Giving Thanks Thursday

Thank you Lord for mild winter weather.


Thank you for technology for FaceTime, phone calls, webinars, and photos sent back and forth.


Thank you for time to spend with others. To share in mutual experiences and life.


Thank you for hikes and walks as a family.


Thank you for forgiveness and fallen snow.


Thanks for swag.

Falling Ashes

Today marks an important day in the church year, Ash Wednesday. This is the beginning of the season of Lent. A time for people to reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for their sins. Lent is a journey of 40 days to the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning. 

My husband walked to work today and took this picture of our church.

Monday evening it snow/iced/sleeted. Some melted away yesterday, but this was the result after a very cold night. 

Now, as I look out my window, snow is falling and it is beautiful. I do enjoy just getting to sit and watch the snow from inside a warm house.  

Have you ever watched ashes fall? When you are outside with a great bonfire or campfire sometimes ashes will start to blow and fall and land just like snow. Ash doesn't just wipe away easily, it usually leaves a mark and clothing has to be washed. Sin, the bad things we do, does the same thing in our lives. It leaves marks on our heart and it doesn't easily come off.  As we thinking of Ash Wednesday we are reminded of our sin. We are reminded that from dust we came and to dust we will return. The consequence of sin is death. It is something we completely deserve. We are forever separated from God in death.

But then it snows. Beautiful snow falls and washes the earth clean. Jesus death on the cross washes the ash off and makes us white as snow. Sin isn't pretty and Jesus sacrifice wasn't either, but through His death and resurrection we are with God again.  Can you imagine a sacrifice so big that would pay for the sins of the world? 

We are no longer marked with sin. Our hearts are clean. We are white as snow. 

Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool."

Small Kindness

There are many days that errands seem like a thousand times more difficult that they need to be. I have to carefully coordinate nap times, hunger pains, bags, carriers, and traffic to make it out of my house.

The other day I tried to time my trip to Sam's Club at just the right moment of the day. I decided not to bring in a bag in and just put everything in my carrier pocket to make it easier for me. I had been watching the sky all day and thought I had enough time to run in, get my goods, and get out before the rain. However, as I was getting my receipt checked, I noticed the sky had opened and rain was falling. I never park close to the door because I refuse to drive around to find a prime spot. Plus, I figure the extra steps are good for me. I put on baby boy's hat and put the carrier's cover over his head. My concern was getting him in the car without being drenched. I did bring an umbrella, but I figured there was no way I could manage a cart, baby, and an umbrella. I just left my cart next to the car why getting Elijah in his seat. Everything was getting soaked, but I figured nothing was getting ruined. All of a sudden a sweet woman came over and said let me put my umbrella over your cart. She told me she had 3 grandchildren and understood it was hard to errands with little ones. She covered my head while I literally threw things in the back seat of the car. I thanked her and let her know it really meant a lot of me that she took the time to help me.

I said a little prayer of thanksgiving for that woman and her kind heart.

There have been many moments since becoming a mother that I have become very annoyed while running errands. I will see people watching me struggle and just walk past or stare. When did it become hard to help your neighbor?

Small kindness. That is all it takes to make the day of someone else. It doesn't mean you need to spend money or think of an elaborate act of kindness. Being kind can be very small but have a very large impact.

As I think about parenting, I am reminded that I want my son to stop to help others. I want him to be award of the people God has placed in his life. I want him to notice other people. It make seem obvious, but I think it takes a concentrated effort to teach the next generation about kindness.

Have you been kind lately? What are ways your family can take time to see other people around you?

Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."