Philippians 4:6-8 (the Message)

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Ok, I must confess, that the past two days I have been anxious. And while I did pray, letting God know my concerns, I am afraid to say I did not always fill my mind with things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, and gracious. So easily forgetting that without God I can do nothing and with God all things are possible!  Sorry to say I was far from an excellent harmony… more like a clanging cymbal.

HOWEVER (always thankful for “howevers”) God being the gracious God He is, granted me some blessings and that’s what I will fill my mind with and also share with you today.

Ron & Jackie have loved our family in word and deed often in the past few weeks by coming and just loving on Dad. Yesterday, they came and spent several hours with him, feeding him, talking with him, taking him for a stroll, giving him a real shave, etc. so that mom and I could take a break. Jackie captured some of their time with him in photos… they are priceless. I have included her words telling the story.

 

“ron is telling your dad how much he loves him in the shot at the end of the hall… he is speaking to him of his great admiration, respect and love… then the next thing you know… they are pulling each other back and forth like a rowing machine… they kept it up for about 20 times back and forth… (so your dad did have PT today)… ron was very proud of Art’s strength and stick-to-it-ness… after that we decided it was time for a nap. 🙂

 

One last thing Jackie shared… there is no photo, but the story is great.

“father (realize i don’t know the priest name next door) anyway… he started singing like he does and i believe he said… YOU ARE MIGHTY GOD ! … and Art in his semi sleeping said… AMEN !! then went right back to sleep.”

Don’t know about you, but I think I will choose blessings over bumps to think about today so that together God and I can make some excellent harmonies.