The Tiny Things

I spent the beginning of last week in bed due to a Lupus flare then was finally up and feeling quite a bit better when by Sunday night the nasty cold and flu hit me hard and sent me right back to bed again where I spent all of this week. Because of the rheumatoid and immune issues I struggle with my system is always in for a battle when it gets invaded. However, I have finally risen again and am thankfully and happily able to sit up in my favorite chair to drink tea and take up my knitting once more.

During the week while I was too sick to get up, a dear friend dropped a little potted primrose off for me. I was unable to see her, not only because I was just too ill to get up, but also there was no way I would expose her to the creeping crud so I remained in my bed with the door shut tight. Therefore she left the tiny treasure, along with a card and a book, at the door with Scott "to cheer me".

I have enjoyed this bright spot of something so small and fresh that has been brought into my world by someone who was thinking of and praying for me. As I've looked at it I have pondered the fact that it continues to reach up, seeking the sunlight during these gray January days. Obviously, as with all things of nature, this little plant knows its source and reaches out toward it instinctively.

Then I remember that's what I need to do as well. Reach out to my Source if I am to be green and flourishing; full of color, vitality and love. And that's where my mind softly settles... that one four letter word that makes the world go round ... and round ... and round...

Love.

"But now faith, hope, love abide these three; but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

Okay, familiar words, I know. But sometimes it just really hits me like its new.

 I know He wants us to get this thing about love. He wants me to get it, He wants you to get it, He wants all of us to get it.

"For life, with all it yields of joy and woe,

And hope and fear,

Is just our chance o' the prize of learning love,

How love might be, hath been indeed, and is."

Robert Browning

Here I would like to share with you an excerpt from a favorite book of mine. The book is tiny but packed full of great wisdom. It was written by Henry Drummond, a Scottish evangelist in the 1800's.

"The most obvious lesson in Christ's teaching is that there is no happiness in having and getting anything, but only in giving. I repeat, there is no happiness in having, or in getting, but only in giving. And half the world is on the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting, and in being served by others. He that would be great among you, said Christ, let him serve. He that would be happy let him remember that there is but one way -

it is more blessed, it is more happy, to give than to receive."

Now you may be thinking I have taken a sideways step. What does this have to do with the topic? So let me explain. Our happiness is deeply and directly entwined with love. How we show love and receive love. So much time is spent chasing after what we think are the really big things in life and so often, once we get them, we can't figure out why they don't bestow true happiness. It's called "chasing after the wind" and it's because we were designed for so much more; something richer and more noble. Focus in on that one tiny portion right in the middle of 1 Corinthians 13:5 speaking on love...

"it seeks not its own".

These words always slap me right in the face. Every. Single. Time.

Today's World always tells us to think of Self first and, you know what, so does simple, base human nature. Therefore we have to walk in the Love of God, not our own kind of love. It is never going to be our instinct to consistently put everyone {or sometimes even anyone} above ourselves. That takes the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit every single day.  But I tell you this, at the end of the day, no matter how hard we have struggled to chase after big and mighty things, it all comes down to the one thing we all really want most and that is love.

I just know what a different place this world could really be if we could grasp hold of the true meaning of Love as God has defined it for us. If we would just seek Him and His kingdom FIRST, how differently we would always treat our fellow human beings, no matter who they are. And in giving that kind of love, we would receive so much love in return. It all starts right here, in our own individual heart.

"Love is success, Love is happiness, Love is life."

Henry Drummond

"The things that make God dear to us are not so much His great big blessings as the tiny things,

because they show His amazing intimacy with us;

He knows every detail of our individual lives."

Oswald Chambers

My Utmost for His Highest

Poetry

I believe that much of life is filled with poetry.

We are so often unaware of it and those who do not fancy themselves to be romantics are certainly not intentionally seeking it. The pure, simple truth remains however, that the beauty of poetry is in the essence of Life.

What exactly is poetry?

Here is a literal definition:

~ the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken for exciting pleasure, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.

