THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

July 13, 2022

LIFE IN THE FOLD

I grew up in the country in Missouri. My sisters and I still own the family property and enjoy getting together there when we can. There is something about being back home that occasionally brings back memories and makes us want to do things that we did as a kid; and think that we still can.

A couple of years ago, several family members got together on a Saturday. My sisters remembered a game that they had played as a kid that they called 'Annie, Annie Over', and decided to see if they could still play it. Two of them stood behind the house and two in the front. They yelled, "Annie, Annie over," then tried to throw a ball over the top of the house (it's a small house!), where the others were supposed to try and catch it.

It gave us a lot of laughs, but they found that some of their skills weren't quite what they were 50-60 years ago. The first problem was being able to throw the ball over the roof. Linda got the ball over her first try and was able to do it every time she tried. Shirley's son had to show her how to throw the ball to get it over; which she was then able to do. Joyce had to try a couple times, but was finally able to do it. Janie tried it a few times, but was never able to get it across. The second problem was trying to catch the ball -- which I don't think ever happened. Linda gave it a try and tripped over a cooler that was sitting in the yard and had a little fall; but she was unhurt and thought it was funny.

We have a big swing-set sitting in the front yard. A few years back I was remembering when I was a kid and would swing upside down by my knees on the bar that goes across the ends; then flip off. I don't know why I decided to try it, but I did. Two things worked against me! For one thing, this swing set is much larger than the one I had as a kid, so the bar is much higher off the ground. Secondly, I was about 45 years older than I was last time I had tried it and wasn't nearly as flexible; as well as weighing a whole lot more. I climbed up onto the bar, but when I swung backwards to hang by my knees, the momentum of that motion had my entire body swinging back and forth like a pendulum. In slow motion, my body began sliding towards the ground. I landed on my backside flat on the ground, unhurt, with family watching and laughing. I got up thinking, "Why in the world did I ever think I could do that?!"

There is a trampoline at the house in Missouri. When we were recently there, two of my nieces and a nephew remembered a game that they used to play when they went to Daddy and June's house as kids. They had a big trampoline and June would say, "Feet, feet, bottom.... feet, feet, feet, bottom..." They would jump, then when she said bottom they had to bounce down onto their bottom, then jump back up. Occasionally she would add in knees, which they were to bounce to their knees, then jump back up to their feet. The three of them decided to see if they could still do it -- and they could! My oldest niece did choose not to go to her knees, saying she knew she couldn't do that anymore.

It's fun to reminisce and think about things that we did when we were kids and even to play some of those old games. It's good to laugh and enjoy life and have fun together. Sometimes we need to be silly and giggle, and not worry about whether or not we'll look goofy and awkward.

Laughter can sometimes be more healing than medicine. Laughing can change our outlook and make our heart happy and light.

Medically, there are benefits to a good laugh. It enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles. It can fire up and cool down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, which can help reduce symptoms of stress. It can also improve your immune system, relieve pain, and improve your mood.

Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Joy, cheerfulness and laughter were created by God, for us! Such a simple thing that God created that is extremely beneficial for our health; yet many of us fail to indulge in laughing and utilizing what God put within each of us internally.

We should never outgrow and mature to a place where we fail to smile, giggle and indulged in a good belly laugh. Adults will tickle a babies belly to hear their giggles. Children find humor and joy in the simplest things. Then as the years pass by, that spontaneous joy and laughter becomes less and less as people have more responsibilities and life situations happen that seem burdensome and overwhelming at times.

Sadly, as adults, we many times have to consciously listen to funny things or put forth an effort to laugh. I wonder if we looked for joy in each day and made an effort to indulge ourselves in laughter, if we would be healthier and less stressed and happier? I believe the answer is yes; for the scripture says that a broken or crushed spirit will sap a person's strength.... or dries up the bones.

There have been times when I will say something silly... most times unintentionally... which will cause Jon and I to have a good belly laugh. When my sisters and I are together we will often laugh. But overall, on a day to day basis, if I were honest, I'd say that there are days that go by when I don't really laugh. I should, but I don't! That's pretty sad.

Sometimes we have to be intentional about certain things in our lives! We have to be intentional about laughter and choosing to have a cheerful heart. We have to choose to be silly and do things just for the fun of it. We have to be deliberate about reading the Word of God and putting it into our heart. We have to consciously be nice to others and look for opportunities to show kindness. We have to decide that we will obey the scripture to forgive others, so that our Father will forgive us. We do what pleases Jesus, not because it's always easy or what we want to do at that moment, but because our relationship with Him is more important than anything else.

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Some time ago, I heard about a formal wedding in India. It involved riding in on an elephant at some part of the ceremony. I would guess they use a ladder to get on. But I wondered how they could get down off an elephant. Then I remembered an old story that ended, "Silly, you don't get down off an elephant. You get down off a duck." Or was it off a goose? Not important.

I wanted to get my boss a Christmas gift last year. We thought about it, and thought about it. He doesn't really need anything. So, what do you give someone who has everything? Penicillin, of course, but I couldn't get any.

I saw a show recently that mentioned the sailor who first went around Cape Horn at the southern end of South America. The gap between S. America and Antarctica is only about 600 miles, and very dangerous. You've probably heard what happens where the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. They keep waving and waving.

Honestly, the currents and winds around the Cape are dangerous. So are the reefs and small islands. And the sea floor there is littered with a lot of constantly shifting obstacles: nervous wrecks.

Okay, okay. Nothing worthy of a good hearty laugh. But even a smile is a good start. Maybe even a chuckle? No? Well, I tried.

ON THE MENEWE:

Baked Beans

Cook the bacon and onion together until done. Do not fry bacon until hard and crispy. Add to remaining ingredients and cook on top of stove until cooked through. Optional: You can add all ingredients together and put in a casserole dish and bake in oven on 350 until heated through.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

My sister, Janie, and I went out for lunch a few days ago. Many times when we are riding together, one of us will randomly start singing. Generally, the other will join in. It's usually a hymn or song that we grew up singing in church. That particular day I began singing a song that we used to sing as a congregational hymn when we were growing up. The hymn is "Victory" and I started singing the first verse: "Hallelujah what a thought, Jesus full salvation bought; victory, victory. I have peace and joy within, since my life is free from sin; victory, victory." But as I was singing along, just a little simple slip of the words completely changed the meaning!! Without thinking I sung, "I have peace and joy within, since my life is full of sin...." Immediately my sister burst out laughing and said, "Really?! Your life is full of sin?" I realized what I had sang and the two of us were laughing and giggling so hard that we had tears rolling down our cheeks and we could hardly hold our eyes open to see. A good belly laugh always makes you feel good and brightens your day!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit!

Be patient.... be humble.... don't give up! - unknown

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org