Friday Photos -- The Butterfly

 

The Monarch butterfly

I remember taking this photograph as if it were yesterday.  

It was taken on October 10, 2013.  We were at Lowe's, and Glen was looking for some plants for his garden.  I had just gotten a new camera (yes, people still used cameras then), and I was trying it out on the flowers.  In October, monarch butterflies migrate through this area and one was flitting around the flower department.  I followed this butterfly everywhere it went, trying to get the perfect picture.  When this one popped up on the screen, I knew I could do no better than this.

Tuesday - All Things Ellie: Meet Sally

 

Sally

Sally is our daughter's dog.  Marie rescued her about a year before we got Ellie.

Sally is a mix: she is part Chihuahua, part Shitzu, and part Austrailian Cattle Dog.  She is also part Houdini, but more on that later.

When we first got Ellie, Sally was much taller than Ellie.  Even then, though, as a puppy, Ellie asserted her dominance.  Now, at almost five years old, Ellie is much taller than Sally.

Ellie and Sally are now best friends.  We "dog-sit" Sally several days during the week while Marie works.  Ellie and Sally eat together, play together, and then take naps.

In the beginning, I would try to take them on walks together, but that was when Sally's "Houdini" genes became evident.

The first time I took them out together for a walk in the neighborhood, I was looking around for "Jack, the Cat" (Another story for another day.), Sally decided to practice her greatest skill, which was slipping out of her harness. I started chasing her, and so did Ellie. Ellie, having those hunting genes, was immediately ready for the challenge.  

Sally ran toward the house to our left, and just as I thought I was going to be able to get her, she slipped away into the yard next door.  I chased her, and once again, I thought she was within my grasp, and she darted away.  Finally, I gave up and let the expert take over.

"Ellie, get Sally!" I shouted.

Ellie seemed to instinctively know what to do.  She ran to Sally's backside and corralled her between a chainlink fence and the corner of a house.  She stayed between Sally and the street until I could get Sally's harness back on.  Sally, thankfully, didn't try to escape anymore on that walk, and we went straight - and swiftly- home.

A few days later, however, we were walking on the other side of the neighborhood. Sally had just "done her business," and I was bending over to pick it up. When I looked back at Sally, there was no Sally to look at. I had not felt any pulling on the leash at all, but the leash and harness were lying on the ground. Sally was nonchalantly trotting across a neighbor's front yard.

This time, I didn't waste time trying to catch her myself.

"Ellie, get Sally!"  This command was effective last time, and this time, Ellie immediately knew the game was on.

She followed Sally. Once Sally reached the wooden fence between the two houses, Ellie put her body against Sally's and held her there until I could buckle her up again. For that, Ellie got a big treat of chicken, and I decided never to try to walk them both at the same time again.

Sally is a very sweet dog. She loves to have her belly rubbed and chew on bone toys. And she loves Ellie. In the third book of our "Ellie & Percival" Series for children, Sally teaches Ellie about snow and has a great idea for praying for something that seems almost impossible.

Sally has great ears, especially for sounds emanating from the kitchen.  In fact, if I am doing something in the kitchen, Sally is usually the first one to run to see if it means the dogs will get some food.

When it comes to eating, Sally and Ellie are totally different.  Ellie wolfs down her food as if she has not eaten in years.  Sally, however, demurely takes one piece of kibble at a time and quietly nibbles on it like a perfect little lady.

Sally has been a great blessing to our daughter, to us, and especially to Elllie.

Besties

Friday Photos - Happy Valentine's Day

 

Happy Valentine's Day from Glen, Frannie, and Ellie!

(Ellie was less than a year old when this was taken.)

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

 Today, Ellie and I were walking around the neighborhood. Usually, on these walks, I let her stop and smell whatever she wants within the six-foot length of her leash. She was busy exploring something in the grass when my eye spotted the root.

This root had obviously come from the tree a couple feet away.  It had probably been tiny when it encountered the sidewalk. Instead of changing direction, it continued directly into the space between two slabs of concrete.  There, it grew and grew until it became embedded between a "rock and a hard place," as it were.

The root didn't die; it continued to grow where it found itself. It did what it was made to do, which was to find soil and nutrients to send back to the tree to keep it healthy and alive.  Not only did it NOT die, it grew!  It thrived!

This little root really touched my heart.  It was doing what God made it to do. Period.

