inspirational

Happy Thanksgiving!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / Leave a comment

A Day to Give Thanks.

The table is set and the turkey is roasting, and soon hungry family members will arrive. I love this day. There are so many things I’m thankful for.

I love that I live in a country that was dedicated to God. When English colonists arrived in Jamestown in 1607, they erected a cross on the beach and dedicated this land to God. George Washington prayed in Saint Paul’s Chapel for hours asking for God’s help and guidance during the struggle to unite the colonies and defeat Britain. He was known by some as the kneeling general. It’s interesting that Saint Paul’s Chapel was spared from destruction on 9/11 since it sits only 100 yards from the Twin Towers. People of faith are the foundation of our nation. I’m thankful to live in America.

I am always thankful for my family and friends and this year I’ve really noticed kindness in my neighborhood. We help our neighbors with their yard work, but other neighbors help in the winter by shoveling the older neighbors’ driveways and walks. One neighbor is battling cancer and food is taken to the family and transportation is provided to get him to the doctors. I like to think that once the helping began, others noticed and joined in.

Tomorrow these come down and Christmas decorations go up. Many in the neighborhood have already finished their decorating. They were smart to take advantage of the warm temperatures we had. Scarecrows, pumpkins and turkeys say Thanksgiving to me, but I’m ready to move on to Christmas. Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Last Supper Miraculously Saved and More!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / Leave a comment

Da Vinci’s famous painting of The Last Supper was painted in 1495 and it is still viewed by thousands every year.

I was fortunate to see Da Vinci’s Last Supper painting a few years ago in Milan, Italy. It is truly overwhelming in size and beauty. One of the best parts of traveling is learning the history of the things one sees. That was true about this painting.

The painting is on a remaining wall of what was a monastery. The monastery and most of the church next to it were destroyed by a bomb during WWII. The wall with Da Vinci’s painting remained. It was declared to be a miracle. It had been protected by sand bags, but those could not have stopped a bomb. Today it is protected by a controlled moisture environment. Before viewing it, we went through a dust filtering chamber. Only fifteen minutes were allowed and everyone viewed it in silence. It was an experience I will always remember.

I did some research on the painting recently and found this interesting. It was common for painters to use friends and paid models for their paintings and rumor had it that Da Vinci painted a known criminal as Judas. I examined the photo and thought this man could be the man people referred to. It is possible.

A reader’s theater piece, Face of Jesus, was written by Dave Tippett who used the idea of Da Vinci painting his enemy. He imagined Da Vinci painting a fellow painter (whom he hated) as Judas. Da Vinci would delight in others seeing his enemy as Judas. However, he couldn’t paint the face of Jesus. Every attempt failed. Tippett wrote that Da Vinci realized that unless he forgave his enemy he wouldn’t be able to paint the face of Jesus. The realization enabled him to finish the painting after he forgave his enemy. It’s such a good lesson about forgiveness. In fact, we’re using this piece at my church for a Lenten service. According to Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. It’s hard to forgive someone who has hurt us, but Lent is a good time to try. Wishing you all a meaningful Lenten season.

Smile it’s Spring!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

When the sunshine and warm temperatures arrive, people are seen smiling!

I heard a speaker ask what makes you smile. She was talking about ways to fight depression. Suggestions were to look at photos that bring back happy memories. The problem with photos is it sometimes brings tears when you see a face that is no longer here. Nature photos can bring a smile or just a warm feeling along with a feeling of gratitude for the beauty God has created.

When people tell me how beautiful the garden is, I thank them, but I am not the creator. I am just the fortunate gardener who delights in the plants. When my spring flowers sprout, I smile and eagerly begin pulling weeds. I don’t know why the weeds always survive a tough winter, but some plants don’t. At least they give me a reason to work the soil.

I recently read there are nine types of smiles. A few are: the closed lip, genuine smile, smug smile, and twisted smile. I can’t picture the twisted smile, but I can the genuine smile. Since babies can smile as soon as they are born, that has to be a genuine smile. Smiles have been proven to relieve stress, and burn calories. Laughing burns more calories and relieves more stress. I need to find funny things to laugh at!

Smiles also create connections between people. A reassuring smile offers support to struggling traveler or a frustrated parent. It conveys understanding of the situation. That’s a gift.

A song sung by Nat King Cole, Smile, urges one to smile even though your heart is breaking. The lyrics are great. I particularly like, light up your face with gladness. The entire song encourages one to smile through the situation and believe it will improve. Hope and have faith that things will get better. That is a message I know many need to hear and believe. Referencing nature, the sun chases the darkness away when it brings the morning. The gray clouds dissipate when the sun arrives. Believing gives one the ability to smile. Soo Smile!!

Hoping each one of you has a day full of smiles!

Winter’s Gifts

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

Winter offers us a chance to slow down and I don’t mean just on the roads.

