Grateful

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I’m trying my best to be GRATEFUL. After all, yesterday was the day of THANKSgiving—all about the season of thankfulness; being grateful. We hosted a small gathering of four. Our daughter picked up my mother-in-law so we could be together. Plenty of food filled our table. There was no shortage of talk, laughter, and a good time. We tried not to focus on those who weren’t around our table. Note to self: sometimes when there’s so many people involved, it’s tough to make individual, meaningful conversation.

Just a few days before, I’d received a call from the Assisted Living Facility where my Dad has been for the last two and a half years. He tested positive for COVID.

What will the outcome be? I have no clue. But You do. Give our family the strength and wisdom to do/say/be according to Your will. Is it Dad’s time to join Mom? Is it time to leave this isolated, confused, angry planet? For our sakes, I hope not! But for his sake—Thy will be done.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever…The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies – Psalm 118:1, 6-7

I’m thinking now about these words triumph on my enemies. What enemies could he possibly mean? I thought of a few: Discontent, anger, comparison, fear, anxiety, doubt. All those enemies creep into in my thinking.

The Lord is my Shepherd I have all that I need. This is true. The foundation of God’s throne is:

  • Righteousness (vs. dishonesty)
  • Justice (vs. unfair, unjust)
  • Love (vs. unloving, hate, scorn)
  • Faithfulness (vs. unfaithfulness, selfishness)

I’m thankful of the reminder that I need to focus on being GRATEFUL. We have so much. He is a good, good God. The Lord is with me. With us through it all.

P.S. Oh, and I forgot to add. We played a game. Yes, a GAME!! Now those of you who know our family know that my hubby, Steve, is not a gamer! Well, the four of us played our mandatory Thanksgiving Day game. Guess who won???  Steve’s Mom!  Plus, it was a game she’d never played before. Yay – way to go!!

Today’s prompt for the #Five Minute Friday group of writers is: Grateful.

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FootPrints

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Gull Foot Prints in Sand

We all leave footprints. Heavier prints in mud or wet areas. Lighter, fainter ones in sand or drier surfaces. Some take time to disappear. Other footprints, such as those created in sand, take merely a wave and they’re gone for eternity.

While etched on whatever surface they land on, they make an impression. Question is: will it be a good, bad, or neutral impression?

Will people remember me and you as being a positive encourager? Or, a Debbie-Downer, talk about herself and her life, all the time?

Do you see signs of pride or humility? Helpfulness or selfishness? I LOVE being around and talking to folks who don’t have to be center stage. Someone who shows they care by listening and not filling in all the blanks for me. (I’ll admit that I struggle with this concept. My brain tends to go forward and search for the next thing I plan to say.)

I attended an event where the speaker had the privilege of working with Mr. Rogers, host and producer of the popular kid’s television show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Earlier in life Fred Rogers studied for a pastoral ministry, but decided on a different career path. The lack of wholesome, educational television for our youth caused him to do something about what bothered him. He chose to devote his life’s work to creating wholesome, educational television programs for kids. What an impressive legacy he left behind!

I learned from this event that everyone who came in contact with Mr. Rogers felt special. Young or old, able bodied, mentally or physically challenged, they were #1 in his book. He zeroed in on that one person—whomever was in front of him at that moment in time. Rogers possessed a gift. You felt you were the only one on Planet Earth. You mattered. Your thoughts, fears, dreams counted. Top Priority! Was he perfect? Of course not, and he’d be the first to admit his imperfections.

At the symposium, the speaker highlighted a trailer scene where Mr. Rogers struggles to pitch a tent. He tried and tried to set the tent up properly. It turned out all wrong. The audience laughs and Rogers tries again to set it up, but it still doesn’t work. Rogers laughs along with the audience, admits defeat, and asks for help. He then patiently moves on to something else.

We miss you, Mr. Rogers! Your positive influence, drive, concern for humankind will not be forgotten.

He left a footprint wherever he walked, whenever he spoke. I came away from the event inspired and motivated to do better, be a better person, and be attentive to my neighbor. My neighbor is whomever God places on my path. Encourage, pray for, brighten the way for those in my sphere of influence.

  • What kind of footprint or mark do you want to leave for the ones you love?
  • Name some ways you plan to leave those kinds of footprints.

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Cancel

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My calendar is peppered with the word “cancel.” It’s easier to erase an appointment if it’s written in pencil. At least the evidence of a failed, re-scheduled, or cancelled date doesn’t hit me in the face every time I view the page. Often I’ll place an un-smiley face nearby to remind me I was none too happy to “X” the event out. Most of the cancels can be traced back to COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.

This is the third or fourth time an event or series of events originally planned, and looked forward to, is put on hold or not happening at all.

  • Doctor appointment for my mother-in-law to see her new doctor
  • Breakfast/lunch date for my birthday with my sister (still hasn’t happened)
  • Travel down south to visit family

Disappointment, dashed hopes, plans, dreams gone by the wayside. That’s one perspective—the one I tend to linger in and gravitate to. Woe is me! I can’t do such and such. Go to this place. Have fun.

The flip side is an angle I must work on to develop and make it my go-to lifestyle and automatic reflex.

What if this happened (or didn’t happen), plans adjusted, cancelled because of something else underlying? Something bigger or better? Something neither you or I can see or know on the time spectrum.

Maybe the timing wasn’t the best. If I’d been down south, I’d missed something up north. Who knows? Don’t know if you or I’ll ever know. I’m reminded to be content in whatever circumstances I’m in. Right here and right now. Cancel, no cancel. Re-schedule or no re-schedule.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declared the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

What if I were to dwell on these words? My life would be filled with more joy and less stress. I’m see more blessings in the interim vs. just doom and gloom.

  • What ways can you change your thinking around to think less of what you didn’t get to do or be?

This post has been part of the Five Minute Friday writing challenge group. A challenge to write for 5 minutes on a given topic each week.

How much time do you spend worrying?

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If you’re like me, you spend a fair amount of the day worrying. Especially during these uncertain times in the middle of a pandemic in an election year!

On day two of the writers’ conference, I became feverish and sick which landed me in bed wrapped in blankets. My caring roommate, Noreen, attended to me bringing what food and drink I could handle. She even offered to drive me home if I wanted to go. I chose to remain at the conference in hopes the bug would pass quickly. Deferring her own needs and health, she compassionately cared for me. Thankfully, I recovered and was able to enjoy the remainder of the conference.

When I regained strength, I marched into the conference with my head held high expecting God to disclose His vision and great truths. My desire is to carry on with His mission of writing through me. Regardless of anything and everything going on in my life, I just needed to be at the conference. I needed to let it all go and be present here and now.

Maybe you or a loved one has or is experiencing the flu or COVID-19. Your body is worn out, dragged down, and tired all over. Try and take this time to rest and relax your physical and emotional muscles. Use this time to reflect on your blessings.

“If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is,” unknown

  • In your spare time, what do you immediately turn to first … your computer, social media blitzes, news on the television, your Bible, devotional, etc.?
  • When did you last spend time engaged in a productive, positive activity? What did you do?

Prayer of Encouragement: 

Dear God, thank you for putting guardian angels in my life to care for me. I know You are in control of my life even though the entire world seems to be spinning out of control. Help me put aside issues which might cause me to forget You and concentrate on what You’ve prepared for me. I willingly accept the path You’ve charted in my life. Whatever the outcome, I choose to praise You. Amen.

** excerpt taken from Life is: Good, Fragile, Precious—Loving yourself so you can love others book; Day #20.  

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” —Luke 12:22–26. 

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