Pulse

GRATEFULNESS
by George Herbert (1593- 1633)
Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
See how thy beggar works on thee
By art.
He makes thy gifts occasion more,
And says, If he in this be crossed,
All thou hast given him heretofore
Is lost.
But thou didst reckon, when at first
Thy word our hearts and hands did crave,
What it would come to at the worst
To save.
Perpetual knockings at thy door,
Tears sullying thy transparent rooms,
Gift upon gift, much would have more,
And comes.
This not withstanding, thou wenst on,
And didst allow us all our noise:
Nay thou hast made a sigh and groan
Thy joys.
Not that thou hast not still above
Much better tunes, than groans can make;
But that these country-airs thy love
Did take.
Wherefore I cry, and cry again;
And in no quiet canst thou be,
Till I a thankful heart obtain
Of thee:
Not thankful, when it pleaseth me;
As if thy blessings had spare days:
But such a heart, whose pulse may be
Thy praise.

Gratitude-Obligation, Pride, and Self-Sacrifice

From The Imaginative Conservative:

. “Do you love English literature, Mr. Hutchins, or do you feel a vocation to teach, or what is your motive?” “I want to earn enough money to put myself through law school,” Hutchins answered, his arrogant head held high.

“Why should you earn the money?” Bell asked. “That’s an awkward way to go about it. I know that college presidents do not get large salaries, but your father has many wealthy friends, any one of whom would be happy to lend you the money for law school; once successful as a lawyer, you could pay back the sum. Why not do that?”

“Because,” said Hutchins, sustained by much self-assurance, “I don’t mean to be obligated to anyone.” Clearly he anticipated approval of such fine Emersonian self-reliance.

“Then, Mr. Hutchins, we don’t want you at St. Stephen’s.”

Young Hutchins was angry: “Why not?”

“Because, Mr. Hutchins, we don’t want anyone in this college who is too proud to be obligated to anybody.”

"... the authentic conservative tradition in the West, owing to its Christian roots, leaves room for gratuitous, unmerited favor—what Burke named and Kirk championed “the unbought grace of life”. (Please, friends, treat yourself by reading the material at the link.)

Life is not a zero-sum affair. Most of us receive much more than we deserve, more than we could possibly “earn” without help. For the proud, this condition of being openly indebted to God and to men is personally humiliating, and typically issues in various manifestations of resentment...or denial...

When I left home after high school, I stayed with my great aunt and uncle for three years while attending community college. Their help to me was indispensible. I once told Uncle Lou that I would try to repay them. He told me, 'Don’t repay us, Jeff. Just do the same for somebody else.'"

Gratitude-The Creator gives thanks

The Creator gives thanks
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 
 ^{Luke 22:19-20}
 

Grafted, Gratitude, and Grace

 "...Sam Van Aken has grown a new variety of fruit tree that produces 40 different types of stone fruit each year."

My, oh my, what a beautiful tree, what a beautiful metaphor, what a beautiful reality...

"you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,  do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. "
Romans 11:17B-18 ESV

What a gift we have been given to be grafted in and to be nourished, loved, to live, and to bear fruit. To bear with,  to love one another.

By bearing one another's burdens, by loving we fulfill the law of Christ. and his law, his commandment...to love one another. This is what proves we are his, his disciples, what gives God glory. This bearing one another and this bearing of fruit are the same. Loving as He loved by laying down our lives. Bearing up in order to bear the fruit of love.

Bear One Another's Burdens

6 Brothers,^[a] if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For each will have to bear his own load.

Read more at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+6&version=ESV#qrG30jqkPPSZZZuZ.99

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants,^[a] for the servant^[b] does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Grafting is not without it's pain and neither is growth. Pruning is required

For more, click on the tree of forty fruits to the right to be take to Sam Van Aken's website and enjoy listening to his reason for taking on this project.

30 Days of Thankfulness 10

Warm house in the woods, fall moonlight on the pasture, chance to go to sleep early--that is what I am thankful for tonight!

30 Days of Thankfulness 9

Thankful for good girlfriends, both recent and past.

30 Days of Thankfulness 8

I am thankful for my Classed friends, who have taught me much about learning, teaching and how to integrate and enjoy life!

30 Days of Thankfulness 6

Thankful for a Sabbath's Rest....the Word preached, lived, given, received and enjoyed.

30 Days of Thankfulness 5

Thankful for my dear son-in-law who makes my daughter happy by working hard and sharing her love of theology, literature, and many more facets of life and shares all that he is with this new family of his! I love you, James!

