It’s happening now and it’s called the “billionaires summer camp.” The annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, of this country’s top money makers is where a lot of their big business deals are made, according to news sources. Even though many of them give generously to charity, they can’t give their money away fast enough. It just keeps piling up. Think about it! Even a million dollars is more than I can fathom, let alone a billion. But, even though I’m impressed with their giving, Jesus said there’s one philanthropist who outdid all these wealthy folks, the poor widow at the temple in Jerusalem. She gave her all. Mark 12:41-44.

As I sat with friends watching the fireworks burst overhead and their sparkling reflections in the lake below, I thanked God for the privilege of living in a free country. Most of this world’s people do not experience the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted. But, one freedom available to all of us, no matter where we live or under what conditions, is freedom in Christ. More than the freedom to do our own thing (lawfully), is the freedom Christ offers. Christ frees us from our own personal prisons of sinfulness. He offers freedom from our sin, guilt and shame. What a priceless freedom that is! It cost him, of course, as most freedoms do, but nothing, not even his own life, stood between him and his love for us. Let his freedom not only ring, but reign!

As my birthday month comes to a close, I consider long life a blessing from God, especially if you have your health and independence and those close to you who make it so special. But one disadvantage is having to experience the loss of beloved family members and close friends. Over the years I’ve attended or been aware of so many funerals and memorials. Just a few weeks ago I attended a memorial for a sister-in-law who died unexpectedly. And I’ve lost another longtime acquaintance.  She worked upstairs in the same building where I worked. It’s sad. We miss them. As the Scriptures say, there is a time to grieve, and we should allow ourselves and others that time. But we can have the full assurance our loved ones are not gone forever. We will all be together again.

Fuzzy heads are now sticking up out of the nest, keeping both mama and papa wrens busy poking food down three hungry beaks. At first I didn’t realize two wrens were feeding the babies, but then I saw them together. I looked it up and male wrens work with the females to feed the youngsters. The birds grow fast and will be trying their wings before long. Then the parents will leave them to fend for themselves in a dangerous world of cats, hawks and other hungry critters. They gave them life, now they’re on their own. Easy enough for birds but not so easy for humans to always see our children as unique individuals in their own right, not just as our son or our daughter. But that’s how God sees them.

“What do you think Jesus likes about you?” When our pastor asked that question, my mind went blank. What could Jesus possibly like about me? But our pastor insisted that Jesus likes each one of us as individuals. Think back, he said, to your childhood. What were your strengths, your likes and dislikes; what makes you uniquely you? Afterward, a church friend said she answered the question by thinking about what she loves in her little grandchildren. Bingo! Then it was clear. In my case, it’s little great-grandchildren now, and they are so lovable! I’m interested in the talents they’re developing and the interests they have. They’re not perfect and I’m not either, but knowing Jesus has always seen me that way, finding me, even the real me, endearing, gives me great joy! (BTW, he likes you too!)

Happy Father’s Day!

A photo of my grandson with his daughter, sitting together inside a piece of heavy equipment used in his construction business, brought back memories of how much my sister and I enjoyed being with our dad. We followed him around like a couple of puppies. He taught us how to throw a baseball and a football and a knife. He made us whistles out of willow branches and bows and arrows out of hickory limbs. Our dad could do anything, from overhauling our car to renovating our house. Anything needed to be built or repaired, he could do it. My dad laid the foundation for my lifelong belief in a strong, loving and faithful Father in heaven. Fathers are important. Treat them well today.

Another birthday has gone by. My daughters call this my birthday month because it’s a milestone birthday. (Don’t ask.) I usually get 10 or 15 cards, which I display on my dining room table. But this year my dining table looks like a card shop exploded! I’m still trying to find out who all the instigators of the card blitz are! Who do I suspect? My daughters, of course. How else would my neighbors know to come bearing gifts and cards on the very day. My pastor is another suspect. He’s been known to encourage such actions in the past. Actually, I feel blessed to have lived a long life, and must admit, it’s been fun to hear from so many of my family and friends.

It’s blackberry season in Texas and I have some bushes on my back fence. Ed planted them years ago. Unfortunately they’re well guarded by chiggers. If you have ever experienced chiggers, you know what a misery they are. So I sprayed my shoes with bug spray and after picking the berries, changed clothes and showered before going to bed. Guess what, they got me anyway! I woke up itching like crazy! I had sprinkled sulfur granules on the grass back there, which they avoid, but the chiggers must also be in the berry vines. As I scratch ‘til I bleed, it makes me want to take a blowtorch to the vines, chiggers and all! But, those large juicy berries are too good to waste. Even if I have to prepare as if I’m going up into outer space, I’m getting those berries!

After they finished mowing and trimming up the lawn, the guys decided to have lunch on my front porch. The cedar glider there has a place for their lunch sacks too. It’s a good place to take a break. Fine with me, but I can’t say the same for mother wren sitting on her eggs above them. She’s very skittish. She even leaves the nest if she happens to notice me looking out the window at her. But I love to check on her, so I’ve learned to be sneakier about taking a look. I know God designed his creatures to naturally protect and nurture their young, but I sometimes wonder what they think. Or do they think about it? The little wren may not have a choice in caring for her young. With our freedom of choice comes responsibility.