Author: bonniejeancarr

How they got there was obvious. The white band hugging their wrists announced to all that a blood cancer pushed them over the threshold. This, of itself, was gut wrenching; but another stand out affliction encapsulated these three women. All other white banded patients were supported, in some cases literally, by an accompanying heart who cared. Each of these three women stood solo.

Three individual sets of arms struggled to secure orders scrawled on paper, manila folders harboring their statistics (both past and present, with no future being guaranteed), plastic bags with who knows what paraphernalia inside and Styrofoam cups of water to keep them hydrated.

My heart broke as I realized how alone each truly was. Where was family? Where was friend? Where was even an enemy whose gut could at least pity?

A Bone Marrow Transplant Unit is not a one-time visit. Months, even years, find many return visits. How many times had these three women come alone, left alone and felt alone? How many more times are yet to come?

After asking God to hug these children of His so tightly they could physically feel His presence, I thanked God for surrounding my brother, not only, with our earthly family but also Him, his Heavenly Father. My soul was grateful my brother would not take even a single step without loved ones beside him, but it cried for the miles and miles these three ladies trudge by themselves.

Some visions in life you can’t unsee. This is one such scene. It instilled in the eyes of my heart and soul what I believe an irreparable feeling of mankind’s failure. However, God was not about to let this collapse of the Golden Rule fester in my being. Instead, He opened my eyes to a reconstruction of the word alone.

Before God crossed my path with these three, heroic women, I read the word defining “having no one else present” as alone. Now God has convicted me that as His daughter I am challenged to change my past understanding of the word and begin seeing it as AL-ONE. God calls me to choose to see those three women and I are AL-ONE, over them being alone. As a child of God, I am baptized to stand, sit, walk and even crawl beside hearts and souls in need of a helping hand. What about you?

“…’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’.” Matthew 25:40 (ESV)

Looking at the world, I see our leaders not trying to head our guidance but to behead anyone they feel might impose on their reigning supreme. How despicably sad this is. Only our Creator God is supreme. No matter which of God’s creations any human is, he is not God, nor will he ever be. This is plain and simple, factual truth. There is no way to get around this, under this or over this. So why do mankind’s leaders of today ignore this fact and assume they can outmaneuver God and assume a reign on His throne? Sheer idolatry of themselves is my only conclusion.

There’s another sickening trend amongst today’s leaders. Doesn’t matter what forte or forefront one is qualified to lead, another, in a totally different field with no relevant tools in his belt, seeks to usurp this person’s qualified authority, as proof the intruder is all supreme. Again, I remind all that God, and God alone, is universally supreme. Our charge is to bow a knee to God as our Supreme Ruler, not kick the leg out from under any human (besides ourselves) who is deemed a competent leader in one specific playing field. Leaders are supposed to use their precise expertise to work together for the common good. However, on the contrary, bickering and dissension pours forth over teamwork being enacted for constituents needs. If the unique, God planted, fortes of all leaders would humbly collaborate with each other, America would be living from our Constitution, instead of dying from abandoning it. Talk about the irony of leaders, themselves, destroying law and order in our land, this is it.

So, are we mortals just to assume God forgot presenting us an example of how power among leaders is to be enacted, positively and peacefully? Nope, I don’t think so. My belief is God set forth the greatest of examples, but we have failed to recognize it – let alone heed it. I’m referring to God’s overlooked horizontal attribute. Personally, I positively believe our God is a Trinity not by accident but as our Supreme Creator’s witness for all of us lesser creations to have a foundational and fundamental blueprint for earthly leaders to emulate.

There is not even one single inuendo in God’s Word that, for even a split second, any conflict amongst the Father, Son and Holy Spirit ever existed. Each has a role of purpose to fulfill, and it took (and still takes) each carrying out their specific contribution for us to be created, redeemed and instilled with the enlightenment of how to glorify God. In this regard, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not a vertical power. None tries to be above the other. They horizontally, and unitedly, share power that is supreme by working side by side for the wellbeing of all their subordinate human creations. Wow, isn’t that a novel show of power!! America’s leaders, wake up!! Stop trying to be an idol god. Start, in humility, asking the one and only true God, upon whom our land is founded, to grace you with His will and His way, not yours.