30 Days of Thankfulness 4

Thankful for a lovely, gracious, compassionate, thoughtful, intelligent, enjoyable, fun-loving daughter! I love you, Grace.

30 days of Thankfulness 3

Thankful for a husband who believes excellence is a gift from God and practices to be a good steward of that gift. I love you, Ed!

30 days of Thankfulness 2

Thankful for a beautiful baby, now a lovely, godly young woman,  that God blessed me with 22 years ago. I love you, Sarah!

30 Days of Thankfulness

Being home and dinner with the family.

50

Yep the big 5-0! Well, like Bilbo I intend to make this a year of adventures...take a trip or two with dwarves, stop at the last Homely House, slay a dragon, but forgo the ring. In all seriousness, this is what I hope to make an integral part of my life...

"Gratitude never comes from avoiding difficulty, but from finding yourself sustained through it. The degree of joy rises to the degree of gratitude, and the level of gratitude corresponds to the level of God’s grace experienced in our suffering. God’s sustaining providence brings relief, even when life becomes unspeakably difficult."~Randy Alcorn

A Year of Gratitude following Ann Voskamp's lead by keeping a gratitude journal, while making my way through her challenging yet encouraging book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are .

And I take Scotty Smith's prayer as my own:

A Prayer About Ordained Days and God Thoughts

     All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. Psalm 139:16-18

     Heavenly Father, it’s my birthday, and the number just keeps getting bigger. I’m no longer 60, I’m officially now in my 60’s. There was a day when that sounded like the “ancient of days.” Honestly, I don’t feel any different than when I was 41.
     As “vast” and “great” as the sum of my years seems to me today, vaster and greater are my thoughts of you. The number of my years is calculated merely in terms of several decades, but if I tried to “do the math” concerning your glory and grace, I’d have to count every grain of sand on every beach that has ever existed. With David I can honestly say, “How precious to me are your thoughts.”
     Father, keep on rescuing me from all wrong thinking about you. Keep showing me how little I really see and understand about the greatness of your love for us in Jesus. That won’t embarrass me, it will truly thrill me. May the gospel keep on getting bigger and bigger and bigger. 
     It’s a source of incredible peace and freedom to know that you’ve ordained all of my days for me. That doesn’t feel like unfair fatalism, but rather, Fatherly affection. I’ll not live one day more or one day less than you decree, by your sovereign purposes and eternal pleasure. I’ve already outlived my mom by 49 years and my dad outlived me by 31.
     There’s a part of me that would like to turn the clock back for a possible “do-over,” especially for certain stretches of my life. But then again… not really. Your name is Redeemer and you’re the God restores years eaten away by locusts. I choose to rest in your love rather than stew in my regrets. I have great hope in your commitment to make all things new.
     All I ask is that each additional day, week, month or year you appoint for me in this world… that each will be filled with a greater grasp of the only love which will never let go of me. By your Spirit, Father, continue to reveal to me how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ—the only love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:18-19). Everything else will take care of itself. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ matchless and merciful name.

  

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully, Right Where You Are
 

“I watch the hands move grace on the clock face. I’m growing older. These children growing up. But time is not running out. This day is not a sieve, losing time. With each passing minute, each passing year, there’s this deepening awareness that I am filling time, gaining time. We stand on the brink of eternity.”~ Ann Voskamp

Time and Grace

  

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully, Right Where You Are
 

“I watch the hands move grace on the clock face. I’m growing older. These children growing up. But time is not running out. This day is not a sieve, losing time. With each passing minute, each passing year, there’s this deepening awareness that I am filling time, gaining time. We stand on the brink of eternity.”~ Ann Voskamp

A Few Changes and a Recommendation

I'm making a few blog changes and will highlight them in a later post, but for now may I commend to you a blogger whose posts both admonish and encourage... A Holy Experience .

I Thessalonians 5:12-25

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle [Or disorderly, or undisciplined], encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us.

Veteran's Day 2009

Thanks Daddy, Pawpaw, and all the uncles and great-uncles that served. Thanks to all veterans who have ever served. And thanks to those who are serving or preparing to serve. Someday we will know the true extent of the sacrifice and service you have provided and are providing us.

Molly--the Humane Tutor R.I.P.

