Blogs
Undivided
Thursday, March 25, 2021 by Barbara Higby
Then—In 1892 Francis Bellamy wrote: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Indivisible, undivided, all for one and one for all—inspiring and idealistic words for a young nation. They challenged justifications for the Civil War, described the America of both World Wars, and solidified us in the Cold War. The words evoke visions of families huddled around radios and, later, black and white televisions. Families huddled a lot back then.
Young and old met around the family table—at the same time—to eat the same food. The meal generally began with a prayer, followed by animated conversation, bad manners, and sibling spats.
Now—Our country is fractured by disunity—political, cultural, racial, and sexual clashes fill our papers and pepper our conversations. Chasms of opinion seem uncrossable. When we sit at a meal with family or friends we are careful of our speech, cautious of hot topics, wary of being misunderstood.
Inadvertently, the family table teaches rules of conversation, respectful dialog, and tolerance for the opinions of others. Parents scold children for name-calling, spiteful words, and disrespect, and lessons are learned for the larger world.
In Eternity—We will sit at the great banquet table in perfect harmony. We will learn from and be stimulated by one another. No words will be spoken from pride. No speech will emanate from self-importance. No bitterness will color our conversation. No opinions will reflect bias or discrimination. Every word will bless and give life, edify and encourage, illuminate and educate. Let’s practice for that day around our tables now.
In the meantime…
- Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Rom. 14:19
- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. I Thess. 5:11
- Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col. 3:12-14
Previous Posts
Stand… Face the Enemy
Barbara
1/26/2023
Stand… Still
Barbara
1/19/2023
Stand… Armed
Barbara
1/12/2023
Stand… and Stand
Barbara
1/5/2023
Light Pulsating in the New Year
Barbara
12/29/2022
Light Paramount
Barbara
12/22/2022
Light Predominant
Barbara
12/15/2022
Light Present
Barbara
12/8/2022
Light Promised
Barbara
12/1/2022
God’s Hands Bless Us—Now & in Eternity
Barbara
11/23/2022
God’s Hands Bear our Name
Barbara
11/17/2022
God’s Hand Gives Strength
Barbara
11/10/2022
God’s Hands Hold Me
Barbara
11/3/2022
God’s Hand Provides
Barbara
10/27/2022
God’s Hand Creates
Barbara
10/20/2022
God is Good
Barbara
10/13/2022
God's Country
Barbara
10/7/2022
I Love Fall
Barbara
9/29/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—Even when Opposed
Barbara
9/22/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—You’re not Alone
Barbara
9/15/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—and Obey
Barbara
9/8/2022
Be Strong and Courageous—and Lead
Barbara
9/1/2022
I Love Ps
Barbara
8/25/2022
The Poetic Psalms
Barbara
8/18/2022
Parks
Barbara
8/11/2022
Provisions
Barbara
8/4/2022
Pretty Things
Barbara
7/28/2022
Purpose
Barbara
7/21/2022
Places
Barbara
7/14/2022
Places
Barbara
7/14/2022
People
Barbara
7/7/2022
What I Like about Summer
Barbara
6/23/2022
Retirement?
Barbara
6/16/2022
Pause to Ponder your Body
Barbara
6/9/2022
Ponder the River
Barbara
6/2/2022
Ponder God’s Unseen Answers
Barbara
5/26/2022
Pause & Ponder… God
Barbara
5/19/2022
Pause in the Chaos
Barbara
5/12/2022
Pondering about Prayer
Barbara
5/5/2022
Pause to Look Behind You
Barbara
4/28/2022
Pondering Prosperity
Barbara
4/21/2022
I Love Spring
Barbara
3/31/2022
A FULL Heart
Barbara
3/17/2022
Prayer-FULL in 2022
Barbara
3/10/2022
Grace-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/24/2022
Joy-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/17/2022
Mercy-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/10/2022
Hope-FULL in 2022
Barbara
2/3/2022
Mind-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/27/2022
Peace-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/20/2022
Thank-FULL in 2022
Barbara
1/13/2022
What Will You Do Better Next Year?
Barbara
12/30/2021
“Do not be afraid.”
Barbara
12/23/2021
“Do not be afraid, Shepherd.”
