Category: Choosing to See the Bright Side

Optimism is a discipline that can be learned. Choosing to see the best in all situations makes us happier and healthier in the long run. Optimists live longer than pessimists.

Being Thankful in Sickness and Health

Posted on by Wendy

 

We can always find something to be thankful for, even on sick days.
We can always find something to be thankful for, even on sick days.

I am getting over a bout of bronchitis. I finally gave up and went to the doctor on Friday at my hubby’s gentle nudging. I think he was concerned that I may actually cough up a lung in one of my coughing fits. The doc’s prescription was antibiotics and rest.

The antibiotic part was no big deal. It’s just taking a pill everyday, but rest for me, was a little trickier. I hate to just sit and do nothing. Even when I’m sitting, I’m often making some kind of plan, a grocery list, or a blog post, or plans for a vacation six months from now.

But, Saturday, I was completely wiped out and didn’t get out of my pajamas all day long. I felt like such a loser; but guess what? The world did not grind to a halt because I needed a sick day. The dog was happy to snuggle in my lap all day. My teenagers brought their respective electronics and joined me in the living room. They were perfectly happy to stay in their jammies too.

And as badly as I felt, I found myself giving thanks. First of all, I’m normally a healthy person. I feel good the vast majority of the time, something I’m ashamed to say, that I often take for granted. I thanked God for my health. It truly is a blessing that healthy people often forget.

I thanked God for family to help take care of me. Here again, we so often take for granted the family God has blessed us with. We see them everyday. They get on our nerves. We get on theirs, but family is a blessing.

I thanked God for medication. We live in a country where healing drugs are readily available. Bronchitis could easily kill someone who didn’t have access to antibiotics or even over-the-counter meds to take care of a fever.

I thanked God for my house. Shelter is another thing that we often take for granted. My home also has running water and heat, something people in many places in the world don’t have. I’ll bet yours does too.

I could have taken the day and wallowed around and felt sorry for myself. I could have lamented about the hairballs that needed vacuuming up. I could have pushed myself to get up and power through it somehow, but I didn’t.

I believe that our bodies are a gift. For us to be as effective as possible in using them to spread the love of Jesus, we have to work on keeping them well. When we get sick, I think we actually honor God by submitting to our exhaustion and resting, so that our bodies can heal. Perhaps it’s a show of humility to admit that we need rest. When we do, we are admitting that we aren’t perfect or bullet proof. We are simply humans who sometimes get sick.

When we humble ourselves and pray for healing, it’s also a perfect time to give thanks for all of those blessings that we sometimes forget in our daily rush. If we do that, perhaps we can get spiritual healing along with our physical healing and maybe that was what we were supposed to do all along. What do you think?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Seeing Jesus at Publix

Posted on by Wendy
You never know how far a few encouraging words can go.
You never know how far a few encouraging words can go.

I’ve been fighting a cold this past week. Each night I would go to bed hoping that tomorrow I would feel better. Each day, I woke up feeling a little worse. Yesterday, when I awoke, it took everything I had to get out of the bed as my throat and head battled over which would hurt worse.

My normally peaceful morning was also marred by an argument with my fifteen-year-old, daughter. I dropped her off at school after a long, silent ride and went home and fell back into bed for a little while.

I had so many things to do and of course, we were out of some essential groceries, like milk. I prayed that God would sustain me through the day. I prayed that He would show me His face. After I dragged myself up again and into the shower, I continued to pray for some sign of encouragement. Could He hear me? Was He listening?

I received an apology text from my daughter. She told me she just wasn’t “feelin’ it today.” Well, that made two of us. I told her it was no biggie. I try to model quick forgiveness for her, the best I can. That little exchange did my heart good, even though my head was still pounding.

When I got on the road, there was construction everywhere, stop and go. When I got to Sam’s Club, there were only two lines open with six people in each line. Sigh. When I got to Publix, things were looking up. I was almost done with my list, when I picked up a bottle of laundry detergent by the lid and it dropped and spilled, on the floor, on me, on the bottle itself. What a mess.

