A Norvell Note: Consider the Dandelions  

August 16, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 31

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29, King James Version)

Here’s my paraphrase: Think about the dandelions in the yard. They don’t really do anything except keep showing up in a neatly kept lawn, often uninvited and not exactly appreciated by me. I have fought and lost many battles through the years. 

It seems like God created these tiny plants so that children can blow on them, scattering their seeds across the yard and helping new ones to grow. I believe He finds joy in the sound of children’s laughter as they play with them. 

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” (Matthew 6:30-33, The Message)

I have learned to tolerate dandelions because they remind me that if God will create them, I need to relax and enjoy His creation, knowing He has always taken care of me and always will. 

(Sometimes I even pick one up, blow it, and marvel at God’s creation.) 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell. All Rights Reserved

August 9, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 30

In a message to the Hope Hospice team, Tasha O’Connor wrote, 

“I have a confession.

I hate the sympathy card aisle.

Not because I don’t believe in sending sympathy cards. Quite the opposite. Every time I stand there reading them, I catch myself thinking, “No…that’s not quite right.” One says too much. Another doesn’t say enough. Whoever has the job of writing sympathy cards has an impossible job because there simply aren’t words big enough for the hardest losses.

August is National Grief Awareness Month, and this month’s theme is Connection. One of the hardest parts of grief is feeling like you’re carrying something no one else can see. Sometimes people don’t need us to have the perfect words. They just need a tangible reminder that their grief is seen, accepted, and that they aren’t alone.”^[1]

I appreciate her words for a couple of reasons. 

First, I often find myself standing in the card aisle, searching for the card (birthday, anniversary, or sympathy) that says it just right. On more than one occasion, I chose a blank card with a nice picture on the front and went home to write my own words. 

Second, I appreciate the reminder that what people really need as they go through grief is connection. Someone to be there. Someone to acknowledge their pain. Someone to love and accept them in their lowest moments. 

Several years ago, a friend of ours lost his wife. The first Sunday he returned to a church gathering, he stood in the hallway with folks surrounding him. My wife walked past him, gently reached out, and put her hand on his shoulder for just a few seconds, then moved on. No words, just a touch on his shoulder. He mentioned many times how much that simple gesture of compassion meant to him.

I often pray when I enter a situation where I know someone is grieving: “Lord, help me to be there and be quiet until You tell me to speak.” That requires me to listen to Him and to the person. Sometimes I need to speak; sometimes I do not. It is important that I know the difference. To know the difference, I must be connected to them and to Him. 

Be there. Be quiet. 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

^[1] Rev. Tasha O’Connor, LPC-Associate, LCDC Supervised by Bianca Vincent, LMFT-S, LPC-S Grief Services Manage

A Norvell Note: Guard Your Heart

August 2, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 29

I try to take care of myself, have regular checkups, and monitor my blood pressure. My doctor tells me my heart is healthy. But lately, I have been seeing lots of ads on my iPhone for apps designed to measure my heart rate, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Maybe you have gotten one or two of those ads too? Are our smartphones trying to tell us something?

Or maybe the Lord is trying to tell us something:  Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

Those wise words had meaning centuries ago when they were written and still have profound meaning for us today. 

We need to guard our hearts from selfishness and pride.

We need to guard our hearts from anger and rage.

We need to guard our hearts from the unwholesome, vulgar, and impure.

We need to guard our hearts from holding on to the past and trying to live in the future. 

We need to guard our hearts from hypocritical and judgmental attitudes.

We need to guard our hearts so the Lord can use us to care for His people.

If you need an app to check your blood pressure, get and use it to stay healthy. And guard your heart and protect your soul so you can do the good things He created you to do. 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved