Mending a Broken Heart: Faith to Guide Me through Pregnancy after Miscarriage by Sophie Anderson
Summer Camp by Lisa J. Radcliff
Runaway! by Shara Bueler-Repka
God is our Refuge and Strength! by Mary Anusha ChandraKumar
The Wedding Dance by Susan Paulus
The Long Reach of VBS (Vacation Bible School) by Joan Leotta
RUBY Magazine Your voice, your story JULY, 2019 www.rubyforwomen.com
In This Issue of RUBY The Star-Spangled Banner Hymn Stories by Diana Leagh Matthews
Let’s Try Something Different for our Fourth of July Picnic! by Jehn Kubiak
The July issue of RUBY magazine features inspirational articles and poetry, devotionals and short stories, summer celebration craft ideas and recipes, and our monthly feature, the Kids’ Korner with a story just for the young people in your family.
Treasured Memories by Nancy Frantel
We would love to have you join us in the RUBY community, now on Facebook, so it is really easy for you to connect with us.
Threads, Ties, and Ribbons
Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/rubyforwomen/ Hope to see you there!
by Sharon L. Patterson
Senior Editor: Nina Newton Editorial Assistant: Theresa Begin Feature Writers: Sharon L. Patterson, Norma C. Mezoe, Shara Bueler-Repka, Lisa J. Radcliff, Joan Leotta, Diana Leagh Matthews, Carol Peterson, Adwoba Addo-Boateng, Mary Anusha Chandrakumar, Susan Paulus, Jehn Kubiak, Nancy Frantel, Melissa Sturt, Frances Gregory Pasch, Rejetta Morse, Autumn Nicole Daniels, Sophie Anderson
I Remember When … by Frances Gregory Pasch
Serving Our Heavenly Father by Autumn Nicole Daniels
Credits and Copyrights All stories and articles are copyright by the authors. All pictures and images are copyright by the authors and / or have been purchased, used by permission or are in the public domain. If any pictures or images have been used inadvertently, and they do not belong in this publication, please email us and we will immediately remove them. Nothing in this issue of RUBY magazine may be reproduced, copied, or shared without the permission of the author. Advertising information is available by contacting us at editor@rubyforwomen.com Questions? Email Nina @ editor@rubyforwomen.com RUBY magazine is published by CreativeLife All submission inquiries should be directed to: Nina Newton, Sr. Editor RUBY magazine editor@rubyforwomen.com
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While I was away . . . . by Nina Newton, Sr. Editor It was two months ago, actually, when things around here started getting a bit out of my control. I know . . . I know . . . we really are NEVER actually in control of anything, but I’m one of those people who makes every effort to avoid those things in life that can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. It frequently keeps things from going to far astray, but then there are times when life just goes on its merry way, leaving me wondering what is happening. That’s where I’ve been since April. In the middle of April our youngest son and his family came to stay with us for a few weeks while he was transitioning to a new job not far from our housee. During that time they were also searching for a new home, but that takes time . . . so we had a houseful, with three extra kids, a kitty cat (along with our own two kids and a dog), and tons of fun. It was also heading towards the end of the school year, and with a high school senior in our family, there were about a million and one things to do, pay for, register for, go to, and in general have us all pretty focused on all that goes with getting a kiddo graduated and ready for college. Did I mention all the things we had to pay for???? In the middle of all that (not long after our dog had hip surgery and couldn’t walk for six weeks on her own), the kids started getting sick with the late winter / early spring flu. First one, and then another one, and then another one, and then . . . me. The doctor said to give the kids lots of liquids, Tylenol, and have them rest for 7 – 10 days. How do you think THAT turned out around here? When I got sick I was already way behind on all of my online and teaching projects because of all the extra activity around here, so that’s when I started to panic. A little. Well, no actually, a lot, but by that time I was so sick I really didn’t care. My flu then turned into bronchitis with that endless, endless cough that just will. not. go. away. The doctor said . . . the same thing that we heard about the kiddos, and by then it really didn’t matter what the doctor said any longer, because I was so miserable I couldn’t even feed my kids. It was not pretty. On my more coherent moments I kept telling myself, “Tomorrow I’ll feel better and I’ll finish up the June magazine.” Every day for three weeks I told myself that tomorrow would be better. But it never was better. For almost a month. In the meantime, the flu circulated throughout our entire family, all five kids and all of the adults, and then . . . it came back. Our youngest daughter was the first one to get it, and then she got it again. She missed all of the last week of school, but fortunately her grades were pretty good so her teachers were gracious and accepted all of the work she had already completed. It was a difficult few months, but then the graduation ceremony was very nice (not too long and not too hot!), the graduation open house happened (and now it is over!), the extra house guests have just now moved into their own home, the dog can now walk and even run again on her own, our graduate is working two summer jobs to help pay for college, and our days are slowly but surely returning to something that resembles a routine. We’ll see how long that lasts!
NEW from author Pat Jeanne Davis When Valleys Bloom Again A Novel of World War II Available from RUBY’S Reading Corner
The Star-Spangled Banner Hymn Stories by Diana Leagh Matthews
Happy 4th of July! In celebration of our country’s birthday, let’s learn more about our national anthem. We all know our National Anthem, but do you know how it originated? The author, Francis Scott Key, was at Fort McHenry when the British Royal Navy bombed the fort in 1814. Francis Scott Key, a lawyer and amateur poet, and John Stuart Skinner were on a mission for President James Madison on September 3, 1814. The men were sailing on the HMS Minden to secure the exchange of prisoners. Having overheard plans of attack the two men were held captive until the battle was over. They had a front seat view of the attack and were inspired by the American victory. Key paced the ship deck throughout the night while the battle raged. The next morning Key saw the large American flag flying triumphantly over the fort. There was no doubt the Americans had beaten the British forces. At that time the flag had fifteen stars and fifteen strips, known as the Star-Spangled Banner flag. Still onboard the ship, Key wrote the lyrics to the poem on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. He originally titled his poem the “Defense of Fort McHenry.” The men were released the next day {September 16}. Key finished the final stanzas while staying at the Indian Queen Hotel.
Key gave the poem to his brother-in-law, Judge Joseph N. Nicholson. The poem was set to a popular tune, “The Anacreontic Song” (or “To Anacreon in Heaven “). This was the official song of the 18th Century gentleman’s club of amateur musicians in London known as the Anacreontic Society. No one knows for sure who the composer of the melody was, but it is generally attributed to John Stafford Smith of Gloucester, England. Soon the song was renamed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and its popularity spread. There were many versions of the song when President Woodrow Wilson requested an official version in 1916. The song did not become the National Anthem until President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931. There are four stanzas to the poem/song, although the first stanza is usually the only verse sung. The original manuscript written by Francis Scott Key is on display at Maryland’s Historical Society. The flag flown over the fort in 1814 is on display at the National Museum of American History. This flag is owned by the Smithsonian and has been restored twice.
The Star-Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key O say can you see by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: ‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war’s desolation. Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! All four verses of The Star-Spangled Banner {courtesy of Wikipedia}
Image from PNGTREE
Image via Wikipedia
I Remember When … by Frances Gregory Pasch I remember when candy was a penny… small wax bottles filled with colored water orange marshmallow peanuts lollipops and bubble gum I remember when I walked to school… in the sun in the rain in the snow I remember when having fun meant playing… red light hopscotch jump rope I remember when there was no TV… we listened to the radio we read a book we played outside I remember when there were no calculators, computers, or cell phones… we had to figure things out ourselves Technology has opened up a whole new world… faster, but definitely more hectic. Is it better? In many ways yes, but there is definitely something special about those simple childhood memories.
