The Treasure Chest

                                
The smell of cedar rose up from the open lid.  I drew a deep breath, inhaling the woody fragrance.  There were so many things inside!  My grandmother had taken me over to her cedar chest, to retrieve something.  She had her treasures stored in there for many years.  Things from her past, that meant something special to her heart.  The chest was a special place that she could go, to remember precious moments from days gone by. 

That memory has stayed with me for over 40 years. Although I've always wanted one, I have never purchased a cedar chest.  For some reason, the longing for one of my own has been strong for the last few months.  Steve asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year.  I told him.  He said, "Let's see what we can find."  We looked around, and God provided a beautiful secondhand one...for a VERY reasonable price.  I now have a place to store memories...and one day share them with my own granddaughters.

Now, I have to think of what to put in there!  What are my treasures?  The things that I'll put in there will not be expensive items.  There's a wooden box that holds two decks of cards.  It was my parents'.  The box reminds me of an ongoing card game that they played throughout their marriage.  The score sheet is still in the box.  They've both been gone for almost 20 years, and the box stays the same...a reminder of a strong bond that stood the test of time.  There are things that belonged to my children...a girl scout uniform, baby clothes/shoes and special school projects.

Treasures.  We all have them.  They reside in a special place in our heart.  They mean a lot to us, and we hold them close.  Jesus knew about treasures of the heart.  He thought it important enough to teach us about what's really valuable.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

The treasures that reside in our hearts.  It can be a lot of different things.  Valuables...Money...Esteem... Sometimes we can get confused as to what is really essential in life.  What we deem as necessary can lead to 'heart' disease.  It can possibly result in a type of 'heart' failure.  If we focus too closely on what we own, we can lose sight of heavenly wealth.  Jesus knew that this was a human tendency.  He knew that we can get caught up in our 'things', that aren't going to last.  We can place them in our hearts, and they can grow, like weeds, choking the life out of them.  He encourages us to store our treasures in heaven.  How can we do that?  By setting our sights on the things that He thought were important...the poor...The lonely...The forgotten.  For when we focus on 'the least of these'  we focus on Him.  These are the things that will endure for a lifetime...and beyond.

So while it's fine to store away some memories...don't forget to give your true treasures to Jesus!

Thanks For The Memories

                                                            


I have noticed that there are a lot of social web site pages that deal with memories. If You Grew Up In....., Growing Up In.....; If You Lived In.....  There are countless groups that you can join to reminisce and share similar memories and experiences.  Scrapbooks are so popular, too.  We enjoy looking back at events frozen in time.  People love to reminisce about the 'good ole' days'. 

Why is that?  Why do people enjoy thinking about the past?  There are many reasons, one being we long for the times when life seemed more simple and carefree.  Although we may like having all of the modern conveniences and technology...there is something about the simplicity of the past, that we miss. And it's not just people my age...there are older individuals that long for the time when they were a child, or in their teens and 20's...and those that are a decade younger than I am, who yearn for the same thing.

Why?  That was the time in our lives before mortages, meetings and money markets.  Before children, change and charge cards.  Our responsibilites were small...our dreams were enormous.  The good old days...

The Bible even speaks of remembering.  Ecclesiastes 12:1  "Remember your Creator when you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years catch up with you. They will make you say, 'I have found no pleasure in them.' " God's Word Translation

Why did Solomon (the proposed author of Ecclesiastes) write this?  Why would he say this to a young person?  My guess is that in his wisdom, he knew that young people didn't always think of the future.  They knew that today was fun and carefree, but tomorrow would show them different.  When they were older, they would see 'days of trouble'.  Then what?  If they had been remembering their Creator, they would have Someone to lean on.  They would remember how He was wth them and also their ancestors when bad situations came up.  They would know that they were not alone.

While it is fun looking back...a person could get lost looking only in the rear view mirror.  We have to keep our eyes looking forward.  It is beneficial to look back from time to time, and see where we have been.  We can use our past experiences and decisions as stepping stones to our future decisions.  But we look ahead and press onward as we wait for the day when He not only is with us...but we will see Him face to face.

More Precious Than Silver

                                                                

Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.                                        Mark Twain

October 4, 1986...the day my life and name changed forever.  The day I went from Peggy Just to Peggy Pyles...the day I became Steve's wife.

Twenty five years, a quarter of a century...today is our silver wedding anniversary.    Did you ever wonder why they call it a 'silver' anniversary?  I'm not sure where it came from, but I have a few ideas!

Silver is an ancient metal.  Pure silver is mixed with other metals like copper and gold, and then processed. It has to be heated and smelted to remove it's impurities.  After a time, the result is beautiful and precious.

In Chemistry, the periodic table symbol for silver is Ag.  Here are a few 'Ag' words that may describe the events in a 25 year old marriage.

Agreement.  When two people decide to marry, they 'agree' to live their lives together forever.  They don't know what is in store for them, in the future.  They set out together, looking ahead. Their love is as fresh as pure silver.

Agitating.  The little things that get to them.  He won't pick up his dirty socks.  She wants him to go to the mall right before the big game.  Little things...that could become big things, if they aren't careful.  It is combining of two different metals...mixing and molding them into one.

Aggressive.  The arguements that are bound to come.  They each wonder if they have made the right decision.  What were they thinking?  They didn't bargin for this...this wasn't part of the marital vows, was it?  Are you supposed to put up with someone who is so bullheaded?  Their marriage is in the fire. 

