Sunshine On My Shoulders

Happy Feet

  

Here you see my foot...on the left...alongside the boy's foot of one of my Indian friends...on a Bay of Bengal beach. We had such a delightful time, happily romping and playing, barefooted, in the surf and sand.

I have not always experienced the joys of running barefoot, despite growing up a country girl in Arkansas, where wearing shoes seemed to be the exception rather than the norm. I grew up trying to keep my feet covered, at least around anyone other than my family.

As is typical with girls, I took a growing spurt in elementary school, and was the tallest in my class. My feet took a quick growth spurt as well, as was noticed by my favorite neighbor, Ollie Bacon, when she exclaimed to my mother, with me in the room, "Why Frances, if the good Lord had not turned up so much for feet, Cindy would have really been tall!"

That comment, which Ollie Bacon never intended for harm, nevertheless lodged down deep within my young, self-conscience spirit, affecting me for years to come.

"Ollie said it...my mother laughed...so there you have it...I HAVE REALLY BIG, UGLY FEET," I rehearsed over and over again in my mind.

And so...I began to spare the world from having to see my hideous feet...and spare me the embarrassment of what I knew would be critical stares. I kept my feet well shod, no clodhoppers for me! I always chose shoes that to me made my feet look smaller, and squeezed my tootsies into shoes 1/2 to 1 size too small. For years I walked around with aching feet! But, at least in my eyes, they seemed less grotesque.

As an older teen, the song "Cindy, Cindy," was sung to me in a teasing way. One of the verses seemed to scream at me:

The first time that I saw her
She was standin' in the door,
Her shoes and stockings in her hand,
And her feet all over the floor.

Again, absolutely no harm was intended, but I felt humiliated. "Her feet...all over the floor!"

These negative thought patterns continued into my early marriage years.

One particular Saturday, I spent the entire day walking a church bus route to meet the families of children I taught on Sundays. I came home dead tired, my feet killing me. As I think back now, probably my feet hurt because of ill fitting shoes. I fell into our recliner with a sigh...and then something took place that I remember vividly, even all these years later.

My husband knelt down and began massaging my aching feet. And then...he tenderly kissed my feet! And as he looked up at me, he said, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

I was stunned. It felt like something inside me actually broke, and I thought, "I have beautiful feet!"

God used my husband's tender actions to speak to my spirit...and to begin my healing. As I began to learn lessons about accepting God's design for my life, I thanked Him for giving me just the feet He intended, and I began to trust God in other areas I had not accepted as well.

Eight years ago this week, my daddy died. As he had suffered from diabetes, I helped to care for him in his final years. We had to take special care of Daddy's feet. So, while preparing his clothing for the burial, I looked at his SAS shoes, and could not imagine him without them. I took them to the funeral home for him to wear in the casket, and as I was stroking his feet, I looked down and saw...my feet! Daddy's feet were a larger, almost exact version of...my own! Now my feet are even more special to me...for they are a reminder of the daddy I loved so much.

I wear flip-flops...go barefooted...get a pedicure...wear shoes the correct size...all without an ounce of self-consienceness. I have "happy feet" now, because I know they were custom designed by a loving God who has "done all things well." (Mark 7:37)

A Daddy Who NEVER Let Us Down

Father's Day 2010 has put me in a reflective state. As I ponder the earthly father I am the most closely associated with...that is, my children's father, my husband...I must stop and give praise to God.

Upon our engagement 38 years ago, this, at that time, young man began to set his life in order to care for a family. He immediately sold his cherished 1969 silver, "souped-up" GTO, and his boat, laying aside his hobbies in order to spend time nurturing our relationship. He did the same when our children came along...he continually laid down his own life...for us. 

Our children were secure and loved. NEVER did they have worries...in all their life...not even once... concerning their father, in any of the following ways:

• Turn his back on his faith...NEVER.
• Unfaithful to church...NEVER.
• Unfaithful or unloving to their mama. (He still calls me his "bride.") Divorce...NEVER.
• Failure to provide. Abandon them...NEVER.
• Lack of diligence and character in business...NEVER.
• Use any kind of profanity...NEVER.
• Be immoral in any way...bring shame or dishonor to the family...NEVER.
• Be harsh or abusive...NEVER.
• Complain...whine...gossip...NEVER.
• Have no time for them, or neglect their special interests...NEVER.
• Fail to give wise, godly counsel...NEVER.
• Intentionally embarrass them in any way...NEVER.
• Lack of love...NEVER.

