Author: marycatherinethomas

M. Catherine Thomas is a published writer, speaker and teacher. Mother of two and grandmother..

Time to Practice What I Preach

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I heard this phrase while I was walking this morning. I grunted. I knew the Lord was tag-teaming with Dale on this phrase. Let me explain.

In many conversations with women over the years I have repeated myself often. What have I said? Here is a sampling of what I have said: Get some rest. Allow yourself time to heal, you have been through a lot (emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually). Your body is telling you to take time off, rest. Allow the Lord to renew you, comfort you, bring restoration. You get the idea. I only say things like this when I see a need. Women too often, push themselves to the point of total exhaustion and break down.

Dale and I have talked about rest a lot this past week. Like several times a day. According to Mirriam-Webster the definition of rest is: to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion; to be free from anxiety or disturbance. Cathi’s definition of rest (for herself) is, sit down, catch your breath for five minutes, six if you absolutely have to.

I like to be up and active. Since the doctor told me that only one bone was broken and I could move my right hand I have taken that as license to go back to normal. Thus, the many conversations about rest.

Rest is something that I know I need to have. Not just sleep, but restful times, still and relaxing. In July of 2015, I felt the need to do a study on rest for myself. I went to the Bible and started to look up each scripture on rest. I did this specifically to learn how to rest physically, emotionally and in the Lord. This detailed study of mine lasted until August of 2015 when I got busy and decided rest could wait.

So, here we are in June of 2022. I can’t do much and that four lettered word is haunting me. Rest. I know it’s important. Physical rest is vital for renewal and restoration of our bodies. Emotional rest is critical to be centered and calm. Spiritual rest allows us to draw closer to God, climbing up in His lap, hearing His heart beat and listening to His voice. I understand all of these types of rest. Physical rest is the one I avoid. It is hard for me to rest.

Because of this, when I am given an inch in recovery, I take that giant step. Today as I was arguing with the Lord it was like that childhood game. I tend to take the giant steps and not ask, ‘Mother may I?’

So, here is my confession to you all, written out in black and white. I am learning to rest, according to the Mirriam-Webster definition. Pray for Dale, as he is about to cover me in velcro and attach me to the couch so I will learn to stay put.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

New Every Morning

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“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (RSV)

I am starting to walk again in the morning. With the sling still a part of my body, I am not walking as fast as I would like, but, I am trying to return to a normal routine.

This morning as I walked and prayed I asked the Lord if I had only had 90 days of fresh ideas for my blog. Yes, I was feeling in a bit of a slump. I was reminded that this blog is not me, this blog is what I am feeling to write from the Lord. I can’t explain it any other way. I often sit down having no idea what to write and then I am surprised at what happens. This is the Lord’s blog, and hopefully I will listen carefully and only write what He would like me to.

Anyhow, I stopped to look at the front yard. The sun was shining through the trees and I felt like the Lord reminded me that each day the sun shines a bit differently in my front yard. The above scripture came to mind. I remembered that God is the Creator.

Each day there are new things to behold. His creation grows and changes daily. His artistic pallete is varied and refined. Each sunset and sunrise reveal colors painted across the sky in diversity. Each day begins anew and ends afresh. No two days are the same.

I was reminded once more to pay attention to my surroundings. To look at my day, the people I should meet, to notice what is in front of me. Not to look for security reasons, (which is always good to do) but to look at the beauty and blessings my Creator has carefully placed in my life.

Father’s Day part 2

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Setting a good example for your children takes all the fun out of middle age. ~William Feather, The Business of Life, 1949

Seeing fatherhood as a child is vastly different than seeing fatherhood as a wife and mother.

When I was pregnant with our first child, Dale and I had lofty ideas of how to parent. It was going to be a glorious adventure. We would agree on everything and our children would be compliant, gracious and would rise up and bless us each and every day. Yes, we were that naive.

Watching my husband become a father was different than I thought it would be. The joy of the early morning hours when our oldest was born was beautiful. When he came to visit us hours later the realization of fatherhood was evident on his face. I have also seen it on my sons in law. The joy and happiness is radiating but the responsibility of fatherhood is a detail in their eyes and jawline that wasn’t there previously.

