Heather Holleman's Blog, page 187

“Wherever the Lord Is. . .”

This morning I read this beautiful sentence:

“Wherever the Lord is, all must go right for his children; His presence is enough.”

Hannah Whitall Smith exhorts us to remember this, to believe it, and to realize it’s happening now.

All must go right. Jesus is here.

 

Your Abundant Resources

This morning, I loved the prayer I receive in my inbox from Prayers Over Our Children. The prayer simply asks that God give our children “abundant resources” to “soothe a grieving world.”

I love thinking of the abundant resources of God both within us from the Holy Spirit and also externally in terms of physical provision we might use to bless others. We carry within us the resources of peace, joy, wisdom, discernment, and faith. Outside of us, we think about the money and possessions God has given us to bless others.

Lord teach us to see and use the abundant resources you give us to soothe others. 

Autumn Walk Under a Winter Sky

I leave the house as darkness creeps over the afternoon. It’s a winter sky with fluffy flurries falling over the brittle brown leaves on the trees.

I’m steady on my feet and steady in my heart.

I remember so much about the weather outside of me: circumstances I cannot control, the moods and idiosyncrasies of others, the physical realities around me. And then I remember all I’ve learned.

There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.

I clothe myself with the peace and joy of Jesus.

Weather, in war, is always favorable, if you know how to use it.

Everything that comes to us in life is favorable–if we know how to use it.

I walk on.

Refreshing Your Table Manners

Today I thought about table manners. It’s so fun to refresh oneself on rules of etiquette in order to bless and honor your host and those around the table. My two favorite (and often overlooked) rules include sitting down only after your host and never putting anything on the table; your purse, coat, scarf, etc. should go beneath your seat or behind your chair. This blesses your guests by preventing overcrowding the table and distracting them.

Enjoy brushing up on your own manners here: 100 Table Manners Tips.

A Great Question for Your Holiday Gathering

Last night at a wedding reception, I tested out my new favorite question to ask people at any gathering. It’s this:

What question do you like people to ask you?

Around our table, I learned wonderful things I would have never thought to ask these people in my life I thought I knew well. Someone wanted us to ask about new hobbies. One person wanted us to ask about the books she’s reading. Another wanted to talk about her work in labor and delivery rooms. Someone requested we ask about a childhood on the farm; still another wanted us to ask about dreams for his future. Someone even wanted us to inquire about things he’s been thinking about lately.

I love it when people ask me what I’m learning in the Bible.

As people reported their answers, we indulged them. We learned all about chores on the farm, about the reality of delivering babies, about new books and new ideas. I shared what I’m learning in Deuteronomy.

(On a side note, someone offered his least favorite question: Have you stopped working out? Ha!)

I’m excited to ask people this question more and more. For my Thanksgiving gathering, I want to try this question to communicate love to those around me. Sometimes we think we imagine what people love to talk about, but we just don’t know.

I’m so glad I asked.

Autumn Cookies

During our snow day, my oldest daughter and I attempt Autumn Cookies. She loves botany, so after she instructed me on proper leaf venation patterns, we set out on our artistic endeavor.

We baked the cookies using leaf cookie cutters we found at Wegmans. I used a basic sugar cookie recipe. Then we spread white icing (powdered sugar, almond milk, corn syrup, almond extract) on each cookie.

While the frosting was still wet, we dropped icing colored in autumn shades onto each iced cookie, and then we used paintbrushes to achieve fun effects.

What a fun afternoon! I’m learning that the crafts don’t end when your girls grow up; they just become more beautiful and complex.

A Pinecone Lesson

My tightly wound pinecones–those closed cones open to no one–have opened beautifully. Once, on the cold and wet forest floor, these little pine cones kept everything inside a secret. Any seed they might offer the world, they held tight to the heart.

But once inside my home, after I washed and scented them with cinnamon and clove and set them near the warm heater, they open up. The dry conditions force a certain vulnerability, it seems, a readiness to surrender.

I consider those times when you feel a dryness in the soul, a heat you can’t explain. I remember how such conditions invite an opening, a vulnerability, and offering.

Ancient Rhythms

Our dishwasher recently broke. That day felt like a disaster. I couldn’t imagine life without the dishwasher.

And then I could.

As we learned we’ll wait a few weeks until the new dishwasher arrives, I settled into the reality that I’d wash dishes by hand. And I thought of others in the world also washing dishes by hand–by a creek, in a basin, in a steaming kitchen somewhere.

Here we are, washing dishes by hand, as it once was everywhere and still is in most places, before the dishwasher. 

After each meal, the ancient ritual begins: the hot, soapy water, the gentle care of each dish and glass, the drying. How quickly I felt connected to something larger when a modern convenience dies.

A Verb I’ve Never Used: Envenomate

Today I read the sentence, “She didn’t envenomate him.” I realize I’ve never used this verb that means “to inject with poison.”

I think of broader uses. Did my biting words or bitter attitude envenomate the atmosphere?

I love learning new verbs.

Taking the Day As It Comes

I’m learning to think differently about the day. I normally imagine every possible event that may come my way; I visualize everything–walking from the parking lot, meeting students for office hours, teaching classes, attending meetings, joining conference calls, making dinner. It’s just how my mind works. I also write things in my head as I walk places, so I’m always ahead of what’s actually happening.

Some people live in the past; I live mostly in the future.

Stress comes along when I cannot visualize what’s going to happen. If I know I’m going to some uncertain, unpredictable setting, my mind spins because it can’t rest in an image of what’s going to happen.

I’ve learned to train my mind to delight in not knowing what’s going to happen. Instead of imagining the whole day first, I think about taking the day as it comes, staying focused on what’s happening right now, and letting God surprise me with unforeseen happenings.

I take the day as it comes.