Sally Clarkson's Blog, page 54

Giving the Gift of Friendship, 10 Gifts of Heart, Chapter 2 (#2)

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GIVING THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP
Teach Your Children to Put Others First

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
~ C. S. Lewis

My kids and Clay are truly my best friends.(Harder and harder to get all of us together. We missed Sarah & Crew, who couldn’t make it.)

We understand one another the best. We like the same food, (generally speaking), we all drink tea! We are also different as can be. Some introverts, some extraverts, etc. We have conflict from time to time, we live all over. But, we are each others people and our home was the place we learned how to make and become one another’s friends.

As a mother, you’re faced with the challenge of a world that generally teaches people to think mostly of themselves. But Jesus taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37), and Paul taught us to be like Christ and “not merely look out for your own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:2).
Your task is to help your children develop a Christ-like heart, mind, and soul in a self-serving culture in which they will live as adults.

Our children will adopt a “putting others first” heart only if we first help them have God’s mind about selflessness. Instructing our children in what it truly means to put the needs of others first will enable them to be great friends and have great friends.

How does this happen?

Set a good example: Little eyes will always be watching! You’re their first model. Are you displaying an example of serving joyfully? Or do you dread putting others first and see it as a daunting task?

In your own friendships, model the same behavior that you would hope your children will exhibit. As your little ones watch your interactions, they will learn and be inspired by your own selflessness.

Model opened eyes: It’s so easy to create virtual “blinders” that prevent us from seeing the needs of people around us—all we see is what is right in front of us. Teach your children to open their eyes to the needs of others.

Talk to them about various situations that others are in, whether friends or strangers, and
about how they would want to be treated if they were in another person’s shoes. Focus on the Golden Rule:
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and
the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Model opened ears: Being a good listener is a crucial aspect of becoming a great friend. Encourage your children to follow James’s advice to always be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (1:19).

Home is a wonderful and comfortable place to practice and learn listening skills. For instance, learning how to ask questions and listen is a great way to make friends. Role-play a mock conversation with a friend by having your child ask you questions and listen to your response, and then have them tell back to you what they heard, not just in your words but also in your expressions, tone of voice, and body language.

Model at home showing genuine interest in others by interviewing mom or dad about their life story, or asking siblings about their day.

Make the dinner table a place and time of discovery, with each person finding
out new things about the others. When we ask questions and listen, we are showing others that we care about what they have to say.

I hope this conversation will give you lots of ideas!

10 Gifts of Heart: What Your Child Needs to Take to Heart Before Leaving Home By Clarkson, Sally

Feasting and Faith at Home!

Candles flickered with the brush of the evening breeze floating through our Colorado deck, awash with the fragrances of geraniums and roses. It was a beautiful evening, and our table was beautiful as well. Multiple shades of green lettuce in our salad bowl provided a lovely backdrop for the dark-rose cranberries, salted and roasted mahogany pecans, stark-white goat cheese, pungent red onions, and chartreuse chunks of avocado sprinkled here and there. Twice-baked potatoes stuffed full with spinach and bacon adorned each plate next to sizzling chicken, hot from the grill. Crisp homemade whole-grain rolls shone with their glaze of butter. Sparkling cider bubbled in the cut-glass wine glasses.

The stage was set for the occasion of having all my young-adult children home together to celebrate my sixtieth birthday. And as is usual for us, we did our celebrating with a feast.

The excitement of being together once again spilled over into smiles and laughter, rousing conversation, and even tears as we celebrated, once again, what it meant to be us.

My firstborn, Sarah, was home after a summer as a teacher/counselor at an apologetics seminar at a Colorado mountain retreat center.

Joel, her musician/writer brother, was living in Los Angeles, trying to establish a career as a composer of film scores.

Nathan, our “outside the box” boy, was also in LA, working as an actor in TV and commercials and taking his first steps toward becoming a filmmaker.

And Joy, our cherished beloved last child had just finished her freshman year at Biola University.

Clay, my husband, was there, too, of course—my beloved longtime partner in ministry, in business, in creating and nurturing a family. And beside him was our beloved, ever-present golden retriever, Kelsey, hoping for a few crumbs from our table.

“This is what I think of when I think of home.” Sarah smiled as she looked around at the bounty of treasured faces and favorite foods. The others nodded. And I couldn’t stop smiling as we sat down once more around the table that had always been such a source of life to all of us.

Disciples Around My Table

It happened again just a few summers ago. Days before converging on our home for a family gathering together, both of my boys called me.

“Mama, I can hardly wait to get there.”

“What is your favorite expectation about coming home?” I asked each of them.

Both answered with almost the same words, even though they were now separated by two thousand miles!

“It is the feasting every night around the table with delicious home-cooked food, being each other’s best friends, talking about every possible subject and sharing in each others’ lives, needs, stories, and fun—that is my favorite part. I need my people. I want a place to belong. I miss playing with my pack.” (Since choosing our first golden retriever puppy years ago and watching her frolic with her little dog family, we have often referred to our own family as our “pack.”)

The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time By Clarkson, Sally

Tea Time Tuesday: Peace Be Yours, Beloved

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“There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life.”

– Lin Yutang

We all need a little time of quiet contemplation every day, don’t we? I have to settle the worries, thoughts, stresses that might be on my mind as I awaken each morning. I also need time to ponder how I will invest my day and to determine to face it with charity and grace for those who come my way! Ahh, tea times!

***

A friend met me for breakfast at a hotel recently. As we were chatting about all things friendship and catching up, I realized that Miss Teacup had slipped away. Very quietly, I began to call her. I found her in a room next to the lobby. Can you spot her? She said, "Oh, the blossoms were so cheerful and promising of warmer times, I just couldn't help myself." Oh, spring, come quickly.

***

This week, Joel, Joy and I boarded 4 different trains to visit Sarah and her precious ones in their new house, and to celebrate wee Samuel's 2nd birthday. Since we have no car, it is over 3 hours going and coming, but well worth the memories made. The next day, as I rode to the train station to go back home, sweet 3 year old Lilian said, "Queenie, let's hold hands." And so we did.

Then 3 times on the ten minute ride to the station, she said, "I'm really going to miss you." I will miss you, too, a whole lot. And after I kissed her goodbye, she put her head down on her car seat and cried.

Oh, my heart almost broke. I love that she knows me and that she so sweetly touches my heart. But I thought about the nature and feelings of children. Their "feels" are very real to them. They do not understand why we must leave. And they are so generous to verbalize how they really feel. Maybe that is what it means to become like a child--to give love freely and without self-consciousness, to express honestly what is peculating in our hearts, and to love without restraint. Oh how I love her.

Today, I have fun stories, (You will have to listen to know the story!)

The music I share is a favorite Celtic album: Music: Celtic Visions by John Mock played over and over again--in the mountain drives, at home--hauntingly beautiful

Favorite movies and television series:
Wives and Daughters--

Larkrise to Candleford

Cottage Pie or Shepherd’s Pie (as our family calls it) is my very simplified version of this hearty and favorite meal—especially when I have company. I just add some salad and it is almost always a hit.

1 package of minced--(same as ground meat in America) lamb, hamburger or ground turkey--

*saute 1 chopped onion, a clove or equal of garlic--cook together in a skillet until all is cooked

*Add 3/4 cup beef or vegetable broth, 1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce--simmer on low for 10 minutes

*Steam or Boil mixed veggies, (I use the frozen variety— peas, carrots, green beans, corn)

*Drain veggies well and add to the meat mixture and simmer together just to heat through—a couple of more minutes.

*Cover with mashed potatoes (instant, frozen, or your own fresh--2 cups)

*Sprinkle a little bit of grated cheese on top for presentation

Bake at 350 (or 180 UK) for 20 to 30 minutes to heat all together.

(You can also add a 1/3 -1/2 cup tomato sauce for taste

Enjoy!

Book of the week--A good for your soul book, one of my favorites—and of course some comment on the podcast— I love this quote:

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection....Self rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.”
― Henri Nouwen quote from the book Life of the Beloved

***

This week, after reading some news reports, I felt a little anxious about the state of affairs. I did a little study on peace in scripture. I hope you will enjoy it. Here is one of the verses that encouraged me: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 With this, I bid you adieu until next week. And I pray peace will fill your hours this week. I love hearing from you about TTT! Blessings!

A Heart for Friendship: 10 Gifts of Heart, Chapter 2 (#1)

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Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. -

 C. S. Lewis

A friend loves at all times.

Prov. 17:17

Just the other day, I was looking at old photos and found a favorite from some friends I used to spend a weekend a year with at the beach before or after our California conference—I could never have made it through all the years without my sweet friends.

Chapter 2 of my book, 10 Gifts of Heart, focuses on friendship and the ways we encourage our children to be good friends. It is an essential gift we give to our children, to pass on to them the grace of building strong relationships, learning the skills of reaching out, affirming, cultivating an environment where friendships can flourish. Yet, to become a good friend, to cultivate relationships is something that is learned and a skill that is developed over years. It is one of the most important skills we can give to our children. The ability to be a good companion and friend affects our friendships, our relationship with neighbors and co-workers, our marriage, our parenting. Life is relational and cultivating skills to that end is something essential.

We were all made for community, to belong, to feel supported and cared for by a group of people we call our own. A longing to be understood, accepted as we are, warts and all, prayed for, and having someone to share life with—friendship! Friendship was meant to be one of the sweetest parts of human life. And yet, it is often a source of struggle for everyone I know! Wisdom in friendship is a value to treasure and will serve us and our children their whole lives. Today’s podcast is filled with ideas about how to cultivate friendships in an isolationist world.

As sun set, casting shadows around our kitchen as I made dinner, my little girl walked in slowly and sat at the kitchen counter. Tears welled up in her round, tender eyes as she put her elbows on the counter and held her face in her hands.
“Mama,” she started, and it all came tumbling out. “I thought that Christians were supposed to be different.
I can’t believe my friend would lie to me and then get mad at me for talking to her about it. It just doesn’t seem fair!”
The whole story eventually came out through stops and starts of tears and sniffles. The cause of my little one’s woe was a very close friend who had gotten angry, yelled harsh words, and stomped out when Joy tried to talk to her about a sensitive issue. I came around the counter and held my heartbroken daughter closely, helping her to wipe her eyes.
“How about we have a cup of tea together and talk about it?” I asked.
With candles lit a few minutes later, hot chocolate-chip cookies ready to be dunked in milk, and tea steeping, I sat down with my sweet girl as she settled in on the couch. …

10 Gifts of Heart: What Your Child Needs to Take to Heart Before Leaving Home By Clarkson, Sally

Tea Time Tuesday: Ely: A Magical, Magnificent Town

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“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea” – Henry James

Ely has for many years been one of my very favorite towns in the UK. What a gift it was that a sweet friend of mine invited me to go on a little 2 day explore together to have fun once again in the Magical Medieval town.

It holds so many sites to enjoy and see. I was slowly savoring a wonderful breakfast of a homemade Croque Monsier (listen the podcast and you will find the recipe), when I realized that Miss Tea Cup was missing. I searched throughout the rooms of Peacocks, the most wonderful tea room, and finally found my little darling. As I gently picked her up, she said, “Do you ever feel like you are different from everyone else? Does it ever bother you to not fit in?” And so, we had a little talk about how important it is to live into our individuality and to celebrate our sense of self. And, of course, I told her she was beautiful as she was, to me. Can you find her in the photo?

Today’s Music: Jon Foreman of Switchfoot singing a favorite song that speaks of God’s being our shepherd called, The House of God Forever (a favorite quote from Piranese about this idea: The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.”)

My membership this month, (Lifewithsally.com) is exploring the metaphor of God as a Shepherd—sheep and shepherd over 500 times mentioned in the Bible—I was inspired and share it with you.

Did you know that Ely Cathedral is one of the medieval wonders of the world? Imagined by a humble nun in the 600”s and has inspired and comforted countless thousands and thousands of people because of the work of her life. Enjoy the story.

For 12 years, one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Goudge, lived in Ely and even wrote a book taking place there. (The Dean’s Watch, and so fun to imagine her as a child running around this charming town. (I started with Pilgrims Inn—love it) You will love her books.

Kindness was a theme of my life this week, my friend exercised kindness to me and it touched my heart. I share about this.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Interviewing Joy about her new book, Aggressively Happy was a delight. Get your copy today.

And I loved loved drinking lots of tea, eating lots of treats and escaping my place for a couple of days. (Not to mention exploring one of the biggest Antique/Second Hand Stores I have ever seen—and even picked up a treasure for me and 2 birthday gifts I could not resist.

An ending thought from a rabbi: To see the good in others and let them see themselves in the mirror of our kind regard for them is to help someone grow into the best they can be.” Rabbi Jonathan Sachs

Bless and bless and bless you my friends.