Agonize.  It's 2 a m and the baby has a high fever.  They wish they could trade places.  They pray. The silver is being extracted.

Many people have wondered over the years how Steve and I could possibly get along...we are complete opposites. I'll answer that question.  From the time I met Steve, I saw someone who was kind, loving and true.  We have very different personalites and interests.  Yet, when it came to difficult times, I always saw the real Steve. I knew he loved me from the bottom of his heart.  I believe that God gave me the ability to see him as He sees him.

Real, endearing love doesn't happen when a ring goes on a finger.  It develops over time, through blending, fire and extraction.  It is cultivated with the tools of respect, thoughtfulness and compromise.  Marriage is hard work.  You never get a day off.  But the benefits are wonderful.

For those of my friends who have lost as spouse through separation or divorce, my heart truly aches for you.  For reasons that may not have been under your control, your world was crushed. Know that God sees your pain, and loves you with an Everlasting Love.  For those of you who have lost a dear spouse through death..you know what I am talking about.  No words can truly comfort you.  You long for the day when you will be reunited with your sweetheart.  God sees your broken heart and waits for you to lean on Him.

Oh...I have one last Ag word:  Ageless  The result of the refining process, repeated countless times over the years.  That result is an everlasting love that stands the test of time.

The Date

                                                    

                        

Yesterday was a special day for me.  I always had a special place in my heart for July 26th.  On that day in 1899, my grandfather, Edmund Just was born.  And on the day of his 21st birthday, he married his sweetheart, my grandmother Florence.  They wee married for almost 60 years.  Theirs was a true love story.  They raised 8 wonderful children, and had 38 grandchildren...and I have no idea how many great grandchildren.  A special day.

I'm afraid not everyone will consider July 26th a happy memory.  Yesterday, we received word of a tragedy.  One that every parent prays never comes.  A sweet young toddler was the victim of a horrible drowning accident.  Her family used to live in this area, but moved away to minister to others in another state. 

July 26th will mean a totally different thing to this precious family.  A day that changed their lives forever. What can you say in a circumstance like that?

Some people try to console the grief stricken family with words that are intended to comfort. 

"She is with the LORD."

"She is in a better place."

"The angels came and took her away."

"God wanted her to come and live with Him."

"I know how you feel."

"You have another child"....or the heartwrenching  "You can always have another child."

That family does NOT want their child or loved one to be anywhere but with them.  They don't want to hear about God wanting her more than they did...and they don't think anyone can know how they feel.

The best thing to do is just be there...and if you cannot...pray for the family.  For the most part, there is nothing you could say.  No words suffice.

Why do tragic things like this happen?  There is no answer.  No one knows why.  We won't know until we reach heaven.  Until then, we lean on each other.  Sometimes we are the ones who are doing the holding...other times we are the ones that are doing the leaning.  God gave us the people in our lives to support us and for us to support.  No (wo)man is an island.  We are not meant to live in a cocoon.  Hold the ones we love close...for we never know how long we have with them. 

Angels Along Our Path

                                                         

       God places certain people in our lives to guide us along our path.  I was blessed to be able to once again see one of these special individuals, recently.
     Sr. Nora Brick is a Franciscan nun that has been working with the migrant community for many decades.  I met her 30 years ago when she was working in Wauchula, FL.  She lived in a small "convent" (house) with two other sisters.  I was contemplating becoming a nun, and it was arranged that I would spend one weekend a month with the sisters, and do what they did.  I would eat, pray and work alongside of them and see how they lived their lives.
     She had a wonderful rapport with the people.  They knew that she loved and truly cared for them, and they loved her, too.  She is a wonderful example and role model for how to love and respect God's children.
     Sr. Nora is now in her 80's and still enthusiastic about working with the poor.  Because of health issues, she now has to retire.  My dear friend P.H. met her a few months ago, and brought me over to see her before she moves to the retirement home.
     I haven't seen Sr. Nora in almost 25 years.  Although older, she was the same sweet lady that I knew so long ago.  With a little bit of help, but she remembered me.  She held my hand as we sat and talked with two other sisters and P.H..  I was able to share with her what a blessing she had been in my life, and an influence in my walk with Christ.  What a gift it was to me, to be able to tell her that.
     The sweet nun began to tell us of how she believed that God's angels are all around.  I hadn't thought of angels in a long time.  She was right...they are.  The Bible speaks of angels among us.  Although we can't see them, they are there, protecting us and defending us against the forces of evil.  God sends us these beings of the heavenly realm to bless our lives.  To me, He also sends us other 'angels'....people with heaven in their hearts.  They are there to guide us to our Creator and help us to know Him in a more personal and intimate way.
     I had asked the sisters about a particular nun...Sr. Mairead (pronounced Mah-rayed).  She was my directress for almost 4 years.  What a special and godly woman.  She was one of the strongest influences in my adult Christian life.  She was the one that taught me about having a relationship with Christ, and how important daily quiet time and prayer were.  The sisters told me that she was now living in the retirement home, due to a diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's Disease. I ask that you please say a prayer for this wonderful woman of God.  She was indeed an angel in my life.
     How many 'earthly angels' has God placed along your path?  Was it a parent or grandparent?  A teacher or coach?  Take time today to think of them, and say a prayer of thanks for the influence they've had in your life. 
                                           
Philippians 1:3  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Hebrews 13:2  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.