As babies change worlds and families, I think it is easier for a mom. Moms naturally envelope their children. Fathers are sort of on the outside. They can only do so much as far as feeding and changing diapers and clothing them goes. A father’s hands are not made for the delicate newborn’s items. A father may be adept, but a father’s hands are hands that work. They fix things. A father does things, fumbling with tiny snaps and fasteners is foreign to them. A father is a father.

Children see their father as a figure that is solid, sometimes resolute. A wife sees the man she fell in love with struggle with decisions concerning the best way to do things. She sees that fathers unconditionally love their children. She has had conversations with her spouse, and seen how they struggle at times to be the loving, easy going nurturer instead of the one who makes decisions for the good of the child.

Fatherhood is a complicated business. Raising a child is a responsibility. A good man takes that responsibility seriously. I am blessed to have married such a man. My daughters also are blessed with good men.

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.” Proverbs 23:22 (NLT)

Father’s Day part 1

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A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. ~Enid Bagnold, 1969

It occurred to me today that Fatherhood is a complicated position. Growing up, I went from adoration of my Dad, to respect, to questioning him, to dismay and back to respect and most of all love. Dads are perplexing creatures.

When I think of my Dad now, the view of have of him is totally different than what it used to be. As a child I remember walks with my Dad, going to the hardware store with him, working on projects with him in the scary part of our cellar. As an engaged young woman, I would spend most Friday nights with him listening to music and talking about many topics. I remember him patting my hand in the back of the church looking at me and asking if I was ready. His reassuring arm holding on to me before giving me away to a sailor who would take me around the world.

When I brought our oldest daughter home from Japan, he checked her three month old bottom carefully. When I asked what he was doing, he smiled and said, “Just looking for the made in Japan mark.” He was both funny and frustrating. At times our phone conversations would be long and at other times he would call, not talk much and hang up, leaving me wondering why. (Now I understand the need to just hear a child’s voice).

He raised three girls on his own and my sisters and I know we did a lot of raising of ourselves also. But, now, my sisters and I agree that he did the best he could under the circumstances. He provided a roof over our heads, food for the table, clothes and things we could enjoy, 45’s, albums, books, games.

As a child, you look at the man who is your father. You remember all the times you had with him. The times he agreed with you and made you smile, as well as the times he gave you a definite no and you yelled or sulked.

I do this with my heavenly Father also. When I have asked for things which I think are important and I get the definite no back. I yell and I sulk. Fathers make decisions that are not always pleasant. They are given a wisdom, though that goes beyond a mother’s wisdom. Fathers look at the whole picture, examine the pros and cons, and then give answers. Like our heavenly Father those answers can be yes, no, or wait.

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalm 103:13 (NASB)

A good father is committed to his family. They stay in the hard times. They do not shirk their duty. They weather the difficulties and uncomfortable times. When a man accepts this challenge and sees it through, his children are blessed. They can lift up their eyes regardless how they are currently feeling and be grateful to have them as a father.

Summer Storms

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This afternoon around three, the sky started to darken and the wind picked up. I was looking out of the window at the time, watching the leaves turn up and the tree branches doing a dance through the sky.

The past couple of days the sky has threatened rain, but it has remained hot and humid and not a drop of rain anywhere. I expected the same today. The wind blew for several minutes and then, the sound of the wind changed and you could hear the rain approaching. It is still storming outside, thunder echoing and the occasional lightening flashing.

I went out and sat on our porch for a bit as the temperature had dropped with the arrival of the rain. Sitting on a chair I looked out on our yard. The leaves were glistening with rain on them. The trees gently rustled with the wind. The smell of the air filled with the scent of the rain.

All of a sudden I was transported back in time with a random memory, something I hadn’t thought of in forever. When I was a child, my father’s brother (who lived in another city) would come into town with his family for a vacation. He would rent a cottage on the river. My sisters and I would visit for a day or two, enjoying the time spent with cousins we didn’t normally see. The screen porch I was sitting in mentally changed. I was at once sitting at the cottage, on the screened-in porch playing a game on a rainy afternoon. The game was Go To The Head of the Class, and my sisters and cousins were crowded around arguing and figuring the game out. I hadn’t thought of the game nor that time together in several decades.

