OPEN LETTER

The following is a personal letter sent from a loving father to his growing daughter. It tells about life and the purpose of family.

Dearest Joanne,

Those beautiful quaking aspens that you've seen in the forest as we have driven along have one purpose in life. I would like to tell you about them because they remind me a lot of Mommy and you kids and me.

Those aspens are born and grown just to protect the spruce tree when it's born. As the spruce tree grows bigger and bigger, the aspens gradually grow old and tired and they even die after a while. But the spruce, which has had its tender self protected in its childhood, grows into one of the forest's most wonderful trees.

Now think about Mommy and me as aspens standing there quaking ourselves in the winds that blow, catching the cold snows of life, bearing the hot rays of the sun, all to protect you from those things until you are strong enough and wise enough to do them yourself. We aren't quaking from fear, but from the joy of being able to see your life develop and grow into a tall, straight woman.

Just like the spruce, you have almost reached the point where you don't need us much as you used to. Now you stand like the young spruce, a pretty, straight, young thing whose head is beginning to peep above the protection of Mommy and Daddy's watchfulness.

I'm telling you all this because from now on, a lot of what you eventually become--a lovely woman, a happy woman, and a brilliant, popular woman--depends on you.

You can't go through life being these things and at the same time frowning. You can't achieve these things and be grumpy. You have to grow so that your every deed and look reflect the glory that is now in your heart and soul.

Smile. Think right. Believe in God and His worldwide forest of men and women. It's up to you.

I love you,

Daddy

Written by Senator Barry Goldwater to his daughter on June 11, 1948

PUBLISHED

I've written many short stories and thousands of devotional, even have several books started, hundreds of pages. Finally I can say I am published. I submitted a devotion to Christian Devotions.com and they accepted it. It was published on March 11th, 2011. It's not like I made the top 10 author list or got a contract with Simon and Schuster, but to me it is a real victory. God is faithful and gracious to me in spite of my lack of faithfulness to Him. I'm so greatful for the blood of the Lamb. It covers all my lack.

Here is the site where you can read the devotion: http://christiandevotions.us/tag/bobbicraigmyle/

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WHAT GREATER LOVE

This post was written for last weekend's Spiritual Sunday, but the sign up program was not working, so I am entering this post this weekend. It is an example of true love and commitment in the face of adversity, just like God's love for us.

It was another morning, just like all the other mornings that had taken place over the last seven and a half years. Chet and Elaine had just finished their usual breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, a roll, and of course, coffee. They were making their way to the living room as they were expecting the Covington's over for a brief time of chatting and catching up on the things that went on since their last get together.


Let's go back to four hours earlier that morning, just to help you understand the significance of the event that was about to take place on this particular morning.


Chet was up at his usual time, 4:30 a.m. He stretched his lanky arms as he walked down the hallway to the kitchen where the coffee pot sat waiting. Chet had carefully laid out 2 cups along with the creamer and sugar bowls. He poured himself a cup of coffee and filled the creamer making sure it was ready. He made his way back to the bathroom to complete his morning shower routine, but Chet never put on the clothes he intended to wear for the day. He put on a long sleeved cotton robe that zipped up the front. After his last sip of his first cup of coffee, he reached for the latex gloves from the box lying on the top shelf. Chet was ready to start the day with his beautiful bride of 53 years.

Entering Elaine's room had become somewhat bittersweet for Chet. But he faithfully went through the steps of a regimen that only love could withstand. Elaine was awake but not quite aware of Chet's presence. He softly called out her name so as not to startle her. "Elaine, sweetheart, it's me, Chet."
With only movement of her arms and no reply, Chet went over and began removing the soiled nightgown that had caught the overflow of the disposable undergarment. This was a particularly rough night for Elaine as her bowels seemed to work overtime and the entire bed was covered with the foul waste, as were her hands and face. Chet sponged off what he could and got her to the shower.

