Heather Holleman's Blog, page 103

All the Comforts

My oldest daughter will come for a visit from college for a few days. I immediately think of every possible way to bless her. I shop for all her favorite foods; I make her bedroom cozy; I set up everything for her relaxation. My mom did the same thing for me when I would come visit during my college years at the University of Virginia.

I remember that God is a parent like this. We know from the Bible that He is the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He delights in comforting us and bringing things into our lives that increase our joy and well-being (Psalm 35:27). He is abounding in love (Psalm 86:5).

As I stuff the refrigerator with all the fruit and coffee drinks she loves, all the breakfast foods and all the treats, it feels abounding in comfort.

I let God parent me just like this.

Remember Gratitude

I’ve been loving my gratitude journal as a spiritual wellness practice rooted in research. It’s so good to be thankful!

I used to find just five things I wanted to thank God for each morning, but sometimes I fill a whole journal page of more than 20 things! What if you tried to fill a whole page with things you were most thankful for? You’ll find that suddenly, you turn complaining into rejoicing and sadness into hope.

This practice makes 1 Thessalonians 5:17 come alive for me: Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Viable

For days, I’ve explained to my daughter how I’m not sure the seeds we gathered and stored last summer are viable.

I plant. I wait. I peek in on the soil every day.

Precisely one week after planting my stored tomato seed, I see it just now: the teeny-tiniest little sprout. Viable! Viable!

We’re so excited! We hope the ground cherries will germinate any day now.

I remember to gather many dreams in my life every year and to plant them generously and widely. Who knows which will live and grow and bear fruit? Just one was enough for me this morning.

The Good Light

“Then swing your window open, the one with the fresh air and good eastern light, and watch for wings, edges, new beginnings.” –Monique Duval

Outside When Possible

With the bitter cold and icy streets gone, I think about getting outside whenever I can. Trees, creeks, birds: these nourish in ways we cannot understand.

I love the therapy of sound: the rustling of leaves, the chiming of the creek water over stones, and the call of songbirds. I love the therapy of scent: the wet, dark earth after snowmelt will soon give way to a million blossoms. I stand by a tree to listen and smell.

I’ve loved the coziness of winter and how a stark landscape invites inward living, but I’m now ready to move outward. Later today, I’ll walk around the neighborhood, feel the cool March breeze on my face, greet the outdoor cats, listen to the birds, and touch every tree and bush I pass with a nice greeting: “Hello! I’m back! We’re back! The snow has melted. Hello! There you are! Let’s start growing again.” 

 

Remembering Your Resolutions

This week, my youngest daughter and I recall the New Years Resolution that I wanted to shape our forthcoming days:

Do things that require faith. Pray more. Add to the good wherever we are.

We remember this as we make birthday treats for two different neighbors, as we add our burdens to the prayer journal, and as we choose to do things that seem hard or scary because we’re living by faith.

I like ending the day by reflecting on our resolutions. Did we step out in faith? When? How? Did we record in the prayer journal and connect with God in prayer? Did we do something tangibly good for someone in our lives?

I’m off to deliver a birthday present for a neighbor and then make a meal for someone with a new baby (add to the good). Then, I might start a new book proposal (do things that require faith). Finally, I will spend time praying (pray more).

What a fun way to shape our days.

The Day of Unraveling

My friend mentions that this time last year, on this very day, everything began unraveling. By evening, everything was shutting down in NYC, and we canceled our hotel reservation and scurried home. Rumors of no toilet paper on the shelves hit out phones, and by the next morning, we were stocking up for what we thought we be a mere two week inconvenient lock down.

Oh, to remember! At one time in my life, I never used the verbs masking, social distancing, remote synchronous learning, or zooming. I’m hoping for brighter days where I won’t use those words often (or ever).

 

Hidden But Nonetheless Real

With each passing year, I see this now as Hannah Whitall Smith came to understand. She writes this:

“[God’s] care of us may be hidden care, but it is nonetheless real, and all things in the daily events of our lives are made to work subservient to his gracious purposes toward us.”

What a wonderful and powerful doctrine to truly believe: God is good, and He is always working for our good (Romans 8:28). 

God's care of us may be hidden care, but it is nonetheless real, and all things in the daily events of our lives are made to work subservient to his gracious purposes toward us. --Hannah Whitall Smith
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Remembering How It Felt This Time Last Year

A year ago during this very week, Penn State made the announcement that students wouldn’t return to campus after Spring Break. I made a simple comment about this in class today, something as offhand as, “Can you believe it’s been a year since that announcement?”

The class erupted with emotion. Several students began speaking:

I remember exactly where I was standing when I read that email. 

I remember right where I was at work. 

I was in a coffee shop. My phone buzzed. 

I remember exactly what I felt.

A few students could even recite Penn State’s announcement–down to the key detail of classes possibly resuming April 6.

Penn State has decided to move to remote learning for all classes beginning Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 3, with a plan to resume in-person classes on Monday, April 6, at the earliest.

I took a moment to let students process it again. I remembered that their experience felt different from my experience. I remembered their age, their world, and their feelings as young adults. They needed to talk about it.

This week, I’m remembering to let people process their emotions. It will be a year on Thursday for the Penn State community–a year of COVID changing all our lives. It’s a good week to allow the space to process.

Resourceful

Today I felt so resourceful.

I opened my kitchen drawer to the tiny bags of seeds I harvested and set aside last year for spring planting. I stored ground cherry seeds, Serrano pepper seeds, and seeds from a delicious tomato we loved for our summer sandwiches. I had wanted to store away basil and dill seeds, but I forgot. Besides, the dill seeds fall to the earth and grow all by themselves in their little garden plot.

I planted my seeds in containers indoors in my sunniest window. It’s a little early to begin indoor seeds in Pennsylvania, but I wanted to be sure I had viable seeds. Sometime in late May, I’ll plant my garden.

I kept reminding my husband how wonderful to grow a garden from last year’s seeds. It’s a way to save money and ensure you’re growing plants that produced really well the year before. Again, resourceful.

I’ll keep you posted on the growth of my seeds!