Sand


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass
June 24, 2009

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

At bedtime I would tell my children that I loved them as much as all the grains of sand in the world and then some. This was an evening ritual and it included me stretching my arms out from side to side as far as I could reach to add emphasis to my claim of love. My daughter and son went to sleep every evening knowing their parents loved them with abundance.

Each beach has its own type of sand. Sometimes the sand is white and sugary and very fine. Other beaches have course sand mixed with small gravel. There are certainly plenty of beaches to explore in search of the favorite shore. As I took walks in the sand or built sandcastles with my children when they were little, we took great delight in being at the shore. But sometimes there were other people we observed that seemed to fight the sand, constantly brushing it off themselves and shaking out their towel.

Love is a choice. We can choose to love or hate. We can either build sandcastles in the sand or we can constantly shake the sand out of the towel. It is our choice, but God shows us in his teachings that love is the best way. He tells us in Galatians 5:22 that “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control”. If we practice these, we will surely live in love and so will those that share our lives. Giving love and receiving love is at the heart of living a godly life.

Times Remembered


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass
June 09, 2009

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.
– 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV

Father’s Day has come around again and with it brings times of remembrance. I can see in my mind’s eye, my Dad standing behind the grill in his plaid shorts, cooking up hamburgers for a family gathering. I can see him listening to us, as we share our next pipe dream, giving us his approval on whatever and wherever our heart leads us. I can see him holding my babies many years ago, and going back even further, standing beside me on my wedding day. So many nice memories. My Dad’s life wasn’t always roses but he was strong in his faith and he didn’t complain. Instead, he tried to bring some joy and laughter to others and if he did that, he was well pleased. He had a way of making things work. He was a fixer. He wanted to fix the flat on my bicycle, the engine on my car, my problems. I often chided him that he was giving too much advice, but now being older and understanding him more, I too, find myself wanting to help, to make things better for others…to be a fixer, too. No, my efforts are not often appreciated, but I learned from the best and his heart was in the right place. I can still hear his counsel deep in my heart. “Listen to your father, who gave you life”, from Proverbs 23.

He was always there, he turned the other cheek, he provided everyday and he asked for very little in return. He just wanted to be remembered now and then. So today is the first Father’s Day without him. I believe that he is walking Heavens’ “Streets of Gold”. But I will be faithful to do what I have done every year and that is to remember him with an extra dose of appreciation for how his life touched mine and still does.

A father is described as one who is a mentor, a provider, a parent. The dictionary falls short of telling us what a father really is. No two Dads’ are alike. God made all each one to be unique, original and to be just the person his children needed. Our Heavenly Father stands beside us everyday. We may not feel His Presence. In fact, we may be too busy to notice. But He is there. I know that when I grew up and moved away, I didn’t get to see my Dad as much in person. But I knew he was there because we stayed connected by phone, cards and email. Oh, how my Daddy loved email!! Our Father in Heaven talks to us through His Word. Now, I find that I miss those little nuggets of wisdom that my Dad dispensed so effortlessly, yet I open my Bible and there it is…just what I need for the day or the situation. We are all God’s Children. He touches us, guides us, teaches us and walks beside us. God is Love. And He loves us. We don’t have to earn it or ask for it. It is simply there. Father’s Day is a good time to both honor our earthly Dad and our Heavenly Father by showing love to them and to each other. Do everything in love.

Ship's Wheel


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
June 04, 2009

The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. -.Acts 27:15 NIV

The wheel of a ship actually turns the rudder, which then changes the direction of the vessel. Over the years, the steering mechanism has changed somewhat, but the concept remains the same: a ship simply needs a wheel to direct it on its proper course. A ship’s wheel is quite a nautical find in an antique store. To see a ship’s wheel that has been restored and transformed into a table is a real conversational piece Recently, I was walking along some docks and could peer into the boats that were tied up. I was surprised and delighted to see the ships’ wheel in today’s photograph was still functional and relied upon.

If our life is thought of as a ship, then who is steering us in our journey across the sea? I find myself taking the wheel out of God’s hands and I often try to steer my life alone. It isn’t anything conscious that I do…it just seems to be an old habit. When I lose my direction and seem to go in circles, God who has patiently stood by, steps in and gets me back on course. It is silly really that we often think we can go our own way. The tendency is to go to God only when there is a crisis. We are all probably guilty of that at some time in our life. We should really go to God for everything; our health, our relationships, our families, the finances, work, school and more. I know that some might think that they shouldn’t bother God with the little things. That He has enough to do already. But God can handle it and He delights to be in daily, constant fellowship with us over the big things and the little things. If we are on the move with our life, learning, growing and doing, then we need direction. We are not as wise as we think we are sometimes. Best to leave the steering up to Him. That way we know our steps are anointed and we are never alone when we turn the wheel over to Him.