Whimsy

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 148: Today, I am grateful for whimsy. 

The world needs more whimsy! The thought in this image is really talking about the whimsy that makes the difference in our days. 

"I cannot stress enough how important it is to do silly, frivolous things that serve no other purpose than making you happy." 

I love a rainbow of pen colors and a world filled with glitter, sparkle, and sunshine. Fresh flowers are good for the soul... and dandelions are the first flowers a child ever collects for a loved one. 

Wildflowers are full of wonder. They grow in unexpected places. They add color to the landscape. They are surprisingly resilient.

And... to top off my morning... one of my forever favorite verses was my verse of the day: 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." -Romans 12:15

It feels like a gift when a favorite verse pops up. Earworm is singing "You make me feel like dancing... I wanna dance the night away." (Leo Sayer- 1976) I guess it doesn't matter if it is morning. Plan for dancing in the kitchen (or work hallways), spin in sunshine, and invite others into the goodness so easily missed. 

Today, I am grateful for whimsy. 

Finished Courses

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 147: Today, I am grateful for finished courses. 

A finished course can refer to many things. A finished race, a finished academic class or grade level, or ending up where you want to be at the end of the road. 

In every endeavor, there is learning. Every course has its struggles and learning spots. From a 10K race to a trip across America on old Route 66. There are things to observe, learn, and when necessary... recalculate. 

Anyone else remember GPS practically shouting "recalculating" if you take a wrong turn or intentionally go off the instructed course. It could be annoying, but the goal was to keep us from getting lost. Sometimes there is joy in the unplanned and unexpected detours. Other times, we end up where we do not want to be. 

Luke reminds us in the Book of Acts to live our lives with real purpose and finish the course. Know what matters. There are times the detours bring important moments. Unexpected in our plan is not a surprise to the One who set the stars in the sky and the earth the perfect distance from the sun. 

How many times did Jesus connect with people in places that the disciples did not expect him to lead? Our God shows up in unexpected places on the course with strength, encouragement, hope, and purpose. 

Press on. Finish today's race with the confidence that He will provide a way. 

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." -Acts 20:24

Today, I am grateful for finished courses. 

Those Who Save the Day

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 146: Today, I am grateful for those who save the day.

They come with extra sunscreen, extra water, the safety pin, and the Tylenol. They have dental floss and rubber bands, too. They are always prepared. You know who they are. They are the ones who "save the day." 

"Let's Make a Deal" was a game show that used to see what women had in their purses as part of the game. It was a fun part of the show and reminded us of the crazy things that end up in a woman's purse because someone said, "Hold this." On occasion, those items come in handy. Other times, they get lost in the crooks and hidden pockets. Sometimes, they save the day. 

This verse reminds me of the One who really did save the day. Isaiah, Psalm, and other prophecies fulfilled beyond what would seem mathematically possible. Two thousand years later, the name of Jesus is still echoing into a world that is broken, lost, and very dark. It would have been easier to walk away when you have the ability to start again. Yet, the idea of a relationship chosen... not forced but by free will... it was different. His gift became our choice.  

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." -John 3:17

It is the choice that saves the day; it saves eternity. 

Today, I am grateful for those who save the day.

Remember and Honor

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 145: Today, I am grateful for a pause to remember and honor. 

There is something deeply humbling about the one who is not only willing to give their life for another human being, but then does. They did not know on a "last phone call" or the "I'll see you see you soon." would not be as they had anticipated. 

For the soldier, situational awareness can be the difference between life and death. Even then, the unexpected happens. It often comes with a choice. 

The phrase "no man left behind" is often associated with the U.S. Marines, but it really has roots that go all the way back to the Revolutionary War where everyone was considered important, including the musicians. There were no troops to spare. The Marines were the first to include it in 1889 landing party rules. It stated, “No man shall be left behind on account of darkness or the advanced hour of the night.”

A Great Jubilee Day, first held on Monday, May 26, 1783, in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, commemorated the end of fighting in the American Revolutionary War. The Rev. James Beebe's son was a Captain with George Washington at Valley Forge. 

May 30, 1868, is the first record of a national "Memorial Day" declaration, but it was called "Decoration Day." The country was still united in name, but divided in the hearts of those who had lost so much and so much during the "The War Between the States" that we now call the Civil War. The South set their own days, as did many communities across the nation. It took 100 years for it to become Memorial Day as we know it today. 

