#lifelessons – Page 6 – rootedbythewater.blog

God “winks”~ Look who’s back!

June 14, 2024Leave a Comment

This is one of those spontaneous blog posts. I did not plan to write again this week. One blog per week suits me just fine. However, I wanted to share with you all some things that brought a smile to my heart. This morning I was so surprised when I opened the dining room blinds and discovered the mourning dove is back. There it was sitting in its previous nest. I was planning to clean the porch soon but I guess it will have to wait. I love that this little dove family keeps expanding on our bakers rack on the front porch. God’s creation is so amazing.

The second thing that made me smile was noticing five flowers on Nanny’s peace lily. Nanny passed away in 2015 and this peace lily was sent to the family. In the nine years since she’s passed away I’ve never been able to coax more than a bloom or two from this plant, but there are currently five flowers on it. It’s the little things that make me happy.

The last “God wink” today is seeing how our little cedar raised planter is doing. We have two tomato plants and there are fifteen tomatoes growing on them. I also planted three colored pepper plants but so far I don’t see any peppers coming in yet. The last plant is a cantaloupe plant. I had no idea it was a vine and it was trying to take over the planter. I did manage to adjust it on a very short trellis, which I hope works. There are about six little flowers on the vine and God willing, I hope each will mature to a sweet cantaloupe. This is an experiment as we have never grown anything before. It is rewarding to watch things grow as we water them faithfully.Nature is so captivating. There are so many lessons we can learn from just observing creation. Just like the dove family that finds a safe place to nest on our porch, God guides us daily in the safe path He has prepared for us. When the peace lily had two blooms, I prayed for three and God gave me five. Just these little things make my heart happy. As for our little garden, I am amazed at how well it is doing. Even though I don’t see peppers or cantaloupe yet, I hope they will come in. I love the “raised garden” idea because it keeps the weeds out. I can’t wait to make some meals with these fruits and vegetables. Just like these plants, God also “tends” to us each day. He waters us and adjusts us so that we grow better. He sees us begin to bud and watches as fruit appear in our lives. I’m thankful for the little lessons. It’s good to be content with where God has you in life and learn from the different situations He places you in. Moment by moment, piece by piece, bloom to bloom and more doves likely coming soon. Thank you Lord! You certainly declare Your glory through your wonderfully complex creation.

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About those roots

June 10, 2024Leave a Comment

Today I went back to the pictures my friends took of the Angel Oak Tree, to zoom in on the roots. Only the base of the tree trunk that becomes the root system slightly shows, but you know with a massive tree of that size the root system must be incredibly complex. While the root system is not visible; however with the size, magnitude and leaf canopy observable, can you even imagine the potential size of the roots? Roots provide water and nutrients for all parts of a tree. Roots also act as an anchor providing stability.

Stay with me here. In my last blog “The Most Magnificent Tree”, I reflected on all the storms and history the tree possibly endured to reach its present age and size. I was intrigued thinking about the roots feeding and bringing water to that HUGE tree. In my momentary line of thinking, I’m considering the tree bark kind of like an armor providing protection. Is that too far fetched?

People are like trees in all their variety , shape and beauty. While a persons root system is not easily seen, you can tell what roots a person. Yesterday at church the altar was full of people desiring prayer and strength for their burdens. One of my friends mentioned how many people are just weary and weighed down by “life”. However, rather than breaking under the pressures of life, these people were going to Jesus in prayer. He provides the “living water” and life giving nutrients that sustain us and help us rise above life’s weight. As Christians we are rooted and established in love: our love for God and desire to rise up and give Him glory propels us forward! Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ says,“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” ( ‭NKJV‬‬)

Like the bark on the Angel Oak Tree, we also need the protection of the Armor of God! That includes the belt of truth fastened around us, the breast plate of righteousness shielding our hearts, the helmet of salvation to protect our minds, our feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith to extinguish the devils lies and schemes and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. (See Ephesians 6:10-18) We fight in prayer! Prayer changes things! Most of all, prayer changes us.

