Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

The Importance of Good Soil

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Matthew 13:3 “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.’”

Dear Kids:

I shouldered my bag and started the long hike from my car to the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. I had arrived, along with 50,000 other people, to enjoy the sights and sounds of the annual Farm Science Review in London, Ohio. After surrendering my ticket at the gate I paused to gain my bearings. I immediately noticed a huge sign inviting me and others to Uncover Your Phosphorus Variability with Grid Soil Sampling.

Good Soil Yields Bumper Crops

Now I have never even considered the phosphorus variability of the soil at our home, but working in the real estate business I know that soil matters. The farmers attending this event had great interest in this information. The perfect mix of sand, silt, and clay could be the difference between an average and a bumper crop. These farming men and women love the land and the yield supports their families.

Jesus understood the earth’s importance to a farmer’s livelihood, and He used it as an example of another type of soil. Sitting out in a boat on the nearby lake, Jesus told a parable to the large crowds who had gathered on shore to hear His teaching.

The Parable of the Sower and the Seed

“A farmer went out to sow his seed,” He began. Some of the seed fell on the hardened path and birds came and ate it all up. Some of the seed fell on the rocky places at the edge of the field. These sprang up quickly but wilted fast when the sun radiated its scorching rays. Still other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the plants. But still other seed fell onto the good soil. This seed produced a bumper crop, multiplying what was originally sown by as much as a hundred times.

Jesus explained the meaning of this parable to his confused disciples. Many will hear the message about God’s kingdom, but not all will understand. For some, the evil one snatches away what was sown in his heart. For others difficulty causes them to fall away quickly. Some will become overburdened with the thorny worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth. But the one who receives the message of God’s kingdom and understands it will yield a crop up to a hundred times what was sown.

Is Your Heart Good Soil?

You may never need to know the phosphorus variability of your particular plot of earth, but it wouldn’t hurt to evaluate what kind of soil makes up your heart. Do you hear God’s message and respond with joy and obedience? Or do you allow the evil one and the cares of this life to choke out any seeds of truth?

Ask God to cultivate your heart to receive His good seed. He will do it, and you will be thrilled with high demand crops He produces in your life!

Love,
Mama

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So Who Can You Really Trust?

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Jeremiah 17:5 & 7 “ . . . Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.”

Dear Kids:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by the water.”

Every day we trust people. We perform services and believe our clients will pay their bills, hire contractors and feel confident they will do their best work, and elect leaders hoping they will govern our country effectively. But very often our trust is misplaced.

When dealing with humans you never know for sure what you are going to get. This is because no one is perfect. Even the best individuals can make mistakes or let us down. There is only one Person on Whom you can completely rely.

God’s People Turned From Trusting Him

God’s people had strayed far away from Him. In the time of Jeremiah, things had gotten about as bad as they could get. Idol worship was rampant and many misled worshipers even offered their own babies on altars to foreign gods. The religious leaders were just as bad. Many had turned away from the worship of the true God and rejected His prophets. These relied on their own errant understanding of worship and the power of foreign nations to come to their aid in troubled times brought on by their sin.

The prophet Jeremiah warned that those who trust in mankind and rely on the strength and wisdom of humans would be disappointed. He likened them to a bush in the desert  – dried up and destitute. Conversely those who rely on the Lord and put their trust in Him would prosper. They would be like a tree planted by a stream whose leaves stay green and bear fruit even in difficult times.

Even today people claim to worship God but turn first to other sources for guidance and help in times of difficulty. A friend, family member, co-worker, pastor, or government official may become the first choice for counsel or assistance. But even in the best of situations, a man or woman can let you down and leave you dry.

So Who Can We Really Trust?

There is only one way to flourish through every circumstance of life. Put your trust in the Lord and follow His laws carefully. He searches the heart and tests the mind of every individual, giving each a reward according to his ways.

Your clients may fail to pay for your services. Elected leaders may make bad decisions. Co-workers may let you down. But if you put your trust in the Lord, despite what life may bring, you will surely be blessed. You can count on it!!

Love,

Mama

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Do Ungodly People Really Win?

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Luke 6:23 “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”

Dear Kids,

Photo by Jared Subia on Unsplash

Sometimes it seems like ungodly people win. We see it in business as well as in every day life. Those who have worldly wealth put the stranglehold on those less financially blessed and get what they want through the power of the dollar. Others use status to claw their way up the ladder, ousting others who may be more qualified. Unfair circumstances can create huge frustration and bewilderment for those who are trying to do right, but God has something to say about these matters.

