Sheltering with Life Skills

Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.



Leighton and Emily are graduating this year.  Not together -- Emily here in Indiana and Leighton in Virginia.  Leighton's parents are a part of a thriving church ministry  along with Janene's writing and their family music ministry.  Janene was probably eight when RB and I were married.  She stood at our gift table and watched while we opened each gift (the old reception style!).  With long curls to her waist, her eyes just danced when we opened her card.  Janene had taped four quarters to the inside so we could get a soda pop from a vending machine on our honeymoon. 

For the next seven years, we traveled with the college choir and quartet.  Janene's father was the president of the college so she traveled with us.  As we pounded the pavement, I taught her crochet and macrame. Even then Janene was writing poems and letters to me.  When we moved to Indiana, she was devastated -- until her father told her God had shown him our families would end up living near each other.  The rest of the story: We moved to Bedford and the Beers moved to Indianapolis.

Our Sarah Janene was named for this girl who was like a little sister to me.  We've laughed until tears ran down our cheeks.  When Sarah died our tears ran in grief.  (This trip down Memory Lane wasn't in my writing plans to day, but my mind is full of snapshots -- of Janene delivering meals to me when I was up against a writing deadline...of the encouragement calendar she made one year for Christmas chock full of memories, encouraging thoughts and verses written in the daily squares. 

Back to graduation.  It's become a tradition for many graduates to have a "life book" to display at their reception. I already have Emily's book finished.  While Janene would've made a beautiful book for Leighton, it would have taken her hours and hours.  Scrapbooking is easy for me.  I love to do it, and I work quickly.  When I offered to make Leighton's book, Janene was one happy mama!

 Yesterday a big envelope of pictures arrived.  Oh the memories of sweet Leighton!  Today I will set up my table and get to work.

This made me think about the ways we can shelter others with our life skills.  Janene has used her gifts for me so many times.  She wrote a song for Melanie to sing to Shawn on their wedding day.  She wrote a poem to celebrate Sarah's short life, and whenever I need a quote or illustration for writing she quickly provides one.  Our phones are hot with texts asking each other for prayer.  Is prayer a life skill?
 
I'd love to hear how you shelter with your life skills.  RB shelters through music.  He's cut (either his own or helped others) over 30 albums (yes, he's THAT old), 8-tracks (makes me giggle), cassettes and cds. He uses calligraphy to letter numerous birth and baptism certificates, Bibles and mementos. Janelle uses her camera to bless others (I'm the happy recipient of many).  Eleanor freely gives her decorating skills (and supplies) to brides, church dinners and showers.  I taught a crochet class at Emily's school. Melanie prepares a bit more food than her family needs for a meal so she can bless a working mother.  Janet listened to many health questions of her church family over the years of being a nurse practitioner.  The Skills List goes on -- Are you here? -- Sewing, cake decorating and house cleaning.  Quilting, vehicle maintenance and organizing.  Hospitality, flower arranging and food preparation. Indoor painting, recovering furniture and decorating. 

Why don't you write down three life skills you have?  And beside each one list the specific way you will use this for sheltering.  I'd love for you to leave them here to spark another's creative thinking. Isn't it such fun to shelter?  Nothing makes me happier!  God will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do (Hebrews 6:10).  And I will guarantee your heart will be full of grace -- and your soul generated by love.

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