When you live long enough, you are bound to experience many things that add to your life story. Today, half of a loving couple who played an intricate part in my story, passed away. I have had a few people who have had tremendous influence in my life, and this man was one of them. He was my boss, along with his wife, for about nine years and it was the best time of my life in terms of getting to do what I loved best; helping others to live their dream and be successful in their pursuit of the dream.
The thing is, they became so much more than bosses to me. I loved helping them look good. They worked very hard to help hundreds of others become successful and would do whatever possible to make that happen. I in turn, did whatever I could to help them all to meet their goals. I had the dream of teaching classes on business, time management, how to make an interesting demonstration, teach them how to work in cooperation with others, and helping them grow as individuals. I watched our success be my bosses success. It was a such a great time.
The other side of it is, they are like family to me. In many ways…I felt I was. I spent many days sharing lunch with them, and brainstorming how we could be more effective in helping the sales team meet their goals. God spoke to me early on in my employment with them, that I was to leave encouraging notes for them on their desks. Be their armor bearers. When they encouraged others all the time as they did, sometimes someone needs to encourage them. That is what God asked me to do. So I did. My boss went out of his way to help me in different times of crisis in my life, and I will never forget that kindness. He had a hard time when I would try to thank him then, and even in the years to come, but I wanted him to know how much it meant to me. I would also pick up some sugar-free black licorice candy for him sometimes too because he loved it. Yep. Good times.
Thanks to him being so innovative, our sales force was #1 and others looked to us for our leadership in that industry at that time. Fun place to associate with. I learned a lot about business, life, and financial freedom through my time there too. I received a great foundation for life. He was always willing to bring in great speakers that would lead, encourage and teach us in ways that would improve our business if we desired to follow the training. He was also the one who, after a brainstorm lunch one day, tossed the keys to their Lincoln Continental to me to drive back to work because they were running errands with the other car. I was so nervous driving it back to work that I ended up tripping in the parking lot and skinned my knee. But I made it safely back to work and did classes that afternoon in spite of a torn up knee. The car? What a drive that was! Like riding on air!
He had an answer for everything, and it was usually positive in nature. He was direct as a leader, and you could listen and make something better, or you could choose not to. As he always said, “The choice is yours. It’s up to you!” I don’t want to imply he was this perfectly calm individual all the time. Because there were many times a manager would have to bring up a point for him to consider because he hadn’t thought about it in that way. Or he said something in a way that might be just a little TOO direct, and his sweet wife would have to call his name and graciously correct his manner. She was so good at that, and he would take it from her as a sign to back up a bit. Yes we are all only human.
So when life took a hard turn several years after their retirement, and he had many things he loved to do that he had to give up. He handled that with his usual attitude. Take it head on and make the best of a negative situation. It’s all in how you look at it right? I would visit them when ever I could get into town, and we would have some lively conversations. Still…always direct. You never had to wonder what he was thinking about anything. Brilliant mind too. Always enjoyed that. He was also a great photographer. His BBQ salmon was to die for!!
If you are fortunate enough to have this kind of person in your life, let them know of their influence on you. Nothing can bless them more than knowing what they have done has been a blessing in your life. Don’t wait. His wife is one amazing lady and I treasure our friendship more than anything. We often had many miles between us, and yet we managed to stay in touch. Love that about good friends.
So today as I read the news of his passing, the tears flowed for all the above. And…for my very good friend who now must live on without her husband by her side. I knew it was coming, since my last visit made that clear, but we are never ready really. Life is hard and God tells us we will all have trouble in this life. But we can’t keep them here when their quality of life makes it so difficult. Then, even though it seems trite, we need to remember that they are now whole and not suffering in this life any longer. However, that is always harder than we think it will be. That is why I think God gives us memories. I believe, that He gives us the memories so that in hard times, we can be comforted by them. When we are sad, let it out, when we need to cry, cry. When we are angry, let that out too. It helps us heal. When a memory gives us joy, let the joy heal us as well.
So, to a great boss… a little like a second dad… and one true friend… thank you for everything you deposited into my life. I know you are breathing fresh air in heaven and celebrating with a brand new body.
I will never forget all those “little” things you did that were “BIG” for me.
Love you J.
Until we meet again…
~JoAnn
Have you ever had someone say to you, “I was one decision away from a different life path in life.”? I can relate to that. I have had many points in my life been at a crossroads and my decision totally changed the trajectory of my life. I have not always chosen what was right for me, but often chosen out of compassion or not wanting to hurt feelings, rather than listening to the Holy Spirit that is sending me a different message and a different path to take. Those decisions are so hard, aren’t they? Sometimes there is so much to give up…but what if we listened to the hard message in the first place and didn’t take OUR decision, but listened to the leading of the Holy Spirit? And…what if the Holy Spirit even sent friends along the way to ask you the hard questions about a decision you were making? Ahhh…now THOSE are hard questions! Here is another one for you…what if changes in your life circumstances mean that you NEED to consider yet another change in order for it to be the best yes in your life, and it will require a LOT out of you? That’s not even to mention all those who think you are nuts to have done it in the first place, or they are thinking you can’t seem to make up your mind.