Let’s Try Something Different for our Fourth of July Picnic! by Jehn Kubiak
Jill Wellington on Pixabay
Alright, who’s tired of the same hot dog/hamburgers barbecue, cookie pizza, and soda combo? July 4 parties don’t have to be traditional; mix things up using similar ideas, but different types of food. Here are four recipes that the whole family can enjoy and, even collaborate on together, for the Fourth. Be sure to visit the original bloggers to find the complete recipes for these creative ideas for your family’s Fourth of July celebration.
Honey Barbeque Grilled Chicken from Averie Cooks Averie has created a recipe that will be perfect for your Fourth of July dinner! You can find the complete recipe at her blog, Averie Cooks: “Tender, juicy, full of flavor and a great recipe to jazz up grilled bbq chicken . . . this recipe is easy, healthy, ready in 10 minutes, zero cleanup, and perfect for back yard barbecues or easy weeknight dinners!” Be sure to visit Averie where you will find this recipe along with so many other great ideas for summer cooking.
BLT Avocado Pasta Salad from Heidi at FoodieCrush “This easy, creamy BLT pasta salad recipe is loaded with tomatoes, arugula, and avocado, plus crispy bacon that’s all topped with a super simple Ranch-style dressing made with mayo and Greek yogurt.” Visit Heidi at FoodieCrush where you will find the complete recipe for this BLT Avocado Pasta Salad, along with many other great recipes for summer celebrations and every event all year long.
Strawberry Spinach Salad from Kristen at Slender Kitchen “Strawberry Spinach Salad with the most amazing homemade creamy poppy seed dressing couldn't be easier to make and is the perfect tasty salad. Just add grilled chicken, avocado, or shrimp to make it a meal or serve it as a side dish or appetizer.” Visit Kristen at Slender Kitchen for the complete recipe.
Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Bars from Jocelyn at InsideBruCrewLife Aren’t these just the cutest little things you’ve ever seen??? When we discovered Jocelyn’s blog, Inside Bru Crew Life, we just had to share one of her recipes with you. But don’t take our word for it, stop by and visit Jocelyn and see for yourself! You’ll find tons of other recipes such as Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes, No-Bake Mini Key Lime Pies, and Coconut Cream Fruit Dip. These sweet little cheesecake bars would be the perfect ending to your July Fourth picnic or anytime at all, especially for a family gathering in the summer. Be sure to stop by and visit Jocelyn at Inside Bru Crew Life and be sure to tell her that RUBY sent you.
The Long Reach of VBS (Vacation Bible School) by Joan Leotta July is more than summer picnics and fireworks for the Fourth and French food for the Fourteenth (Bastille Day)—well, it used to be. July was Vacation Bible School time for our family. School ended late in June and August was time for our family vacation—a circumstance that fit the profile of many in our church. So, from the time they were toddlers, until they took over the volunteering, July was a time for me to be immersed in puppets, nametags, play scripts, volunteer lists, and snack selections. Yes, for most of the time my children were in VBS, I was a volunteer. We learned together. I often wrote and acted in the puppet shows. Some years, I just made snacks and helped with odd jobs at the camp.
I had to navigate the intricacies of COMMITTEES. It was a time for me, a person who loves others but who prefers to work alone on projects (Hey, I’m a writer!). I had to learn to accept the ideas of others, to bow to someone else’s schedule plan (something I had not had to do once I left the outside work world). Most of all, it was a special time for my relationship with our children. I drove them back and forth, so heard their lessons in the car as well as at home. I was privileged to hear their impressions of the day, as fresh as could be—and to help them work out problems they encountered during the day. Moreover, it was a time of outreach into the community—we invited neighbors to go to VBS at our church.
The years my children did the high school sports camp (Summer’s Best Two Weeks) my role was simply to drive them—ok, not simply since it was during rush hour in the Washington, DC Metro area.
It was a time of babysitting for some families, but also a time for us to pray that the attending children would meet that best of all friends, Jesus Himself, at the VBS.
While they were learning Bible verses and songs, meeting new people, making new friends, watching the gospel being lived out by adults other than their parents (teachers and volunteers),
While the children were in classes, I often chatted with the other volunteers, but before and after and often during, I sought some time alone to pray for my children and the others who were attending.
It was my hope that Vacation Bible School would be a vehicle for the Holy Spirit to swoop down into their hearts and transform their souls and their lives. For those children who already had invited Jesus into their hearts, it was my hope that VBS would nurture their love of learning about God with the Bible as their guide.
Each year she chooses a book (in this case a group of books, the Minor prophets) and selects a Bible study workbook for it. Then she facilitates our monthly telephonic (She lives six hours away) Bible study. How appropriate that this month it will be during July, VBS month! Maybe I will suggest a song and craft to accompany our lesson.
I do not know the outcome of every child’s experience, of course. But I can tell you it imprinted the life of our daughter.
Note: Our son preceded us into the Lord’s Presence on March 30, 2002 at age 19.
One of the things we will do when our daughter comes to visit this month is read one of the lessons in our family Bible study—a study she initiated.
He accepted the Lord into his life at a very young age, thanks to conversations with us, his older sister, and the influence of VBS.
Daylilies Celebrate Their Day by Rejetta Morse Bright tangerine flowers blossom, Young robins hop and play; While daylilies reflect the sun, They celebrate their day. Young robins sing within the breeze, Their trumpet blossoms sway; They rise in fields and multiply— They celebrate their day. Their blossoms wave, bright smiles appear When riders pass their way; Along roadsides and in garden yards They celebrate their day. While daylight fades, their blossoms drop And robins fly away; Will blossoms reappear again To celebrate their day? When dawn appears, new blossoms rise In clusters fresh and gay; And robins flap their wings and sing To celebrate their day.
Summer Camp by Lisa J. Radcliff “The best week of your life, guaranteed!” That was Young Life’s summer camp promise. They delivered!
There was no way it could be as great as they said, but even if it was half as good, I was in.
That was forty years ago and, although I’ve had some great vacations, no week changed my life more than that one.
The video was of all their camps around the country. They built suspense in announcing which one our club was going to. Then they finally announced, “Silver Cliff Ranch, Colorado.”
This isn’t an ad for Young Life camp. There are other organizations that also give kids great experiences, but for me, it was Young Life that came through.
Cheers and applause erupted! I can’t believe it! Colorado! Each camp featured something special. Colorado had the things I loved the most: horses.
Wednesday was my favorite day during my high school years. The reason: we had Young Life club on Wednesday nights. The high school hallways turned into information highways, as we handed out maps and invited friends. “Coming tonight?” “Young Life tonight!” “See you at club.” You never knew what was coming at club, but you didn’t want to miss it. Side-splitting skits, crazy games, great singing, it was a night any high schooler would love. But one night, they showed a video promoting summer camp. (And I mean “video,” tape and all.) Wow! This looks too good to be true.
It also had things I never thought I’d do. It was going to challenge me for sure. But I could hardly wait for the day to arrive. Forty clubbers signed up for the trip. We chartered a bus and crammed in all forty teens along with four leaders for a two-day trip from Pennsylvania to Colorado. Even the bus ride was an adventure—not all of it good. There were real characters on that bus, everything from athletes to band members to geeks. One was Rodney, who wasn’t at all concerned about spending two days on a bus without showering. His wardrobe was always the same: black pants, denim jacket, and boots.
Sometime during the night, while we were trying to sleep, Rodney “walked” through the bus. He had removed his boots and was stepping on each seat’s armrest, making his way to the back. Those boots hadn’t been off his feet in a long time. The odor roused even the heaviest sleeper. There was a wave of shouts, “Rodney, put your boots on!”
That didn’t sound scary at all.
But once we arrived at Silver Cliff Ranch, the long journey was forgotten. Silver Cliff was everything advertised and more. Each day was filled with incredible activities.
