A Little Respect

"Honor one another above yourselves." ~ Romans 12:10

Lou (74) and his wife Ann were looking forward to a quiet dinner at Cracker Barrel, enjoying its southern charm and homestyle cooking. A proud veteran, Lou wore his U.S. Navy cap, symbolizing his Vietnam-era service.

While they were being seated, Lou noticed a table nearby with five young men. Although not in uniform, he recognized their “high and tight” military haircuts. They noticed him too, and were about to make this evening memorable for Lou and Ann.

Once they’d ordered, one of the men came over and stood at Lou’s table. Lou stood up, coming face-to-face with the guy who thrust his hand out in Lou’s direction. “Your cap drew our attention. Thank you from all of us,” he said, motioning for the other four to join him at Lou’s table.

One by one, each of the others walked to the table and expressed deep respect for Lou’s service and the sacrifices he made during his active duty. Their gratitude was genuine and heartfelt. For the restaurant’s patrons, it was a touching sight; young servicemen paying reverence to a veteran from decades ago. Their actions spoke volumes about the bond that exists among those who serve and those who will carry the torch into the future.

Moved by their empathy and sincerity, Lou smiled humbly, grateful for the sincerity of their recognition. Ann watched proudly as these young soldiers showed such politeness and admiration for her husband.

When Lou and Ann finally requested their check, the waiter informed them that it had already been taken care of. The Marines had secretly paid for their meal. Across the top of it, one of them wrote “Semper Fi” and “Oorah!” at the bottom. Their kind gesture left the couple speechless.

Daubing away silent tears, Lou watched as the young Marines got up to leave. But before walking out the door, all five lined up near the exit and waited.

As Lou walked past them, they snapped to attention and raised their arms in a precise military salute as a gesture of respect and a sign of comradeship.

The restaurant fell silent as the patrons watched this touching farewell, a collective appreciation for Lou’s service and the sacrifices made by veterans everywhere. Few groups deserve our appreciation and respect more than those who’ve served in the U.S. military.

Veterans and their families have made huge sacrifices, shaping the course of our nation's history,  protecting our freedoms, and shaping our future - all while facing their own personal challenges.

No duty is more urgent than acknowledging what our veterans have done for us all. Advocating for improved health/wellness support, the elimination of homelessness, and providing better job training/career opportunities are just some ways to show your support. But, as Lou remembers, even small gestures can make a lasting impact.

God of peace,  we come before you full of gratitude for all our veterans who’ve selflessly fought for our country and those who stand ready to defend our freedoms today. We thank them for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication. Amen

Ridin' the Storm Out

 “Trust God always, pour out your hearts to Him, for He is our refuge." ~ Psalm 62:8

Imagine falling into the middle of Lake Michigan in November wearing a full-length alpine parka. Unless rescued immediately, you might not survive the frigid water and extra weight.

Now, imagine a delicate monarch butterfly searching for nectar in a meadow on a humid July afternoon. Unexpectedly, a fast-moving thunderstorm brings damaging winds, large raindrops, and damaging hail, which presents a severe risk of their demise.

According to Scientific American, the average monarch weighs less than one gram. A raindrop striking a monarch at high speed would be equivalent to humans being pelted by water balloons with twice the weight of bowling balls.

Additionally, overcast skies limit their ability to gather the solar radiation needed to fly. Butterflies can’t fly when temperatures are under 55 degrees, which is why monarch butterflies migrate to southern locations in the winter and others hibernate until warmer weather.

Knocked from the air by raindrops, butterflies face the dual threat of crashing with broken wings and an inability to warm their body enough to take flight.

Butterflies’ wings, while extremely delicate, boast a natural armor of micro-bumps and a wax layer that scatters and minimizes the damage caused by rain. But, when the skies darken, its primary defense favors sheltering to ride out the storm.

Their feet have remarkable grip strength. They cling to the undersides of leaves or inanimate objects like hanging baskets. Tall grasses, rock crevices, hollow trees, caves, and other nocturnal homes also make suitable shelters.

There they ride out the storm by huddling with folded wings until sunlight returns; another of Mother Nature’s brilliant lessons.

Constant battering during the storms in our lives can damage or destroy us, too. A wide range of emotions can leave us soaking in the rain: bitter, angry, confused, vulnerable, hopeless. If you can relate, you might even feel guilty for having them. Life’s turbulent times may cause us to run toward God, but they can cause us to withdraw from Him just as easily.

