GRATITUDE ATTITUDE

Maybe it was their childhood of growing up in the Depression, when you learned to be thankful for everything, but gratitude was one character quality my parents tried to instill in me and my sister. We hadn't experienced the death of a parent nor extreme economic deprivations, as they had. But we were taught to be appreciative. One discipline connected to that was saying “thank you” and writing “thank-you notes.”

I tried to instill that in my kids, especially at gift-time. Even when they were too young to write, I encouraged them to draw a picture of the item and coached them on signing their names. With maturity came an expansion of what to be thankful for. Not just material gifts, but also the intangibles like the love, family connections, and hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Whenever I encounter a bitter person, I wonder, what would happen if they sat down and starting writing a thankful list. Would it open their eyes to the poverty of their life outlook?

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), an English apologist, literary/art critic, and author (also known for influencing fantasy writers C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien), toward the end of his life tried to express his most important life lesson. He decided it was this: whether we take things for granted or take them with gratitude.

Of that, Christian pastor and author Gary Inrig, in his study of Jesus' parables, remarked that when people live with a sense of entitlement instead of gratitude, such attitudes grow thin with those around them. In contrast, living out overflowing thankfulness is a prime clue to one's relationship with God. He explained: "When gratitude is lacking, grace has either not been received or not been understood. The state of our relationship with God is revealed clearly by our gratitude towards him."(1)

Not surprising, the etymology (word derivation) of “gratitude” is the Latin gratus, meaning “thankful, pleasing, agreeable.”

Every year I try to choose a focus word for the year. I post it at the bottom of my computer screen as a daily reminder of that quality. This year's word may be a repeat, but it's “gratitude.” Last year was tough with my husband's final illness and death. But even through that journey and its aftermath, the support of friends and loved ones has reminded me: be grateful in words, actions, and prayer. Quietly, through these choices, we'll sense the hug of God.

(1) Gary Inrig, The Parables: Understanding What Jesus Meant (Discovery House, 1991), pp. 45-46.

ROBED

I'm not one to wave a wish-list at Christmastime, but when my daughter-in-law asked what I might like, I thought of my, uh, very pilled, tired plush bathrobe. About thirty years ago, it was a soft and quite cozy. But now it was, well, ratty instead of royal, the “plush” spiked and thin.

I'm not fussy about robes; probably that old one came form a clearance rack. But its “aging” condition got me thinking about the history of robes and their spiritual connections. In reading the book of Isaiah, I always pause at the beginning of chapter 6. The prophet Isaiah wrote: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). Isaiah goes on to describe heavenly beings (seraphs with six wings) whose praise of God was so great that the temple's doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

Shaken greatly by this vision, Isaiah exclaimed, “Woe is me!” Then God commissioned him to prophesy to his wayward nation. That included advising King Uzziah, who would die of leprosy as a divine punishment for burning incense in the temple—a rite strictly belonging to the priests. So yes, pride led to the king's fall.

That whole thing of “pride” figures in other parts of robe history. Think of the Genesis account of teenage Joseph strutting about in his daddy's gift of a richly ornamented robe, to the disgust of his older half-brothers. That story didn't end happily for many years.

As history continued, the length and “drag” of a robe came to represent wealth and status. Robes of expensive material with lots of “drag” denoted that the wearer was either wealthy, distinguished in some way, or royalty. When King Charles was crowned last year, he entered Westminster Abby wearing the historic 14-foot-long “Coronation” robe which his mother had worn in 1953. He exited wearing the 21-foot “Imperial State Robe,” fifteen pounds dragging from his shoulders.

Not something you'd wear to wash the dishes or change the oil in the car....

Back to Isaiah's vision of Heaven and the enormous train from the throne of God. Remember, it was a vision, a way that God communicated concepts too great and wonderful for our human language. That's also true of how the apostle John, in an incredible vision he had of heaven (now our Biblical book of “Revelation”), described celestial garments of martyrs. They were white, “washed...in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14).

I can't wrap my mind around that. But I gladly wrap my (new) robe around me these cold nights. At times I still pull on my late husband's old robe, generous and warm. It's all that's left of his once-full closet, the rest of his clothes now given to people in need. I miss his hugs, but the robe reminds me that now I am wrapped in “the hug of God.” And knowing that brings great comfort.

WELCOME?

My home's welcome mat: traditional!

Ruth Bell Graham, the late wife of evangelist Billy Graham, was, well, “a kick.” Her serious side chose for a family home a location that was hard to get to—away from prying eyes and looky-loos—to help preserve some sort of privacy for the five children she often raised alone while Billy traveled. But you only had to step on the porch to realize she was no marble statue but a fun-loving lady. The front doormat read, “Oh, no, not you again.” You can actually buy those mats today—they're available at least online. Inside the home, in her kitchen, she hung this sign: “Divine service will be conducted here three times daily.” She wasn't talking about some high church liturgy, just the nitty-gritty of caring for a large family. Her sense of humor went all the way to the grave. One day while traveling, she took note of a road improvement sign that said, “End of construction. Thanks for your patience.” She said, “I'd like that on my gravestone.” And yes, it's engraved there on her slab next to Billy's grave.*

Back to that welcome mat...I have a traditional “welcome mat” on my porch. My son bought it for me to replace an aging one that was quite worn. He also also pulled up the porch's threadbare outdoor carpet and replaced it with new.

