Morning Thoughts

 

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY!
I've been up since 4:30 this morning, so it seems like half the day is over now.
It's a good thing it's not though, since i have a list long enough for 4 days to take care of today.
Seem familiar?

I called an office to find something out this morning, and couldn't figure out why the lady came in so late. (It was only 8:30.) And can't these electric and phone companies come in early so i can get the bills paid before i go off and forget again?

Now, this is being written by the lady (me) who used to sleep till 9 or 10 every day! I can't even imagine how i did that and got anything done! But I did seem to get it all done, and I don't remember it being such an effort. My neighbor and i used to have our work done by 11 in the morning, and sit around in the afternoon and watch our kids play, (3 each) and drink ice tea. Now even getting up at 4:30 doesn't give me enough day. And i stay up till 11 most nights, later others. Mind you, I do not get up early to get things done, it's just when i wake up, and can't go back to sleep, so i get up.

So, what has changed. There are still the same number of hours in a day, still some of the same responsibilities, (minus the 3 kids, but add back in 4 grand kids). Gotta love that math!!
There are still bills to pay, yard work to be done, cars to be fixed, friends to help, church to serve at, errands to run, and pretty much the same things we had years ago. (won't say how many years).

There is the added element of opening my own business, but it seems i was busy before, just busier now. (a great kind of busy, meeting new people, creating new things.)
My husband is more helpful than he was years ago, (or maybe I've just learned to appreciate it and him more.) And he is trying to maintain 2 properties for the last 13 years.

Some of you are sitting there saying, "Yes, but you are older now. You've slowed down."
I DON'T THINK SO! You may be getting older, but I'm staying at 35, thank you very much!! =)

OK. Seriously, if I can't figure out what is going on, or how to change it, I'd better just figure out how to deal with it.
I can tell you right off the bat, that running around in a frenzy is not the answer! Nor is adding more things to the mix. That frenzy thing can just make us grumpy and hard to live with, and we just get more stressed in that frame of mind. No one can move fast enough or in the right direction when we are like that. Traffic is too slow, the signals aren't set right, the person in the grocery line is causing problems with her coupons, and the clerk doesn't know how to do things.
What in inept world anyway!! Can't anyone do anything right except me?

WHOA! Hold on there. I'm getting in a frenzy just thinking about all that!!

Back to the answer. Going faster doesn't work, so how about if we try slowing down??
Sounds crazy doesn't it? But I'm going to try it. I'm going to take a deep breath, fix myself a cup of tea, maybe even look at a magazine!! Or better yet, bask in the presence of the Lord, and thank Him for His many blessings.
HAVE I LOST MY MIND? No, Ive just found it. That list of things we deem so important,
how much of it really is? How many pumpkins do I need to make to sell? Who is gong to notice if my curtains are 'fluffed' just right at the store? Will anyone even care if my area rugs match?
Will my frenzy make me any friendlier when people come in for a visit? Should that letter of complaint wait till I'm not so upset?

Bottom line for me. I have to reevaluate my priorities. And here's a really hard question I've had to ask myself: What of all these things, all these pressures i put myself under, all my expectations of myself and other people, makes me any closer to the Lord? What am i doing of any real eternal value?

With that in mind, I'm fixing that cup of tea now, and instead of a magazine, I'm just going to ponder that very hard question: what of all the things i do, has any real eternal value? It may be time to reevaluate some things in my life.

Blessings on your day. May it be peaceful, and full of joy as you serve Him.

Barbara jean

Choosing Joy

Where to begin....maybe just some random thoughts.

I'm 68.  I'm a young 68, if ya know what I mean. I walk each day for exercise and love it. I have my own business, and love it too. And we have most of our family living close to us. So grateful.

I am married to a wonderful man of 71.   (I choose for him to be a young 71, but sometimes he feels old.)
We have aches and pains...too many, for being so young, but we have generally good health. And we thank God every day for that.

We know a lot of people who are struggling with health issues.....Cancer, Alzheimers, bodies wearing down and giving out.
We have friends who have lost loved ones.....too young. Long illnesses, surgeries and a deteriorating life, or suddenly gone. 58 years old, healthy, then suddenly sick and die 13 weeks later.

Those losses, and the heartache of those left behind have been heavy on my heart. They weigh me down, sometimes to the point of becoming depressed if I am not careful.

I have to choose. Do I let them get me down, or somehow lift myself out of that pit and choose joy? It is very hard.

So, tho my heart is filled with tears for others who are suffering, I choose joy.

I choose to go out and enjoy the life and good health God has given me. Walk in the sunshine, do some fun things. Take days off from work....go for a drive, or walk by the river. Not big things, just little things that keep me connected with God and His creation.....
And I ask God for hope.....and for comfort for those who are suffering.

My prayer is that we will choose joy, and pray for the broken hearted.

Blessings, Barb

Delineating Duties

 

In your marriage or other relationships, do you delineate duties?
Have you figured out which things you will do, and which things your spouse will do?

Is it a written list, or just in your heads?
Does it change, or stay the same?

What about in your relationship with God? Have you delineated duties?
Is there a list of what you expect God will do,
and what you are supposed to do?
Is it written down, or in your head?
Does your list change?

Do you have things you feel like you can do yourself? the easy, every day things?
no need to bother God with those. you are quite capable to handle them yourself, right?

so, you only go to God with the big things. how do you think he feels about that?
OK, here is the scenario. you are going along in life, it's running smooth, then, bam! a big and not usually good event knocks you for a loop. then you call on God, right?

think about this a moment: how would you feel if a 'friend' never called you to say hi, or visited, or seemed to care a thing about you, then bam, out of the blue they had some catastrophe in their life and they desperately need your help. well like, who are you? you need what?

