The Plus Also Principle

Have you ever been told to "Go the extra mile?" Or have you ever described the generosity of a person by saying, "He'd give you the shirt off his back?" Where do you suppose phrases like these originated? I think they go directly back to Jesus' teaching in his famous Sermon on the Mount where he defines what constitutes "blessing" and "blessed." I highly recommend that you read the whole fifth chapter of Matthew for context when you are able, but I want to remark here on a few points that have been circulating in my head in recent weeks:

1) I must not love only the people who love me. I am commanded to love my enemies, to love and care about strangers. Oh, this goes against everything in us! Consider the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. You know how it goes: There is a man who is traveling that is waylaid by criminals who beat him up, rob him, and leave him for dead along the road. Many "good" guys see him and keep going, not wanting to get involved, until one unimpressive foreigner happens by. He feels compassion. He stops and gives medical attention before bringing the man to today's equivalent of an ER. He nurses him overnight and, when he must continue about his business, he leaves money for someone else to care for him saying, "Whatever more it costs to continue his care, I will pay when I return." Did you notice this story gives no background on the victim? It doesn't tell us if he was innocent and upright or a scoundrel. Maybe he had a reputation for swindling others and was suffering payback from those he'd taken advantage of? Maybe some of the people who passed by him on the road knew who he was and purposely kept going? We don't know. The only focus of the story is on what the Samaritan did. He went the extra mile. He gave more than the shirt off his back. He loved a stranger.

2) I am called to go beyond what is asked or expected. In his sermon, Jesus told the masses that if

someone forces you to go a mile with him, go two. If someone demands your coat, give him your shirt also. This sounds strange. This sounds like a hijacking and robbery! What in the world is he talking about? He is talking about what I call The Plus Also Principle. This is not just an ideal to employ when you find yourself a victim of criminal behavior, but rather a maxim you can act on every day of your life in much more ordinary scenarios: Maybe you are asked to wash the car--go ahead and do it--plus vacuum the floor mats and clean the windows and dash. You are expected to give a ride to an elderly friend--take them to lunch also.Your job is to clear the table--pick up a broom and sweep the floor, too. In what ways can you creatively honor God by giving above and beyond?


3) I need to lay down my life. Jesus said, "No one takes my life, I sacrifice it voluntarily." While we were ENEMIES of God, hating him and not the least bit interested in looking for him, he GAVE his Son.  Lay down my life? I have a hard time laying aside my agenda, my preferences, my momentary comfort for the benefit of someone else before I feel grievously violated. How do you feel when someone takes something that is yours? Do you feel angry? Vengeful? What if you decide that you are releasing it as a gift instead? Would it change how you felt? Which is better; to feel put upon or taken advantage of--or to decide what you are doing/giving is a GIFT and expect nothing in return? What if you loaned money to someone who asked and considered it a gift instead? What if you fed the guy on the street corner without needing a disclosure of how wisely he'd spend your donation? What if you strongly committed to consider the needs of your neighbor as every bit (or more) important than your own? How would this affect our little corner of the planet?

When we behave in this counter-intuitive, reverse-culture manner, we prove that we are Children of our Heavenly Father, and do you know why? WE ARE ACTING LIKE HIM. He gives to the ungrateful constantly. (That would be you.) He rains down continual blessings on those who think they deserve it and those who don't. This, Friends, is how we are Salt for the earth. This is how we are Light for the world. Go. Do. Be.

Photos from Hillcrest Academy's mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Spring 2015

(Matthew 5, Luke 10:25-37, Romans 5:8, John 10:18)