There, he gently washed her gaunt, wrinkled body until she was fresh and clean. After he patted her dry with the softest of towels he saved for her use, he helped her to the seat where he could get her dressed. She wasn't combatant this morning as she was some mornings. Chet was greatful for that. He picked out the light blue dress with the little purple flowers because he knew that was Elaine's favorite dress to wear when she was socializing. After he put on her fresh disposable undergarment and the rest of those regular "women's things" Chet slipped on that dress on Elaine, stepped back and gazed at her as if she were a lovely painting. He said to her, "Elaine, you look so beautiful today. As beautiful as ever."

By now, Chet had learned how to fix Elaine's hair much the way she had fixed it herself. She was always one for simplicity, so it was not difficult to replicate. Never, never, never, would Elaine be seen by others without her make up on. That was just something she felt very strongly about. So, Chet set about to powder her nose and chin, topped with a hint of blush. A little mascara and a stroke or two on the eyebrows. Chet whispered that he still had the most beautiful bride in the world.

Elaine sat in her wheelchair, while Chet sang her favorite song, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," and began cleaning up the night's mess. He sang and whistled the tune. Every once in a while, he would call out to Elaine and tell her how much he loved her. Chet did this even though his only response was a glassy stare. When the bedroom was once again ready for another night, and he was properly dressed himself, Chet took Elaine strolling down the hall singing and humming bringing her to the kitchen table. Elaine sat motionless while Chet made them breakfast.

They made their way into the living room that was all dusted and proper. Chet helped Elaine out of the wheelchair and into her favorite stuffed living room chair near the sofa. About that time, the doorbell rang. It was the Covington's who had come to visit. Opening the door, Chet smiled and invited their long time friends into the room. Mr. Covington began the conversation and said to Chet, "Well, Chet, my friend, how has the good Lord been treating you?"

Chet gave a genuine grin and replied, "Oh, the good Lord has surely blessed us with another beautiful day to be together and spend time with friends." So they wiled away the hour with musings and news as they had so many times over the years.

- Bobbi J. Craigmyle, Psy.D.
February, 2011

                                                                                         

"Beloved, let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone who loveth is born of God and knoweth God." 1 John 4:7

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

"Now the three of these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate." John 19:4-6

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THE CLOTHESLINE

THE BASIC RULES FOR CLOTHESLINES (if you don't know what clotheslines are, better skip this)




I always wondered where my Mom got the rules for hanging clothes. That is the way she made me hang them. Funny, you have to be a certain age to appreciate this, but I can hear my mamma now!




1. You had to wash the clothes line before hanging any clothes- walk the entire lengths of each line with a damp cloth around the lines.


2. You had to hang the clothes in a certain order, and always hang "whites" with "whites," and hang them first. Longer, heavier things in the back. Shorter things in the front so the wind could blow through it all.


3. You never hung a shirt by the shoulders - always by the tail! What would the neighbors think? Pin lightly on the seams.


4. Wash day on a Monday! . . Never hang clothes on the weekend, or Sunday, for Heaven's sake!


5. Hang the sheets and towels on the outside lines so you could hide your "unmentionables" in the middle (perverts & busybodies, y'know!)


6. It didn't matter if it was sub zero weather . .. Clothes would "freeze-dry."


7. Always gather the clothes pins when taking down dry clothes! Pins left on the lines were "tacky!"


8. If you were efficient, you would line the clothes up so that each item did not need two clothes pins, but shared one of the clothes pins with the next washed item.


9. Clothes off the line before dinner time, neatly folded in the clothes basket, and ready to be ironed.


10. IRONED?! Well, that's a whole other subject!




A POEM


A clothesline was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by.
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.


It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.


For then you'd see the "fancy sheets"
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table cloths"
With intricate designs.


The line announced a baby's birth
From folks who lived inside -
As brand new infant clothes were hung,
So carefully with pride!


The ages of the children could
So readily be known
By watching how the sizes changed,
You'd know how much they'd grown!


It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,>
Haphazardly were strung.


It also said, "Gone on vacation now"
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare!


New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way . . .