I couldn’t leave the mess. I told an employee about the floor, so no one would fall, and picked up the bottle and put it in my cart. It only seemed fair. Who would want to buy it? My hands were covered in the detergent when I went to check out. I explained to the cashier what had happened and asked for a paper towel. He insisted on getting me a new bottle and he gave me a wet wipe. I really do love that store.

Checking out in front of me was a couple from our last church. She heard the whole thing and before I knew it, she had come back around and was standing behind me. I’ve always had great admiration for this woman. I can see Jesus when I see her. She’s a tiny lady, but packed with power. There were many times over the years, when she went out of her way to thank me for my service to the kids or youth in the church. It was a really difficult decision for us, when we decided to leave, but I am still amazed at how kind everyone was.

Well, here we were at Publix; I was a mess inside and out at the moment, and she was a picture of peace and encouragement. She told me that she just wanted me to know how much she missed me and my family. She told me she understood our reasons and respected them, but just wanted me to know that we were missed and loved.

I was fighting tears at this point. I have always believed if you look for God in the world around you, He will show His face in often unlikely places. I desperately needed an extra helping of grace and encouragement and I asked. Once again, He provided, this time through a darling woman at the grocery store.

You never know the power of a little encouragement or a kind word. I always try to be the face of Christ when I leave my house, but today I got to see the face of Christ. Let me tell you; it was beautiful.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Living in Faith Not Fear

Posted on by Wendy
What if we chose to live in faith and not fear? What would our lives look like?
What if we chose to live in faith and not fear? What would our lives look like?

We often talk about what we believe. Many of us who are Christians try valiantly to live like Jesus’ example. We try to read the Bible regularly and we try to live in faith and not fear. I came across a story last week that I just had to share. A ninety-two year old woman named Pauline Jacobi, is a shining example for us all. She says she reads her Bible everyday and her faith keeps her going.

She lives in Dyersberg, Tennessee. She had just finished buying groceries at Wal-Mart and got into her car. A man got in the passenger seat and told her he had a gun and to give him all of her money. What would you have done?

She told him no, not once, but three times. She told him if he killed her, she was going to heaven and he was going to hell. She told him Jesus went everywhere she went and he was in the car with her. The surprised man looked around. Tears began to roll down his face. She ministered to him for ten minutes.

He told her he thought he would go home and pray that night. She told him he didn’t have to wait until that night, he could pray anytime. She gave him the money she had, $10.00 and then told him he had better not spend it on whiskey. Can you believe this woman?

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and then he left. I have included the link if you would like to see it.

 

I read a blog last week that spoke of living without fear, in fact, her goal this year, was “A year with no fear.” This really appeals to me, especially since I have been reading through the Christmas story where we have three different angelic messages telling various people, “Do not be afraid.”

Pauline Jacobi was living the words that she reads daily in her Bible. I feel like I would be scared out of my mind if an armed man jumped into my car. I probably would have just handed him my entire wallet, even though I rarely carry cash, but this woman didn’t skip a beat. She relied completely on her faith, not on her flesh.

She told him no and witnessed to him. Then, she gave him her money. Can you imagine? I would have probably honked the horn with all of my might when he got out. But, she turned to Jesus for strength and then became the face of Jesus for this lost man.

When she did, not only did Jesus protect her, he gave her the ability to help save a lost soul. How differently could things have gone if she would have chosen another way. What if she gave him the money and said nothing? Would he have robbed someone else? Would he have been caught and gone to jail?

We will never know. But, Pauline Jacobi is living out her faith in a manner we should all strive for. She’s living in faith, not fear and she’s leaning on Jesus when life goes horribly wrong. Maybe we should all pray for faith like hers and the courage to act accordingly. What do you think?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy

Seeking and Providing Hope During Advent

Posted on by Wendy
As we enter Advent, let's look for hope in the world around us and let's share it.
As we enter Advent, let’s look for hope in the world around us and let’s share hope.

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. Advent will continue to be observed until Christmas Eve. We are waiting expectantly and preparing for the arrival of Jesus. Every Sunday, we light a candle in the Advent Wreath and each candle represents something different. Yesterday’s candle represented hope.