I thought of how many times the Lord has placed me in hard places.  How many times have I responded with complaints, tears, or feeling unjustly treated?  

I realize I should be more like this little root, just doing what the Lord has made and called me to do, which is to "with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:6.)

There are times in our lives when the Lord needs to put us into some very hard places.  They may be places of pain, solitude, or frustration. We will not like it; our emotions may cry out, our bodies may hurt, and our minds may not be able to understand it.  But still, in all of that, the Lord has a purpose for us being there.  One is this:

"And call upon me in the day of trouble:  

I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."  Psalm 50:15.

"Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires," Isaiah 24:15.

As we glorify Him in our troubles, He strengthens us, and we are more able to call upon Him in the next trouble.  And we are more able to strengthen those around us who are also in the cracks of life. 

We will not in this lifetime escape the troubles this world brings. As the Scriptures tell us, "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," (Job 5:7.)  But they also tell us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," (Psalm 46:1.)

So, as the "sparks fly upward" in our lives let us seek that one Refuge and Strength that never fails.  In doing so, we will be like that little root, pleased to be between a rock and a hard place because we know the Lord has sent us there for His purpose and His purpose is always the very best for our lives.

The Red Jacket - Revisited

This story was printed many, many years ago, but finding it today I realized how relevant it still is.  And I still don't have the perfect red jacket.

 Several years ago, I was walking through a department store and saw a beautiful red leather jacket. I tried it on and loved the fit—in fact, I loved everything about the jacket except the price tag. So, I left it on the rack. I have regretted it ever since.

I am extremely picky about jackets. I don't like lapels or collars, and being tall, I need sleeves that are long enough. Not any red will do..I don't want rust or cranberry. . .I want red.

The jacket at Dillard's met all my pre-conceived criteria, except for the price.  It was exactly what I wanted, the real deal.  Since then, I have tried on dozens of red-hued jackets, none of which come close enough to cause me to purchase them, even at a quarter the price.  They are not the "real deal"; they fall short of my standard of perfection for red jackets.  I have searched for the elusive red jacket of my dreams, but none have met up to my list of qualifications.

Many times, I have heard people say, "If I do more good things than I do bad things, then I will go to heaven."  This would imply that anything we do can have good merit in and of itself.  Yet the Scriptures tell us that apart from the saving work of the Lord Jesus, "... we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64:6.)  Our good works can never be accepted by a God who is perfectly holy because they don't meet up to the standard of perfection.

What is that standard of perfection?  The Lord Jesus Christ.  His sinless life is the standard of perfection.  If we desire to reach Heaven on our own merits and works, then we have to be as perfect in word, action, thought, and motive as He was, and He was without sin.

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Hebrew 4:5

All we can do is to humble ourselves before the Lord and be thankful that He is a God that "delighteth in mercy" and who is "good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee."  We confess that we cannot in and of ourselves obtain the path to Heaven, that we have all "sinned and come short of the glory of God."

We seek His grace, mercy, and salvation provided through His Son, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Then God wraps the righteousness of His dear Son around us and declares us His child as well.  Only His Son and His righteousness meet the standard, and we must accept it by faith as a freely given gift.

Awake, my heart; arise, my tongue,

Prepare a tuneful voice;

In God, the life of all my joys,

Aloud will I rejoice.

’Tis He adorned my naked soul,

And made salvation mine;

Upon a poor polluted worm

He makes His graces shine.

And lest the shadow of a spot

Should on my soul be found,

He took the robe the Savior wrought,

And cast it all around.

How far the heav’nly robe exceeds

What earthly princes wear!

These ornaments, how bright they shine!

How white the garments are!

The Spirit wrought my faith, and love,

And hope, and every grace;

But Jesus spent His life to work

The robe of righteousness.

Strangely, my soul, art thou arrayed

By the great Sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise

Let all thy powers agree.

Isaac Watts

All Things Ellie - Ellie meets Percival

One day, Ellie and I were walking in the yard.  Her hound-nose led her to some large azalea bushes on the south side of the house.  This was not her usual "I'm smelling to see if there is something to find" smell, it was clearly her, "There is something here, let's go find it."  Underneath the Ligustrum bushes, Ellie encountered a turtle.  A Gulf Box turtle, to be exact.

At this point in my life, I knew almost nothing about turtles except that some could snap at you and bite you.  All Ellie knew was this critter smelled good (by her standards, not mine!) and she wanted to get closer.