My entire core shudders as I see America’s trilogy, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of our government, be the complete antithesis of the Divine Trinity of God. Our Country was founded on one Nation under God. Today it is capsized by idol gods of human nature, whose haughty pride attempts to reign over all, including God. Thus, in currently seeing not one leader under God, my prayer has become, “Lord, we don’t have a man of God, or under God, to lead America; but could you at least send a Peter.”.

To be continued —

At times, it is good to see whimsical reminders of God, even in small insignificant ways. These seemingly trite eyeing of our Lord confirm GOD IS EVERYWHERE. Join me in one such trivial, yet delightful, encounter of God’s Bible always at my fingertips, if only my hands will open it.

Oh, the joy of having my three-year-old grandson spending a couple of days at GaGa’s house. This ‘ol grammy garnered much wisdom from his visit — the greatest of which was “The Bible and a Tube of Toothpaste”. As you’ve probably guessed, my grandson loves a tube of toothpaste. Most little ones do; but let’s ponder the lesson squeezed within this universal favorite of children everywhere.

First and foremost, the purpose of toothpaste is to prevent decay and destruction of the tool/means by which we are to chew on the food that nourishes our physical lives. In a child’s mind, can he get too much toothpaste? Absolutely not!! In fact, the child is not at all focused on what toothpaste is meant to do/prevent but only on how yummy it tastes.

Let’s parallel toothpaste to the Bible. Is not God’s Word the antidote for keeping our lives free from decay and destruction? What’s more, as a child craves toothpaste in overdose amounts, are we not called to do the same by hungering for the fruits of the Bible in overflow?

Have you ever tried to assist a youngster in squeezing out the toothpaste from the tube? In no way does that munchkin want anyone else to do it for him. He can, and does, want to do it on his own. Yes, it takes his strong squeeze to reap the sweet taste of toothpaste, but the inconvenience never stops the child’s pursuit or reward. What about us in our search for maintaining the sweet joy of Jesus in our lives? Are we willing to squeeze out time in our daily schedules to read the road map of God’s written words — thereby, arriving at the destination of our Heavenly Father power brushing the breath of our being with His direction and peace? May we all not forget that just as a squeeze is needed to get the toothpaste out of its tube, we also have to, even at our busiest, prioritize squeezing the Bible into our daily routine.

There is another, not so whimsical, comparison between the tube of toothpaste and the Bible. A child often refuses to brush his teeth just once. If not stopped, he scores double digit repetition both morning and night. However, upon leaving toddlerhood, the words, “don’t forget to brush your teeth”, often need to be reminded him. Sadly, the same is true for many seasoned Believers. As baby Christians, they hunger for the taste of their Savior. They can’t get enough of God’s Word. Yet, as they mature, they often forget the need to continually feast on the Bible to prevent decay and destruction from crumbling their core.

A tube of toothpaste has become the reminder that for God’s Word to penetrate my life, I must, daily, delight in squeezing its content into my life. God’s Words are packed tightly between the casings of the Bible; but for them to shine in my life, I must squeeze their message from the printed page and into my heart and soul.

As for me, after the blessing of caring for my grandson, I’ll never look at a tube of toothpaste the same. And yes, after his teeth were brushed, we picked up his children’s Bible. Grammy explained to him that just as he loves the taste of toothpaste, he, also, must daily reach for his Bible and brush his life with the sweet taste of God’s Words.