Jesus Speaks Words of Encouragement to His Followers

Sitting on a Judean hillside Jesus spoke words of encouragement to His followers. He taught the attitudes and character qualities that pleased God and reassured His disciples that they would be blessed despite the apparent victory of ungodly men. While unscrupulous characters may seem to be rewarded here on earth, Jesus revealed the eventual downfall of the ones who choose to serve themselves instead of God.

The Gospel according to Luke records four blessings and four woes. This contrast shows that those who follow God here and endure difficult times with grace will receive their reward in heaven. On the other hand, those who disobey God and misuse their fellow man will suffer the consequences in the end. Worldly attitudes and actions only receive worldly rewards, while heavenly attitudes and actions receive even better heavenly rewards.

  • Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.
  • Blessed are those who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.
  • Blessed are those who weep now, for you shall laugh.
  • Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man . . . for great is your reward in heaven.
  • Woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.
  • Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry.
  • Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
  • Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

God Always Keeps His Word

A true man or woman of God must look beyond his or her circumstances and have the faith to believe that despite how things may seem, God will keep his word. Even the prophets of old endured similar injustices, so we are in in good company.

Do ungodly people really win? They may seem to receive some comfort and enjoyment here on earth, but it will only be short-lived. So don’t be frustrated or bewildered by those who treat you badly in business or in every day life. Instead seek to develop the attitudes and character qualities that God admires. Believe the words of Jesus and you can be glad and leap for joy. There is a better day coming and a great heavenly reward will be yours.

Love,

Mama

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Powerful Prescriptions from a Heavenly Physician

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Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Dear Kids:

Flu and cold season is upon us! It is not only the weak, but even the most hearty that can be forced to bed with coughing, sniffling, aches, and fever. This undesirable glitch in our plans is such an inconvenience for busy people like us! Thankfully there are excellent doctors and numerous modern medicines to ease the discomforts of our maladies and promote healing. This was not always the case.

Remedies from an old time drug store

Looking back in time often stimulates thankfulness. Recently we had an auction that featured relics from an old drugstore. As is my usual practice before an auction, I meandered through the Event Center to peruse the tables of neatly presented items. I imagined the sick from a time gone by seeking relief and healing from potions and syrups mixed in mortars and poured into beautifully colored bottles that lined the shelves of an old time pharmacy. These mysterious concoctions likely provided some relief, yet there was so much more they could not do.

Through the ages people have suffered in numerous ways. Our bodies are weak and over time we will each succumb to some sort of disease or malfunction. But even those who are healthy in body have other types of ailments. These are not ailments that old or new tonics can cure. They are of much greater concern because they can damage our minds and affect our thinking and our outlook on life. These emotional and psychological wounds shape how we look at God, others, and ourselves. Broken hearts of this type often lead to confused thinking, and there is no beautiful glass bottle filled with old time or modern medicine that can heal these.

Remedies for broken hearts

But there is a prescription that will do just the trick. The Greatest Physician ever known prescribes it. He, the Lord our God, understands the workings of every heart and the devastations that sin can cause. He provides the power to be healed if we are willing to let Him transform and renew our minds.

Are you dealing with a heart of pride? Take a dose of Humility. Are you down with a heart of jealousy? Slather it with a heavy coating of Love. Burdened with a heart of lies? Try two tablespoons of Truth. Are you aching with a heart of disbelief? Try a healthy cup of Faith. A heart of mourning? Spread the Oil of Gladness on it. And do you struggle with a heart of fainting? God prescribes a regular diet of Praise!

If you are sick with the common cold or the flu, then a trip to the doctor and a modern remedy will likely do the trick. But if you are dealing with a broken heart that has infected your mind, then the Great Physician is the One to prescribe the medication you need. It’s not a sweet syrup found in a beautiful glass bottle or capsules filled with curative powder. It is an old-fashioned health-giving balm activated by a transformed mind. Try God’s healing prescription today! It can make all the difference in the world.

Love,

Mama

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Hearing God’s Voice in the Storm

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Acts 27:25 “So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.”

Dear Kids:

Photo courtesy of www.wallpapersbuzz.com

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could control everyone around us? Unfortunately there are times we are forced into difficult situations because of decisions made by someone else. While we may know the right thing to do we are powerless to act. Instead we are left at the mercy of another’s lack of wisdom. These circumstances may be frustrating, but we are not left alone as helpless victims of another’s insanity. God is still in control, and we can fully trust Him to accomplish His purposes.

