A Personal Tool Kit (05/12/2025)

My oldest daughter’s struggles with dyslexia as a child taught me two things about we human beings: our natural resilience and the Spirit’s creative graces applied to those who are open. She was always coming up with symbols “at hand” to help her. She taught me the possibilities when one is determined to use the gifts the LORD has given us.

A perfect example would be her way of remembering how to set a table. First she made the letter “L” with her fingers. She could tell that the left hand was the correct representation of an “L” (the right hand gave her a reverse image so that wasn’t left). Then she took the silverware. The word “Left” has four letters. Fork has four letters. So, the forks go on the left. Then she considered which silverware went on the “Right” which had five letters. “Spoon” and “Knife” have five letters. “K” comes before “S” so the knife is closest to the plate and then the spoon. Then she’d curl her index fingers to her thumbs while fully extending her middle fingers and she’d form a “b” on her left hand and a “d” on her right. That reminded her that the bread plate went on the left and the drinking glass went on the right.

She has a whole toolbox of visuals like this for life. She has taught me so much about handling the challenges of life over the years. Thanks to her rather than Emily Post, I can successfully set a table correctly. She has also come up with hand signs that represent special dates such as anniversaries and birthdays. She amazes me. She is always finding things “at hand” to help her cope with the challenges of life. And her grace in doing it inspires me; just watching her reminds me of the gifts the LORD has given to each of us. They are at hand. The question has never been if the LORD is with us; it is usually whether we will cooperate with His grace and gifts.

I thought of her and the lessons she taught me about coping with the challenges of life yesterday as I was cleaning out the dishwasher and putting the silverware away. And I found myself searching my own life and my own use of my God-given resources to meet the challenges with grace and joy. I realized that often I have missed out because of my sense of insufficiency. While I am right in knowing that I need the LORD and must rely on the LORD and the LORD’s love and gifts, I am missing the boat when I don’t consider what the LORD has already given me for the journey and the challenges.

And I made a promise to the LORD yesterday. I will be more grateful for the many gifts, key among them the LORD’s loving power and presence in my life. I will seek the LORD’s guidance in recognizing the tools I already have when I encounter new challenges. And I will be thankful for what the LORD has given to me including challenging ways to use my gifts and to spend His grace.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.