I came into the house and talked with Dale about the memory and ideas floating around about a possible post. I wasn’t certain about any of it, really.

As I have started to write, I have realized something. Memories are tied to many things. Sometimes a song will have you reliving a date, an event, a ride in a car on a summer day, walking to school with your sisters. Other times you walk into a kitchen and the smells take you to a time past and make you homesick for whoever was in the kitchen you remembered.

Today, the wind, the gentle rain, the smell of the wet ground and trees all provided a memory for me. The memory was a sweet one. I can remember my older sister knowing answers and giving them quickly. I remember being so proud that I had a smart older sister. The memory was comfort and a bit bittersweet knowing some of those family members are no longer with us.

Hebrews 13:8, “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”(NLT) The One who gives us memories to cherish today is the same One who gave us memories yesterday. I once learned that memories are like a scrapbook. You can open that scrapbook as often as you want. You can look and reminiscence, returning to scents, and people and places. But, memories are for us to remember the past, not to dwell there or live there. Memories are a gentle kiss and brush along your cheek to treasure where you have been. Then, you close the book until you add more to the scrapbook in your mind.

Ours is not to reason Why

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Today I tied my shoes. Yes, I did! Not rocket science, I realize, but after ten days, it was a major accomplishment.

I met my orthopedic surgeon this morning. A lovely man, gentle and kind. He also, after moving my arm around a bit, gave me excellent news. No surgery needed. YAY!!!

I have a fracture of my right elbow, but I am free to use my right hand again. Praise God! I am still in a sling, but that is to remind myself that I am still healing and I need to use caution.

I am thrilled with this news, and I am thankful for all of you who have prayed for me, checked in on me, and did so many wonderful things for me. Your abundance of care and concern have blessed me beyond measure.

I have though, I confess, questioned the Lord as to why this happened. Was there a purpose? Does there continue to be a purpose? Did I learn what I was supposed to? Yes, a whole barrage of questions. Many I will never know the answer this side of glory.

I need to rest in the knowledge of Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (NLT) There is a reason for this time and season. I will try to listen with my heart and mind and rest, knowing God is in control.

I Trust Your Hands

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This morning we went to vote in the primary here in South Carolina. Dale was helping me get ready to go out. As he was fixing the back of my sling he apologized for moving my arm more than what he thought it needed to be. I simply replied, “I trust your hands.” I knew that he would not cause me pain or harm in helping me.

As we were coming home after voting, the phrase ‘I trust your hands’ came back into my mind. In fact it echoed in my mind the entire way home. I started to think about that phrase. The simple fact is that since I know Dale and have lived with him for almost 50 years, I trust him.

Isaiah 59:1 from the New King James Version states, “behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” This verse also came to me on the way home from voting. God’s hand is always there to help steady me. He does not drift away from me or allow me to stumble or fall. I need to trust His hands.

Too often, I don’t think of this. And yet as the loving Father our God is, He is always near to us, His hands are open and ready to be there for us in any situation. Today’s lesson for me was Trust. Trust is sometimes an area that is hard to come by.

Everyone at some point, has had their trust broken. It takes time to recover from that lack of trust. Trust in our God, is something that is not easily broken. Our God is faithful even when we are not faithful, we can turn to Him, take His hand, and live out our lives. Trust in the Lord was not what I thought today’s lesson would be for me. In fact, I really did not think I would be writing today.

Sometimes a simple phrase given glibly has a profound lesson in it. That was my case today. When Dale apologized for possibly being too rough (he was not), and I merely reaffirmed to him my trust in him, I thought it was just a comment. The Lord uses everything in our lives to teach us, to guide us, and to instruct us. I am grateful for the little things that the Lord has shown me. I stand encouraged now, knowing that yes, I do trust in His hands. Matthew 28:20b states, “and low, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”(NKJV) This scripture is one that I love. It is like a quilt wrapped around me. It assures me that no matter what I am doing, where I am going, or what I am experiencing, our Lord is right there with me.

