Dumbfungled

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 226: Today, I am grateful for the right word... dumfungled.

Dumfungled is a rare, dialectal term, primarily rooted in 19th-century American and Scottish colloquialisms. There are times we want a different word than the one that comes to mind. Dumfungled is exhausted with a side of chaos on top. I think it is a great word for a Friday. 

Never underestimate the need for rest and restoration. 

"And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation." -Genesis 2:2-3

God does not need the rest. He does not grow weary. But, we do. We have limited supplies of physical strength and mental energy. Embrace the need and plan for it. Some weeks seem longer than others. When you are feeling a little dumfungled, schedule time to rest. 

Today, I am grateful for the right word... dumfungled.

 

A Refillable Cup

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 225: Today, I am grateful for the gift of a refillable cup! 

After seeing sea turtles in the wild and too many videos of those harmed by carelessly discarded plastics in the ocean, I have made a few intentional choices. I try to reduce my personal plastic use with some intention. Glass cups are my favorite, but the metal ones are practical for travel. This makes my refillable cups priceless.

The "half full or half empty" test has been a measure of optimism in our language for as long as I can remember. 

 

"People who wonder whether the class is half empty or half full are missing the point. The glass is refillable."

I searched for the origins and found it at "Phase Finder." 

"The glass came before the optimism. The earliest known form of the idea is a piece of wordplay rather than a comment on character. In December 1908 a Minnesota newspaper printed a paradox credited to David Dodge of The New York World, in which a fictional Professor Nix observes: “You see this glass of mine is half full; yours is half empty, but both contain the same amount of water.” No optimists or pessimists in sight; just the observation that the two descriptions are interchangeable." -Phrase Finder

The same amount, but one person is more content, looking at the glass with optimism. I have honestly never thought about the big picture point... the glass is refillable! We talk about self-care and recharging... but "refilling the cup" is another way to look at the same scenario. 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." -Romans 15:13

We have a God who longs to fill our cups and bring us peace, hope, and joy. We all have a cup. What we fill and refill it with matters. 

Today, I am grateful for the gift of a refillable cup! 

Beginner's Grace

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 224: Today, I am grateful for the grace in being a beginner.  

"The expert in anything was once a beginner." 

How easily we forget that expertise takes time. Some things cannot be hurried. Others expertise requires working through failure. We often forget to give ourselves (and others) grace as they are learning. 

How many fur babies did it take for us to learn that kennel training is not unloving or unkind? How many second babies are "better sleepers" because parents are more experienced and do not jump at every sound. How many failed baking projects does it take to be able to whip up something amazing with ease? Excellence is a journey. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

Embrace the new experiences that keep us learning, growing, and problem-solving. 

Do not forget to savor the ones that are extraordinary like holding your baby for the first time knowing that you have no experience, no idea what you are doing, but you are still their favorite person. (Happy Birthday, Chase! B-day post on another day.)We find ourselves praying that God will protect them in spite of our inexperience. It is the perfect example of beginner's grace. Babies know the voice, the scent, and the heartbeat of their parents. 

If it is your first day of a new job, a new school year, or as a beginner navigating life after a loss... grant yourself grace, too. 

Today, I am grateful for the grace in being a beginner.  

Clear Thoughts

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 223: Today, I am grateful for clear thoughts. 

Some days our thoughts are clearer than others. This quote is great!

"I don't want to be in the loop or out of the loop. I want to be aware of the loop & it's contents, but free from any loop related responsibilities." -Unknown

Know what you want; know what you do not want. Make your intentions clear. Then, take on the day. 

The idioms dictionary says this about "in the loop:"

The phrase in the loop means that a certain group of people deal with important decisions or have specific knowledge of something. If you are in the loop, then you are one of this group and are party to the particular knowledge that the other group members have. A loop being something that goes around in a full circle.

It comes from military terminology, with officers in command needing to pass on orders to the soldiers. Keeping lines of communication open and regularly updated in a feedback loop, so all personnel are informed.

With knowledge comes responsibility. There are times it is okay to sit back and let things work out. A clear head will take you far. 

Today, I am grateful for clear thoughts. 

Laughter Diffuses

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 222: Today, I am grateful that laughter diffuses.

Electric bills are not funny. There are times that laughter helps us cope. Many are experiencing high electric bills after weeks of high temperatures, with only small breaks. 

Utility bills are one of those things that can quickly impact budgets. Humor does not make it go away, but it reminds us that many are in the same boat. 

"My electricity bill just came today and I believe I got charged for the Sunlight, Moonlight, Streetlight, the "Light of the Holy Spirit," and the "Light at the End of the Tunnel."

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22

Creative coping through humor. 

Today, I am grateful that laughter diffuses.

Offers of Safety

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 221: Today, I am grateful for offers of safety. 

What a world we live in! It is a world in desperate need of random acts of kindness and unexpected gentleness. 

"Every creature is trying to survive a world growing louder, hotter, and less gentle. Be the reason one small life feels safe today." 

What if each one of us was intentional about pouring more gentleness and less of the "spirit of corrective-ness" into our days? By the way, that is not a "fruit of the Spirit." To be patient, gentle, and kind is much more Christlike, but it is not always an instant reaction. Unkind works cannot be regathered when we regret them. Too often, they echo, too. 

Offer encouragement and a place to rest for weary souls. It is part of fellowship and it is a part of ministry. 

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." -Luke 12:6-7 

And... do not forget the creatures of the earth. These hot, hot days are hard on them, too. 

Today, I am grateful for offers of safety. 

30 Shades of Blue

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 220: Today, I am grateful for 30 shades of blue. 

I found this picture on Pinterest and instantly knew it was my gratitude for the day. Ohmygoodness! It makes my soul sing. Clear turquoise waters are my favorite. Every shade makes me think of a time and a place. Color is as connected to our memories as scents. Clear turquoise is the color of the water at White Bay Beach, Jost Van Dyke, B.V.I. 

Mama always loved "robin egg blue." Perhaps that is why I love it, too.  It was the color of the pants she was wearing the day she met Dad at Aunt Judy's work picnic. Aunt Judy was not dating anyone at the time and took Mama as her plus one. Dad was Aunt Judy's boss's plus one. Life does take plot twists.  

Light is essential for color perception, as it interacts with objects to create the colors we see. Light brings colors to life. 

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light." 
-Ephesians 5:13

The many shades of blue are full of memories, fun times, stormy skies, and quiet nights glittering with stars. 

What is your favorite? 

Today, I am grateful for 30 shades of blue.