I held on, trusting Buckshot had done this before and could make it. We reached the far bank. I leaned forward, and Buckshot shot out of the water, jumping front feet then back feet up the embankment.
We hiked to the top of a 13,000-foot mountain. Starting our hike at 9,000 feet, we learned quickly about thin air. What stood out was that we didn’t do it as individuals.
Buckshot stepped into the water and started across. He picked his way along, hooves sliding on the slippery rocks, jostling me precariously. The water rose to his belly and then reached the saddle.
When we reached the top, I let out the breath that had been caught in my throat since the first slippery step and gave Buckshot a hearty pat on the neck for his efforts. We did it! (As if I had anything to do with our success.) We were rewarded with a delicious breakfast, cooked on an open fire. Well, Buckshot was rewarded by having me off his back for a while. There were plenty of other activities that week: volleyball tournament, swimming, a hoedown, even a rodeo in which the kids were encouraged to participate.
If one person stopped, another encouraged them to keep going, even helping them along. The faster kids waited at the top, cheering on those still climbing. We accomplished the climb as a group, and it cemented our unity. We were inseparable and could conquer any obstacle. On an individual level, fear of failure had kept me from trying new things. But at Silver Cliff, with my friends urging me on, I found success on the high ropes course, zip line, gravel slide, and rock climbing. My confidence grew with each success. And then there was horse day. We set out on our trusty steeds early in the morning. I was assigned to a horse name Buckshot. Not a big horse, Buckshot was very stable with a sweet personality (a lot like me). I had ridden horses before, but not like this. After leaving camp, we traveled quite a while before coming to a fast-moving stream. The instructions were simple: “Stay on the horse no matter what, and when you reach the other side, lean forward onto the horse’s neck to help them scale the steep bank.”
But the most important activity was at the end of every day when a staff member shared the Gospel. I got to have spiritual conversations with unsaved friends. Our girls’ cabin had great times of discussion and prayer. I grew in my walk with the Lord. Others came home as new creations. We all hated to see the week come to an end. But the camaraderie wasn’t left in Colorado. We were closer as a group and went into a new school year with new friends and new brothers and sisters in Christ. My oldest grandchild gets to go to summer camp this year for the first time. I can’t believe it! It’s not Young Life camp; she’s only five, so it’s just day camp. But I’m excited for the experiences she’ll have and can’t wait to hear all about it. Summer camp can change lives. It changed mine.
Finding Jesus Each Month The Flower of June: The Rose by Carol Peterson The Rose is the flower for the month of June. Roses are simply in a class by themselves—elegant and graceful. The rose is also strong and tall. It does not trail like a sweet pea. It does not bend like a tulip. It is not short like a violet or fragile like lilies of the valley. The rose blossom stands on a strong stem, nearly wood-like in its strength. Its bush can even be trained to grow as a tree. Similarly, we gain strength through Jesus; we can rely on His strength when we have none of our own. We can stand tall for Him. The magnificent rose though, has thorns. Symbolic thorns are part of our lives. Thorns are part of who we are—those character flaws God is working on; those “thorns in our sides” the Apostle Paul referred to. Although perfect and without symbolic thorns, Jesus wore real thorns, shaped into a crown by His persecutors as He carried His cross and our sins to Calvary. The rose reminds us of our thorns and that Christ died for them, by taking them on Himself. Roses are a beautiful reflection of God’s beauty. But He gave them a short life—two weeks if you take special care of cut roses. Jesus’ life was short in human terms. But what He accomplished was powerful and eternal. Similarly, God want us to live our short lives in a powerful way, too; in a way that will have eternal consequences. Roses reflect God’s desire for us: to live with recognition of His beauty, with grace for others, and with strength in our faith as He works to remove our thorns. He wants us to live our short lives in a glorious manner. For Him. Varieties of the rose are the state flower of Georgia, Iowa, New York, North Dakota and Oklahoma.
The Flowers of July: Larkspurs and Lilies The Larkspur is a glorious, stalked flower lined with brilliant blossoms in white, pink, blue, or violet. The shape of each blossom is a 5-pointed star. The star shape reminds us of the star that pointed the way to Bethlehem for the Wise Men and the shepherds. The star symbol can still point us to Jesus. The bird, the lark, in literature is often portrayed as singing hymns and prayers at the gate of heaven. As it announces the new day, the lark also symbolizes hope made new. While most birds can only sing while perched, a lark can also sing while flying. This ability reminds us to find joy in everything we do and that we find our true joy and hope in Jesus. In Near Eastern mythology, the lark is associated with the spirit of wheat. In real life, the lark helps rid wheat fields of destructive pests. The lark has become a symbol for Christ who is “the living bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:51). It is through Jesus that our destructive sins are forgiven. In Genesis 3:15 God told Satan: “I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he (Jesus) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (clarification added). The larkspur is sometimes called the lark’s claw or lark’s heel. With very little imagination, we can see this as a subtle reference to Jesus’ heel and as he crushed Satan by overcoming sin and death. The water lily is the second flower for July. Who but Jesus would have created a flower that grows in water? There are cactus flowers that grow in sand. There are egret flowers that grow in bogs. There are flowers that grow in rock crevices, mulch, fungus and rich soil. But water? Only the creator of the universe could think of that—and then call Himself "living water." The water lily is also known as the lotus. The lotus is symbolic in many cultures of sacred enlightenment. Think meditation and the practice in yoga of meditating on a lotus flower blossoming open. Now think Jesus. Our true sacred enlightenment. To the ancient Egyptians, the lotus symbolized the sun and rebirth. Jesus is not the sun; but the Son. And He came to make us born again and to assure us that we will live with Him in eternity. Buddhists consider the water lily a symbol of purity and divine birth. Hello, Jesus.
Threads, Ties, and Ribbons by Sharon L. Patterson With reading glasses perched precisely a third way down my nose, I look in my sewing box and view spools of other threads I chose to do a myriad of chores and needed fixes. What a variety of colors for hundreds of stitches. How many hems adjusted to every changing height? How many a loose, tiny tooth were pulled with their might, or missing buttons sewn on a uniform where moments before there had been none? Memories tug with every in and out of my deft needle and thread a chuckle, then a tear for my pierced finger that just bled. I reach in the drawer for a much needed tie to close the bag so the bread won’t be dry. I keep a whole lot of them just like the spools of thread. You never know what you’ll need them for in the days ahead. They remind me of different ones I maintain in good supply; they’re the kinds so essential to help us get byties to close friends, good neighbors, and precious family members, church brothers and sisters whose love and care remembers me on days when I can but hardly stand up, when calls of unexpected trauma interrupt. Today, I reach in a sacred place I store items for special tasks I value and adorelike the one I am about to do:
pin on the purple ribbon awarded to you, marking the valiant battle on distant shore you won; though wounded, you left only when it was over and done. The year you were gone I wrapped ribbons around the tree great big yellow ones, so everyone could see not only the pride our family has for you but freedom’s daily cost, too. Threads, ties, and ribbons in your life and mine, each mending and binding and celebrating in kind. Tasks, relationships, and events special to recall from our homes and cities whether grand or small right on up to the nation’s capital steps where threads of history create ties even among opposing reps. On the 4th we’ll gather in our various special places decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons we’ve attached to spaces high enough that the whole world can view our gratitude for what matters most to me and you. F R E E D O M!
