Cindy Gaskins

“For the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15 NLT

Gogo is her grandmother name. And while that is the word for grandmother in the African Chichewa language, Gogo lives up to the English version.

Her physical pace is not that of the 105 year old Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins who recently finished the 100 meter dash in just over 1 minute. Gogo still moves but mostly it is into the hearts of others.

A few months ago, Gogo moved into assisted living for a couple of weeks of respite care. Before moving in, Gogo learned how to make 60 second microwave cookies.

One at a time.

This was to prepare for tea parties that she hoped would happen with new friends.

The two weeks turned into a permanent stay in the new assisted living neighborhood. Gogo learned the names – and the life stories – of everyone who came to her room. She joyfully listened to the conversations at mealtimes, exercise, or activity time. On her strolls down the hallways, Gogo admired the decorated doors and learned the resident names behind every door. She tried her first cookie only to set the smoke alarm off. With giggles and tales of the micro-cookie, Gogo assured new friends that there would still be a tea party.

Two at a time.

The cookies still haven’t been made but the starter recipe of friendship has been blended. 

One of the most natural responses Gogo makes is one of joy and thanksgiving. Conversations are sprinkled with authentic delight. Wonder and thanks is natural as she expresses it over the ribbon on a wreath, the lightbulb changed in the bathroom, the shared video from a staff nurse who dances during worship at her church. New friends have strolled the halls, rocked on the porch, and looked with aged but clear eyes speaking of their confidence that Gogo was brought to their home just for them!

Living in thanks opens the doors.

Living in thanks brings hope.

This week of living in thanks brings the chance for gathering, remembering, hoping. May the joy of small things bring delight in and through you. May sweetness walk through your home, your shared spaces. May our living thanks be a sweet aroma to our Lord Jesus and to neighbors close and far away.

“My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them for they will refresh you.” Proverbs 3:21-22, The New Living Translation.

Is it just me? Or does it feel like common sense is a missed commodity, experience, thought these days.  Is it just me? Or does it feel like we all need refreshment? Who’s ready for some seasons of refreshing.

Living in the tropics means we don’t have seasons that are obvious. Around here people put on jackets and sweaters when the temperatures hit 69! There is always something blooming here. I pretend the yellow flowering trees are Fall colors!

But seasons are real even if not well defined on the calendar or in the air. Common sense and discernment can be refreshing

with the just right book or music

with a favorite candle scent (pumpkin in the Fall at my house!)

with recipes that trim the season with smells and tastes

in pulling out favorite seasonal clothes.

How about common sense and discernment offered

during the weight of a burden

in the ache of loss

in the hope for a beginning …or an end.

In our seasons of uncertainty, anticipation, longing, wonder, God’s gift of common sense can be our refreshment. So

reach for the easy well-loved favorite family stories

reach for the easy, well-loved mealtimes – a bowl of cereal does well at our house

put a lipstick kiss on your kids hand so they can see it all day at school

sing the doxology at meal time

listen with your eyes and not hurried activity

host an impromptu dance party in your house, on your neighborhood street

keep looking at your yard, trees around you, birdhouses and feeders

call your dear friend who you miss

hydrate your body

and your soul.

Proverbs tells us to Hang on to common sense and discernment for they will refresh you!

Is it just me or do you want to lean in for more common sense and discernment?

Hang on!

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

We have all experienced the slow wait for life to return to normal. Are you there yet? Will we have another disruption with life?

We’ve probably all experienced a strain, tension, out-right explosions in relationships. Is it at work, in your family, with a neighbor or a close friend? The restored sense of rightness has been slow in coming, in fact you can’t see the way to recovery yet.

Maybe it’s a renovation that has had more delays than starts. Or an exercise commitment that hasn’t shown the expected results…yet.

Our family experienced a major heartbreaking disruption several years ago and tension has existed since. Each of us are in a different stage of recovery. It has been slow and will be. But my husband and I have come to a place where all we know to do is love anyway.

The Space Between Us by Sarah Bauer Anderson tells this Jewish tradition. When God created us, he put a rope between his heart and ours. When humans chose their own way, the rope was severed. But God (don’t you love those words) didn’t want to remain with the untethered rope between us. So he picked up the ends of the rope and tied them back together. And has been doing so with every broken choice we have made. Ironically, when God ties the rope together again and again, it shortens the distance between us.

Surely this idea can apply to us in the places our ropes are severed with each other. Does the end of the rope – or thread – you hold in your hand need to be tied again? What keeps you and me from taking a simple first step towards a retie?

Believing God’s promises is hard when the asking isn’t getting an answer. Believing God’s will is for brokenness to be redeemed, rescued, renovated is believing and living His Kingdom come, His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. He is not slow in keeping his promise that all come into His rescue, that all of us find grace, hope, and forgiveness. He is at work.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies begin afresh each morning.”  Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)

How do you start your day? What is your routine?

