Goodthoughts

Tomatoes and God's Extravagance

Last week while we were at the beach...our tomatoes in our vegetable garden started multiplying!  We knew it was going to happen and left word with our friends to come pick all they wanted.  Even with all that picking...we still have tons of beautiful red tomatoes!  I picked all these this afternoon.   The biggest basket was so heavy I had to ask Chuck to carry it inside for me!  We have tomatoes everywhere!!

The leaves have fallen off some of the plants and when you walk into the garden... the tomatoes appear to be happily floating in the air!  

An old wooden chair I turned into a trellis has fallen over with the weight of its bounty.

Every time I look at all these beautiful, juicy...absolutely yummy tomatoes, I am reminded of the generous extravagance of God. 

All I did was plant one tiny seed per plant...a little watering and weed pulling on our part...a little staking and tying...and God somehow turned that seed into more tomatoes than Chuck and I can possibly eat! 

God's extravagance doesn't end with tomatoes...it's in the beauty of the flowers...the birds song...the gentle breeze...the warm sun...the ocean waves...laughter...hugs from someone you love. 

Maybe God is extravagant with us...so we'll be like that with each other.   The more tomatoes we pick...the more we have.  The more tomatoes we give away...the happier it makes us! 

There is no shortage of anything in God's extravagant economy...not tomatoes...not smiles...not love.  Our job in life is to remember to be thankful for all God gives us...and pass it on with a smile!

The Beatles were right...love is all there is

It's funny the things that you remember from your early childhood.   Let me tell you about a memory from when I was a shy 3 year old.

We lived in a new neighborhood in the suburbs of Nashville, TN.  WWII had been over for several years and couples were marrying and having children.  It was a hopeful time in our country and a great time to be a child.

My mother had just joined a new church in our neighborhood.  We met on Sunday in Dalewood Elementary School auditorium.  The choir and pastor were on the school stage flanked by maroon velvet curtains with gold trim and the congregation was seated in rows of brown metal folding chairs on the floor below.

I enjoyed the first part of the service where everybody stood up and sang hymns.  And the offering always got my attention...Mama would give me a dime to drop in the big heavy offering plate as it was passed down our row...but the sermon...well, the sermon was just background noise for my nap!

Have you ever tried to take a nap in a metal folding chair?  It's not easy...even for a short 3 year old.  I remember trying to lie down with my head in Mama's lap...the rest of me on the hard metal...legs scrunched up...trying not to get my shoes on the person next to me. 

But one Sunday as I was getting properly scrunched...an elderly man seated next to me, looked down at me, smiled and whispered "You can put your feet in my lap if you want to."  I shot Mama a look to see if it was okay and she nodded her approval.  I smiled shyly and slowly stretched out...enjoying the freedom and went right to sleep!

Why do I remember that one snapshot in time just like it was yesterday?  I think it's because there is no small act of love.  All love is big...and it rings true in the heart who receives it whether they are 3 or 103.  Love really IS ALL THERE IS! 

Zappos.com and the Golden Rule

Here's a story I learned about from my husband's blog, Chuck Warnock: Sermons, etc.  It's about how some folks at Zappos.com used their hearts instead of the company policy manual to make a difference in the life of one customer.  She wrote about her experience on her blog, Writing- Cooking- Life.  This story made me realize the power of genuine human kindness and compassion.  Read it...you'll be glad you did.

The Tomato Fairy

Chuck and I eat tomato sandwiches for lunch almost every day in the summer time. Tomato sandwiches, fresh corn on the cob and icy cold cantaloupe is the ultimate comfort food combination!  And if you want to get fancy and add some avocado slices to that tomato sandwich...it's like love on a plate!

So you can imagine how happy I was when I walked out on the front porch and discovered... a little wicker basket full to the brim with red ripe, juicy homegrown tomatoes.  There was no note to let me know who they were from...just a happy little basket made of wicker and metal and blue glass beads. There was just something about that cute little basket that made me smile...and wonder who could have been so thoughtful...