I would like to address one more thing. This is the very first year we have attempted a raised garden. I received a cedar planter for my birthday in April. I watched our backyard to determine the best area that received the most sunlight. We chose the soil to use and plants to plant. We’ve watered the plants daily and take delight in watching them grow. Our tomato plants were getting a bit weighed down so my husband Ron put in some stakes to give them support. There are sixteen tomatoes growing! So far we don’t see any colored peppers or cantaloupe. Hopefully we will have a harvest and plant more for the Fall and Winter garden. The tomatoes have done better since Ron added the stakes to support them. Just like those stakes, God puts friends and family in our lives to encourage us and pray for us when we are tipping over by the weight of life. I’m thankful for the wonderful people, family and church family, God has placed around us to reinforce our faith, speak life and God’s Word over us and pray.

There are so many lessons we can learn from God’s creative expressions in creation. Take the time to really look at all God has done and let Him teach you from His inspiring nature. From the dove nest on our porch this Spring, to flowers, trees, our dog Joy, personalities of people, the stunning artistic colors of the sky to ant hills…. I see my God, my Creator, everywhere and it makes my heart smile. I don’t know why He made me such a deep soul but I delight in His truths and the wonderful way He shares them with me.

It’s my prayer that you have received encouragement or perhaps even been challenged through this blog. I find it so refreshing when people can be real and transparent. We can all learn from each other. Life lessons are amazing teachers. I’m thankful for all The Lord is teaching me. Please check out my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon (hard cover, soft cover and ebook formats) I pray it’s a blessing to you and encouragement to never give up in hard situations. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
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The Beauty of Change

May 16, 2024Leave a Comment

It’s been over a week since I published my last blog “Meet the Squabs #200”. Since that post, the baby doves have flown away, embarking o n their new adventures. Truth be told, I was sad to see them go. I had watched the parents and squabs throughout the days. Now the nest is empty. There has been a nest on our porch for the last three years though so perhaps they will choose our porch again.

When Joshua was in his teens I used to joke about our house being the “Hinson Inn”. There was always someone here.You know you got really accustomed to people over when you would forget to close the bathroom door. At one point I even thought of putting a sign saying, “No Vacancy, Drive On”, but of course we never did. Being a parent is one of the greatest gifts and each change can be beautiful. When Joshua “flew the coop” several years ago and lived in Arizona for a while, that was a hard but beautiful thing to witness.

Each stage in life brings its challenges and beauty. I guess it’s all in how you look at things. When you look for the good, you are more likely to find it. When you look through “a critical lens”, no one measures up.

That’s one of the beautiful things about being a Mother. (I meant to write a blog in honor of Mother’s Day but I never got around to it so I will touch on that here.) Being a Mother is a God opportunity and priveledge to pour into your child no matter what their age. My Mom still does that and she is 81 years old. I know she’s always there and that is a comfort and joy. Joshua knows the same is true about me.

Now that Joshua has moved home and will be starting Massage Therapy school in June, we again have this gift of opportunity to pour into him. I’m beyond thankful he chose to not move to Florida with his roommates. God has him on a different path now. I told my husband Ron that Joshua sees how we respond to situations. For example, he has seen my heart for serving others. He jokingly asked me last week how much I was getting paid for the various things I do. I looked at him and said, I don’t do this for money. My reward is in Heaven. Blogging, teaching, serving in ministry to the less fortunate and serving my family cost me something but I don’t get paid for it in earthly things but the treasures I receive through smiles, seeing growth, encouraging others, being molded by Jesus into what He desires, is priceless.

Joshua also sees my response to situations that are less than appealing. Everyone has to deal with the flesh and how we humanly would like to respond but know God desires a godly response. Joshua said to me a couple of weeks ago, “Mom you don’t have to be a Saint 24/7”. I responded, “God is always watching.” As a parent, teacher, volunteer, friend or whatever our role, we have this god given opportunity to respond in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. No matter how hard it is at the moment, we can choose to die to the flesh and live according to the Spirit.

Which brings me to the beauty of change when we “let go and let God”. Last week we finally finished our “Women of the Bible” study. I would have never thought I could do that. I kind of “fought God” with yielding to Him in the process because it required large chunks of my time and, preparation, and memorization BUT HE ENABLED me to do it when I let go and said “okay Lord I will do this”. He taught me much in that surrender and submission to His desires. I witnessed the beauty of change in not only myself but in the other girl’s in our Bible study. We are created with His purpose in mind for such a time as this. Wherever He has you, submit to His desires. It is so worth all the stretching.

