Introspection

I apologize to those of you who go on Facebook. I already posted this there. But many of you do not go on Facebook. Just want to thank you too. 

For those of you who don't know me that well, I have an analytical mind. Surprise. Surprise. So I've been aware this Christmas is harder than last year. Last year I was still in a fog. This year I'm very aware of what I'm missing. And no, I'm not in despair. Just dealing with it as it comes. So I'm focusing more on my birthday celebrations. That's working for me. I still sleep soundly all night. And there is definitely nothing wrong with my appetite. ☺️ I'm still functioning at work (guess my boss might have a few words to say). God is still right beside me. A few times these past days there has been only one set of footprints in the sand. His. My heart goes out to those who are truly struggling this season. Just let Him carry you. Christmas is about so much more than decorations and big dinners (nothing wrong with those). It's about that Baby who grew up. He makes all the difference in my life. And then there are you, my friends. You have all been such a support to me on this journey.

Merry Christmas.

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Don't Stop Praying

I stayed up past my bedtime last night.  Way past.  I had voted, but more than that, I had prayed. Weeks ago a nationwide call had gone out for Christians to pray for one minute every day at 8:00 pm Central Time. I set an alarm on my iPhone. Sometimes it went off in unusual places and I had some explaining to do.

But I prayed faithfully for the election, for our country. I quoted a scripture.

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14 (ASV)

During the evening, I deleted that alarm. The election was happening. I canceled my prayer time. How wrong that was. This morning I set my alarm again. Why would I quit praying now?

We have a new President Elect. It may not be the one you wanted. But he needs our prayers as he steps into a totally different role in his life. The world is watching us. I can’t even begin to understand the pressure on him.

I’m not into politics.  It certainly looks like a lot of hard work. And because you can’t please all of the people all of the time, a politician is always in trouble with someone. And so I pray for wisdom for Donald Trump, that he will surround himself with people of high integrity who can help bring our nation together. 

Jesus is still Lord. 

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Guest Writer Jan Ackerson

I first met Jan Ackerson years ago at a Faithwriter’s Conference in Livonia, Michigan. I was a novice and she was the guru. During a private critique of my work, she spoke softly and gently defused my anxiety. I left that session with confidence that I could, indeed, some day be a writer.

Below is one of the stories featured in her new book. Each story is exactly 100 words in length, yet encompasses a complete tiny story.

***

There was still one basket left to hang on the clothesline, and Michelle’s arms ached. She was reaching for a pair of jeans when the ground started to rumble. Earthquake, she thought, and she knelt and placed her palms on the ground as if to stop it.

It was not an earthquake. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of motorcycles came roaring past her yard, many with two riders, women with their arms loosely wrapped around the drivers’ waists. Some of the motorcyclists waved.

Michelle didn’t really want to go with them—but she wanted to be the type of girl who would.

***

If you enjoy tiny little stories like this, you can find 366 of them in Stolen Postcards, available here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1922135399/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bre offreairpr- 20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1922135399&linkId=ca1b70eb 7d88fc4aaa1b9678a29556b7

You can also read new 100-words stories on Mondays and Fridays on my blog:

https://100wordstoriessite.wordpress.com/

Follow me on Twitter: @janackerson1

Or on Instagram: janackerson

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Jesus, John and Heaven

“John just went to Paradise.”

Those are the words that changed my life in an instant. My beloved was no longer breathing air on this earth. He was in Heaven. Now what?

Over the following weeks, I devoured books on Heaven. I needed input on where he was and what was happening to him.

It was all good. 

As time passed, when someone would mention about the death of a friend, I would instantly think about John. Were they having a talk in Heaven? When a close friend shared that her time might be short in this world, I remember my response.

“I’m jealous. You get to see John before I do.” I’m sensitive that way. (smile)

One day recently during my quiet time, the scripture I was reading mentioned Paradise. You know where my thoughts went. John was there. And just that quickly came the thought. So is Jesus. It seemed Heaven no longer represented Jesus to me. John was what mattered.

That’s just wrong.

Jesus was not introduced to me early in life. All I knew about was a scary God. I was in my 30’s before Jesus became real to me. I had never been told I could have a relationship with Him.

It’s been a wonderful discovery.

