It’s Election Day here in Florida. So, get out and vote (if you know what you are doing!). And, let me warn you, I’m in a silly mood – no serious message today.

Many years ago, I got a chance to work for and with politicians. It was fun and exciting. But, I learned quickly that I was much more interested in policy rather than politics. It’s an important distinction that kept me from making a career misstep.

While I was working with the politicians, I was asked to organize our party’s involvement in our local parade. And, one election year we had quite a few candidates that wanted to participate. (For my Olathe friends, it was the “Old Settler’s” Parade; one of my favorite events!) For each politician I had to find a convertible and those were hard to get. Our committee called and begged everyone we thought might be able to help and on the day of the parade we had enough cars and drivers to carry every candidate.

Two things happened that day that I will never forget.

Senator Bob Dole and his wife, Liddy, are two of the nicest people. I had interned for the Senator and had met them many times. They were the “rock stars” at our little parade. I was pleased to show them to the beautiful convertible that we had gotten for them. They are pleasant people and, compared to some politicians I have worked with, very low maintenance. It wasn’t until their car had taken them less than half-way through the parade that I realized we had made a huge mistake. Apparently the car we had gotten for them LOOKED great but ran terribly. The engine started smoking and the driver had to pull over; the car was overheating.

The Senator laughed it off and the two of them walked the rest of the parade route. They smiled and shook hands and chatted with the crowd. I was terribly embarrassed while they were so gracious. At the end of the parade, they said that they had had a great time and that they hoped that the car had not suffered permanent damage.

Whew, was I relieved.

But, the other memorable event from that day didn’t go as well. The Republican candidate for Treasurer of the State of Kansas had come to our little parade for the first time in known history. (I didn’t know that our state had a Treasurer before then!) He was a very nice man and his wife was delightful. But, we had huge problems with their participation.

First, his name ended in two sets of the letters “e” and “r.” Let’s call him Mr. “Smitherer.” Anyway, the sign painter had decided on their own that the spelling was incorrect and produced a sign that said the man’s name was Mr. “Smither.” I was shocked! How could I had an extra “er” to the nice man’s name? He had traveled to Olathe all the way from the western side of the state. Eventually, someone found a sheet of poster board, handwrote “er” on it and taped it to the signs on the side of the convertible. It looked horrible. But, Mr. and Mrs. “Smitherer” were so nice and so understanding. For a fleeting moment, I thought we were in the clear.

And, then we all saw the problem. The two-door convertible that the “Smitherers” were going to ride in was pretty old and in not-that-great of shape. (I would say that when you are running for State Treasurer that you get the cars that are less desirable, but I have already told you that Senator Dole’s car tried to blow up. I would image that you have already questioned my judgment!) Anyway, we had decorated it with crepe paper and balloons and a pretty sad set of signs on the sides (with extra the added “er” on both sides) and it looked “ok.” But, the floor board was pretty much gone, especially in the back seat. The carpet on the floor in the back was covering several large holes.

Whoever was going to ride on the back of the convertible had to leap from the door frame next to the driver’s seat onto the back seat; they couldn’t step on the floor for fear of falling through the rusty floorboard. The driver/owner of the car was panicked that someone would accidently step on the floor and do more damage to the car.

The problem was that Mrs. “Smitherer” was not tall and not slender and was wearing a dress and heals. Mr. “Smitherer” looked at the car, the signs with added “er” and then glowered at me. He had already been nice about the signs, he wasn’t going to solve this problem for me.

I grabbed some of our volunteers. One stood on the back seat of the car and one stood outside of the car. Mrs. “Smitherer” stood on the door frame, trying to balance with a very nervous smile. One man grabbed her left arm and the other her right arm. She jumped a little and they lifted her up and onto the back seat. She landed with a little “whoosh” sound and we were home free. As they pulled up into the parade line up, I started breathing again.

And then I realized that I needed to find somewhere else to be fast. I had no idea how we were going to get her out of that car!

Politics – it ain’t as glamorous as it looks!!

“The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.” (Job 5:11). OK, this verse really has nothing to do with today’s story – I just like it!!

On this day in 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act. This bill had passed the House by a vote of 394 Yay, 38 not voting and 1 Nay. The bill passed easily through the Senate by a voice vote.

