Archive | August 2022

rag doll memories

I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old. I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:11-12

Recently a friend showed me her antique Raggedy Ann Doll. Seeing it brought back a flood of memories. I instantly remembered curling up beside my mom with my siblings as she read the Raggedy Ann stories to us. We enjoyed the antics of this cloth gal and her brother Andy. Once Mom saw that we were having fun with the stories she made several trips to the library to find new books to share the adventures of this the fun loving duo. As I looked at the doll’s yarn hair another memory began to surface. When we were little my mom sewed some of our clothes and often made many of our Halloween costumes. One year for Halloween my mother made my younger sister and I Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy costumes. My sister dressed as Ann and I went as Andy. We were the cutest little dolls. Mom took time to put detail into our outfits. I wish we had pictures from that year but film and developing were expensive. These days you just pull out your phone and take as many pictuers as you want and delete the ones you don’t like. Back in the day it was much more of a luxury to take pictures and with four growing children my parents were not able to take pictures on every holiday. Although I don’t have a picture to hold in my hand, seeing the doll brought a precious memory to my mind and I can see us in our outfits right down to the striped socks and red yarn wigs. I know we entered a costume contest that year but I can’t remember if we won a prize. To me the prize is the time and love my mom put into the costumes and everthing she did for her family. What fun to revist my rag doll memory. As I reflect on this childhood memory I also think of all the special things God has done for me and my family over the years. As God’s good deeds come to mind I want to make more of an effort to remeber His wonders and meditate on His mighty deeds.

Reflection and Photo: Marge McCoy

accomplished

Aug30

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. —Lao Tzu

Photo by Mark Wood

God’s handwriting

Aug29

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo by Marge McCoy

He Leadeth Me

Aug28

He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me! O blessed thought,
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught;
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
Still ’tis Christ’s hand that leadeth me.

Refrain
He leadeth me! He leadeth me!
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
Sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
By waters still, o’er troubled sea,
Still ’tis His hand that leadeth me.
Refrain

Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur or repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since it is Thou that leadest me.
Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,
When, by Thy grace, the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Since Thou in triumph leadest me.
Refrain

Lyrics: Joseph Henry Gilmore (1834-1918)
Music: William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868)

Audio: Stephen Sollars
Photo: Marge McCoy