I am grateful for graham crackers. What a simple, wonderful snack. Graham cracker crusts, s’mores, Golden Grahams, first snacks for babies, and one of my favorites: graham crackers dipped in a glass of milk. Mmmmmmmm. I used to feel like I’d “won the lottery” when Mom would splurge and buy a box of cinnamon and sugar graham crackers!

I am grateful for Sam, for absurd experiences that are so ridiculous they make me laugh and squirm at the same time, and for visions of “Call of the Wildman.” Have you ever seen that show? It’s a toothless guy who’s nickname is Turtleman, and he is an exterminator of larger creatures – he removes raccoons and snakes and other creatures from people’s homes and then releases them into the wild, choosing to free them rather than harm them. And he does it with his bare hands. And when he succeeds, he yells, “Woo woo woo! Live action!”

Last night, we were sitting down to a long-awaited meal of a really good steak from the grill with a side of peas and carrots and a large salad. Oh, that first bite tasted so good. And then, we heard a small scratchy kind of noise. We dismissed it as the garbage disposal groaning at having just been used, although it was a far-fetched idea, but we were hungry and took that second bite of the amazing steak. And then we heard little feet scampering above the kitchen sink. And then we heard more scratching and what sounded like knawing noises. Talk about an end to an appetite and a wonderful dinner…

The following 30 minutes were spent figuring out what to do to stop this squirrel who had invaded the attic and slipped down the side of the house, INSIDE, and was now trapped in the “empty cavity” above the cupboards and sink of the kitchen. Sam called his handyman friend who had just sat down for dinner but offered a sounding board for Sam’s ideas to remove this furry invader of all things peaceful and pleasant, and after I realized that help was not on its way – I was going to have to assist in this extermination/removal, we got down to business. Well, SAM got down to business. I sort of watched and sighed and worried a little. We shut all of the doors in the house, just in case the varmint got loose, and then proceeded to hang a sheet and “seal” it with a staple gun. Sam went outside, opened the kitchen windows, and removed the can light above the sink before stepping down off the ladder and instructing me to bang a pan on the wall to try to scare the rascal out. As he was making his way back inside to protect me from an escape artist, the little rat with a furry tail plopped down onto the sheet and made his getaway out the window to freedom.

Talk about absurd and ridiculous and hilarious and AWFUL. I was grateful for no squirrels in the house, for a husband who knew what to do, and for silence in place of scampering.

And then we sat down and enjoyed the remainder of what WAS a delicious HOT meal. Who needs Turtleman? Not I, says the squirmy lady with a pan in one hand and Sam by her side. Cute outfit or not, the rat has to go.

Woo woo woo! Live action!

I am grateful for a beautiful card from Delores I received this weekend. Inside were three pictures – one of my Dad’s work truck, one of my Dad’s gas station, and one of Mom, Katrina, and I sitting at a table at a scrapbook store working on a surprise scrapbook/photo album for Karissa’s high school graduation. What beautiful memories, and what a wonderful, dear friend to have sent them to me along with words of encouragement and blessings. I love you, Delores!

I am grateful that we’ve made it through seven days without spending a penny at a restaurant or fast food drive through or at a convenience store for anything other than fuel. I am grateful that we have made it through seven days of eating only fruits and vegetables and lean meat. I am grateful that I have made it through seven days of drinking nothing but water and lots of it. I am sure I have downed more water in seven days than I had in six months, and that is not an exaggeration.

~~~~~

I am grateful for yesterday’s message at church. We are reading through Luke during Lent, and the messages have been focused on the book being about the “Gospel of the Nobodies.” Yesterday was focused on those we consider “less than.” Those who are homeless, down and out, below our “social or economic class…” This story was part of my morning devotions that coincide with daily readings from Luke, and it made me cry:

Several years ago, my family and I were in New York City visiting my brother-in-law. We had a wonderful time seeing Broadway shows, eating at fun and unique delicatessens, shopping Fifth Avenue and more. One afternoon, we were walking around Times Square when we came across a middle-aged African-American man who was holding a sign that read “Homeless – Please Help”. Our youngest daughter, Victoria, was around 7 years old at the time. She was walking between her mom (Lisa) and me, and our other two girls were walking behind us with their beloved uncle.

As we got closer to the man, I noticed that Victoria kept staring at him. I was just about to have a parent moment and tell her that staring was rude when she suddenly stopped and said, “I want to help him.” Of course, I was concerned about this proposition on multiple levels. I tried to explain to Victoria why trying to help him was not a good idea. If we gave him money, he might use it to buy alcohol or drugs. Besides, there were local churches, charities, and government agencies that could assist him. We also didn’t know anything about his story or his state of mind and approaching him was probably not a safe choice.

Victoria would have none of it. She was intent on doing something to help and she said, “If I can’t give him money, then what can I do?” I looked at Lisa like a deer caught in the headlights. Here I was, a pastor, trying to talk our strong-willed, tough as nails, sweet as sugar, compassion-filled daughter out of doing something right out of the “What Would Jesus Do” handbook. What was I thinking?

Lisa spoke first, “Well, you could buy him something to eat and give it to him. There’s a deli on the corner. Would you like to go and pick something out?” This was one of the many times in my life that I was thankful that I married “up.” Though I was still concerned about safety, this was a reasonable, workable plan.

Victoria entered the deli, and within 60 seconds keyed in on the fruit. “I would like to buy him an apple. Do I have enough money left to do that?” We told her she did and Lisa took a well crinkled envelope with “Victoria” written on it out of her purse and handed it to her. Victoria took the apple up to the clerk, paid for it, got her change, and gave the envelope back to Lisa.

We told Victoria that we weren’t sure how the man would react. He might say thank you, he might get mad and say mean things, or he might do something in between. We just didn’t know. We told Victoria that regardless of what happened next, we were super proud of her and that we just knew Jesus was, too.

Victoria approached the man, and held out the apple. The moment of truth had arrived. The man looked at her, and then at us. “She wanted to buy you an apple,” Lisa said. The man graciously accepted Victoria’s gift, grinned from ear to ear and took a huge bite out of the juicy, red apple. “Thank you, little girl, and God bless you.” He continued to enjoy the apple as we slowly walked away.

Our daughter had just lived out Luke 17:21 (“God’s kingdom is already among you”). She had reminded us that God is at work within, among, and through us – that we are all called to be his instruments, his hands and feet, people of the kingdom – that we are to live the way Jesus taught us to live and to love the way Jesus taught us to love – that we are to help others see, hear, taste, and experience the forgiving, loving, grace-filled Kingdom of God.
– Rev. Chris Holliday serves as the associate minister at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection West

And finally, on this beautiful Monday, I am grateful for the way the message began yesterday, with Scott giving a personal story about ordinary experiences that are so full of “pregnant meaning.” He described those moments that I have had that are just ordinary experiences but it is clearly evident that God is present, that He wants me to take something deeper from the ordinary experience. Like the bird that greets me each morning with a song, even in the dead of winter when he has every reason to complain. Like the feelings I have in texting my daughter who had been so distant and unreachable for so long but is now so present and actively working with me to restore our relationship. Like the hymn that is in my mind all night and then I hear it in the bells coming from the church down the street, outside the apartments. Like the full feelings of joy and peace that overwhelm me as I sit back in the quiet of the morning and reflect on the blessings and grace I have been given in spite of my past disobedience. I want to be so careful to not miss the message of an ordinary experience, to appreciate it for its deeper meaning that God intends for me to hear, to be grateful and acknowledge each experience and not take them for granted.