But something in the connection between Jesus and me got short-circuited when John died. My other half was in Heaven. I longed to see him again. And so he began to represent Heaven to me.

Jesus and I have walked together for so many years, I feel troubled in the knowledge that I could put Him in second place so easily. And yet He understands and still loves me. After all, it was His idea for John and I to meet, and He delighted in the love we had for each other. He also appreciates the fact that I am totally human. He’s not going to leave my side.

But I’m a work in progress.

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list.” Matthew 22:37 (MSG)

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Protection in Bad Weather

My vagabond child, Lorri, can’t seem to stop traveling. Not only did she and I drive from my home in Kennewick, Washington to Banff, Canada and back the first part of June, but she also packed a U-Haul and drove from my home to Columbus, Georgia.

That took care of June.

On the fourth of July she climbed in a rental car (because hers had been rear-ended and was in the shop) and drove from Columbus, Georgia to San Antonio, Texas. That’s where my one remaining sibling lives, my brother Tony. I volunteered to be her weatherman as she drove those 13 hours.  Weather was not an issue.

I want you to know I take my job very seriously.

Her plan was to leave San Antonio this morning and arrive in Columbus early tomorrow.  Just before I climbed into bed last night I checked the weather app. OK, so I think it’s fun to watch the radar, figure out the direction the storms are going and keep tabs to see if I know what I’m talking about.

I’m a meteorologist wannabe.

Her entire route home said thunderstorms. And we know what thunderstorms can be like in places named Houston, Beaumont, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mobile and Columbus.

So I prayed and fell asleep, placing her trip in God’s hands.

Before church this morning, I checked the radar.  It wasn’t good. She was going to have some pretty rough weather to drive through. I hope she got an early start. Not so.  As I was leaving church I received a text that she was headed out. I sat in my car and checked the weather on my iPad (which I brought with me for just that purpose). It showed she could get as far as Lake Charles before the weather became a factor.

At Sulphur, just west of Lake Charles, she checked in again. I consulted the radar. My text told her the weather had moved north and she could proceed to Baton Rouge before she hit bad weather.

Each time I checked the radar, the weather ahead of her was clearing. My next text to her said, “Lorri, I am watching God clear the way for you.  Praises.”

This is a blog in progress. She is one hour from Baton Rouge now. If she wants to keep going the road ahead is good. Prayer works.

“You…provide a warm, dry place in bad weather…” Isaiah 25:4 (MSG)

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Thrown in the Deep End

When John and I had our new home built, he designed his office just the way he envisioned it. A big window along one wall that looked out to the living room…and beyond through the living room window to the fire pit on the patio. It was my suggestion to put blinds on the window to his office, just in case it got messy in there. (Smile) 

When I sold our business and had to clean out his office, I brought his personal stuff home and placed it in his home office too. And then I closed the blinds and shut the door. After his passing, I was not ready to probe the contents of his boxes and belongings.

Recently my Internet was not working correctly. After time spent at Charter, I returned home with a new modem and router. A Starbucks friend, Steve, offered to come over and get the new equipment set up. But they resided in John’s office and were connected to his computer.

I could feel John’s presence when we entered that room. Hopefully this wouldn’t take long. The equipment was hooked up, the phone call placed to activate it and then the computer restarted.

My heart sank to my toes.

The screen said iCloud wanted John’s password. We tried the only one I had ever heard John say. It didn’t work. I went numb at the thought of losing the memories in there. And so began my search…through his personal stuff…his boxes…the essence of John. Steve left me to my task while he attended a meeting. I cried. I prayed. And I continued digging.

No password.

 

Steve returned with a ray of hope. He knew another way to get a password reset…use John’s Gmail account. But of course, Gmail wanted John’s password. The only one I knew worked. But relief was slow coming. After Steve left, I sat in the family room and stared…totally drained emotionally.

As the hours passed and I began to recover, my hesitancy to enter John’s office slowly dissipated. The anticipated grief in that room no longer hung as a weight around my neck.

I had been thrown in the deep end of the pool…and hadn’t drowned.

His office door is open. I say “hi” to him as I pass. Soon it will be cleaned up and the blinds will be opened. Inadvertently I was forced to take one more step to wholeness.

“Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!” John 16:24 (MSG)

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