A dear friend of mine was born in Egypt and grew up in a Muslim family. One of the things I love most about her is the joy she finds in all of life. I’ll call her Joyful. Her Love Encounter inspires me and she’s allowed me to share it.

Joyful came to know Jesus personally through a radical encounter in an open vision of seeing Jesus in her room. It was life altering for her.

Joyful was Muslim and when her husband chose to follow Christ, she was prepared to divorce him. She knew what it meant to her family. But as he and others fasted and prayed for her, she went through a myriad of emotions. When Jesus encountered her, she said Yes to following Him no matter the cost. Her cost has been high. Both she and her husband have been banished from their extended families. They have changed their names to provide safety for their children. They have gone through financial and physical disasters and Joyful continues to have joy. Most of her texts to me call me dear and love. She finds the good when things look impossible. This is a display of the kingdom of God. She allows the suffering in her life to bring her to rely more fully on the One her gives her true life. It’s stunning to watch.

I have permission from my husband to tell you his Love Encounter. Like Joyful, Gary had a radical encounter of Jesus revealing Himself one night in his bedroom. As a child, he’d gone to church with his family and as a teenager, he became hungry to really know God. His parents were getting divorced when his brother was killed in a motorcycle accident. Although he was devastated, the encounter he had with God right before this gave him the courage to trust and not lean to his own understanding. His life with God has continued to give him a steadfast assurance in many of life’s bummer days. I’ve been married to him for 37 years and most weekday mornings he’s up at 4:00 to spend time with his God. He too, has allowed the tough things in his life to bring him to rely more fully on the One who gives true life.

It seems to me that believers in Jesus, who come to Him because of a love encounter, are unshakable in their faith.

Joyful found her parents’ religion made her a human doing and was based on her efforts. Choosing the relational love of Jesus gave her freedom as a human being and was based on what He had done for her.

I came to know Jesus though a lot of teaching and learning about Him. I’m grateful for all of it. I also pray to experience Him more. There is a difference between knowing someone loves you and experiencing that love in a deeply personal way. Knowing God intellectually doesn’t change us much.

Love changes us. Our God-love towards others can change them. Love dies to self to bring an opportunity for true life to others.

Jesus not only said it, He lived it. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Love like that is beyond the natural realm. That’s the greatness about Easter.

Copyright © 2017 Nadine Patton.

All Rights Reserved.

Going on a “Grands’ field trip” with the dad is somewhat different than with the mom. (Mom’s at home with a new baby). It’s still educational, just in a different way! I figured that out as we entered the Desert Botanical Gardens (with all the other Snowbirds, Spring-Breakers, Spring Training fans and those who are like us, taking advantage of free admission day), and he says, “O.K. kids, today we’re here to see people….since we can’t really see any plants because of them.” Only about 30 of the bajillion people turn to stare at us!

And then this, after we commented on the beauty of our weather. “There’s a blizzard today,” but before he can finish, the 4 year old – looking all around – says, “Where?” And, since this child has  been fortunate enough (in my opinion) not to have seen one, asks, “What’s a blizzard?”

With dad’s answer, the 6 year old dramatic one stops dead in her tracks – only 2 seniors run into her – and with both arms open wide says, “Wait! A blizzard in Pennsylvania? We have cousins there!” Yes, we do and we sympathize.

An explanation of why bees are calmer in their natural habitat of lavender plants brought this educational moment – “You see kids, they’re not acting like they’re high on crack like the ones we see all the time (in the city) who live off of spilled soda on stadium seats.” Only 45 of the bajillion people turn to stare at him.

After the Cheetos snack, he had them follow him, marching like little ducks, with their hands outstretched in single file towards the restrooms, calling out his warning, “Cheeto hands! Cheeto hands!” Everyone around did seem to heed his warning or at least were backing away for some reason!

You don’t want to know the details of what happens when the dad deals with a “snot rocket” and has no tissues. You don’t. Just don’t shake hands with a dad of a snot-nosed kid!

And then, “Oh, look. It’s an organ pipe cactus. Do you think I should play it?” Although he’s leaning in towards it, he listens when his kids yell, “No, Dad!” Yep, he’s a great dad and I’m proud of his skills. He does educate, just a bit differently.

Copyright © 2017 Nadine Patton.

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Impressive Moments

From the first time I, the Mennonite, and he, the Hippie, met, we’ve had some impressive moments. The choice has often been whether to laugh or cry. Here’s to laughter for a Happy Hearts Day!
It was my first visit to meet Gary’s family. Wanting to impress me, he took me out on the lake on his dad’s boat. Knowing nothing about boating, I wasn’t sure if it was a problem that water seemed to be coming into the boat rather quickly and I was hesitant to mention it right away. He was at the bow, looking mostly forward or at me, and didn’t notice that we were sinking. Seems he had forgotten to put the plug in before we started and yes, it kind of was a problem! As he turned us around and headed back, the water kept rising higher around my ankles and I tried not to panic. We somehow made it back to the dock and managed not to sink. It was an impressive moment!
Another escapade on that same lake was when I first tried water skiing with 2 skis. Gary and his dad were my teachers and I was more than a little embarrassed. No experience and no skills, but I managed to get up on the skis rather quickly. What a thrill to be gliding along the top of the water. However, no one had mentioned how to fall or what to do when I was ready to stop. Suddenly I went down, the skis in a large V, with the lake water enema in full force! Yep, that was impressive!
One of Gary’s most startling encounters with my Mennonite world was after we were married and lived in another state. Coming back to visit my parents, we stayed in the upstairs of the old farmhouse where the only shower was downstairs. One morning around 7:00, Gary went downstairs for a shower and as he opened the stairway door into the large living room, it was filled with a group of Amish people, now staring at him. He was quite shocked and certainly didn’t understand such early visiting hours, but took it in stride with a warm greeting! He walked through the crowd and headed on to the shower. Unknown to any of us, it seems my mother’s cousins from Illinois had a visiting plan for that day, a driver and a van, and our house was the first stop! A dozen Amish cousins taking up the entire living room in his in-laws’ house and all eyes on him as he opened that door at 7:00 a.m., did make an impression!
The best memory from the beginning of our relationship was the steak dinner. Gary loves steak and although he could barely afford it, he took me to a very nice restaurant. I don’t remember the steak, but I remember his request of me. He asked if I would pray before we ate. As a young Mennonite woman, this was a big deal. He wanted to see into my heart and knew this would show him a lot. The former hippie’s greatest concern was to see who I really was by how I prayed for food – now that’s impressive!

© Copyright 2017 Nadine Patton

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Four years ago we said our earthly good-byes to Mom. It was less than a year before that we’d said these good-byes to Dad. It makes me think more about heaven. It also motivates me to leave a legacy for future generations as they did.
A legacy of forgiving when they were wronged in business and not becoming bitter. A legacy of acceptance of those who believed differently, giving great value to relationships. A life spent with a lot of joy and laughter despite pain and sorrow. A legacy that used time spent on earth to love fully and to give time and resources to the things that counted for eternity.
The choices we get to make in life can make a difference beyond our earthly existence. It’s like a relay race. Each prize is gained according to how the last runner finishes. It isn’t just about us. We make a difference for generations to come by what we do now in our race.
You may not have received a rich legacy baton to pass along, but you can start the relay race for the next generation. We can run our best to pass along what really matters for eternity.

The accident threatened to traumatize me. I knew I had to act quickly. He was holding his hand over his eye and was crying in pain. He wouldn’t let me look at it. There was blood. On his face. And I was alone with him on our farm in the country. My parents were both working and he had been left in my care.

There were no cell phones and I couldn’t reach anyone. I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift, but Grandpa’s truck was the only thing available and I managed to drive it in first gear for a mile up the dirt road where my parents worked.

That was the day my brother’s eye had become the target of a B.B. that ricocheted from a tree when he was hunting birds. When I finally got to look at it, I thought I would throw up. I told my mother it looked like raw hamburger. I couldn’t imagine it could be saved or that he would ever see with it again.