Like butterflies, we have two choices: get drenched in the rain or seek shelter. We must find ways to rest during our storms, even when rest feels impossible. We need the type of rest that simply lets us relax and feel our emotions. We need rest that rejuvenates us, rest that allows us to let go for just a while. We need the kind of rest only He can consistently provide.

So, lean in and rest in His shelter. Tell Him in prayer how you feel and leave your emotions with Him. As you do, you'll start to feel His nearness, His promise, and His comfort. He loves you and will consistently and constantly be your shelter from all storms.

Lord, hear my prayer; my heart is faint. When there‘s chaos all around me, I know I can depend on You to remain beside me. Thank You for Your loving presence and for sheltering me in every storm. Amen

Every Day's a Gift

 “Whoever hears His word and believes Him has eternal life." ~ John 5:24

After nine heart surgeries in his 17 years, Riley has come to grips with his body being too fragile to survive a heart transplant. The teen was born with Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) heterotaxy syndrome, a rare, abnormal heart condition that occurs once in about 10,000 live births worldwide.

In a normal heart, the pulmonary artery (which carries blood to the lungs for oxygen), connects to the right ventricle. The aorta branches off from your left ventricle and carries fresh, oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

For Riley, only half of his heart formed before birth. Both major arteries connect to the right ventricle (pumping chamber). His heart continuously pumps oxygen-poor blood through his body.

Poor weight gain, fatigue, and shortness of breath are frequent symptoms. Cyanosis gives his skin a bluish tint. He receives drugs to extend his life, but Riley and his parents have talked openly and accepted his severely reduced life expectancy.

Though his organs are failing, he has more heart and stronger faith than most others. “It's in God's hands now,” he declares. “Life is fragile, precious, and unpredictable. Every day’s a gift, not a right. I take nothing for granted.”

“It’s weird accepting your mortality at 16," he mused, "something kids my age ignore. I imagined myself getting married, raising a family, and growing old with them.“

“That’s been tough,” Riley admits. “People should stop wasting so much mental energy on the trivial stresses in life and try to remember that we all have the same fate.”

“Quit whining about minor annoyances. Listen to what God may be teaching you and move on with a laugh. It’s okay to acknowledge minor irritations without dwelling on them. But try not to carry on about them and wreck other people’s days.”

“I talk about death rather than treat it as a ‘taboo’ topic! I don’t want to go. I love my life. I owe my happiness to my loving family and friends. I’m fortunate in a way to realize that my finite time on earth offers me the chance to live boldly and unafraid.”

“Use your money on experiences. Don’t miss out on opportunities because you spent all your money on stupid, material stuff.”

“Life isn’t meant to be lived through an iPhone screen. Enjoy being in moments. Stop trying to capture them for everyone else.”

“Get up early sometimes. Listen to the birds while you watch the sun’s beauty as it rises.”

“Give, give, give. The real key to happiness is to make others happy. Since I’ve been sick, I’ve met the most incredibly giving and kind people… more than I can ever give in return.”

“Until we meet again, be kind. Always be kind!”

“Heavenly Father, my time is near, but I’m unafraid. I trust You, that I may enjoy eternal life in Your Kingdom. Help all who know and love me to accept Your gift and live each day with courage, faith, and peace.” ~ Riley

She Captures Love

 Here I am Lord, send me. I’m willing to serve You!" ~ Isaiah 6:8

They’d been missionaries in Europe for over a decade and firmly believed that to be their life’s calling. Then something occurred that wasn’t supposed to happen to a Pastor’s family. The oldest of their three teenage daughters became pregnant.

After returning stateside, Angela Forker thought her ministry days were over. But soon after her new grandson arrived, God revealed a new mission for the amateur landscape photographer.

She’d always had a heart for babies. She then mastered a new skill for photographing newborns, which she called the Precious Babies Project. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a successful business, where she creates whimsical scenes around infants through the magic of photography.

When a couple at her church found out that their baby would be born with life-threatening medical issues, they asked Angela to take pictures of their baby. Stepping into a world with no personal experience, Angela began to see the regret, pain, and remorse that special needs parents suffer.

Having professional photos of your baby is one of parenthood’s most prized perks, but largely out of reach if the child is born with a rare or serious disease. So, instead of trying to cover up Madalyn’s disabilities, Angela incorporated them into her work before the baby died 15 days after birth.

That seeded another idea. She could photograph medically fragile babies in ways that showed strength, potential, and love. Special equipment, like feeding tubes, wires, and helmets, could be woven into powerful imagery.  https://mymodernmet.com/angela-forker-precious-baby-project/

Inspired by photographer Adele Enersen, Angela has been staging the special portraits since 2017. The Indiana photographer prays over each child before spending up to 10 hours creating elaborate, individualized scenes, even longer making personally hand-sewn costumes.

