Uplifted in a Broken Down World

Easter attire is abounding. Easter baskets are brimming. Easter Services are overflowing. The Easter tomb, in stark contrast, is EMPTY. “Empty” significance is quoted as “Resurrection” or “escape from death”. Could there be an additional and overlooked implication? As I observe our current dark, bleak world, I hope so. I long for the empty tomb to be symbolic of more than absence.

My heart aches for the throngs of Christians (and non-Christians) whose lives feel empty and alone. When a physical life (or spiritual life) feels empty, eyes see nothing but mortality, loneliness and despair. What if the vacant, unoccupied Easter tomb reminded us that Resurrection, salvation and joy are the result of Christ walking out of, and carrying us away from, worldly outer emptiness and into spiritual inner fulfillment? The prison of empty would then turn into overflowing escape.

Quite possibly, the best antidote for feeling incaved in an empty tomb is to know, believe and trust that following a Christ led life is the sole, and soul, way of leaving all emptiness behind. This is the promise of Easter. May it be ours today and every tomorrow.

This has been a blessing of a week. While their mommy was away helping Veterinarians learn better how to care for God’s furry critters, this Grammy (aka, GaGa) filled in at home with the grandbabies. Though 100% love and effort were shared, an age-old adage proved true — ie., Mommy is irreplaceable!! I did, however, score better in the “napkin and Kleenex” category — ie., any port in a storm!! Actually, for me, the “napkin and Kleenex” were clear reminders of my (and your) Heavenly Father’s presence and love for all of His children on earth.

Strategically, I had to devise a plan of how I could get enough ounces of freezer, breast milk down the baby to keep him hydrated. This tactical maneuver centered in graham crackers and milk go hand in hand — more hopefully hand to mouth!! Since my 10-month-old grandson refuses any liquid in a bottle or cup, I knew a simple direct bottle approach would be futile. However, graham crackers are his favorite food. My thesis (maybe flawed but definitely successful) was eating graham crackers in large amount would make Baby Elijah thirsty; and being thirsty would make him drink mommy’s milk from his bottle.

Before I pat myself on the back for this genius strategy, let me confess an unlimited amount of graham crackers for an infant, most definitely, produces baby mitts, face and hair caked in sticky, gooey, graham cracker mess. What’s more, when baby decides he’s had enough wearing his food, GaGa becomes his napkin. He wants no part of a washcloth or wet wipe. Transferring his mess to his GaGa Napkin is his way (and his only choice) to get clean. After all, rubbing on love best wipes the stains away!!

During my week, I sensed God sharing a parallel between graham crackers and mankind’s sins. We, God’s children, so often make a “graham cracker” sticky mess in our lives; and, yes, God best wipes our sins away. May we not hesitate to choose God, not a worldly source, to wash us free of the mess engulfing us.

When difficult moments arrived and tears filled my grandbaby’s eyes, he needed his GaGa’s arms to pick him up and vanish his fears away. GaGa became his Kleenex. He wiped his tears away by snuggling on my shoulder. Once more, I realized God stands ready to do the same for me and you. In every storm He is our port, waiting to hold us and all our fears, wipe our tears away and shelter us within His loving arms. All we need to do is cry out to Him.

Mommy is back home. I’m relieved of my fill-in role. I thank God for guiding me through this week’s tour of duty. With even deeper gratitude and praise, I thank God for never going off duty from being the greatest of napkins and Kleenex for me and each and every one of His children on earth.

Watching a new season awaken this week reminds me how the storms of Winter are wiped away through God’s creation of Spring. Over and over, God sent Proverbs 3:5-7 to me. Last Tuesday, THREE of my daily devotions centered in this Scripture. That was an impossible co-incidence but an unquestionable God incidence. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

After my trifold revelation, deep inner peace settled in my heart and soul. All that might have been moments of fear and frustration, instead, were wrapped in trust. My hands, heart and soul were not carrying the weight of the world. There was no need; for God is carrying me, and nothing is beyond His strength. The promise of His words never disappears.

“He will make your path straight”. It does not say my path will automatically be straight, even before it comes my way. It does proclaim no matter how twisting, uphill or downhill my path is, my God will straighten out the snarls. No greater Hope this day can I share with you.

As the seeds of Spring begin to sprout in our world, may Proverbs 3:5-7 be rooted in our souls. Herein will flower the Faith and Hope needed to withstand the thunder of storms, while also surrounding us in the beauty of God’s protection, guidance and Love. May this Scripture truth hug you day and night, rain and shine.

From a peephole view, my soul was SONbathed. Rosemary had 23 of her “babies” sprawled across the family room carpet. Though only a preschooler in years, she was holding Chapel for her “babies”. Both dolls and stuffed animals tallied her class.

