Musings Archives - Anne Rauth

July 23, 2018October 11, 2018

Guardian Angels and Baseball

Several years ago we decided to try baseball for our two youngest boys. This was the first year they were eligible for a kid pitch team.

It was a hot summer to be playing baseball.

It was a long summer when your team doesn’t win.

And there was one game I’ll never forget.

Our youngest son was slated the very next day to “interview” to potentially get an agent for modeling and acting. He wat at that age when he really didn’t know how cute and sweet he was.

But before he went there, he had to play this baseball game.

He was up to bat, and to be honest, he hadn’t gotten very many hits that season. He was probably a little timid, but was trying.

He was looking at 3 balls, no strikes and I’m sure was excited that he would get on base, when all of a sudden, a very fast ball hit him in the eye.

Scary. Strike. Black eye. And many tears.

And God was there.

The coach came up to me after the game and said, “I don’t know why I did this, but when I gave them the game ball, I gave them one of the soft balls because I couldn’t find the regulation ball.

I was speechless.

I was grateful.

I kept repeating over and over, “thank you God”.

God knew that our youngest son would get hit by a wild pitch, and he intervened. In his mercy, he blinded the coach to where the hard ball was.

Don’t ever leave my boys, guardian angels…..
Luke 4:10

April 16, 2018October 11, 2018

Friends, meet Martha…

I bought a homeless woman a pastry this morning. Her name is Martha. Please don’t give me accolades, just do something like this today for someone that needs some extra love.

We struck up a conversation because she didn’t know which shoulder to throw salt over because it’s going to be a full moon, she informed me.
“It’s cold out there, “I said. She said, “But I’ve seen daffodils!”
Daffodils? I hadn’t even been looking for them yet.

Sometimes we need to take our phones and other electronics away for a while. I did and engaged in a conversation. If you do that, you might actually see “the man in the mirror” or “the woman in the back of the coffee shop”.
Connect

Start a conversation.

Could it make your pocketbook $3.50 poorer? Yup Could it enrich your life? Well, mine was today.

But more important than your pocketbook is your heart. After bringing her to the counter and letting her pick a pastry, my heart felt good. And who knows…. Maybe Jesus is also enjoying that frangipane tart. He did say, “When you’ve done this unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me” right?

As I left the store, I asked Martha if I could take her picture with me, and that’s who you see pictured here. Martha told me she didn’t have one of those “fancy phones”. And I told her that I normally couldn’t work it without one of my boys helping me. But today, we made it work.

Friends, meet Martha….

February 26, 2018October 11, 2018

Dear Miss Ember

This week a friend of mine had a new baby girl. As you all know, I’m not a mother of girls, but I wanted to write baby Ember a little love note…..

Dear Miss Ember,
Welcome to this world! I can’t wait to see you in person, to hold you and to tell you how much you were prayed for and loved even before you came into this world.

You have the power to truly change the world. And, your power source is a guy named Jesus. He loves you and is excited for you to pray and talk to him about what is on your heart. Always remember that more than anyone else he loves you. (Your family will fill you in on him as you get older.)

On to boys…. My prayer for you is that your future husband (and we do need to start praying for him) first off loves Jesus. And that he loves you and respects you and will always be your biggest fan. And, just in case you wondered, you have plenty of time for this one.

Sleep is next. You’re going to do this for many hours right off the bat, but unfortunately for your parents you won’t do this all in a row. As you get older, you’ll figure it out, but my prayer right now is for your family especially that you figure this sleep thing out sooner rather than later!

Finally, your sisters are going to love you so much. I know sometimes you won’t think it, but truly, they do. I’m sure you’ll argue. I’m sure you’ll cry when they do something you don’t like, but they’ll also defend you and protect you.
Even though some people may say this verse isn’t right for a “girl”, please remember what God told a guy named Gideon. He was the youngest, just like you. He told him, “The Lord is with you, Oh strong and mighty warrior.” And he’ll always be with you too.

Ember, always remember to keep your light shining for Jesus. And, will you please tell your mom whenever she’s ready that we’ll be ready to baby sit you.

December 18, 2017October 11, 2018

When you are the mom of only boys, you don’t get tea parties or nail painting. Nope. You get “I have a break from school and I want to go fishing and camping.”

So, if this post is a day late, it’s because I didn’t have Internet and my hot spot was not “hot”. (I got the dreaded Red X—no connections available. Nuts.)

Or that I froze to death.

r that a venomous snake came out of hibernation and got me.

Sweet dreams everyone…..

Camping to me is at minimum a cheap hotel. A quaint cabin perhaps.

Camping to me means there’s running water.

Camping to me is a requirement because I’m a boy mom.

Please believe me, I do want our boys to respect the land and always honor it.
But the thought of snakes, and various other wild creatures makes me a little nervous.

I do remember the time that I took our youngest on his first campout at a Boy Scout Campsite, while he was only a Cub Scout. I was told, “Do not worry. Snakes don’t like people and they will stay away from all the campers.”
HA! Bald face liars.

I can still see that huge black snake slithering across our path! He was so big that some of the older scouts “captured” him to put him on display so others could see him for the rest of the camping season.

And, yes, for those of you who are “snake savvy”, it was a black snake, and I guess they are the good kind. But again, let me repeat, he was big and slimy and slithering along my path.

Say a little prayer for campers everywhere…

September 29, 2017

The Summons

I got a fairly official piece of paper in the mail today. When I opened it up, it was official: I am summoned for jury duty!

A week long jury duty. Let that one sink in: week long.

I can’t bring my cell phone.

I can’t bring any electronic equipment.

And, no concealed weapons or knives. (That one is painful.)

I love America. I may not love everything happening in America, but truly it still is the greatest country in the world. And I’m grateful to God that I live here.

I do love especially my freedom of speech, so here goes…. I really don’t like jury duty.

I have never actually been picked to sit on a jury, but I have gone every time I was called. I have been questioned by the attorneys, but was not selected.

I was just fine with that.

However, I have always wondered what would happen if I was selected to be on a jury? Could I sit there and potentially sentence someone to a life in prison?

I honestly don’t know. And, so I hope when I call that number listed on my official letter they will have settled whatever the case is out of court and my services aren’t required.

This official piece of paper has made me stop and think. At the top, by the official seal, it says “The US Constitution guarantees all people the right to trial by an impartial jury.” It does say that and so I will go if I’m asked to serve.

Micah 6:8 in The Bible says to “Seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” This is going to be my reminder if I am called to serve. It should be my call to serve every day, not just when I’m on a jury.