Barbara
12/16/2021
“Do not be afraid, Joseph.”
Barbara
12/8/2021
“Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Barbara
12/2/2021
Happy Thanksgiving
Barbara
11/25/2021
What delights your senses?
Barbara
11/18/2021
What moves your feet?
Barbara
11/11/2021
What thrills your heart?
Barbara
11/4/2021
Pre-Thanks Giving #1
Barbara
10/28/2021
I Love Fall
Barbara
10/21/2021
Unexpected Delight
Barbara
10/14/2021
Unopened Boxes
Barbara
10/7/2021
Unforeseen Obstacles
Barbara
9/30/2021
Uncomplicated Living
Barbara
9/23/2021
Uncluttered Closets
Barbara
9/16/2021
summeR
Barbara
7/22/2021
summEr
Barbara
7/15/2021
suMMer
Barbara
7/8/2021
sUmmer
Barbara
7/1/2021
S_ummer
Barbara Higby
6/17/2021
I Love Ts
Barbara Higby
6/10/2021
Worship is Endless
Barbara Higby
6/3/2021
Worship is Exclusive
Barbara Higby
5/27/2021
Worship is Elimination
Barbara Higby
5/20/2021
Worship is Expectation
Barbara Higby
5/13/2021
Worship is Engagement
Barbara Higby
5/12/2021
Worship is Entrance
Barbara Higby
4/29/2021
The Afterlife (?)
Barbara Higby
4/15/2021
I Love Spring
Barbara Higby
4/8/2021
Unspoken
Barbara Higby
4/1/2021
Undivided
Barbara Higby
3/25/2021
Undimmed
Barbara Higby
3/18/2021
Unconcealed
Barbara Higby
3/11/2021
Unwrinkled
Barbara Higby
3/4/2021
Uncomplicated
Barbara Higby
2/25/2021
A New Heaven & Earth
Barbara Higby
2/18/2021
A New Command: Love
Barbara Higby
2/11/2021
A New Unity
Barbara Higby
2/4/2021
A New Song
Barbara Higby
1/28/2021
I’m New!
Barbara Higby
1/21/2021
What’s new (beside the year)?
Barbara Higby
1/14/2021
My word for the year
Barbara Higby
1/7/2021
Do you choose a word for the year?
Barbara Higby
1/4/2021
And His name will be… Prince of Peace
Barbara Higby
12/24/2020
And His name will be… Everlasting Father
Barbara Higby
12/18/2020
And His name will be… Mighty God
Barbara Higby
12/10/2020
And His name will be… Wonderful Counselor
Barbara Higby
12/4/2020
Thanks Giving #4
Barbara Higby
11/26/2020
Thanks Giving #3
Barbara Higby
11/20/2020
Thanks Giving #2
Barbara Higby
11/12/2020
Thanks Giving
Barbara Higby
11/5/2020
I Love Fall
Barbara Higby
10/29/2020
Small part, great power: E—Exercise
Barbara Higby
10/22/2020
Small part, great power: U—Utter Wisdom
Barbara Higby
10/15/2020
Small part, great power: G—Glorify God
Barbara Higby
10/8/2020
Small part, great power: N—No negativity
Barbara Higby
10/1/2020
Small part, great power: O—Offer
Barbara Higby
9/24/2020
Small part, great boasts: T
Barbara Higby
9/17/2020
“Diff’rent Strokes”
Barbara Higby
9/3/2020
“Get Smart”
Barbara Higby
8/27/2020
“Father Knows Best”
Barbara Higby
8/20/2020
“The A-Team”
Barbara Higby
8/13/2020
“To Tell the Truth”
Barbara Higby
8/6/2020
“Charles in Charge”
Barbara Higby
7/30/2020
“Gilligan’s Island”
Barbara Higby
7/23/2020
“Happy Days”
Barbara Higby
7/16/2020
I Love Blue
Barbara Higby
7/9/2020
Eternity Unfathomed
Barbara Higby
7/2/2020
Compassion Undeserved
Barbara Higby
6/25/2020
Acceptance Unearned
Barbara Higby
6/18/2020
Rescue Unmerited
Barbara Higby
6/11/2020
Goodness Unmatched
Barbara Higby
6/4/2020
