Scripture standout: Ps. 68: "4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds[b]; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."
Morning thoughts: Parental loss has been on my brain. Two good friends have lost their fathers during the past couple of weeks, and golly if every time I go out to get the paper I don't see my neighbor who just lost his wife. It seems like each step closer to 40 means more parents are leaving this world for another. It just doesn't seem fair — and definitely not something to "rejoice before him" over. But the fact that God is father to the fatherless and a defender of widows is a beautiful thought. That is what I finally clung to after my mom died nearly 20 years ago — although my mother had died, my real father-mother God was (and always had been) right there wrapped around me.
Now that's a cheerful way to start the day, right? It did give me some "coincidental perspective" when I was reading the Times-Union this morning. Do you ever read the obituaries? I do, because they tell someone's sweet life story in just a few brief paragraphs. One stood out today, she was a mother younger than I. She was from Texas, and went to school in San Antonio. She left a daughter, parents, a sister and something like eight brothers. She died of breast cancer.
Her family requested donations be made in her name to a breast cancer organization. I have never made a donation in the name of a complete stranger, but I think I'm going to try that today.
On a brighter note, another story that grabbed me in today's paper was how these college students are remodeling a room at the local woman's shelter, Community Connections. There's a picture of them painting, and hanging pictures and making things look nice.
Maybe it's too hard sometimes to get out there and do something this generous with time, but it's not hard to click on that website wegive.org and buy a set of sheets — and more— for the mission. I thought it was interesting that I had just seen that "need" on the website yesterday, and this morning's story was about someone physically meeting the need. It takes a village! (Take a look...)
One last morning thought...today is voting day! That is not really a good deed, per se, but it is important.
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