Blog Archives - Grace Drops

Under His Wings

12/30/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

An article in National Geographic several years ago painted an incredible picture of God’s wings:

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno’s damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked the bird over with a stick. Upon doing so, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings.

The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety, but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

The Bike Ride

12/27/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there somewhere sort of like the President. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know Him.

But later on when I recognized my Higher Power, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride; but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that God was in the back helping me pedal.

I don’t know just when it was the He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. . .life with my Higher Power, that is. God makes life exciting.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

When He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, “pedal.”

I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure; and when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey; our journey, God’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away. They’re extra baggage, too much weight.” So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knew bike secrets, knew how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high places filled with rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

And I’m learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my Higher Power.

And when I’m sure I can’t do any more, He just smiles and says, “Pedal!”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

The Princess

12/24/2012

I discovered this story a few years ago and it fascinated me. Marion Mill was born in a fairy tale royal palace in Hungary. Her first spoon was solid gold. They sent her to school in Vienna where she became an actress, and there she met and fell in love with a young medical student named Otto.

Otto and Marion married and went to live in Hollywood, California. There, as they “set up house,” he began to dabble in movies. He became so interested in movies that he gave up his medical practice and went on to become the internationally famed movie director Otto Preminger. Marion’s beauty, wit, and irresistible charm brought her everything a woman desires. In Europe, New York, and Hollywood she became a famous international hostess.

But Otto’s princess could not handle the fast life of Hollywood. She went into alcohol, drugs, and numerous affairs. Her life and lifestyle became so sordid, even for Hollywood, that Otto Preminger divorced Marion. She tried to take her own life three times, unsuccessfully, and finally moved back to Vienna.

There at a party she met another doctor, named Albert Schweitzer, the well-known medical doctor, musician, philosopher, theologian, and missionary. Schweitzer was home on leave from his hospital in Lambarene, Africa.

She was so fascinated by Schweitzer, that she asked him if she could talk to him alone, and he permitted that. For almost six months, every week, she met with Dr. Albert Schweitzer. At the end of that time he was going to go back to Africa, and she begged him to let her go with him. Schweitzer surprised everyone by agreeing.

Marion, the young princess, who was born in a palace, went to a little village in Lambarene, Africa, and spent the rest of her life emptying bed pans and tearing up sheets to make bandages for putrid sores on the poverty-stricken nationals. She wrote her autobiography. I love the title of it--All I Want is Everything. When she died, Time Magazine quoted these words: “Albert Schweitzer says there are two kinds of people. There are the helpers and the non-helpers. I thank God He allowed me to become a helper, and in helping, I found everything.”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

The Brick

12/22/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting,
"What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?"

The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything
was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar.

The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

“Grace Drops” come from many sources. I write a few of them myself. Others are from books, old illustration files, and some from the internet. Now and then some of you send me a story that is used. To all I say thanks.

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

I Wish You Enough

12/21/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Recently, I overheard a father & daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough."

She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing, "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye," I asked.

"I am old, and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say 'I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment, and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final Good-bye."

He then began to sob and walked away.

So, my message to you, as we look forward to the coming new year:

"I wish for you...",
Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart,
Gentle hugs when spirits sag,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so that you can believe,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,
And love to complete your life.

I wish you enough!"

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

Faithful in Little Things

12/18/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

The sign in the window read: "BOY WANTED." Young John Simmons, though he was lazy, saw his opportunity and applied. He was quickly hired by the elderly Mr. Peters. The pace was leisurely so he enjoyed the job. Toward the middle of the afternoon, however, he was sent up to the attic--a dingy place full of cobwebs and infested with mice. "You will find a long, deep box there," explained Mr. Peters. "Please sort out the contents and see what should be saved." John was disappointed. It was a large container, and there seemed to be nothing in it but old junk. After a few minutes he went back to the ground floor. Asked by the proprietor if he had completed his work, he replied, "No, sir, it was dark and cold up there and I didn't think it was worth doing." At closing time he was paid and told not to return.

The next morning the old sign "BOY WANTED" appeared in its usual place. Crawford Hill was the next to be employed. When he was asked to tidy up the same box, however, he spent hours separating the usable nails and screws from the things to be discarded. Suddenly he raced down the stairs all excited. "At the very bottom I found this!" he exclaimed, holding up a 20-dollar bill. At last the storeowner had discovered a conscientious boy to whom he could entrust his business when he retired.