Porches can say a lot about your home. My 1950s-era childhood home in a Los Angeles suburb had a covered porch draped with a red climbing clematis—quite a romantic setting except on Halloween. Our mail was pushed down a chute on the porch that emptied into the dining room. My dad would shove our vacuum cleaner hose up that chute to vocalize a real scary “ooOOOOOooo” to arriving trick-or-treaters. That scared some off the porch!

Okay, fun aside, our entryways often do reflect who we are. If they're dirty or neglected, that's one message. If there's a sign that says, “No solicitors,” that's another. If crowded with plants, another subliminal message. But, mats like Mrs. Graham's teasing "Oh, no, not you again"?

When I knock at heaven's door through prayer, I'm glad I don't sense God saying, “Oh, no, not you again.” I'm glad He doesn't yell, “No trespassing.” Or that He doesn't peer through the peep-hole to see if He wants to open the door. Or, to turn the main analogy inside out--with Jesus knocking at the door of my heart--I'm taken to Revelation 3:20: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

That's a verse that many (including Billy Graham) have quoted to invite people to come to faith in Jesus. To begin a time of “spiritual reconstruction” to become who God always intended them to be. To be able to say, as does Ruth's tombstone, “End of construction. Thanks for your patience.”

*Zoom in on this link to read the humorous saying she wanted: Headstoneof Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Billy Graham, at her burial site in theMemorial Prayer Garden on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library inCharlotte, North Carolina, that tells the story of the life and"journey of faith" of the famed evangelist - originaldigital file | Library of Congress (loc.gov)

THE BLESSING APRON

 After my husband's death, a friend asked for one of his dress shirts for a special project. He had many nice shirts that he wore to church or formal occasions, or to substitute teach. In the public school classroom, his shirt-and-tie attire wordlessly communicated higher expectations for the students. (And yes, after decades of dealing with classroom behavior, he was a pro about class control.)

My friend's project? Transforming a nice collared shirt into a memory apron for me. The day she delivered it, I cried as I pulled it on. For the sweet memories of my late husband associated with that garment. And for her loving work in giving it a new role.

I hope I'm not stretching this love-gift too much by associating it with another apron involved in a love-gift. Instead of what we consider an “apron,” it was a First Century towel that Jesus tied around Himself to lovingly wash His disciples' feet before their last supper together before His crucifixion. Though this meal was described in all the Gospels, only John included the foot-washing detail.

Having visited a Third-World country, I “get it” about dirty feet. In Bible times, the street dirt contained human and animal waste, soiling their feet and primitive sandals. Hygiene and “good manners” mandated removing one's sandals near the door and washing feet.

Somehow, that nicety wasn't observed when the disciples secured someone's large second-story room for their observance of the Passover meal. Maybe they thought a servant would show up and do it. They never imagined Jesus doing such a dirty job. None of them “stepped to the plate” (to borrow a baseball saying for this dining room) for this humble duty. Instead, they focused on their plates of food as they lay on their sides at the low table, one pair of filthy feet after another fanning out behind them.

Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:3-5)

My old aprons bear the stains of many meals I prepared for my family or delivered to share with those in grief or need. Others blessed me that way, like the year I royally broke my ankle and was recliner-bound for weeks. A dear older friend symbolically “washed my feet” by bringing delicious meals while I was laid up. Years later my husband and I still talked about that, especially her famed roast beef sandwiches with dipping broth.

That amazing, generous cook was my apron-friend's late mother. Mom to daughter, daughter to me....what a legacy of grace and giving. What a practical reminder of Jesus: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

COLD PEOPLE

The neighbor boys (grade- and middle-school-age) created these “extra residents” for their front yard after our first significant snowfall. How cool, I thought, then I realized that “cool” could have several meanings: “entertaining,” “temperature-challenged” or “vulnerable to heat.” This pun also came to mind (forgive me!): “God's Frozen People” (from “God's Chosen People,” of course meaning the nation of Israel back to Bible times). Well, these neighborhood “frozen people” didn't last more than a couple days as temperatures warmed up. But they got me thinking about how God has been teaching me to “chill”--the lingo for “accept, don't get all bothered over”--regarding things in life that don't go as I want.

For many years I've gone through a spiritual learning curve of dealing with unhappy, angry people. My natural tendency is to try to “fix” things. But these situations were way beyond me. Then the Lord showed me that the answer wasn't in my trying to “fix” them, but in my seeking His Face, and behaving in ways that He wanted me to behave. His way was the true chill.