I love to talk about and think about hope. In a dark world, hope is a glimmer of light that shows up in the most unexpected places. Our country has been shaken over the past week, by riots in Ferguson, Missouri and around the rest of the country. We’ve seen lots of ugly pictures. We’ve seen some of the worst behavior that humanity has to offer. We’ve witnessed a lot of anger and hate.

But, we’ve also witnessed some glimmers of hope. There was a gas station in Ferguson that was guarded by several very large, armed, African-American men. The owner was white. Why would these men guard the store of a white man during all the rioting and looting? Did he pay them? Nope. Apparently, over the years, the owner had helped out quite a few people in the neighborhood by giving them jobs, when times were tough. They were thankful. They stood guard and kept his business safe, while many others were burned. The owner showed kindness to strangers. The strangers in turn, helped the owner, when he found himself in desperate need. Hope.

There was another story all the way in Portland, Oregon. A protest was going on and a twelve- year- old, African-American boy, named Devonte stood, with tears streaming down his face, holding a sign that simply read, “Free Hugs.” A twenty-year-old photographer, who was taking photos saw the boy and the sign and felt like it was something special and took some photos of him. He turned away to take some other shots and when he turned back, there was a police officer, Sgt. Bret Barnum, hugging the child.

The story goes that the officer saw the sign and approached Devonte and they talked for a little while about life and school. After the conversation, officer Barnum asked Devonte if he could have one of those hugs. Devonte obliged and the photographer snapped a photo. After it was published, it was shared over 150,000 times on Facebook within hours.

The photographer, Johnny Nguyen, said he felt like it was a photo the world wanted to see. He went on to say that, “He felt like everyone was clamoring for hope in the face of the violence.” He was right. I have included a link if you haven’t seen the photo. Hope.

http://wtvr.com/2014/11/29/cop-hugs-boy-holding-free-hugs-sign-at-ferguson-rally/

Even though circumstances can be very bleak and dark, hope has a way of turning up, if we dare to look for it. Advent is the perfect time to look for hope in the world around us and to share hope. We are celebrating the fact that God loved us enough to become one of us to give us hope. As we travel through the next month to Christmas, I would like to invite you and challenge you to actively look for hope and share it when you find it. Share it with family, friends, neighbors or even strangers. Share it on Facebook. Instead of all of the negative publicity and politics and even jokes that we so willingly share, let’s actively share stories of hope and redemption.

Let’s share the real story of Christmas with the world around us. Who’s with me?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Black Friday Reflections

Posted on by Wendy
We have the option to be at peace, no matter the circumstances. Let's choose that option today.
We have the option to be at peace, no matter the circumstances. Let’s choose that option today.

Today is known as Black Friday. Yesterday, we basked in thankfulness and family. We may have enjoyed a beautiful meal with friends. But, today, we will risk life and limb to be the first in line for the door buster deal. Black Friday is the official beginning of the holiday shopping season for many retailers. Once the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade concludes with Santa at the end, it’s off to the races.

Many retailers even decided to open on Thanksgiving Day, which I personally think is terrible. I think everyone should have the opportunity to have a day off and enjoy their family. There are twenty larger retailers who have taken a stand and refused to open on Thanksgiving Day. I have included a link to the list. But, some of them are TJ Maxx, Sam’s, Costco, Home Depot, Publix, and Dillards. I would like to encourage you to spend some of your Christmas shopping dollars at these stores. Let’s reward them for taking a stand for family.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/59725/20-stores-refuse-open-thanksgiving

On another note, if you decide to brave the madness today, I would like to encourage you to say a prayer before you leave your home. Those fruits of the Spirit come in very handy on a day like this, peace, patience and kindness top the list. Pray that the Holy Spirit will prompt you to extend some grace to those who do not extend grace to you. We all have the option to choose peace over pushing and shoving.

Let’s try to remember that some of those people out shopping really need that deal. They may be desperately trying to provide for their own family and living from pay check to pay check. They may have absolutely no extra money for Christmas presents, yet they still want to provide gifts for their children. Let’s try to extend some grace and remember that we have no idea what circumstances have brought each person out today.