September 12-15, 2019 Groton, Connecticut Does your life need a PAUSE BUTTON? Do you need to renew your weary soul? This Connecticut weekend getaway is just for you. Join us for the Pausing for R & R Women’s Retreat in September 2019. Experience time away from the everyday routine and listen to God’s voice over the clamor of the world. The Pausing for R & R Retreat will give your spirit room to breathe. In Mark 6:31, Jesus says: “Come away to a quiet place and get some rest.” Come…
Catch your breath. Be seen. Be known. Be refreshed and renew your soul! You will experience: Time without distractions Time in God’s Word Refreshing rest Renewed strength Encouragement & Fresh Perspective God’s presence Supportive Community…
All in a Beautiful Setting
For more information about the Pausing for R & R Retreat, visit Jeanne Doyon on her blog.
RUBY magazine is now available in print! Every issue of RUBY magazine can now be purchased as a print publication. To purchase RUBY magazine in print, please visit the RUBY blog at www.rubyforwomen.com where you will find the link for each issue.
Visit Theresa at Shoestring Elegance for weekly inspiration and creative ideas for everyday life.
Read more inspiring hymn stories in
101 Hymn Stories: Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns by Kenneth Osbeck
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Now available from RUBY’S Reading Corner
Treasured Memories by Nancy Frantel
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17 (ESV) While recently searching through several boxes of old family photos, I came across a surprise. Actually three surprises─video tapes. The box labeled “2005” held these secret treasures, waiting for discovery when someone eventually organized the photos. My original intent involved making sure the boxes only contained photographs from the year marked on the outside. I also planned to discard ones which didn’t need saving for any reason, other than an example of how NOT to take a photo. Looking through the boxes transported me back to children’s birthdays, school plays, sporting activities, family gatherings, and holiday celebrations. The opportunity to reminisce triggered both smiles and tears. However, I also found numerous blurry, awkward, and downright bad shots no one would enjoy. A sense of, “Am I wasting my time?” surfaced. Then I reached the bottom. The tapes lay waiting to share their stories after years of hibernation. It only took a moment (after I caught my breath due to the discovery) to realize the tapes contained movies from different years due to the format─VHS, 8 mm, and a micro tape.
These memories weren’t from 2005, because we didn’t own a camera then. For a brief moment, I wondered if I wanted to know. There could be records of challenging times best forgotten. But I had to know. The next day I carried the tapes to a store for conversion to DVD format. A few days later, the store manager called to let me know the discs were ready, creating an increased level of excitement. Now I would finally know. Placing the first disc in the computer, I impatiently waited for the start instructions to appear on the screen. “Come on computer. What’s taking you so long?” As if a few more minutes would make up for the years of hidden legacy. The video began, and it was from 1997. Twenty-two years after the event, I sat and watched my son’s 6th birthday party all over again. I couldn’t help but think how much longer the images, audible laughter, and shouts of joy would lay dormant if I had decided to put off organizing the boxes. Thank you, heavenly Father for the gift of mundane tasks, and the surprises You provide along the way.
Serving Our Heavenly Father by Autumn Nicole Daniels
Scripture: Exodus 35:20-35; Exodus 36:1-3 My father loves vegetable gardening. He learned how to grow vegetables on his family’s farm in Jamaica as a small child. Despite moving away from the farm, he still enjoys being outdoors, planting seeds, and watching things grow. Nowadays, my mother and father live in a house with a small backyard, at least compared to my dad’s childhood farm. Growing vegetables is a little more challenging for him, but he enjoys finding creative ways to make the smaller space work to grow—or attempt to grow—all sorts of fruits and vegetables. Although my mom occasionally pokes fun at my dad for spending so much time and creative energy gardening in the backyard, she always appreciates when he brings her fresh ingredients from his garden to include in a meal. Do you have a special talent or skill? Are you a painter or a gardener, like my dad? Do you like to knit or play basketball? Or maybe you learned a set of highly specialized skills and use them to work as a doctor or a business owner? As the sons and daughters of God, we are called to use our special talents to serve our Heavenly Father (1 Peter 4:11). In the book of Exodus, Moses calls together the people of Israel to use their special skills to honor God by contributing to the work of building a sanctuary. In particular, God points out two men to Moses: Bezalel from the tribe of Judah and Oholiab from the tribe of Dan (Exodus 35:30-35).
These men gained their skills as craftsmen while being enslaved in Egypt. I often find it fascinating that, while they were slaves, doing work they were forced to do, God would bless them with the skills they needed to minister to Him and the people of Israel. These men probably never envisioned that the everyday work they did as slaves would prepare them to use their skills for God’s purposes in the future. Maybe you know you have a skill or talent, but you struggle to find ways to use it for God or you don’t think it’s valuable at all. Sometimes we think that our skills and talents aren’t important, but the truth is that a skill or talent submitted to the work of God has the potential to bless our Lord and King. As we submit ourselves to doing His work, we testify that we serve an amazing, creative, and all powerful God. Let’s ask God how we can best use our talents to bring His light and love to others.
NEW from author Adwoba Addo-Boateng The Marriage Cookbook Filled with great cooking tips and yummy recipes such as Pineapple Upside-Down cake, Thank You Pies, heart-shaped burgers and Ever There marshmallows, this is a collection of simple, intriguing recipes and stories from married life that will help readers to get married to Christ in order to be fulfilled in their married lives. Our marriage should be like God’s ordained ministry where it is cherished and nurtured to achieve its full potential. Being Christ’s beautiful bride does not require a lot of effort, but it is the grace of God that will help us through.
God’s Grace through Gastritis, GERD, and Grit by Jehn Marie Kubiak “God miraculously healed a twenty-one-year-old Biola University student during the summer of 2017. Long before that process began, she battled erosive gastritis, GERD, panic disorder, depression, suicide, and she even found out she had ADHD.” God’s Grace through Gastritis, GERD, and Grit by Jehn Marie Kubiak is available from RUBY’S Reading Corner. https://www.jehnmkubiak.com /
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Runaway! by Shara Bueler-Repka
“Don’t race those horses!” my dad hollered through the screen door.
We glanced over at each other and grinned…and squeezed our horses on.
His warning faded with every hoof beat. His voice drifted away with the breeze as Babe and I rode side by side with my best friend, Mary, and her horse, Bolt.
Mary and Bolt surged ahead. The next minute, they were eating our dust. Then we were all neck and neck again.
We intended to heed his warning. We really did. But as we nudged our horses into a trot, that competitive spirit between my friend and me, lured us into “can’t help ourselves” temptation. Soon our horses sprang into a lope, feeling the energy from Mary and me. The wind kicked up, and Bolt tossed his head. Babe shook her mane, and Mary squealed. I cut loose with a war whoop, and we were off! Horse hooves pounded down the dirt road as we raced neck and neck. Bareback, we rode like Indians, sailing across the prairie. We laid low over our horses’ necks. Their manes intertwined with our long hair and streamed behind us like wild waves.
We galloped over the dusty trail, knees bent and gripping our horses’ sides, our hands tightly clutching the reins. I glanced over at Mary again, expecting to see her laughing eyes and spunky smile. But fear radiated from those eyes, her mouth drawn in a tight line…her skin the color of a white sheet. She hauled back on Bolt’s reins. But Bolt paid no attention to her cues or the bit in his mouth. He galloped even harder. Mary crouched low over his back, glued to his sides with a death grip. And I knew she had no choice but to ride out her runaway. I forced my eyes back to the trail ahead. What do I do? Will Bolt slow down if I rein in Babe? What if I…
I looked over at Mary and Bolt again. I could… Wait! Where was Mary and Bolt? It seemed they’d disappeared into thin air. I reined Babe in and swung around. And gasped. Horrified, I watched as Mary, standing on a concrete bridge, frantically pulled on Bolt’s reins. Bolt’s neck stretched out as far as it could go.
