When Does Monopoly End?

Recently I got in some grandma practice. I had two kids over to our house and I taught them how to play Monopoly. After they seemed like they had the hang of it, I went into the kitchen to make supper. Some time into the game came the mournful question, "When does Monopoly end?" Ut oh. I forgot to mention that important point. Monopoly does go on and on...like stroke recovery, my to-do lists and, let's face it, sometimes spiritual growth. It's a temptation to lose sight of the overall picture unless we intentionally take notice.

I'm frequently asked how Russ is doing. I'm never quite sure how to answer. Compared to what point do you want to know? He's made remarkable progress since the spring of 2006 when he had a massive stroke and fought for his life. Compared to most other people, he's remarkably content in spite of his many limitations. Compared to this past winter? Though very gradually losing strength, we've had these three victories:
• he fell twice, but was not seriously injured
• he answered the phone in Japanese and was able to arrange for maintenance on some mobility aids without my help (He does not want me to remember this accomplishment next time he needs a phone call made. Smile.)
• when I asked him to say the books of the New Testament to me for speech and cognitive practice, he said he'd go a step further and say them backwards. He did it!

No doubt, like you, my to-do lists feel endless. Over the summer I'm working on reorganizing resources in the SSS office where I work. In July I'll have two summer worker to help me. I'm excited with how things are shaping up!

In order to effectively minister to others, our own faith journeys need careful attention. I'm grateful for daily encouragement from the Bible verses and thoughts from the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I'm being challenged by reading aloud to Russ Christian Counter Culture by John Stott. At the international church we attend, our pastor is giving a thought-provoking series on the Sermon on the Mount. All these things together both encourage me and make me thirsty for more and more of Jesus.

Endless isn't always bad. Enjoy the seemingly endless journey of growing. It's worth the struggle.

Unapproachable Light

This morning as I was reading in I Timothy 6:16 about God "who lives in inapproachable light," sunlight came streaming in through the window enveloping my Bible and notebook. My mind quickly reverted to the total solar eclipse Tokyo experienced last Monday. Thanks God for the special effects. I get it. You're awesome!

Mothers Day Musings

The thoughts I share today are a bit random...a slice of life here in Japan.

A week ago Russ and I were out taking a walk. We decided to venture beyond our usual path and walk along the river. I pushed Russ' wheelchair across busy streets until we got to a safe place for him to practice his walking. After walking a ways, Russ sat in his chair for a rest while I dashed over to the strawberry farm to buy our last strawberries of the season.

When I returned, Russ tried to stand up to resume walking but lost his footing and landed in the nearby bushes. The bushes broke his fall (thank God for no broken bones), though he did get some nasty scrapes. The challenge before me was how to get him up out of the bushes when he was awkwardly tangled in branches and the wheelchair front wheels. I tried to pull him up, but was no match for his 6'2" paralyzed body. Others also out for a stroll offered to help, but they were all older than Russ. I could just picture a geriatric pile-up in the foliage. I didn't know what else to do so accepted their offers of help. I was almost more concerned for them than for Russ, but we got him up and he lived to smile for the picture.

On a totally unrelated topic...my mother turned 88 this past week. Her poor hearing means I can't often talk to her on the phone, but on her birthday she was able to catch two or three sentences before turning the phone over to Dad. I cherish those few sentences. My brother and sister-in-law took her a cake and followed it up with a rousing game of Scrabble. Mom won! What a way to celebrate 88 years!

Speaking of mothers...I have a dear mother-in-law too. God has really blessed me. I rarely get to see these precious women since we live on the other side of the ocean, but we pray for them every day and love them dearly. The necklace I'm wearing in the picture is from my mother-in-law. As I put it on this morning it suddenly struck me that I have worn that cross necklace many times without thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for me. How do I let such a profound sacrifice become just another accessory?