I was intrigued, not only by the turtle but by Ellie's reaction to it.  She wasn't frightened at least and she also wasn't aggressive to it.  She did smell it quite a bit, though.

After that, every morning, Ellie looked for the turtle. Sometimes, he was under an azalea bush, sometimes under a hydrangea bush. Thanks to her wonderful sense of smell, she could always find him. The result was always the same: They looked at each other curiously, but neither showed any aggressive signs or even signs of running away. 

When Ellie met Percival

At some point we decided to bring something with us for the turtle, whom I began to think of as "Percival". (There is no rhyme or reason for this name, but it did form the basis of his character when the children's books began to be written.)  My husband read that turtles like greens, so we had some spinach in the house and took him some.  This is where the title for the first book, "Greens for Percival", came from.

Percival on the Carport

Later, we began to bring him little bits of chicken breast, which he really liked!  Ellie does too! Then, as summer started, we brought him some canteloupe.  Percival LOVES canteloupe!  This began a long season of Percival being part of our daily routine.  For a while, we would find him under the bushes along our driveway.  Then, he would be under our car!  We had to make sure each time we went somewhere that Percival was not under the car.  On more than one occasion, I had to move him out of the way.  One morning, Glen went out to find Percival standing at the door to our carport!

We all got so friendly with Percival that he started coming to us in the morning as soon as he saw us. (Of course, we realize it was because of the food, but we think he likes us, too!)

Last year, Percival found the perfect place for himself. We have some kayaks, which we store against the back wall of our house. He started living there. How do we know this? Ellie hunted for him until she found him there. So, each morning, Ellie and I would go to the kayaks, I would say, "Good morning, Percival," and he would come trotting right out to see us.  

This past fall, when Percival left to brumate (the reptile version of hibernation), Ellie looked for him at the kayaks every morning.  After a few days, she sniffed and sniffed and then turned back toward me with her head tilted in that very cute way she has as if to say, "Mom, where is he?"

Last year, he came back around Easter, so we will begin looking for him about that time this year, too.

Hello! I am Percival! I am very pleased to meet you!
"Any friend of Ellie's is treasured by me!"

Friday Photos-Steele Creek Park

 

This picture was taken at Steele Creek Park in Bristol, TN, on October 26, 2022.  We were in Virginia for hiking.  Since our beagle, Ellie, came to be a part of our family, we haven't been backpacking the Appalachian Trail.  Instead, we have been trying to find other hikes that all three of us will enjoy while minimizing any danger to her.  We know her nose well enough to take her into too much wilderness.

We try to time our fall hikes with the color change, and this year, we chose it perfectly.  This was a wonderful hike on an easy path around the lake. The weather was perfectly cool, and we decided to return in the Spring.

 

"All Things Ellie" Tuesday -- Other Animals

 Of the fun things with Ellie is to watch how she responds to other animals.  We have many feral cats in our neighborhood, and she usually responds as you would expect.  However, the more she sees each one of them, the less she reacts to them.

One spring, we hiked part of the Virginia Creeper Trail from Abingdon, VA.  This particular part of the trail had a good bit of farmland.  At one point, we passed some grazing cows.  There was a bench across the trail, so we took that opportunity for a water break.

Ellie wanted to see the cows. As we sat on a bench, she didn't take her eyes off them. I truly believe if I had dropped the leash, she would have been at that fence in a second.

The next day, while continuing our hike on the "Creeper", we again encountered cows and Ellie didn't even turn her head to give them a look.   This was a very different reaction to what she had to the horses.

The Virginia Creeper is not only a very popular trail for hikers, but bikers and equestrians utilize this trail as well.  Ellie seemed totally shocked by the horses.  I couldn't tell if she wasn't frightened at all or was so frightened she couldn't even move.  Maybe she was thinking, "Those are the biggest dogs I have ever seen.  And the humans are riding them!"

I kept her as far away from the horses as I could because I didn't know how she would respond to them up close.  As it turned out, when they passed us on the trail, she did very well.

Ellie has some other animal friends, too.  One day, she was smelling around under the bushes by the house and became very excited.  I looked under the bushes and saw a turtle.  At that point in my life, I knew almost nothing about turtles.  I certainly didn't know that this particular turtle was going to be a beloved part of our lives.  I also didn't know I was to write four children's books about his relationship to Ellie! (The fourth is not yet finished.)  I didn't know that each morning would begin with Ellie looking for Percival (as we call him) and even feeding him.

