Where do you see beauty?

We walk in shallow unconscious living at times.

With a lack of recognition of the gifts that are to be unwrapped.

We move through the moment with such excessive speed to get to the next thing that we often miss the moment we are in.

Our time is so valuable that we don’t want to waste any.

Yet the time that is truly wasted are those times we don’t stop to savor what is around us. 

Beautiful things are typically not the ones of materialism.  Not those that we place monetary value on.  Those things that we place in a glass case or vault so no one steals them.

They are the things that can’t be stolen.  That hold no earthly value at all but are more valuable in heart than anything we could ever ask for.  And sometimes those that we don’t even think we deserve.

It is the music we hear & in blue sky days.

It is in the sound of raindrops & of thunder.

The snowcapped mountains.

The blue bonnet covered hillsides of Austin, Texas in the spring.

The breeze that blows through my home on a summer afternoon.

It is in the arms of a grandfather that hugs me.

It is in the miracle of new life.  Of meeting your child for the very first time.

It is the moment of death.  Of being present to usher someone into his heavenly place where he will be Whole.  Healed.  And finally home. 

It is the laughter of my children.

The times that bring tears to my eyes.  Not for any reason but feeling pure joy in a simple moment. 

When my kids run into my arms when I’ve been gone longer than 10 minutes.  When I watch my husband play with them.  Jump in the fall leaves with them.  When I hear them singing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ over the monitor after they are put to bed.  THAT is beauty.

Beauty, is seeing my mom delight in being able to sit with them & read book after book as they fight over who will sit on which side of her lap.  She may not FEEL as beautiful as the year’s do, what she feels, is irreparable harm, but she IS beautiful.  She loves with a heart that only a grandmother could have & in that, exists a radiance.

Beautiful is being able to embrace a friend that is going through a difficult time.  To be the one that she cries with.  The one she talks with.  The one that she trusts.  The one I can pray for.  And having one in return.  That is beauty.

Beauty is in the missionary that puts her entire heart into leaving someone’s world just a little better than it was the day before.  In placing her needs on hold because someone needs food or healing.  Shelter or water.  Prayer or hope. 

It is in the simple gift of touch.

Holding the hand of someone that you love.

 

Beauty requires nothing but an open heart of the person that is recognizing it.

Beauty does not always lie in the eye of the beholder.

It rests in the heart of the one blessed enough to embrace it.

The one that is willing to step forward & look beyond what is right in front of them. Or do just that….finally recognize that sometimes IT IS right in front of them.

Beauty surrounds us.

At every turn, it is there to bring a gift. 

It is there for us to embrace.

It beckons us to linger a while.

To savor it’s goodness & the way it makes our heart delight.

Where do you see beauty?  Will you see it differently now?  And when you do, will you embrace it with a full heart?  Will you let it settle into your soul where it belongs?  Because when you do, it is yours.....to keep!  Forever!

I will sing

Did you ever notice that the birds sing even in the rain?

Clouds cover their sky.

Thunder rolls gently above.

Rain saturates the ground.

And there is still a song in their hearts.

They don’t complain that it’s dreary.

They don’t wish it away.

They praise it with song for they know it brings something beautiful.

When the rain stops & the storm is over, it is then that they can appreciate the bounty of the true blessing.  The grass is greener.  Their food more plentiful.  Their nests can now be built to provide shelter & safety for new life.

As the birds sang today & the rain was coming down it gave cause for me to sing praise for my own rain.  For the storms I have withstood.  For dark days.  For thunderstorms that I never thought would end.

 I will sing.

I will sing because the rain will end.  God did not leave me there.  And the land that I now walk in is an absolute bountiful blessing. 

When the clouds covered my sky, I didn’t see the light in the distance.

When the rain washed all of the hope of love & promise that I had away without much hesitation or mercy…..there was a stillness that I needed.  There was blessing in the rain that I couldn’t see yet.  If I only knew then….I would have sang.

But now I know. 

There will be more storms.  I am sure of that.  I am not pessimistic.  I am just a woman that understands that life has ups & downs.  There will be rain.  There will be rainbows.  There will be days that are hopeless & lonely.  Times when rain keeps coming.  Moments when the flood waters are almost too much.  But I will lift my voice.  I will lay my burdens down.  I will give them over to the One that can carry them for me and……

I will sing. 

I will sing. 

I will sing.

In good company

I love being in good company.

To sit and talk for hours about everything and nothing.

To grab a cup of tea or glass of wine, slip my shoes off & snuggle in…..here.

I would ask you about your life….

Where you have lived….

Who your family is….

What they stand for…..

How you got to be who you are….

Or, how you plan to become who you want to be.

We would even sit quietly at times.

Feeling the breeze shifting softly & listening as it rustles the leaves on the trees standing tall over us.

