What's love got to do with it?

I'll admit, I wrote that title totally singing the Tina Turner song of the same title. But seriously though, what's love got to do with life? And when I say love, I'm not talking, walk to the alter, let's make a family, the distorted view of love that is so often portrayed on television these days. What I'm talking about is agape love. The kind of love God showed when he sent his son Jesus to take the brunt of our sins. The kind of love that is so evident in the eyes of a child - hence the Bible verse "let the little children come to me" Matthew 19:14. The kind of love that is shown when a community rallies around one of its own, in a time of need.

I was shown such love today. It's funny, because I didn't suspect a thing. I was caught so totally off guard. I was, and still am, numb just thinking of how this group of people so willingly, and this is not the first time, surrounds me (sometimes figuratively, and other times literally) to show me their love for me and my kids. But in addition to being numb, I am asking why.

Why, after so many years, after so many showings of love, would these people do it again? The worldly question is: what did I do to deserve this showing of love? To answer this we need to go back to the original showing of love - Jesus. What did we do to deserve THAT kind of love? Nothing. Why did God send Jesus? Because He loved (and continues to love) us.

The next question we might have when shown this love is: what do I do now? Assuming you've already said thank you... pass this love on. You don't have to go looking for it, but rather, have your heart and eyes open to the opportunities that you will undoubtedly find crossing your path.

You have so much potential to love others. Whether you have a lot of money or you don't. Whether you have a lot of time or you don't. You have all you need, all God has equipped you with for the explicit task of sharing love. A smile, a kind word, a new perspective, a loving hug, there are so many ways to show it.

So, what's love got to do it (life)? Everything. Love should be at the root of every word you speak, at the basis of every action you perform, at the beginning of every thought you have.

Sharing this most special love will not only bless those you share it with, but it will transform you - your heart and your mind - you will find you are blessed beyond your capability to anticipate...

Share the love. Be blessed.

What's in a song?

I spent much of today with my father. On the way to picking him up, the music in the car was blaring. A good sign of things to come. Throughout the day, more music was listened to and it added a certain energy to the day.

I often find that music speaks to me. It speaks to where I'm in life, where I'm at in the day, where I want to be...

Here's some the music I heard today that made me act silly, made me feel funny, made me laugh out loud...I've included links to youtube videos for your enjoyment. I'd be interested in knowing what songs make you laugh, smile, jump and dance...

Tom Jones, She's a lady

James Brown, I feel good

Joss Stone, Spoiled

Home is where the heart is...

When you think of this phrase, what comes to mind? For me, family plays a huge part of it. My children of course, my parents, my sister...and still, my husband.

This weekend is Father's Day. This weekend marks 814 days since my husband, Brian, was called home to be with his heavenly Father. That's 116 weeks and 2 days since I held his hand, touched his face, told him about his children.

Today, there have been tears in our household, but more importantly there have been memories and much laughter.

Your heart does not fill the house in which you dwell. The house does not make your family. Your family fills your heart and you are able to take, your heart, with you where ever you go...ergo (one of my favorite words) where ever you are...that is where home is.

Enjoy this weekend, as you enjoy every weekend and all the days in between. They are all treasures, you just have to look at them from the right perspective.

laundry, teaching, life

Is it just me, stop nodding your heads, or are you ever stopped in your tracks astounded at how the seemingly most random of things actually have something in common? Yeah, I was pretty sure there were others out there...

Laundry: the piles, while their size may fluctuate, are in a constant state of being. I have yet to find that there is no dirty laundry in the house after doing laundry...slightly annoying, but as you can see, I'm finding a way to live with it (okay, I'm still searching for a way to live with it).

Teaching: while a greatly satisfying endeavour, here too, there seems to never be an end to what needs to be done. If you are not planning something, you're teaching something, you're collecting something, you're marking something, you're handing something back and the cycle continues although it is rarely a smooth cycle. There are things being planned while you're teaching other things, you're marking one thing while collecting other things...where IS my desk? I'm sorry, there's a staff meeting today? Oh, I must have forgotten about that...

Life: is constantly unfolding, is constantly changing, is constantly living...

Today, as I looked through the piles on my desk for the fourth time, still not finding what I was looking for, a student comes in the door. It's quite common for students to drop by unannounced - honestly, it's one of the coolest parts of my job and I'm gonna miss it over the summer. She has a spare the same block as I do. Somehow during the day we came up with the crazy idea that tomorrow during our spares we are going to have a pancake breakfast, on china plates, with tea. We are each bringing something to the table for breakfast. Honestly, I'm more looking forward to what she didn't say she was bringing: herself, her ideas, her attitude, her joy, her story.

You see, I actually have a lot of marking and planning to do, that I would have liked to do during my spare first thing tomorrow morning, but when a 14 year old (okay she might be 15 now), grants you an audience, like laundry, the marking and business of life...well, it can just wait, take a number, have a seat, wait its turn.

I have packed the china I'm bringing to school tomorrow. I have a list of food items I need to remember. I will get up early so that I can make the pancake batter before I get to school (did I mention we're making the pancakes in my class in a grill I'm bringing to school?)

These moments, these empty calories are indeed what feeds the soul, what breathes life into old dry bones (read Ezekiel), what bridges the gaps between generations, what leaves a legacy. Textbooks are good for resting your feet on. Conversations are good for life.

I am going to have a well fed soul tomorrow as I spend time with a student who is willing, and dare I say wanting, to spend some time with me, her French teacher. I am blessed.

Here's another thought... we all have opportunities to experience this type of nourishment. We just need to take the time to comfortably say 'that paper work can wait a little while longer. the dishes will be there in an hours time. there will always be some laundry in the house, but right now, this person is important. Let's have some pancakes...on china...and giggle like we were in grade 9 again'

Bon appetit!