The Beacon
Blue Mound UMC August 2024
Good Morning, Lord!” Or “Good Lord It’s Morning.”
How do you greet a new day? Before you get out of bed, your attitude can set the design for your whole day. Some folks can bounce up with a cheerful smile and a “get right to it” approach. Others need more time, and a few cups of coffee or tea to wake up. For me, I can, at different times, rise up with either of these approaches to the day ahead. It has a lot to do with what I know I will face on that particular day. It could be happiness or dread concerning what is coming.
The way we face our mornings is very often: Easier Said Than Done.
There are verses in Matthew 6 where Jesus teaches about Worry: Verse 34 concludes by saying “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
So, what does this have to do with waking up in the morning? If each day has its own trouble and tomorrow will worry about itself, shouldn’t we just focus on our trust and hope in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit every day.
> Linda
Good Night, Lord
Pastor’s Corner
Last month I introduced the subject of empathy. Having empathy is to attempt to identify with someone else’s situation, perspectives, or experiences. Empathy is said to be about looking at things from someone else’s point of view, rather than our own, and imagining ourselves in their place.
It is an essential skill to have in the workplace, and in our friendships, relationships, and everyday interactions with other people, helping us to connect with and relate to them in meaningful ways. Empathy is important because we all need to feel heard and understood, and to reciprocate by listening to and understanding others.
I think many people have empathy from an early age. Here’s a story from Joel Bretscher which displays a child showing empathy:
Years ago, my wife Della and I, along with our two children, drove from St. Louis to Atlanta to visit family. Three hours into the ten-hour-drive, our daughter Hope, four years old at the time, suddenly asked with alarm, “Mommy, Daddy, did you remember to pack Dora?” Dora was Hope’s teddy bear – the teddy bear she’d cuddle to fall asleep at night. Simultaneously, it dawned on all four of us that Dora was back at home, sitting on Hope’s bed. A short moment of silence was broken by Hope’s sniffling.
My mind immediately started calculating how long it would take to turn around, retrieve Dora, and start all over again. My wife, Della, began thinking of how much it would cost to have a friend overnight the stuffed bear to Atlanta. While we were focused on trying to fix the problem, our seven-year-old son Luke reached out to Hope, took her hand, and said, “It’s really sad not having Dora.” Still in tears, Hope nodded. After a few moments, Luke said, “I’m sad with you,” and the two sat there holding hands.
A minute or so later, Luke reached into the bag of books and toys at his feet, and pulled out his own stuffed bear, Valentino. He gave it to Hope, saying, “Valentino is sorry you’re missing Dora too, and he says he’ll be your friend if you want.” Hope hugged Valentino, and he became her companion throughout the next week.
Although Valentino could never fully replace Dora, Hope was comforted by having a brother who could feel and understand the depth of her pain.
There will be countless opportunities for us to show the gift of empathy to others. I pray you recognize those opportunities when they present themselves and share the gift of empathy with others.
Peace Be With You, Buster
Judy Klein Found This and Submitted It for Our Newsletter
August
Let’s Celebrate!
Birthday
02 Cindy Coffman
07 Buster Noah
08 J.B. Haisler
09 Tia Hackett
17 Katie Klein
18 Danny Schertz
26 Barbara Garrison
27 Luci Hackett
28 Sam Reynolds
29 Karen Reynolds
Anniversary
31 J.B. and Shirley Haisler
I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139: 14
Kid’s Corner
August
04 Holy Communion
11 Second Sunday Lunch, Noon
24 Family Fellowship Night, 6:00 pm Fun, Games, and Food.
Pastor Buster Serves in Many Ways
At 2nd Sunday Lunch July 14, 2024
BLUE MOUND UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
8421 N. Interstate 35, Denton, TX 76207-1537 (940) 382-0825
Midway between Denton and Sanger at Exit 473
Sunday School: 9:30 am, Sunday Worship: 10:45 am
Website: www.bluemoundumc.org
Linda Boyer, Newsletter Editor
Need to contact Pastor Buster Noah?
Email: pastor@bluemoundumc.org