I sprawled on my backside. Mary twisted and fell to her knees. But we both managed to hang on to the shaking Bolt. I crawled to my feet and handed my rein to Mary, moving to Bolt’s side to check for injuries. “Walk him around,” I said, almost in a whisper. As Mary gently led him, he gingerly stepped out on his back legs. He limped across the bridge, but slowly added more weight on his shaking limbs, and soon walked out soundly. Except for a few cuts and scrapes, Bolt was OK.
He struggled to keep the front half of his body on the bridge, with one back leg tucked underneath him, the other back leg swinging limply off the bridge.
Mary collapsed against Bolt’s neck, relieved that her horse survived.
As Babe and I trotted closer, I heard Mary’s screams: “I can’t hold him! I can’t hold him. He’s slipping!”
I trudged across the trail to where my horse stood, still patiently waiting by the sagebrush. I slumped down in the sand, still trembling with my heart pounding.
Panicked, I flew off my horse and threw the reins over some sagebrush.
A long silence passed before Mary spoke. “Maybe we should lay off racing,” she said, her voice still shaky.
I snatched one rein, and we both pulled with everything we had. Bolt tried desperately to push his body up with his tucked leg, while the other leg still dangled helplessly into space.
I blew out a breath. “Yeah, maybe we should have listened to my dad.” “Ya think?” Mary rolled her eyes to the sky.
“I think his leg is broken!” She sobbed.
I got up and dusted off, gathering Babe’s reins from the bush.
My hands and arms shook as I began losing my grip on the rein.
Mary stood next to Bolt, caressing his neck, as Babe and I plodded up beside her.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, like someone was yelling in my ear, I heard: “PRAY.”
Without saying another word, we walked our horses toward home, only pausing long enough to hop on a rock to mount them again.
I didn’t know what to say. I just blurted: “God, help us!” We pulled, Bolt strained, and then seemed to give up.
In deep thought, I barely noticed the long trail home. I shuddered when I thought about what might have happened. And how foolish we’d been.
“He’s falling!” Mary shrieked. Then, somehow Bolt hooked his dangling foot on the edge of the concrete and lunged.
But I also wondered about the unseen Hands from Heaven Who no doubt lifted Bolt high enough to hook his hoof on that bridge, so he could lunge to safety.
God’s Perspective by Frances Gregory Pasch “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 The recipe called for fresh ginger. I could have substituted ground ginger, but for some strange reason, I felt compelled to follow the directions exactly. Why am I making all this fuss? I thought, as I drove to the store. I would soon find out. I had never seen fresh ginger before, so I had to read the produce signs to find it. I did a double take when I spotted the price of $2.49 a pound. But I was even more shocked when I saw the ginger itself. It looked grotesque. I almost changed my mind about buying it, but I selected a few pieces and headed for home. Back in my kitchen, as I started to peel the ginger, a delightful aroma came forth. How deceiving. Its ugly exterior had camouflaged its fragrant interior. Suddenly, things came into focus. God was using this experience to teach me a lesson. Just the other day he showed me the scripture, Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgment. He knew I always equated outer beauty with greater happiness and pleasure. For a moment, my mind drifted back to several events in the past. First, I recalled the vacation my family spent at a beautiful motel. Yet when I thought about it now, I realized we had more fun on our camping trip in the rain—in a tent. I also thought of our large home which I was sure would make me happier than our smaller one. But looking back again, I knew that nothing could ever replace the twenty years of wonderful memories we spent in our first, tiny home. Finally, I remembered the Thanksgiving Mom and Dad took Jim and me and our five boys to a restaurant so I wouldn't have to cook. But even that couldn't hold a candle to the meals we enjoyed crowded around our small dining room table. God seemed to be telling me to look at things from His perspective, from within, from the heart. I knew it would be hard for me to change my habits after so many years of judging people and things by their external appearances. But I decided to try. Today, through the Lord's help, I am making significant progress.
I Wish I Had a Father by Norma C. Mezoe It was Father’s Day and my daughter brought a gift and a card to my husband, her stepfather. Gene especially appreciated the visit, knowing my daughter had worked that day, but yet took the time to visit. Later, in the evening, Gene commented longingly, “I wish I had a father.” At the age of seventyeight, that may have seemed a strange comment. Gene’s parents were divorced when he was five years of age. His father was an alcoholic. Later, his mother remarried and Gene’s stepfather was also an alcoholic. He was abusive to Gene, making him work many days when he should have been in school. When Gene was seventeen, he ran away from home rather than face more abuse. Now, in his senior years, the thought of a loving earthly father was wishful thinking to him. He was longing for what he never had. Sadly, many people have not been blessed with fathers who loved and cared for them as they grew from babies to adults. But there is a Father who offers his unending love, a love so deep that it is indescribable. God’s love cannot be earned. We can never do enough good works to gain entrance to his eternal home. Only through confessing our sins, asking God’s forgiveness and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, will we experience the depth of the Father’s love.
God Keeps His Promises by Norma C. Mezoe Amid the storms of life, when black clouds fill the sky… Our faith begins to falter and we often ask God why. He assures us He is with us, through dark clouds or skies of blue. We need only to trust Him and believe His promises are true.
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Shining Ever Brighter by Autumn Nicole Daniels
Scripture: Proverbs 4:18 I love watching sunrises. One of my favorite childhood memories of a sunrise happened when I was living in New York City. My family was traveling over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grand Central Station just as the sun was coming up over the city. It was beautiful. The sky was gold and pink, and the light of the sun reflected off the metal buildings. It looked like we were traveling towards a city made of gold. That moment would not only become one of my favorite memories of a great sunrise, but it would also become one of my favorite memories of New York. When I think about that New York sunrise, it reminds me of another kind of sunrise. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” This verse is so encouraging to me because it compares our spiritual walk with God to the beauty of the rising sun. When I read this verse, it reminds me that every Christian is on a journey to grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. While we may encounter some hard times on our journey, we can take comfort in knowing that we are saved from sin and death, and our salvation is guaranteed by Christ’s death on the cross. Despite our circumstances, we are heading towards a glorious future, an eternity with our loving Heavenly Father. Are you discouraged today? Maybe you’re going through a difficult time on your journey with God? Take some time to remember that, despite your circumstances, nothing can change the bright future God has for you. Application: In times of discouragement, let us remember that we can trust God’s plan of salvation. No matter our circumstances, we can trust in our eternal future.