Our next study is potentially Revelation. That is such a daunting topic because I know little about it. Another girl in our group would like to lead this one and I am encouraging her all the way. She is more of a “visual teacher” which is great because we have some “Visual learners” but she wants me to help. I told her “she can do this” but of course I’ll do whatever she needs to support the effort. We can “tag team” it. We are looking forward to this change and can’t wait to see what God will reveal to us.

I’m also looking forward to this new season Joshua is entering. I know it won’t be an easy one but I intend to pray him through it. We will move forward trusting God to guide the way and open or close doors that should or shouldn’t be entered.

What a privilege to witness change unfolding right before your eyes. Remember “beauty lies in the eys of the beholder” so if you want to witness the beauty of change, adjust those “lens” and ask God to reveal it to you. It’s there, you have to look for it sometimes.

I love sharing what God puts in my heart. I pray it’s a blessing to you. If you like it, please feel free to subscribe and pass it along to bless someone else. We all need encouragement. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I hope it inspires you to never give up in hard situations. God is always there to help us. Surrendering to Him years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
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Meet the Squabs #200

May 6, 2024Leave a Comment

Over the weekend the baby mourning doves (called Squabs) hatched. My heart was so full when I realized that the doves had made a nest again on our bakers rack on the front porch. I slightly moved the bakers rack in front of the window so I could observe the nest from inside. I was hoping to get a look at the eggs but the Momma and Pop Dove diligently took turns sitting on the eggs, never giving us a little peek.

Every morning when I opened the blinds I would check on the nest. Saturday was busy with a gender reveal party and spending the day with my Mom. That morning I did not check the nest. At the party, like most social gatherings, I felt kind of lost in the chatter of conversation surrounding me. I don’t comprehend speech well in noise but seeing the little babies made me happy. A little while after the party, Mom and I were at the mall and my husband Ron sent me a picture. The dove eggs had hatched and he sent me a picture of Momma Dove with her two Squabs. This brought such a lightness and joy to my heart. At first I could not see them but after zooming in close I finally did see them. They are precious. I’m going to name them Grace and Peace, because they remind me of God’s grace and peace that He lavishes on us.

Thinking on the hatching process: Life was taking place in that nest under the protection of the Momma and Pop Dove even though we couldn’t see the eggs. Grace and Peace were forming and appeared at the proper time. Life is happening around us when we can’t “see” it. We can be sure that God is developing things in His perfect timing. We just have to trust Him.

We are’t sure exactly when they hatched but Ron noticed them for the first time Saturday. Yesterday we noticed the Squabs alone in the nest. I’m sure Momma and Pop were close by and keeping an eye on them. God is like that. He might be “out of sight” but He is close and keeping an eye on our safety. We just have to trust Him.

Why is it so hard to trust and fully submit everything to Him? As I prepare for our last Bible study lesson in our current book, it’s about being submissive. I waited a few days to make notes for our last meeting, because we skipped meeting last week with two girls out of town. Let me just say, God’s timing is so perfect. When I sat down to study , God did some much needed work in my heart. Jesus is our example and we should totally surrender every hurt, falling short, let down, and frustration over to Him because He loves us so much. There are so many worries and cares in life but the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 , “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.‭‭ (‭NLT‬‬) Pastor told us yesterday in church that worship was also obedience. When we submit and obey God that is an act of worship. It’s so amazing how God ties it all together; seeing nature, Bible study on submission and Pastors words. Thank you Lord for grace and peace. Thank you Lord for gently teaching me Your mighty ways. I am humbled and so beyond thankful. Continue your wonderful work in me as You continue to examine my heart and mold me into the woman you desire me to become.

On a side note, I’d love to get a little camera to view the Squabs when they learn to fly. I’m going to talk to Ron about that idea. Not sure what he will say but oh the joy tha would bring, seeing the young ones gain their independence to become all God has called of them. That’s just like us. There are more lessons here. Now if I can get Ron to get that camera.

This is actually my 200th blog post! I love sharing what God puts in my heart. I pray it’s a blessing to you. If you like it, please feel free to subscribe and pass it along to bless someone else. We all need encouragement. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I hope it inspires you to never give up in hard situations. God is always there to help us. Surrendering to Him years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
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30 ~This is Us

April 30, 2024Leave a Comment

https://share.icloud.com/photos/0f6b_28HdTCPQpeKLfZx2_tkQ

Today marks 30 years of marriage. If I knew in the beginning what I know now, I would have held my tongue on the petty stuff that wasn’t worth arguing over. The saying “you live and learn” has certainly proven to be true. Marriage goes so much further than that though. You also grow, learn to work through tricky situations, listening to each other, Praying for each other individually and together. There is a balance of love, encouragement and persevering that develops over many year.s. We have seen some great times, making great memories. We have also seen some of the toughest of times, shedding tears and even laughed through some of them in utter disbelief but we do it together.

We are better together. Are we perfect? NO! We fall down, we get back up. We fuss, we apologize. We forgive and honestly move on. Marriage is working through life together. We are not a Ron or a Shannon, we are a couple. We’ve seen so many couples hit rough patches, have midlife crisis, entering new stages in life then “toss in the towel”. Little do they realize that when a couple works through these things together, they come out so much stronger. Hold on to your marriage! It’s worth fighting for. You won’t always feel the “warm fuzzy feelings” that are there in the beginning. Love is a decision. When we exchanged our vows, we meant it.

I’m thankful to be Ron’s wife. Through it all, God has strengthened our love for each other as we grow stronger in Him. I’m thankful for this life we have built together and continue growing each day. I pray God blesses us with many more. Happy Anniversary Ron! I love doing life with you!🤟🏼

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R.E.S.T

April 22, 2024Leave a Comment

Monday morning after a weekend of rest, I don’t typically wake up and think about rest. Truth be told, I really don’t rest as much as I should. I can be still but my mind is always going places. Being a thinker and trying to figure things out causes me to usually be in some “state of thinking”.

Last night I was trying a new recipe for Chicken Philly hoagie sandwiches. (They turned out great. Just need a bit more seasoning next time.) Right before that I was working on Bible study notes which I need to figure out how to shorten. After cleaning up the kitchen I was editing notes to send to my Bible study group. Then I got online to research two entirely different things. One of those things being related to how to do a raised garden box. I’m trying to figure out what to put in the cedar planter that ended up being smaller than I thought. So many things to consider and figure out. You see it? A constant turning of my thoughts in one way or another.

Last night I forgot to take my Fitbit off so I woke to a series of vibrations when a friend texted me before the birds woke up. Once I was awake, I was right back at the “thinking game”. I sat down to pray and have my quiet time. I came across an acronym that really got my attention. R.E.S.T. Release every single thing. Wow. That is exactly what I need to do. R.E.S.T. Release every single thing to God.

It’s Monday and I’m already striving and trying to figure things out. I often try my best to “help” God but God does not need my help. He wants my submission and surrender. I’m like, “Lord I can only do so much. I can do my part but I can’t make things happen. Please open doors concerning Your Will or close doors we have no business entering.” That’s kind of how my prayer went this morning. I need to do a lot more R.E.S.T(ing) Releasing every single thing to God, and leave it there.

Surely I’m not alone. Is there anyone else out there who needs to R.E.S.T.? Let’s do this. It will be a lot lighter load when we release it and let our Heavenly Father work things out according to His Will. Have an awesome week.

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The gift of suffering

April 4, 2024Leave a Comment

Yesterday I came across a devotion on our church’s App. It’s actually a book called “Read and Pray” which is portions of sermons our Pastor Loran Livingston has preached over the years at Central Church of God. We bought many copies about a year ago and gave them away as gifts. Recently a friend reminded me of the devotions and I started reading them again on the church app. You can find the devotion on https://centralnc.org/read_prayer_devotional The website is http://www.centralnc.org Past messages and music are on there. Check it out.

Yesterday, April 3 devotion was titled, “What have you done with this gift of suffering”. Please go to the website and check it out for yourself. I don’t know about you but I don’t think I’ve ever thought about suffering as a gift. Suffering can be depressing. It can be annoying and discouraging. But a gift?

One of the scriptures listed to look up is Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ which says,“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.” (NLT‬) There it is folks. The New Living Translation calls it a privilege to suffer for Christ. That sure is a “game changer”.

There is an old saying, “If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” If you take a good look at people around you and really see them and their situations, you will see suffering on all different levels. You can see emotional suffering when people are having relationship issues. There is financial suffering when families try so hard to make “ends meet” in this ridiculous inflation.There are people suffering from physical pain and health issues. Other people suffer from their lack of ability.

If we look at our “suffering” through the lens of “privilege “ or a “gift”, what are we doing with it for the glory of God? I will be the first to admit that it’s tough. Honestly you can’t do this in your own strength, but you can in the strength of the Lord. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In my personal situation, many might see my low vision and hearing issues a suffering. I’ve heard many people complain when they couldn’t drive for a certain period of time like that was the end of the world. I get it. At the beginning that was one “tough loss” but here I am about 35 years since I stopped driving, and I’m just fine. It was not the end of the world. My priorities have changed. I don’t always have to be going somewhere and I’m sensitive to others around me that have “lost”something. Add to that low vision hearing and speech comprehension issues, is it easy? Not by any means but God has given much perspective and empathy for others.

God has given me opportunities to get involved in serving others and helping to meet their needs. There is nothing like taking the attention off yourself and helping others. Forget the “woe is me” outlook. A couple of months ago my husband Ron and I got involved with some friends helping with Rice N Beans Ministry. We are helping with the Rock Hill location. A few weeks ago we met a homeless man and he said he was so blessed because he knows Jesus. This man has no earthly possessions but he has Jesus and he feels so blessed. That is the biggest testimony. With his “gift of suffering” in being homeless, he is declaring the goodness of God. Wow.

Another example of doing something with the “gift of suffering” would be in teaching bible study to my deaf girlfriends. Three of us have hearing loss and one is hearing. Our learning approaches are all different and so are our reading skills. With my vision issues and preparation for the lessons, it takes a lot of time to prepare. As I have pressed through, God has given me a deeper understanding of His Word. The girls who bought Bibles at the beginning of the study are now looking up and reading scripture. They participate in the discussions. One friend who has always been shy about praying out loud, is now signing short prayers. She said she didn’t know how to sign it in English. I said “ Prayer is talking to God. It doesn’t matter how you sign it, just talk to our Heavenly Father, and so she did. These things are priceless.

So what are you doing with your “gift of suffering”? Can you even see suffering as a “gift”? Think about the hardships you have endured. Has God brought people along side you to help “carry the load”? That could be in the forms of encouragement, offering to pray, bringing a meal, offering a listening ear. Reading Pastor’s devotion and reflecting on life, helps me see things more clearly.

I pray this blog post has been a blessing to you. If you like it, please feel free to pass it along to bless someone else. We all need encouragement. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I hope it inspires you to never give up in hard situations . God is always there to help us. Surrendering to Him years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
Www.shannonkhinson.com

Not my Will

March 24, 2024March 24, 2024Leave a Comment

I’ve been a Christian for a long time. Learning to pray God’s Will and not my own has been something I’ve had to learn over a long period of time. Sad to admit that it took me so LONG to learn this truth but I learned.

With this being the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, I am so beyond thankful that Jesus chose the Father’s Will over His own Will. As Pastor preached this morning, tears silently rolled down my face. The magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross is so beyond our understanding. There is no way to express the thankfulness that I feel for Jesus sacrifice for me.

Jesus, God’s only son, who had never sinned, never done anything wrong, laid down His life for us. He took the wrath and fury of God, on Himself. Oh how I praise Jesus! To know that He paid my debt in full, so that I can live forgiven. God’s gift to us is a free gift that anyone can receive. How can anyone reject such an incredible free gift?
Check out these verses from Romans chapter 3. “Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Such amazing love God has for us!

God had to look away when Jesus was on the cross, bearing our sins. But….Yes there is a but, God saw the Big picture. He was looking ahead at the Resurrected Jesus! He was looking ahead at the Triumph over the enemy! He saw the big picture of His adopted children spending eternity with hHm in Heaven. Oh Lord help us to pray, “Not my Will but thy will be done.”

