Miracle Mirror

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].

 (1 Corinthians 13:12 AMP)

I have this old mirror that is presently hanging in my closet above my dresser.  For right now I use it to see if the earings or necklace look 'right' when I'm getting dressed.  But this old mirror has quite the history with me.

I think I got the mirror when I was in high school.  Growing up in the old Shaw farm house, there was only one small bathroom and with seven people in the house, the bathroom could not be used to do things like fix your hair or put on makeup.  With five women in the house, it would be a major traffic jam at times, so all us girls learned to use the kitchen table to be our place to put on makeup and do our hair.  So about the time those things became important (to some extent) in my life, I got this mirror.  It's a simple round mirror with a metal frame, and wire stand.  One side is magnified the other normal reflection.

I remember taking it to college with me, and of course remained with me when Todd and I married.  I always found some use for it.  When the kids were younger and we had a popup camper, it became the camper mirror.  It was great, it could be hung on a hook when in use, and adjust it's angle and fold it up flat and store it away when it was time to pack up.

After it's popup camper days it got moved to our fifth wheel camper.  You just never know when you'll need an extra mirror. Then in June of 2011 we were hit by a tornado.  In the morning, we found our fifth wheel camper, across the road, and blowed to bits for several miles across the hay field.  It took us a couple days to clean up the mess.  Load after load of debris was hauled off to the garbage pit on the ranch.  Our boss came with the tractor to haul off the base frame to the pit.  While hauling it away, it slipped off the tractor's loader, and crashed to the ground.  When it did, my old mirror fell out of where it was tucked away at, and landed on the gravel road.  I picked it up, amazed it was unbroken.  The frame was a little bent, but other than that, it was unscathed.  How it survived through all that I don't know, cause as you know mirrors are quite easily broken.  I decided to keep it as a constant reminder that even though the storms of life can come and blow things to pieces, and cause havock in your life,  God can still protect you and keep you from being broken.  

So now it hangs in my closet, safe and secure, reminding me daily, that that reflection of who I see in the mirror, is one who God loves, one who can survive the storms, one who has been tossed about, but not broken.  I wish it would reflect someone 40 pounds lighter, but it's not magical, it's just reflects what is in front of it. It's not magical, but I still say it's a miracle mirror.  It survived somethings that should have totally destroyed it, but it's still all together.  I too, have been through some storms, that could have possibly destroyed me, but God has held me together, and kept me from being totally broken.  That's the goodness and the grace of God in action!

The Open Cupboard Door

    It's funny how things you do, or don't do, can bring back a memory good or bad.  I was cooking the other day in the kitchen (of course, where else do you cook) and I looked around and several of my kitchen cupboards doors were open.  As I went back flippin' doors shut, I suddenly remembed one of the few times Todd ever humiliated me in public.  

    We were pastoring in Kenmare at the time, and in Todd's sermon one Sunday morning, he used as an illustration (I do not remember what he was preaching about, I just remember the illustration) that there was one thing that his wife did, that drove him nuts.  She leaves cupboard doors open all the time.  I'm sure the was a chuckle around the church, but I wasn't chuckling, I was humiliated beyond words, and hurt.  Number one, he had never told me in private that this bothered him, and two, I leave cupboard doors open?  I do?  I didn't even know this was something I did consistently.

    While I'm sure no one else in the church even remembered he had said this past leaving the church doors that morning, I was crushed, and it still echos in my ears some 25 years later.  I began observing myself after that, and yes, I do leave cupboard doors open behind me, cause more likely than not, my hands are full from removing something of need from the cupboard, and I forget to go back and shut them till later.  I began after that to consciously make an effort to make sure I shut doors behind me.  Why? Cause it was something that bothered him.  And my heart was always to make him happy.  Not that I didn't have a few words with him following that service about what he had said publicly.  Not that it would have been bad, but please tell me those things first in private, so I can work them, before announcing my faults to everyone else.  He of course apologized to me when I told him how much that had hurt me.  He hadn't meant to humiliate me, and he assumed I realized I did this all the time, and how much it bothered him.  

    Well, we learned an important lesson in marriage that day.  You should never assume your spouse knows the things that irritate you, and you should never announce them from the pulpit to everyone before mentioning them in private to your spouse.  

    Was Todd in the habit of intentionally humiliating me in public.  No!  Far from him, or his heart to ever do that, nor I do it to him.  But so often we do things without even thinking, that leaves lasting effects on others.  Have I forgiven him? Of course, many years ago, when it happened, but the memory of it still echos in my thoughts every time I see an open cupboard door.

     It really got down to the problem of lack of communication.  He had never voiced his 'bother' to me, and I wasn't aware this was something I even did, nor that it bothered him so much that he would tell others.  But looking back, if this was the greatest thing I did that bothered him, I guess not much about me bothered him.  Leaving a cupboard door open is not exactly a criminal offense you know.  Do I still leave cupboard doors open?  Yah, from time to time, my hands are full, and I forget to go back, so I still do this irritating habit.  Does it bother me? yah, it actually does now, cause now it's been pointed out that I do this, and it was something that irritated him, and although he's gone now, I somehow still don't want to irritate  him.  

    Oh yes, leaving a cupboard door open wasn't half as bad as leaving a gate open to Todd.  Leave a gate open (even if you were coming right back in a few minutes) would drive him nuts.  Always shut a gate that was shut when you opened it, cause you never know what can get out while it is open.  I was never accused of doing this awful crime though, cause, I could never get a gate he had built open.  Todd built the tightest gates around, and no one except him or someone of his strength level could get them open.  So thankfully I never got accused of leaving gates open!

    So my advice is, communicate to your spouse not just your irritations, but the things you love about them.  Hopefully you can communicate the good more than the bad.  Talk to each other.  Did Todd and I communicate well?  Yah, actually we did, which was why it surprised me he said this in public, we were in the habit of telling each other things we loved and didn't love about each other all the time.  We communicated well together, not that it was perfect, as you can tell, something things slipped through the cracks. And always remember, to shut the cupboard door! 

The Battered Penny by Kristi Reuer

The following is a little something that Kristi wrote. I thought it was so great, I asked her if I could share it on my blog. So… The Battered Penny

      

The Battered Penny

I was walking with heavy heart and lowered head when my down cast gaze met with a tiny ray of light.

‘Twas a small copper penny.

           It was battered and scarred, lost by one and trampled by many.

                           Considered worthless by most, but in it I found my worth.

For as I considered this tiny treasure the Spirit spoke to my spirit and said, “You are like this penny. You’ve been bruised and scarred but you have not lost your worth. Your Father in heaven knows your worth and it is far more than a penny. Indeed you are priceless for you were bought with a price beyond count. Your Father sees your struggles and hears your cries. He put this penny in your path to brighten your day and remind you of your worth. Know that He loves you and is always with you, no matter what. When you place your trust in Him he will provide for you. For He is your Father and He cares for your needs.”

            So with lightened heart and lifted eyes I continued on my path, the copper in my pocket reminding me that I’m worth more than gold.

What was it like...

I wrote the following a couple weeks ago, but thought in memory of Todd with Memorial Day coming up and also that today marks 5 months since he left earth and moved on to heaven, I thought I'd share it.  It's hard to believe he moved 5 months ago.  Kristi said tonight, in some ways it seems like a long time ago, and in other ways like it was just yesterday.  There's not a day goes by when I don't miss him.

What Was it Like Todd?

What was it like Todd when you passed from this life?

When left your body and the long fight?

Was your mind finally clear and your speaking alright?

Did an angel come and escort you home that night?

What was it like to meet Jesus face to face?

Did he say well done in your race?

Did you feel free and joyful from the earthly restraints?

Did you meet other rejoicing saints?

What was it like Todd to be finally free?

I wish you could tell me, I wish I could see.

What I take now in faith, You see face to face.

Some day I will join you when I finish my race.

But until that day comes, His promises are true

I hold to His truth and His love just like you.