Return to the Garden

The Garden. THOSE were the good ol' days but we never realized it. Those were the days before violence, before hatred and murder, anger and selfishness. There was no doubt, no knowledge of evil. No bloodshed no sickness, no suffering of any kind. All was only good, all the time. But it wasn't enough. We wanted more--more knowledge, more power, more experience, no limits. And so we traded perfection for these: Brokenness, thorns, pain, sadness, death, and the perversion of eve...rything good. The first humans chose this and we continue to choose it--surrounded by all the beauty and glory of God's creation, we choose independence from Him. We choose war and disregard Him who made it all for our good. We treat others, made in His image, worse than animals enslaving and selling children for vile pleasure. How far we've wandered away from the Garden! Claiming to be wise, we've become fools and exchanged the glory of God for corruptible, temporal pursuits! And yet there burns this spark of hope, this sense that things ought not be this way. We long for innocence for our children, safety for our sons and daughters, peace for our souls, a return to beauty. That's what God offers us in Christ--a one way ticket back to The Garden, back to Him. We can look at all that is happening around us and KNOW that we are on our way. This place is not our Home. This is how I am encouraging MYSELF today, June 16, 2015. There is hope, dear friends. There is hope for me and for you, for our children and grandchildren. We cannot fix this ourselves. No amount of cosmetic surgery or propping up of the broken system will make it better. Our job is to be a preservative of the good that remains and a light that points to the Only Solution. He is all. There is nothing else. Come quickly, Lord Jesus

Ordinary June Days

Enjoying this damp, cool morning with 7 year-old Sawyer. We ate strawberries, dewy from our little patch out back and shared some with the chickens who graciously traded warm, smooth eggs. Next we thinned the carrots and spinach rows and fed the excess to the bunnies before checking the rain gauge--three quarters of an inch.

A tall glass of iced tea, the roar of the lawnmower, chicken soup bubbling on the stove, the yeasty smell of bread rising, sheets gently waving from the clothesline

Sipping coffee on the back porch this morning, watching the animals. The cat is laying with her head tucked under the wicker arm of the loveseat watching the chickens. I can see the rapid rise and fall of her rib cage as her breathing quickens with the movement of the birds. She is fascinated, but scared of them (fraidy-cat) and they are nervous (chicken) about her presence. Mimzy's pupils dilate, her tail twitches. The chickens move about the grass, pecking here and there at things I can't see--purring, clucking, and growling at one another. All of a sudden, one of them thinks that the hen on the opposite side of the yard has found something good and races across the lawn, wings poised for take-off that never comes. False alarm. Heart rates return to normal. Time for a second cuppa coffee

Ahhhh...the end of a perfectly ORDINARY day. The sun is soft, casting lengthening shadows on the freshly clipped lawn. The ceiling fan is singing it's own lopsided song over my head and I can see the platties and mollies in the aquarium next to me darting about, ever hopeful that I'll sprinkle food their way. The smell of grilled salmon lingers, mixed with the heavy scent of cut flowers. My shoulders are tired, in a good way, after a routine day of puttering about. I am thank...ful for a house to clean, a yard to groom, and strength to work. Tonight I will wash my dirty feet in the tub before I flop onto crisp sheets and a billowy down comforter edged in eyelet. A box fan will blow the cool evening air through the window filling the bedroom with a perfect sleeping temperature. Mimzy will stretch out, fluffy tummy-side-up at the foot of the bed. I can relax as darkness falls, knowing that God is at work on my behalf--morning, noon, and night. I am secure in the shadow of the wings of the Almighty.

"God provides for His own. It is pointless to get up early, work hard, and go to bed late anxiously laboring for food to eat; for God provides for those He loves, even while they are sleeping." Psalm 127:2 (The Voice)

Too Busy

There are two phrases I plan to completely eliminate from my vocabulary this summer. 1) I'm so tired, and 2) I'm so busy. When I talk about being tired, it makes me MORE tired. When I tell people I am SO BUSY they probably feel as irritated as I feel when they tell me the same thing. You know what? We are ALL busy. Whatever. Fact: We are TOO busy. Here's an idea--what can you cut out of your schedule this summer? What sport can you NOT sign your kid up for? What volunteering ...can you take a break from? How about if you plan for some blank days on your calendar? Don't tell me you can't. The world will not stop turning if you pause to catch your breath, I promise. What if you stopped to smell the roses every day? What if you sat on the sidewalk and watched ants? What if you threw a blanket on the grass and read to the kids or just closed your eyes and listened to them play? When was the last time you watched clouds? Stayed in your jammies and drank coffee all morning? Listened to the birds singing while you painted your toenails on the back steps? Life is full of MOMENTS. Moments that tick by so fast we don't ever notice them until they become hours and days, weeks and years. And all we do is run from one thing to another telling everyone how tired and busy we are. STOP. Just stop. Shhhhhh...quiet your little soul today. Be present. Be aware of the world and your tiny little part in it. Breathe. There is rest for you in this crazy world. But first, you must want it. Quit wearing your Badge of Busyness like it's an honorable calling. Let's humble our prideful hearts and choose the better thing.