Next Tuesday, I will introduce you to Percival and share more about his unique relationship with Ellie and with us.

                                                                 

Friday Photos

 

This is one of my favorite photos of all time. We had been kayaking along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, and I took this picture from my kayak when we reached our put-in.

When I placed the trilogy of pictures at the top, I wanted to emphasize the change noted in the verse I used. All Christians are in a state of growth and change," from glory to glory."

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord; are changed into the same image from glory to glory, 

even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

2 Corinthians 3:18

Being Triggered

Many people today speak of being "triggered," which is usually a negative reaction to something that has occurred. I have moments of being "triggered" as well, but they are much different. 

I usually easily go to the Lord with thoughts of my own needs or those of my family, but I often need reminders to pray for the needs of others.

I was thinking of that today when I was cleaning the sink.  It reminded me to pray for a friend of mine who recently underwent a cardiac procedure.  You may wonder why my sink made me think to pray for her.  First of all, I am sure the Lord used the cleaning of my sink to prompt me to pray for my friend because one day, she and I had a conversation about cleaning the kitchen sink.  Not an earth-shaking topic nor an earth-shaking conversation, but the Lord used it to bring my thinking to her so I would pray for her.

I am a firm believer in what I call "prayer triggers." For example, the sound of a siren reminds me to pray for first responders. Seeing a school bus reminds me to pray for our friend who drove a school bus for several years. (I imagine she needed those prayers!) I have many such triggers, where everyday things remind me to pray for someone else. Now, I have a "kitchen sink" prayer trigger.

The wonderful thing about prayer is that we can do it anytime, anywhere, in any position.  Our prayers are not required to be long and flowery.  A simple lifting up of that person's name is sufficient; God knows the details.  However, if we do desire to pray about specifics, that is perfectly good as well.

If we had just a glimpse of how precious our prayers are to the Lord, we would find prayer to be one of the most delightful events of our day. Our prayers to the Lord are so precious to Him that we find this verse in the Old Testament: 

"...let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice..." 

Song of Solomon 2:14.

If My Voice
If my voice is sweet to you, Lord,
As Your Word declares,
And if somehow you find delight in my prayers.
And if Your face You call me to seek, Lord,
Your face I will seek…
And my voice You will hear…

All Things Ellie Tuesday

Let me tell you a little about Ellie.

Ellie is a full-blooded beagle.  She is almost five years old. We got her from Jeffco Kennels in Livingston, LA, and she is the best beagle we have had.

Our previous beagle, Sparrow, was a sweet soul of a dog and lived to be over 13. When she died of congestive heart failure, we were brokenhearted and not sure if we wanted another dog.  We began seeking the Lord's will in that regard.  At the same time, I began looking at breeders on the internet to acquire information in case we decided to get another dog.

I found Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Lisa, who own and operate Jeffco Kennels and was very impressed with how they cared for and socialized their puppies. Shortly after Sparrow's death, one of the momma beagles at Jeffco became pregnant with a litter. Ellie was one of eight puppies in that litter. It was right around that time that we decided to get another dog—of course, it had to be a beagle. 

Ellie's first car ride

We picked Ellie up on May 1st. She weighed 3 lbs. 3 ozs. and was the cutest little bundle of puppy! When we picked her up, she was almost potty trained, and she settled into the rhythm of our family immediately. Everyone loved Ellie, and Elllie loved everyone. (Except for maybe this one woman who walks around the block, but that's another story for another day.) 

Unlike the stereotype, Ellie adores our mailman.  If we are outside when he comes by, she will pull me until I take her to see him.  And it isn't because she wants one of the dog treats he keeps in his truck.  She loves to see him, and he loves her back.

Ellie's favorite thing to do is eat. She loves chicken best. She also loves to take walks, especially when she can stop and smell as much as she likes.

Curious Ellie

Ellie is a great travel dog. She loves the car and sits contentedly in the back seat. She adapts to any situation, whether we stay in a hotel or with friends. She loves to go hiking with us, and we love exposing her to new things. 

We had one beagle who loved water, and I was curious to see how Ellie would respond to a river. She was not interested at all!

