God's Tug - Mothers

Mothers

May 7, 2011

Hannah’s Prayer of Praise

¹ Then Hannah prayed: “My heart rejoices in the Lord! The Lord has made me strong. Now I have an answer for my enemies; I rejoice because you rescued me. ² No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:1-2

 

I have to admit, I could not remember who Hannah was; I had to look it up. She could not have any children by her husband, Elkanah. His other wife, Peninnah cruelly tormented Hannah. Now, Hannah and her husband went each year to Shiloh so they could worship God. One year she prayed she prayed, "Dear God, if You will only give me a son, I will give him back to You, to serve You all his days." God wasn’t about to deny such a woman who was this faithful to Him. A son was born to Hannah. She named him Samuel and he became a great king.

 

Being a mother is an important job. One, or so I’ve heard from my friends who are mothers, that is the toughest one in the world. I’ve never been a mother, but I remember all the things that mine did for me, even when I was a less-than-grateful child or adult. She taught me so much and while I did not agree with all her beliefs, I respected my mother for her love through my whole life – even until her last days on earth.

 

Here is a poem I’ve written about my Mother. I miss her so much. And to all you mothers reading this – I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day.

 

Michelle Rose

 

In Praise of My Mother

Mary Frances Angelini

b. 7/4/1920 – d. 2/19/2000

 

I’m sure some days

you wondered who I was.

And you may have asked yourself,

Was I the daughter

that you carried for nine months?

Was I the baby that you so lovingly

raised to adulthood?

 

No, we didn’t always get along,

but there were times we laughed

and cried together over silly,

situations in our lives.

 

Mom, this poem is challenging

for me to write, since you can’t

read it. It’s difficult, too, since

you can’t see what kind of adult

I’ve become or whether I learned

any of the lessons you taught me.

 

Maybe your way of encouraging me

to succeed didn’t use the words

I wanted to hear, but you never

stopped believing in me.

.

I want you to know

I’ve become an adult

of whom you’d be proud.

I write poetry  

I keep the precepts you taught me

I love plants and gardening

I remember the good times

when you were alive.

 

If I could say one thing to you now,

it would be that you did a good job

of raising me.

I hope you are proud

of the daughter you bore

and named because it sounded

musical. I hope that the angels

surround you with music that

pleases your ears.

 

 

 

 

Good Things

 
GOOD THINGS
Friday, May 6, 2011
 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
      is as sweet as perfume and incense.
- Proverbs 27:9(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(The Lord said) 3 "This vision is for a future time.
      It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
   If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
      for it will surely take place.
      It will not be delayed."
- Habakkuk 2:3(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
As much as human authorities may want to think that they are in charge, they really are not.
- Bill Malas, Jr. -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
Work on today's problems, no one is strong enough to carry the burdens of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
That man is idle who does less than he can.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 80 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 47 degrees. I had lunch with Charley. We then went to the nursing home to see our brother-in-law, O. V. McNutt. He seems about the same. He is usually asleep when we arrive. A nursing home is a sad place to visit but it is also good that we have places to care for people who cannot care for themselves. I pray to God every night that he will keep me well enough to take care of our cats as long as I am living on this earth. I started to change the notes topic to ramblings tonight because that is all my writings are any more. I can't do the things I have always been used to doing. I took Rascal to the vet yesterday morning. Dr. Sewell looked in his mouth and it wasn't a bad tooth like I thought. She said he had eaten something that caused a stomach problem. She gave him a pill and he has been doing fine today. I really had a rough time mentally the 3 days and 2 nights that Rascal was gone. I guess I really didn't know how much he meant to me until he was gone for a while. As I have said many times before he is really close to me. He sleeps with me every night and usually wants to be where I am while he is awake. I go outside with him now and sit in the yard so I can keep an eye on him. Today was a beautiful sunny day with blue skies so I sat outside a lot with the cats. I love each one of them and they know it and return that love. I don't know how I could have made it if Rascal had not come home. I know that is probably difficult for most of you to understand. If you have never lost a spouse you really don't know how a person feels living by themselves after having a close loving companionship with someone. The picture tonight is Beau.
 
I received several e-mails since the last Good Things. I don't seem to get around to answering them individually so I will mention the names and say I appreciate your e-mails more than you will ever know. Since the last Good Things I have received e-mails from Burlene, Michelle Angelini, Mary Jo, Lucille, Michele Filitti and Alice. Thanks so much!
 
Michele Filitti sent me a letter with a prayer request and said I could send it with the Good Things so everyone can pray for her friend. I will leave her letter at the end of the Good Things.
 
The cats are fine. I have left the front door ajar just a little tonight so my buddy Rascal can go to the front yard. He doesn't leave the front yard and I can check on him often. He is lying at the front door looking out at present. Little Girl is on the couch and she has been out a time or two tonight. I have seen all of the cats this evening.
 
At 10:45 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 71 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.
 
Here is Michele's letter:
 
******************************************************************************************************
 
Hi Everett!

I just wanted to give you an update on my job.

I think there is a reason God is keeping me here. One of the Dr's wife has just been diagnosed with cancer. She is only 48.  When I started working there seven and a half years ago, Nancy has just had a hysterectomy for early stages of ovarian cancer.

So she has cancer in her liver and intestines. I am asking for prayer for this family. Dr K loves and adores his wife. I see so few men these days that do. He is a wonderful father to their three kids.

They are devout Catholics. Nancy has her Masters in Theology and teaches.

So I am assuming God is keeping me here on this job for a reason.

Dr. K is a lot of fun to work with. He cracks jokes. His patients love him.

I am praying for a miracle. Whatever that may be.