The one Nay vote came from a very conservative member of the Republican Party from the state of Illinois, Representative Phil Crane. Representative Crane served in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 2004 (35 years). My research of available records gave me no insight as to why he voted “nay” on legislation that every other person either supported or did not care about.  And, his “nay” vote is still part of the official record now 26 years later.

Can you imagine the comments that he got from friends and foes alike? What did his family say to him every time the news reported that there was only one negative vote and that it had come from him?

But, let’s pretend for a moment that we can find no reason for him being the only vote of “no.” It’s true, sometimes we don’t know why people do what they do.

We all have situations like that in our group of family and friends. You know, the person who said or did something that was not what you expected of them or seemed to be totally out of character. One or two of you are shaking your heads in agreement, thinking “we still don’t understand what we did wrong to tick them off like that” or “she is crazy stubborn about that one issue” or “if he could just be quiet, the holidays would be so much nicer.” We don’t understand why that individual has decided to stand alone, taking a stand that none of the rest of us understand.

So what do we do with that “odd” one in our crowd? Remember that during the holidays, it is pretty much guaranteed that you will have to deal with that “one nay vote” person in your clan. Here are my recommendations:

Embrace them.

Welcome them.

Accept them.

Encourage them.

Forgive them.

Ignore their quirky ways.

Love them.

And, if they say something rude or act differently than the rest of the group, just look at them and smile, thinking to yourself “perhaps they forgot to take their medication this morning.” (And, hopefully they will do the same for us.)

Practice what Ralph Waldo Emerson suggested: “Sprinkle joy.” I promise you that the one who lives a “no” answer will someday remember your kindness and you will be blessed even if they never say a word to you.

“You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.” (Job 10:12)

Yesterday was Mom’s 86^th birthday. What an amazing lady! She has taught me so much and I love her with all my heart. Happy birthday again, Mom!!

Mom knows how to receive a gift. She sincerely oohhs and aahhs over every gift with great gusto.

For Mother’s Day one year, I bought her a plastic gardening hat.  It had a flower on it and a bow and a huge brim to protect her skin from the Kansas sun.  On that Mother’s Day, she loved the hat.  She put it on, modeled it for all of us, and gave me the biggest hug and kiss.  I was on cloud 9.  I had given my Mom the best gift ever!!

We finished the Mother’s Day morning activities and then got ready for church.  (Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday – remember?)  Sunday mornings were special, but hectic, with seven of us in the house all dressing in our best clothes.  As we gathered in the living room before heading out to the car, I looked at Mom.  There she was, dressed in her finest, shining with a Mother’s Day corsage that Poppa had bought for her, and wearing that big, plastic gardening hat that I had given to her.  I was embarrassed.  Didn’t she understand that it was a gardening hat and not a Sunday church hat?  She looked over at me and said, “Jill, I’m wearing your hat.  It’s beautiful.”  I replied, “Thanks, Mom.  But, I don’t think that it’s a church hat.”  She smiled, took off the hat, and said something about saving it for her gardening chores.

What I didn’t know until years later was that Mom wasn’t sure if I understood that my gift wasn’t appropriate for church.  And, she didn’t want to offend me by not wearing it as soon as she had received it.  Her plan was to look silly at church rather than making one of her kids feel bad.  I still tear up a little when I think about that.  I know what some of our not-too-good “church ladies” would have said or not said.

(Now, she didn’t always worry about us being embarrassed.  Misbehave and Mom had a different strategy!)

Mom really knows how to receive a gift!

We should be thankful for every act of kindness that comes our way.  Suck it up, Friend – it’s time to practice our game face for the “unusual” gifts we get this year.  And, when you get that “unusual” gift, be sincere in praising the giver; you may make a memory that will last a lifetime.

And, as we begin this holiday season, may our gratitude increase and increase.  For “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Many years ago I attended a Halloween party on October 31^st. (If you are offended that my generation held harmless celebrations on that day, please forgive me. I promise that my parents did not let us do anything that was “bad.”) Anyway, we were young, wearing costumes and having a great time.

The woman hosting the party was concerned that there would be too much “gathering together.” Get your mind out of the gutter – we weren’t that old!!  No, it was cold and flu season and she was concerned that someone with a bug would pass it to others. So, she took precautions that none of us knew about.

The first event on the party schedule was “bobbing for apples.” I was really good at this game and excited about getting to go first with two other friends. We knelt next to the big, galvenized tub, put our hands behind our backs and waited for the word “go.”

