Thursday, May 19, 2022
Fixing Things
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
How's Your Personal Race Going?
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." --- Hebrews 12:1
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
Where She Says, "Don't Care! I'm Moving Forward."
(I'm also thankful for Gab where more passionate people have kept me inspired, encouraged, these past months.)
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Debra In Her Later Years Is Thinking --
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Remember how the Apostle Paul said:
" I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I've preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."?
Well, I'm not quite there yet. ツ
But I'll tell ya. Being 63, many days I fight this battle:
I mean, I've cooked meals for 43 years! Four decades I've cleaned house, done yard work, gardening, laundry. Bought groceries, run errands, redecorated and shoved heavy furniture around.
I've paid my dues, done my time. Don't I deserve a break?
Yes! And, well, no.
In 2019 we had those 100 feet of privet hedges yanked and hauled away which still thrills me! Same with how we hired a lawn care company in 2021. (They returned this week and I almost raced outside to cheer. Almost.) Oh, and I discovered an easier way to do laundry in our basement and always I'm trying new ways to make meal times simpler.
Using a pine pellet cat litter, I change Daniel's litter boxes less. I no longer rearrange furniture. I work on my flower beds s-l-o-w-l-y, Naomi wheels the trash bins to the curb for me, Tom's much better at placing his dishes in the dishwasher (and feeding Daniel over weekends) and no longer do either of us eat dinner, only a healthy-ish snack.
And as I've mentioned here 50 times, I've decluttered over 1000 items and weekly I order groceries online.
Changes! I've made changes in my 60's and they've simplifed my life. Made it more streamlined, doable.
But still, I must remind myself of this: the goal is NOT to--
do away with all work
become lazy
hide from people, Life
no longer take risks
care only about me, me, me
dream constantly of vacations
yearn for retirement
twiddle my thumbs till Heaven.
Nope, I've preached much in this blog (let's face it) and like Paul, I'd hate to, in my 60's, 'be disqualified for the prize'. (Yikes.)
So balance! I'm seeking new balance. Fresh wisdom. Working smarter, not harder, using excellence(not mediocrity) and discovering, welcoming, new plans God has for me these later years--
--plans I can do, otherwise He'd not even ask me.
Newness of Life in one's 60's? Yes, with God all things are possible, even that. Even now in 2022, even in a world gone wild.
(This is not me, but rather, a nice lady I found online in her garden.)
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." ---Psalm 73:26
"It's important to finish our journey well." ---copied
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Have you ever made a list of your Top 10 Favorite Songs of All Time? I created mine over last weekend. With the exception of two songs, I've listened to these for decades, at least 50 times each, and still they send my head and heart to happy places. ツ
(Please don't judge me. Heh.) ---
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
The Only Post I Share Every Single Year
Ages ago, I chatted with a widow at church, probably 67+-years-old, and sweet. We spoke of mornings and I told her, "Usually I'm out of bed before 6:00 a.m.." When I asked if she, too, was an early riser, she nearly gasped, "Oh my, no. That would make my days feel eternal. I try to stay in bed as long as I can."
Oh wow.
I could only suck in my breath then change the subject for I felt surprised and sad for her. Her words haunted me while I drove home that afternoon and they haunt me still.
Since then I have watched women lose their husbands either by death or divorce and here's what I've seen: The women who'd created another life separate from their husbands, those are the women who survive. Thrive, even. After the initial shock, they do well, smile real smiles and discover other worlds and the people who people them.
But then there are the others. You know, those who clung to their husbands for all their support, encouragement and companionship. Oh, they had outside acquaintances and activities, yes, but no close friendships or passionate interests. Mostly, their spouse was their whole world.
No need to draw you pictures of what happened to those women after their losses.
You can imagine how they fell down hard, splattered, crumbled, and then needed whole truckloads of Christians to help peel them off the floor of despair.
So today? Today I would tell those of you who are married: Get A Life. You know, a life apart from your spouse, separate from him/her. A nice life, certainly--I mean, hey, I'm not hinting at a secret, tip-toeing-down-alleys-behind-his-back kind of life. Uh, of course not.
But I mean please search-out something you are passionate about. If you're still not sure of God's unique calling made especially for you, now is a marvelous time to discover it. How can we use and refine those gifts/skills to help people if we don't know what they are?
Even something simple like learning to love your daily rituals is big.
Find and keep and tend to good, solid friendships and other relationships, like those with your grandchildren, church friends or neighbors.
Oh, and learn to pay bills and where to go for help with your investments, insurance, home repairs and all that annoying stuff. Do it now while you still have someone to show you how.
But my most vital advice? Learn to love Jesus, best. Better than anyone else, for He's the only one who, if everyone else fades away, will still be with you. Don't know how to do that? I once read, "it takes God to love God," so, well, ask Him for that love to flood your heart. Believe Him--and He'll do it.
Discover and learn and do and be you today--the you apart from your spouse. Learn what you like (and what you don't) and what you do best. And step away from any fear of newness or the future.
But don't wait for your spouse to join you. No, this has nothing to do with him/her. This is for you, this is for now and this is for later, also.
Not sure what you can do for others? Go here.
My friend, Susan, shared this link to Volunteer Match with me. Looks like a perfect companion post to this one!
"You are significant. Even alone." ... Jan Kiemel Ream
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The first time I posted this, Kristi (a widow, herself) left this very insightful comment which I appreciated much:
"One little postscript: When you still have the gift of life on earth, you can always use it to think about and help other people. I think the poor woman in your first paragraph would not have found her days so long if she had involved herself in helping others. I hope she has discovered this by now."
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." ---Mark 12:30