A very Good Friday, indeed

     

     Easter has come and gone. Here we are in this beautiful season where new life is happening all around us. The various flowers — crocuses, tulips and daffodils, having laid dormant all winter, are now pushing their heads through the soil, eager to show us their beauty. 

     To me, this is always a vivid picture of the meaning of Easter — Jesus' willingness to die on our behalf, then His resurrection, bringing new life to humanity. 

     I was poignantly reminded of this as I entered Passion Week. I was blessed to have an unexpected opportunity assisting in the program for a friendship group for challenged adults, at my church. 

     The song our trio presented was entitled, The Healer, the chorus reminding us, "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; Surely He bore our sorrows, And by His stripes we are healed." (Taken from Psalm 53:5). 

     Then came Good Friday. I get a recurring feeling that I could just ignore that day and let my thoughts skip ahead to the uplifting news of that first, wonderful Easter Sunday. 

     But, I knew I needed to pause and reflect on the terrible suffering Jesus endured for me. 

     We read of His disgraceful treatment, "...his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness."  — Isaiah 52: 14b  

     Attending a Good Friday service, it was a serious time of reflection for me. Face-to-face with the reality, it was my sins that caused those nails to pierce His body. I, along with others, on our knees before the wooden cross, with hammer and nail, symbolically added a nail to His pain and suffering.  

     Then came Easter Sunday.  The joyful celebration I experienced at my church, once more amazed, as I realized anew Jesus' words, "...Because I live, you also will live."  John:14:19b  

     
     

     One detail in the Easter story causes me to wonder — why did Jesus choose to have the scars remain on His resurrected body?  

     Couldn't He have had any perfect body He wanted? 

     He knew there would be people like the disciple Thomas, who said,"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where the nails were— I will not believe it?" 

     To Jesus, no doubt, the scars are a permanent reminder of His days spent on earth, confined in a skeleton and human skin.  But, Wonder of Wonders! 

     Christ's resurrection is the guarantee of our own!  Now, living for the future, puts today in perspective.

— beulah

"Testing, testing. . . 1, 2, 3 testing" — "Is this mic on?"

     

     At this moment, I find myself in a state of euphoria. I just returned from seeing my delightful surgeon Dr. Baliski. 

     He is friendly, caring and personable — a young man, who seems to always have time for a warm chat with this aging grandma. 

     The preparation for a colonoscopy procedure is never pleasant, however, the test results are necessary for one's peace of mind. To receive news that all is well and further tests not required for three years, cannot but fill my heart with gratitude! 

     Of course, then the question, "Why me Lord?" and,"What now?"  

     My heart grows heavy when I remember relatives and friends that are having to go through long periods of treatment. So many situations arise in life that are just too difficult to understand. 

     

      At this time, the former mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford — with his family by his side — is once again experiencing the return of his cancer. 

     Though many of the problems he dealt with while in office were of his own doing, for some reason I always felt compassion and a heartfelt sorrow for the way he was wasting his life and abusing his body. 

     Ford was the subject of one of my blogs, dated Nov. 21, 2013, should anyone wish to research it.  

Talented and efficient son, Dave.

     Which brings me to this next thought. 

     Three years ago this month, I began this journey of writing my first blog, it being posted March 10, 2013, now amassing a total of 170 posts with over 22,000 page views. 

     At the time, hardly knowing what a blog was, I began my adventure. Though still not too savvy using the computer, I must say it has truly been an adventure I have enjoyed as I try to keep my brain active. 

     Of course, kudos to my talented and efficient son Dave, who's choice of accompanying pictures and arrangements always gives each post that needed zing.

     

     I hope that in some small way, sharing a few of "my lessons learned while doing life," may continue to be a blessing to many of you. 

     Thanks to you who take the time to read them.

— beulah

Love, big enough to include everyone

     "Freely you have received, freely give." 

— Matthew 10:8b    

     The news media keeps reminding us that this week marks five long years since the terrible holocaust erupted in Syria. 

     During that time, we are told over 250,000 Syrians have been killed, one million wounded, and 12 million displaced — a total of one-half of Syria's pre-war population. 

     For me, it is mind-boggling and just too difficult to comprehend the life these millions of refugees have endured, while simply trying to preserve their lives and the lives of their families. Their cry for international attention brought help from many countries as they responded, showing their willingness to receive and integrate many into a new way of life. 