Apparently, our taste buds were working better than our sense of smell, because just as quickly as we dunked our heads into the water, we came out, heads thrashing back and forth splashing everyone around us. For what should have been a casual head dunking in cold water was a bath in “bleachy” water, heavy on the bleach.

We sputtered!

We screamed!

We spit and spit and spit!

We rolled our eyes and made gagging noises!

We yelled out that this was the “WORST THING THAT HAD EVER HAPPENED TO US IN OUR LIVES!!”

In her effort to keep us all safe from a few germs, the woman had ended the party. Even though she assured us that nothing else contained anything harmful, but we didn’t believe her. To us the popcorn balls looked suspicious and we sniffed the apple cider. Even the chocolate candy was turned down. Group think was: If this crazy woman expected us to bite into apples in bleachy water, who knew what else she had planned!!

Have you been there? You planned something big; you did what you thought was right; and, you made a huge mistake? I have. I once prepared a meal for a dinner party that was so bad that we ordered out for pizza. And years and years ago (before cooking shows), I “created” a vegetable soup recipe that was based on a unique broth – WATER! It’s true; I have crashed and burned – big and publically!! (I can see my family and friends nodding their heads and saying, “Yep, and we have watched her do it.”)

Oh no! The worst season for public embarrassment is just around the corner – Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. So many opportunities for mistakes. You know what I mean:

• Turkey that is “pink” in the middle.
• Her reaction when the little box under the tree contains post-it-notes and not pearls.
• Wearing “casual” to the holiday party when everyone else is in “formal.”
• Remembering that you had forgotten to go to the friend’s kid’s school band concert just as you share with them how great the game on TV was.
• Giving a friend a $5 gift as they present you a $50 gift.

Between us, let’s agree this holiday season that we will all make mistakes. As we intentionally “gather together,” let’s give ourselves and each other a break by being kinder than we have ever been before!

Today, call, email, text or send a note to that person who laughed or cried with you during a “major fail” experience in your life and tell them “thanks.” They may need your word of encouragement.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

It is October 31^st and the day before “We Gather Together 14” begins. I want to share my thoughts with you as we start this season together.

I am so humbled and honored that you have agreed to take this journey with me. I have been praying for our time together. If you were with me last year during the “25 Days of December”, you will know that this is a journey that I will walk with you. We will go together.

As I prayed about this holiday season, seeking God’s direction, I was drawn to a song written by a group of Dutch Christians in the 1600’s. Denied religious freedom by a foreign conqueror, they sought God during private, secret meetings. Consider these believers as they sang, knowing that at any moment, their worship could bring persecution.

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known. The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing. Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine! We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, And pray that Thou still our Defender will be. Let Thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

We need to gather together within ourselves. Our lives are too scattered; items on our “to do” list shout “now” at us. Email, snail mail, texts and phone calls scream for our attention. Our bodies are weary at the day’s end, but our minds keep us from sleep, spinning with thoughts of what needs to be done or what should not have been done. And, we constantly worry about what we have forgotten. We long for rest of times, of personal reflection, and of peace.

At the same time, we want to gather together with those we love. We long to share joy and to become closer. We are weary of sending gifts and greetings based on the cost or the shipping date. We want to be with others and yet we feel uncomfortable by having to ask them to include us. We long for community with those we share histories or futures together and we want them to desire the same from us.

And, we want to join together as communities of believers and of Americans. We need each other and we need God. It is true that the wicked are oppressing, but I encourage you to remember, that He “still our Defender will be!”

Friends, for the next 55 days, come let us gather together.

“See you” tomorrow.

p.s. Remember that “He forgets not His own!”

Yay!!  You found the right place. I’m excited that you are joining me for this exciting journey that will begin on November 1 and continue through December 25.

To receive my daily stories and words of encouragement, just click “FOLLOW” below the “follow blog via email” block.  You will need to enter your email address and a reply email will come to you to confirm what you have requested.

Please encourage others to come with us as we celebrate, remember and join together during this wonderful time of the year.  When we, our friends, family and colleagues all read the same posting, we have a unique opportunity to discuss both silly and important topics.  Our relationships will be strengthened.

God bless and I cannot wait until we are connected again on November 1st.  (But, don’t be surprised if I jump into our time together a little early!)

Jill

p.s.  As soon as your sign-up notice hit my account, I added you to my prayer list.  You are cherished and loved.  This may be our best holiday season yet.