It’s one of the first miracles I remember and it was much later that I realized the wonder of that moment in my early years. Recognizing the miraculous is important. It helps us to know deeply that we live in a realm that includes the supernatural. For me, it means God is personal and knows me. And He gives intentional, personal love.

It’s my desire to live with gratitude and inspiration every day so that it becomes my way of life, not just at Thanksgiving time. I started our ‘Blessings Jar’ several years ago. This year it’s brimming over.

Blessings we include in the jar are moments of unexpected wonder and the more we recognize them, the more that seem to come our way. One was in January when I prayed for a hiking stick and in our desert neighborhood with no trees around, there it was. Perfect in shape and size. Another was an unexpected financial gift. In the middle of a Saturday morning in July. Just a random text. There have been surprise moments and family memories.

The prayers I’ve seen answered this year are a wonder and amaze me. And I’m grateful. I believe for answers and when they come, they bring the joy of knowing I live for a God who knows me and loves me. And in those moments of angst when I lose sight of His grace, it’s a good time to go to the “Blessings Jar’ and remember.

Blessings are not a reward for being good. The kingdom of heaven gives to the undeserving. I could never measure up on my own works. What counts with God is my heart.

Blessings can come in many ways. Recognizing the gift and the Giver have great value in the kingdom that is not of this world. When we stare at something for a long time and then close our eyes, that image often reflects in our mind. I believe what we focus on shapes who we are. Recognizing a blessing may take changing what we focus on.

And yes, my brother has use of both of his eyes nearly 40 years later and can see great.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

My Tribute to my Friend, Virginia

I love remembering moments of significance in my life and not realizing at the time how significant they were. This one – so significant and life-changing for me.

I met Virginia at a little church in my neighborhood and after hearing a bit of her story, I knew this was someone I wanted to get to know. Several days later, I saw her walking in my neighborhood. So the next time I saw her at church, I asked if she would want to hike together. She was super excited to have a walking partner and we began to walk and talk. Long walks. Long talks. I’d never heard of ‘prayer walking a neighborhood’ before Virginia. I’d never heard of a lot of things before Virginia!

She became my mentor, although I’m quite sure she wouldn’t have called herself that. She was just doing what she did best – telling the stories of God’s amazing goodness that she’d experienced first-hand and making me hungry for that. Honestly, those first weeks I thought her adventures were wild and crazy!

She loved Australia and she loved Turkey. She’d experienced the miraculous in those places and told me of the people she’d seen God touch with healing and other miracles. So many stories, so much goodness. Sometimes weirder than my comfort level! I’d known God all of my life, but I hadn’t experienced many encounters of this sort!

When she cleaned out her stuff in anticipation of going back to Australia, she gave me a 6 set CD series on healing by a pastor named Bill Johnson. I’d never heard of him and I wasn’t a big fan of listening to sermons on CD’s. But I decided to humor her and gave the first one a try. I listened and loved his teaching. I’d never heard anyone so gifted in presenting the truth of the Bible and he was calm, not a yelling preacher. He’d also experienced a lot of miracles, signs and wonders. This opened up a whole new realm of God to me and I wanted more. Gary and I eventually visited the church he pastored in California and it was an amazing place.

Virginia was sometimes like a phantom. I wouldn’t hear from her for weeks. I couldn’t keep up with where she was traveling. She went to Australia as much as possible. She visited her children and grandchildren in Colorado and Texas. She hung out with her brother, wherever his RV would take him. When she’d get back in to town, she’d give me a call and I’d get to hear about her latest adventures.

She once told me she could pack everything she owned into 2 suitcases except her bed, her computer and her desk and she liked it that way. It was the freedom she needed to go wherever God led her to go.

When her brother became ill, she cared for him constantly. Gary & I went to pray with him several times and again we saw the miraculous in fun ways despite the pain of life. She cared for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and continuously told me how wonderful they were. (Then I met them! Ha! They actually weren’t perfect!) But she loved with great expectancy, knowing their weaknesses and difficulties, but loving them well and believing the best of them all.