Just this week, after some hard weeks have passed, I got some good news and some not so good news. I had some swelling in my left hand from a fall where my left side and my nose took the hit. The swelling caused me to need my wedding ring cut off. I have worked in jewelry and it is hard to see a beautiful ring have to go through a cutting process. You see, if you don’t have the right people doing that work, you can cause damage to the ring and to the diamonds it holds. What will happen? It will loosen the settings as the ring is stretched in order to go over the finger after being cut off. So it worried me a little to have it done. But I found a great jeweler locally, and he did a great job!
good news. The bad news, other than not being able to wear my ring, was that it was a pulled ligament between my ring finger and my middle finger. That type of injury is a very long healing process; six months to be exact. That’s a long time. It is best to elevate the hand when possible, and I can ice it if I want to, should it be painful. Wow! Six months! He told me I have to be patient. If I try to hurry the process, then I will just cause more problems and my healing will take even longer.
I think you know your words have power, right? Power to build up, or power to destroy; and I’m not talking about just those are around you. I’m talking about you. Your words or actions are your self-talk. Self-talk has lethal effects on your thinking and brain. Negative thoughts or attitudes is like injecting yourself with an addictive substance; an addiction to bad thinking. We soon start believing it is true. What do you see, or think about yourself, as you look in the mirror? Do you tell yourself negative things? Do you believe you are shining the light of Jesus in all you do and say with your words? What about your actions?
wasn’t something that my body could tolerate, but toxic, actually. So my normal appointment to the doctor the next morning turned into going straight from the doctor’s office to ER. Suffice it to say, it was quite a detour. I couldn’t drive myself, couldn’t reach my husband at home, and so I had to be transported to the ER by ambulance for three blocks to the hospital. The journey began. Doctors and nurses worked hard to find out why my oxygen levels were so low and not able to be raised past 88 percent. Not good. Tests, blood test, blood gas tests, scans…you name it and it was done. Find out that my body had a toxic reaction, and a VERY rare case I was. My blood looked almost black, and I was asked from the ER Doctor what planet I was from. I just told him it was strong Norwegian blood! But, I wasn’t out of the woods. My highest levels even with high flow oxygen was only 88 percent. They thought it was caused by blood clots in the lungs and that turned out to be negative, thank you Jesus!! What was it? It turned out to be hypoxia methemoglobinemia. It is very rare for someone to react this way! Oh good! I’m special!!! So with that diagnosis, the doctor knew of the antidote to give me and sent me upstairs to a room to receive it. Warning: my daily bathroom visits could yield all blue for a while. So true. I usually have a high anxiety when visiting the hospital because of my previous experiences, and I get quite emotional. However, it was like someone else dealing with it and it’s seriousness. I couldn’t understand the peace I had. I asked God to give the all clear on the blood clots in the lungs and He did. I am so thankful for that. Blood draws every couple of days doesn’t seem fun at all.
for the detour. But in our lives, that isn’t the case always. Sometimes, it just happens. We have to deal with it as it comes. Is it ok to feel scared? Of course. But we can know where to take that fear. God is always there. Sometimes our detours come and God uses them for us to see something different; a new path or a new direction. As we use these times to ask God what we are to learn from them, we find Him in that storm and He will whisper… He wants my attention in areas I need to be better about.
The lesson on this detour? I am re-examining my motives in where I am and what I am involved with. I am taking time to ask Him the hard questions. Then listen to His answers. I can’t expect to have things different in my life if I am unwilling to change what I need to. The biggest ones I think about after this experience? Am I REALLY ready to meet Jesus? Is my life in order? It could have went a lot differently that day. Am I prepared for that? Am I willing to take a different road and let Him show me what He wants me to see? Will I have a new appreciation for life that I am given everyday, because I am breathing today? Take the correction if needed? Forgive someone I may need to forgive? Am I in the Word enough and not just sharing it, but in it enough myself? Billy Graham was known to say the one thing he wished was that he studied the Word more. That leaves a big gap for me if he was saying that. Is my life so busy that I am not slowing down enough to notice where He wants to use me? Is the idea of having stuff more important than something else in my life? A desire for better this or that, rather than being thankful for what I have? Hard questions = Growth.
