Retirement: Joy & Contentment

 

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

Today I am celebrating a special milestone. Five years ago, I retired from my preschool teaching position with the Head Start Program after twenty-four wonderful years. That job meant everything to me. As a little girl, I spent hours playing “school” with my chalkboard easel, a room full of baby dolls lined up as students, and stacks of Sunday School papers. Teaching wasn't just something I enjoyed—it was the dream of my heart. When people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, my answer never changed: a teacher.

God eventually answered that childhood dream, though not according to my timetable. I was forty years old before I stepped into my first classroom as a teacher. Looking back, I can see that life unfolds according to God's perfect timing, not our own. He places us exactly where we need to be—for such a time as this.

As I reflect on these past five years of retirement, I am filled with gratitude. The slower pace of life, the absence of early alarm clocks, and the freedom to enjoy unhurried days have been unexpected blessings. More than anything, I am amazed by God's faithfulness throughout every season of my life. Lately, the Lord has been teaching me an important truth: He is the Creator of the universe, and He is fully capable of caring for His children. 

For many years, I worried about life's interruptions. Whenever a problem arose, my first instinct was to analyze it, fix it, and make sure it turned out the way I thought it should. Yet I have learned that it is often not the circumstances themselves that create anxiety—it is our thoughts about those circumstances. Our minds naturally try to take control. We want solutions. We want certainty. We want outcomes that match our plans. In our determination to make everything work out, we sometimes forget that God is already at work.

The Lord created each of us with purpose. He knows our gifts, our weaknesses, our struggles, and our future. Nothing catches Him by surprise. He controls the universe and everything in it. When fearful thoughts gain a foothold in our minds, anxiety, worry, and discouragement can quickly snowball. Before long, our peace disappears, and even our physical health can suffer. Often, when we feel empty, fearful, or lacking, it is because we have drifted away from the One who fills every need.

Thankfully, the remedy is simple.

When difficulties arise, turn your thoughts immediately toward Jesus. Remember that He is with you. He never abandons His children. His strength becomes our strength. His peace steadies our hearts. Whatever challenge stands before us, He provides exactly what we need for that moment and the next step ahead.

One of my favorite quotes says: "You worry too much for someone whom God has never failed." What a powerful reminder.

The prophet Micah declared: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." (Micah 7:7)

As believers in Christ, we are deeply loved by God. When we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus, we become recipients of His grace, protection, guidance, and unfailing love.

When I look back over my life—not just these retirement years—I can see many challenges, disappointments, and difficult seasons and the deaths overwhelmed me. Yet God carried me through every one of them. Each trial taught me something valuable. Each hardship deepened my faith. Each victory revealed another glimpse of God's goodness.

Romans 8:31–32 reminds us: "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"

That final promise is worth pondering. If God loved us enough to give His Son, surely we can trust Him with every detail of our lives. I am also learning that nothing happens by accident. What appears to be coincidence is often God's unseen hand at work. Our Heavenly Father watches over us day by day, guiding, protecting, and providing in ways we may not recognize until much later. Through the good and the bad. 

So today, as I quietly celebrate another year of retirement, I am praising God for every blessing He has allowed me to experience and every lesson He has taught me along the way.

Like the psalmist, I can say: "I will sing of the Lord's faithful love forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations." (Psalm 89:1)

Do you struggle with trying to control everything in your life? The next time a fearful or negative thought appears, pause and replace it with the thought of Jesus. Remember His promises. Recall His faithfulness. Trust His presence.

This habit takes time to develop, but the rewards are worth the effort. Little by little, worry gives way to peace. Anxiety yields to trust. Fear is replaced with gratitude and contentment. May these words linger in your heart and gently point you back to the One who restores, renews, and sustains us.

Blessings to you.

—Karen Jennings

BOOK REVIEW: Unpretentious Lady Jane by Lisa M. Prysock

I enjoy reading books set during the Gilded Age and Lisa Prysock’s latest story, published in February, 2026, is perfectly set during the Gilded Age in Newport during the summer of 1907. The story did not disappoint me. I give it 5 stars!

Lady Jane Armstrong has a habit of getting herself into shenanigans and havoc of which she embraces as her way of dealing with life. She’s not always sorry for her naughtiness. Jane is engaged to Viscount Charles Sterling, but when a misunderstanding between them causes too much mayhem, Jane and Charles break their engagement and Jane is whisked off to her American Winthrop family - aunt, uncle, and cousins, in Manhattan for an undetermined time. There she meets the illustrious Henry Warrington, heir to his father’s shipping dynasty.

The Winthrops take Jane and several of their friends and go to the Newport seaside for a summer of R&R, where Jane finds adventure at every turn. As the days progress, Jane is drawn to Henry Warrington and believes she may be falling in love with him. Should she forget Charles Sterling across the pond? 