We had our own crazy adventures. Once she went to buy a car sight unseen from an individual and just needed me to drive her there, then follow her home in this car she’d never laid eyes on. Really? She loved to ‘prophetically read tattoos’ on the beach in Australia. Her faith sometimes really freaked me out! She’d been a children’s pastor and those kids were now grown up and on their own unusual faith adventures, but she was so proud of these kids who were changing the world.

The last times together were painful. I knew I was much stronger in my faith because of her. I knew she needed me to be strong for her family as they reconciled the news of her illness. I prayed over her when she was unconscious. I prayed with her when she was cognizant. We prayed together for a miracle. I prayed with her kids and grandkids and we cried together as we tried to understand her communication after the stroke.

She has impacted my life and many around me. She invited me into her world and it has been incredibly significant to me. She taught me a lot, but these are the most significant: 1. Live without too much stuff, so you’re available at any time to go anywhere God tugs at you. 2. Invest in people who passionately want to pursue the heart of God because they’ve watched it be real in your life. 3. Take risks and believe for the same miracles of the Bible to come today because it’s the same God as those days. 4. Live life so that’s there’s a big hole on earth when you leave it.

Painful as this moment in time is, I’m forever grateful that our paths crossed and that the seemingly insignificant invitation to walk our neighborhood hills together actually became one of the most significant moments of my life.

With Virginia and her grandson when they hosted a Birthday party for me several years ago.

Copyright © 2016 Nadine Patton.

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We were off to a rough start. It was my day to hang out with my 10 year old Grand after school. There’d been that little note from school about ‘messing around and spilling’, which led me to believe it wasn’t really me that had put him in defense mode. But when I wanted to help him with homework, he seemed intent on working on his lawyering skills, i.e. arguing technicalities. My love for spelling and its great value isn’t necessarily shared by this intelligent and energetic growing boy!

Before I knew it, we were having a stand-off. Wait a minute. Our time together had become not fun and I didn’t want to be grumpy Grammie, neither did I enjoy time spent with Little League Lawyer. Sigh.

I asked him if he would like to start our time together over?  To my surprise, he agreed. I offered that he could go to the kitchen and walk back to the living room and we’d just start over. He walked back in and very sweetly said ‘Hi’. And we were off to a fresh start.

My techie husband’s favorite fix for electronics that are uncooperative is to unplug and re-plug. That one annoys me in its simplicity when I’ve tried everything else. But it works.

Sometimes it’s what we as human beings need. The chance for a re-start. God gave the best solution to our failures and faults when He sent Jesus to be our sacrifice. I could never have gotten it right enough. My good deeds would never be enough to atone for my sin. I needed a re-start. Grace. Something I don’t deserve and can’t earn. He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses. He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion. He gives us plenty of good things. He makes us young again, like an eagle that grows new feathers. (Psalm 103)

My heart can choose to say Yes to this! I like the ‘young again’ part and try to prove it when I play soccer with this Grand. That’s when he’s the one giving lots of second chances!

Copyright © 2016 Nadine Patton.

All Rights Reserved.

I can’t say that I’ve ever thought of myself as an earthworm, but maybe I’m something like that. They can be a gardener’s best friend and a fisherman’s best attraction.

Changing the structure of my environment by ‘digging through’ hardened soil, plowing it up and allowing air and water to get to seeds and roots of plants, sounds like my kind of atmosphere. Being a ‘fisher of people’ is another of my desires in life.

The past months I have gained quite a collection of stories, each with a real human who’s needed some cultivating in the soil of their heart. When you work with the poor and the broken, listening well and finding treasure within them that offers value can make all the difference in their world. Hope can be a life changer. Handing someone who’s so broken a lifeline of kindness can bring transformation.

A 30 year old woman who was living in a tent in someone’s back yard was one of these. In 110 daily temps it wasn’t camping for fun, it was survival. In my city. This needed transformation. Communication with her was difficult. She had no local cell phone. I had to leave messages with a family member in another state. She got messages when she could call them. Then I got a call from her grandfather, a kindly gentleman who shared my faith values. He was grateful that I cared. We prayed together for her. Several weeks went by and finally I heard from her. She’d made the choice to go back to her family, break an addiction, leave an unhealthy relationship and take her second chance. Hope was a gift that brought a new life.