Just Plain Ugly

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As parents we have all had a day with a child who is just plain ugly. They whine, they scream, they cry. They cry if you say yes. They cry if you say no. They’re just plain ugly. We all get days like that, it’s not reserved just for toddlers.

This past Saturday was such a day for me. Most days I can see the Lord very easily in my life. Saturday, although I knew the Lord was with me, I was still just plain ugly.

When I have days like that I know what I’m supposed to do. After 67 years of life I know how to avoid the day getting away from me. First of all, I avoid talking to people. That includes my husband. I will have gentle conversations and then leave him alone. I also go on walks which causes me to unwind relax and talk with the Lord. This Saturday nothing was working. My poor husband, was the brunt of my frustration. I think he earned a halo that day living with me. I did attempt to walk, but I was muttering the entire time. If God wanted to speak to me, He couldn’t have gotten word in for my muttering.

On days like that, when I am out of sorts, I usually clean. I will start a task that I’ve been putting off and put my whole self into it. Or, I will make a delicious dinner that takes many steps to complete. I’ve also been known to bake on days like that. All of these things came to mind but, I couldn’t accomplish any of them. I can’t even tie my shoes at the moment. All of the frustration hit me on Saturday. I was not pleasant.

I woke up Sunday morning and apologized profusely to my husband. I confessed to him that I was just ugly. With the patience of Job, he looked at me and told me it was okay. He reassured me that it was all right to be out of sorts. I had already asked the Lord for forgiveness on Saturday night.

I share this day with you because too often as Christians we show the good side only. We like to reveal ourselves as someone who is constantly in touch with our Lord. We like to project an image that we are always filled with praise, grace, and worship of God. The image that we try to do, myself included, is to look like we are at peace at all times; nothing ruffles our feathers. We are all human, I am human. That means that frustration is going to get to us. What I was reminded of on Saturday in my foggy thinking, in between yelling at the littlest things, was that God was still there. He might not have been able to get a word in edgewise, but that did not make Him walk away from me. I’ve learned long ago that our God is a God that stays. He is with me in trials and tribulations and broken arms. He does not move. We as humans are the ones who move away from Him. Saturday I was that toddler. I was the one sitting in the corner stomping my feet, throwing toys, screaming, whining, and crying. I was not pretty. Had I just stopped for a moment, I would have realized that behind me in that corner was my Lord who was trying to wrap His perfect arms of love and peace around me. Had I been quiet I would have heard Him say to me, “peace, be still”. It is said that hindsight is 20/20. I realized when my eyes opened Sunday morning that hindsight is 20/20. Had I stopped even for a few minutes to calm down, to relax, and be still I would have realized what was going on.

In the New Living Ttranslation, John 16:33 states; “I have told you all of this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Our Lord has overcome the world and because of that we can overcome the trials and tribulations that we encounter. This arm sling is a season of my life. Yes, I do get frustrated when I can’t tie my shoes, can’t shower, or fix meals. I know there is much for me to learn during this season. There is a sign for a church in the area and it says “there can be no testimony without the test”. I’ve wanted this blog to show the real me. Am I proud of the way I acted on Saturday? Absolutely not. Have I learned something from my behavior on Saturday? Definitely!

This I’ve been reminded of, my Lord walks with me daily. He’s the one that prevented me from falling on a piece of granite that is in our yard. I landed on soft grass. He’s the one who has directed physicians and made appointments for me. He’s going to be with me throughout the rest of this season. I pray I can be open to hear, to listen, to rest and be calm. Thank you for prayers as I know many of you are praying for me.

Miriam

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Those of us who have siblings, have sometimes felt like we are living in their shadow. The story of Miriam in the Bible is like that. She grew up and lived in the shadows of her brothers Moses and Aaron.

Little is recorded of Miriam’s life in the Bible, but the impact she had on the lives of her brothers and the example that she gave us is a legacy. We often see in Scripture that Miriam was in the background being a supportive role in many ways. We learned many things from Miriam’s life. She had the courage and the boldness to go up to Pharaoh’s daughter and asked if she would like her to find someone to nurse the baby. By doing that with such boldness Miriam was able to have her brother Moses around her until he was weaned. She showed courage and boldness in a young age by being able to do this.