You see, my family were the care takers of that very cemetery all the time I was growing up and even after that for a while. We did the mowing and trimming of the lawn, disposed of dead flowers, set flowers back up when they had fallen over, watered them, and brushed off the stones of all in the sweet people on the hill. So it seemed right to now be there with my boys and grandson to do the same for a couple that had done this for years; my parents. Flags were flying proudly on the gravesite of those who served. As we all met up, God gave me a glimpse in a moment in time to notice…my boys coming from their homes, traveling the distance in bad traffic just to meet up with us to help clean and trim out everything in honor of their grandparents. As I watched their interaction with each other, greeting each other with a hand shake and then doing the same when my brother came to meet up at my folks gravesite, it made me smile. The respect shown to one another was something that just tickled me as their mom. Oh how I wish my folks could have experienced this part of the kids’ journey and watched the kind of people they have grown to be. I was proud of the way I was brought up, of the way that I had raised my boys, and how God kept us all safe and still together. For a mom with more days behind her than before her, it was very special moment for me to see once again, the faithfulness of God. My life may not turn out how I expected it to years ago, but it is great none the less! My boys would do what ever is possible for each other…and as a family, we would do the same. We all paid honor to our family, and then spent some time together over food before we went home. What a joy! Thank you to my sweet son Jesse, who bought us all a burger! Those sweet times are what it is all about! It was also a legacy for my grandson to see his dad and uncle and Grandma and Papa showing respect to the memory of family. This is what “being in the present moment” is all about. I could have just missed it, but God nudged me just in time to see it through His eyes. That made me smile and feel so proud of them! Maybe it was just to encourage me… I think so. I’m so grateful. I’m thinking my parents were glad to see us gathered too…the gift of presence.
My hubby and I then went on to honor family on my dad’s side. One was my Grandma, my dad’s mom, who died a year or less after I was born. I had a different kind of
conversation with her this time because I had been where she came from in Norway. I have learned some things about her life that brought me closer to knowing who she was. There were also some of my family with just tiny tin plaques that I prayed, that if I had the money in the future, I will put a nice stone in its place. I know my dad wanted to do that, and maybe God will allow me to do that one day instead. The memories flood my soul as I walked around. Good family times of sharing and helping each other. We were raised in community a lot more as I was growing up. Family helping family when needed. It brings me back to the thought of what I want to be remembered for…what I hope people will remember about my life and focus. It’s not over yet, so there is work to be done. There are gatherings to be had, and reunions to plan, food to be shared, and love to be given.
where we dream of how things will be, or what we want or desire them to be. BUT, we don’t often think about our present moment or day except in terms of a schedule. How much of your life do you live in the present? I came across some notes that I had written down when I was studying about circumstances, and how they can affect our thinking, and thus our lives. I thought I would share some thoughts about that in this post.
We all have a story…the way we live our life, is our story. It doesn’t always look like we envisioned for ourselves, but it can become more about how you approach living it out. Gifts to us can come from the hardest places that we find ourselves. If we are trying to heal from hard circumstances, that healing can move us out to help others. It gives hope on the other side of our pain, and our hope makes it possible to share it with another. Don’t be afraid to step forward into that. With eyes of faith, we can see our script as something that is a part of a bigger story, or part of a bigger picture. Our current circumstances are not the end; just part of the bigger picture. Do you know that God is always in the NOW? And guess what???? He doesn’t want us to miss it! How much of yourselves do you live in the present? We don’t want to miss the moments!
wants us to go. Here are some questions to ask ourselves:
I think of my past life with love and compassion for the hardships my parents had as they built a life and provided for me. You see most of my generations’ parents lived through the depression. It gave them some unique traits that got hardwired into their lives by their experiences. We all have been influenced that way. Some of my generation tried, and are still trying, to outlive that mentality. My parents were simple in their living; it was to MAKE a living and provide for the family. Our house wasn’t anything fancy, our cars were mostly paid for, so not new. My clothes were sewn by my mother or hand-me-down from my cousins. But as I started to say, many of my generation and forward, look at success as having the brand new home, and a big one, new cars, the best home furnishings, and work 24/7 to have it, by golly. Where I saw my parent’s generation work hard, but also play hard. Gatherings of family at reunions, sharing Sunday dinners or dessert together, picnics, and cousins playing together and actually staying in touch as we got older, as well. So…I look at my past, not as something I have to get away from, but something that I embrace, take all the good from, and implement that into my life. My past is different from yours. Granted. But we all can take what is good, and be thankful for that which is good. Leave and dump the negative. We didn’t live in their shoes, and there is something in their lives that made their lives the the way they are/were. Love them in spite of it. There are many things I didn’t understand about my mom at the time, but when I look back now and think about it, I now understand some of her life better, how she may have felt, and what made her the person she was. In my life, I choose to take every ounce of good and create that good in my daily life. That is something I can do. And…I keep creating that for myself. It’s my life’s journey to live it out in such a way, that my family is encouraged to remember what is good, and take that with them however it looks, into their lives. I want that for all of you who read this blog. I’m not perfect by ANY means. I have my struggles too. However, it never stops there. If I have a struggle…I take it to the One who does not. He knows what to do, and will gladly bring it to mind when I need to change up my view.