Perfect Safety by Melissa Sturt
“God will take care of you”...we hear it all the time, but do we really believe it? Most of us would wholeheartedly agree, but our words and actions say differently. We constantly worry and stress about life’s challenges, totally unaware of what we are doing. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, fullgrown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgement] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].” Our Heavenly Father tenderly loves us (John 16:27) and He is not out to get us...so there is no need to fear anything in life. No matter what happens, He will provide a way of escape...IF we trust Him. We can also be sure, that if we place our trust in Him, we will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11). Psalm 23:4 states, “Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.” Notice it says ‘THROUGH’ the valley...not getting stuck in the middle of the valley. We WILL come through our troubles if we put our complete trust in our Heavenly Father’s goodness and integrity. Psalm 91:5-7 assures us that we “need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight. A thousand may fall dead beside you...but you will not be harmed.” Our Father God will take care of us and nothing will be able to destroy us. He is faithful to His word (Hebrews 10:23) and He CANNOT lie (John 3:33)...if He said it - He will do it. We have many hardships and perplexing circumstances in life, but as Christians, our Father God has promised to rescue us from them ALL! (Psalm 34:19). In Hebrews 13:5 our Heavenly Father promises us He will NEVER [under any circumstance] desert us nor leave us without support nor leave us helpless nor let us down! We are not doing life alone...He is with us, caring for us every step of the way. He tells us to take comfort in these words and then confidently confess, “The Lord is my Helper in time of need, what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast all our cares on Him because He cares about us with deepest affection and watches over us very carefully. Now I don’t know about you, but to me, if the God of the universe is watching over me VERY CAREFULLY...I’m going to be just fine! Note:- All verses are from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 and from the Good News Bible, Copyright 1992 by British & Foreign Bible Society
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Part of the Family by Norma C. Mezoe In the early nineteen fifties, Judy was taken from both parents shortly before her fourth birthday. At the time, she was living with her parents and eleven siblings in an old school bus. Judy’s parents loved their children, but were financially unable to care for them as they should. Judy and her siblings were placed in an orphanage. Later, at the age of six, she was taken from her brothers and sisters and placed in a foster home. Judy shared what this period was like in her life. “I was forced to live on the closed-in back porch. I slept on a pile of rags and my food was handed to me on a saucer. The amount of food was never adequate to silence my hunger pangs completely. I was only allowed into the house when it was time to wash the dishes or mop the kitchen floor. Judy remembers sitting in the sand and covering her feet because they were cold and she didn’t have shoes. She searched through a trash area and found old boots that didn’t fit, but at least they protected her feet from the cold. This was her lifestyle until, at the age of eight, a series of events brought changes into her life. Judy continued her story: “I had a serious bout with poison ivy and was taken to a doctor. My eyes were almost swollen shut and my body was covered in blisters. “A compassionate woman was in the office at that time and from my appearance, it was evident to her that I wasn’t receiving the care I needed. The woman and her husband were an older couple who had talked about adopting a child. She talked with her husband and they set about the procedure of adopting me.” Judy remembers sitting at the kitchen table with her adoptive parents. Her father explained that she would no longer be treated as a servant, but she was going to live the life of a child. That lifestyle was so different from the one she had been living in the foster home that it took a while before Judy could adjust and believe that she would not be taken from the home.
Eventually, there came a time when she realized her adoptive parents did love and want her. This would be her home for as long as she needed one. She knew that she was part of the family and she was loved and accepted. During the years of being taken from her parents, separated from her siblings and living in an abusive foster home, Judy wasn’t aware of a loving God who had a plan for her life. However, her adoptive parents were Christians, and through their love, Judy came to know the Heavenly Father and his love. The experiences Judy had during her early years of life could have caused her to become bitter and to remain that way throughout her life. However, Judy chose to forgive her foster parents and to let go of the memory of the years of abuse. Many Christians refuse to forgive those who have wronged them. They drag around an unseen boulder day after day and continue to dwell on the abuse and heartaches caused by others. The longer they drag around the boulder of unforgiveness, the larger it grows. Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV) talks about forgiveness as well as unforgiveness: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Judy is a positive woman with a ready smile and a helping hand for those who need her. Because she chose to forgive those who had abused her, she enjoys the peace and joy of knowing she is part of God’s forever family.
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A New Perspective on Father’s Day by Frances Gregory Pasch I had a good childhood. I knew that my father cared for me, but unfortunately he never could say “I love you.” As a child, he didn’t hear these words spoken openly, so it was difficult for him to verbally express his feelings to my brother and me. We felt that he loved us, but how wonderful it would have been if he could have said so before he died. On the other hand, God, my Heavenly Father, tells me page after page in the scriptures how much He loves me. He even states that He knew me and loved me before I was born. How awesome! God loves us unconditionally, with an everlasting love. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us and to supply all our needs. Earthly fathers, on the other hand, have limitations and cannot meet all our expectations. But in spite of their shortcomings, each year we still set aside a special day to honor them. The week before Father’s Day, people rush around shopping for cards and gifts. Some buy them out of duty, while others spend quality time seeking the perfect choice. Those who have lost their dads depend on memories to sustain them. The world is caught up in honoring earthly fathers. Families get together for picnics and parties. Relatives that hardly ever see each other throughout the year somehow manage to join in the festivities. But isn’t it strange that most of us never think of honoring Our Heavenly Father in a special way on Father’s Day. Wouldn’t it be a nice gesture to do something to honor the Lord in a special way? There is no gift that we can buy Him, but wouldn’t He be pleased if we took time for praise and a personal prayer of thanksgiving! This Father’s Day I plan to do that. Maybe you will too!
Desiring a Relationship with the Father by Adwoba Addo-Boateng Anytime my husband would come home from work, he would bring gifts for the kids. They would all shout his name happily and welcome him. One day, he came home with no gifts. The children were disappointed, and the eldest child said, “Daddy, you came home with nothing!” The usual appellations from the other children did not follow. The youngest child, who was a year old at that time, kept on shouting, “Daddy! Daddy!” She wanted to be with her father unconditionally. Are we calling the name of God, just because we want gifts or because we want a relationship with Him! Let us be like the one-year-old child and love God unconditionally, calling on His name because we want a relationship. Your prayer is a lifestyle with God; it is about how you live with Him all the time. May the peace of God be with us all as we continue to seek a relationship with Him and be obedient to His will always, so that we may enter His rest. For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. “Hebrews 4:10)
God is our Refuge and Strength! by Mary Anusha ChandraKumar
As human beings we have crossed many things in our lives. We experienced many things, and we tackled many things, but whenever a hard situation comes into our lives we get stuck in it. We always try to come out of it with our own strength but we can’t overcome that situation by ourselves. Let me tell you a way out. Without fighting alone to come out of it you must call upon the name of Jesus as He is our shelter and strength. We can overcome anything through God's Strength. His strength can strengthen our inner hearts and souls in a miraculous way. His strength can rebuild us once again with a greater strength to focus our present life. We can see how the world of today revolves day-to-day, changing its ways which might affect many things, including ourselves. But the Word of God says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) Whatever may be the strategy which Satan uses against us, we should not worry because we are under the power of the Most High Almighty God who fights our battles against Satan. In the time of Jesus as he was traveling with the disciples on a boat, Jesus slept for a while. But the disciples felt fear and worried that their boat would sink into the water because of the ragging storms. But before anything happened, they woke Jesus up from sleep to bring a solution. He calmed the storms with the power of his word. Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith in God to control or bring down the situation as the storms began to come against you?” Likewise, even today, the question remains about our faith at times of difficult situations in life. When we are filled with faith in God, He is always there to calm down the storms around us, and it just takes a second to bring a solution to your life today. God is so awesome. When we pray to God, He is ready to listen. When we fall down, He is ready to lift us up from the dust. When we are totally frustrated at times, He is the source of energy to sustain us so we should thank Him and praise His name all the time.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) How precious and joyful is the Lord’s strength. With God we can do everything. We don’t need to fear anything. Whenever God is our strength, we can move with ease towards our set goals to reach the destination God has planned for us. Let us keep on trusting as walk each day with Him. You are strong and brave than you think, because God's on your side. Whenever you say, “I can’t move on with my own strength and I’m nothing without God,” that is when we are given the ability to move forward with God’s strength. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2). You are so precious and loved by God. Whatever you are facing right now, let God solve it. Be still; give it in God’s control. Let His Spirit refresh your mind and fill your heart and soul with His presence at His feet as you pray today. God is so good all the time. He remains so good to us. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. He walks with us. He covers us with his goodness. God is good; because of His grace we are saved. He is more than faithful to us. Receive His amazing grace through His Spirit, His blessings will give success in your life, and your plans will be blessed if you give them to His hands. You may face many trials, but God gives you full strength to overcome them from now on. You can stand more confidently because of His Great strength. Do not worry when you stumble because God is with you every moment in your life. Pray and focus on God, then He will guide you and bless your work. God is your strength; with Him you can do anything. You are born to win. God loves you so much. Praise Him. Have faith in the God who can change anything for you at once with your faith you have in Him. Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."(Luke 18:27)
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2
Mending a Broken Heart: Faith to Guide Me through Pregnancy after Miscarriage by Sophie Anderson Getting pregnant again after going through a miscarriage should be a joyful experience. It should be the promise of new life with a beautiful baby arriving.