     Kudos to our own government for reaching out with empathy to our fellow-man. The horrible situation which is on-going, is far from over. 

     Who can imagine enduring the terrible situations such as those stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border, aimlessly waiting for someone to come to their rescue?  

     When Jesus answered a teacher of the law, "What is the greatest commandment?" His answer, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, was immediately followed with, and "Love your neighbour as yourself." So we ask, "Who is our neighbour?" 

     God is the Father of all in the sense that He created all and His love and care extends to all. 

     Although we are of One, He has chosen to give us our own colour of entity. The mixed races spread across our world, remind me of a box of colourful crayons.  

     

When the al-Mohammed family arrived in Kamloops recently, they left much behind. The family — dad Khaled, mom Reem and children Ineam, 9, Mustafa, 7, and Yaman, 18 months — were sponsored by Refugees and Friends Together (RAFT), an organization that has brought many refugee families to Kamloops in the past two decades. Dave Eagles/Kamloops This Week

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Our skin tones may be different but we are all out of the same box of crayons. Our new friends entering our country may not have the same skin tone as us, and for sure may not speak our language. 

     But, we are to love everyone given by our Creator in the different colours He chooses to place around us. 

     Someone wisely said, "If we, the world's people, all got together in one group in total darkness and shared conversation, would colour matter? So, why should it matter when the lights are on and we are tempted to "tag someone" with whatever?" 

     

     Could it be because of our misplaced attitudes we miss the beautiful colours of life which may even be our neighbours from every nationality across our fabulous world? 

     Discrimination is a huge trait of society today. It spells unfavourable treatment and judgement, usually based on race, colour or gender. 

     I learned early in life Jesus' love is big enough to include everyone! 

     The little song I was taught while very young, says it right. "Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world." 

     Every person is of immeasurable value to Him, and we all stand equally. Love knows no boundaries.   

     As we remember..."the Lord... he upholds the cause of the oppressed... he gives food to the hungry and watches over the alien." 

— Psalm 146: 6-9 

     He wants us to be His hands and feet and help our neighbour. Cheerfully giving to those in need, we remember it's an investment in heavenly treasure.    

     What an exciting future awaits us... "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands – And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb..."Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." 

— Revelation 7: 9,15,16

— beulah

Family: the building blocks of society

     Recently, I had the privilege of making and serving dinner to several of my family members. As always, I was delighted in seeing eight of us chatting happily around my dining room table. 

     Our Heavenly Father designed us to enjoy family and community and to benefit from each other. We need to remember that the family is, without a doubt, the basic unit of society through which not only every individual is to be blessed, but by which every generation is raised, and upon which every nation is built. 

     Keeping our families in tact is important.  

     Many families have a secret recipe, or a unique way of cooking a dish that makes it especially tasty, perhaps handing it down from one generation to another. 

     Throughout my busy life of parenting, meanwhile carrying on a career, unique styles of cooking was not on the top of my priority list. 

     However, a few of our family meals came to mind as I chose our old family favourite, Spare Ribs Aloha.

 

     A very simply made but tasty dish! 

     The comments and accolades I overheard during our meal, assured me it was a success. How gracious of my family to encourage this aging Great Grandma by reassuring her that she can still "serve up a winner!" 

     There's a saying, "Thankfulness is the soil in which joy thrives." No doubt, much more would be accomplished in the workplace and happier attitudes shared, if recognition of work well-done, was given more freely by management. 

     Everyone's efforts need to be appreciated and appropriately thanked. So, who is in our life today that we can take time to thank?  

     

        I appreciated the nice comment made by my new grandson-in-law, Tyler. Giving me that usual, warm hug, he then made a lovely observation on what I was wearing. 
     I thought, "How insightful and gracious!" No doubt Sarah is enjoying lots of loving compliments every day. 

    Way to go, Tyler!  

     Even though my family may use the convenience of social media in their cooking, I can only imagine they will "dig up" from time-to-time, one of my "tried and true" recipes.  

     Even more important than remembering Great Grandma's recipes, is the legacy of faith I entrust to them. 

     God intends that every generation will share with the next generation about the mighty acts of God. "One generation commends (God's) works to another," as quoted by the psalmist. (Psalm 145:4).  

     "...Remember the days of old...ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you." (Deuteronomy 37:7).    

     

      Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, once said, "The family is the building block of society. It is a nursery, a school, a hospital, a leisure centre, a place of refuge and a place of rest." 

     Let's work on making ours — just that.


— beulah