels as such a tiny word, but then so is love.  Of course, I’d be honored to legally call you “Dad,” although I never thought of you as anything less.

Heavenly Father, in every storm You are my guiding light.  Thank You that nothing has taken You by surprise.  You know our journey better than we know it ourselves, and You will use this time for great things.  Amen