‘Twas a great day of celebration in heaven. Annie was coming home. God, Himself, stood front and center at Heaven’s gate to welcome Annie into eternity. Throngs of Angels were on tippy-toe trying to peer over their kindred crowd to catch first sight of this petite in height, yet a zenith in Christian stature, lady of God. The cherub choir stood ready to raise their voices as soon as Annie crossed Heaven’s threshold. However, once inside Heaven’s portal, Annie’s soul spoke first, silencing the throngs — including her Heavenly Father

Annie was not concerned with being hailed a superstar child of God. She was totally immersed in loving concern for Hiroko — her family, twin musketeer. Thus, before God could say well done, Annie; welcome home, Annie spoke to God. She seized the moment not as a gift for herself but as a bequest for Hiroko. From Heaven, her soul needed to send Faith, Hope and Love to Hiroko. Like so many times before, Annie needed God’s help. God approached Annie and, as always, assured her that His hands were ready and willing to carry both hers and Hiroko’s needs.

Annie’s eyes then caught a glimpse of the angel wardrobe awaiting her. Her gaze locked upon the dazzling Dancing Shoes. Turning to God, Annie beseeched Him to let her share her Dancing Shoes with Hiroko. One of the last earthly events they dreamed of doing was to kick up a leg and dance. Now, Annie longed to send Hiroko the symbolic message that Dancing Shoes, forever, bonded their lives and their love.

With understanding in His heart and a slight tone of laughter in His voice, God inquired, “You want to send Hiroko one of your angelic Dancing Shoes?”. Annie sweetly replied, “Yes and please, may I embellish the shoe with more dazzle of symbolic meaning?”. God nodded in loving agreement and questioned, “How are you wishing to transform the Dancing Shoe?”.

Annie lost not even a moment before sharing her vision. “Hiroko must remember that I am only physically away, ‘and now these three remain — Faith, Hope and Love — but the greatest of these is Love.’ This message will always live within Hiroko’s and my hearts. Thus, I ask it to be added inside the Dancing Shoe.”

Respectfully Annie shared, “Hiroko will miss hearing our conversations, but the Word of God we spoke to each other (and many others) will forever echo in our ears and hearts. Nothing can silence the sound of God’s words. They bring direction whenever we feel deafening silence. A Bible must adorn the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s monologue went on, “Christ took up His Cross and suffered worldly death so all God’s children could live eternally, beyond our physical passing. I am not dead but alive and waiting in Heaven for Hiroko. I desire to attach a Cross to the Dancing Shoe, so Hiroko never forgets this truth.”.

With concern, Annie uttered, “Hiroko feels lost and wonders how she will continue onward without my constant encouragement and rare kick in the butt, keep going push. The Dancing Shoe must carry the message that ‘With God, All Things Are Possible.”.

Without taking a breath, Annie shared, “Family trees don’t wither and die when one member goes home to Heaven. When roots are deep in God’s will, God’s way and God’s timing, a branch does not break off when entering Heaven, but rather, stretches up into eternity, keeping the family still joined in its ancestral trunk. This symbol, too, must grace the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s next request articulated, “This moment Hiroko’s sky seems so very, very dark. She must never forget I’ll always be her guiding star, illuminating for her that the way through all darkness is found by following the SON’s light. May a star, also, find its place upon the Dancing Shoe.”.

Annie’s words turned technical as she explained, “All shoes come with an insole. The Dancing Shoe I share with Hiroko must, instead, possess the presence of ‘Praying Inner Souls’. May this symbolically represent the Circle of Praying Grandmothers, who faithfully promised me that Hiroko will never be without a sisterhood of caring and sharing.”.

Finally, Annie implored, “”Just one last request, my Father. I choose to send Hiroko my right Dancing Shoe. I cannot send her the left one, in fear she might interpret it as my implying she is being left behind. Instead, I send her the right one to represent Your will, Your way and Your timing are always right.”.

Annie, having said her all, thought every need had been spoken and fulfilled. God knew otherwise. With great love, He added His own wisdom to complete the message and meaning of the Dancing Shoe to be given Hiroko. God declared, “Annie, two other adornments must be added to the Dancing Shoe. First, an angel, symbolizing You, needs to shine upon the Dancing Shoe.”. God, Himself, secured the angel in position. Next, above the angel, He then buckled the Dancing Shoe with a brilliant halo.

