A Chain of Thoughts

I just picked a bowl of cherry tomatoes from my topsy turvy and posted a picture below. My plants in the ground were planted at the same time but just decided to grow this week. Patience is certainly a virtue!

Last night, Keri called. Sofia had sung two songs at the nursing home where Kevin brings a devotion on Sunday afternoon. Kevin said she held the microphone and sang like a pro. The director asked her to play the baby grand piano next time they come. She's practicing! Selah asked to talk to me for awhile. Selah is my grandchild who never says, "thank you". Instead, she always says, "I love you, Gramma." I don't know why, but people have to be very special to me before I say, "I love you!" I think it is so precious, and I don't take it lightly. I pray that Selah will always be able to express her love.

Last Friday, I had the rare opportunity for a Muslim student to tell me what life is like in her country for a woman. Women cannot travel anywhere without a male family member. If she is suspected of looking at a man or talking to him, she will be put on a block in a public place and lashed. If the man has touched her, she and the man will be stoned to death. The woman is never allowed to drive, and in most cases does not do the grocery shopping. She is allowed to buy clothing for the children. If the family has servants, the husband will decide the menu and when they will have parties. The women and men eat in different dining areas on the floor. They eat with their right hand without flatware. The left hand is evil. As she was talking to me, I thought of my father's messages. He often said that Jesus was the champion of women's rights. In fact, Jesus stopped people from stoning a woman who had sinned. Then, I thought about the way my father truly loved my mother. He always respected her, never criticized her publicly and showed his affection for her daily. They always held hands and he hugged and kissed her until the day he died. He practiced what he preached!