Cultivating An Authentic Life of Faith: 10 Gifts of Heart, Chapter 1 (#2)

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“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:4

What a difficult challenge this verse presents to us as parents. There is no formula, no guarantee that our precious ones will not be drawn into culture by the many voices that speak online every day. While every family has its own story and each puzzle of life is different, there are some practical ways we can make the life of faith tangible to our children and those are the focus of the second half of this chapter!

One of the sweetest gifts of my life is to watch my grown children walk with God. I have asked them why, despite the foibles or failures of our family, despite struggle and imperfect days (and imperfect parents), they caught the faith we were trying so hard to teach them. I find in their answers that it was the spiritual rhythms of our lives, the relational connections between us all, the atmosphere of love and grace, and the way of making God present every day in our home that shaped them most.

“I loved God because of crisp bacon and French toast and real maple syrup,” said Sarah one day. Another child said, it was breakfasts, avocado toast, or scrambled eggs mama style and the welcome into the day, the tastes and smells and love. We ate and celebrated and enjoyed the goodness of God’s world. And as we did we talked about God, we prayed for what we needed, we admitted our struggles, we watched Him work. Faith wasn’t just a subject on the side; it was our whole life.”

Our children have had their own struggles, as Clay and I have, with challenges, doubts, questions in the area of faith through the years. We have learned to live through many rough seasons and each of our children has had to follow a unique journey to find the answers to their personal questions. Yet, as we held fast to the word of God, pondered the attributes of God, the ways of Jesus’ stories daily, we found guidance and wisdom for the ways forward one day at a time.

Whatever becomes a habit of life, a way of thinking, a wisdom that is stored in our hearts is more likely to shape our days throughout adulthood. We seek to live out both the life of Christ through the ways we live and in relationship to one another in organic ways that show His reality and we hold fast together to the wisdom from the word of God as we live through all the seasons of life.

10 Gifts of Heart: What Your Child Needs to Take to Heart Before Leaving Home By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Sarah Buy on Amazon The Lifegiving Table: Nurturing Faith through Feasting, One Meal at a Time By Clarkson, Sally Buy on Amazon Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide By Clarkson, Clay Buy on Amazon

Beautiful Inspiration for Building a Beautiful Home!

Years ago, Sarah and I (along with Joel!) escaped for a few weeks to work together on one of my favorite books, The Lifegiving Home. I hope you will be encouraged by these words:

Leaves of crimson, gold, and brown drifted down upon the roof of our car as we slowly meandered on the winding road, gazing out at the mysterious woods on either side of us and the flowing stream that seemed to follow our course. The sweet, melancholy notes of a Celtic CD streamed through the car as each of us lost ourselves for the moment in our own dream worlds.

In that season of my life, as the mother of three teenagers and a bubbly little seven-year-old girl, I rarely had a quiet moment. This drive provided a soothing moment, a badly needed opportunity just to breathe. The soft music lured me to a secret escape inside, while the pathways leading through shad- owy woods captured my imagination, providing a momentary break from mundane reality. And how I needed that! My heart was desperate for some new inspiration and rest from my draining and demanding days. Would I find it on this trip?

All six of us Clarksons had piled into our van to get away to Asheville, North Carolina, for a weekend of family adventure and escape. Now we were approaching the Biltmore, the famous home that George Washington Vanderbilt II planned and constructed more than one hundred years earlier.

We rounded a bend, and a stand of tall, shimmering ash trees opened up to a breathtaking view. The grand tree-lined entrance in front of us led to a four-story French château–styled structure. Designed as the dream project of Mr. Vanderbilt’s life, Biltmore stood with castle-like grandeur against a dramatic backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. …

As I toured Biltmore, my imagination and vision were once again piqued by the idea of intentionally making my home a holding place for all that is beau- tiful, good, holy, and foundational to life—a place where those I love always feel like they belong, a place of freedom and grace that launches them into the persons they were made to be, a place of becoming. In the midst of demand- ing, constantly pressured lives, we all need refresher courses from time to time about what we are building and why we must be intentional about doing it.

My mom used to put it this way: “All people need a place where their roots can grow deep and they always feel like they belong and have a loving refuge. And all people need a place that gives wings to their dreams, nurturing possibilities of who they might become.”