Like myself, Miriam was a woman. She was like women are today. She woke up and did chores, cleaned out her home and later her tent. She most likely raised a family. She was a sister to her brothers. She took care of them and they took care of her. She got impatient with our lord. She was just like a woman today. Not many scriptures are about her but she is hovering in the background but not mentioned.

Miriam was introduced matter of factly in Bible. The story of Moses being hidden in the bull rushes it just simply states his sister stood afar off. She did not have the center stage, no lights beaming down on her she was there. She was faithful, loving and courageous. At the end of her life she is again mention matter of factly. The scripture says Miriam died there and she was buried. There is no mention of people mourning her her passing. I am certain her family and close friends mourned her passing but it’s not mentioned clearly in the Bible. Simply that she died and was buried. Yet, she is prominent. We learn about her in the bible. We read about her. She isn’t as big as Moses or Aaron. She isn’t like a Paul or Peter. She left a legacy of faith.

Her lesson is a simple one an individual as we all are. Each of us will leave our own legacy. One day we will be an ancestor. We will be from the past. We will be that faded memories from stories told. We may not be doing anything earth-chattering right now. We may never have done anything earth-shattering. Most likely those of us who are here or are reading my blog won’t be mentioned in history books. There will be no historical marker that said so and so lived here or slept here. We are just individuals who live our lives.

What we can learn from Miriam is love which she had for her brothers and for her family. Loyalty which she had toward her brothers it is shown as she went through the desert with them. Courage is something we learned from Miriam we saw that when she was first mentioned when she approached Pharaoh’s daughter hoping to protect her baby brother. Miriam was patient she praised God for victories, she led a worship service for the women after they crossed the Red Sea. She was like us also and taught us the consequences for backbiting complaining and gossiping. She was struck with leprosy. But the Lord healed her. So she also taught us about forgiveness.

Our Father in heaven has gifted us with different gifts. We each have something that we hold dear. Everyone can make the same meal and if we all serve the same thing like in a potluck setting, the same food would taste differently. Each dish each would be unique and different. That is what we are to the Lord we are each unique and different.

Every one of us will leave a legacy that others can learn from. What will your legacy be?

An Example

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“Point your kids in the right direction-when they’re old they won’t be lost.” Proverbs 22:6 the message

My younger sister retired this week. She was a teacher for the greater part of her life. Honestly she has always been a teacher. Teachers are born. There is an innate gifting within teachers that are with them from the time they can talk I believe. I’ve always admired the profession my sister chose and she was good at it.

I was a teacher’s aide for a year and I loved each part of it. At the beginning of the year I considered going back to school so that I could become a teacher. The teacher I work with asked me to give a spelling test and I gladly obliged. But I found that the mom in me was much stronger than the teacher in me. I basically mouthed each letter of each word in the spelling test. None of the students got any of the answers wrong. It was then that I realized I was not a teacher.

Teaching is a gift. As parents we do teach our children. We teach them how to eat, how to walk, how to speak. We reinforce what they learn in schools. But there are those who are chosen to be teachers and I have known a few. I admire them and respect them, especially my younger sister. She has taught many many students over the years. Some she taught for two years as she taught a younger grade and then years later moved to an older grade and had the same round of students. She has touched lives in ways that they will always remember. How often do we think back to our own teachers? I had favorite teachers and I had some teachers that really scared me. The students, the people who the grown ups now who had my sister will fondly remember her. I don’t question that. She instilled in them a truth, faith, and the things that are taught from books. She also, I know, taught them several things that are never found in books. These are the things that these people were carry on in their lives. This will be what they teach their children. She will have inspired a generation. I stand in awe of what she has accomplished with her life.

So, congratulations to my sister. Enjoy your retirement I know now that it is summer and it is like every other year you finish school. Wait until August and September though and there’ll be no more Monday mornings that you have to scramble to get out the door. Have fun in this new adventure.