Annie was confused and asked God, “Since the angel representing me already has a halo, why did You add a second to the Dancing Shoe?”. God affectionately explained, “The second halo exemplifies the halo awaiting My precious daughter, Hiroko, when My will, My way and My timing will re-unite in heaven you, Hiroko and your shared pair of Dancing Shoes.”.

Have you ever wondered why, when God created mankind, He put our hearts on our left side? Off and on for many a year, I have. I totally believe God never did, nor does, anything by accident or randomly. I’m firmly convinced if God’s purpose for doing as He does is not obvious, then His intent is to challenge me to think deeply to decipher both His physical message and His spiritual meaning. I’ve come to understand that all which comes from God overflows with both His message and meaning. God placing our hearts on the left side of our bodies is one such conviction.

Our heart is, arguably speaking, our most vital organ. We cannot live, if it does not beat. Scientific fact states a heart pumps life into our body. Human emotion declares love, also, flows from our heart and gives us life. There is truth in both. It’s ABC simplicity for me to know God’s message that scientifically our heart was created to breathe life into our body. However, I had not even a glimpse into the meaning of why God put our heart on the left side of our being. Me being me, I took my lack of understanding to God, Himself.

Being a great day for both a walk and a talk, this morning I set out to physically accumulate steps and to spiritually ask and listen to God share meaning I longed to understand and holdfast. God’s enlightenment was as follows.

First, God revealed the message that I already knew. Scientifically, the heart could have been placed on either side of His child’s body. It made no difference. The left side was chosen for our emotional spirituality, not our physiology. I urged God to keep divulging understanding. I was, point blankly, still in complete darkness.

God continued that one of mankind’s greatest deficits is the practice of over relying on our heart for direction, when our true compass should be, and needs to be, our soul. Our wise, Heavenly Father, then bluntly informed me that our heart is not always right. Only our soul constitutes our unfailing source of what is right to: do, be, attain, embrace and hold tight.

With a chuckle in His words, God continued, My child, with your wide-open heart, if I placed it on the right side of your being, do you really think your human mind wouldn’t symbolically deduce your heart is always right? It isn’t. Your heart is human. It makes mistakes, misjudges and can lead you astray from My will and way. Only your soul can overcome human shortcoming and lead you where I am calling. At times, your heart is not right, but wrong, and must break for Me to bless you with My greatest protection, gifts and purpose. Your heart’s location was placed, as it is, for a reminder that you are left with My greatest strength and direction in your soul, when your heart is not right.

Looking up to the heavens, I smiled in understanding and exclaimed in gratitude and joy, “Thank you, Father. My heart is, finally, left understanding and celebrating how right is its placement and how great is your heart-filled wisdom, grace, guidance and love.”

My daughter, you need to let go of the suitcase before you can hold on to the steering wheel. Ouch!! No way around it, these words, delivered directly to me by God, stung my core. Talk about salt-in-the-wound wisdom. Truly, this was God’s double helping of deeply needed seasoning for my meat and potatoes, heart and soul current “tripping” through life.

Yep, as I struggled to move forward and get beyond the wreck of my week, my hands weren’t folded in prayer, but rather, clutching a very heavy, burden-filled suitcase. In honesty, my suitcase was not luggage but baggage. It wasn’t transporting the necessities and treasures luggage holds. It was stuffed full of hurt, anger and resentment, best defined as weighed down baggage. Be it luggage or baggage, for us to steer our lives toward where God designates our future rests, both luggage and baggage must be stored for the journey. The difference is luggage goes into the trunk attached to our journey’s vehicle. Baggage must be heaved into a detached dumpster headed for burial in the toxic waste section of a landfill.

Only with our hands free from all suitcases are we able to grab the wheel and allow God to steer our course. Plain and Simple, we can’t find our future, if we are clinging to our past. We can’t reach new gains, if we are clasping previous losses. We can’t find yet to come successes, if we are holding onto over and done with failures. Above all, we can’t be filled with God’s love, if we are glued to Satan’s hurts.

