Spiffy, right? May we never believe the I'm Just A Helpless Victim Of My Past (Or Present) lie. With God, all things are possible, remember? Even a darn good life (or day), even if yours began badly.
Like yesterday. Earlier, I'd had Ebay send something to a friend and I imagined her smiles when she receives it.
But outside my windows? Brrr ... 14 degrees. And it's not even mid-winter yet, so we've got ages (and tons of this coming) before Springtime. Yet inside, I had blindingly, quick!-turn-away sunshine and pink flowers, even, for I'd brought these up from the dark basement where they winter-over --
Oh, that sunlight and those pretty pink cactus flowers on a frigid January afternoon!
Then I climbed upstairs and searched for a Happy New Year card, penned a note, changed clothes, touched up my make-up, grabbed my extra copy of this book--
--put on my black wool coat and carried both the card and book across the street (gingerly, recalling my fall weeks ago) to Sally and Sue's. Of course, Fern and Olive The Dogs barked like crazy when Sally opened the red door, but I tried Cesar Milan's trick of not looking at the dogs and they stopped barking. Nice.
Sally and I had a good visit, catching up since it had been awhile. And the 14 degrees and not even being at mid-winter yet, didn't make a difference. All felt very well, even so.
Always, I'll believe most days are what we make of them, not what they try to make of us.
No, really. And when tragedy strikes as it did later that day in Florida, I had, even still, the comfort of God, and prayed for those touched by such unfair sadness.
Still we must go on and how thankful I am that we can do it with a type of joy which none of us really understands. Because of Him.
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Here's how I make Ebay shopping easier:
After clicking 'search' for what I want, I look on the left side of the page and check-mark 'Buy It Now', and also, 'U.S. Only'. That way I never have to get into bidding wars, I can buy what I like immediately, and my items only come from the United States, often in just 2 to 6 days.
Which reminds me -- who else recalls the days of catalog shopping when they'd tell you, "Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for your order to arrive." Can you believe we ever had that kind of patience?!!
What a different sort of world is ours now. Perhaps that's why it shocks us older folks. Why we often can't believe what our eyes are seeing.
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"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’" ... Acts 2:28
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." ... Psalm 28:7
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
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Free Kindle Books--
Hazardous Duty
Ride With Me
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy..." ... Colossians 1:11
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You are such a generous soul sending gifts far and wide. I think everyone is posting Brrrr on their blogs these days. It's so cold! I agree with you that life is what you make it. I keep trying to change my attitude about my health and try to ignore all the "junk". Some days are easier than others. Hope your weekend is going well.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
As always, your blog is so uplifting ... Thank you! Have a nice day. :)
ReplyDeleteDebra, thank you for reminding us that we have a choice--always--when it comes to our thinking. Most of us have so much more going for us than we'll ever realize. When I read the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross quote, it clicked with me. I'm optimistic about my health, but a cancer diagnosis can shake you. It causes me to wake up, every day, with such gratitude to God for giving me another sunrise and sunset, and all that goes on inbetween. My priorities have changed, too. Stuff that used to set me off doesn't bug me much anymore. If we are willing to learn, God teaches us what we need to know about living--and dying, too. Truly, there is awesome good to be found in both.
ReplyDeleteBetsy--thanks! I do believe Life is what we make it. I hope it's warmer at your house this week and that you're feeling better and a bit nearer Spring, as well!
ReplyDeleteDebi--I always appreciate your encouraging comments! Thanks for stopping by to read here. Really.
Pam--it's been wonderful watching you become healed and ever more grateful for life! Thanks for letting me be a part of that and may you continue to experience all good things!
Thanks so much, Ladies! Blessings, Debra