Ellie has been exposed to many other animals, including cats, dogs, turtles, cows, and horses. On subsequent Tuesdays, I will tell you about some of those encounters.

The most important thing to tell you about Ellie is that she is absolutely a gift and blessing from the Lord. Not a day goes by that I do not thank the Lord for bringing her into our lives and reminding us through her how much he loves us!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

James 1: 17

The Undead Snake

One of the 44 trestles on the VCT

 A couple years ago, Glen and I decided we would hike the Virginia Creeper Trail.  

This old railway trail has been converted into a biking and hiking trail.  It is 32 miles long, begins in Abingdon, VA, and ends in Whitetop, VA, close to the Virginia/North Carolina State Line.

We had been on this trail before when we were doing a section hike on the Appalachian Trail. For several miles, the VCT and the AT share the same path. This exposure to the VCT led us back in the summer of 2023.

The VCT has 44 trestles along the 32 miles of trail, which makes this trail special.  Some of these trestles cross creeks and rivers, and some cross ravines.  I love the fact that they are each numbered, so you can easily keep up with which ones you have crossed.

We were crossing one of these trestles when I noticed a black snake on one side. I observed the snake for a bit and ensured I was well out of its way, but the snake never moved. I did not see the slightest movement, and I remember telling Glen, "Look, this poor snake died up here on the trestle."

We continued our hike, which was to be an "out and back," which meant we would go out a particular distance and then turn around and retrace our steps to where we began.

I didn't want to see the snake again because I thought it was so sad.  Imagine my surprise when we reached that trestle and the snake was still there but in a different place!  The snake hadn't been dead, merely resting.  Or perhaps feigning death as a protection from predators.

When I remembered this the other day, it made me think that just because we think something is dead doesn't make it true. There are so many times in our lives when we think something is dead—some hope, dream, or prayer. But it isn't. God just isn't finished with it yet.

Because we live totally in the realm of time, we forget that the Lord is eternal. He had a plan for mankind before He created the world. His plan includes everything—me, you, and everything about us.  

"My times are in Thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." Psalm 31:15

One of my daughters frequently says, "Trust the process."  This is exactly what our attitude toward the Lord should be. Trust Him.  He knows everything about everything, and we do not.  Or, as our dear friend Wayne emphatically states, "God is God, and we ain't!"

"O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; 

for His mercy endureth for ever."

1 Chronicles 16:234

Friday Photos

 

This photo was taken June 28, 2023, when we were hiking the Virginia Creeper Trail.  I was surprised at the beauty of this scenery.  We sat on a nearby bench for several minutes, enjoying the view.

All Things Ellie

Ellie Jean Louise Davis

One of our friends commented that she views our blog "just to see photos of Ellie."  I know she was joking, but noticing that comment today gave me the idea to dedicate one day a week to "all things Ellie." (Thanks for the inspiration, Karen!)

Once I had decided that might be a fun endeavor, I needed to decide which day of the week to do it.  I decided it would be a day with an "E" in the name, for Ellie.  So that left me with Tuesday or Wednesday.  Since Wednesday is our busiest day of the week (we do two services back to back on Wednesday), I decided to make Tuesday our "All Things Ellie" day.

I will begin by giving you a little background on Ellie.  (If you have read any of our Ellie & Percival Series children's books, you already know a good deal about Ellie.)

Ellie is a beagle.  She will be five in March.  Her favorite thing in the world - besides eating, of course - is to smell things.  Most afternoons in the week, we go to a local schoolyard.  We put Ellie on a 30ft leash and let her go where she wants to go and smell whatever she wants to smell for as long as she wants, or for about 45 minutes.  She loves this activity.  Every afternoon, about the time we would usually go, she begins to watch me for signs we are leaving.   I enjoy doing this with Ellie.  Beagles are hounds, and as such, they are driven by scent.  The "smelling time" is as important for them as the actual exercise.  During a usual time at the schoolyard, we will walk over a mile, so she gets some exercise with it as well.

Ellie's Favorite Toy

Ellie's favorite game is "Keep Away."  She has a few toys which she loves for this.  She takes her job in Keep Away seriously, so not every toy can handle it.  My favorite -and most long-lasting- toys are made by the "Fluff and Tuff" company.  These toys have a mesh lining inside, and they hold up very well to Ellies vigorous pulling and my not-as-vigorous tugging.  They wash well, too. (I have not received any compensation for this review; I am simply amazed at how well they handle what Ellie dishes out.)