Another, only 15, living with a foster mom. Obstinate in her attitude and making it clear she did not want to be talking with me. The atmosphere in the room shifted when we began to talk about her desires for the future. She wanted to be an FBI agent. She’d already contacted someone in Washington D.C.  She assured me she had the grades for it and worked hard in school. The treasure I saw in her was courage. What an amazing young woman who had been dealt some rough hands in life and had her heart set on a tangible goal. It was significant for her to be assured she had great value. It not only brought a smile to her face, but she opened her heart to me. Suddenly, I could hardly get her to stop talking. What a delight to bring hope and watch it change her attitude. Will it matter as life goes forward for her? I choose to believe it will. Like an earthworm plowing and softening soil that was once hard.

Every opportunity to pour life-giving words into someone’s heart is significant.

Many of these stories are divine appointments and I am intensely aware of their need when they come to me. Other stories have come from learning to see with the eyes of my heart in the more routine moments of life. I’m learning to slow my pace so I have time to care and really listen to the checker at the grocery store. The one I’m drawn to each week seems to have a fake smile and more fake “I’m fine.” The first time I initiated a caring conversation brought a bucket load of information and a thank you that was genuine as we parted ways. It really took so little.

Simple acts. Kindness. Listening well. Caring. It’s that bit of earth plowed and softened for seed planting. I don’t know who to give credit to, but the statement is true. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Many are much better at this by nature than I am. The ones that are ‘lovers of people’. I’m drawn to them to ‘garden’ together. I tend to be in a hurry, have my list for the day, brush others off without really seeing them, forget that kindness matters. But I’m learning. It’s a process of being intentional about my time and my own spiritual health. And I’m grateful for those with an eternal kingdom mindset who have paved the way before me, given me courage and loved me well.

Small earthworms in a garden can make a difference. There’s also intentionally planting, taking the time to water seeds and allowing sunshine to come through. Moment by moment. Person by person. Inching through hard dirt, bit by bit, softening and making the soil of each heart pliable, so seeds of love have a healthy place to grow.

But together, with those who have God’s heart, we can affect our world.

Copyright © 2016 Nadine Patton.

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One of the best health remedies available to human beings is laughter. The thing about taking vitamins or any remedy is that we each need our own; no one else can take them for us. And ultimately, we make the choice of what we put into our body, soul and spirit.

I learned a new game while waiting for the 4th of July parade this year. Stop and Plop, Horse. Well, that’s my name for it.

The gentleman sitting in the grass next to me had explained that ‘these kids are going to draw circles on the street with chalk and when a horse poops in their circle, they win a prize’. Well, let’s just say we were all more anxious for the horses to show up in this parade than usual. Even though the kids became a little desperate towards the end and began shouting at the horses to ‘do your business here’, alas, they all seemed to have done their business before the parade and no one won a prize.

I love being around people who have a merry heart. It’s infectious! I want to be one who lightens the load by lightening the mood!

When you’re in an environment where pain and heartache are prevalent, it’s important to find the ‘vitamins’ that are life-giving. Sometimes a change of focus is needed. Laughter is such great therapy! Proverbs says it’s like medicine. Jesus wanted his followers to believe His yoke was easy and His burden light. The psalmist told us the joy of the Lord is our strength. There’s not much strength in misery.

I love my vitamin sea. The ocean’s mystery and vastness bring me awe and wonder of the Creator and His infinite power. When I recognize Who He is, I need to laugh at the stupidity of my thoughts that would limit Him. If I don’t think my God is big enough for any situation, my fear has become bigger than my faith.

 I love hearing the life lessons and insights others have, and like vitamins, the health of my soul and spirit must come from good sources, just like they do for my body. I choose what I put into my mind and what gets to stay or go for my emotional health.

