Things That Never End

After being sick for a couple of weeks and then it taking even more time for me to get back to functioning on a normal level, I have become very aware of several things around my home that are never ending. Some never ending things are good. However, there are some things that just keep going and going and going and they are not so good. Just to name a few:

Dirty Clothes. No matter how many loads of laundry are washed per day there is absolutely no way to have all clothes clean. Unless . . . well . . . we won't go there.

Dust. Due to my extreme allergy to dust mites, we do not have carpet in our home. The amount of dust that can build up on hardwood floors is unbelievable. It astonishes me how I can dust mop the floor in a room, leave the room, return ten minutes later and there is more dust. From where does all that dust come? Dust abounds no matter what type of super dust grabbing cloth is used.

Dirty Dishes. It never ever fails. I search the house high and low. I gather all the dirty cups - even those The Professor "thinks" he has hidden from me for later use - load them in the dishwasher and start the washing processing to discover there is another dirty dish! I cannot tell you how many times I have had to stop the dishwasher just to add one more item. Then, by the time the dishwasher has completed its cycle, there is a stack of dirty dishes on the counter above the dishwasher. It is never ending!!

As I was cleaning my way through the house yesterday and making note of how my cleaning doesn't last long, my mind wonder over to God and his great love for me and for you. No matter who you are, no matter what you believe or don't believe, God still loves you with an infinite love. It is a love that doesn't ever change. One of the very first Bible verses I learned as a child was John 3:16. It is such a great reminder of God's never ending love.

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The thing about God and his never ending love is that He loves you so much that He wants you to come into a relationship with him. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus, as a way to enter into that relationship. I can tell you it is a relationship like no other.

I would like to get rid of some of the dust in my house. It would really help with the itchy eyes and sneezing. God's love on the other hand is what I hang onto ever so tightly. It is that never ending love that brings the true peace and joy to my days. It is that never ending love that helps me to know I can keep going when I really want to give up.

If you are reading this and you have not experienced that great never ending love, I pray today that you accept Jesus and the free gift of His love.

May you discover true JOY while resting in the never ending love of Jesus.

Tami

New Things Learned During Sickness

Being sick is never fun nor is the timing of getting sick ever good. However, being sick can have great moments of new insight as well as moments of sweet reminders.

Here are few of the highlights that I have learned over the last few weeks while being sick.

*In a matter of 24 hours, Puppy can go from being the one receiving all the care to being a caregiver. I have to admit, I was impressed with her ability to care for me in my time of need.

*The Professor can multi-task! Granted, it is not is his favorite thing to do, but he can rock multi-tasking when he has to. Go Professor!

*The Professor can also change the sheets on the bed (multiple times within one week). He may not do it exactly how I would do it - you know, the perfect way - but he can do it!

*Having pneumonia is much harder on a 47-year old than it is on a ten-year old. The recovery period is also much longer for the 47-year old than it is for the ten-year old.

*I really can cough so hard that it feels like my eyeballs are going to pop out of my head. But they don't. That only happens in cartoons.

*The box of cleaning supplies that was delivered the day that I got sick will still be sitting in the entry way two weeks later when I finally start "thinking" about opening it. No need to worry about it disappearing.

*I really need to change my name to Naomi and my dog's name to Ruth because his motto is truly "Wherever you go, I will go." That little fella never left my side. I am told he even went a couple of days without eating on the days I didn't get out of bed. Now, that is loyalty! (If you are not familiar with the story of Naomi and Ruth, you can read it HERE.)

*Dust bunnies and dirty clothes really do reproduce over night.

*Sweet friends can take the place of family during illness. The Professor was relieved of cooking duties many evenings by those bringing us meals. We are forever grateful.

*When I was at the end of my rope and feeling as if I was never going to stop running fever and feel better again, God used my sweet little Puppy for the best reminder of all - His great love for me. Her words reminded me of God's promise found in Hebrews 13:5:

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

There are no truer words for a child of God. He is always there - in sickness, in health, in good times, in bad. He is steadfast and remains the same ALWAYS.

May you have JOY today in knowing God is always there for you.

Tami

Kindness

Kindness - How does it look to you? Do you consider yourself a kind person? Is it something you think about?

Puppy has been sick for over two weeks now. Throughout this time period, we have been shown a lot of kindness from her home school coop teachers being understanding of her not being able to do schoolwork to balloon bouquets, homemade cookies and a hot meal delivered ready to eat. The acts of kindness from very dear friends as well as from those whom are only casual acquaintances has made me stop and think about kindness.

Am I kind? Do I go out of my way to be kind? Are some people just naturally kind? Do you have to learn to be kind? Is it easier to be kind to some people than it is to other people?

I think there are days that I am a really kind person and then there are days . . . well . . . that I am not. I do believe that some people are just naturally kinder than others. I also believe that one can learn to be kind. I have one child who is just naturally kinder than my other child. (If you know my kids, you can try to figure out which is which.) The one that is not so naturally kind has truly worked at becoming kinder and has been successful. I see a difference in how the sibling is treated. Proof that it can be done! Kudos to that child for making the effort.

In Ephesians 4:32 KJV, we are commanded to be kind:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Hmmm . . . looks like being kind includes forgiveness. Maybe that is because we are to be forgiving when someone isn't so kind?

Being kind is something that I not only want for myself, but I also desire for my kids. And my kids are more apt to act in accordance with what they have witnessed.  That's another reason for me to strive to be a kind person.

If kindness is as difficult for you as it is for me at times, with God's help you can live a kinder life. All you have to do is ask!

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him.  

                                                                                                    I John 5:14 and 15 NIV

May you find JOY in being kind to someone today!

Tami