Like the sun penetrating storm clouds with rays of SONlight revealing the path ahead, my hands, once free of the suitcase, grabbed hold of that steering wheel and joyfully sang out — I’m ready, Lord. Lead me. I’m suitcase free and willing to embark for wherever You next steer my heart and soul. Let the journey to begin!!

My day was jammed pack, so my walking shoes laced up early. Thus, neither the usual school buses nor customary people crossed my path. However, as I approached a straight away segment of my route, I discerned a man in the distance. For some reason, I was locked on his gait. It seemed unusual. My initial reaction wondered if it was the old professional coach coming out in me. There I was trying to analyze his awkward form, when I sensed the Lord telling me to forget technique and stare down message and meaning. Woah!! My assessment needed a shift to discernment.

Since becoming the recipient of one total knee and two total hips, speed is not an adjective defining my daily hikes. However, I did charge up my afterburners to gain proximity to the lesson God was sending. I knew closing the gap was needed for me to receive, and perceive, this heaven-sent wisdom.

As I closed the separation between us, I deciphered the gent’s hands were not empty. His right one held what I presumed to be a walking stick, and his left was lugging a bag. My guess was he wasn’t a spry chicken; but he, also, wasn’t an ancient rooster. I placed God’s messenger in the 65 to 70 age range. At this point, my conjecture was twofold. The man, who was leading me to God’s message, was unusual in that he was carrying around a bag on a walk, and he definitely needed more skill in how to use a walking stick. That thing was moving all over the place and certainly not affording him the balance and support intended for its use.

I needed to completely close the gap. Since my anatomy lacks wings, I used the one superpower I possess. I prayed. Lord, get me closer.

Just as the object of my attention was turning towards the entry gates to his home subdivision, I reached proximity to clearly observe God’s message. The walking stick was not the run of the mill. It was white, designating the child of God holding it was blind. The bag clutched in this messenger’s hand was an oxygen carrier.

Though caught off guard at that moment, I realized God’s message was delivered. A blind man, struggling to breathe on his own, was capable of (and did, indeed) reach the gate surrounding his home destination. Deciphering the meaning, now, became the mystery challenge. Instantly, God directed my thoughts from the man, himself, to all of Christain humanity — especially, myself.

In today’s Sodom and Gomorrah world, I (we) walk blindly through the darkness. Only inner light, the Holy Spirit illuminating my (our) soul, directs my (our) course. I (we) depend not on the oxygen of a polluted planet’s air, but the breath of the Holy Spirit alone to saturate my (our) being with life. Clutching onto God as my (our) lifeline is not baggage I (we) lug around but the coffer of my (our) life’s Saviour, whom I (we) choose never to let go of.

My (our) Heavenly Father sent a blind man to help me (us) see that by relying on the Holy Spirit to be my (our) breath of life and grasping God’s hand as my (our) walking stick, the way to Heaven’s gate is navigated by faithfully walking through all worldly darkness.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’.” John 8:12 (ESV)

Once upon a now ago, there was a child who longed to give his Mommy and Daddy the most special of all Valentine’s Day gifts.   Though very young in years, his heart possessed LOVE many grown-ups might still be seeking.

     His mind was fretting with confusion over what Valentine’s Day (worldly speaking) required of him.  After all, what does one give to show he loves his Mommy and Daddy more than anything else in the whole wide world?   It’s pretty hard, you know, for a little tyke to figure out grown-up traditions.  But, try his hardest, he did.

     A trip to the mall, surely, would do the trick.  So, next time Mommy bundled him up for his umpteenth trip to “shopdom”, our little man eagerly headed toward the car.  Mommy was shocked at his sudden change of behavior but didn’t question the new attitude.  Instead, she whispered a prayer of gratitude: “Thank God for James Dobson and his book THE STRONG WILLED CHILD.”   The Good Lord, sighed back: “If only you could see it’s not a change of behavior but an unchanging heart full of LOVE.   Ah, but you will, you will.”

