I did my best to keep up early yesterday morning, by responding to each birthday message. But they started flooding my inbox at 50 or 60 at a time. Many people called and sang happy birthday to me. I received many text messages and got lots of hugs from many other people.
My birthday was one of the best. We had lunch and dinner with friends who also sang to me.
One phone call I received left me with tears in my eyes. A couple who read my book, The Cross and The Rainbow as a devotional everyday had just finished reading one of the stories. They always put me on speaker so I get to talk to both of them at the same time. The husband said, we are calling just to tell you how much we love you. We feel like we really know you just from reading your books. I kept waiting for the....and we hope you have a happy birthday. Which never came. They didn't know it was my birthday.
After we hung up I sat for a moment, reflecting. I appreciated all the messages I received , the phone calls, the cards and the hugs. But that one phone call was different. They were only calling to tell me they love me.
What a great example they set. My goal is to call at least one person everyday.....for no reason except to tell them I love them.
For anyone reading my blog today I am sending you a basketful of daisies. Just to let you know I love you.
Judges 5:31...But may they who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.
Someone convinced my husband it would be a good idea for me to join him at the gym three times a week. Unfortunately my hubby was also with me when the doctor said, "no more dairy, wheat, soy or processed sugar."
Great! No food and I have to work out! What next?
So I shouldn't have been surprised when at lunch a few days ago I excused myself go to the bathroom to wash my hands, I asked my hubby to order for me. I mentioned I would like french toast.
When I came back to the table I had a nice salad!
One of the things I used to take for granted was my health. I've always been blessed with energy and great health.
So many of my friends ask me to pray daily for pain, test results, healing. And energy.
Someone said to me a few days ago, at the gym, she didn't feel she had much to be thankful for. She said she lost her job and was about to lose her house.
We talked for a few more minutes when she suddenly realized just being able to be at the gym was a small blessing.
Thank you Lord for the small blessings too.
Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the righteous will be a blessing....
Someone sent me a joke. It was about an older man, probably about my age, who finally bought his dream car. One day he decided to test the speed on a deserted road. From out of no where a Florida State Highway Patrolman appeared, red lights and siren. The older gentleman knew he could out run the "law", but reluctantly pulled to the side of the road and waited for the now angry FSHP. The patrolman appeared at his door, shoved his hat up and leaned over the car. "I'm at the end of my shift. Depending on what you tell me, you will either go to jail or you'll go on your way."
Without missing a beat the older gentleman said, "about a year ago my wife left me for a Florida State Highway Patrolman. I thought you were trying to bring her back."
The highway patrolman nodded to the gentleman and said, "slow down and have a nice day."
Even though this story isn't true, it made me smile. How many times in my own life have people given me a "break". I'm not talking about the law, but people in general.
A friend shared with me the other day her goal is to make at least one person smile everyday. What a great goal!
Genesis 30:13 Then Leah said, How happy I am! The women will call me happy.
My boss woke me about 4 a.m. this morning to "talk".
Really???
We couldn't do this later?
I've been trying to talk to you for days, but you are always too busy. You just don't listen to me.
I've asked my husband many times, "did you hear what I said?" And he always says, "of course."
But I know he was reading, watching golf, or listening to his little radio he carries with him between 12:06 and 3 everyday.
Okay, Lord, now that you have my attention, what is it we need to talk about?
He reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
And then he gave me specific instructions. The people I need to call and exactly, word for word what He wants me to say to them.
He had my attention. And in fact, His instructions were practical and one of the suggestions was the answer to a prayer.
I decided to write down what He said, because I know later today I won't remember. Not word for word.
Everyday I pray to stay at the center of His will. Thy Will Be Done.....
Everyday I ask Him to send the person He wants me to bless. One day that person was rude and nasty. I didn't pray He send me nice people. But who knows what's going on inside another person's head. Who knows what makes someone else react in a negative way?
Okay Dad.....I've got my marching orders. KNP reporting for duty!
One of the many blessings of living in Florida is the ever present sun. We have sunshine everyday. It seems, even when it rains, eventually the sun comes out.
We have a solar bird bath which graces our back yard.
Yesterday we had close to a thousand visitors. Some of them were rude to each other. Somehow word got out that we were serving "free food".
I sat silently watching them devour the food, and drink water.
Some of our visitors were from as far away as Brazil.
If you haven't guessed, the "visitors" were all birds. Splashing in the bird bath, eating the bird seed from the many feeders in our back yard.
There are some days the sun isn't strong enough to pump the water through the bird bath, but the little birds still come to enjoy the water.
I wondered a few days ago how many times I've sat waiting for the Son. There have been many times in my life when there were so many clouds over my head that I felt the sun might never shine again.
Unlike our little bird bath, we don't have to wait for the SON. He is ever present. He said, I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17.
Time seems to be escaping me. I feel like I'm in a dream where fence posts are flying by at an alarming rate. Maybe it's just me, but wasn't it just Christmas? Now it's April.
I've had to make some adjustments in my schedule. Do I continue writing, do I not. Do I continue with the plots in my head, or do I put them on paper?
A few weeks ago I made the decision. I'm putting my pencil (keyboard) away. I'm not writing any more. Besides who reads what I write anyway?
After a few days of "not writing" I realized I must have had a stroke.
That's not why I write..... it's not about "who reads what I write." I write because that's who I am. That's what motivates me. That's what keeps me alive and thinking. I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about one of my characters....'will she be okay, or what am I going to do with him?'
That proverbial plot is always on the back burner, simmering until I pay attention to it. My own life experiences change my characters lives too.
After a short vacation, I'm back. Keyboard clacking. Oh, I love that sound!
I can't "stop writing" any more than I can stop breathing.
What keeps you going?
Thank you Alex J. Cavanaugh for creating Insecure Writers Support Group. Today is the day, the first Wednesday of the month. Follow this link to join in.
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/
I sat this morning, listening. All I could hear was the sound of water splashing, and a few birds singing. I watched the sun coming up. This week-end was an emotional one. I left the Good Friday service in tears, and spent most of the day reflecting on the events of that day. How betrayed our Lord must have felt. And the horror and the pain He suffered, for me, for all of us.
Then the joy of Easter morning. The stone was rolled away. He is risen, He is risen indeed.
So in the stillness this morning I was overcome with joy. Joy of knowing. Like I hold a secret. The sun continued to rise and the colors of morning exploded across the sky. Orange, red, deep yellow, and finally a soft purple. Only a few minutes later everything changed. Soft white clouds licked azure blue skies.
Yes, Lord. Everything has changed.
John 16:20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
