Take Root Devotions

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

The more we love, the more loving we become. Love fosters kindness; love elicits respect; love clears the way for a positive attitude; love inspires hope and confidence; love brings joy, peace, beauty and harmony.

Sister Stanislaus Kennedy

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

Every bite is a surprise.

A Blind Man

 

From Gano's Journal - July, 2012

Editor's note: another posting from an old friend who has had many difficulties in life but continues to find God's fingerprints everywhere in his world.

I am writing very little. I have been unfaithful in action but not in my heart as to this work. I have been stressed to the limit. Good stress and bad stress. My daughters continue to be rather hateful – not Beth my Navy girl or Summer, my oldest, but the other three. In fact, I had one of my tires slashed and graffiti keyed into my car's finish. I think my youngest did that. I was scared.  It hurt but I forced myself into filing a domestic violence injunction filed against my youngest and her boyfriend. Once it was served to them they vacated the house. But at court time we pulled the injunction since they were already gone. No need to have that harsh but needful piece of paper to hinder any possible reconciliation with her and her sisters. Wishful thinking at this point in time; but still my wish.

I found the Ball Python she left loose in my house. It was very scary for me but I gloved up reached for it in its hiding place in the corner of her closet. She was curled up in a pile of clothing, miscellaneous chains, a home-made bong and scattered papers on the closet floor. I took it to the House of Reptiles, a smelly little business that will feed it and care for it until it gets an owner. The pretty cat abandoned at the house by another daughter is sweet and lovable and I am willing to keep it.

These children left my house in shambles. An old friend - Elaine- has been a help beyond belief. She has helped me clean and find peace of mind. And, since she is an addictions therapist she has helped me to understand my addicted daughters and also their recently deceased mother as well.

It has been very hot these days for a 62 year old painter on a ladder in the Florida sun. Nevertheless, I am thankful for the health and the work. 

I have been publishing a bit (four articles) with Baptist senior citizen magazine. Unfortunately, the Managing Editor googled me and found out my felony. I have been banned from their pages. Discouraging. Outrageous. A large church - my mother’s -had ordered over 100 issues because I wrote a 1000 words on her and several church members who went on a mission to Guatemala. She is 82 and the piece was perfect for their pages.  How embarrassing for her. The Associate Editor apologized to me. She said she fought for me, but to no avail. She said she hated losing one of her best writers. Nice compliment; like telling a man roped up on the gallows he has sweet breath. It is not surprising that the church of my youth, Baptist, is the one showing such self- righteousness and unforgiveness. It affirms the difficult experiences I had with them as I was growing up. I understand why Gandhi said the Christian thing is a good idea, why won't someone try it?

Elaine asked me to marry her today. I was surprised and elated. I said yes immediately. Then two hours later my probation officer showed up and was able to meet her. I told Elaine she beat me to the punch. Asking her to marry me was on my impossible wish list. In the light of my present circumstances I would never have asked her to enter into my difficult life. I am so fortunate. She makes me feel so appreciated.

I have an old friend who often says, “Life is hard but God is always good.” All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.

 

Gano Reinhardt

Words Of Hope and Faith

Then they cried to the Lord in their need

and he rescued them from their distress.

He sent forth his word to heal them

and saved their life from the grave.

Psalm 107

 

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

Let them thank the Lord for his love, 

for the wonders he does for men.

Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks

and tell of his deeds with rejoicing.

Psalm 107

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.  2 Kings 20: 5.

 

Alive and Well

Editor's note: another posting from an old friend who has had many difficulties in life but continues to find God's fingerprints everywhere in his world.

I am alive and well. As my old friend Warren says, it’s good to be on this side of the grass. My mortality has recently become an issue for me. Nothing serious, I think. But a recent doctor’s visit revealed my kidneys are not doing 100% of the work they are supposed to do. Soon as I received the call about my blood work my back started hurting. Two days later Elaine brought to my attention to the extra soft mattress we use and I thought maybe it is the mattress and my back quit hurting. The mind is so powerful!

I spent so much money - which is a very limited commodity – on this latest encounter with my doctor. Elaine was hurt when I began to complain. She dotes on me and insists I remain healthy. She said, I just want you to be alive and well when I get old.  Well, I felt guilty for getting so anxious. So I said, “You know, you are probably right. I mean, if I didn’t get the care I needed and I passed on I suppose I would never hear the end of it.”

I have a lot of things to be thankful for. Unfortunately, they do not scream for my attention as my complaints do. I have watched about six hours of Oprah on a DVD/TV with Elaine. Oprah is big on gratitude. It got my attention. Listening to girly programs with my wife has its positive side. So, I count a few blessings. I am currently waiting for my precous friend and wife to come home from work. I am in pretty good health, mental and physical. I have gas in my car and a little money in the bank. Here is another thing to be thankful for. My wife makes every weekend feel like a holiday. 

My wonderful father-in-law and good friend, Lee, who served time for bank robbery once answered my question, Having a good day, Lee with: “Gano, anytime you wake up and you are not it prison, it tends to be a good day.” There are many ways to be grateful.

To continue my gratitude attitude, I am currently writing from an air conditioned home with food in the fridge  and am using a pretty good computer that has some Beatle songs playing on YouTube. I spent some dreary years in prison yet, I made some good friends. To quote Lee again, “You know Gano, it is surprising all the good people you can meet in prison.” And, I have some good friends from 30+ years ago who still care for me. And I made some free world friends while locked up who I am still in contact with. And, although it will require some discipline and frugality I should be able to stay retired.

I  do have a little cause for anxiety. I just heard from Wells Fargo’s attorneys. The house I am living in will be auctioned off at the local court house on August 14. I contacted an attorney and discovered that I cannot be represented in court regarding the house because I am no longer on the deed. I am on the loan but not the deed registered at the court house. So much I did not know, but I had a long and rent free ride here. About 14 months now. Don’t know how the process works but I should get the benefit of a 30 day eviction notice. That would give me until mid or late September. We still have a contract to buy a home elsewhere in the city in Elaine’s name. We need a miracle or fine coincidence to make the transition without bouncing to a motel and using storage units until our house is available. So, an adventure waits. I am trying not to be too worried.

I took my mother and my brother to a movie – The Lone Ranger – to celebrate his birthday. A great movie. A comedy actually. Probably not to everyone’s taste but I liked it. Sam was very ill a couple of months ago. Almost lost him. Heart/stroke problems and exacerbated by too much alcohol over many, many years. I have also started to read again. I got to where I was not reading so much. I have gone through about ten so far this year. I would like to get a little more silence in my life but at present I am enjoying the distractions of life too much. Sprituality is work.

Gano Reinhardt

 

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

Which of these three in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim? He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke

 

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

When we handle the sick and the needy we touch the suffering body of Christ and this touch will make us heroic; it will make us forget the repugnance and the natural tendencies in us. We need the eyes of deep faith to see Christ in the broken body and dirty clothes under which the most beautiful one among the sons of men hides. We shall need the hands of Christ to touch these bodies wounded by pain and suffering.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

 

Words Of Hope and Faith

 

Very often it has happened in the lives of the saints that a heroic overcoming of repugnance has been the key to a high sanctity. Such was the case of Saint Francis of Assisi, who when metting a leper completely disfigured, drew back, but then overcoming himself, kissed the terrible disfigured face. The result was that Francis was filled with an untold joy. He became the complete master of himself and the leper walked away praising god for his cure.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta