Soul Sister Time

            The phrase, stepping over your pain, was part of a devotion written by Henri Nouwen.  I read the devotion at a time I was being asked to move beyond a wrong and painful situation.  I have never forgotten this phrase and it helps me process other situations where I feel the Lord calling me to forgive and never mention it again.  This is easier to say than to do, but I have found it necessary to learn the art of stepping over my pain in order to gain the ground I need to live freely in the world.             I am a very matter-of-fact person.  I speak the truth and value the truth even if it is hard to take.  I’m sure there are many people who must step over their pain after talking with me because I value truth above being tactful—it’s something I am working on.  It is more natural for me to confront the truth head-on than to back down and cover up a conflict or a problem.             It’s always a struggle for me to step over my pain.  I say this because there is a

            The greatest mystery of all is why God puts so much emotion, energy and effort into the lives of us humans.  In the month of January we celebrate the sanctity of life.  It causes us to ponder; Why is life so important ?  There is a universal sigh of relief when just one living person is dug out of a destruction zone after a major disaster.  Some place deep inside each person that knows instinctively that human life is a rare jewel although as common as trees in the forest.             This month we will gather to remember the life of my father-in-law, Danny Newman.  We celebrated his 85 th birthday in April.  He loved his Auburn University hat and other gifts as he was very much connected to living his life even two years after the death of his wife.  His life is always an example for me that God is the designer of life and that He alone leads us in how we should live our lives.  Danny’s heart was never strong since having had five bypasses in his fifties.  Almost ten

            In my previous Tea Time for Your Soul, I told how my word for 2015 was miracle and about the miracle that stood out among the rest was my marriage on the last day of the year.  Many wrote back and suggested that Joy might be my word for 2016!  I am sure the joy I experience in the overflow of God’s generous miracles is evident.             The word our Sweet Father granted to me for this year is prayer !  It is a joy to pray.  Psalm 16:11 says: You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand .  There is much joy in the presence of the Lord and there is much extravagance also.             I’m writing this week’s Tea Time from the balcony of my honeymoon on an island paradise viewing a cloud covered volcano against the background of a brilliant blue sky and the foreground of lush flowered trees.  I’m asking myself: What kind of God makes a world like this ?  He is beyond extravagant and even