Cathy's Heart

Going With The Flow I haven't written here in a while.    It's because, I have been writing somewhere else.   In fact, for the past six weeks, I have written nearly 30,000 words. The size of a small book.    It all began at the end of last summer. In an email, a mom with young children asked if we could "pursue a closer relationship...in a  mentorship type of thing ?"    I told her I would pray about it. Plus, I asked, "would you consider including others in a small group?"    That is my thing! My heart thinks, "If I'm going to invest in one person, why not do it for 3, or 4, or 12…"    The invitation simmered in the back of my mind, while new grandchildren arrived, and my youngest son was married to his beautiful bride.     Then in January, with no more  moves , or new grandbabies, or weddings on the near horizon, I began to seriously consider the idea of mentoring a group of women, with a twist. You see, somewh...

Will You Follow Muscle spasms. Have you ever experienced them? They're awful.   They began Monday evening. A chronic back problem. I stretched, took a muscle relaxer, and slept. The next morning, they started up again. For me, they are worse than labor! At least, with that, there is the reward of a baby.   After a visit to the chiropractor, I kept an appointment to see a new massage therapist. One who specializes in backs and posture. As she examined her new patient, obviously in tremendous pain, she asked me a question. "Do you drink much coffee, soda, caffeinated drinks...?"    "No, none of those. But, I do love ice tea!"    I knew what was coming. As she worked to bring relief, she told me words I had heard before. Something about caffeine contributing to dehydration contributing to muscle spasms…"You need to cut down on your caffeine intake. Drink water, with lemon, instead."   As my muscles relaxed, at least for a couple blessed hours, my spirit d...

True Confessions from a Pre-teen's Heart It was a summer night, a long time ago, when this pre-teen learned three of the most valuable lessons of my life.   I was just about eleven, the night I was allowed to take my first trip away from home. Without my parents. Without my brother.   At the end of a visit from family friends at our house in Phoenix, I was invited to travel with them back to their home in Northern Arizona. My parents were hesitant, but finally agreed. Well, that is, after I begged and cajoled them for permission.   I was so excited to leave, I'm not even sure I kissed them goodbye. It was 1970. To avoid the desert heat, we left in the evening. I remember the car was large, probably an Oldsmobile, or something like that. There were four of us. The mom, who drove, of course. Her two children and me. The girl, a friend my age, quickly sprawled out across the backseat and fell asleep. Her little brother, curled up in the front passenger seat, and sl...

Seeing the Wonderful in Your Weird - A Book Giveaway “Would you hold me accountable to help me to manage my time better?”   This is the question I asked one of my closest friends, several years ago.     Her answer surprised me,  “What if God made you this way? What if you’re trying to change something that He created in you?”   Fast forward a few years. I sat at Panera Bakery, sipping decaf coffee, catching up with another dear friend. There, as if no time had passed, I lamented to her about how bad I am at managing my time.   Her response caught me off guard,  “Has this annoying tendency ever been helpful to you or someone else?”  Somehow, this sounded like a question she would ask one of her coaching clients. (I found recently, it was. I was part of her experiment. See pg 42)   “Well...,” I hesitated, “Actually, one of my daughters’ tells me, all the time, that I have the ‘gift of availability.’ Others, have told me ‘I am a Mary,’ (as oppos...

Growth through Revelation and Surrender “What would you say is the first step towards becoming a Christian?”   I was asked this question, many years ago, by a man who attended law school with my husband.   “Surrender,” was my immediate response.   Later on, however, as I recalled my own conversion experience, I decided this was not the “first step.” I prayed for an opportunity to talk to him again, and was thrilled when he called to talk to my husband, a few weeks later.   While I had him on the phone, I asked, “Do you remember when you asked me about the first step to becoming a Christian? Well, I wanted to let you know, I think there is a step before surrender.”   “What’s that?” he asked, curious.   “Revelation!” I declared. “You can’t surrender to someone you don’t know!”   This man was a skeptic, for sure. I will probably never know if he met and surrendered his life to Jesus. However, I recognized that  this pattern of REVELATION AND SURRENDE...

It's Not Personal; It's Business My friend was at the threshold of adolescence with her first born. A while back, she described an unsettling incident with her then nine year old daughter. Upon discovering her daddy had stacked four slices of freshly baked Costco pizza on top of each other, so that cheese was stuck to top of each plate, the girl exclaimed in a very snotty tone, "Thanks a lot dad!"     Her story brought back memories of  the sharp words and smart aleck comments that often accompany adolescence.  I recalled a particularly difficult day with my sometimes contentious first born, when his more tender-hearted, younger brother declared with tears rolling down his cheeks, "I am never going to talk to you that way mommy." I smiled to myself. Because I knew he would. And, he did.      This is the age and stage when our children begin to test the boundaries that we have worked so hard to carefully define for them . I am certain it ...

The Priceless Gift You Can Give Your Spouse “Do you pray?”  For your husband? For your wife? Not married yet? How about for the one you will marry? I often ask this question to any woman, or man, who confides in me that their marriage is not in a “good place.” Their answer is always the same!  “Not as much as I should.” Why, I wonder?  Prayer is one of the most precious privileges God has invited, even commanded, us to participate in. Look at a few things the Bible reveals about prayer: (Jesus said),  “And WHEN you pray ...”  Matthew 6:5 Husbands,  (do this) ...so your prayers WILL NOT BE HINDERED.  I Peter 3:7 NEVER STOP praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 (God)  is able to DO IMMEASURABLY MORE than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us!  Ephesians 3:20 (Jesus said)  “When someone gives you a hard time, ...