Perspective-People

Cheryl lost her husband this year after a tragic car accident. After almost thirty years of marriage, she now sits without him in church on Sundays. It physically pains me to see her sitting with her teenage son and without her other half.

Elaine was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer. A brilliant author-speaker and mother of four, she is battling for her life. With little ones still to raise at home-my friend looks to Jesus for His peace through this storm.

Martha is my library-friend. While asking her for help on Friday she shared, “My son died this summer.”

Her words caught me off-guard. She was explaining the library’s new database, not small talk about family. Her words were out of place-shocking. It was as if her pain needed a release.

“Your son died this summer? I had no idea. I am so sorry.” Tears welled.

“He was only forty years old.” She continued—her eyes vacant. “They misdiagnosed his melanoma the year before. He lived six months and left behind my daughter-in-law and my three grandchildren, all under the age of eight.”

All three women were a part of my life last week. I call them Perspective-People; people who throw me a cold splash of reality when I make the little things in my life- the big things in my life. These three ladies don’t realize it; still they were on my mind and in my prayers.

My life is full of your generic everyday concerns like: is there enough milk for cereal tomorrow? Did I sign my son’s permission slip? Does my silver chunky bracelet go with my purple sweater? Perspective-People have outgrown the mundane concerns of the simple-minded like me. They drink from life’s cup deeply and inspire me to do the same.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14

Ask the former generations and find out what their fathers learned,

for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,

and our days on earth are but a shadow.

Job 8:8-9

Do you have any Perspective-People in your life?

What time would you choose?

There are special moments in my life where I wish I could stop the hands of time. My kids are all home tonight, and my husband and I are hanging out doing a whole lot of nothing. Some would call me boring. I consider myself a great appreciator of time.

I can often torment myself because I yearn to go back to times in my life that I can't go back to. Times like when my mother was alive, when my babies were small enough to nuzzle into the crook of my neck, my wedding day.

Whenever I'm overwhelmed by the desire to stop my life right where it is, I ask the Lord to bless my grateful heart with a memory. I ask Him for a snapshot of this joyful moment in my life. Making a deposit into my mind's library allows me to go back every once in awhile, and replay these special moments in my life.

How about you? Is there a special part of your life where you wish you could freeze time? Have you made any memory deposits lately?


To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

My heavy heart...

My heart is so heavy tonight. One of my mom’s dearest friends passed away this afternoon. Through my growing up years mom talked to ‘Bev’ on a daily basis. They had known each other as teenagers, lost touch and reconnected while watching their daughters play bobby sox at the community park across the street from our house. Bev got mom a part time job working together at Bev’s husband’s meat company. Years later they both went on to work together as pharmacy clerks at the local drugstore. “Bev always makes me laugh.” My mom would tell us. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer Bev was one of my mom’s gang of girlfriends that rallied around her. For two years they were by her side encouraging her, bringing her to doctors appointments, dropping off gifts and treats to brighten her spirits. Bev's love in action, showed me what being a friend is all about.

The Bible tells us that life is like a vapor, a mist, a shadow. Our life is fleeting. Time flies by. Just ask anyone over the age of 40 and they will confirm to you the same. I often place my hands on top of my children’s heads and jokingly tell them, “Stop growing!” I know these days are temporary yet my time still gets entangled in the unimportant. Tonight while I was lost in my own sadness I realized my youngest two children were watching TV…precious 'time' was slipping by. I went in and turned off their show and decided to pull them into my lap and read them a book. I will be giving ‘time’ a knock down drag out fight and I don't plan to lose.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 niv