Let’s try to remember to extend some grace to the sales people who are working. Many have been up most of the night. Many had to leave their own families at home to come and assist aggressive, unappreciative crowds. Let’s try to offer some kindness to these people, even if we may find them less than helpful. We have no idea what they have endured on this crazy day.

As Christians, let’s take the opportunity to be the face of Jesus today. Let’s be at peace. Let’s extend kindness. Most of all, as we search for that awesome deal, let’s remember the true reason for the season, when God became man to save us all to come and live with Him in eternity. In light of that huge sacrifice, let’s try to remember who we are today and what we stand for.

Y’all have fun and be careful!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Being Thankful is a Form of Worship

Posted on by Wendy
This little creek is beautiful in the fall.
This little creek is beautiful in the fall.

I had a million things to do that day. I had toilets to scrub and floors to vacuum. Still, I could feel God beckoning me outdoors. There was a cold front moving in and the temperatures were expected to drop drastically over the following days.

I had been planning to take some fall leaf photos, but I had planned to take them over the weekend. However, I knew if it was really cold, I would not likely go outside. I’m a Southern girl to the bone and if it’s less than sixty degrees outside, it’s too cold. But, this day, it was still in the seventies outside.

I finally turned off the vacuum cleaner and pushed it to the side and grabbed my camera. I’ve really been working hard on listening to God’s call and obeying it. I’ll admit, when I get busy or focused on doing something, it gets harder to hear and even harder to obey. But, I did.

As usual, I was rewarded for any act of obedience. My neighborhood is breathtaking this time of year. As much as I love the spring, fall runs a close race in the beauty of God’s creativity. When I go out with a camera to specifically look for the beauty, I’m so amazed at what I see. I’m also kind of ashamed at what I miss and take for granted in my daily rush.

You just can't appreciate the color of a single leaf from a car.
You just can’t appreciate the color of a single leaf from inside a car.

The beauty of a single leaf just can’t be appreciated from inside a car. I don’t really appreciate it when I’m taking a brisk walk or running either. No, there’s something about taking a camera and looking for the beauty, seeking out the beauty in the world around us. I felt like I could feel God whispering into my heart, “look at my Creation and appreciate it.” And I did and I do, I just sometimes forget to slow down and look.

God could have made leaves just turn brown and die and fall off, but instead, fall provides us with such a beautiful array of color. I think appreciating that creativity is an act of worship. I think remembering to thank God for the beauty is an act of worship. I think slowing down is an act of worship.

This season of fall passes quickly. In another month, the leaves will all be gone. The branches will be bare. It will be cold and the days will be long and dark. It won’t be long until we are all shivering and anxiously awaiting spring.

But, for now, maybe we could take a moment and really drink in the beauty of fall, the beauty that God has created in our lives, in this season, at this very moment and give thanks. While we are giving thanks for the beauty in nature, maybe we could look around and give thanks for all of the beauty in our lives at this very moment. I think maybe, that’s worship in it’s purest form.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Comfort When We Hit Rock Bottom

Posted on by Wendy
When life is the darkest, God comforts us.
When life is the darkest, God comforts us.

2 Corinthians 1:4, has come across my path three times in the past week. I read it in two different blogs and then it showed up in my Facebook news feed. I knew God was trying to communicate something to me, but I wasn’t sure what, so I prayed and waited.

My hubby and I met our pastor for coffee and he was talking with us about all of the pain in the world around us and how very important he felt that prayer was in stemming the tide. He then shared with us that he was going to meet with a woman the next day who was going through a terrible divorce. She was very hurt and angry and he asked us to pray that God would give him the wisdom to say the right words to comfort her and that He would give her heart the ability to hear them.

I prayed for the meeting the next day and that verse kept popping into my mind. ” He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4

I found myself sending him an e-mail telling him that I too, had been divorced and although it had been close to twenty years ago, it was very definitely rock bottom for me. I told him it was a very dark and painful time and I sometimes wondered if I would survive it. But, even in all of that darkness, there was redemption and grace and forgiveness and hope.