One great text advocating “chill” is in Paul's letter to the Ephesian church. This church, located in today's Turkey, was a commercial seaport with a primary religion devoted to the goddess Diana. This letter got down to specifics of how a Christ-follower should pull away from society's idols and live out the attributes of Christ. In a nutshell, those in Ephesians (4:25-5:2) include:

*Truth-speaking

*Controlling anger

*Giving instead of stealing

*Wholesome speech that builds others up

*Being on guard against grieving God's Holy Spirit

*Forsaking negative emotions (bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander)

*Practicing kindness and compassion

Probably like me, you've known folks whose lives are characterized by the negatives of that list. Yet whenever I read this passage, I am compelled to ask, Which behaviors characterize me? Where can God do some remodeling of my spirit?

Unlike the neighbors' snowmen, we're not vulnerable to the next day's rain or temperature rise. And unlike packed snow created as “art,” we're living, changing, growing creations of the Heavenly Father. Sometimes in life we need to “chill”--as in forsake anger or resentment—but in so doing seek the Sun-shine of the Savior, who is steadily and lovingly shaping us into real, warm-blooded vessels of His love and peace. Chosen people, not Frozen People.

LAVISH!

My hardy front door flowers--in snow

Whew! We have gotten past Kommercial Kwis-mas with all its alluring advertisements to give the world's very most and very best. The latest and the most lavish. A year ago, just before Christmas, I shook my head in disbelief at the full-page newspaper advertisements for a woman's diamond pendant necklace. Of course, the picture showed just her petite chin and smiling lips, and the masculine hands carefully draping the jewelry around her neck. I wondered how many diamond necklaces the company had to sell to pay for that ad and the models' fees. Hmm, they didn't call me to be the photo model for this ad. But then, jewelry hasn't really been my “thing.” And my chin is no longer model-worthy.

But I like that word—lavish. Our English word comes from the French lavasse or lavache, meaning “a torrent or rain, deluge.” Or it may derive from Italian, just across France's border, where lava also means “a torrent or stream” from the Latin lavare, “to wash.” If you're thinking about the Italian volcano Mt. Vesuvius, you're on the right track.

On a more ordinary level, in late summer and fall, a lavish perennial blossom clump sprouts in the barrel planter by my front door. Well, “lavish” for my poor gardening skills. But when new blooms come up each spring from the soil where last year's flowers die, I am reminded that God delights in such displays of creation.

I started to do some thinking about our English word “lavish.” We connect it with profusion, like “lavish spending” or “lavish giving.” (Cue up the holiday mall music.) It also might ring a bell of the uncontrolled spending (“lavish living”) of the Prodigal Son. Or of his father's over-the-top celebration (a party complete with the fatted calf) for his son's return. And, below that story line, an illustration of God's lavish love for us, His wayward sons and daughters.

But there's another Biblical word about “above and beyond” that recently got my attention. It's the Greek perisseuo, which means “over and beyond.” Think: Jesus' miracles of feeding the multitudes in Luke 9 and John 12. The crumbs of bread and bits of fish fed thousands, and when the leftovers were collected, they amounted to a miraculous heap. The feeding was a perisseuo—over-and-beyond—miracle of God's care and provision.

How great and deep is the Father's love toward us? We cannot measure it. All our materialism and gifting are a pittance in comparison to all God does to show His love for us.

Take a minute to sing along with this contemporary praise song by Stuart Townend (b. 1963) about God's lavish love:

HowDeep the Father’s Love For Us - Lyrics, Hymn Meaning and Story(godtube.com)

UNDRINKABLE

My front-loading clothes washer recently reminded me of a Gospel presentation that happened so long ago in my life that I can't even remember my age at that time. But I do recall its “magic” with chemicals. The traveling evangelist (er, chemist) presented a glass of black water. (No, it wasn't extra-strong coffee!) He explained that the black water illustrated our sinful hearts. Then he added some red liquid (representing the blood of Christ) and—magic!--the water turned clear again.*

Back to the washer. The bottom front of mine has a little trap door.Without bothering to read the owner's manual, I decided to do some experimenting. Behind it was a screw-out filter and a clamped nozzle. The filter held gooey gunk and a pieced earring (not mine, maybe from someone whom I helped by doing their laundry). The nozzle dribbled disgusting black liquid (what you see in the drinking glass). When I got around to reading the owner's manual, I learned the little mouse-size door was the guardhouse for the "Drain Pump Filter." It's to keep excess lint and foreign objects (buttons, keys, rings) from damaging the pump.

What? Are you guessing at my analogy? Maybe that of allowing the Holy Spirit and scriptures to “filter” our sinful or even edgy choices that impair us spiritually? The Bible put it this way: “Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

You probably see where I am headed with this. Left without spiritual filters, my life would easily clog up with grudges, bitterness and other things that don't befit a follower of Jesus. But through scripture reading and application, prayer with a tender heart, and sometimes through difficult life events, God helps me “filter out” the attitudes and actions that don't belong in my life.

* Don't try this at home: I think bleach is involved. Here's a You-Tube about the illustration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z_SMrnEiaI)