I know many of you are tired of winter. I hear it every week. Most people want snow around Christmas, but then they are done with it. December is not usually a snowy month in Ohio. Our snow falls mainly in January and February, and I like it. It’s beauty is almost magical.

Today the sun is shining on the snow and it is sparkling. Yesterday, I shoveled and was happy to be outside. Of course there was only about three to four inches, so it wasn’t back breaking. Winter air smells fresh and clean. The snow brightens the night and the winter sky is so clear the stars fill the sky with great beauty. There is no star on a stage that can compete!

I admit I don’t like the shorter days, but more daylight is returning. The darkness keeps me inside more, but that helps me to slow down. I read more, and focus on inside projects. This winter I started painting watercolors again after several years of ignoring my paints. Why now? I told one of my granddaughters I was proud of her for using her musical gift that God had given her. Then I had to look at myself and ask if I was using the gifts God had given me. The truth is, no.

I have been able to draw since I was a child. I learned how to use watercolors as an adult and joined the local art league. I even had a few painting in two local art galleries. Life got busy and my gift was put away. The sixteenth birthday of my musical granddaughter was a reason to paint. I don’t have the words to convey how wonderful it felt to draw and paint again. Drawing was the easy part! I had to work to get the painting right. In fact, I wasn’t happy with it until the fourth time! My sweet granddaughter cried when she opened it. Of course that made me cry!

The point of this story is to encourage you to ask yourself if you are using the gifts God gave you. Winter is a time for reflection and appreciation of the season. We have another month before spring officially arrives. Look for the good things winter provides. Maybe you will rediscover a gift you put on a shelf because life got too busy.

A Roadside Cross

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This cross stands outside someone’s backyard along a busy road.

I frequently see small crosses along the road in memory of people who have lost their lives in an accident at that location. This cross was erected for a different purpose I think. I pass it often and wonder what effect it might have on those who see it.

I hope it reminds people that God is always available to hear from them. He brings comfort and if one is willing to be patient and listen, he brings guidance. The hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus comes to mind. People ask, how do I pray? My answer is to just talk to him. We can tell God anything and he will keep it private. He is understanding and if one gets in the habit of praying, a feeling of support and understanding is felt. I now look for the cross when I’m on that street. It reminds me that God is with me, always.

I enjoy reading people’s stories of miraculous healings. Miracles did not just occur in Biblical times. They occur today. We may see them through a medical discovery or as a a direct result of prayer. People have recovered from accidents and disease when they were told there was no hope. God never stopped listening and helping because someone never stopped praying.

President Trump being saved from an assassin’s bullet was indeed a miracle. He turned his head just in time. Why? God saved him. There is a scripture (Romans 8:31) If God is for us, who can be against us? I think that is true for each one of us. At Christmas we see the word Believe everywhere. I encourage people to believe now. Our world is in turmoil and I have found comfort in believing and trusting God. Give God a try! He loves you!

A Day to Show Love

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February and December have a lot in common.

February is a cold month in Ohio so the red sweaters worn in December still work in February. Red and white candles can still be used along with a few branches of greenery. The most important thing both share is they are months where people talk about love.

We love the gifts we received, the special food prepared and in general the feeling of love. December tends to wear people out, but February is a month where we can concentrate on the meaning of love. Many people get married in February and the popular Bible verse about love is read. It is probably something that should be posted in the home and read regularly.

Paul talks about love in the book of Corinthians 13: 4-8. He begins with patient and kind and continues with what love isn’t. It isn’t envious, boastful, self-seeking and is not easily brought to anger. The next is a difficult one. Love doesn’t keep a record of wrong doings. I admit I struggle with patience and remembering the wrong doings. It’s hard not to say, ” I remember when you …..”

I love my family but I admit I sound like a nag when I remind family members to hang up their coats, put their dishes in the dishwasher and to throw their clothes down the clothes shoot. I’m sure that would be considered not patient. I probably fail slow to anger too. I choose to think of myself as being irritated and not angry though. I’ve always heard it’s easier to show kindness with people you don’t live with, for example, your friends and co-workers. I admit I see truth in that statement.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the first day of lent. I have decided to focus on Paul’s description of love. He says love never fails. Love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. I plan to persevere! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Where have you found help?

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 1 Comment

Help found in unexpected places.

I was recently in a group when we were asked to think of someone who had helped you when you really needed it. For me, it was Mr. Stover.

When I was 19, I was in my second year of college and had to not only pay for my tuition, (which I was doing) but now had to pay rent and other living expenses. This was because my mom got married and moved out of town. I was happy to share an apartment with my sister, and I felt very grown up to be on my own. However, I needed money to pay for this new adult responsibility.

I was fortunate to work for a man, Mr. Stover, who allowed me to work whenever my schedule allowed. Every quarter my hours changed along with my schedule, and he accommodated me. During my breaks, he let me work full time. My co-workers were supportive of my crazy schedule and I felt part of the work family. They frequently talked about their faith and their churches. This was a new experience. I had grown up in the church, but I never heard anyone talk about their faith outside of church. It made me think about the strength of my faith.