The summer days are filled with adventure and high society events where Henry Warrington begins to have romantic feelings for Jane. But danger is lurking amidst the fun-filled days and Jane and Henry find themselves trying to solve the mystery of who is causing perilous problems. Jane eventually finds herself in trouble that she did not cause nor want. Will the stalker ruin her life or kill her in the end?

I highly enjoyed this Gilded Age romantic, religious, historical, and suspenseful story and I recommend it to others who like a faith-filled Gilded Age romantic adventure. Plus, I love the cover of the book! 

This book was free through Freebooksy, a book promotion service that connects readers with free and discounted books in all genres. Users sign up for a daily email that showcases free and discounted books. This review is entirely my own thoughts about the book. 

BOOK REVIEW: The Necessity of Lavender Tea: A Small-town Magical Realism Love Story

 

THE NECESSITY OF LAVENDER TEA by Jennifer Moorman

As a reader, I love books with all things magical realism. This book is a YA coming of age story set in the fictional town of Mystic Waters during the 1950s. It was a free eBook with Freebooksy, so, I gave it a try. 

The story follows Kate Muir, a teenager, who has the gift of seeing the future, a gift that she is not happy with, but must accept it. It helps for her to drink lavender tea, to control the visions. Not only does Kate have a "cursed fate," but she longs to be accepted by the "hip kids" in school. 

Kate's world changes when she encounters a boy who comes from the upper crust of society. Their relationship blossoms into something Kate longs for. I kept thinking, "Oh, Kate, you're going to get into trouble!" The author sprinkles surprises throughout the story. 

This is a sweet novel of first love, longing to belong with peers and feel "normal," and making hard choices.  The magical realism in the book was light compared to many other magical realism books I've read, but it is satisfying. 

If you visit the author's website, you can download The Necessity of Lavender Tea book club kit along with a Spotify playlist, and read sample chapters. 

I give it a 5 star rating. I received the eBook free and I am not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

The Second Sunday in May: Mother's Day 2026

 The Second Sunday in May 

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) 

Have you ever paused to think about the season in which we celebrate Mother’s Day? It arrives in springtime—a season bursting with new life, blossoms, and vibrant color. What a fitting time to honor our mothers and mother figures - the nurturing women who have poured love into our lives.

The years seem to pass so quickly. A beloved great-grandmother of mine passed away fifty years ago. My mother has been gone thirteen years, and my daughter—just one year now. Time moves forward whether we are ready or not, carrying both joy and sorrow in its wake.

For many, Mother’s Day is not a time of gathering, but of remembering. Not everyone can celebrate the special day with their mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, or niece. If your loved ones have passed on, perhaps this day can become a quiet space to reflect on cherished memories—holding close the moments that still live on in your heart.

Dr. Seuss has a quote that says, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." And that's good advice when we have lost our special people - smile because we had them for a while.

While researching the history of Mother’s Day, I discovered a few meaningful insights. In the years following the Civil War, women became increasingly passionate about advocating for the rights and well-being of others. It was not an easy path, but their determination left a lasting impact.

Julia Ward Howe—abolitionist, women’s rights activist, and author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic—called for a day to honor women and promote peace. For a time, her efforts led to the observance of “Mother’s Day for Peace.”

Later, Anna Jarvis sought to honor her own mother, Ann Maria Jarvis (1832–1905), by establishing a national Mother’s Day. Before the Civil War, Ann Maria Jarvis had worked tirelessly in Appalachian communities to improve health and sanitation for families. During the war, she cared for wounded soldiers on both sides—Union and Confederate—demonstrating compassion that crossed all divides. In the years that followed, she organized “Mother’s Friendship Day” to help heal communities and restore unity.

After her mother’s passing on the second Sunday in May 1905, Anna Jarvis pursued the creation of a national holiday—not centered on activism, but on honoring the love and sacrifice of mothers. She envisioned a day marked by sincerity: handwritten letters and simple white carnations.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the first national Mother’s Day, to be observed on the second Sunday in May.

Sadly, it did not take long for commercialism to overshadow Anna’s original vision. Greeting cards and floral sales replaced the heartfelt simplicity she had hoped for. Still, her desire remains a gentle reminder of what truly matters—love, gratitude, and remembrance. Read Anna Jarvis’ story and the tragic end to her life with the link below. 

One of my favorite poets, Christina Rossetti, beautifully expressed the depth of a daughter’s love in her poem “Sonnets Are Full of Love,” written for her mother. It is well worth reading. I’ve provided a link below.

To all the women reading this—mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and those who nurture others with a loving heart—I wish you a Mother’s Day filled with peace, reflection, and love.

References:

https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/history-mothers-day-global-peace-greeting-cards https://allpoetry.com/Sonnets-Are-Full-Of-Love