I would appreciate a prayer chain. If you would pass this on I would really appreciate it. 

Michele

 

Ups and Downs

Ups & Downs

May 6, 2011

 

Ok, I haven’t written God’s Tug in quite some time. The truth is that I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue it. I didn’t feel God tugging at me to write this blog. Yet, so much has happened this week and I wrote to two of the Christian women I know online with this concern. They both emailed me back with great answers. Thank you both.

 

Downs:

      I found out that my psychiatrist might be leaving. I’ve only seen him once and may see him again in June. It’s quite frustrating to see a health care professional, especially once or twice for my emotional disability.

      Well, this is a minor down – my iPod bit the dust.

      I didn’t have enough money to pay my bills, but I did manage to buy food – quite enough of it to last me for awhile.

 

Ups:

      I finally got my “Blue Dot” training at the Humane Society so I can volunteer with the Mobile Adoption Unit, which I’m doing this Sunday, Mother’s Day.

      I’ve been writing quite a number of poems, since I discovered a nice, peaceful place for inspiration.

      I’ve been getting cuttings of plants, so I can add more green to my apartment.

      The other day when I was shopping in Trader Joe’s, I was sharing with another woman and told her how much I wanted an orchid, but never seemed to have the money. A few minutes later, she came up to me with a purple orchid inside a Trader Joe’s bag, for which she’d paid. I never expected that.

 

I will continue writing God’s Tug, but it may not be on a daily basis. God continues to call me to write this blog. And through this week I’ve seen His hand in my life no matter what the situation.

 

One issue I continue to have problems with is being a toxic food dump. It’s something that keeps separating me from God and it’s one of my most difficult addictions to get a handle on. I’ve done all kinds of things. So, I will continue to pray to God for solutions. I ask for prayer for me in this area. Thank you.

 

May God richly bless you, your family, and your furkids (if you have any).

 

Michelle Rose

Good Things

by   Everett Christian,   McAlester, OK

GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
 9 Instruct the wise,
      and they will be even wiser.
   Teach the righteous,
      and they will learn even more.
- Proverbs 9:9(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
 19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
      but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
- Psalm 34:19(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?  - Queen Elizabeth II -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
Success is getting what you want; happiness is enjoying what you get.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
Beware of the concrete mind; it's probably all mixed up and permanently set.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been a sunny day with a high temperature of 73 degrees. Low temperature this morning was 43 degrees. I had lunch today with Bill Derichsweiler, Steve Leflore and his wife, Jeanne. Charley had lunch at his church today. I went by the post office. My neighbor finished mowing my lawn this afternoon that he had started last Saturday. The Good Things were supposed to go out last night but I didn't feel like doing them because Rascal had been gone since Monday morning. I will tell you about that in the next paragraph. The picture tonight is Itty Bitty
 
Rascal was with me as usual on Monday morning. We had light rain all day Monday. I waited Monday evening for Rascal to come in but he never came. Smokey was also gone. I was quite concerned and I started praying for these two cats to come home safely. Tuesday afternoon about 2:00 p.m. Smokey came home. Rascal didn't come home again last night and as you can imagine I was really concerned. I went to the animal shelter this morning to see if he had been picked up and taken there, but he was not there. All the while I continued to pray for his safe return. I had some flyers printed with his picture on it and I went door to door this afternoon leaving flyers with my telephone number in case anyone had seen him. Several times I had asked God to send an angel and bring him home. This evening between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. I was sitting in the back yard with the cats as I do most every day. I asked God again to send an angel and bring Rascal home. A few minutes later I was walking around in the yard and there was Rascal by the house. I went to him and petted him. I could see he was drooling at the mouth so I am sure he has a bad tooth. That is the way they do when they have a bad tooth. Rascal has kept close to me since he came home. I feel so sorry for him because he tries to eat and can't due to his bad tooth. I will take him to the vet the first thing in the morning. I miss Rascal more than the other cats because he sleeps with me every night and lets me know when it is time to get up in the morning. He is the cat that we think Flonnie sent a month or so after she went to Heaven. I have told you that story before and some of you may be skeptical but some have told me they believe it. I have decided that I will go outside with Rascal when he goes outside so he won't  leave again.
 
The other cats are fine. Little Girl is on her blanket on the couch and Rascal is now asleep in the recliner.
 
At 9:35 p.m. skies are fair with a temperature of 62 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

Good Things

by Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.  - 1 John 2:4-6(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
(The Lord says)
   15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
   and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
   I will not forget you! "
- Isaiah 49:15(New Internationl Version).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
They do not love that do not show their love.
- William Shakespeare -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
The elevator to success is out of order; you'll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
The longer one carries a grudge, the heavier it becomes.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
We have had rain all day. It finally stopped raining a couple of hours ago. High temperature today was 64 degrees which happened before daylight this morning. Low temperature today was 43 degrees. I attended Sunday School and Worship Services this morning. I had lunch at home. I rested this afternoon with a nap. At 5:15 p.m. the rain was coming down and I had just about decided that I would not attend church tonight. About that time one of the church board members called and said they had decided to dismiss church due to the heavy rain. I said that was fine with me and I would just continue watching the wonderful Lawrence Welk re-run that was on at the time. The cats have been staying inside today due to the rainy weather. The picture tonight is our stray kitty, Lucy, that we tamed several years ago and she waited here in McAlester for me for 10 months while I lived in Moore, Oklahoma. Lucy is taking it easy in this picture.
 
The cats are fine. Little Girl keeps walking around at my feet. I guess she wants me to send the Good Things out and settle down, so that is what I will do.
 
At 10:20 p.m. skies are cloudy with a temperature of 46 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.