How blessed my children are to have such a father! His example makes it so much easier to respond to a Heavenly Father...trusting Him as a God of love.

So...on this Father's Day...I say to my children's daddy, "Thank you dear, for the years of sacrifice...for laying down your life for your family. You have blessed us beyond measure, and you NEVER let us down!"   

"Egg on Her Face"...Teaches 10 Commandments

Why does my friend, Ruth, have egg on her face? She was brave enough to help me teach a wrap-up lesson on a 10 Commandments series in AWANA. Each time I've ever used this lesson, it gets memorable results.

The original lesson plan, "Thou Shalt Not", (which I have adapted) came from The Children's Institute 2000 Living Legends, a book of lessons used while teaching children during various seminars connected with the Institute of Basic Life Principles. 

The introduction looks at the three times in Scripture God actually wrote with His own finger:

1. Etching the 10 Commandments in stone
2. Feast of Belshazzar, with writing on the wall (Daniel 5)
3. Woman caught in adultery, when Jesus wrote in the sand (John 8)

And then an application from each time God wrote with His finger :

1. The giving of the Law (God wrote 10 Commandments)
2. Judgment under the Law (God wrote on the palace walls of Belshazzar)
3. Mercy within the Law (as God, in the person of Jesus, extended mercy to a sinner when He knelt and wrote in the sand saying, "Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.") 

Now...time for the action! I put on my apron and reached for a carton of eggs. The children try to guess what in the world I'm about to do. I show them that my carton contains only 10 eggs...you guessed it...to correspond to each of the 10 commandments. And then...while reviewing each commandment, I had Ruth hold somewhere on her person, each of the 10 eggs.

"Be careful, Ruth. Eggs are a lot like God's Law. You do not want to break them!"

I placed the eggs (reviewing each commandment as I did so):

1. On her head, where she held it under her hand (to protect it)
2. Under an armpit
3. In a pocket
4. In the crook of one arm
5. Under the chin
6. Behind the neck, forming a pocket with her shirt
7. Under her heel (since she did not have a shoe)
8. Between the legs/knees
9. Under another armpit
10. In another pocket

THERE IS JUST ONE SMALL PROBLEM...

I pointed out that Christ did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, and that He went on to explain them in more detail. And then I began to ask, what I refer to as, the Ray Comfort questions.

Referring to the sixth commandment, I asked Ruth, "Have you ever killed somebody?"

Naturally she answered, "No."

And then continuing, I said,"Well Ruth,that is good. But Jesus said that if you are even angry with your brother or call someone a fool, you are guilty of breaking the sixth commandment. Ruth, have you ever been angry with anyone?"

Then as she answered, "Yes," I very quickly, before she had time to react, said "Then you have broken God's Law!"

And I hit the hand that was holding the egg on her head...and helped all the others break as well, for if you break even one commandment, you are guilty of breaking them all.

There stood Ruth, in a mess of broken eggs, the yuckiness dripping down her face and soaking her clothes...symbolic of the terrible mess we make when we break God's Law.

Finally, I went on to present simple truths of the Gospel plan, reviewing the applications from God's writing with His finger. I took a huge sheet of white cloth and draped it around Ruth and all her mess. Isn't that what Jesus does for us? He wipes away the stain of our sin, and covers us with His white robe of righteousness.

Because Jesus lived without breaking any of the commandments...when we have egg on our face, so to speak...only He can make us clean again. A truth well worth illustrating, don't you think?

Summertime...and the living is...fun!

Summer...CRAFTING

See what my daughter and I made recently? Well, honestly...she did most of the work. But we spread out all over my kitchen table, and had so much fun choosing different ribbon combinations, and styles. She completed 75 hair bows, to help a friend who is getting into the summer craft fair circle. (Our friend, Heather, is also helping, by sending a parcel of her adorable bracelets.) I called the displayed bows our "Bow-licious Tree."

Summer...VBS

I asked my friend to send me a photo of this great craft, which she used just this week, teaching God's omnipresence. Linda purchased black switch-plate covers, and had the children use toothbrushes to splatter glow-in-the-dark paint. Glowing star stickers completed the project. There are all sorts of ways you could adapt this idea. I love it!