Clutching her Bible in one hand, her other, with grandiose gesturing, was riveting wisdom to her audience — including me. Like a seasoned minister, Rosemary was vividly preaching the Gospel. With booming energy, she was enlightening her congregation that “God has no playground, but what God does have is FAITHFUL!”

Hearing her words, my eyes popped; my lips smiled; my voice muffled a chuckle, and my soul shed a tear. This little lassie understood and was shouting out what many older worshipers, at best, silently perceive to not be a front-page story. However, to Rosemary, it was a hot off the press, breaking news report.

“God has no playground, but what God does have is FAITHFUL”! Out of the mouths of babes — no full-time evangelist could have articulated one of our Heavenly Father’s core blessings any better.

To Rosemary a playground is space for: anything goes, being upside down, care-less-ly sliding from top to bottom, and spinning in dizziness till balance is lost. As this young child sees it, these aren’t what belong to God. Nope, on the contrary, God Has FAITHFUL. To her, this translates: no matter who you are, what you do, where you are or how perfect or imperfect you are, God is with you. He doesn’t run off to play. He stays.

Witnessing Rosemary pour testimony into her 23 “babies” was a breathtaking gift. I only wish the multitude of grown-up people, who need to be confirmed in her Godly words, could have attended her Chapel service.

“…Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14 (NIV)

It was the sweetest of days — even though it technically was a rain out. Seven-year-old Zachariah and five-year-old Rosemary decided since their playdates were a washout, the next best thing was to accompany Mom to the gym. This grammy was deeply blest to be a vital link for the excursion. While Mommy worked out, for them to be allowed on the track, they needed their GaGa to accompany them. Of course, I was honored, privileged and delighted to walk by their side. In honesty, at one point, my long legs needed to switch gears into overdrive to keep up with their short, running legs!

The gift of the day was not mine to them but theirs to me. They might have needed their GaGa to walk/run, but their GaGa needed them to feel she was soaring with angels. Lap after lap, I listened to their juvenile voices speak love and wisdom beyond their years. Big brother watched over his shoulder to make sure little sister was not outdistanced and left behind. Little sister followed closely, trusting the path big brother was blazing. This grammy brought up the rear while thanking God for sibling love in a world where hate often overrides caring for, and about, others.

As the track circled round where their Mommy was exercising, their little hands waved the sign language symbol of love. They also blew kisses. They were proud, not shy or embarrassed, to let the world see the love in their hearts. Again, my eyes shifted heavenward and expressed deep gratitude for two little hearts filled with great big love.

Is it any wonder Christ declared, “…Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”. Matthew 18:3 (NIV)

As a child, I, firsthand, experienced the excitement of “The Box” being introduced into family homes — including mine! “The Box” was the name my Nani assigned the newfound invention most called a television. In those early days, static and screens going blank were a part of your broadcast experience. Breakdowns were a common occurrence, as technical advancement was primal. I’ll add that the most respected and busy occupation was TV repairman.

When “The Box” wasn’t operating well, most households regularly called the TV repairman, who routinely started his service by taking the back off the television and followed by removing the tubes and testing their working status. After replacing any malfunctions, the back of the television was reassembled and, once more, “The Box” was in working order. My Nani, however, was not under the label of “most households”.

When Nani’s “Box” became a mess of static and blank screen, he didn’t call a repairman. He got up from his comfy chair, walked over to “The Box” and gave it a good, strong kick. Occasionally, it took a couple of kicks; but eventually “The Box” produced somewhat of a picture and a faintly decipherable sound. Proudly, Nani would return to his chair. He was the only one in the room who thought the problem was solved. We all knew that within minutes he’d be kicking “The Box” again.

Why, you must be wondering, am I sharing this story. My reply stems from the wisdom that in order to fix something, you have to first dismantle or take it apart. Otherwise, it is just a temporary band-aid. The TV repairman fixed the television. Nani’s ritual was a temporary band-aid. For the moment, it jiggled back somewhat of a picture; but it fixed nothing long term. The same holds true for our sinful nature. In order to fix our faults or remove sin from “The Box” of our lives, we need to do the task of taking our being’s outer cover off and repairing our inner selves. We need to fix what is wrong on the inside to clearly be the picture of who (and whose) God created us to reflect. If we choose a band-aid over a fix, we only hide our flaws, and nothing is repaired.

Without question, it should be understood that it takes inner work and re-wiring our ways to correct our imperfections. We are not left on our own to figure out the instructions needed for this. The “how to” manual for inner work and re-wiring is God’s Word. This book of repair instructions should always be, at most, only fingertips away.