Paul’s Stormy Trip to Rome

Paul was en route to Rome although he had warned the ship’s captain  it was too late in the season to set out to sea. The decision was made against Paul’s will. Now he, along with the rest of the crew, was in danger of losing his life.

The angry winds howled around the battered ship with fierce malice. The reeling vessel was barely held in place by a lone anchor dangling beneath the churning waves. On deck the captain and crew frantically tried to hold the ship together in the face of the hurricane by passing ropes underneath the straining hull. Thick darkness surrounded them and reached out inky fingers which tightened around the men’s terrified hearts, squeezing out their last ounces of courage. The crew had thrown all the supplies overboard to lighten the ship’s load. They, weakened by lack of food, were beginning to lose hope of survival.

God’s Voice in the Storm

Suddenly out of the gloom and darkness Paul heard a comforting voice. “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Paul recognized that despite the captain’s bad decision, God’s plan could not be thwarted. He repeated these words of comfort to the fearful men, and their courage returned. God stepped into the storm, delivered the crew, and Paul finished the task that God had for him.

Many times in life we are placed in difficult situations against our will. The bad decisions of others force us into places we never wanted to be, and we feel helpless to change the course of our life. Take courage! God’s perfect plan will never be thwarted by anything or anyone. If you listen, in the midst of the storm, you, like Paul, can hear His voice saying, “Keep up your courage, my loved one! Trust Me!”

Love,

Mama

 

Trusting God When You Don’t Understand

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Daniel 3:17-18 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Bart Sheridan’s induction into the Ohio Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame – January 2019

Dear Kids:

Things are not always as they seem. Human nature causes most of us to interpret each circumstance through the funnel of our own understanding, and we make judgments based on our limited knowledge. This is a natural tendency in a world of untrustworthy people. The only way to navigate past these biases and feel safe is to understand Who has complete control of all of life and to fully trust Him.

Keeping a Secret From Dad

For the past few months you kids and I, along with a few select friends, have harbored a special secret. We knew that at the January Ohio Auctioneers Association Conference Dad was going to receive the prestigious recognition of being inducted into the Ohio Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame.

Hidden emails and texts flew between those of us who were planning the event as we gathered information, put together a slide show of pictures, and relayed arrival information for surprise guests. All the while Dad was in the dark about this coming honor and life went on as usual . . . until the day before the event.

I had just texted Uncle Matt some information about the guests’ arrival when Dad asked to use my phone because his was low on battery. I knew I couldn’t give him my device or he might see the secret messages. So in a very unusual manner I abruptly ran out of the room and quickly deleted the texts before coming back and handing him the cleared phone.

I could tell Dad was a little taken aback by my strange exit, but thankfully he didn’t ask any questions and knew me well enough not to make any wrong assumptions. It wasn’t until the next day when he received the award that he realized why I had acted so strangely. Things were not what they may have seemed to be.

Three Young Men Trust God

Three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced a strange turn of events, when they were taken from their homes into Babylonian captivity. This strange and distressing twist of life’s circumstances likely caused them to wonder about the God to Whom they belonged. Wasn’t He stronger than the king of Babylon? If so, why would He allow these devastating events into their lives?

But things were not as they seemed. And Instead of abandoning the God of their youth, these young men chose to trust Him fully even when they didn’t understand. When King Nebuchadnezzar made a law that everyone must worship the golden image he created or else be thrown into a fiery furnace they refused to bow. Their brave words became a testimony to their great faith.

They knew to Whom they belonged and trusted Him despite all that was happening. God honored their faith and walked with them through the blazing flames.

Trusting God When You Don’t Understand

Each of us will also face times when we don’t understand what life has thrown at us. It may seem that God is acting strangely or may have even disappeared. These distressing times may even cause us to doubt His love, goodness, and power. But don’t lose heart! Things are not as they seem!

The God Who walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego through the flames will walk with you through your difficulties too. Don’t allow your limited understanding to shape your responses. Instead stake your life on His faithfulness and trust Him fully. He will never let you down!

Love,

Mama

The Way Out of the County Jail and Other Prisons

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Zechariah 3:1 “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.” 