"Decoration Day," the name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882. It grew in popularity after World War II and was legally declared the official name by federal law in 1967. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the federal legislation that officially changed the holiday's name from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, cementing it as a national day of remembrance. 

It is a day to remember the lives, the loss, and the time it takes to heal after war. The empty seat at the table is real. It is a reminder that freedom is not free. 

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

That is the ultimate in human love. 

Today, I am grateful for a pause to remember and honor.

Genuine Affection

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 144: Today, I am grateful for genuine affection. 

I am currently reading a series by Lynn H. Blackburn. It is the "Gossamer Falls" series. It is set in North Carolina. It is full of big families, humor, family feuds, and complicated relationships, because real life is messy. 

In the series, the patriarchs and matriarchs are respected. The long, deep, lasting relationships go back for generations. Genuine affection is present in how they "deal" with and protect one another. The men are faithful, fierce, and protective. The women are smart and strong. The southern sense of being good neighbors and hospitality runs through each story. Faith is a part of how they manage family, relationships, and community. I love good fiction with vibrant characters. 

This was my verse of the day:

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." -Romans 12:10

In real life, genuine affection is a beautiful thing. It brings people together. It makes communities strong. We can have differences but still have a deep, genuine love for each other. Most families are an example of this every day. So are our work families, church families, and in our neighborhoods and communities. To take delight in honoring each other is to pour out genuine kindness and caring. 

Some of our most precious friendships grow out of ones that have a tenuous beginning. It is so easy to see our differences first, but when we are intentional about honoring each other with the same kind of grace we like to receive, genuine affection grows. 

Love big. Love genuinely and with humility. Savor the sweetness that grows from that kind of love. 

Today, I am grateful for genuine affection. 

Good Neighbor Days

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 143: Today, I am grateful for good neighbor days. 

One of the best parts of the warmer weather is seeing and talking to our neighbors. We have the best neighbors and neighborhood. We are a little community that watches out for each other. I can hardly believe we have been here for 30 years. I remember when we were "the young couple" in the neighborhood. 

It was one of those days where the reciprocity was tangible, even though it was unexpected. One shared a tool, another had a chance to play with the power washer to aid another, another shared sweet treats, and dear Mike has Daisy Mae perfectly spoiled with Milk Bones he shares with the dogs on each side of him and behind him. 

This scripture was my verse of the day:

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." -Romans 15:2

I love that we take care of each other. We only have 7 driveways on our little bend in the road of our 1970's subdivision. We have plenty of space and we are often found in our front yards because that is where the people gather. We've watched the Lau children grow their entire lives (minus Marina's first six weeks). We've seen our neighbors' children grow up and build lives of their own. It is fun to see them when they visit. 

It is not the "in your business" kind of neighbors. It is the genuine caring that I know is not everywhere. You can buy a house, but a neighborhood is a gamble (unless you are Ackerman's and buy a house for the neighborhood and we are so glad they did!). 

My country roots mean that a "neighbor" can be anyone on your road for several miles. It is a part of country living that I missed. We were blessed to find a couple of special neighbors in Peoria that we still deeply treasure, but it was not how people lived. When we moved to our current home, we hit the jackpot. When I look at the houses now, people have come and stayed. 

There are often changes that come with different seasons of life, but our little bend in the road has been the same for well over a decade... and for most it is more than twenty years. For that, I am truly grateful. 

Today, I am grateful for good neighbor days.

Stones of Remembrance

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 142: Today, I am grateful for stones of remembrance. 

It is Memorial Day weekend and the beginning of summer for our students, teachers, and aides. The long weekend brings everyone a break in the schedule. It is a time to gather with family and friends. It is a time of remembering loved ones lost and those who died so that we could know freedom.  

Some will visit cemeteries. I love to read the grave markers in old cemeteries. Hometown cemeteries are places where we can find names, dates, and other information about our extended family. 

Others will look through photos to share stories and memories. A few will write the stories down to pass them on to the next generation. In this day of technology, I fear some of the important things will be lost as we rely on things that quickly become outdated and hard to access. 

This passage has always been a favorite of mine. When the children of Israel finally get to cross over into the promised land, Joshua gives them this instruction: 

"Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” -Joshua 4:21-23

"That your children may know." Stones of remembrance matter. Stone lasts for many generations. It is why we use it for gravestones and other items we want to be resilient over time and through many seasons of weather. 

Share the food, the stories, and the memories as you make some more this weekend. 

Today, I am grateful for stones of remembrance.