Just something to ponder....Do you call God your friend? Talk to Him each day? Stay connected?
Or is He just your "911" in emergencies.....

blessings all

Serious Question.....Aging, and Perplexed

Hi friends
I just need to get something off my chest and throw it out there for some feedback.
(It is too long for FB so I am putting it here.)

That picture is us. My sweet fella is 70 now, and I am 67.
We have been married 48 years, and very very happy.
We are in good health barring aches and pains that seem to come with age.

Here is what I am perplexed about:

We have a lot of friends and acquaintances who have serious health issues.
Cancer, heart attacks, Alzheimers, strokes. Some younger than us have passed away already.
 We are more grateful than words can say for our good health, and overall state of well being.
We love the Lord, and people, and are so grateful for our lives.

But I have been having this feeling that we need to 'do something'. Anything. Not just sit around and wait for one of those health issues to hit us.   We really have no desire to travel...(well, my sweet fella is most content to just stay home and relax.....he is retired and deserves that.)  He helps with things around the house, and I run my little store with a lot of help from my Mom, granddaughter, sweet fella and friends.
We live a comfortable and usually content life, looking for others to help.  God has blessed us so we can bless others.

But there is still that nagging...that 'get up and do something so we do not regret not doing it later' feeling.  I think my 'adventure' spirit is urging me to go have some fun, and I enjoy it most when my fella is with me.
Neither of us are feeling a 'calling' to foreign ministry, but do try to minister to those God puts in our lives every day.
But the "Urgency" to do something still nags me.

So, while we spend out days and evenings praying for marriages, addictions, and serious health issues for others.....I remain.....perplexed.

This is a chance I hope some of you will take to either give me feed back from things you have learned along these lines, or think of your own lives, and what you are doing, or not doing, while you still can.

Blessings in Him
Barb

Learning To Let Go

     I am learning that there is more than one way of doing things.
And I am learning that we do not have to be in control, or do it ‘our’ way in order for things to turn out right. (or sometimes even better than if we had done it out way)

     For instance: in years past, if I had a project, but needed help on it, I would try to ‘supervise’ so that it would be done how I thought it should be done.
Scott would get irritated at me because I wanted to know how he was going to do something I asked him to do, because if he was not going to do it my way, I needed to understand every step he was going to do to make sure it would turn out how I wanted. He would get frustrated, then I would get frustrated, and usually walk away upset. Not a good experience for either of us, and usually took longer to get what I wanted.
Or someone else would be helping me, and while I was busy doing something else, they would do it different than I had planned….I would come back to see how it was going, and it was not how I thought it should be…

     But you know what I have learned?  My way is not the only way, or always the right or best way to do something.
I have learned that there are a lot of ways to get something done, and some even better than the way I thought it should be done. I have learned (am learning) to let go, to let others do it their way. It gets done, and with a lot less stress on all our parts. (And sometimes it is even better than my plan was.) =)
I have also learned that while they are working out a plan to get something done, I can be doing some other work that needed to be done, instead of trying to ‘supervise’ how a job I gave them is being done.

    And this is what it has helped me learn too. God has His own way of dong things, and it is the right way.
And it is often a totally different way than I would have thought. And if I let it go, there is a lot less stress.
His timing, His way, is perfect.  And also, while He is working out His perfect plan and timing, I can be doing the other things He has called me to do.

  Thank you Lord, for using people to help me grow. For using situations to help me see how you work in us.
Thank you that your plan and your timing is perfect. Help me to trust you more, and walk in stride with You.
Amen.

My Morning Walks With God

On my walk a few days ago,
I saw, off in the distance,
running across a big pasture,
4 HUGE dogs.

My first thought was,
"Hope they are friendly".
Then,
"Is that pasture fenced?"
Then quickly realized it wasn't.

About then, they 'ran' across the road.
Only they weren't really running,
they were gracefully 'leaping'.

Yes, it was 4 deer.
Four beautiful, deer, crossing the road in front of me.

They were running into an area of trees,
and on the other side of the trees was a pasture.

I hurried down the road a bit,
and quietly moved into the area where they had crossed.

I could see three of them, a bit of distance from where i was,
then i saw one in the trees, closer to me.

I slowly walked across the manure filled pasture,
waiting, watching, slowly moving forward,
careful not to scare the deer off,
looking for the very best picture i could get.




The deer looked up,
and knew I was there,
but did not run away.

She would eat a bit, and look up to check on me,
Then eat a bit more.

And then finally she meandered off down the trees to
cross the meadow with her friends.

When we were done,
and as i walked my way back across
the area and to the road,
I was thinking about how i had been totally
focused on getting those pictures.
I had carefully taken every step.
Looking for the best picture i could get.


I was not thinking about anything else.
I was totally focused on one thing.
I had not one thought of the day's problems.
No anxiety, no worries.


" Lord to help me do that in my walk with You.
Help me to stay totally focused on You.
Waiting, watching, slowly moving forward
always looking for Your best."

Blessings friends,

Barbara Jean

This was re posted from last summer for you to enjoy.

Pondering Life

Just thinking:

We know several people, relatives, friends, acquaintances, who are either seriously ill, or have had family members pass away lately. My heart aches for them.
And it is making me ponder our life, Scott and I. We work, a lot. Yes, my work is also my fun, and I love what I get to do. But I am aware, that any of the illnesses or heartaches that have fallen on others, could happen to us, at any given moment. And of course, God is in control of all of that.

But it makes me wonder if we will be part of the huge percentage of people who will be sorry they did not take more time off, go on more trips, walk by more rivers, spend more time with friends.

And, in pondering this, we may need to make some changes.
Life is precious. Do not take it for granted.
Say I love you, TODAY. Give the extra hug to someone who needs it. Relax and have a little fun. Live each day to the fullest!!
That's all. As I said, just pondering.....Be blessed everyone.