In a moment of despair, in a terrible thunderstorm which seemed to mirror my own life at the time, I found my way back to God. Right after that storm, I wrote my first piece on encouragement. The encouragement had come from God and I had to put it on paper to share later. It would be many years before I was writing encouragement daily, but that little piece was a start that lead to other little pieces along the way. It was a beginning to a lifelong journey of watching for God in the world around me.

So, I found myself telling my pastor to please feel free to give this woman my phone number if he thought she might like to have coffee and talk. It wasn’t because I had any particular desire to share the mistakes of my past with a stranger, but it was because in my darkest moments, God comforted me and began something new in me. He can do the same for this woman and he can do the same for you.

It’s the paying it forward of spirituality. He comforts us so we can comfort others. He shows us forgiveness and grace and expects us to do the same. He offers hope. When times are the darkest, He holds us the closest and when we come out on the other side, a little stronger, and a little braver, He wants us to show others the same kind of love, His love.

Maybe we should keep our eyes open for opportunities to offer comfort to others who find themselves in situations that we have personally experienced. I think that would make God proud.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Sharing Light

Posted on by Wendy
Ever notice how precious the light is when you are feeling lost?
Ever notice how precious the light is when you are feeling lost?

On a recent walk that I took, I couldn’t help but notice that the light was particularly stunning. Maybe it was because it was a perfect fall day or maybe it was because I was feeling really down. Since I’m normally a very happy and enthusiastic person, being down is quite tough on me.

But, I found unique and beautiful light in every photo I snapped that day. Even the shadows turned out to be cool and interesting. Now, I’m no photographer, but I do know that light is very important when taking photos. I also know that when I truly seek light, I usually find it and that day was no exception.

I find that light is very important in life as well. We all have the opportunity to be a light to someone who may be in a moment or even a season of darkness. From little e-mails or short texts to quick notes on Facebook. In the age of technology, it really doesn’t take a lot of effort to provide some light for a friend. I know for me, quick little notes of support mean the world and I have been blessed with lots of friends who generously send them.

I had someone tell me today that she had me on her mind all weekend. Have you ever had someone on your mind for no reason at all? I have found that there really is a reason and it’s usually good to touch base with that person. God has a way of interconnecting us with one another and so often we know just the right thing to say to that person on our minds.

We have to be careful to take quiet time and be in regular prayer so that we don’t miss an opportunity to reach out. When we get an urge to call or contact someone, who may need a little encouragement or perhaps an ear, we need to just do it. These are little acts of obedience that not only help us to help each other, but also allow us to grow closer to God and align with His will.

I find when I’m obedient with the small nudges, like sending someone a note or calling them, I start to feel more in tune with larger nudges and callings.

I suppose it’s like the parable of talents in Matthew 25. Two of the servants who were given talents or coins, who went and did something productive with them, were rewarded. “His master replied, ‘Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'” Matthew 25:21

Don’t we all want to be the good and faithful servant? There are many ways to share faith, to share the love of God, to share the grace of Jesus. But, something super easy is to share some light. So next time you feel the urge, send the note or make the call. I’m trying to be really good at doing that, because the other day, when I was down, I felt the love and light of friends in a flood and it was awesome. God is good!

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Still Standing

Posted on by Wendy
There is nothing left of the house, but the chimney is still standing.
There is nothing left of the house, but the chimney is still standing.

I had a really hard day yesterday. My hubby and I had to make a really difficult, but necessary decision. I shared it with some of my heart sisters at church. Everyone who is a Christian is a brother or sister in Christ, but there are some of those people who share a very special place in my heart. I think of them as heart sisters. I can always be honest with them and share my true self. They don’t always expect a plastered on smile. They are the ones who hand me a tissue when I get teary.

They were supportive as I knew in my heart they would be and sad too. They are gifts from God. The really cool the thing about these women is that I don’t have to see them or talk to them often to feel the special bond I have with them. I would love to see them more, but it’s not required. It’s a friendship that has to be forged by our faith.

