happy memories

Last Friday the kids were all here for supper so we could celebrate Tim's birthday. We had such a wonderful time catching up with what has been going on in our lives and just general chit chat. After supper we gave Tim his cards and gifts and sang the traditional "happy birthday".

I'm not even sure how it got started, but we got to talking about "way back when" stories. We laughed a lot remembering funny stories about each of the kids and it was interesting to see how the same event can be seen so differently by the individuals involved. Some stories the kids shared were brand new to Tim and me.

The neat thing was a lot of the memories that were brought up didn't take place on some vacation or huge event. It was the every day moments that have made an impression of how we lived. It tells me my children saw that I valued each day with them -

whether we were on vacation or at home,

played a game or went to the grocery store,
worked on homework or baked cookies,

did laundry or read a book,

talked about serious topics or were silly...

Whatever we did, we just lived life together. What happy memories!

Time of evaluation

One of the areas of music I enjoy is to accompany students who play in competitions. It is fun to hear and learn the different songs and to watch as each student improves from year to year. The past six weeks for me have been busy with extra practices but it has been well worth the time.

When I was in high school, I was in competitions for many years and know first hand about the many hours of practicing and correcting and polishing that go into getting a piece of music ready for competition. I understand the sense of having a song well prepared and the nerves that well up in your stomach as you wait for your time before the judge. I know the sinking feeling when you play the wrong scale or forget a certain sharp in that one measure you have gone over and over. I also know the elation of finishing a piece and having done an excellent job.

I have also had the privilege to sit on the other side of the table and be a judge. I know what judges look for and what causes them to mark off points. I get the passion of these judges who want to hear students perform music - not just play notes well. I understand the agony of trying to write not only what needs to be corrected but the good parts that need praise in a very short amount of time.

So when a student comes to practice their piece with the piano accompaniment, I am able to evaluate and point out specific areas that still needs some work. I gladly pass along little tidbits of information that will help them be ready and when the student takes those helpful comments to heart, I have seen the pieces improve to the next reward level. Many students have had a different approach to their competition when they realize they can look forward to the judge's evaluation and can see the comments as insight to where they are strong and what needs to be improved.

I, too, keep practicing and correcting and polishing my life so I will be ready for the final assessment. I am taking to heart evaluations given by mature and experienced believers who love me and want to see me "perform" well with the talents and gifts God has given me. My deepest desire is that when I stand before God at the end of my life, I will, by His grace, have lived my life in such a way that He will reward me with the highest words of praise - "Well done, good and faithful servant".

A bruised reed ~ a smoldering wick

Everyone goes through times of discouragement. For some, it may only last for a moment while others seem to struggle with discouragement for longer periods of time.

I love the description in Isaiah 42:3 - a bruised reed and a smoldering wick. Both seem pretty fragile - like their existence is about to come to an end. That definitely describes how I feel when I am struggling with discouragement.

But when I read the rest of the verse and I sense a smidgen of hope stirring within me because of how God promises to deal with the bruised reed and smoldering wick.

About the bruise reed, He says He will not break it and He won't snuff out the smoldering wick. I love these verses! God shows He cares about us and knows when we are at the breaking point. And yes, there are times when He allows us to get there - but not to hurt us. It may be a loving reminder to return to a submission of His leading. Or it may be to get our attention regarding a sin we need to confess and deal with.

But sometimes life just gets huge and overwhelming and we lose sight of the shore. We feel like we are going to drown in the cares and concerns of life. In that moment, in that very, exact moment, we need the reassurance that comes from this verse - God cares! Which reminds me of another precious verse- I Peter 5:10-11:

"And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To HIM be the power for ever and ever. Amen."