Sunday's Here!!

Sunday's here! The grave is empty--Jesus is RISEN! This is the season in the church when we celebrate the greatest act of love in history. The past couple of days, I have been thinking a lot about "the holy catholic church," the universal body of believers. So often we extol individuality--even in our personal relationships with Jesus--and while that is certainly important, I think there is something we lose sight of in our independent western culture: Corporate faith, collec
tive faith, the fact that "Wherever two or three are gathered in My name, there I am there in the midst." (Matthew 18:20) We can and must have our own private, intimate fellowship with God. But we can't deny the fact that something supernatural happens when we come together with others who believe.

Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus wanted more of Peter than he had been giving up to this point. He asked him, "Do you love me? Then feed my sheep." (John 21) Maturing faith is never just about me. It is about US. Just as my hand can't tell my eye, "I have no need of you," neither can I dismiss others who claim the name of Jesus. I have seen Jesus in Presbyterians from Nigeria, Lutherans from Norway, Mennonites from Florida. I have seen him in Catholics from Pennsylvania, Baptists from Washington, and Charismatics from Korea. I have seen him in Brethren from India, Dutch Reformed from Minneapolis, and Pentecostals from Missouri. There is One Event which all Christian faith centers on: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection, all faith and hope is pointless. Without the resurrection our brief lives here are futile, filled with inexplicable pain--the suffering of loved ones with cancer, the sudden death of a child, endless woe and misery and struggle. But He AROSE! I believe it. And I draw energy from those of you who believe it, too. No, we don't have every answer to all the whys in our world, but we know the One who does.
Great men and women down through history have died waiting for the Promise of His Coming. And now you and I wait with them--old men, grandmothers, young parents, teenagers and toddlers from every nation, tribe, and tongue. We join together on Easter to remind ourselves--and the world--that this is not our home. That Jesus has gone before to prepare a place for us beyond our wildest imaginations. That, where HE is, we will be also. A place of no tears, no sickness, no suffering. Because He lives, there is strength to live lives of purpose, focusing on the goal that lies ahead. Easter's message of hope is for us and for all who are far off that will yet believe because of our stories of faith. Won't you tell yours?

Saturday's Silence

Waiting. Silence. Guilt and Sadness. This is what Saturday felt like to all those who loved Jesus. Had yesterday really happened, or was it all a bad dream? But no, the ones who had taken down the body of Jesus and carried it to the tomb still had his dried blood staining their robes. They who had heard him cry, "My God, my God--why have you forsaken me?" could not block out the memory still ringing in their ears. How had this ended so terribly? Weren't they just walking alon...g the road with Jesus, basking in his growing popularity, feeling honored that THEY were the ones he had chosen to follow him? How could they have abandoned him, still cowering in secret--afraid for their lives? Surely they were dismayed to see Peter--their fearless leader--broken and despondent, wrestling with his public denial. They had no doubt heard what had become of Judas and maybe some thought he had chosen the only way out. We know the story and what happens next. But they did not.

Have you ever found yourself in this place of waiting in the face of God's silence? An earthquake has ripped apart your life (your health, your family) and you think you can never recover--things will never be good again. You pray, but you feel your prayers rise to deaf ears or bounce off the ceiling. You doubt if God is there, if he hears you, if he cares. And yet we KNOW that things were happening that Saturday after the crucifiction. Jesus descended into hell and took the keys of hell and death, triumphing over his enemies and making a mockery of them. (Colossian 2:13-15) His dying words, "It is finished," meant he had successfully delivered the blow God had promised the serpent way back in the garden of Eden; "[Adam's] seed will crush your head." Satan may have celebrated on Friday, but he didn't laugh for long.
Whatever you may be going through today, know this: God is near. He is aware, he is paying attention, he KNOWS. And though you may not see it or feel it, he is busy on your behalf. Can you rest today? Can you take advantage of the Sabbath given to you and just rest? Times come when we are told, "...having done all to stand..." to continue to simply STAND. Stand and see the salvation of our Lord who has defeated the ultimate enemy, who has all authority in heaven and earth, and who loved you SO MUCH he died for you. Sunday is coming, Sweet Friend. Just you wait!