She never seems to run out of ideas and has photographed a baby floating in the basket of a heart-shaped air balloon; a baby on safari with friendly giraffes; a baby making friends with a zebra, and a baby in a superhero pose with a feeding tube peeking out of her costume.

Her scene with the “Forget-Me-Not Fairy” is both sad and beautiful. Her parents were told their baby, Ellie Rose, would likely have less than a year on earth.

Angela created a scene that would help them remember Ellie’s shortened life forever. The little fairy sprinkles love that blooms into gorgeous roses and will never be forgotten.

She takes the baby's photos for free. Seeing the joy they bring to the babies and families makes it all worthwhile.

She’d originally wanted to go back to being an overseas missionary. When God told her He had something else in mind, she wrestled with Him in tears for days, before dutifully obeying His call and turning it into stories of hope. 

Loving God, help us not to turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to those who have special needs, but to reach out with love, grace, and care. Help us to be faithful representations of your character and your love. Amen

Forgive Me?

 “Forgive one another, just as God has forgiven you." ~ Ephesians 4:32

Samuel had just stepped away from the podium, recounting the tragic story that had taken the lives of his wife and two children nearly 20 years earlier. He’d shared the painful details of their final hour with the local chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving®).

His wife Etta waited to turn left from the highway’s center lane when an oversized GM Suburban rear-ended her, pushing her Ford Escort into oncoming traffic. The vehicle then struck several oncoming vehicles. In all, four vehicles were totaled almost beyond recognition.

Etta and their son, Tyrone, died instantly. Alex, their youngest son, was ejected from the car into a nearby drainage ditch. Witnesses rushed to the unconscious 7-year-old and remained with him until EMTs raced him to the hospital. He later died from multiple injuries.

Uninjured, the Suburban’s driver was charged with three counts of second-degree murder. At a news conference, the police chief revealed that his blood alcohol level was 4 times the legal limit, the highest ever recorded in the precinct.

Part of Samuel died that same day. His best friend, co-parent, bowling partner, and fellow traveler was gone in an instant. The emptiness of losing his two boys still left him angry and depressed.

Opportunities to share the crime’s impact upon himself, his friends, and the community offered some temporary relief from repressed emotions. For the offenders present in the crowd as part of their sentences, it emphasized that driving drunk was a choice that impacts many innocent people.

Just then, he recognized the man working his way forward as others left the auditorium. The man who’d destroyed his life had been released after serving 18 years of his 20-year prison sentence. He stopped directly in front of Samuel and extended a trembling hand.

“Can you forgive me?” he asked in a quavering voice.

The murderer could've stood there for seconds with his hand outstretched. To Samuel, it felt like hours while he wrestled with what to do next.

God’s forgiveness has one prior condition. To be forgiven ourselves, we must first forgive those who’ve injured us (Matthew 6:14).

Yet, he stood silent as bitterness gripped his heart. But forgiveness takes deliberate action; free will can function regardless of the heart’s temperature.

"Jesus, help me!" Samuel prayed silently. “I’ll lift my hand if you supply the genuine emotion."

Mechanically, Samuel offered his hand to be shaken. As he did, something incredible happened. The current started in his brain, raced down his arm, and sprang into their coupled hands. Tears flowed as a healing warmth flooded Samuel’s body.

"I forgive you, brother!" Samuel wept. "With all my heart!"

They hugged for a long moment, an embrace that bonded their souls forever. Never had Samuel felt God’s love so intensely before.

Lord, forgive those who’ve hurt me. Free me from the bitterness and anger, knowing that forgiveness is a gift You give to me. Teach me to find understanding and compassion for their actions and heal the pain that’s crippling them. Amen

Full Ride

 “Defend the rights of the poor and the orphans." ~ Psalm 82:3

When the Jones children lost their mother a few years ago, a disabled grandfather began raising the seven kids. They lived in what the government called a “high-poverty environment.”

Studies show that students in these schools do worse on standardized tests, are more likely to be chronically absent, and are less likely to graduate on time… if at all.

Yeatman-Liddell Middle School in St. Louis consistently ranks among the lowest-performing middle schools in Missouri. The school enrolls 99% impoverished kids like eighth grader, Xavier Jones. Only 1% of his peers scored at or above proficiency levels for reading. Math scores were even worse.

