Day 25, Grateful for Perspective

Maybe you’re experiencing a season of life right now where you feel...rejected, abandoned, disappointed, unwanted, alone...We all experience these feelings at one time or another. Maybe as a little girl or even a grown woman who desperately wishes her daddy would love her, an employee who longs for the approval of her boss, a woman who would give anything if her husband would pay attention to her, or one whose husband has walked away. Maybe you feel forgotten by friends or family during the busy holiday season, and loneliness and painful emotions threaten to steal your joy...When we find ourselves feeling this way, we’re faced with two choices. We can turn away from God in anger and frustration and develop a sour attitude. Or we can allow the words of the psalmist to motivate us to step up in our faith...Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live...If you’re feeling forgotten, by others or by God, let your hope swell and your joy return by intentionally believing that God will never leave you and is always by your side. Make a commitment to focus on God’s presence and the blessings He’s given you, and let God be the source of your joy...Dear Lord, I’ve been feeling...alone in this world...Forgive me for doubting, and fill my heart with the joy of Your presence. I commit today to seek after You, put my hope in You and praise You even when I’m struggling. In Jesus’ Name, Amen."
   -Tracie Miles

This really resonated with me today.   If have felt lonely and lost in my life...I developed bad coping strategies.  I persevered at my poor choices...I learned I can also make better choices...and preserver in the those.  Today, I try to remain hopeful, grateful and help others.  My feelings change like the weather in the midwest.

Wish me luck as we play golf in the wind today.  Cold front is coming in and all day temps will be dropping.

Have a wonderful Sunday.  Spoil yourself just a little today.  Start with a thought.

Day 25, I am grateful for perspective.

My Friends, N and T

I just learned yesterday that my friend N from grade school has cancer.  Pancreatic cancer.  I sat and cried silent tears at my desk at work.  Big hot heavy tears.

On the other hand, a friend of mine who did a very bad thing when he was young.  He has been in prison 30 years.  he is getting released this October.  One of my friends involved in this group text yesterday about N's cancer, told us about T sort of as a way of saying "here is some good news too".  T needs prayers too, to help him deal with life outside of prison.  Lord help me carry these burdens.

Mark 9:23: Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Sunday Surplus

Relaxing at home after having early coffee and buying couple gift cards/delivering couple gifts/church.

Then came home and finished up some leftovers for lunch.  Sure was glad I braved WM after the museum Saturday, even though it was crazy busy yesterday.  I will avoid WM and Target until well after the holidays now.  I will go to Aldis or reg grocery now...maybe Sams, but I try to avoid WM and Target right before/after Christmas/New Years.  I just stress over crowds and rude people, but add in the crazed commercialism and my anxiety just increases!

After the museum, and after WM shopping last night we had soup I had in crock pot and bread I made in our bread machine.  It was good!  I used some frozen gr beef and half the frozen turkey stock from TG and added taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, can tomatoes, can kidney beans, frozen corn, can rotel.  The bread made the house smell great!  I bought my bread machine in 1990 and used it regularly since!  Mostly limited to winter only.  I cant believe it has lasted so long. 

So our neighbors let us know, their daughter passed 2am sat morning.  She was only 49.  A year younger than me.  A year older than my mom was when she passed away.  My DH went over and started their truck and let it run for about 15 min.  He said it was reluctant to start.  Before we went to museum we bought a trickle charger to keep it on and keep battery charged.  They are good people, we wish we could do more, but obviously we cannot.  They are going to have their daughter's services in her state she died in, where her daughter still lives.  My neighbor texted to say they will stay for a while longer.  The past year and 4 months, they have driven 8 hours one way about once a month, sometimes a couple times.  This last trip they have been there since well before TG.  they are in early 70's.  I cannot imagine how exhausted they must be.  I have been through the process too...more than once...the vigil to see a lived one's life ebb and flow...more on that someday.

Never again will I complain about the holidays...God please confort T and R and J's children as only you can...Amen.