Happy Birthday, Cheryl! May it be a very good day of fun activities and delightful
foods!
It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee, Wanderers! Maybe have some Cheerios in remembrance of Chas♡
i was so thankful it worked out for us to stop by the cemetery to put the flowers on the gravesite. It took a bit of walking around on a drizzly Sunday to find it. We did not stay long with the weather being what it was, but the setting is lovely with an old live oak in the background. I hope AJ got the few photos I sent.
X-Twitter means a lot of negatives for a lot of people.
But for me, every morning, it means a chance to read about God’s glory in normal life.
I love Chad Bird’s writing and so appreciate his insight.
This is long–they’re not always this long–but poignant and oh, so true. Right to the heart.
Chad Bird
@birdchadlouis
Jesus works slowly, individually, and tangibly when he interacts with people. And most of the time it goes completely unnoticed, except by those into whose death Christ pours forth life.
People like Harvey.
Harvey and his sons, Randy and Rex, were farriers by trade. You might think of them as cowboy podiatrists of the equestrian world. They cared for the feet of horses.
They drove their pickups all over Oklahoma, trimming hooves, pulling off old horseshoes and nailing on new ones. It’s hard, dirty, sweaty, backbreaking labor, made even worse if the horse has a rebellious streak. When I was a teenager, I trimmed my own horse’s hooves. I can’t imagine doing it full-time. But Harvey and his sons did it, day in and day out.
That is, until the cancer came.
The kind of cancer you can attack with radiation or chemo, orthodox or unorthodox treatments, and it goes nowhere but forward. Advances with a relentless violence irrespective of the suffering of the patient. A kind of guerilla warfare that ambushes the body here and there until, finally, there’s nothing left to do but stare at the clock and the calendar and await the inevitable end.
When I entered, the thick shades in the family room were pulled tight. Harvey was propped up on a makeshift bed. Ever the cowboy, he was wearing a faded pair of Wranglers.
“Thanks for coming,” Harvey said.
“Glad to do it,” I said.
“You got everything you need?”
“I do.”
“Alright, then.”
“Give me a second and we’ll get started.”
On the coffee table beside Harvey’s bed I laid a piece of cloth, on top of which I placed a Bible, a small glass of wine, and a tiny silver dish with a wafer of bread on it.
I remember a few of the things I said to Harvey that day. I remember reading a psalm and a passage from the Gospels. We confessed our sins together, and I put my hand on his forehead and pronounced the Lord’s forgiveness upon him.
I spoke a few words to try and encourage him, assure him of God’s mercy. And, having repeated what Jesus said in the upper room to his disciples, I took that piece of bread, held it to Harvey’s mouth, and placed it inside, saying, “The body of Christ for you.”
And I took the glass of wine, held it to his lips, and let him drink it, saying, “The blood of Christ for you.”
Yes, I remember a few of the things I said to Harvey that day. But I’ll never forget what he said to me. As I prayed a final petition and prepared to leave, Harvey grabbed my hand, held it tight, and said,
“Thank you, Lord, for coming to see me.”
Out of the mouths of babes. And dying men. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a moment of greater clarity in my life.
This is the way things are in the kingdom of God. Inside an Oklahoma farmhouse, with a man days from death, the Lord was present not only to talk to him but to touch him, feed him, pour into his mouth the wine of new creation. It was like I wasn’t even there.
Only Jesus and Harvey. Only our Father and his child. One last time here on earth before that old cowboy rode away into a paradise awaiting him.
“Thank you, Lord, for coming to see me.” Yes, Harvey, for so he comes. In shadowed rooms where cancer lurks. In lives on a collision course with the grave. He comes bearing gifts pregnant with life.
Gifts we can feel and taste and smell. Tangible treasures. Little gifts full of big life—Christ’s life. A life inextricably linked to the blood of death, the body of crucifixion, the very flesh of God.
The Lord came to see Harvey as he comes to see all of us, disguised as a beggar whose pockets bulge with gold.
-Adapted from my book, Your God Is Too Glorious (2nd Edition),
I’ve been wrapping gifts. Somehow there always seem too many for only child! Why do I still worry about spoiling?