A Visit to the County Jail

The Way Out of the County JailA dark foreboding feeling crept over me as I pulled the metal door open and entered our neighboring county jail. I was there on business with nothing to fear, but still the clanging doors and dark dismal interior sent shivers up my spine. I waited on a cold bench until an officer unlocked the security doors and beckoned me into the hallway outside the office area. There, while waiting to be helped, I watched the movements of a few inmates and their wardens on the numerous security cameras behind the thick glass. Finally my business was completed. The door clicked open, and I hurried through the lobby and out into the sunshine.

As I headed to my car I breathed a sigh of relief. Yet my thoughts wondered about all of those who did not have the freedom to leave that imposing institution. What crimes did they commit? How long did they have to stay? What kinds of sordid things happened in there?

Satan, the Accuser of the Brothers

The Bible calls our enemy, Satan, an accuser of the brothers. He is always searching the earth for those whom he can indict before the Lord. There is nothing he would like better than to have us locked up in a prison of guilt and sin. He did this with Job, with Peter, and in a vision that the prophet Zechariah experienced.

In Zechariah’s vision Joshua, the high priest, was standing before the angel of the Lord. Satan was pointing to the dirty garments he wore and accusing him of vile things. The Lord, as judge, didn’t respond the way you would expect when presented with a terrible sinner. Instead He rebuked the accuser and told those standing near to remove the filthy garments and replace them with festal robes and a clean turban. The angel of the Lord then admonished Joshua to walk in the ways of the Lord. In so doing he would be fit to govern the temple, God’s dwelling place, and to perform the sacred duties with free access amongst all who were there.

Joshua, the high priest, represented the whole nation. God was revealing through this vision that though their accuser had a real case, He would cleanse them and set them free. In the following verses (3:8-10) a symbol of the Messiah, the Branch, is foreshadowed. This Branch, the Lord Jesus Christ, would eventually come to earth to set all prisoners free.

The Way Out of the County Jail or Other Prisons

Sadly, sin remains rampant here on the earth. There will always be those who stand before a judge and jury accused of wrongdoing and sentenced to imprisonment. There are many who, though they walk free on the streets outside the county jail, are imprisoned in their own hearts and minds. But everyone, even the cruelest of inmates, has the opportunity to be spiritually liberated.

The Judge of the earth vindicates all those who put their trust in Jesus. Satan, the accuser is thwarted. The prison doors of sin and guilt fly open. And the defendant is finally free!

Love,

Mama

The Foolishness of Answering Your Own Prayers

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Ezra 8:22 “For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”

Dear Kids:

Do you ever try to answer your own prayers?

I hate to admit that sometimes I do. I will have a heavy burden on my heart and will set aside a time to talk to God about it. The tears flow as I express my utter helplessness in a difficult situation. I thank God for His faithfulness and communicate how I am trusting Him to come through. I rise from my knees feeling like a heavy burden has been lifted. And then . . . I begin . . . to try and answer my own prayers.

I am naturally a problem solver. My brain is constantly thinking about how to be more efficient or how to fix things that are wrong. So immediately after praying I often rehash my difficult circumstances over and over trying to find a solution to the equation. Not only does this bring my anxiety level up again, but it is dishonoring to the Lord.

Ezra Trusts God to Answer his Prayers

Ezra understood this natural tendency to want to answer his own prayers. This scribe and priest was leading a large group of Israelites on a journey back to their national city of Jerusalem. They had been living in a foreign country for many years, and God had opened an opportunity for them to go home. All the pieces had been falling in place. But as they prepared for the 900-mile trip, Ezra starting thinking about all it would entail. There were whole families making the journey and lots of possessions that needed to be transported. With women and children on board they were likely to be sitting ducks for all sorts of thieves and enemies. How would he keep everyone safe and healthy?

There was the possibility of asking the king of Persia for protection. After all, Artaxerxes had offered to supply anything necessary for the trip. But this solution didn’t sit right with Ezra. He had confidently said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.” By asking Artaxerxes to send soldiers to protect the travelers, Ezra would be answering his own prayer for protection instead of letting God provide the better answer.

God’s Faithfulness in Answering Prayers

So, instead, this wise leader of Israel proclaimed a fast so that the travelers could humble themselves before God. They asked Him to provide protection for the families, the children, and the possessions. And guess what –  God came through.

Ezra divided up the valuable furnishings for the temple among the returning priests and charged them with guarding the items carefully. Then they set out along the road. God’s hand of protection was upon them leading and guarding them from all the dangers lurking in the shadows. Many days later the entire caravan arrived safely in Jerusalem. Sacrifices of thanksgiving burned on the altar as the people blessed the Lord for His provision. The nation learned a lesson in faith, and the Lord was honored.