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life

Casual observations by an ordinary girl. This was originally published as a series of Facebook posts.

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 1: VOLUNTEER. That's right--work somewhere for free. Think of a cause that really matters to you, maybe it's animals--visit your local Humane Society and see what you can do to help. Pet the kitties, walk the dogs, become a pet foster family or rescue home for your favorite breed. Are you fond of elderly people? Check with your local Senior Center or Veteran's Home. Maybe you can spend a few hours a week playing chess with a lonely person, help write a letter, read a book. Do you love babies? Every single church in town would jump for joy if you volunteered for the nursery once a month. Do you have a special skill or hobby that you could share with children? Talk to someone with Community Ed and see if you can teach a class, or volunteer in an elementary class and read to/listen to budding readers. Volunteers are needed to weed city flower beds, help out at the hospital, take meals to shut-ins. Check with the library or nursing homes about reading to the blind. Sign up to teach Sunday school or lead a cub scout troop. Help make birdhouses or pull invasive weeds at Prairie Wetlands. Make plans to go on your church's next short-term missions trip instead of merely writing a check. Every single one of us has gifts and talents that we can share with others. And we all have far more to give than we realize. I am totally convinced that our personal levels of happiness are directly proportionate to how much we do for and consider others. Think about it--what do you have to give? Verse for the day is Philippians 2:3-4: "Don't act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others."

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 2: Love your job. Okay, more realistically find the parts you can love and love em' hard. It's important to consider a few key points before you dismiss what I'm saying. You're right, I don't know your boss, I don't know your situation. But I am happy to announce that the days of slavery in this country are over. Whatever excuses you may make, you don't have to stay in a job that is making you miserable. So first, let us establish that you're in your job because you CHOOSE to be. This is huge. The ability to work is a gift. Don't spend 40+ hours of your week waiting for it to be over. Second, most jobs involve some type of service whether you are bagging groceries or prosecuting criminals, or healing the sick. Take a real look at the people you are helping. You have the power to brighten their day and make their load a little bit lighter. How about your coworkers--do you realize you have the ability to make your workplace better? Bake some brownies or pick up donuts for the workroom. Use words to encourage and praise the people you work with. Do a little EXTRA, more than you are asked, of whatever you are required, Third, know that all work has dignity and worth. You could be changing diapers and wiping running noses, or you could be climbing ladders to repair wind towers. Know that you are contributing to parts of a whole and you are divinely positioned to touch lives no one else will. Finally, remember who your real Boss is: "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Ephesians 6:7

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 3: Commit random acts of kindness. I promise this is an instant day brightener both to YOU and the person to whom you show kindness. I have seen friends who are so creative with this. One friend made a double meal once a week. Her family ate one meal and the other was given away--not necessarily to someone who was ill or had just had a baby--but to any friend she thought could just use the treat of not having to make dinner. I've seen people who pay restaurant bills for strangers, or pay for the person behind them at coffee shop windows. I have another friend who has a good deed she does once a year: She takes a day off work and sits in a parking lot with a twenty dollar bill until she sees a person she feels prompted to give it to. Sometimes this ritual is over in minutes, sometimes she waits hours. But every single time, she's gone away excited about being able to be good to someone. Just yesterday, I read about a friend whose little boy saw a homeless man out the window of a restaurant. He wrapped up his entire untouched meal and brought it out to the man and gave it to him and prayed for him. Random acts of kindness are contagious. Kindness begets kindness. Will you join me today in looking around for people to bless? Verse for the day: Proverbs 3:27, "Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help. :