One final note — the recollection of Nani kicking “The Box” brings laughter to my heart. The memory of Nani’s kicks never fixing “The Box” delivers wisdom to my soul.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Even though God, in His Word, promises to carry us through our trials, nowhere in the Bible does He even hint that the ride will be without pit stops and delays. While we want a fast, nonstop carry, truth is it is from pit stops and delays that our faith grows deepest and most often leads others to God. None the less, our human nature, even after struggling to remember God carries us through our storms, instantaneously expects sunshine the moment we realize we are in God’s powerful hands. We completely dim out the truth that the SON shines brightest when penetrating our life’s storms.

Christ’s journey to Calvary was long, show and uphill. It was, also, the course leading to our salvation. Why then do we expect the roadway of God’s Hands carrying us should be a shock absorbing, cushioned ride, instead of a rumble seat adventure. Be we in a landlocked traffic jam, on our steepest slope or deepest valley, God is with us every millisecond and millimeter. We are never alone. God’s Hands carry us. Nothing more, nor nothing less, do we ever need. “…I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands…” Isaiah 49:15 (ESV)

The masses in Society 2026 continually harp on “what they would change”. Seems like each voice has a mile- long list of all that’s wrong and which they would eliminate. No gratitude for blessings fuels these lamenters. In fact, criticism blots out every thread of thanksgiving. To me, this is very sad.

I’m not, at all, implying that our world is not infested with evil. It is. However, my longing is for God’s family on earth to perceive and see our Heavenly Father’s supreme power and goodness, to count our blessings from Him and with faithful hearts become determined not to allow the world’s evil change us from grateful to hateful.

Hateful is a weed. Grateful is a seed. Weeds strangulate. Seeds promulgate.

Maybe, much that is wrongly overpowering society could best be uprooted if we examined ourselves. Am I hatefully focused on what I would change, or am I gratefully conscious of all I wouldn’t change?

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

I am God’s child. I am created in God’s image and likeness. Why, I’ve often wondered, is it more innately natural for my older generation to fathom and cherish these realities than it is for today’s younger fold. After much contemplation, I’ve decided my long-deceased Nani best exemplifies the answer.

Seventy years ago, as an eight-year-young lass, I sat at my Nani’s feet and listened to him teach right from wrong and preach family name to be far more valuable than fame. Living up to (and protecting) family name was not a chore but a badge of honor, worth more than anything money could buy or competitive prowess score.

Back in the ’50’s, family was treasured. revered and pivotal in life. The wisdom and love of grandfathers and daddies were a stable staple that cemented family love within the lives of every member. My Nani and Daddy were the picture of love, security and protection. It wasn’t hard to envision God when His reflection stood (and knelt) in my midst. For me, this was the precursor to seeing God, my Heavenly Father, feeling His love and desiring to shine His image and likeness in the world.

In today’s modern world, family is not a three-dimensional image but, at best, a foggy mirage. It’s pretty doubtful for the lost to see God when His image and likeness is absent from their vision. Without the example of a caring and forgiving earthly father and family, it’s abstract to expect any society to mirror God in image and likeness.

I’m blessed beyond words for having grown up under my Nani’s (and earthly daddy’s) guidance, wisdom and love. My memories of them were the silhouette for my vision of God. May we all, on bended knee, pray not for future dreams but for past “Nani” reality to return.

In what seems like ten lifetimes ago, my soul lived in coaching God’s children (of all ages) to reach beyond the stars and touch the Heavens. However, you know what? I taught all entrusted to my guidance that not a ladder, but a teeter-totter was our vehicle of choice to reach our dreams. Today, my heart sinks as I observe the world pushing ladders by the scores, with a teeter-totter on no one’s radar. Is it any wonder the current dismal state of mankind and planet earth.

Twenty-first Century society lectures that success in life comes from climbing over others to reach the top. Triumph and fame result only if you are rungs higher than anyone else. Herein, lies a root of present-day decay in all areas of life. God’s children were not created to “one-up” their fellow sisters and brothers. Only God reigns supreme. Children of God were born not to uplift themselves but to rise up and praise God, as well as to comfort each other during the ups and downs of life in this fallen world.

It is not wrong to train one to reach for, and possibly attain, becoming a champion. However, ladder climbing, at best, only results in a winner. Learning to ride the teeter-totter is the sole (and soul) route to being a champion. Every single aspect of attaining any goal has up and down moments. Only by learning to accept, understand and overcome these ups and downs will one (in a healthy, happy and Holy state of mind, body and soul) cross their finish line goals. In every state of existence (not just the athletic arena) lasting harm is done by instilling a “climb over and higher than others” mentality into our athletes — as well as our families, employees, and even congregations.

Plain and simple, getting to any, and all, significant height is not a vertical leap. It is learning to ride the ups and downs of life with deep belief that God is beside you whether you are up or down, and “…if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you.”. Matthew 17:20 (ESV)

To all who know me personally and have visited my home, now you understand why a “Teeter-Totter” porcelain figurine “crowns” the top of my bookcase!!!