It’s beneficial for me to read other people’s books and stories and hear their testimonies, but it must become personal, out of a relationship with my Creator-God. Directly to me, for me! A healthy mind comes from comprehending we are known by Him and loved beyond measure. And then laughing at the lie that wants us to believe otherwise.

Copyright © 2016 Nadine Patton.

All Rights Reserved.

When traveling for 7 days with my daughter and her family recently, I found myself in the very back of a mini-van with my grand-daughter often in the car seat beside me. These were wonderful times with the energetic and kind-hearted little name-sake of mine. At 5, she has a very engaging personality and the ability to bring some great truths to me when I was paying attention.

I value each of my grands and love spending time with all of them. This was an opportunity with lots of road time together to learn these things from her.

Sing all the time…unless it’s distracting to the driver! Laugh hilariously with others and then ask what was funny. Forgive quickly and easily. Ask good questions because you have curiosity and want to learn. Be in awe of the moments and embrace new things. Have a happy heart because you choose to. Be thankful. Give hugs randomly. Collect rocks everywhere for memories.  Care less about dirt and more about others. Hold someone’s hand just because you love being together. Be excited for the day, even when you don’t know where you’re going. Allow others to explain when they had to do something that brought pain to you but was necessary for your good. Worship whenever and wherever.

This is the note she wrote for me as we began the 4 hour journey back to the airport. I had put some crafty things to do in a 3-ring envelope to keep her busy while traveling. Before she began to play with any of the things, she wrote me a thank you. No one prompted her. A thankful heart is powerful because it changes the atmosphere around you and attracts others to you.

One of the things we encountered in the forested landscape was a small and bloodthirsty arachnid known as a tick. They seemed to love her and several had attached unmercifully to her little body. Somehow, I was the one doing the dirty work of removing them. Blessedly, I had brought along a tweezers. Our last night in the boonies, we found 2 on her upper leg in a sensitive area. They were so tiny that I missed on the first try, drawing blood with my tweezers. The sight of red liquid trickling, brought blood-curdling screams which I’m sure awakened everyone in the building. Once I’d plucked them both out and she got her bath and was calmed, we sat down and I answered her questions as best I could about those nasty intruders. I’m thankful she didn’t ask the question of why God would create them because I wonder that myself. She wasn’t upset with me, but needed to know why I had hurt her. Opening yourself up to understanding instead of offense is powerful.

When I couldn’t find my phone and was beyond distraught, she made me laugh just by saying something that was funny from her perspective. She was the first to find me and tell me when it was found and was so excited for me.

I watched and my heart hurt as she learned some hard things. She picked up a luscious looking cup of fruit at the gas station and wouldn’t let anyone help her with it until it dropped and spilled all over the floor. Recognizing we need the help of others is powerful.

One of our first nights was spent in a very old house in the woods. As she ran up the narrow, wooden stairs and found the ‘Mary Poppins’ room and the one with Peter Rabbit wallpaper, she was filled with awe and wonder. The adults not so much. The creaky stairs, lack of air conditioning and only one bathroom on the main floor, filled us with a different kind of awe and wonder!

After a particularly long and tiring day, I could tell her frustration level was as high as mine. We were riding together in that back seat again. I got my music out and we sang some kids’ songs for a while.  Then I picked a worship song she knew. My eyes filled with tears as I watched her put both little hands in her lap, palms turned upward in worship. I remembered one of my personal antidotes to life – when you don’t know what to do, worship. Always worship. Jesus is worthy of worship, no matter what. Putting your focus on Him instead of your frustration is powerful.

I recognize that she is shaped a lot by respectful and conscientious parents. I’m truly grateful for their parenting skills. It also reminds me that I have a Father who is wonderful to me and delights when I’m thankful. My trust in Him positions me to take His hand as He reaches out for mine, ask Him questions when I’m hurt, and laugh with great joy whether I fully understand or not.

I want to live with the awe and wonder of seeing through the eyes of a child and be powerful by living with kindness and a heart of thankfulness for the little things. Thank you, ‘litl’ grand!

Copyright © 2016 Nadine Patton.

All Rights Reserved.