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 4: Slow Down. I am sad that society has taught us that to relax is bad. It is not enough that we get a To Do List and do tasks, we are applauded when we MULTI-task. WITH a cell phone in our hands, WHILE real humans are talking to us and/or hanging off our legs. Does anyone else see the insanity here? Our children are learning from us: It is never okay to be still. To wait in a grocery line is unthinkable. Traffic is to be cursed. People who text us are the most important people in the world and must be answered immediately--even if we are driving. Why are we so harried? Why have we forgotten how to relax? We overbook and double book ourselves on our calendars and smart phones. There is a "plan" from the minute we get up in the morning until we fall into bed at night. There is no room for play, no room for interruptions, no room to think and BE. Let's be honest and admit--this is the treadmill we run on. Yet Jesus praises Mary for choosing the best thing. He implores us to consider the flowers and the birds that God cares for and reminds us how much more valuable we are than they! It isn't possible for every day to be a weekend or a vacation. There may be things you can cross off your To Do List, but often such restfulness and peace must begin in our heads. Slow down your thoughts. Breathe. Notice. BE. Verse for the day: Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..."

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 5: SIMPLIFY. This applies to each and every aspect of our lives. We need to cut back, pare down, and reduce excess. We all just have too much STUFF, too many things that weigh us down. We are bursting at the seams with possessions and slaves to our own schedules. Who can stop this madness? Who can save me from myself?! I learned something valuable in my early twenties as Ron and I spent several months living in a 24 ft camper in Florida with two little girls. We had very little and what we did had to be organized and fit into small, limited spaces. But I discovered it was surprisingly easy to keep our "home" clean because we had to! I have also noticed another phenomenon each time we have moved to a new house: (And these moves have been plentiful.) Before we would move, we purged our possessions mercilessly to cut down on having to lug so much around. I'd set up the new place with the basics as quickly as possible and oh, how I loved the lack of clutter those first couple weeks! Then I would remember the garage/basement/storage spaces where the REST of our belongings waited to be unpacked and I would lament, "WHY do we have all that STUFF when we are living right now with ALL WE NEED!" I am a far cry from an episode of "Hoarders" but I still have closets and drawers, cabinets and bins FULL of stuff I never use. Now let's talk about our messy lives. This one is harder. If there is one thing that I struggle with (and there are many) the worst is moderation. But why is that? When is enough enough: Enough sleep, enough to eat, enough "me" time, enough computer/TV time, enough shopping? What am I really saying with all these gluttonies? That I don't know how to tell myself "no?" That I don't trust God to provide the things I really need? Think about how this might apply to you and what you can you do to streamline your life. Think about your house, your vehicles, your busyness, your kids' activities. Let's take a good look at our lives and simplify as an act of faith! Verses for the day: "“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?" Matthew 6:25-30

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 6: KEEP IT POSITIVE! In my life I have known people who thought they had the Ministry of Correction and/or the Gift of Criticism. I have avoided these people like the plague and vowed to root out these weeds in my own life whenever they popped up. It does not take genius to find fault. Sarcasm is the cheapest kind of humor. Don't be the person who gets laughs at the expense of someone else. It is lower nature to point out flaws. Train yourself to look for the positive. Start small. Tell yourself, "It is good to wait in traffic so I can finish this radio program I'm listening to." Later you can work up to bigger things like, "At least the tree fell on the car and not the house!" It's not about having a Doris Day, "Que Sera, Sera" attitude. It's about REFRAMING your situation. It can pretty much always be worse. Look for the silver lining. You be the patient, cheerful person in a roomful of grumps. Learn to use humor when you face challenges. Do you think God gets all worked up when things seem crazy? Is he ever worried or fearful or intimidated? I love the story of David's confidence before the giant Goliath, how he RUNS toward his enemy armed with just a sling and stone as the rest of the army shakes in their armor. And of Caleb who silences the Israelites saying, "We are well able to conquer the land," when everyone around him was trembling in fear. We serve a BIG GOD who has made us more than conquerors. Why would we shrink back and wallow in insecurity? Verse for the day: Ephesians 3:20 "Glory belongs to God, whose power is at work in us. By this power he can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine." Partnered with God? We got this!