Years later Mr. Peters said, "This young man, who is now my successor, found his fortune in a junk box!" Then, correcting himself, he added, "No, he actually found it in his mother's Bible because he heeded the verse she made him memorize: 'He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much!'

– Author Unknown

The Two Most Important Words

12/16/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

“Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.” So goes the childhood adage that we used for protection against hurt feelings. Somehow it never rang true. Words have great power. In the book of Proverbs we are told that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Did you know that the word “sarcasm” is derived from Greek and means “tearing of the flesh.” What a descriptive term for the emotional effect of hurtful speech!

Words have the power to hurt, but they also have the power to heal and bless.There are two words in particular that have tremendous power. They are almost always used in association with prayer. They express an attitude of humility that blesses others. At times these words are a sacrifice, and almost always a mark of maturity.

In the realm of human relationships, these two words express kindness, respect, and consideration. They go a long way in preventing hurt feelings and misunderstandings. They defuse volatile situations and disarm enemies. They subtly season our speech with grace to bless our lives.

These two words are always a delight Today, especially this week, I bless you with “Thank you.”

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

Forgive And Forget—But How?

12/14/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A man who was telling his friend about an argument he'd had with his wife commented, "Oh, how I hate it, every time we have an argument, she gets historical."
The friend replied, "You mean hysterical."

"No," he insisted, "I mean historical. Every time we argue she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me."

How many times have you heard the expression, "forgive and forget?" We know we should forgive, and we often want to, but forgetting is another matter. Feelings of inadequacy rise up within us because we think we should be better people, big enough to let the past go. So the relationship remains damaged and we struggle with guilt at our own weakness.

The problem lies in what it means to "forget." If forgetting means that we have no memory of the offense, or the event, then it is hopeless. Everything that we experience remains in our mind, in our memory. But offenses that cause anger or hurt are especially imprinted on our mental history. Removing such incidents or events by sheer effort is beyond our ability.

What "forgetting" means is that we choose never to bring the matter up again. When we have an argument with someone, a spouse, family member, or co-worker, we choose not to mention past offenses. That way the only issue is the matter at hand. Actually, past offenses should have been resolved so that the need to revisit is removed.

An example of this "forgetting" is found in God's dealings with us. The Bible says that God forgives us and "remembers our sins and lawless deeds no more." How can God forget? He's supposed to know everything. It means that once God forgives, He chooses to never mention those things again.

If it's good enough for God, it ought to be good enough for us.

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).

Attitude is Everything

12/11/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them.
Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

The Paradoxical Commandments were written in 1968 by Dr. Kent M. Keith as part of a booklet for student leaders. They are as inspirational now as they were in 1968.

The Not So Ordinary Lightning Bug

12/9/2012

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

What is the deal with Lightning Bugs? I mean, here is this rather ordinary looking flying insect, but wait . . . it has a glow-in-the-dark rear end! What was God thinking?

I’m sure science has all kinds of explanations about how this fluorescent fanny is useful for mating and other stuff, but why did God choose to make the lightning bug glow? I wonder if when God was creating all the animals and everything around us, He came up with the idea of the lightning bug and said, “The kids are gonna love this.”

We know that God loves us enough to create all the things we need to survive, but does God love us so much He created some things just to make us smile?

Just seeing Lightning Bugs takes me back to those warm summer nights of my youth. I’d be running around the back yard with my empty Mason jar, racing toward the flashing lights all around me. I can still feel the joy and hear the laughter echoing through my memories. Lightning Bugs were as much a part of summer as fireworks, fresh tomatoes, and big ice-cold slabs of juicy watermelon. (I also have a theory of why God created watermelon seeds the perfect size to spit, but that is another story.)

God created so much diversity in this world, much more than is needed for mere survival. He made all of this for us, and He wants us to enjoy it. We can get so busy surrounding ourselves with man-made goods that we don’t notice the living tapestry God has laid out all around us.

I guess Lightning Bugs do have a purpose after all. They are a reminder of a creative God who loves us so much, He’d even paint the rear end of a bug . . . just to see us smile.

And believe me . . . we need to smile!

© 2003, John C. Fitts, III. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume I (2003).