What about us? We are foolish when we make requests of our heavenly Father and then try to answer our own prayers. I know because my solutions never produce the fixes I hope for. The anguish of uncertainty leaves me drained. The outcomes are never very good. And my testimony of faith in God’s power and goodness is blemished.

The alternative is clearly to respond the way Ezra did. Humble ourselves, ask for God’s help and then trust Him do the hard part!

Love,

Mama

Waiting On The Lord

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Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” 

Photo by Pranam Gurung on Unsplash

Life has a way of blinding us. Things that once seemed so clear lack clarity the next day. We tend to push ourselves through these difficult times, but sometimes the answer is just to wait!

The crisp air tingled on my face as I locked the house door and tramped down the snow-packed sidewalk to the van. Mindlessly I threw my bag into the middle seat, started the engine and headed toward our office to begin another routine workday. But this day as I drove down our long lane I was suddenly blinded by brilliant sunlight hitting the frost encrusted windshield. My visibility abruptly dropped to almost zero and our familiar gravel drive became obscure. Scrambling for my sunglasses I slowly crept forward, hoping to make it to the road without veering into a snowbank. Finally I made my turn and headed away from the sun, thankful to have traversed the difficult situation without any big problems.

Minutes after arriving at work I realized I had forgotten something I needed at the house. I turned around and headed back. I was frustrated that I would have to retrace my steps and deal with the visibility problem all over again. But to my surprise, though only a few minutes had passed, the sun had moved in the sky and my view of the lane was now perfectly clear.

How much is life like this? Sometimes in the midst of our routine we are dropped into a situation that is blinding at best. We feel lost as we try to move forward and yet don’t know how to find our way along a once familiar road. We squint and grab for our sunglasses trying to make sense of our circumstances, and yet the way ahead remains unclear. It is natural to tightly grip the steering wheel in these times and try to move forward despite our confusion, but often God just asks us to wait quietly.

Our all-wise Father knows the path we are taking and sees beyond the crisis of the moment. His vision of the circumstances is completely clear and He has a plan that He is working to fulfill in us and those around us. Instead of pressing forward and risking a dive into a snowbank, we are called to trust Him and wait patiently. In time the blinding sun will move as He reveals His will to us and our way will become clear again.

When your life has hit a stretch of blinding sun, hang in there. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart . . . .” In time your vision of the lane will clear and you will be back on the road again.

Love,

Mama .

Coincidence or Not?

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Psalm 33:10-11 “The Lord foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

 

Life is unpredictable. In the space of a moment circumstances can change. Those who know the Lord recognize that nothing happens by chance. Our great God holds our lives in His hands and all of our times are orchestrated by Him. Many would call these turns of events coincidences, but God’s children know they are not!

This past week contained a number of unpredicted happenings. At the time these seemingly random changes in plans felt ordinary and mundane, but put together we began to see God working for our good.

Saturday afternoon Dad, who was finishing up a missionary trip in Costa Rica, checked his flight schedule. Much to his surprise the original flight plan had been changed for no apparent reason and instead of getting home at midnight he would be arriving around 6 PM. Coincidence or not?

Saturday evening Abigail and I decided to go out to eat for dinner. We asked Emily if she would like to join us and the three of us spent the evening together. After our meal the waiter, who knows Emily, mentioned that Grandma and Grandpa were dining in another section. We found them and chatted for 10-15 minutes before hugging them and leaving for home. Coincidence or not?

Luke and Brianna went away for the weekend. They were supposed to arrive home on Monday evening, but they decided to return early on Sunday instead. Coincidence or not?

Sunday afternoon I received a call and learned that Grandpa had fallen and was taken to the hospital with what turned our to be serious complications. Soon all the family was requested to come immediately. Luke and Brianna, who had just arrived home, picked up Dad from the airport where he had just touched down and took him straight to the hospital. The rest of us joined him there and were able to wait and pray together for Grandma and Grandpa.

Things did not look very good, but each of us (except for John-Keith and Naomi who are in Massachusetts) were able to be together during this difficult time. Coincidence or not?

God had his hand on our family and we are thankful that Grandpa is doing better. And through this circumstance we know that our lives are in God’s hands. He has everything under His control. His plans and the purposes of His heart stand firm forever throughout all generations. Nothing can stop Him! Nothing can thwart Him! He does what He pleases and we can trust Him fully for everything that happens.

Coincidence or not? I will let you decide!

Love,

Mama