Several times during the day, Ellie comes to me with one of her favorite toys and drops it at my feet. I try to play with her whenever I can because I know how much she loves it and that it satisfies some of her innate needs.

Ellie is a wonderful dog, and I look forward to sharing her with you every Tuesday.

Waiting for the Birds

 Our daughter gave us a bird feeder with a camera for Christmas.  Today, we finished assembling the feeder, charging the camera, and installing the feeder on the side of our house.  Glen and  I both have the app installed on our phones, and both the app and camera are functional.

The view from our bird feeder

Our great temptation is now to watch the camera and wait for the birds.  The feeder is full of food; the birds just don't know it is there yet.  But we are so excited to see them; we want them to come and eat right now!

I can't help but chuckle at myself for being so impatient with the birds.  It causes me to think about people I have known and prayed for over the years. I want them to come to know the Lord, right now! 

You see, The Lord has prepared everything for us.  He "giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25.) He has secured our salvation by the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He waits for us to take advantage of the wonderful life He has created for us.

Not only that, but He continues after our salvation to meet our needs and provide everything we need to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

What we need is there; we only have to accept it through faith.  We have to fly to the bird feeder and take advantage of what has been placed there.  I pray that each time I see a bird happily feasting on the seed we have provided, I remember the abundance our Lord has provided for us.

This makes me think of one of my favorite hymns, "Day By Day."

Day By Day

Lyrics by Carolina Sandell

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,

Gives unto each day what He deems best,

Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,

He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till with Christ the Lord I stand.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." 

James 1:17

Friday Photos January 17, 2025

 

Raindrops dissecting a reflection

This picture was taken on November 4, 2016. I had just gotten a new camera and wanted to try it out, even though it was drizzling. I stood at our front steps and took picture after picture, trying to get a shot of the droplet rings, dissecting the reflection of the roofline. In the end, I was happy with it.  

The Second Diamond Lost

 After Glen and I had been married for only one month, I was out running errands when I looked down at my left hand and saw that the diamond had been removed from my engagement ring.

Fast forward almost fifty years.

One Sunday morning before our Chapel Service, I was chatting with Mrs. Betty about things.  We talked about losing them, having them taken away from us, in general, about not having them anymore.  She relayed to me that her son had told her, “Mom, those are just things.”  It reminded me of a sign I used to have on my wall:

“Only God and people are eternal; everything else is just stuff.”

We finished our conversation, and I sat down in a pew in the chapel. Glancing down at my left hand, I noticed once again that a diamond was missing from my wedding band.

I could not help but smile. After all, Mrs. Betty and I had just discussed how things are just that: things.

After a few minutes, I began to remember a tiny shiny stone I found a few days before when I was cleaning my bathroom floor. I thought it might be from one of my granddaughter's playthings, so I put it in a bag for safekeeping.

When I got home, I went straight to my jewelry box where I had put that bag. Yes, the tiny stone perfectly matched the empty setting on the side of the ring. I put the ring in the bag with the stone, intending to take it to the jewelers that week.

One thing led to another, and now, months later, the stone and the ring still sit in my jewelry box. I suspect that, having once decided that "things were just things," I was in no hurry to replace the stone into its original setting.

I will take it to the jeweler, but for me, even though it is beautiful, it is still a "thing". There is nothing in our lives, no thing, no person, no event, no accomplishment that can bring us lasting fulfillment and joy. On Christ Jesus can do that. This is so true the Scriptures say of Him:

“…Christ is all, and in all.”  Col 3:11

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being;" Acts 17:28

There is a lovely song, published in 1869, under the name, "Always Rejoicing," attributed to Pauline T, which beautifully expresses these thoughts.  These are the lyrics:

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?

My life goes on in endless song:

Above earth's lamentation,

I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn

That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife

I hear the music ringing;

It sounds an echo in my soul--

How can I keep from singing?

What tho' my joys and comfort die?

The Lord my Saviour liveth;

What tho' the darkness 'round me lie?

Songs in the night he giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,

While to that Rock I'm clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?

I lift my eyes; the veil grows thin,

I see His Truth above it,

Step by step leads me to Him,

This path how I've learned to love it.

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,

A fountain ever springing;

All is mine since I am His-

How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,

While to that Rock I'm clinging;

Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,

How can I keep from singing?