change the angle of how I see it in the view finder. I can decide what to include, and zoom or crop out to exclude what I don’t want. Maybe I need to shed some more light on the subject to get a better picture. In other words, I do what I need to do to get the best results. Do I always get a great capture? Nope. I am sometimes in too big a hurry to spend time getting the best photo. But I can always try it again, and this time, I will know better what to do. You see, if we look into what makes up our lives, we might find areas that take up our time, but add very little value to the end of our lives. Because of that, we may not be living out God’s plan for our lives either. We may actually be living out what we want, and asking God to put HIs hand of favor on that. Nope. Wrong way to go about it. Remember, what we think affects our hearts and what affects our hearts, make up our daily habits. We need to be watchmen/watch women on the wall of our lives. Recognize it before it gets to close as to whether you holler out a warning or a hallelujah! By faith, we can do that. I like this statement from Anne Graham Lotz, “Faith is not a “gift” that some people have been given and other have not.” So good. We all can have faith. So on the trip in the car, I did some re-framing through faith, and I believe God has given me new direction to take. It may not be easy, but it will be best. Knowing God in a deeper way gives us a better understanding of our relationship with Him, as well as, where He wants us to take action.
I am many things…wife, mother, teacher, encourager, proud Norwegian, a proud American, believer in God, photographer, blogger, lover of music and playing instruments…and many more things, yet, I am one person. We all have facets just like a diamond. But just like the diamond, all of us make up one beautiful creation that gives off light and reflection of who we are and what we value. So…ask the hard questions. We learn from them. Sit a while and ponder life with sweet tea and time, or coffee and time, and see where God is leading you. Have a happy journey!
We don’t usually ask for change, ever notice that? So, I would assume from that, change is not so welcome to most of us. We might think, what if we want change and it doesn’t come to us? What if it does? Ok. Let’s say it doesn’t seem to come for us. Are we willing then to do something else? Are we willing to stay where we are and ask God to change us so we can be more content where we are? The struggle is real! No matter how we define our life, it will require us to take some type of action. It can look like a big mountain before us, but God will make a way around or through. Nothing is too big for Him!
have more time for something you are called to do. I have found that because of so many changes, I have gotten better at it, and I am better at turning it over to God. I am feeling pretty good about it most of the time. THEN, comes a BIG change that hits me sideways, and I have to remind myself again of what I need to do. My head knows, but my heart? Not so much. However, the quicker I take it to God, the more clarity I have of His direction. I’m not letting my feelings get involved first, but God’s direction.
What changes may God be telling you to get ready for? What changes might you need to make within you so that you are content where you are right now? Are you living for what Jesus has for you to do? Or are you living out what YOU want to do in your life, as you convince yourself it is God’s calling? It’s easy to do. I have gotten stuck there a few times. Ask the hard questions and God will give you answers. But…be ready. Here comes the truth!
I am back after back issues and then sinus infection! Boy! What a journey this last six to eight weeks has been! Silver lining? I have had much more time to read! That’s always a great thing. So what do I have to share with you today? I want to share with you something that can be a hinderance in the life of a Jesus follower.
states what I believe to be a kind way of standing up for God and represent what He stands for. But then, I don’t go back and read every comment and get all wrapped up in the argument. Many just like to start one so they have the excuse to let ‘er rip. No thanks. That is neither wise on our part, or a good example of God’s love for one another. There may a time to confront, but with love, not anger and hate.
As a parent or grandparent, we know how fast time goes by us. Because we know that, do we really want to be spending time in this kind of activity and missing that time of being with the Lord and hearing His voice? We are so busy thinking of what we will post next, that we hurry through our life to get to the next idea. Now I will tell you that I use Facebook myself. I use it as a way to keep up with family and close friends, BUT I also use it for encouragement and Bible Study. So I can be seen online often. However, I’m using it for other purposes more than for the sake of blindly scrolling through the lights of Facebook, and sharing what I think. It is always my hope that what I share causes someone to think about how they spend their days. We can’t expect our children or grandchildren to put down the devices when they see us with our faces in them. Or, what about what they hear you listen to on social media or movies or TV. That could be another story right there. However, I too, am going to lay down my phone and involvement on social media. I challenge you to consider that for yourself. We might find ourselves much happier people.
need to put down one to raise up the other. That reflects more about you than the person you support. We Christians have said some awful things about people in our attempt to clarify or give an opinion, and I don’t guess if we were to be in the spotlight with our own lives, that ours would be clean and white as snow either. So let’s put the stones down.
If you had your choice, which would you rather do? Visualize for a moment that you have just gotten your favorite coffee drink. Would you rather get that coffee to go, or would you rather sit in your favorite part of your home or a favorite spot and drink that coffee? Does your environment play a part in how you enjoy your coffee?
