Turkey Trot '25

 

Three weeks ago, when it turned cold, I got out some of my long-sleeved tee shirts.  One of them was a premium that I had gotten from the Turkey Trot ’14.  So, I began to think.  Since cardiac rehab was closed on Friday, I signed up for the Fitness Central Turkey Trot 3 mile walk/run at 9 am Thanksgiving morning.  But a week before Thanksgiving, my daughter from Springfield told me she and her family were coming to stay with me for Thanksgiving.  When I told her my plans, she marshaled her family, went online, and signed them all up for the event!  They all walk at the YMCA in Springfield, so they enjoyed the morning too.  Well … sort of.  I usually walk on the treadmill for 6 minutes at 2.5 mph.  I had to up it to 56 minutes at 3 mph.  No easy feat for this old man!  Several times during the morning, I reminded myself of what Paul told Timothy in I Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  Paul was careful not to say that exercise was worthless, but he did say that spiritual exercise was much more important.  Hey, take care of your body, or you’ll meet your maker prematurely.  But work on the spiritual part of your being so that when you do meet your Maker, you will be glad to see Him … and He will be glad to see you!

Messages

 

MWF I get up at 4:30 am to post, happy-birthday friends, and make comments to those who need a helpful comment, and leave for cardiac rehab by 5:20 am.  It’s my ministry as a 76-year-old man.  So, I’m in the habit of going to bed at 9 pm (or a little later).  I plug in my cellphone to charge for the next day and shortly, drift off to sleep.  But last night, I received audible notifications for 14 texts that I received while I was in my twilight zone.  I didn’t jump up or answer them because I said to myself, “I’ll get them in the morning.  If it’s an emergency, all of my people know my number, and they can call me.”  So, I answered all of my texts this morning at 5 am.  Sort of my revenge.  I hope the folk who I am answering can sleep as easily as I can … me on the front end of my night’s sleep and them on the tail end of their night’s sleep.  My humorous experience reminds me to remind you that we are all very different.  Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”  Hey, if you are a morning person (like me) be kind to those who were up late at night.  And if you are a night owl, be thoughtful for those of us who get up early (and are already in bed recharging for the early morning workday).  Remember, God made us exactly like He wants us to be.  And have a good day, whenever it is!

Christmas Tree

 

My daughter, her husband, and my two grandsons came over Tuesday evening and helped me put up the Christmas tree.  Years ago, I would cut a tree out of the forest for our Christmas tree.  It was pretty much a Charlie Brown tree.  A couple of years, I even had to wire together two scrawny trees together to make one decent looking tree.  But after all of the lights, garland, and ornaments covered the tree, it looked gorgeous.  At least we thought it was.  Kathy made cross-stitch ornaments for each of the kids one year.  Then another year, she made ceramic ornaments.  And then there were the picture ornaments that the kids made of themselves to give to us parents for Christmas.  We have 10 strands of white lights, and for variety, 10 strands of colored lights.  This year we went with the colored lights.  I showed the two grandsons how to properly wrap the lights.  My excitement was contagious, and they did a great job.  We had to turn the overhead lights off periodically to admire our work.  I found a bar of Ivory soap carved like a Bible that Beth had made in 4^th grade.  So cute!  And wonderful memories!  All the while, the Avon Christmas playlist was playing in the background.  I am looking forward to Christmas morning when we all quote Luke 2:1-19.  Hey, this Christmas season, create memories with your people.  Be sure to include Jesus.  After all, it’s His birthday!