I never really gave the heart sisters bond that much thought before today. I love them. I love to see them. I’ve always felt close to them, but I never gave the why that much thought. We would probably have never even met each other if it hadn’t been for our church.

Later in the afternoon, my hubby and I decided to take a walk at the Botanical Gardens. I have always found that being out in nature is balm for a hurting soul. Creation is after all, God’s cathedral and it was a stunning day outside, one of those days that you want to give special thanks for, with low humidity, a light breeze and a deep blue sky. For some reason, our teenagers decided to join us. I’m smart enough to know that teens wanting to spend any time with their parents is also a gift from God.

Somehow, we got on a trail that we hadn’t been on before and an hour or so planned stroll, turned into a close  to three hour, seven mile walk. We did stop often to take pictures and enjoy the scenery, but towards the end, we wondered if we would have to camp out. We were exhausted and lost. Would the trail ever reach its destination?

Somewhere near the end, we ran upon this old chimney. It had once been part of a house. There was nothing left of the house. It was surrounded by trees and weeds and wilderness, but the chimney stood proudly, perfectly intact. I couldn’t help but snap a photo. It reminded me of the heart sisters bond.

It doesn’t really matter where we are or how often we see each other, the bond is strong and sturdy like the chimney. It still stands. I find that comforting. When relationships are forged by God, they will stand the test of time and the elements because they are blessed. Certain people are put in our spiritual lives for a reason only God knows, but I sure am thankful for them. The trail did eventually end as all trails and journeys do, and as usual, God had given me food for thought while I was out in nature, seeking Him. I suspect getting lost was part of His plan all along. I would have never seen the chimney otherwise.

Have you ever given much thought to heart sisters or brothers? I’ll bet if you do, some will come to mind. If they do, say a prayer of thanks; they are a special gift.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Life’s Spider Lilies

Posted on by Wendy
You just never know what God may have planned.
You just never know what God may have planned.

These spider lilies that pop up every fall always make me smile. While the entire country goes pumpkin crazy and everything is geared around harvests, these brightly colored flowers show up out of nowhere, virtually overnight. While we look to decorate our homes with browns, oranges and golds, and the leaves on the trees begin to turn their kaleidoscope of color, these whimsical flowers that have the look of spring written all over them, make their presence known.

They are everywhere too. Just look around as you drive down the road. They are in yards and on the side of the road. They are so whimsical looking, you would think Dr. Seuss, himself designed them. But, he didn’t. Nope, a much more creative designer, created them.

As I was returning from a walk a few days ago, I just had to grab my camera to photograph them. I didn’t plant them, but here they were, just begging to be noticed. I have always thought that God’s fingerprints are the most evident in nature. The spider lily is a perfect example.

First of all, God creates beauty just because He can. He didn’t have to make these flowers so colorful and funky looking, but He did. That tells me that He loves beauty and art and color and appreciates whimsy. Maybe we should do the same. How often do we just take a moment to appreciate the sunrise or sunset or the shapes and colors of leaves and flowers. When was the last time you really checked out a chipmunk? They look like they have been hand painted. Their little stripes are in perfect lines.

Nature is full of God. If it’s been a while, take a little time and check it out. Seek Him out in His creation. I’ll bet you will be surprised how He shows Himself. The Bible tells us that, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Proverbs 8:17  Why not give it a try?

The second truth these awesome flowers remind me of is that whatever we have planned, God’s plan may be different. While we are looking towards autumn where the leaves that fall are beautiful, but dying, out pops something new and different. We may not have planned for it or planted it and we may not know how we feel about it, but there it is, all the same. The question then becomes, how do we proceed?

I think the spider lily is a beautiful reminder that God’s plan for us can be different, exciting, unexpected and beautiful all at the same time. It may be a bright coral and fuchsia mix  when the rest of the world’s is brown and orange. That’s okay, because nature also teaches us that God loves variety.

So, I challenge you to go forth today and appreciate some part of nature that you may have overlooked recently and embrace your life’s spider lilies, whatever they may be. God made them just for you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