Are you one to touch your device before you get out of bed to see the news or text messages? Or is a wee one in your life that is your alarm clock? Do you head straight to the shower to wake up? Or is it that first cup that alerts you to reality?

My husband and I are 4 a.m. risers in the morning which also means we are pumpkins by 9:00 p.m.  I haven’t always been a morning person, but I have grown in finding early morning quiet a cherished rhythm.

In the last year, my husband of 37 years has started a couple of new routines. He makes delicious smoothies every morning that accompany me on my 20-minute drive to work. We feel so healthy, and I appreciate so much not thinking about breakfast. My appetite doesn’t wake up until around 10:30 a.m.

But there is also one other habit. Emory turns the electric kettle on for my 2 cups of tea. When he first started this, I thought Em was prepping water for his coffee pour over.  But I was wrong. It was just for me. I confess it took me weeks to realize he was doing this just for me. He didn’t ask or declare this action. He just does it…every single morning.

A lovingly tangible way to begin my day.

Can you hear… see…feel our good, good Father who quietly, lavishly, brilliantly, powerfully ‘turns on’ his new every morning mercies for us? Every. Single. One. Of. Us.

Recently I read from Dane Ortlund’s book, Gentle and Lowly, that mercies can be defined as divine compassion.  Consider this when you start your day…or stop in the middle of the day…or fall in bed at the end of it:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies begin afresh each morning.  Lamentations 3:22 (NLT)

Divine compassion begins afresh each morning. Grab your cup, sit and sip the new mercies that come every morning.

What’s the physical distance between you and your dearest friends? In the neighborhood? Across town, across the world? What about the distance from your aging parents or your young adult children?

Our home is in Hawaii. Our adult children are in the Northwest. Our aging parents are in the South. And lifelong friends are scattered around the world. For all but three years of my adult life, I have lived far from my parents. That means vacations are still often to go be with family. The miles have not allowed events, ordinary, unexpected, joyful and painful to be shared in person. Separation.

Who doesn’t know about life events, ordinary, unexpected, joyful and painful in which we absolutely could not be present?  For sure 2020 and counting. The ache, sadness, sometimes anger was present when we could not be present. Separation.

This Lent season has brought a new dimension to what separation means. Willingly in love and obedience, Jesus left the wonder of heaven to become one of us. Jesus’ connection to his Father was still in place. But when he took on our sin at the cross, the utter severing of God the Father from his Son was a first. It wasn’t just miles. All Jesus had known with his Father was gone. Silence in every direction. At his most painful, vulnerable, horrific time. Separation.

Reflect for a minute.

What has physical distance from loved ones created in and for you?

What does emotional distance from loved ones feel like?

Is there anyone you sense needs your nearness?

Does Jesus seem close right now?

Lean in in these last days of Lent. Consider Jesus’ sacrifice through separation. Come near. He will come near to you.

“Peace be with you.” John 20:19

Today we remember the man who refused to give in to the hate and injustice of his day. Martin Luther King, Jr, insisted that loving the enemy while walking in peace, was the way to go in a day when dogs and dogma attacked truth.

Today we live in a bewildered, broken, divided nation. Words and actions to and about family, neighbors, and people we don’t know have left us all feeling pain. Our grief in the loss of life, uncertainty, and the unknown is staggering.

Was the world any different for the followers of Christ after his crucifixion? The Romans had secured the torturous death of Jesus and wielded a firm hand over their empire. The Jewish religious leaders spoke their own version of truth and burdened their people with it. Those closest to the Messiah were bewildered, defeated, doubtful, and afraid in a locked room.

Then Jesus is suddenly standing in their midst and says:

“Peace be with you.”

He showed them his wounds. And the room was filled with marvel, joy, and wonder.

Jesus says again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

Then he breathed on them and said,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:19-23)

These words reverberate through the ages because Jesus still speaks to his followers. The chaos of the world still needs hope, rescue, tender mercy and grace.

Wherever you are in this moment, however you are feeling, whatever your specific circumstance:

“Peace be with you.”

Image Jesus’ breathing on you and saying:

“Just as my Father sent me, just as I sent my disciples, I’m sending you. Receive my Holy Spirit. Forgive those who have hurt you. Forgive those who have brought pain to your life, your home, your treasures.”

Today is a day to remember we are the ones who can move towards family and friends, into the neighbor with kindness, generosity, hope, forgiveness. Our neighbors, friends, and families need this sweetness. Our nation needs the sweet salt and light of Jesus.

Listen and welcome the words of the Prince of Peace.

“Peace be with you.”