My senior year, I had student teaching so I could only work on breaks. Thankfully, I had earned a scholarship to pay for school, but I needed money to live on. Whatever days I had off, I was allowed to work. I know I could have never made it without Mr. Stover. I believe God led me to that small company because he knew I’d find help there. I sat at a wheel and packed doll house accessories!

I would love to hear who God put in your life. I imagine here have been more than one person. Please share!

What is a Wemmick?

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A Wemmick might drive a wooden car because he or she is a wooden person.

When I was teaching, I read my students The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss. The lesson is very simple. A Sneetch is a Sneetch with or without a star on his or her belly. All one has to do is substitute people for Sneetch and the lesson is complete. Max Lucado wrote You are Special with another lesson that I think children and adults would appreciate.

The people in Wemmickville reward or disapprove of community members on a daily basis by placing stickers on each other. Gold stickers represent talent and good looks while gray stickers represent ordinary or failure. Punchinello is the main character of the story and he is covered with gray stickers every day.

One day Punchinello meets a girl who doesn’t have any stickers because they will not stick to her. When he asked her why this was, she took him to meet Eli the master woodcarver, the creator of the wooden people. Punchinello went to see Eli daily and eventually the stickers would not stick to him.

We aren’t given stickers, but we are labeled in many ways: talent, age, gender, disposition and other ways. The cool kids versus the nerds and mean girls who taunt the nice girls have all been fodder for books and movies. We watch and draw our own conclusions, but Max Lucado gives a way to help us not let labels stick.

Our creator is God and going to him daily in prayer of course is the message. It might take time and patience, but it is worth the effort. Max Lucado created a wonderful book and Sergio Martinez’s illustrations are delightful. Give it a try; I think you’ll like it.

The Wisemen’s Gifts

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I was surprised to learn about frankincense and myrrh.

I broke one of the wise men in our nativity set and of course could not replace it. I had to order three new wisemen and they came with gold, frankincense and myrrh. The order also included information about frankincense and myrrh. They both come from tree resins.

Frankincense comes from the Boswellia tree. The trees grow in India, Africa and the Middle east. Frankincense was burned in Jewish temple as an offering to God. It was one of the gifts given to baby Jesus. It acknowledged his holiness and the wisemen’s belief in him. It is said to have a woody fragrance. A small bag was sent with the wisemen and we will put a few pieces in our fireplace when we make our first fire of the season. I’m eager to smell it.

Myrrh comes from the Commiphora tree. It is found in the same area as the Boswellia tree. It is not a large tree and it resin is the reddish looking little pieces the kneeling king is holding. Myrrh was used to anoint religious leaders and kings. It was also used for burial. Some believe it was an indication of what was to happen to Jesus.

Both frankincense and myrrh have been used for thousands of years as medicinal remedies as well as in religious ceremonies. I read a wide variety of ailments that have been treated with them. I know some churches today burn incense and I’d be interested to know if it is frankincense.

The Feast of Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the wisemen 12 days after Jesus’s birth. But their arrival time has been studied and debated for many years. Some believe Jesus was a toddler when the wisemen arrived. The book of Matthew 2:1-11 says the wisemen “came into the house and saw the young child.” King Herod also ordered that infants age two and under be put to death, so that supports the idea of that Jesus was not an infant. It doesn’t matter to me when the wisemen arrived. I’m just thankful that God sent him to us. His birth is Christmas.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and thankfulness. Maybe a few of you will receive frankincense and myrrh. It is available on Amazon!

Awww November!

/ Jeanne Lemmon Skinner / 3 Comments

November is a month to pause before the hectic month of December.

I know some people are already in Christmas mode. Some have even put up their Christmas tree. Not me. I want to enjoy November and relish in the calm before December arrives. There is a calmness in these days if we allow it.

October is a month of fun fall activities which include picking apples and choosing the best pumpkins to carve. Halloween costumes must be considered and of course Halloween decorations. It’s a very busy month.

November’s main event is Thanksgiving which means the few days before I will be preparing for the feast, but prior to that I can enjoy the remaining fall days and finish the fall yard cleanup. All Saints Day begins the month and being alone in my garden is the best time to remember loved ones with a smile or a tear. Veterans Day is another important day of remembrance. My husband will go on another Honor Flight this month in honoring fellow veterans.

November will always be a time when I remember the assassination of President Kennedy. I’ve been to Dallas and seen the book depository and the grassy knoll. It was a terrible day and there apparently is still much to learn about this event. We’ll see.

I decorate for Thanksgiving with turkeys, pumpkins and scarecrows, and Christmas waits for December 1. It’s important to have a few weeks of calm and remembering. Most of all it’s a time of thankfulness. Given what is happening in our country and around the world, I am well aware of my blessings. I hope you have a blessed and quiet November. December awaits us!