Adding a Special Touch

“Give, and it shall be given unto you...”  --Luke 6:38

Josh, a young man from our church, celebrated his seventeenth birthday yesterday.  My oldest son held a gaming day in our home in his honor, and my daughter made a scrumptiously rich chocolate ganache cake for him.

Do you ever find yourself wanting to go the extra mile or add that special touch for someone?  Why?  My daughter, Tiffany, is very creative and likes to add special touches to things, so maybe you’re just one of those people.  But isn’t it easier to do it for someone who is either kind and lovable or who seems to need it?  Josh is both kind and lovable, even though he can be a bit weird at times... but what teenaged boy isn’t?  So although Tiffany probably would have added that special touch for almost anyone, Josh has made it easy to find delight in doing so.  Happy birthday, Josh!

Ting-a-Ling-a-Ling

“Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”  --Matthew 13:52

My son, Max, caught the flu.  His new wife recently became pregnant, so most everyone thought it best for them to be apart until he is no longer contagious.  She went to stay with her parents, while he came to stay with us.


Our pastor has on occasion lightheartedly teased our family for communicating to each other through e-mail while living in the same household, not to mention those who text each other while in close proximity.  Although I think he’d perfectly understand, I can only imagine his amused expression to learn that my son has been using his cell phone instead of a ‘sick bell’ while he has been under ‘quarantine’.  Hey, while it may not be as nostalgic and cute as a ‘sick bell’, it’s more timely.  And I can still set my alert tone to sound like a bell if I become wistful.