Aging Gratefully

Waiting for the sun to rise while watching from the deck of our beach house. 

Thick, hovering, dark abundant clouds with pale pink and yellow peeking through at the horizon. This on the heels of a moderately stormy night. The breeze picks up along with the click-clack of pool balls in the rec room below. The boys are up. 

I awoke at 3:30 am after a solid stretch of sleep, pondering my key words for the week thus far . . . 

"Release/Receive."

Release to the retreating ocean wave--to You, Father--my youth frolicking in the water, riding the crest with happy giggles. What was once fun is now frightening.

My body is changing. Balance and muscle tone are not what they used to be. That became abundantly clear yesterday while trying to boogie board with my grandsons. More agony than fun. And that's when I knew . . .

That it's time to laugh with the grands as I watch them have their day in the churning froth.

I feel sad, Father, as I process through this letting go. 

And yet, hopeful.

Because challenge, struggle, holds such wonderful opportunity for the grace of change.

I came to the beach with Your many grace gifts on my mind, Father.

I was not anticipating that "giving up something" would be one of them.

Last year this time, the giving up was releasing my two oldest grandchildren to their aging (or better said, coming of age--growing up and moving on).

This year, it's my own aging (on the other end of life) and the incremental release of specific things . . . 

Like riding the waves with husband Chuck and the grands. 

But this I know--as You have given grace in the past, You give grace in the present.

For "I trust in You, O Lord . . .

 You are my God. 

My times are in Your hand . . ." 

Psalm 31:14-15a 

No gorgeous, glowing sun orb this morning, only massive cloud cover.

And yet . . .

The sun still shines. for light awakens the dawn. The ocean wave returns to the shore with grace gifts.

So, I will choose to thank You, Father. I will focus today on what I can do.

I can LOVE.

Through words, actions, writing, painting, pool time, games, food prep, listening, shell hunting, strolling, hugging, music, dancing, sharing, witnessing. 

All for the joy of Jesus, I choose to release what I can no longer do and receive the grace gift of what I can still do. 

I choose to age gratefully.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, 

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Is Your Child Interested in Martial Arts?

Is your son or daughter interested in martial arts? Other cultures? Camping?

 Give your child a taste through my latest release in the missionary kid series (ages 8+).

Baxter and the Ultimate Challenge takes you and your child to fictional Masters Martial Arts Camp in Thailand where nine-year-old Baxter is determined to win the competition on Friday of camp week.

After all, he’s trained since he was a little kid. Dad, Mom, and brother Billy have all coached him in the sport. And they’ve all won tournaments, except for Baxter. Now it’s his turn to shine. Nothing will stand in his way. Or so he thinks . . .

Until a girl shows up at Masters Martial Arts Camp in Thailand where his family serves as missionaries. A bully set on distracting Baxter from his number one goal: take home a first place trophy along with a cash prize.

Baxter’s in for the struggle of his life when he comes face to face with what a winner really looks like. He soon discovers more than one challenge awaits. 

The ultimate challenge.

Includes a Special Features section at the end with more info about Thailand, martial arts, questions for family discussion, and a word from the author.

~~

Check out Baxter and the Ultimate Challenge here.

A Grandchild's Lavish Love

 

I sat in the church pew with a shredded heart. The week had been tough on multiple fronts, emotion running high, mostly over the injustices of a sick and fallen world.

I, too, felt broken. In need.

And then she took my hand in her small hand, not really knowing, yet . . . somehow knowing. She cupped my hand between two warm hands, snuggled into my side.

The tears started to creep down my cheeks.

This was not off putting to her; she merely ramped up her tender efforts, kissing me ever so gently on the cheek. She tilted her head, gazed into my eyes.

While most of us shy away from such overt demonstrations of affection, especially in public, Mary did not. She lavished me with a love I will cherish in my memory.

One of those grandchild moments stored away to pull out when I need an extra dose of encouragement.

I wonder if during the dark days ahead Jesus drew on His memory of the woman, also named Mary, who lavished Him with costly perfume in preparation for His burial. She loved Him with full abandon, not caring what others in the room thought (John 12:1-8).

Pastor and author, Mike Leake, writes that Mary gave up a lesser love (the expensive perfume worth a year’s wages) to focus on her chief Love, the Lord Jesus. According to Leake, abandoning oneself to Jesus will always require smashing lesser loves. (Read the full article here). 

Lesser loves such as people approval, pride, ambition, pleasure, convenience, comfort . . .

You name it! We all have loves.

The hard place of discipleship always requires a letting go of something or someone in order to move toward Jesus Christ and His purpose for our lives.

Thus the haunting question . . . 

Do I settle for lesser loves, or do I rally around a greater Love, the Lord Jesus?

It is a question I must ask myself because it’s simply too easy to settle for less.

Yet sometimes in His mercy and grace, God sends a compelling wakeup call through the simple, yet lavish love of a grandchild.

When Time Stops

 

There's a timelessness about playing with little ones. 

They don't treat you like you're old. They expect youth without realizing they do . . . 

Down on the floor.

Jumping rope.

Playing ball.

Up, down,

All around. 

We say kids have a way of bringing out the child in us, and perhaps, that's true.

But I wonder if it's more that they bring out the eternal in us. 

A sense that all time stops for the sheer joy of experiencing the wonder of the world in that moment . . . 

An ant scurrying to his hole.

A chalk drawing on the sidewalk.

A cloud shape that looks very much like a dinosaur.

A soap bubble bouncing with color. 