I was texting my Mom this afternoon. I asked her to keep praying about a situation. She said she would. We both agreed not to press the issue but let God do His work. We often try to “fix things” ourselves. “ Lord I have some ideas on how this might work!” How many of you do this? Surely I am not alone in trying to solve issues. But God! That is such a huge truth! But God! He sees the “Big” picture. He knows what He’s doing. My little ideas might not be over all bad ideas, but He sees ahead. He is timeless. He knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. One step forward of faith, two steps backward trying to work things out on my own. It’s a back and forth shuffle but Praise God, as I continue to walk with Him, daily seeking Him, I’m moving more ahead than back. Thank you Jesus!

How many of you try to get out of what God’s brought you to do? I know I’m not alone here. I am still struggling with the concept of teaching Bible study when I can’t see the book and have trouble seeing my notes zoomed in on my iPad.

Teaching God’s Word is a weighty matter that I don’t take lightly. I can grasp a tiny bit the burden Pastors have . I see a little glimpse of that. So many times I have said “God I don’t want to do this”. Here I am still doing it because God has this door open and I am trying to obey. Not my will but thy Will be done.

I shared with my husband Ron and my Mom about this struggle. I know they are praying. As I’m preparing this week I feel a bit “lighter”. I’m trying to “let go and let God” sink this lesson deep down within the “spiritual well” of my heart. He is teaching me and I know He will let it “bubble up and pour out” as only He can make that happen.

What are you struggling to give to the Lord and let Him have His way? It’s not an easy place to be but the stretching is rewarding. God wants us to be a part of His work. John 4:35 says, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” ( ‭NLT‬‬). Jesus is talking about a “spiritual “ harvest.

Let’s be open to God’s perfect Will. Let’s open our eyes to see where He is at work and be willing to join in as He leads. Whatever you are facing, be encouraged that “It is finished’. Jesus has overcome it all. In His presence every “high place must come down”…every stronghold shall be broken”. Jesus wears the”Victors Crown”. All Glory and Honor to Jesus! So incredibly humbled and thankful.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God.

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Be Kind

March 13, 2024Leave a Comment

As I get older, thankfully I’ve gained some wisdom along the way. I finally stopped coloring my hair and my word… it is full of gray, much more than I realized. But I’d like to thank I’v earned each one of them.

God has taught me many things in life. I wish I had been quicker in learning some of them when I was younger. Mistakes are a great teacher. Live and learn and pass on the gleamed wisdom to the next generation.

One thing I have learned in life is to be the kind of person you’d like to be friends with. If you want to meet kind and compassionate people, be kind and compassionate. If you long to find a good listener who speaks life into your situations, be that kind of person to others.

I absolutely love to serve others. It is something I can do and it makes my heart happy. Today as I prepared the beans for the homeless ministry that we have gotten involved with, it made me happy to contribute in some way. As we served in Rock Hill this evening, I saw one of our new homeless friends and I called out his name in greeting. Everyone is deserving of kindness. It doesn’t matter the situation just be kind.

Another thing I’ve learned in life is to reach out to others. Earlier today I was in our home office doing Bible study and making notes to share. I also texted several different people to encourage them or let them know I was thinking about them. I told Ron, “Just imagine if I could hear well enough to talk to people on the phone.” He laughed. Honestly it makes people feel good when they are thought of. The heart does a happy dance when you know people love and care. Reach out and encourage people. Imagine how much better the world would be if people did that more.

Another value lesson I’ve learned is to know my limits. Last week was honestly too busy. Being hearing and visually impaired is tiring on a day to day basis. I have to work to understand. It takes longer to do things but I love the challenge. It is just a fact of life. However I refuse to “sit on the sidelines”. I prefer to LIVE. So besides the usual day to day, I also did Food pantry volunteering, RiceNBeans cooking and outreach and prepped and taught a long Bible study. With the high pollen here in South Carolina my allergies had flared up and my eyes were so very DRY. This made seeing my notes that were “zoomed in large” hard to see. I had signed up to participate in a 5K at our church but it was forecast to rain. I was exhausted. I felt the rain was God giving me an “out” for the 5K. Im sad I missed it but I was beyond my limit and I needed rest. This week I’m back at it but asked the Bible study girls if we could divid the lessons in two parts. It’s more manageable for me and gives us more of a chance to discuss life application. It’s okay to ask for a favor. It’s more than okay to request prayer. It’s okay to say “I’m sorry I can’t but will join next time.”