Suddenly I found myself struggling to breathe. I couldn’t think straight, the room faded away and all I remember was breathing quickly and that allencompassing fear.
It should be an end to the pain that you have gone through when you lost your last pregnancy.
The fear of losing another pregnancy and not having the strength to go through it again was overwhelming. To have to grow another beautiful baby only to see it lost.
Unfortunately it doesn’t always go quite like that; at least it didn’t for me. My pregnancy started very soon after we experienced a late miscarriage. Instead of being happy I found myself plagued with anxiety throughout the first few months of pregnancy. Every plan I made for the arrival of my new baby, a little voice would say: ‘Well, let’s wait and see if it goes badly again.’ When I was suffering from terrible morning sickness I would think: ‘What if this is all for nothing. What if I lose this one too?’ I thought that these worries would subside as my pregnancy went on, but instead they got worse. When panic strikes In the run up to our first big ultrasound scan, I started to unravel completely. In my last pregnancy it was at this 12 week scan that things started to go downhill.
As I knelt down to pray, a thought cut through the noise of all my worries. It came loud and clear and it said: ‘Everything will be fine, and you will have a baby boy’. The clarity of that one statement made me stop. I instantly felt a bit calmer, a little more positive. Maybe there was a higher power telling me that things would go well? Telling me not to worry? Those reading this that may be less religious might understandably put this thought down to my subconscious helping me at a time of crisis. And I get that; it is one way to look at it. However I do believe in God, and I believe there is a plan for us all, so I chose to believe (and still do) that this one clear thought was in fact a message, sent to reassure me. And as my pregnancy progressed, that one message gave me so much strength. Surviving the ultrasound scans
Doctors spotted a complication that ended up taking our baby’s life 6 weeks later. The fear of something similar happening again was too much to fathom. The night before my appointment, I remember getting ready for bed in our bedroom. I was alone and I began to think again about all the thousands of things that could go wrong in this scan. Thoughts of all the possible defects or complications that the doctors might see flooded my mind.
Our scans didn’t go perfectly. As many expecting mothers will know all too well, today doctors can see the smallest details of our babies in the ultrasound scans. This makes it more likely that they pick up on an ‘anomaly’ or a risk with baby or with your pregnancy. Some babies have a ‘brain tumor’; others have concerns over their size. Mine had a small issue with his heart valves that weren’t closing properly. Then he had fluid around his internal organs that couldn’t be explained.
‘It will probably be fine,’ is what they say when they find these things. And while that might be true, it’s the word ‘probably’ that makes it so difficult for expectant mothers.
To have gone through the pain of losing our last pregnancy only to have our baby boy in intensive care and not know if he was going to be OK was too much for me to process.
We are forced to sit and wait for our baby to hopefully ‘grow out of it,’ knowing that if they don’t they might be facing a serious health issue.
In the midst of it all, I remember my mother shrieking with worry while I sat in my hospital bed silent and numb. My father turned to her and said quite calmly ‘Have faith, he will be fine.’
But throughout these problems I tried to stay strong and to remember the thought that I had had.
And I remembered again the thought I had had all those months ago.
‘Everything will be fine,’ I kept telling myself.
‘Everything will be fine, and you will have a baby boy.’
I believed it and that belief gave me the strength to be positive. Luckily the ‘anomalies’ did resolve themselves we made it to the end of our pregnancy.
I had believed in this throughout the pregnancy. And a part of it had come true. I did have a baby boy. I had to believe that he would also be fine.
A day to remember The day of our baby’s birth came. They had to deliver by C-Section and everything went fine. It turned out that it was, in fact, a boy, which after having a daughter was a surprise for us. They signed him off as being in perfect health and handed him to me. Fast forward 6 hours though and it was a very different story. Our baby had been rushed to the neonatal intensive care ward with low oxygen levels which continued to plummet. As he was struggling to maintain safe oxygen levels they had to put him to sleep with morphine while they put tubes down his throat. When I was allowed to see him he was breathing on a machine, tubes coming out of his tiny body every which way.
That belief gave me the hope and strength to carry on. To do my best with my baby in whatever way I could. Numerous blood tests, two X-rays and three doctors later, they said they could only diagnose him with a bad case of underdeveloped lungs and they gave him medication to see if he improved. Thankfully he did, and after a few days they slowly began to take him off the machines. I was able to hold him. I remember I would sit for an hour at a time with him just sleeping on my belly. I felt a wave of complete joy that I was able to spend time with him, that I was able to touch him. As I had gone home by this point, they eventually they let me move into a hospital room near the intensive care ward, and after a few more days I was allowed to take him home. A blessing
‘What’s happened? I don’t understand, what’s wrong with him?’ we would ask in complete shock, but nobody knew yet. ‘We have to run more tests. It could be a bad case of underdeveloped lungs which is quite common or it could be something more serious like a heart defect.’ I don’t remember much from this time except feeling numb. Looking back I think I was in a complete state of shock.
Today I’m still nervous with my son. Emotionally there was a fear of losing him that lasted for a long time after his birth. But he has grown into a kind, caring, and sensitive little boy who touches the heart of everyone close to him. Out of the blue I’ll hear, ‘I love you mummy’ or ‘you’re my best friend’ and feel little arms around my neck and a tiny kiss on my cheek and I feel that wave of complete joy again.
I feel truly blessed to be his mom. And I thank the Lord that he was fine and that we have this chance to raise this amazing little boy. Looking back Despite the struggles we went through with our pregnancy, I’m grateful for that message, for that thought. Everything was fine, and we did have a baby boy. Without it, I don’t know how I would have gotten through the trials that we had laid out in front of us. It gave me a hope, a belief and a calm that got me through. So, to all the expecting moms who are pregnant after having suffered a miscarriage, I see your worries, I understand them.
If I could give one piece of advice it would be to find your own way to have faith. Every now and then take slow, deep breaths and remember that whatever your worries, there is life inside of you and that should always be celebrated. This piece was written by Sophie Anderson from Mas & Pas (link to www.masandpas.com) a modern parenting website and community offering advice and support from our community of mothers and fathers, along with crafts and recipes. You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masandpaspage/ Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/masandpas/
But I also know that, in my experience at least, they don’t help. They can’t take back what you’ve gone through.
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AUGUST 2019 issue of
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The Wedding Dance by Susan Paulus
Introduction to The Wedding Dance Five years after his beautiful wife died of a rare and aggressive cancer, my only brother died of complications from open heart surgery. At his funeral, his small granddaughter sat with her parents, crying as though in physical pain. Children are not immune to feeling the same loss that adults feel when death steals someone we love from us. Because this little girl had no grandparents anymore, my husband and I decided to do the best that we could, though 650 miles away, to be surrogate grandparents. We sent small Christmas and birthday gifts, attended her high school graduation, kept track of her grades while she was in college, cheered as she worked on and completed her Masters; saw her often during visits to the city when she lived. Most importantly we watched her spiritual growth as she began seeking and then following the Lord. Eighteen months ago, we went to her engagement party and a year ago in April celebrated at her wedding. For months prior, I could only imagine how excited her grandma and grandpa would have been at this point, especially her grandma. Grandma loved this girl with the love that I believe only a grandma can understand; unconditional, uncompromising, total love. She would have helped plan, been totally involved in each decision, and been so thrilled for the bride, plus she would have absolutely loved the groom. I began to see my brother and sister-in-law dance in celebration and wrote the following poem which I read at the rehearsal dinner, then had a wedding photo added and gave to the couple as a wedding gift. I hope you all enjoy reading The Wedding Dance as much as I enjoyed writing it and preparing it for the bride and groom.