Creating such a place does not require building a mansion as Vanderbilt did. We are all capable of creating a lasting legacy in the form of a home that gives life to others who come under its roof.

A home that serves all who enter.
A home that reflects our own tastes and the values we treasure.
A home that meets the needs of family and visitors alike, that fosters beauty and creativity.
A home where the atmosphere, traditions, and celebrations give life to the hearts, minds, and souls of those inside its walls.
A home that provides a lifegiving legacy that will last for generations to come.
I believe God has designed us to do just that.

The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming By Clarkson, Sally, Clarkson, Sarah

Tea Time Tuesday: What To Do When You Are Lost

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The cup of tea on arrival at a country house is a thing which, as a rule, I particularly enjoy. I like
the crackling logs, the shaded lights, the scent of buttered toast, the general atmosphere of leisured coziness.

P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters
Books: Right Ho Jeeves

My travel paraphernalia:

Tea Tin (Yorkshire Gold!) Miss Tea Cup begs to go on trips. She cuddles up inside my tin and wonders just where we will land. And then she is my friend and comforts me wherever I end up. We bring natural sugar, a small spoon, a travel candle, tea bags, chocolate, and my pashmina for many purposes—warmth, comfort, beauty, a table cloth, and to wrap me in the winter. Such a merry tin of goodies. We have such great memories, my Miss Tea Cup and me.

Meal of the Week: Greek or Mediterranean in General—in specific, an easy meal.

Awaking Wonder Unit Study in my membership: I absolutely love the subject of our Awaking Wonder Unit this month—it is about stars, galaxies and beyond. You will love it.

Traveling to London to see the specialists at the Eye Hospital. Should I get this surgery? Moorfields Eye Hospital--pin hole operation--private--out of pocket expense—pondering

Music: Wonderful Songs to Explore by: Andrew Peterson--
Holy is the Lord--(on you tubeIs He worthy)

Interview with Singer/Songwriter Andrew Peterson and Queen of Hospitality, Jamie Peterson

The Mystique of Trains And what they teach you!

Getting Lost in Life and What to do!

“Dearest Kitty, it is utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness. I hear the approaching thunder that one day will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions and yet . . . when I look up at the sky I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too will end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. In the meantime I must hold onto my ideals, perhaps the day will come when I’ll be able to realise them. Yours, Anne Frank”

Scripture of the Week:

3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.Keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, Isaiah 26:3-4

And so my friends, my week was full, I learned so much and I am grateful.

Thanks for your wonderful notes and comments—you keep me going in this fun Tuesday endeavor.

Praying for you.

A Heart for Faith: 10 Gifts of Heart, Chapter 1

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This week, I’m beginning a new series based on my book, 10 Gifts of Heart. I pray it will be a blessing and encouragement to you.

The world of teens is focused on their test scores as they graduate from high school. But what if God wants us to focus on a different kind of preparation before they leave our homes? What if their character, foundations of faith, their habits of life, work ethic, social skills, vision for life, foundations of family values, and more are the most important preparation that will send them into life with foundations that will hold them through all the days of this hard, secular world? I only wish I had understood even more what my children would need. We wrote the book 10 Gifts of Heart as a sort of guide to what your children need before they leave your home to go into the world.

The ways we shape their values every day in the way we speak to one another; times we spend together pondering daily passages from the word of God; daily chores carried out together; meal times where hearts and ideas are shared, these are the ways values will be shaped, lives will be formed, ready to foray into the world. What values, relationship patterns, faith are you building through your home today?

It was a sunny Texas day, and my children were laughing and fussing, squirming in their breakfast chairs. We didn’t tell the kids everything, of course, but we wanted them to be part of this life of faith, trusting God whether in plenty or in need. When we came to prayer at the end of our devotions, we told them simply that we needed to see God provide financially for our family. Would they pray that too?

Their little faces grew very solemn (although this did not in the least stop their squirming). They squeezed their eyes shut and held their hands tightly together where they sat at the table and each of them prayed in their high voices that God would give us what we needed.

Clay went straight to his office after breakfast, and the kids and I finished the dishes and gathered in the living room to start our day. But before we could begin, Clay was back with news of an amazing discovery. On picking up the morning mail, he found in a national news magazine the story of a particular class action lawsuit settlement regarding a failed investment he had written off long before we were married. Because we’d been overseas and moved multiple times, Clay never received a notice about the lawsuit. But the article said that there was still one week left to file a claim before the lawsuit was closed. He did, and the amount we received would adequately meet our need for funds for months to come.