Xavier was an exception. Graduating with a 4.0 GPA, he couldn’t wait to accept his eighth-grade diploma in a ceremony held at the historically black Harris-Stowe State University in May 2023.

One hurdle remained. Xavier’s only means of transportation, his grandfather's car, wasn't working.

So, despite his sickle cell anemia, he started walking the 6.5-mile route, winding through tough neighborhoods and busy traffic.  At one point, Xavier (14) considered turning around and telling the school to mail his certificate. But the honor of walking across the stage and receiving it personally after years of hard work was worth the trek.

Enlisting his brother and a friend for company, the trio battled scorching heat from north St. Louis to midtown. Along the way, a kind stranger offered them a bottle of water to share. They arrived just in time to receive his diploma and a standing ovation.

The University’s President, Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, was so impressed by Xavier’s grit and determination that she decided to take a few steps of her own. She awarded Xavier with a “full-ride scholarship, on the spot, that will cover four years of tuition, books, and fees (a future value of nearly $70,000), not including books.

“We at HSSU prefer to find students like Jones, who are better measured by how far they've come. Xavier is exactly that kind of person.”

“Our students have typically had to overcome overwhelming obstacles,” she added. “This young man has the tenacity and perseverance that many adults are missing. He’s an inspiration. His story will encourage others to keep pushing forward and crush the odds stacked against them.”

After his story started circulating, the middle school grad was also surprised with two new forms of transportation. Miami Dolphins star Terron Armstead and several teammates presented Xavier with a new $5,000 electric bike and his family a $40,000 minivan.

Jones still has four years of high school to process that HSSU scholarship offer. Until then, he plans to keep up his already excellent grades and keep stoking that fire in his belly. And he offers two pieces of advice for his classmates: “Stay in school… do your best!

Father God, thank You not only for Your countless blessings but for the challenges that draw us nearer to You. Thank You for the difficult moments when You gave us the strength to push forward with confidence in Your love and shelter. Amen

The Language of Flowers

 “Consider the wildflowers, no one is dressed as beautifully as they are." ~ Luke 12:27

The last night of her mother’s life, she seemed resigned and poetic. Her bout with leukemia was nearing its final curtain. “Is there anything bolder than a meadow of spring wildflowers?” Randi’s Mom opined. “That mixture of symmetry and chaos was worthy of Monet’s palette, a bouquet of perfect petals all wedded to the whimsical nature of wind, birds, and bees.”

The last year for 46-year-old Randi had been a blizzard of hospital visits, endless discussions with doctors, and the agonizingly slow descent of her mother's health. The storm had passed late last fall, and all that remained was the quiet, lingering sorrow.

Randi had struggled with what to do with her mother's ashes. She considered burying them in the park, scattering some in each of the Great Lakes, or keeping them in a decorative urn.

Her fingers traced the smooth, cool surface of the walnut box containing her mother’s cremains. Randi had also mixed some of the cremation ash into the lawn outside her home. Her Mom, the woman who had always been her rock, her confidante, her everything, would always be nearby.

As she sat outside on this warm spring morning, enjoying her favorite coffee on the patio, she noticed tiny fragments of color emerging from the grass where she’d scattered her mother’s ashes. Over the next weeks, what appeared first as delicate blooms amid an expanse of green lifted courageously like random bursts of golden sunlight - fiery oranges, vibrant yellows, and hints of red.

Marigolds that hadn’t been planted! A Google search led her to a website that stated:

“In the Victorian Flower Oracle, Calendula (Marigolds) represent sympathy... marking the death of a sweet soul. When the ‘Wheel of Life’ turns, we often need support from people who understand that even with faith, sadness lingers. The Marigold offers the light of hope for those left behind – there is no end, just a new season for the soul.”

Victorians (those who lived during the Victorian era from 1837 to 1901) were highly creative. The language of flowers became a way of sending messages in subtle, discreet ways. They began publishing “flower dictionaries” that explained the correlation between plants and their meanings. This language of flowers soon earned the term floriography.

For example, roses became a symbol of love, violets meant modesty, lilies of the valley symbolized trustworthiness, and poppies represented sleep. A lone flower often symbolized pure innocence.

Randi’s Mom had sent her a coded message from beyond, perhaps the poetic equivalent of “Stop and smell the roses!” without speaking a word. This centuries-old symbolic language suggested she be patient as she healed and consider more deeply that which is small, delicate, and beautiful.

Father God, thank You for the healing power of flowers. Help us to find comfort in their vibrant colors and fragrant scents, and remember the joy we shared. We adore You for this gentle reminder of Your love and peace." Amen