When Life gives you lemons… it has a Silver lining

OK, I know it is a mixed metaphor, but it gets your
attention and sets up the idea I want to convey.

The past couple of weeks have been difficult for me in some
ways. I injured my Sciatic nerve and have been in quite a bit of pain. I have
seen a doctor and am taking therapy, but the results are somewhat slow in
reliving the pain to say the least. Quite a surprise as I have never had this
type of problem before.

Next I had a filling come out of a tooth and went to the
dentist yesterday for a simple repair. A few hours later I left the office
after having two Wisdom Teeth pulled, a tooth prepared for a crown and three
small fillings. This was a surprise as it is the first of my teeth I have had
to have pulled in almost 68 years and seldom have problems with my teeth.

So, those are some of the lemons (the sour things that make
you scrunch up your mouth and shake your head and say I don't like that). OK, I
know you can make lemonade, but I don't much like that either. Now I can choose
to dwell on those things and say, "Oh, poor me! Why do all of these things
happen to me? I have to admit that I don't like the pain and am praying for
quick relief, however I tend to look for the Silver Lining when I can.

A few weeks ago the church where I had previously preached
in California sent us a house warming gift of a beautiful Boston fern. Now that
the weather has warmed here in Ohio my wife hung it on the back porch and
waters and cares for it regularly. Quite unexpectedly one day she found a
Robin's nest in the fern. Now, day by day we watch it and as of yesterday it
has 4 eggs in it. We also noticed one day, one the Robin's eggs lay broken on
the ground and in the place of the Robin's egg was a smaller brown speckled
egg. We suspect a sneaky Sparrow did this, taking advantage of the Robin's care
for the egg and baby soon to be born. We are looking forward to this with great
expectations.

OK, here's the point. You can choose to dwell on the Lemon's
in your life, or you can look for the Silver Linings around you. I choose to
try and look for the good, the beautiful, possibly the unexpected; for that
which will make me smile and think good thoughts in spite of the pain life
brings. 

Paul wrote these words to us on how to deal with life in Philippians 4:8 (I hope you find them
helpful): "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things". (ASV) Another
paraphrase of this verse says, "fill your
minds with those things that are good".

So how are you dealing with you "Life Lemons"?
Stop and look around you for that Silver Lining," and think on these
things. 

Mother's Day Thoughts

This week my 8 year old grand
daughter said, "Grandpa, come here," and she pulled me into the
living room. She then whispered, "What are you going to do for grandma for
Mother's day?" To which I replied, "Nothing"…. She had a shocked
look on her face and I said, "Allyson, she's not my mother, she is your
dads mother. My mother was great grandma Lawson." She thought for a moment
and say, "Yes, but couldn't you fix her breakfast in bed or
something?" I assured her that I would be doing something special for her
grandmother.

Mother's day is not a religious
holiday or a government recognized holiday, but it is one of the most important
days we celebrate. We pause to recognize the one who is the center of most
homes. Yes fathers are important, but mother's many times do most of the
nurturing and spend the most time with the children. You may feel (but I hope
not), like one young man recently who said, “My mother never did anything for
me”. Our response was, “Yes she did,” “She cared enough to carry you for 9
months and give birth to you”. She cared for you, bathed you; fed you, changed
you when you need it and did it because she loves you”. I mean, really, without
your mother you wouldn't be here.

Many women choose abortion in our
world and the life God has given them as a gift is ended. If you are a woman in
that situation, I'm sorry if these words hurt or offend, but none the less I
believe them to be true.

Mother's we who are your children
are sometimes unappreciative, sometimes hurtful, sometimes difficult to deal
with, but underneath it all, we really do love you. Thank you for loving us
back! But mother's the most important thing you can give your children is an
understanding of and love for God and His Word.

In 2 Timothy 1:5 & 3:14 Paul encourages
Timothy by saying, "You, however, continue in the things you
have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them
[that is, your mother Eunice and through her from your grandmother Lois]; and
that from childhood you have known the holy scriptures [because your mother
taught them to you] which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Thank you mother's and Happy
Mother's Day.