It is also fine to not see “eye to eye”with everyone about everything. Healthy calm discussions are needed. We have a generation that is so confused by nonsense in our culture and easily offended. It’s important to have the “hard talks” and pass along wise council. Just be sure to do it respectfully, trying to see the other persons point of view. There are so many angles to view a situation.

It’s also vital to demonstrate leadership skills and a faithful walk with Jesus. The other night I had a rare opportunity of a deep talk with our son. Those talks don’t happen often since he is grown and own his own. As I listened to his hopes and dreams and how he wanted to move forward, I had to seize that opportunity to stress the importance of bringing God into each of those decisions. Our kids no matter the age need to know how much they are loved. I said, “ God loves you so much. Way more than me and dad. Imagine that.” Each and every decision God wants to be a part of. You know you can talk to God about anything. Our Abba Father cares about every thing. I told Joshua, “ You can pray that God will open a door or opportunity or close it, after all He knows what’s behind each door.” Love, direct and pray over your kids no matter what their age. They are a treasure from the Lord.

There is so much more but I will end with this last thing. Trust God. God is working even when we don’t see it. Last week at Bible study the oldest in our group shared the idea of God weaving a beautiful masterpiece. Each one of us is a
“thread”. We all come together as God chooses, as a little part of the bigger masterpiece. Isn’t that beautiful? She’s raised three kids and has a bunch of grandkids. She shares the wisdom she’s gleamed in many trails. I know I can always ask her for prayer. Recently when a situation was discouraging, I texted her and asked her to pray. She reminded me that “God was busy weaving”, He is always working on us. Trusting is hard especially when you don’t yet “see” the answers to your prayers. Just know God is working out His best and while we don’t see the BIG PICTURE, He does. He will bring it all together. Just trust Him.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

3 Years Tomorrow

March 11, 2024Leave a Comment

The tulip tree we planted in honor of my dad.

Time sure does fly. You blink and a three years has gone by. Tomorrow, March 12 is not only my husband Ron’s birthday but also my dad’s third heavenly birthday. Three years ago tomorrow we took him to the hospital, fully expecting to bring him home. After all, his momma lived to be 101, bouncing back after many trials. It’s true that God’s ways are not our ways. When God calls us home, we will go.

We have handled his loss well because we know we will see him again. It was a “see you later” knowing he is with Jesus now. No more cancer, no more pain. But I sure do miss him.

Today when I was outside changing the garden flags, I walked to the back fence and smile. There in full bloom was the tulip tree we planted almost three years ago in honor of dad. He and mom have a beautiful one and I love their tulip tree. When dad died, I asked Ron if we could plant one. It blooms around the time of his heavenly birthday each year. Our upstate South Carolina soil is red clay. It’s not the best for growing things but we were extra careful mixing in some peat moss and good soil in the large hole we dug. I wanted to make sure it had the best chance of survival. So far so good. Each year it’s grown a bi more and has more blooms. Seeing those blooms today put a smile in my heart.

Grief is the oddest thing. Memories come all the time of treasured moments over the years. I was a “Daddy’s Girl”. I could talk to him about anything and he would listen and give sound advice. He enjoyed a good game of Skipbo with the family. We used to have four generations around the table playing that card game. He and his momma were sharp players and they both played to win. I recently found Skipbo online and downloaded it on my iPad. It’s a fun card game but nothing compares to the memories when we all played it together.

Tomorrow is also food pantry day. Mom and dad both volunteered at the Fort Mill Church of God food pantry for years. Eight years ago I started volunteering with them there. Dad would swing by and pick me up to take me with him and meet Mom there. He would always stop by and get me and mom a cup of tea: sweet for mom and half and half for me. I miss him when we are volunteering. Seems like he should be in the next room praying for the clients as them come in. Mom still does that and I help pack the food boxes.

Most of all I miss the talks. He was a very generous man who loved his family well. His generous spirit and legacy lives on in us all. In honor of my Dad, this blog is for you. Oh and one more thing Dad… Forrest is doing so well and your great grands are showing the Kenley genes. My goodness. When I see pictures of them I see your boy. I know you would love that. Mom sure does. Shes doing very well too, a strong woman. Love and miss you always.