I'm thick-headed. With my Daddy's recent knee troubles and subsequent surgery, my sisters and I have recently had visited upon us the revenge every parent dreams about foisting on their unsuspecting but richly deserving children; returning the stubbornness that made parenting us ever the daily challenge. He resisted going for diagnosis on knee trouble until one of my sisters made an appointment, picked him up, drove him to the doctor's office and sat with him during the exam. I can now say with a clear conscious that my stubbornness is clearly an inherited trait, and given Daddy's example, that will sustain me well as I get older and perhaps provide an opportunity for revenge on my own children.

But it was Molly that taught me how thick-hearted I was.

thick-hearted
condition that can prevents the human from becoming humane


humane
c.1450, variant of human, used interchangeably with it until early 18c., when it began to be a distinct word with sense of "having qualities befitting human beings." But inhuman still can be the opposite of humane.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper

Monday, was a day that I knew was coming but that I had tried to ignore.

Molly came home with us twelve years ago after a visit to the local Humane society to look for a "watch-dog". My husband was doing a fair amount of traveling one summer and with only two small children at home with me, I wanted another set of ears to listen for strange noises at night. And to bark at those strange noises, so that I could get up and see what those strange noises were, not find them and then worry all night and then complain to my husband. Yes, I'm neurotic. Why do you ask?

We chose Molly because she was docile, and, in our minds, clearly abused. She cowered when the worker brought a broom into the room and when my younger child played with a chain in the visiting room, Molly hid under the bench. There was no leaving her, not as long as there was breath in my tender-hearted girls. So home, she came. She obediently went into the bathroom that adjoined my girls bedroom to spend the night. She never tried to get out as I put a gate in front of the door to keep her in that bathroom. We were satisfied, we had a dog who was docile and would let us know if there were noises to be investigated. We could now sleep in peace. Until, at least midnight that is. At which time Molly made an appearance beside my bed, tail wagging and ready to play. No bother, I walked her back to the bathroom, noting that the gate was still up, (hmmm?). Then started back down the hall to my bedroom, getting as far as the family room, when Molly came bounding behind me, and clearing the sofa in one leap, turned to face me with tail wagging, ready to play. Did I mention it was midnight? So much for docile. Oh well, she was going to be my cheap alarm system, right? Wellllll....we soon noticed that Molly wasn't barking at anything. Not the postman, squirrels, other dogs. Nothing. Not good. So for three weeks, I wondered what to do. Having a dog just to walk, feed and scratch between the ears was not why I had signed onto this relationship. But I walked, fed, and scratched between her ears. And she loved it. And I realized my hard-heartedness. I didn't recognize the hardness until I felt it leave as I watched her enjoy her ear scratching. But it was there and it felt good to let go of it. And then it happened, she barked. Well not exactly a bark, but a sound. She was finding her inner bark (name the movie) and then bark she did, often and at everything. She did everything a dog is supposed to do. Chased rabbits, guarded our suburban lawn from encroachers, and patiently endured being dress-up by little girls.

She was afraid of thunderstorms and let us know it, but she never met a stranger she didn't like and was always the happiest one to see whomever walked through our doors. She reveled in her twice daily walks, loved her mealtimes and ours too...when we had steak.


Her delight in everything good was infectious. And her delight was multiplied when I would let go of my hardness and enjoy it as well. In that, she was my biggest cheerleader when I got it right and my humbliest, and most patient, critic when I got it wrong, which I did often. In short, she taught her humans how to be humane.

We guesstimated that Molly was somewhere between 15 and 17 years old. Up until the day before she died, she tugged at the leash to go in a different direction. She was stubborn. Maybe, she was stubbornly hanging on for us, I don't know, but stubborn she was. Over the course of the last year, we had watched her age ...quickly and quietly. She went from her tail-wagging, energetic fun-loving puppy dog self to a dog who had lost her hearing, most of her sight and her ability to walk up and down steps. I didn't care about all of that, she was my dog and would continue to be so because I could take care of her, forever...right?. But after a severe seizure, which we now realize was the second of two in 4 days, that left her weakened, I could no longer deny what was happening. Denial was not being the humane creature she had faithfully taught me to be. So we, through tears, said our good-byes and once again, she was our comforter and our tutor. She never once wavered in her love for us and in teaching us to love well even at the end.

Thank you, Molly. RIP

Fencing

My dad arrived this weekend to watch my younger daughter participate in her first fencing tournament. He came appropriately dressed to *fence*.


Needless to say we realized that our wires got crossed.

He came bearing gifts as well.


A girl is never too old to be wowed or spoiled by her daddy.