Things Learned in Song...

Growing up, a common phrase that "Uncle" Fred Coleman shared with us was "things learned in song are remembered long." I cannot tell you how many times the Holy Spirit has used "song" to encourage my heart. I vividly remember one instance in October 2007 when I was going through a particular loss. A song we had learned in children's choir came to mind, and I sang it over and over and over again that night.

  Surely He Will Care for Me

If God can dress a lily in a gown of white,

If God can guide a moonbeam thro' the dark of night,

If He can help a river find a friendly sea,

then surely He will care for me.

If God can paint a rainbow when the rain is done,

If God can give a summer day the gift of sun,

If He can teach a nightingale a melody,

then surely He will care for me.

He's with me when I sleep.

He's with me when I wake;

He hears my softest prayer.

Wherever I may go, whatever path I take,

I know he will be there.

If God can greet a morning with a new blue sky,

If God can show a young bird how a bird should fly,

If He can hang a blossom on a cherry tree,

then surely He will care for me.

Mary Kay Beall
Words © 1984 Hope Publishing Company

Simple truth that was so comforting.

 Miles Coleman suffered a serious head injury this week. Today, Anna and the Coleman family wait and hope for Miles' recovery. They have shown tremendous evidence of God's grace and testimony to so many! This sudden accident is not sudden to God. He has a perfect plan. Kristin, Miles' sister, shared these words from a song this morning: "King of glory, I know you love me, so I will trust You. Yes, I will trust you." It is true that "things learned in song are remembered long" and what a sweet comfort to be reminded of truth when we need it most! I am thankful for the Coleman family as they live out the many things that they have taught us over the years! And I am grateful that my Heavenly Father will "surely care for" the Colemans!

Miscellaneous Thoughts about Facebook

Facebook. A few weeks ago I had made up my mind that I was leaving Facebook for good. There were several good reasons to do so. One of which was my own inability to be disciplined about my use. In all honesty, I did not need to be checking posts 50 times a day. So, I left. I deactivated my account. A couple of weeks later I heard that a friend's son had been in the hospital. The day I heard was Monday; he had been admitted on Saturday. That was enough to push me back to the Facebook world. My time away did a few things for me. First, it allowed me to think about my reactions to things I would read and my motives for getting on Facebook. Second, it broke me of the "check it 50 times a day" habit. Third, it revealed that I can really live without it.

Today, I found out about a good friend who was in the hospital in a serious condition. I have been able to stay in touch with friends who really do care about our family and encourage me to grow in Christlikeness; I have deleted a few people; and I have enjoyed connecting with "old friends" and new friends.

I do believe that Facebook tends to define many of our relationships; occastionally I say or hear "they are 'Facebook friends.'" Another post about relationships another day!

My goal for Facebook is not to record our family history. I do not want to tell my children to "go on Facebook" to learn about our family. The art of journal composition and handwritten letters is quickly diminishing. That is something that I have tried to work on personally. I don't write as often as I should, but I do try to write occasionally; and the good old letter in the mail. Just this past week I have contemplated writing again. Letters. I fear much of our history will be lost one day if we don't write things down. Not that blogs, Facebook and technology aren't helpful. But what if the internet ever crashed or we didn't have access? I think often about printing out posts and putting them in a notebook. I really should do it as I go, but I don't. Maybe tomorrow. It is one of those projects that is in the "future ideas" list that really should be placed near the top!

So, these are my Facebook/letterwriting/journal thoughts for tonight. In the time it took me to type this post I could have written a letter....