     The mall was supposed to answer his gift giving quest.  Much the opposite occurred.   Imagine what our little man experienced.   Throngs of big tall people, pushing and pulling, running and reaching, to get the bargain of the decade for their most loved person of the century   He wondered, “How come everybody has gotta buy a bargain in order to give the most precious gift of all —LOVE????”   Un Uh, the mall was no help.

     What, oh what, should, or could, he do now?   Mommy and Daddy always prayed when they needed answers.  He’d do the same that night.  And so, his nighttime prayer sort of went: “Dear God, I love my Mommy and Daddy more than all the money in the world can measure.  But what can the pennies in my wooden treasure box buy to give them?   I really, really want it to be the ‘bestest’ gift of all”.

     Next day at school our little scholar asked his teacher what the ‘bestest’ of Valentine’s Day gifts really was.   She’d have the answer; teachers know everything!!!!   Warmly she smiled, while bending down to his height and offering her feeling that the rose was the most cherished Valentine’s Day gift.   It was the very symbol of LOVE.

     Exuberance, immediately, filled his heart.  Yeah, she must be right; and he knew all about roses.     Last summer, he and his Daddy had planted three rose bushes; and, like wow, they grew and grew and grew.   One whole side of the house was covered with roses, and they were super beautiful.   But wait; there still was a problem.   Winter had destroyed the flowers.  They all were gone.   He didn’t have even a one to pick and give this Valentine’s Day.

     A brief moment of thought, and then he decided, “I’ll buy one”.   Again, he tugged his teacher’s skirt, and heartstrings.   “How much does a rose cost,” he asked?   “About five dollars,” she replied. With eyes as big as saucers, he gasped back, “Five dollars, you gotta be kidding!!!!   We had hundreds last summer.   How can anything Daddy and I grew so many of last summer cost more money than I’ve saved all winter?”

     He was back to nowhere in his search for the “bestest” gift of LOVE.  

    Sunday morning dawned, and our little shopper was convinced there wasn’t a store in the world that held a gift with his price tag on it.   As the family scurried to get ready for church, his thoughts turned to the big-boy job his Mommy had asked his help in doing.   This week it was time to change the humongous banner that hung high before the “congre…”  “congre…” Church Family.  

     Which one will it be, he wondered?  As he and his Mommy carefully unfolded it, he jumped for joy.   “Mommy, this is my favorite one of all.  It’s purple with a crown and a tiny drop of red.  I remember the story, too.”   As his tiny arms struggled to hold up from the bottom what his Mommy was raising to the top, his little heart and soul understood all about Valentine’s Day.

     Unquestionably, a happy little tyke headed home with his family.   The car was barely stopped, when he went running to secure his treasured gift.   Now his hardest task of all was to wait for Valentine’s Day to dawn.   And, finally it did.

     Not even out of jammies, he clutched his little wooden treasure box and ran to find Mommy and Daddy.   All the while, he was chanting, “Happy Valentine’s Day; Happy Valentine’s Day, Mommy and Daddy!!!!”  

     With great excitement, a very blessed Mommy and Daddy peeked inside their little one’s wooden treasure box.   No sooner had the lid been raised, when their son proudly proclaimed, “It’s LOVE, Mommy and Daddy.   It’s LOVE!!!”

     Gently, his Mommy lifted the contents from the box – a thorn-filled rose stem.   No flower, no leaves.  Just a thorn-filled stem.

     Wholeheartedly, he continued, “I figured it out all by myself.   Flowers come and go; but the thorns, they’re the LOVE part.   They make it through winter storms and all.  They don’t die.   That’s why Jesus had a crown of thorns.  He’s LOVE; and His LOVE can’t die, you know!!!”

     Indeed, this little child had given the “bestest” gift of LOVE.

     This story holds the message of LOVE and the gentle reminder we all are children – Children of God.

     The center day of this week is Ash Wednesday.

     It is, also, Valentine’s Day.

     What story, this week, will the message of your LOVE write??

Many, many years ago, God taught me the lesson of His closing a door and opening a window. Let me be honest and proclaim, for me, the wisdom lesson was not in God’s closing and opening. It was in the “where abouts” of the window. Point blankly, God’s revelation (and correction of my wayward thinking) was the open window is not necessarily (and actually most often NEVER is) in the same building as the closed door. Wow, was this a light bulb going on, blown away moment for me!!!

