My Ways Are Not Your Ways

I remember exactly what I was doing 24 years ago, this time today.  I was walking around the block with my husband trying to deal with the increasing torment of birth contractions!  Jessica Lynn White was born at 3:00 p.m. later in the day.  Having had only one child, that event probably ranks among the most significant points in my life.  So it’s no surprise that today’s elephant is one that reminds me more than any other of that important time. 

I have many elephants – but this may be the only one that canalways bring tears to my eyes.  Its special softness and worn spots, the lullaby that comes from within it, all this takes me back to the wonderful time of Jessica’s babyhood.

I believe that God teaches us through all life’s events – but certainly through our children. And those lessons go on as we continue to age, and our children mature and become adults.

Trust in Him above.  This is the biggest lesson I'm learning as my daughter, recently graduated from college considers her path(s) in life.  I must learn to trust not in myself or in my own power to be of "help" --  which is questionable anyway, as she and I are very different people.  But to know that God loves her more than I ever could.  God loves all our children more than we, as parents, ever could.  Only He knows the lessons that must be learned and, more often than not, relearned for each of us.

As I listen to the lullaby tinkling from the elephant's tummy, I am comforted...just as this elephant brought comfort to our daughter as an infant.  It's a soft and fuzzy reminder that God takes care of His children through the cold and hardest times.  His way is not ours, and as I ponder that, I think of Isaiah 55.  (I encourage anyone reading this blog, to read the entire chapter of this portion of Isaiah.  It's a beautiful reminder that God is behind all things good.)

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the

sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out

from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for

which I sent it."

Isaiah 55: 8-11

Happy Birthday Jessica!  I love you, your dad loves you more (family joke) and God loves you most!

I Meant What I Said

Anyone who grew up reading Dr. Seuss like I did, will remember the kooky places and characters in his stories as well as the quirky language that delights the ear.  One of my favorite characters was Horton, an endearing elephant.  In the book “Horton Hatches an Egg”, he meets a lazy and fickle bird named Mayzie.  Mayzie is tiring of sitting on her nest, waiting for her egg to hatch.  She’s ready for fun and anything that takes her away from the drudgery of tending that nest.  After wishing that someone would relieve her of her duties, along comes Horton.  Being the very nice and lovable elephant he is, Horton agrees to give Mayzie a “short” break, which turns out to be much longer than expected.  He endures ridicule (why I love fiction – elephants can actually sit in trees!), treacherous weather, being captured, shipped overseas to eventually suffer the humilities of life in a traveling circus.   Finally the egg hatches, and a tiny “elephant-bird” emerges. (Mayzie does eventually return, but only after its too late.)

The real lesson of the story is summed up in one of Dr. Seuss’ most famous lines, when Horton says:

“…I meant what I said,

And I said what I meant…

An elephant’s faithful,

One hundred per cent.”

And Horton was rewarded for his faithfulness.   I am reminded of that wonderful story and Horton's tremendous faithfulness each time I look at my own little Horton and smaller yet, baby elephant-bird.  Mom gave them to me one Christmas as tree ornaments – but needless to say, since I don’t have my Christmas tree up year around, they’ve found a place in my hutch.
In this popular Dr. Seuss story, Horton displays the kind of integrity and faithfulness that is so rare today.  (Maybe it's always been rare -- there are numerous Bible stories that indicate this).  Horton meant what he said and followed through with it.  Horton could have been paraphrasing Matthew 5:37 when Jesus said to his disciples “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  (NIV translation).

When I was an adolescent and came across this verse for the first time, I wondered, what in the heck does that mean?  But as I grew older and demonstrated my own times of fickleness, (e.g. agreeing to do something and then later reneging on my promise); this particular passage became more and more meaningful.  

I’m intrigued by the simplicity taught and encouraged in the Quaker and Mennonite traditions.  I think Jesus is touching upon one aspect of that simplicity: simple speech, say what you mean, and mean it.  Everything else is superfluous (evil, actually as He says).

One of the hallmarks of integrity, I believe, is simple speech, but beyond that, remaining faithful to one’s promises especially when the going gets tough.  Having been divorced, this is a painful subject for me but I have been fortunate to know people in my lifetime who have exemplified this faithfulness.   And their faith in God has played an important role in their lives. But it doesn’t have to be a tough situation.  Even the simplest situations can trip us up.  For me this is where have to rely on prayer.  Talking to God is the only way I can continue to work through a “promise” or situation where it’s only too easy to say “no” or back out. That’s probably why faithfulness is one of the Fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22…”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Horton the elephant was a true model of that faithfulness.  Now that’s the gospel according to Dr. Seuss!

The Opposite of Red is Humble

Red is a color that shouts for attention!  It cannot hide easily.  Red demands “look at me!” Red is the color of violence – blood; the color of passion – red roses, the heart, Valentines’s Day.  Red is a color that simulates appetite – many restaurants use the color red in their décor, their menus, their logos.  Red is the “show-off” color, the color of ego and power.  

And it’s the color of the elephant that I write about today.  It stands out in my collection because of it’s red – I have only three red elephants in my entire collection of 125+ elephants!  One is a stuffed toy, one is a candle, and then there is this one.  To another observer it may stand out because of its color; to me, it stands out for the memory of the person who gave it to me.

She was one of the easiest people to be around.  She was grounded in her faith and her simplicity of living.  She was my mother-in-law but we all called her “grandma”.  “Mother-in-law” often conjures up the perpetual myth of demanding, meddling, “monster”.  Remember Jane Fonda in the movie “Monster-in-Law”?  The myth ignores the fact that many, if not most mother-in-laws are warm and loving – but that’s for another blog entry.  Anyway, for most of us, the word “grandma”brings to mind thoughts of home cooking, hugs and love—lots of it! This was Edith White and more! 

Spending time with “Grandma White” was a treat to me.   She lived an hour away, but we tried to spend time with her whenever we could and often would take her on short road trips to the state fair or craft fairs.  One time we took her to the annual Mennonite Relief auction in Hutchinson, Kansas. Every April in Kansas,  Mennonites, Amish and Brethren in Christ from all over the state donate their crafts (many, many beautiful quilts!), handmade furniture, foods and all else to this relief sale in Hutchinson.  The proceeds go to providing material needs and development to communities all over the world. One of the highlights of the sale is the “Ten Thousand Villages”.  This is organization allows artisans from all over the world, particularly developing countries, to help support themselves with their crafts sold at a fair price.

“Grandma” went with us several years ago and while browsing in the “Ten Thousand Villages”, she came across a hand-painted elephant made in Sri Lanka.  In spite of my protest, she purchased this little wooden red elephant for me.  It’s ironic that she would be the one to give me one of my few red elephants – because she was everything red is not.  She was hardly a show-off, never shouting for attention, but instead allowed others to receive the credit, or take the spotlight. She was humble, a good listener, and liked simple things -- like family time and a good laugh or two.

She was also a woman of great faith, always active in her church, always tithed—according to my husband, tithing was a consistent value in his growing up, no matter how little the family had.  Having lived through the depression, she lived by the mantra so many did at that time –  UWMD (No, not Unidentified Weapons of Mass Destruction!) UWMD stands for: Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without!  (I recently read about the practical application of that value in “Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Craker. ) Grandma White lived simply, frugally and humbly.  She was the embodiment of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue…

…Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  

 Proverbs 31: 25-27; 30.

When I look at this elephant, I notice it’s red color, yes, but more importantly I remember a woman whose walk with the Lord is one I wish to emulate.

For Edith Kathryn (Fox) White

1910-2001