When we told the kids, their eyes were wide with wonder at the fact that God had answered their prayers. “Mom,” said Sarah, “God really heard us, and it worked. Isn’t that amazing?”

10 Gifts of Heart: What Your Child Needs to Take to Heart Before Leaving Home By Clarkson, Sally

Some Downsides of Technology--Missed Opportunities

Eating, drinking, using our meal times, tea times and in between times of eating became for Clay and me a means of guiding and passing on the messages of our hearts to our children. Discipleship, mentoring, loving, influencing, cultivating excellence of soul, stimulating to excellent thinking--these are some of the intentional goals that filled my soul, (and still do with my adult children), when I make time to share a meal or have a cup of tea with my children. We observe God pursuing His beloved children from the Garden of Eden to the last supper with His beloved disciples, His heart straining to teach, encourage, inspire and train His beloved chosen ones.

Every year for many years, Sarah and I spent a weekend in Asheville after our yearly mom’s conferences to pamper ourselves. The Biltmore was a place we occasionally toured over the years as a place of inspiration to us as we envisioned the Lifegiving Home. It represented a slower time of life, when people went on walks, rocked on chairs looking over stunning views, sat together at meals. I asked Sarah to join me for breakfast early one morning to share one of the "discipleship meals” I scheduled with my children on a regular basis. We shared a small breakfast and coffee and had a wonderful, heart-connecting conversation.

As we then meandered through the old estate, we noticed fresh flowers artistically shaped into masterpieces that bedecked each table. Evidence of skill and cultivation of beauty, art pieces, and wonderful landscape design confronted us at every juncture. We began to slowly walk by the river, seeking to appreciate a few more stolen moments of a beautiful day. Of course we could never possess the opulence of the grand estate, but it gave us ideas for our own lives.

The colors of late summer flowers fairly sang to us as we walked.

However, at every point of our trek, we were surprised to notice so many people glued to their ipads, cell phones, and computers. On our stroll, people did not look at our eyes as we passed, greeting us as used to be the habit of most people. Instead, they hurried, talking into their little machines, missing the glory of the day.

Coming into one of the splendid lobbies to sit for a minute, we saw a mother all but dragging her little boy by his collar. "I just want you to be quiet so I can have my own time with my friends," she shrieked, scowling each step of the way. "Here, look at this and entertain yourself and don't bother me." She handed him a game device and he sat there glued for the next half hour, not even looking up. Sarah looked at me in surprise, her eyes sad.

More people, more apparatuses!

The flowers, clouds, and wild fowl swimming on the river, were screaming of God, but no one was listening.

The blind and deaf people hastily rushed their busy ways, scrambling after vanity, hoping for some life-validation through a screen, not even hearing the whisper of God's reality through the colors telling of His glory, never noticing a single face to offer a smile or even a nod of recognition at another on the trail.

It was discouraging to see the robotic parade of people who were totally disconnected from the present reality of the beauty all around and potential relationships to be shared with real live and present people. We began to count, and twenty people passed us that day with technology in hand taking their attention, in one of the finest, most beautiful displays of landscape and architecture in the United States, but totally unaware and preoccupied as they went.

After we walked through the music room, we walked and were surprised at one more treasure which awaited us.

Lilting, soul-soothing melodies washed over us as we stepped into the light of the lobby. The beauty of the melody was breath-taking. As we rounded the corner, there sat our elfish source of melody--a be-hatted, older but real-life man, playing on real piano keys and bringing delight to a gathering crowd.

At the end of his playing, a small, spontaneous crowd had gathered round and gave him applause.

"Tell us about your life," we asked, as we lingered to talk with him after his concert.

"I have been playing piano my whole life,” he said. “I am a professor at a college, and I love passing on this beauty to as many people who will devote themselves to bringing real music into the worlds of others to bless them. I just passed by this great piano, and wanted to validate its capacity to encourage others here in this wonderful place."

A real man, with a real skill, playing real songs to real people and breathing life, beauty and inspiration into our souls before we left to face the rest of our day. What a gift!

Today, determine to live real life with the people directly around you. Look for the beauty God has sent, and create some of your own!