Think about it. How many times do we accept that God has closed a door but fully expect Him to open a window in the same building, so we can keep pursuing and achieve the same goal/dream upon which the door was closed? Personally speaking, at one time, this was my absolute presumption. How short (and blind) sighted I, truly, was.

Truthfully, I’ve struggled and must have frustrated God in regard to this door/window not in the same building schooling. Problem was I used human desire over God’s purpose in trying to align my wishes over His direction. My heart fully believed I was pursuing God’s will, and most of the time I was. The problem was I was overlooking that God’s WAY for me to follow His WILL is His choice, not mine. God’s WAY is indicated by the window He opens, and my liking it or not, that window is most often not in the same building where that door slammed in my face.

Once this concept of the open window’s “where abouts” is understood and accepted, our tunnel vision ceases, and trust in God’s leadership brings us peripheral vision. Our sight becomes open to the possibilities of wherever God is going to open a window, He will help us climb over its sill and into where He will lead, inspire and watch us fulfill His WILL for both our hearts and souls. 

Don’t know about you; but as for me, when a door now slams in my face, I’ve learned to lace my hiking boots as I grab a Kleenex to cry into. Amidst my tears, I also ask: “where we going, God; and if that window isn’t on ground level, I’m assuming You’ll be hoisting me on your shoulders so I can crawl inside. Also, if the window isn’t where I think I want to be, You better be wearing your heavy boots. You’ll need them to punt me through the window that YOU opened!!! 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow — and this includes the Open Window’s “Where Abouts”!!!

My ready to turn three-year-old grandson and I played a special game the weeks leading up to his twin sisters’ arrival. While his mommy was in the hospital keeping the twins safe in her tummy, JB and I ventured, each day, on a trip to see them. Almost magically, every day as we headed out to the hospital, I’d open my purse and JB would find a hot wheels car in my handbag. All the way to the hospital, his tiny little hand clutched the small car. Once inside his mommy’s room, he’d run to his transport trailer, parked by her bed, and add his newest treasure to his collection of yesterdays’ cars.

Last week, two months after his mommy and sisters got home from the hospital, JB noticed my purse sitting high up on his kitchen counter. While climbing up an unsafe stool to fetch my handbag, his mommy pulled him back down to security and asked him, “just what do you think you are doing?”. JB pointed and answered, “Need GaGa’s bag”. Though his mommy was totally in the dark, the light bulb switched on for me. My little buddy hadn’t forgotten the magic of matchbox cars pouring out of my handbag. He was looking for it to continue!! 

I felt horrible as I realized my purse was now void of even a single hot wheel. Feeling like a flop of a Grammy, I opened my bag, peered inside and explained to JB that it was empty of cars since he no longer needed to visit his mommy and sisters in the hospital. Honestly, I was expecting his non acceptance and, even, a few tears that the magic was gone; but surprise to his mommy and me, this was not JB’s reaction. Instead, he ran to his cubbies, pulled out the one garaging his cars, sorted through and picked out two from his collection, ran back to my purse and dropped them inside. He zipped my purse, hugged me, said “I share” and ran off to put the binky back into his squirming sister’s mouth.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven’.” Matthew 18:1-4 (ESV)

Lately, too many times to count, God has awakened me to the richness and reality of this quoted Scripture. Look at our world. Adults are acting like spoiled rotten babies — in no resemblance at all to the Biblical referenced children. I truly believe, since so many grown-ups have grown out of living as a child of God, our Heavenly Father is having His littlest followers take the stage and actively personify the heart and soul God plants, waters and harvests in His greatest and tiniest Children. 

JB put more than two matchbox cars into his grammy’s purse. He put renewed faith, hope and love into my heart and soul. Years will see JB grow up; but my deepest prayer is he never outgrows the giving and loving heart and soul of being a child — a, forever, child of God.