Author: Jane Foard Thompson

Jane Foard Thompson is an inspirational speaker and award winning author and poet. A former Montessori teacher in Texas and Utah, for eight years Jane and her husband were missionaries in Honduras, Central America. After working for the American Red Cross in Idaho, they now live in Florida, where she writes, leads music and women's Bible studies at their church, and enjoys nine grandchildren and her Golden Retriever, Lily.

The big choice

It’s been a hard week. The death of a dear young person close by, along with a poorly handled health crisis of a son-in-law, so far away in.Switzerland, who had a second, more aggressive surgery today that shouldn’t have been necessary, the shootings and reactive killings across our country, and terrorism throughout the world have roiled over me. I’ve spent a lot of my nights praying, and a somber cloud has shadowed my days.

It’s not a lack of faith. I know who is in charge, the Alpha and Omega. I know how the story ends. I know evil will not ultimately triumph.

Not even death.

But as I drifted off to sleep last night I realized I don’t want just a glimpse of peace.

I want peace in huge gulps, big armloads, total immersion.

I wondered, have I been so focused on the aches and pains of others–I really do care and often feel led to intercede—that it’s all I see, the dark side of life?

Does this view diminish the colors of everything else?

Maybe it is a daily question, which starts with The Big Choice, then must be chosen afresh every morning.

Maggie Valley

Do I choose life?

Or will I follow the pain? Dwell in the grief? In the gray place? Look no further than this side of the glass darkly?

Some of you are natural optimists (how often I’d like to trade places!). If you are still reading, you may be wondering what the issue is. Make the choice and get on with it, you say.

But I wonder if sometimes you roll right past the hurt and needs of those around you. (There is a reason the world is populated with both types of people. We need visionaries and optimists who will launch projects and lead the way. But we also need those who can’t help feeling trauma, confusion or fear in another person and want to make a difference, either directly, or by lifting that person to the One who Heals.)

I circle back, content with who I am — my place in the world.

And, once again, I choose life.

Even when there is pain I will look for the colors.

I’ll be more intentional about enjoying the flowers, the sunsets, a bird’s wing, laughter, the voice of a little girl with every reason to cry, singing, “Amazing Grace.”

red flowers driftwood on Dry TortugasCelery Fields, Sarasota, FLstar white flowerSarasota Sunset

It’s all right here for the choosing.

“We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” I Cor 13:12,13

What is all this freedom for?

Our country, our world, is full of anger. Groups rise up to strike those they believe have deprived them. Demand rights. Claim freedom from constraints that feel like shackles. Individuals flare up with road rage, domestic abuse, even mass murder. As I hung our American flag today I wondered, what is all this freedom for? American Flag
The people who worked and died to found our country had a vision for a freedom based on sacrifice. When they declared independence and battled to procure it, some lost their lives or the lives of their sons. Many lost homes and property.

How did we gravitate to the point that one man takes another’s life or dignity in the name of freedom? Where the rights of one person negate the lives of thousands? Where freedom is only allowed for “me, myself and I” and those who agree with me?

Today I salute the flag, and am grateful for a country where I can still worship, speak, and write in freedom. (And I pray these freedoms continue, no matter who disagrees with me.) I am indebted to those who fought to maintain freedom here and around the world, as well as those who stand guard today, not knowing where the next suicide bomber will appear.

But I can’t help wondering, with so much hatred, anger and animosity, what is all this freedom for?

Though burdened with the pain and suffering of those close and far, I circle back to the One who guides my life, who said,

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look:

‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere?

Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back,
giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.

And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
No more tit-for-tat stuff.

Live generously.

You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’

I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies.

Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.

When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.

This is what God does.

He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.

If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.

If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?
Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

In a word, what I’m saying is,

Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it.

Live out your God-created identity.

Live generously and graciously toward others,

the way God lives toward you.”

Matt 5 38-48 MSG
photo by Jack H Thompson, Jr, Ft Jefferson, Dry Tortuguas

Have you found that sweet space, even if for a moment, when you know you are working out of your true self, your God-created self?

Weed Attack

The weed attack makes it clear, along with the heat and afternoon thunderstorms. Summer has arrived, even before the calendar called it. The plants are happy, and I head for the A/C. But I’ve learned the hard way with weeds. The longer I let them grow, the more they multiply, sending out runners or spraying seeds everywhere (except for the hitchhikers I have to pull out of Lily’s paws and off our socks). So I go out early, as often as possible, and clear a small area, til I’m irrigating it with perspiration, then retreat inside.
weeds and briers

overgrown by weeds

Sarasota FL

I used to defend weeds, preferring any growth to bareness. I’ve learned the hard way what a pain weeds are when they grow where I don’t want them, and smother and eventually kill desirable plants. Then even the good stuff has to come out.

And there is always a new weed, another area to dig out.

But if I get it while it’s small, it’s easy.

However, if I just swipe at a weed, simply topping it, even to soil level, it will grow back. And the next time I try to pull it out, the stem is stronger and the roots have dug in for battle. It is almost impossible to get it out without attacking the weed with a sharp tool.

I don’t like the activity, but I’ve learned valuable life lessons from weeding.

There are some things that have to be pursued to the roots. Everything has to go.

How many times do we try to change a habit or attitude by simply deciding to, then, in time, find ourselves in worse shape, controlled by what we thought we could handle?

If we really want to rid ourselves of ugly attitudes or behaviors, actions or emotions that harm us or impede relationships, sometimes we have to go after the weeds.

Dig. Down. Deep.

It is hard work, no getting around that.

Ask one who has labored for years through therapy for childhood abuse, or the alcoholic who attends AA meetings week after week, working down the 12 Steps.

Even when we succeed, it may be uncomfortable for a while, adjusting to the empty place, until the ordered inner life begins to feel real.

We fill those spaces, now waiting and fertile, with our dreams.

Having people who love us and support our healthy selves is food and water for good growth.

When we wake each day, we can choose to pull weeds or ignore them, or in the areas we’ve dealt with them, lay a weed barrier and begin to plant fresh and new, real and whole, on the way to being the person we were created to be, living, creating and loving.

I have to admit, I couldn’t pull out the biggest weeds in my life. The old pain had scarred over and embedded itself so deeply I thought it was who I was.

Like a child running to a good father, I ran to the Master Gardener, to the tender smile and open arms.

Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. Matt 11:28

Through good counsel, loving friends and family, serious study of the Bible and the power of the Holy Spirit, the weeds are coming out.

Even in the midst of health issues the past couple of years I’ve felt whole.

More alive.

Blooming, at last!
Florida flowers

How have you been most successful with your weeds?

Are there some you have to keep pulling out?