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 7: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. One parenting tool we used when a couple of our kids were younger and feeling especially ungrateful was to assign them the task of going to their rooms and staying there until they could come out with a long list of things they were thankful for. I wished we had used that exercise more often, and not just as a punishment. Thankfulness does not come naturally wired into our little hearts. It is the first phrase we teach our children and remind them to use it for at least a decade or two. "Say THANK YOU...: we prompt, hoping the child eventually learns to say it on their own. The best way to teach thankfulness is to model it, so friends---sharpen those pencils and make your list. If you're having a hard time starting, write "I am thankful I have breath" and work from there. Thankful people are HAPPY people. And the good news is thankfulness is a skill we can learn because, as I said, we are not born full of gratitude. We all have to learn. Saying THANK YOU is, by nature, an act of humility. We are acknowledging that we don't have all we need in ourselves--that we depend on others to provide for us what we can't provide for ourselves. So sometimes, it is hard to say. But being thankful and giving thanks is probably the greatest key to happiness. What do you have to be thankful for today? Verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this."

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 8: LIGHTEN UP. That's right, LAUGH. No one else takes you as seriously as you do. I remember a day when my kids were small. I left the oldest, who around 12, in charge of siblings who were 3 and 5 while I walked two blocks in our small town to get the mail. Before I left, I loaded the dishwasher and added a free sample of dish soap that someone had given me and pushed start. When I came home a half hour later, it was to the sight of two children sliding through soap bubbles six inches deep on the kitchen floor. Foam was still oozing out the sides of the dishwasher and they were bubbling over with laughter. I had not realized there was a difference between dishwasher soap and dish soap and all I could see was a huge mess. I am quite certain there was a good deal of shouting and anger that day, though I laugh now and wish I had reacted differently--joined them in a suds-fight and taken pictures. What's happening in your life today that you might laugh about in ten years? Why not laugh now? Remember what I said the other day about "re-framing?" Listen to what you tell yourself when things do not go as planned. Be careful not to awful-ize everything. Learn to laugh at yourself. Others already are. Join them. Be quick to point out the silliness of your own thinking, the humor in the unexpected. Very few things are really as big of a deal as you think. Verse for the day, Proverbs 17:22: "A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's strength."

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 9: Forgive your parents. I wish that God gave children to mature, confident people who have their lives together, but he doesn't. Children come to young people with issues. These young people may or may not be finished with school and undecided about their futures. They may be struggling to find a career path, barely living from paycheck to paycheck. There might be tension in their marriage, arguing about the budget and spending, about in-laws, friends. They may be battling chronic illness or addictions. Maybe they never observed good parenting modeled as children and don't have a clue what to do with that role themselves. To small children, parents are all-knowing, all-powerful deities. But as kids get older, their parents' feet of clay are revealed. Here is where comparisons/judgments begin. The parents, now much older, may look nothing like the baby-faced, fledglings they once were and they become easy targets for enlightened offspring. Adulthood is the time to apply grace. If your parents let you down, if they weren't all that you needed them to be, get over it. Let go of the hurts and disappointments of the past and learn to see your parents through new eyes. You are a Big Girl/Boy now. Take responsibility for your own life and parenting experience without blaming generations before you. Then cross your fingers and hope that your children will one day extend the same grace they see you showing now. Verses for the day, Ephesians 6:2-3. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

How to Put More HAPPY in Your Life, Part 10: CREATE FUN. Dig deep and find the child within--invite her out to play more often. If you have forgotten how to play, spend some time with children and they will remind you. A few days ago, my teenage daughter texted me to see if I had any ideas for what to do on a dreary, rainy day with the two little girls she was babysitting. I noted that there was no thunder or lightning and suggested, "Put them in their swimsuits and rain boots and take them out to play in puddles." She did, and the girls declared it "the best day EVER." Fun can be had anywhere, if you just use a little imagination. Waiting can be awful, or it can be a game. A dear friend of mine has two boys with chronic health issues that necessitate frequent long days of medical testing and procedures. But she never ceases to find JOY in those days with her sons. They wear fun hats, stay at hotels, play games, take pictures as though they are on vacation. If someone can make being SICK look like fun, what is your excuse? Another friend likes to use any event as a reason to celebrate--first day back at school, last day of school, lost tooth, found library books--you get the idea. You can bring out the good dishes and candles for a passing grade in algebra, a new driving permit, a whole week of no nail-biting. Make chores a game--a contest with silly prizes--and watch the eyes of your littles light up. Life does not have to be a drudgery. Look for ways to PLAY and watch your Happy Meter rise! Verse for the day, Psalm 100:2. "Serve the Lord cheerfully. Come into his presence with a joyful song."