If anyone saw me trying to untangle Penelope and her leash from the mailbox post today your assumption of me being physically and mentally challenged is correct. I just woke up one day and became a bona fide old lady with all the quirks and all the cricks. Had to take Penelope to vet brother’s clinic this morning for her Canadian goose croup cough. She does this every so often from eating a piece of trash she finds in the yard. I watch her like a hawk on our walks but she’s sneaky. Coughed off and on all night. Coughing magically stopped when we got to vet brother’s clinic. She got a shot and an antibiotic so she’s on the way to feeling better. Always gets a pedicure, too. That girl knows how to grow some toenails. M.K. Clinton wrote, “The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” How true! Love what W.H. Auden said, “In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag.” I’ve always wondered if dogs have to concentrate to make their tails wag.

I believe my rain dance was more powerful than I realized. Still raining in my little part of the world. The rain blew in on the porch so I had to ponder in my reading chair today. The grass in my flower bed is taller than the zinnias. I pulled a little bit of grass up today between rain showers but I’ve got a long way to go. I found another volunteer tomato in the flower bed so that makes three plants that came up from last year’s tomatoes. Picked my first squash today! My cucumbers have a thousand blooms. So looking forward to a tomato sandwich and some sliced cucumbers marinated in vinegar.

No visible sunset tonight but the orchestra of frogs are tuning their instruments getting ready for their night’s musical performance. I can hear their symphony through the kitchen windows. The earth is full of music if we take time to sit quietly and listen. Robin Williams said, “Do you know what music is? Gods little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe; harmonic connection between all living beings, everywhere, even the stars.”

Between the rain showers I watched the red cardinals and the blue jays frolic, reminding me of the colors of our glorious American flag, softly unfurling in the coming summer breezes from front porches across America. We need to remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom while serving in the U.S. military. We also need to pray for the wounded warriors and those who hold scars close to their hearts from their service in the armed forces. We have the privilege of being free to gather with family and friends to enjoy a meal together and celebrate the Memorial Day holiday due to the brave men and women who work together and sacrifice their family time to keep America safe. John 15:13 states, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Bible scripture uses military imagery to describe the life of a Christian, portraying us as soldiers in a battle against evil. We’re true warriors when we have the Holy Spirit in us guiding us through God’s words. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:9.

Remember the song we sang in Bible school, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus?

Here’s the first stanza. “Stand up! Stand up for Jesus! Ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, It must not suffer loss. From vict’ry unto vict’ry His army shall He lead, till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.” To be a good soldier for Jesus we have to be dedicated to living a life that follows Jesus’ teachings. We have to persevere through the hard times relying on our faith and God’s grace. We have to be diligent in our Bible study and our prayers, making our spiritual growth a priority. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 states, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of daily life, but strives to please him who has enlisted him.”

Let’s all be soldiers for Jesus living a life that reflects Gods love and teachings, enlisting others into his service through our words and actions.

“God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.” — DeMarcus Cousins