It would be a comfortable stillness.

The kind made for old friends.

And, the kind that is invited by new friends with kindred spirits.

We would talk about worldly things.

    Lofty goals.

        Elaborate Dreams.

     And, not-so-realistic wishes.

We would laugh as funny stories were shared until out stomachs hurt so bad that we couldn’t stand it.

And maybe even share tears while we talk of some of ‘those things’ that did make us who we are.

And when the day was done & it was time to go our separate ways, we would enter back into our lives with gratitude of friendship & of love that only good company can give.

I wish we could sit down right now in this place!  We would have such a great conversation.

Simple Words. Big Meaning.

We have been visiting my parents in Kansas for a week now.

Just the kids & I.

I never thought I would love it so much here but it has been one of the greatest experiences.

I have no responsibilities to clean the house, do any of the things that have a way of taking over my calendar & consuming my life for days on end.  No work to worry about.

The only job I have had for a week is enjoying time with our kids.  And watching my parents enjoy time with them too.

We have visited some really fun places & I have to say that it is one of the most kid friendly cities I’ve been to. 

Hallmark is located here & provides an opportunity for kids of all ages to be entertained.  We played.  We made puzzles.  We did art projects with recycled materials from Hallmark. 

On the way in to play, there were banners hanging on the pillars outside.

Simply stated….they revealed the whole purpose for our trip.

Laugh.  Celebrate.  Connect.

And I thought it was ironic that I was so drawn to these beautiful words as they symbolized the reason we are here.  And not just here in Kansas but here…right now….wherever you are…in this time & place.

Did I laugh today?  Yes!  At myself.  At my parents.  At my kids being silly.  At the fact that even with a Garmin we still didn’t know we were going. 

Did I celebrate today?  Absolutely!  It was a gorgeous day.  I was at peace today.  Nothing providing turmoil or strain to my soul.  Just pure peace.  And that’s a really good thing no matter where you are!  I celebrated the gorgeous green rolling hills.  (yes, there are hills in Kansas).  The cherry blossom trees in their splendor.  The opportunity to play with the kids.  Have lunch with them.  Just BE….with them & my parents.

Did I connect today?  On many levels.  I visited with a friend that I haven’t seen for a really long time.  One that has walked with me through the death of my first husband.  Who is not someone I talk to all the time but miles & time don’t matter when it comes to our friendship.  It is lovely when you connect with someone like that. 

And I think to myself, ‘wow, if the only goal of every day was laughter, celebration & connectedness…..what a different world we would live in’.  Even if some days, we just focused on one….that would change a few lives in the process as well.

So I am thankful for today.  For what it brought to me.  The gift that I got to unwrap.  And I can rest tonight knowing that I did what I was meant to do today.  To celebrate the life that God gave me for this day.

She floats

She floats on the water.

Arms outstretched.

Pink swim cap snug against her long blonde hair.

Goggles pressed tightly against her blue eyes.

She is comfortable.

She is safe.

She is protected by the teacher’s hands that hold her.

She knows they will not let her go.

So she floats.

She enjoys her freedom.

Her soul rests in ease.

It is soothed by the faith that she is protected.

It rests on the promise that she will not be deserted or forsaken.

And as our Father does with us, so does her teacher.

She knows what her potential is & she lets go. 

Releases her into freedom to go her own way. 

She will not abandon her.  He will not abandon us.

She will not put her in danger.  He assures us that we should not fear.

She is still there with her.  He NEVER leaves us.

Her job is to teach.  He walked this earth to do the same.

Her job is to lead her in what she already knows.  What she has already learned.  He too, has felt every pain, every disappointment, every lesson, every loss, that we have felt.

She knows when to let go.  He knows when He needs to hold on.

So she let’s go.

And the moment that my daughter realizes that she is not being held on to, fear sets in.  Confidence is shaken.  Legs tuck in.  And she goes under water.

She showed me that day that I do the same thing.

In confidence.  I float.

Bank account in excess.  I float.

Roof over our heads.  I float.

Healthy kids.   I float.

Good marriage.  I float.

No impending debt.  I float.

Food to eat.  I float.

And then….I feel His hands lift.  Not because He isn’t still there.  Not because He has left me.   But His hands move from being supportive to allowing me more freedom.  Freedom to make my own choices.  Away from Him.  To go my own way.  If I choose. 

And when that happens…

When I choose on my own….

When I try by myself…

When I think MY will is better than His….

I tend to become scared.  I lose confidence.  Strength is devoured.

I tuck my legs under.   Panic takes over.  And I start to go under.

And as her teacher did, so does Mine.

He grabs a hold of me.

He pulls me back up.

He provides the safety that I need. 

He saves me, once again.

And then, I dry myself off & get ready for the next lesson.