Since being at his home I saw needs like a new dish drainer to replace the tiny one he had in the effiency apartment at Waco purchased eleven years ago.
I escaped today. Before my first sip of coffee my husband began his dissertation about all the bad things people eat and drink. After an hour I wanted to cry…,he knows not to overload my waking brain before coffee and first thing in the morning!!😂
I went shopping and ran into an old coworker at our old boss’s shoppes in Castle Rock! Old boss had just left before I arrived!
NJ, that cracked me up, your morning dissertation on “good and bad” foods. Glad you had a good day shopping.
Just got in from walking Abby, so many pretty Christmas lights up now on the houses! I love walking at night this time of year. Whether elaborate or simple, I love the lights.
We have a virtual union powwow tonight on a plan to move the needle forward w/management. I’m thinking I’m not alone in being skeptical anything will work, but ‘all for one, one for all’ and all of that, here we are. -dj
I went to the dentist for a cleaning and had two cavities! Whoops
The good news is that they put it in my records to have a 30% discount. Good since today was 250$.
Then I went to the eye doctor and made an appointment for next week. Merry Christmas to me
Jo
I am finding that I can’t make myself call for appointments, but dropping by the office works. However I did call for my propane fill up. I checked and I am still at 50%. But I don’t want to wait and pay more.
Oh I can’t get my propane wood stove to work so need to call. It is a long line
Jo
Wandering Views 
Happy Birthday, Cheryl! May it be a very good day of fun activities and delightful
foods!
It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee, Wanderers! Maybe have some Cheerios in remembrance of Chas♡
i was so thankful it worked out for us to stop by the cemetery to put the flowers on the gravesite. It took a bit of walking around on a drizzly Sunday to find it. We did not stay long with the weather being what it was, but the setting is lovely with an old live oak in the background. I hope AJ got the few photos I sent.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Good morning and happy birthday to Cheryl. Treat her royally, AJ.
LikeLiked by 3 people
X-Twitter means a lot of negatives for a lot of people.
But for me, every morning, it means a chance to read about God’s glory in normal life.
I love Chad Bird’s writing and so appreciate his insight.
This is long–they’re not always this long–but poignant and oh, so true. Right to the heart.
Chad Bird
@birdchadlouis
Jesus works slowly, individually, and tangibly when he interacts with people. And most of the time it goes completely unnoticed, except by those into whose death Christ pours forth life.
People like Harvey.
Harvey and his sons, Randy and Rex, were farriers by trade. You might think of them as cowboy podiatrists of the equestrian world. They cared for the feet of horses.
They drove their pickups all over Oklahoma, trimming hooves, pulling off old horseshoes and nailing on new ones. It’s hard, dirty, sweaty, backbreaking labor, made even worse if the horse has a rebellious streak. When I was a teenager, I trimmed my own horse’s hooves. I can’t imagine doing it full-time. But Harvey and his sons did it, day in and day out.
That is, until the cancer came.
The kind of cancer you can attack with radiation or chemo, orthodox or unorthodox treatments, and it goes nowhere but forward. Advances with a relentless violence irrespective of the suffering of the patient. A kind of guerilla warfare that ambushes the body here and there until, finally, there’s nothing left to do but stare at the clock and the calendar and await the inevitable end.
When I entered, the thick shades in the family room were pulled tight. Harvey was propped up on a makeshift bed. Ever the cowboy, he was wearing a faded pair of Wranglers.
“Thanks for coming,” Harvey said.
“Glad to do it,” I said.
“You got everything you need?”
“I do.”
“Alright, then.”
“Give me a second and we’ll get started.”
On the coffee table beside Harvey’s bed I laid a piece of cloth, on top of which I placed a Bible, a small glass of wine, and a tiny silver dish with a wafer of bread on it.
I remember a few of the things I said to Harvey that day. I remember reading a psalm and a passage from the Gospels. We confessed our sins together, and I put my hand on his forehead and pronounced the Lord’s forgiveness upon him.
I spoke a few words to try and encourage him, assure him of God’s mercy. And, having repeated what Jesus said in the upper room to his disciples, I took that piece of bread, held it to Harvey’s mouth, and placed it inside, saying, “The body of Christ for you.”
And I took the glass of wine, held it to his lips, and let him drink it, saying, “The blood of Christ for you.”
Yes, I remember a few of the things I said to Harvey that day. But I’ll never forget what he said to me. As I prayed a final petition and prepared to leave, Harvey grabbed my hand, held it tight, and said,
“Thank you, Lord, for coming to see me.”
Out of the mouths of babes. And dying men. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a moment of greater clarity in my life.
This is the way things are in the kingdom of God. Inside an Oklahoma farmhouse, with a man days from death, the Lord was present not only to talk to him but to touch him, feed him, pour into his mouth the wine of new creation. It was like I wasn’t even there.
Only Jesus and Harvey. Only our Father and his child. One last time here on earth before that old cowboy rode away into a paradise awaiting him.
“Thank you, Lord, for coming to see me.” Yes, Harvey, for so he comes. In shadowed rooms where cancer lurks. In lives on a collision course with the grave. He comes bearing gifts pregnant with life.
Gifts we can feel and taste and smell. Tangible treasures. Little gifts full of big life—Christ’s life. A life inextricably linked to the blood of death, the body of crucifixion, the very flesh of God.
The Lord came to see Harvey as he comes to see all of us, disguised as a beggar whose pockets bulge with gold.
-Adapted from my book, Your God Is Too Glorious (2nd Edition),
LikeLiked by 3 people
Honestly, “cowboy podiatrists of the equestrian world,” hooked me right away!
M
LikeLiked by 3 people
Morning! And Happy Birthday Cheryl. We are thankful for our Lord’s gift of YOU! ❣️🎂
Thanks M for sharing that sweet moment … crying and smiling at the same time ❣️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good afternoon all. And a very happy birthday to Cheryl!
Debra
LikeLiked by 2 people
Happy birthday to Cheryl J!
As Chas would say, if you have anything that needs done in November, better get to it! Where did the month go?
LikeLiked by 3 people
It has warmed up nicely today.
I’ve been wrapping gifts. Somehow there always seem too many for only child! Why do I still worry about spoiling?
Since being at his home I saw needs like a new dish drainer to replace the tiny one he had in the effiency apartment at Waco purchased eleven years ago.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am not dead.
mumsee
LikeLiked by 3 people
Happy Birthday to Cheryl!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh Mumsee we are thankful!!❣️
I escaped today. Before my first sip of coffee my husband began his dissertation about all the bad things people eat and drink. After an hour I wanted to cry…,he knows not to overload my waking brain before coffee and first thing in the morning!!😂
I went shopping and ran into an old coworker at our old boss’s shoppes in Castle Rock! Old boss had just left before I arrived!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Praying that AJ and Cheryl are having a good birthday dinner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy birthday, AJ’s Cheryl!
LikeLike
NJ, so glad you made your escape!
LikeLike
Happy Birthday to Cheryl!
NJ, that cracked me up, your morning dissertation on “good and bad” foods. Glad you had a good day shopping.
Just got in from walking Abby, so many pretty Christmas lights up now on the houses! I love walking at night this time of year. Whether elaborate or simple, I love the lights.
We have a virtual union powwow tonight on a plan to move the needle forward w/management. I’m thinking I’m not alone in being skeptical anything will work, but ‘all for one, one for all’ and all of that, here we are. -dj
LikeLiked by 1 person
I went to the dentist for a cleaning and had two cavities! Whoops
The good news is that they put it in my records to have a 30% discount. Good since today was 250$.
Then I went to the eye doctor and made an appointment for next week. Merry Christmas to me
Jo
LikeLiked by 2 people
I am finding that I can’t make myself call for appointments, but dropping by the office works. However I did call for my propane fill up. I checked and I am still at 50%. But I don’t want to wait and pay more.
Oh I can’t get my propane wood stove to work so need to call. It is a long line
Jo
LikeLiked by 1 person