"Takin' Time Out"

Definition:  Hold someone closely in one’s arms.  Accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.  To surround or enclose.

Each one of us has experienced a time in our life we wished we could hit the rewind button.  This past two weeks we have had a very devastating event for our little neighborhood and a very close friend’s life has forever changed while another dear friend is going through a difficult time as well.  I won’t share all the details but the word “EMBRACE” came to mind as I prepared to type this weeks post.  When life gives us extreme challenges and difficulties our natural reactions are filled with emotions, fear, feelings and devastation.  How we react to those situations is very critical too.  I ask the good Lord to help me “EMBRACE” with Grace, as I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus helping where I can, listening, comforting and doing my part yet I have to work very hard to set boundaries or the situation can totally overwhelm and consume my every waking hour.  Our whole community of neighbors, friends, & family pulled together to help through this time of crisis.   And will continue through the next few weeks, months and years.   I feel so blessed to be in this unique and diverse circle of friends.  God is good!

 

“EMBRACE”is so important it can bring comfort in time of trials, fill our cup when our tank is empty but it also can bring courage in time of change or challenges!  I feel “Takin Time Out” is key to each and every one’s life so we can be rested a ready to go when someone calls for your “EMBRACE”. 

 

I love the feeling of a warm “EMBRACE” and how it brings joy, love and comfort to my soul…that simple little touch…wait a minute…close your eyes…take a time out right now, take a deep breath… another deep breath…pause and envision that “EMBRACE”…who is it?  Where are you?  What do you smell…maybe it is that sweet perfume or manly cologne?  How does that make you feel?  Memories of a parent, a grandparent, a child, your husband or wife, a girlfriend or boyfriend, just a friend, sister or brother…hmmm the true feeling of Love and comfort!  Hope it brings you a happy memory just for this moment and a true sense of peace!

“EMBRACE” doesn’t always have to be in the form of touch but in a form of action…you can “EMBRACE” one another in acts of kindness.  Doing for others or being in their presence just knowing someone is there to lend a helping hand.  It might also be a hand written note, a physical act or surrounding them with gifts or more importantly a gift of time and listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.

 

As I am sipping on my warm cup of mint tea…I realize the word ”EMBRACE” also can relate to change.  It is important as change is inevitable and it is all in our attitude in how we accept, adapt and move forward with change.  We can “EMBRACE” with a negative one or hopefully you choose a positive one and the end result will be much better!  Sometimes we have to go through the motions, analysis, the thought process the good, the bad, the ugly but I hope you eventually choose to “EMBRACE” it with a power of acceptance and move forward. I recently read an article on “EMBRACING” change and there were six key components 1)  Reduce Expectations 2) Acknowledge Change 3) Accept Change 4)  Learn from the experience 5) Recognize you’re growing stronger and 6) EMBRACE the wisdom.  All of these are key when we finally accept change, we learn from it and become all the better for experiencing it.

 

A few weeks ago the message at church was on the gospel of Mark regarding “Anointing at Bethany” taken from Mark 14:3-9.  A few distinguished guests were to have dinner in the house of Simon with Jesus this was just a few weeks prior to his crucifixion. The men were sitting there talking when an unexpected visitor interrupted the conversation yes it was a female who came rushing in and knelt down in front of Jesus with her alabaster jar of ointment.  This was a very expensive perfume and was worth more than a year’s wages, she then broke this bottle and poured it over his head and carefully washed his feet wiping them with her hair in honor of Jesus.  The guest criticized her and asked why she wasted such an expensive jar it could have been sold and given to the poor.  They rebuked her harshly!  The scripture states Jesus said:    ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[a] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

The pastor asked “Who would you be in the scene?”  The woman was compelled by Jesus to sit at his feet, it was uncomfortable because it is definitely out of the norm in that time for women to be in a room full of men, yes it was going to be risky, it was going to be uncomfortable, call forth a courageous love that inspired her to push past her fear and put it all on the line to follow this man named Jesus.   She “EMBRACED” that moment to show Jesus how much she truly cared.  We each have a jar, a gift God has given us, a talent waiting to be used.  Are you using it?  Are you “EMBRACING” life and doing what you can?  I encourage you to humble yourself and do your part even if it is uncomfortable or it costs you with time, maybe it physical or even more financially.  Let your light shine…  

 

I pray none of you have to experience what my dear friend recently has gone through but life offers it challenges disappointment and devastation.  We don’t always understand why but through this all I do know we have a loving and compassionate God that is there for each one of us as long as we accept him.  I also know we all have the power and capability to “EMBRACE” one another and to be the light or offer the prayers when one can’t…

This is a month of Thanksgiving…I ask each of you while “Takin Time Out”, pause for a moment, think if you have any unfinished business or cross words with someone or you haven’t acknowledge how much you truly care about someone to figure out a way to reach out and “EMBRACE” that person or situation to make a difference.  Let’s be thankful for the now, time is so short…I know many of you have read this poem before but it is one of my favorite’s and I think it is very fitting to leave you on this note…until next time my dear friend “EMBRACE LIFE TO THE FULLEST!”

​

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

​I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
​the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

​So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?