But clotheslines now are of the past,
For dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess!


I really miss that way of life
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best >
By what hung on the line!
                                          - Unknown Author

THE BEST THINGS TO GIVE

The best things to give:






To your friend --- loyalty


To your enemy --- forgiveness


To your boss --- service


To a child --- a good example


To your parents --- gratitude and devotion


To your wedded mate --- love and faithfulness


To all men --- charity


To God --- your life

Author Unknown

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CURSE GOD AND DIE!

This weekend, I wanted to do something for Spiritual Sundays on this blog. I have 4 different daily devotional applications on my phone and one of them this morning struck me as something I should share with my blog friends and visitors. I'm so painfully aware of how easy it is to give up when life seems to have taken everything good away and there is nothing left but misery and hopelessness. Jesus tells us about this in the Gospel of St. John: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." NIV

This devotion is taken from the devotion called Today. It was written by Norm Prenger. I pray that the Lord will speak to you through His Holy Spirit so that you may be comforted, encouraged, and able to do likewise to those who may need it. God bless, Dr. Bobbi

CURSE GOD AND DIE

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Job 2:9


My heart goes out to Job’s wife. She lost so much—beautiful sons and daughters, a substantial lifestyle, her security and dignity. Now her husband was covered in terrible sores and mumbling praises to God with ash-covered lips. Job’s own skin had become for her a living canvas depicting life’s cruelty and religion’s futility. Something inside of her snapped.


She is not alone. It’s ironic, but many folks drift away from faith in God for one of two reasons: life can be either too pleasant or too painful. Both ways of experiencing life can lead us to forget our Creator. A life of ease can lead to laziness, and a life of pain can lead to bitter despair. Satan is happy when we experience either outcome.


The gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t promise a life of ease. It’s not some sort of spiritual painkiller to take away suffering. In fact, to embrace the truth can mean embracing even more pain—for Jesus’ sake. Leaving behind lives that are built around sin and selfishness will feel like dying. But death won’t have the last word.


Dear woman, look again at your husband, Job. See in his suffering a hint of the coming suffering of your Savior. See in Job’s faithfulness to God, despite so much suffering, an expression of the integrity of faith to which we are all called. All is not lost, and all can be forgiven.


Prayer


Lord, forgive us when we give in to despair. We trust the One who endured the cross for love’s better day. With him, may we let it all go into our Father’s hands. Amen.




Norm Prenger

http://thisistoday.com/archives/curses-into-blessings-2011-01-08/

Galatians 2:20

CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE

Yesterday morning was one of those normal mornings. After my 3rd cup of coffee I gathered myself together and trotted off to the shower.

Let me backtrack just a bit. Over the weekend I had put together several Daily Grace devotions and one of them was using the scripture from Psalm 118:24, "This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." In the devotion I talked about how this day is a gift and there are many who did not receive the gift of today. Because we have the gift of today, we can experience many new things and watch the wonderful working of God. That is certainly something to be happy about.

Back to my shower story: As I was stepping out of the shower I looked at myself in the huge wall sized mirror that hangs over my vanity. As usual, my initial response is "ugh." Looking at my 60 year old body sort of does something to the female ego inside me and it isn't good.

But something was different this day as I looked at my time worn body. I began to feel greatful that I was healthy. I can walk, get in the floor with the grandchildren, use both my hands and arms. All five senses work and I have fairly good use of my brain and thought processes. Most of all, I have the Lord to guide me and protect me.

After thinking these things, which took only a few moments, I began to thank the Lord for that 60 year old body I was looking at in the mirror. I had been putting down this body for so long because it didn't look like the body it did 40 years ago. The Lord brought the devotion from Psalm to my mind and instead of saying, "Ugh!" I spoke out loud, "This is the body that Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad with it."

I can't begin to describe the burden that lifted off me and the blessing and joy I felt as I realized what a gift I have. No, I'm not going to be seeking a chance to be America's next top model, but I'm going to give what I have back to the Lord in service and rejoice in what He has given to me.