Summer...CHICKEN ON THE GRILL

Take a look at this yummy dish, Chicken Breasts with Avocado, Tomato, and Cucumber Salsa. Perfect for a summer dinner on the patio. It is healthy, easy to prepare, and tastes divine. I do go heavy on the avocado, as we are definitely avocado people. My husband would eat it weekly, if I would prepare it. So...it is on Friday night's menu in the Messick house!

Summer...BIBLE STUDY

Precept Ministries is offering something new for the summer...an online, Inductive Bible Study, titled "Sweeter than Chocolate-Hebrews 11." Beginning June 24, a video lesson will be posted weekly to correspond with each of the 6 weeks in the study. You can invite friends to meet with you, as I am, for some fun fellowship. Or go solo. But, hurry...register and order your workbook, because the deadline is approaching. Time spent in God's Word is always an investment with huge dividends, is it not?

Summer...CAN BE SO VERY FUN!

Looky!

Have a look at some new finds around my house.

First...

I actually won this beautiful handmade reverse applique notebook in Heather's blog giveaway. Doesn't she do lovely work? I am still deciding how to best use it. Journals and unique notebooks have always held an enchantment for me. This one may very well become my all-time favorite. Thank you, Heather!

Next...

When Dave and I were browsing Best Buy, we saw this just-out computer Lapdesk by Logitech, with a built-in speaker system. My husband made the comment that it seemed to be designed just for me, and we did something we seldom do. We bought it on the spot...no researching for reviews or consumer reports. We saw it...we loved it...we bought it! Since I roam the house with my laptop, it is absolutely perfect. The cooling fan is silent, and I feel no heat on my lap, where it rests so comfortably with the padded underside. And the sound, with the high-definition speakers, is excellent. You must check it out!

Finally...

Have a look at my new find, this recipe for Tiramisu Toffee Trifle Pie. It is fast becoming a family favorite. I'm making it again for a dinner this Saturday, with Gabe and Jeanie, our friends with whom we  have shared numerous Epicurean Memories, both here and abroad. It is a simple, quick-to-prepare recipe, not overly rich, and a real people pleaser. If your people like coffee...and chocolate...and cream cheese...and toffee. Worth watching what you eat all week so you can indulge on this one! 

There you have it.

• something I won
• something I bought
• something I made

My look-see trio!

The Music of My Walls

If the walls of my home could speak...or sing...or play tunes...my, what wonderful sounds would delight my heart. Blessed sounds would return from all those seemingly endless years of piano and hammer dulcimer lessons, with the countless hours of practice. Or the sounds of my kids, as toddlers, marching around the house banging on pots while Daddy played his harmonica to When the Saints Go Marching In. Then they began singing Wee Sing or Patch the Pirate songs at the top of their lungs. As they grew older, beautiful hymns or other Christian arrangements, along with a variety of other melodious tunes filled the air. Their friends would visit, and would play-along or sing-along. As my kids matured, so did their music. There was never a day in our home that we did not have live music being played or sung. The musical sounds were a part of who we were as a family.

Josh used to say he dreamed music...and it was like another language to him. We would be awakened in the middle of the night to sounds of his hammer dulcimer music, as he had jumped out of bed to try a new composition or new technique. Daily through the years, we never tired of his banging, plucking or tap dancing on the instrument that seemed to have been chosen by God for our boy.

When Rebekah was contemplative...she played her piano. When she was hurt, or upset...she played her piano, banging out the music. When she was happy...she went straight to her piano. She would often pray as she played.

Can you imagine what our house was like after the nest became empty? The piano stood silent...the dulcimer was gone. Left behind were sounds...of silence. For a time, the music had ceased in my life. It felt to me like a death in the family. In time, God soothed and healed this mama's grieving heart...and He taught me the music was still there...only in a different way. My ears had not yet been trained to hear it...and along with the music, my joy returned.

This week my daughter's family came for dinner. As she always does when visiting, Rebekah went to her old piano...took out her old hymn book...and began playing away. But with one difference. At her side was her little one, Andrah Kate, banging away too, making the most beautiful ruckus, adding her own musical sounds to the walls of our home. Perhaps the expression is a bit trite, but I cannot resist using it..."and the beat goes on."