Bluebird Houses

This morning our friend,Willard, brought us a beautiful cedar bluebird house he made last week.  We already have one bluebird house and a dedicated little couple raised three babies in it last year.  But this new house is the "Tara" of bluebird houses!  The front swings open for easy cleaning and the cedar smells so good!  I can see it now-- bluebirds circling our backyard like planes at O'Hare to get a peek at this new bluebird house!

You know, finding a new house can be a challenge even if you're a bluebird.  But when you're just a regular human being with not only one of the biggest investments you'll ever make but also your heart on the line, it can be downright scary!  Here's our story of our move to Virginia and how God not only has a great sense of humor but also does well in the real estate business! 

Remember Pretty Kitty?

Remember Pretty Kitty from my post "Are You Barking at Pretty Kitty?" Well, Pretty Kitty may act a little arrogant around other animals...okay, he's just plain obnoxious around other animals.  But when it comes to people, Pretty Kitty makes Cary Grant look awkward and unrefined!  Pretty Kitty knows how to walk that fine line between charming and needy.  He's just a cool cat!  He likes people and it shows.  When he looks at you  it's almost like you can hear him say, "Of all the people in the world,  I like you the best!"

But Pretty Kitty is not my cat.  He's a neighborhood cat that we all love.  He likes the freedom of being outside and running and stalking voles in the backyard. 

Last week it turned really cold here.  Nighttime temperatures dropped into the teens.  Our friends, Montrue and Bill, being the kind people they are, had let Pretty Kitty inside their house to get warm.  There was only one problem.   Saga, their beautiful Saluki dog, hates Pretty Kitty.  Pretty Kitty would sit in front of the french doors to the study where Saga sleeps.  I think Pretty must have smiled as he mentioned with his kitty telepathy how he had the run of the house. Saga answered with ferocious barking while attempting to dig a hole through the antique doors!   He really wanted to wipe that smile off Pretty Kitty's face!  These two are like oil and water.  They could never stay under the same roof!  What to do about poor Pretty Kitty?!

Going Home

I finished this painting yesterday.  The title is "Going Home."  It's a painting about my favorite aunt who died at the age of 97 on September 9, 2006.

Aunt Lora or "Auntie" as I called her, died only a few miles from where she was born.  She married when she was 18 years old, two years before The Depression.  She was never wealthy, but was generous with her time, love and encouragement.  She and Uncle Bill never had any children of their own, but housed and fed almost every child in the family.  She never went beyond the 8th grade, but loved to learn and taught us all life-lessons.  She was never famous, but had many life-long friends who loved her wit and spirit of adventure.  She never talked about her dreams, but was quick to ask about yours and let you know she was dreaming the dream with you.  She never set foot in a seminary, but knew God in a way that most theologians will never experience.

There were a lot of things Aunt Lora never did.  But she loved God and she loved people with all her heart.  When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time with Auntie.  Mama says when I was a baby Auntie would let me sit in the middle of the kitchen table and eat butter with my fingers!  I knew she loved me and thought I was special.  She talked to me just like I was grown up.  We picked strawberries together...went on numerous fishing trips together..visited relatives I didn't know together...went to church together...ate her heavenly biscuits and cake together...picked out toys at the dime store together...we just enjoyed being together.  I remember the constant smiles and giggles.

Living the Dream!

Today I added a companion blog to Goodthoughts and it's just for YOU!  The link to it is at the top right column.  It's called Living the Dream!
  This is a place for true stories about your dreams...tell us what your dreams are....who has encouraged you along the way...what interesting circumstances helped you on your journey...whatever you want to say about living the dream!  Click on the Living the Dream! link to learn more.  See you there!

Goodthoughts to Keep and Share

I love to have my favorite quotes and Bible verses sitting around where I can see them during the day.  Four years ago, I had the idea to combine my favorite verses with my Bluebird paintings on colorful little cards.  I called them "Goodthoughts Cards."  At first, I just made them for the children at church.  The kids really liked them.  Some taped them to their bedroom mirrors or kept them in a stack like baseball cards.  Then the adults began asking if they could have some, too.