Heather Holleman's Blog, page 101

Your Promise to Take Care of Yourself

This coming Wednesday, Penn State scheduled another “Wellness Day.” Students might use the day any way they wish as they take a break from classes.

My Name Game today involved the promise they would make to the class about how they intended to take care of themselves on Wednesday. I know that stating our intentions and having some accountability often makes us more likely to uphold our promises.

“So what will you do? What’s your promise to us about how you’ll take care of yourself?”

Hiking, going on picnics, sleeping, going for a run, meditating, watching 80’s movies, cooking, getting a hair cut (that was mine!), laying in the sunshine, painting, starting a novel. . . 

If you had a day just to take care of yourself, what would you do? It’s a great question to journal about, tell someone about, and then do.

 

Just as He Said

Happy Easter! This morning, I read the words of Matthew 28: The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”

Just as He said!

I wonder if that’s the phrase we’ll say most of all in heaven. We’ll claim over and over again that all was just as He said.

Easter Cupcakes: Carrot Cake with Little Toasted Coconut Nests

God Is For You

Lately I’ve been encouraging those who feel that God is against them, not for them. They don’t see answer to prayers. They feel distant from God. Life doesn’t look like they had hoped.

I have felt this way, too. But then I remember my friend asking me, “Heather, do you really believe God is against you?” She quoted Romans 8 to me, in particular these verses (31-33): What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

That day, I chose to believe by faith that God was for me. And when I felt like He was withholding good things from me, I remembered that He was the Good Thing–what a precious, gracious gift to have God in my life. I also built up that wonderful motto that “every rejection is God’s protection” to see how what I perceived as rejection or disappointment was actually a good thing in my life.

God is for you.

Season 2 of the Chosen Trailer is Out!

If you haven’t yet seen The Chosen, I highly recommend you watch this. Season 2 begins on Easter Sunday! This series is excellent. You will laugh, cry, and learn. You will worship!

A Funny Thing I’m Thankful For

I don’t know why, but I feel so much joy when I see animals carrying objects in their mouths. I see a dog happily trotting with a stick, a squirrel scampering with a mouthful of moss for a nest, and my cat dragging her toy mouse by the tail. I cannot help smiling.

Sometimes on my walk, I see dogs that always carry their toys as they walk. It’s so adorable, and they tilt their heads proudly as if showing off their prizes, like women showing off purses or new hats. I watch for birds flying with twigs or leaves in their mouths because I know they will build a nest wherever they land.

I love it perhaps because humans don’t usually carry things by mouth. But apparently, dogs love to, and it brings them as much joy as it brings me just watching them.

Your 5 Fun Things a Day

Today I talk to my great friend about adding something to my journal each day. In addition to the 5 Things I’m thankful For, the 5 Things I’m Praying For, the 5 People I’m praying For, she suggests the 5 Fun Things for the Day. 

I love it! As the pandemic continues and the weariness drags on, we talk about the 5 Fun Things we’re planning for our day. I laugh as I think about it. I decide my 5 Fun Things: making popcorn, going on a walk in the sunshine, looking for bird nests, eating a great basil feta tomato pasta dish tonight, and watching TV this evening.

Recording my 5 Fun Things brought joy, laughter, and a little hope into the day. I encourage you to plan 5 Fun Things for yourself and your family today.

More Good Questions: What Are Your Major Stressors? How Can I Best Support You? Then Make a Few Suggestions.

People in our lives need more support than ever. Some have COVID. Some struggle professionally. Some need parenting help. Some battle mental health issues. I’m finding I need to ask people where they need support and how I can support them best. But people don’t always know what kind of support they need, so you can follow your question with a few suggestions. In a text, it might look like this:

What’s most stressing you out today?

How can I best support you? Do you need a phone call, a meal, a coffee delivery, or a walk?

When you offer some suggestions, you’ll find people will answer you. I’ve made phone calls to a grieving friend, delivered coffee twice, and walked many times with friends who needed extra support.

All Anguish for All Joy

This morning, our pastor quoted from this Puritan prayer called “Love Lustres at Calvary,” and I find myself moved by the words. In The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, you’ll find these words:

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst
that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclothed brightness,
expired that I might forever live.

O Father, who spared not thine own Son
that thou mightest spare me. . . 

I reflect on these words on this Palm Sunday.

The Spring Things

Usually by the end of March in Pennsylvania, the weather warms enough for me to bring up the bin of summer clothes from the basement.

From my closet, I carefully fold my thick sweaters and winter layers and pack them away along with the winter boots and scarves.

It’s time for the Spring Things. What a hopeful day as I arrange the sandals and shorts that signal warmer days ahead!

Of course, my husband reminds me it might snow on Wednesday.  Nevertheless, I turn my closet from winter to spring.