And just maybe that's why we older folks struggle to let go of those winsome, wonder-filled years when a child or grandchild "stopped time" for us. 

Still, we're happy to see them grow and develop, because let's face it--even the best expression of eternity here on earth is tainted by sin.

Tempers flare, bones ache, patience wanes, and bodies grow tired, for old and young alike. 

Every wonder-filled moment is but an echo of heaven, prayerfully pointing our hearts toward our real Home. 

We yearn for the kids to grow into godly adults who carry Jesus into their world, and yet . . .

We grieve the passing of time. For one brief moment, we lived the illusion that time stopped, that we were ageless. 

An eternal yearning God placed within all of us.

We claim children are the self-seekers--"Look . . . look at me, tend to my needs"--but often we grownups are no different. Even our playtimes with kids address this deep-seated desire to remain young.

Oh, Abba Father, may this eternity You've woven into the very fabric of our souls cause us to think beyond ourselves, to see You high and lifted up, to glory in You, to gaze upon Your beauty, enjoying the forever redemption and eternal life Your Son secured through His death, burial, and resurrection. 

May the desire of leading little ones to a saving knowledge of You be greater than our own longing to remain young on this side of heaven.

For indeed, no one stays young on this earth; would we really want to in this fallen world?

"Old" gets us to glory (in the typical scheme of things). Although the young die, too. It is the way of this world.

Praise You, oh Lord, for moving me to take hold of eternal life in You. Even little ones--often little ones--can know the true need to do this.

Help them, Abba, never forget that LIFE is wrapped up in you. No counterfeit pleasures, temporary fixes can substitute for LIFE in You, a life that grows brighter as the day dawns, if viewed through eyes of faith fixed on the fullness of Joy yet to come.

The full joy of being in the physical presence of Jesus. Forever.

Pure joy in a timeless realm. 

~~

If you enjoy the cute and often profound things kids say, check out the following:

"Kids can take us right to the heart of God, one way or another. When they provoke frustration, we breathe a silent prayer for grace. When they incite giggles, we hear God’s laughter as well. When they stimulate an endearing moment, we sense God’s touch. When they utter a profound statement, we step back in wonder. What is this phenomenon a little one evokes? Bubbly ripples of laughter that transport us to another realm. Unabashed honesty that cuts to the chase. Joy splashing around our ankles, light spilling into shadow, awakening us to a childlike appreciation for the world around us. If we take the time, if we listen, if we stoop to their level, we can go where kids go—straight to the heart of God. Wit & Wisdom from the Wee Ones is a collection of cute quips and quotes inspired by Eileen’s grandchildren. Along with other contributors, Eileen cracks the door to the whimsical, yet often wise world of the child."

Available here.

 

"Out of the Mouth of Gabe is the culmination of almost two years worth of collecting cute kid quips by Grandma Eileen. On scraps of paper. On napkins. In journals. And yes, even on her hand. At all times of the day and night. In the car. At a picnic. In the back yard. No matter where they were or what they were doing, grandson Gabe had much to share. Some of it witty, and some of it downright funny. You know what the Bible says, 'Out of the mouth of babes . . .' Well, in Eileen Rife's case, it's out of the mouth of Gabe. Enjoy this collection of endearing and often thought-provoking kid quips!"

Available here.

New Release: My Journey Over the Invisible Mountains!

Book 2 in the children's "invisible" series by author Stephanie Kramm

My Journey Over the Invisible Mountains, ages 4+

Did you know that every time you conquer a challenge or learn something new it's like an invisible mountain forms behind you? It's true! And each new hill you climb helps you tackle others in the future too. Come along on a journey over the invisible mountains and watch all the mountains grow as you grow, too!

Check out the new release on Amazon!

"A Timeless Love Story" from God delivered by a young writer . . . .

Dear Readers, 

Once in awhile I stumble upon a young writer who shows great promise in the craft. And when that young writer happens to be dear to my heart and a committed follower of Jesus Christ, the promise holds even more powerful potential for the Kingdom. For God's glory. 

Check out Rue Arrow's latest Christmas post at the link provided below. 

Perhaps you're weary and weeping this holiday season. I can identify. I suspect we each can identify on some level. "Life is pain, highness," says Wesley to the maiden in the movie, "The Princess Bride." True. 

Yet, in the midst of our pain, in His love, God comes down to us in the Person of Jesus Christ, participates in our pain by becoming one of us, and willingly subjects Himself to unthinkable suffering in order to rescue us.

No matter your age or circumstance, I believe Rue's thoughts based on God's Word will encourage your heart this Christmas season and beyond. I know they have mine. 

Read "A Timeless Love Story" on "This Messy Thing Called Life" blog

Good Family Read for Thanksgiving!

 

Stephanie Kramm poses at a booksigning for her first children's book in her invisible series, The Branches on My Invisible Tree, a children's story about thankfulness. Each child received a lollipop from the "lollipop tree" after sharing a thankful thought.

I reread Branches this morning. Even adults need this powerful and practical reminder to practice gratitude daily!

As Stephanie writes in her author's note at the end of the book, " . . . every time you think a thought, a new neural pathway or 'branch' forms in your brain. The more you revisit that thought, the bigger and stronger that branch becomes and the easier it is to think that thought again. Your brain really is like a tree full of branches, and you get to decide where they go and how big they grow!"

An especially timely book as we approach Thanksgiving. Picture a family read around the table or cozied up with the kids on the couch.

The Branches on My Invisible Tree via Amazon