The Wedding Dance They dance to the music from wings all a-flutter In rhythm they soar over clouds They glide through the stars They sing with the angels They smile as they dance at your wedding
Gramma still full of her beauty and grace Pop Pop still stepping on toes Their joy is consuming them this night alone They smile as they dance at your wedding
They watch you become all you ever could be As God holds you both in His hand Hearts burst with love at the joy of your song and They smile as they dance at your wedding For Haley and Francis April 21, 2018 Written by Susan Paulus
Ruby Writing Team Sharon Patterson, retired educator, career military wife, and leader in women's ministry, has written inspirational encouragement in various forms from greeting cards to short stories, poetry, and Bible studies for over thirty years. She has authored three books, and is a contributing author for several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She and her husband Garry live in Round Rock, Texas. They have three sons and five grandchildren.
Theresa Begin lives in Northern California, where she was born and raised. She is a Christian who loves her family and says, “I have been blessed with the world’s best parents!” She has three sisters and one brother, as well as 16 beautiful nieces and nephews who “mean the world to me!” She is “differently-abled,” and chooses not to allow her limitations to define her life. She loves to write and share her various projects on her blog, “Shoestring Elegance,” which came about as she discovered that living on a tight budget did not mean compromising on style. “Nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37 NLT
Shara Bueler-Repka is enjoying life as a singer/songwriter/recording artist, freelance writer, and award-winning author. She and her husband, Bruce, live in their living quarters horse trailer and call “home” wherever their rig is parked. Their mailbase, however, is Hallettsville, Texas. She also loves riding/ministering with her husband and their horses (aka The Boys) in the backcountry and writing about God’s grace in the various adventures on the trail less-traveled. Join the fun and be encouraged on their website: www.ponyexpressministry.com and her blog: www.trailtails.blogspot.com, or come for a visit on Facebook.
Lisa Radcliff is a writer, speaker, women's Bible study teacher, and a 35-year volunteer youth worker, residing in Pennsburg, PA. She is a wife, mom, and mom-mom who loves God's Word but also loves football, chocolate, shoes, and Maine. Her hobbies include quilting, shopping, cooking, and raising Seeing Eye puppies. You can reach her at lisajradcliff@gmail.com.
Mary Anusha Chandra Kumar is a Born Again Christian who was born and raised in Colombo, Sri Lanka. She enjoys her lifestyle as a Worship Leader, Interpreter, and Motivational Speaker at Churches across Asia, Marriage Counselor, and Hosts International Prayer Conference Online, a writer who brings people into a more intimate relationship with God and an upcoming Business Woman in the Cinema Industry as a Christian Film Director and Producer. Further, she is a social worker who holds the UNICEF Certificate of Helping Hand and who is very much enthusiastic in optimizing her spare time in fabric painting, and cooking both Continental and Asian Cuisines.
Norma C. Mezoe began writing after a crisis in her life. She has been a published writer for thirty years. Her writing has appeared in books, devotionals, take-home papers and magazines. She lives in the tiny town of Sandborn, Indiana where she is active in her church as clerk, teacher and bulletin maker. Contact at: normacm@tds.net
Joan Leotta has been playing with words since childhood. She is a poet, essayist, journalist, playwright, and author of several books both fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. She is also a performer and gives one-woman shows on historic figures and spoken word folklore shows as well as teaching writing and storytelling. Joan lives in Calabash, NC where she walks the beach with husband, Joe. www.joanleotta.wordpress.com and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Leotta-Authorand-Story-Performer/188479350973
Frances Gregory Pasch’s devotions and poems have been published in devotional booklets, magazines, and Sunday school papers since 1985. Her writing has also appeared in several dozen compilations. Her book, Double Vision: Seeing God in Everyday Life Through Devotions and Poetry is available on Amazon. Frances has been leading a women’s Christian writers group since 1991. You can contact her at www.francesgregorypasch.com.
Diana Leagh Matthews writes, speaks and sings to bring glory to God.
She has been published in numerous anthologies, including many Moments books. In her day job, Leagh is a Nationally Certified Activities Director for a busy nursing facility. She takes great joy in family, friends and soaking in the beautiful wonders and promises of God. Leagh blogs about her faith and struggles on her website www.DianaLeaghMatthews.com and family history at www.ALookThruTime.com
Carol Peterson, Author
My mission as a writer is to educate, entertain and inspire–children, their teachers and parents, other writers, and readers of all genres. As a children’s writer I try to “Make Learning Fun” by helping busy teachers address curriculum accountability standards, and encouraging other writers to do the same. You can connect with Carol at her blog, Carol Peterson, Author Carol is a member of the Ruby Book Review Team.
Adwoba Addo-Boateng is the author of the book “The Helpline is Engaged,” a contemporary book about prayer, which is now available from RUBY’S Reading Corner. She is also a Christian marriage counselor, used by God greatly to restore marriages. She blogs at adwobaaddoboateng@blogspot.com where readers are encouraged and motivated in the Lord to live fulfilling lives
Jehn Kubiak is a Biola University journalism graduate and current pastoral care and counseling major at the Talbot School of Theology. She is a San Diego native who enjoys distance swimming, coffee, dogs, and painting. She loves researching and writing about people, sports, activities, and more.
Susan Paulus: My writing began as a prayer for some sanity in my life when I was raising children, sharing life with a husband who often didn't understand me and working a full time job. That was many years ago, and I have recently been searching for a way to have some work published. For two years i wrote for a small NWO publication called Living Today. It was rewarding to know that others might be blessed by what was written. I pray that continues through the ministry RUBY magazine.
My name is Melissa Sturt and I live in Queensland, Australia. I am a 42 year old mother of 3 home-schooled children aged 9, 11, and 14, and happily married to my wonderful husband, Mat for nearly 19 years. I love encouraging other women in my life and I would love my writing to do the same.
Autumn Nicole Daniels is a Christian writer who loves encouraging others in their walk with God through devotionals and practical tips on Christian living. She lives in Louisiana with her adorable cat, Tinten. She loves long walks, chocolate, traveling, reading, and napping with her cat.
Nancy Frantel lives in Virginia, and is a published author of three history books, public speaker and researcher. Prior to becoming a writer she worked in corporate management. A “life interruption” injury in 2010 limited her ability to work as a writer. In 2017, she attended several Christian writing conferences, and felt led to start over in a different genre. Her goal is to write inspirational and encouraging stories based on her experiences, lessons learned by trusting God, and individuals He provides along the way.
Sophie Anderson writes for Mas & Pas a modern parenting website and community offering advice and support from our community of mothers and fathers, along with crafts and recipes. You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masandpaspage/ Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/masandpas / And Instagram @masandpas https://www.masandpas.com/
Rejetta Morse enjoys writing poetry so she can write about God and how He speaks through nature. Writing poetry is a new found purpose and hobby she discovered over recent years which brings her joy, peace, and encouragement. She also enjoys reading poetry and is working to learn more about the craft of poetry. She spends her free time singing with her church choir and listening to gospel music, watching biographical movies, and encouraging other people.
Nina Newton, Sr. Editor:
When my four older children were in school, I returned to college as a “non-traditional student.” Eventually, I earned degrees in Classics and Philosophy, and a graduate degree in Medieval Studies: History of Theology. After teaching at a small community college in Michigan for seven years, my husband and I were blessed with the adoption of our two beautiful daughters, Gracie and Annie. We live in northern Indiana in a small farming community where I work on RUBY magazine in my home office. I have worked for several years offering my handmade and refashioned garments and accessories in a local boutique under the creative name of “Vintage Mama’s Cottage.” My personal blog is at www.vintagemamascottage.com
RUBY magazine is published by CreativeLife