Devotions

Living with Atrial Fibrilation

Carol Ann ErhardtLeave a comment

Read Psalm 23

Do you have a verse you go to when you are distressed? I have several I repeat to myself in different situations to remind me to trust in God. But there is one I go to when I am feeling totally helpless. It is Psalm 23. I learned it in the King James Version when I was six years old. I memorized all the verses in order to receive my first Bible in Sunday School. It is so ingrained in my memory that I struggle with the words in the more modern translations. But the truth is the same.

A few days ago, I made a bad decision to have a large Diet Coke for lunch. I don’t consume caffeine, but recently I’d been falling into a trap of drinking caffeine several times a week. That excessive caffeine jolt to my body triggered a rather aggressive episode of A-Fib. It began just before dinner time and didn’t stop for 12 hours. It lasted all night. This was the worst one I had suffered with and there was nothing I could do but rest and pray.

In these situations, Psalm 23 comes to my mind. It is true that He “makes me to lie down in green pastures” (KJV) or “He lets me rest in green meadows.” (NLT) This is what happens when I give myself over to God’s care. It’s like resting in the arms of Jesus. Yes, I prayed for relief trusting that He works all things for good, for those who have been called according to His purpose.

After a sleepless night of waiting, God answered my prayer by restoring my heart to normal rhythm again. In the NLT version of Psalm 23, David writes “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.” (NLT) And this is truly what I felt. On Saturday morning my strength began to return. My body is still recovering and is more tired than usual, but I’m reminded that rest is necessary. Resting in green meadows and beside peaceful streams. “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (NLT) And He was with me throughout the night. He didn’t leave me alone in my suffering. And I have been comforted knowing “My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” (NLT)

I am grateful and rejoicing in this new day the Lord has made.

When I Was Young

Does Anyone Remember Tang?

Carol Ann Erhardt3 Comments

When I look back at what kind of meals we ate when I was young, I don’t remember many where we sat together at the table. My dad worked night shifts on the railroad, so it was mainly mom and me. We ate a lot of soup and sandwiches. On the nights dad was home we had things like navy beans and ate them on top of a piece of bread. Or we had fried potatoes with eggs. Sometimes we had fried chicken and potato salad. Another favorite was chipped beef on toast with homemade milk gravy.

Mom slept in every day. So when it came to me having breakfast before school, I made Malt-O-Meal, usually chocolate for breakfast. I liked Tang, which was our version of orange juice. In high school, I rarely bothered making the hot cereal and opted instead for a glass of Ovaltine. In winter I heated the milk first.

Lunch every day in the school cafeteria (high school) was always a bowl of chili with crackers and a carton of milk. Never varied. I think it cost fifteen cents. I had a small lunch money budget to last all week and this is how I stretched it.

We didn’t have cake or pies often. Sometimes I had a treat of the wax soda bottles which had sugary syrup inside…just one little sip. I remember eating a lot of bread. I’d make it last by pulling small pieces from the slice and rolling it into a ball and then eating it slowly. The crust came last, but I always ate the crust. I ate a lot of peanut butter and jelly. Mom would buy the kind that was mixed together already. This is what I had in my lunch sack when I was in elementary school. I had a thermos which had either milk, or in winter, soup.

Life was simple then, and I suppose we were poor, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t know what poor was because all my friends’ families were just like us.

Day by Day

The Elderly Tending the Elderly

Carol Ann Erhardt4 Comments

Yesterday my friend Sharon and I invited a gentleman we’ve known for years through a prior church connection to lunch. He became a widower several months ago when his beautiful wife was called home after several years living with Alzheimer’s. They sold their home and moved into assisted living a couple years ago.

We all met at a local restaurant and Roger hugged me and said “I haven’t seen you in a long time.” Actually, it had been about six years. I was saddened to realize how just knowing what was happening with him and his wife through contact with their daughter and granddaughter, who attend our current church, wasn’t the same as being in direct contact.

How had I let life and time separate me from the company of people I enjoyed being with in the past? Sometimes I feel isolated from the world, and by putting myself in his place, I was pained. He’d lost his home, his wife, and was left to live out his years in assisted living. I was blessed to have a new home to live in when I sold the home my hubby and I shared.

Several times in our conversation, he mentioned how he made a mistake by selling his house. His new existence involved sitting at a card table and working puzzles in between meals shared at a table with three other men. He said he gets out as often as he can. He still mows the church lawn as he had for many, many years. He said his legs are giving out, but he can still sit on the riding mower. He also rides with another man to pick up supplies for the church food pantry once a week.

He talked about the time he was in the service and traveled on a transport one deck boat to Germany where he was promptly hospitalized with strep throat. He talked about the storm with the waves washing over the deck and how that was “not fun.” He also said being in Germany was fun because he’d been a farm boy all his life until then so everything was so different. This was in the mid-fifties. We let him talk and reminisce while we joined in and asked questions.

When lunch was over, we all walked outside where it was easy to see he didn’t really want to leave. I reminded him he said he needed to stop to pick up bananas. Then he said, it could wait a day. He needed to get back to his card table and the puzzle he’d started. We all hugged and I told him we would do this more often. He smiled and said that next time he’d pay. I knew then I had let a ministry God called me to years back to be forgotten. After becoming a widow, I felt called to visit and make plans with those who could no longer attend church. I invited several other people to join with me and we always had a good time. After changing churches, I let all my ministries go: crocheting prayer shawls and visiting shut-ins.

I laugh because I’m an elderly widow woman of 80 years. Yet I am being called to reach out to those I can relate to who have lost their spouse. There is comfort in numbers and understanding. I am going to pray about this and say yes to God. Age doesn’t matter. If God has not called me home, He has a purpose for me. And what I need to remember is this life is not about me…it’s about God!

Finnegan's Diary

I Don’t Know What Conceited Means, But It Must Be A Compliment! (Finnegan’s Diary)

Carol Ann Erhardt2 Comments

Dear Diary,

Mommy is busy cleaning the kitchen, so I snuck onto her iPad so I can update what’s been happening. I’m doing great. The sickies are all gone finally. I’ve been playing with my sister and all the little mice in my toy box. And mommy says she’s happy to hear me purring again.

I think I gave my germs to mommy because she’s the one who is coughing a lot now. But she tells me it is only allergies.

I’m still sticking close to mommy. I like to take my naps on the sofa next to her. My sister, Fergie, sneaks up sometimes and then mommy has to be at the far end of the sofa to make room for both of us. Fergie sleeps stretched out, but I like to curl up and put my head on the pillow.

Fergie and I both like the window bed above mommy’s desk. It’s big enough that both of us can sleep there, but Fergie won’t share with me. I try.

I’d like to play wrestle with her, but she always runs under the futon. So then we play slap at each other. I’m always gentle and never open my claws but she always bites at me. Mommy says that’s because her previous mommy had all her claws removed, even from her back feet. I can’t imagine having such a thing done. But I’m always gentle with her.

Last week a lady came to visit mommy and she brought her baby. Oh, how I loved that baby. The little ones are my favorites. When she started to cry before they left, I wanted to help. I didn’t get too close, but I was concerned and watched to make sure the lady didn’t hurt her. I hope they come back again.

A couple days ago, I was sitting in front of the storm door watching a lady walk her dog. When she saw me, she stopped and took a picture of me. I’m so handsome nobody can resist loving me. Mommy says I’m conceited. I don’t know what the word means, but I’m sure it means I’m very special.

Well, gotta go. I have things to do and toys to play with.

Love, Finnegan

hobbies

My Prayer Wall is Ready!

Carol Ann Erhardt4 Comments

I’ve been a little busy this week leaving not as much time for hobbies as during the colder months. Not a problem for me as I like being more active, enjoying the weather, and visiting with neighbors.

My daughter and son-in-love came this weekend to put the puzzle into the Mother’s Day frame. It is now hanging on my prayer wall, and I love it! Since the wall is directly opposite the double window, it is impossible to get a picture without the glare. So we did get a picture from the side and I included a closeup of the actual puzzle titled “The Trinity.”

I did a little work on Tea and Books. I’m halfway across the third row, which when completed will be halfway to completion. I’m still enjoying this and will be excited to hang it on the wall with some other diamond paintings. This one appeals to me because it depicts two things that are a big part of my life: tea and books!

As for coloring, I did finish Amber in the Wildflower Folk Coloring Book illustrated by Christine Karron. I ended up using my Black Widow pencils after starting with watercolor pencils and not liking the result. I like vibrant colors. The background I did with Arrtx soft pastels. I’m happy with this first picture and it looks so much better in the book than in the snapshot…which is true for all the finished pictures I share here. The other picture is from a book I forgot I had called Fairy Homes published by Jade Summer, illustrators Kristen Thorne and Candice Janney. This one I colored with Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils. After finishing I wish I’d have chosen a different color for the “house,” but I’m satisfied overall.

That’s all I’ve colored this week. I did finish listening to the book If I Were You by Lynn Austin. I enjoyed it a lot because I learned a bit more about World War II and how it affected the lives of the people in England. Since my father was killed on a battleship at age 19 during this war, it interests me. I’m beginning to read the third book “All This Twisted Glory” in the “This Woven Kingdom” series by author Tareheh Mafi. I like the fantasy story, but the narrator isn’t my favorite. I made some progress on The Passage (reading on Kindle) by Justin Cronin, but I’m only a little less than 40% finished. This is a long book, however with over 700 pages. Since I mostly read it before I go to sleep, it’s going to take a while to complete.

I have a lot going on this week, so I hope I have time for my hobbies. Life comes first, and since I will be spending time with dear friends and family, hobbies will take a back seat. More updates next week.