~ literary work in metrical form; verse.

~ prose with poetic qualities.

~ poetic qualities however manifested.

That very last quality is what strikes a resounding cord with me.
This is when poetry transitions from the realm of being a noun into a verb.
Poetry in motion, so to speak. The continual rhythm of Life.

When you begin to see poetry in this way, you will find that your soul has its own definition and that it may even ebb and flow with the seasons of your life and your individual journey. As the depth of our character becomes richer and more textured throughout our years, we step into an unseen cadence. The better we know the poetry of our own self, the more we recognize that of the world beyond us... lying just at our fingertips like a magical fairyland.

Observe your fellow sojourners in this land of the living.
The young mother with a newborn babe at her breast ...
tell me that is not pure poetry.
The hard belly laugh of a child who's doubled over with delight
and can't catch his breath from it all.
The very elderly with their crowning glory of grey hair
and faces that are softened so sweetly by time.
I could go on and on...
When we begin to shift our focus from the negative to the positive; the ugly to the beautiful, it really does make a difference. Not only does it change our immediate response and reaction to those around us but, over time, it transforms us at the very core of our being and enables us to walk more in the Spirit and less in the Flesh. In the Spirit we find love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23). I don't know about you, but personally, I would so much rather have all of these things in my life than the harsh and hateful things the world has to offer. But here's the thing. I want to be sure that I'm not just on the receiving end of this big beautiful basket full of fruit. I want to know that I am handing it out in my day to day life as well.
So not only do we see poetry all around us if we take the time to really look and we find it within ourselves as our character becomes more fruitful, but I believe it pours out of us in creative and imaginative ways of individual expression.

Poetry can be found in the things we choose to do.

For me it's so often expressed within the hushed gliding of stitches from one smooth needle to the next, creating a melody that my hands know by heart; row after row of stitches falling from the end of a hook forming a new song. Every single person has something beautiful and unique to offer. We really should operate from a place of love and respect.

The World so often serves up a steady diet of Hate by the fistful. Therefore we must make it our life's mission to live from a place of sweet poetry whose birthplace is pure love. Love that comes from on High and is offered with open hands to our fellow man. Love that "seeks not its own" (1 Corinthians 13:5) and expects no reciprocity for what is freely given. The World would teach us to be
 self seeking but if we listen closely to the poetry of our souls, we will find that place where God has formed us to prefer others first. It is there, I truly do believe, in the soft hidden layers that lie deep within us, just waiting to be set free and put into motion. Unconditional, perpetual motion.

"Love is patient and kind;
it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited;
it is never rude or selfish;
it does not take offense, and is not resentful.
Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins but delights in the truth;
it is always ready to excuse, to trust,
to hope and to endure whatever comes.
Love does not come to an end."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8

White China & Pink Roses



"Honor Women!

They entwine and weave Heavenly Roses

in our earthly life."

 

Johann Schiller


I couldn't resist cutting the last bloom and bud off my rosebush and bringing it into the house this afternoon to enjoy. I think I may even dry it tomorrow.  But it's just too gorgeous in this charming white creamer not to let it live there for at least a day or so. The pink against the milky white is too perfect
.
The exquisite sugar bowl and creamer were a birthday gift from my sweet friend Amy this Summer. While the smaller cream pitcher was a Christmas gift many years ago from my friend Krista.
Ahhh.....they know me well.

And, actually, that's all I have to say for today.
Truthfully, the quote at the top says it all.
Don't know exactly who this guy was ~
but he sure gets my vote!

 



Life Is Full

I haven't been blogging much lately. Sorry! Life has been a bit hectic on the homefront recently. Thought I'd share a few tidbits with all of you. One bright spot is there are lovely little flowers popping up in my garden. I do love Spring! It smells so wonderful..

As I've mentioned before my husband, Scott, has had a recent bout with pancreatic cancer. He's been having some peculiar health issues for about the last 6 weeks so we saw our family doctor a couple of weeks ago and she did more bloodwork and another CT scan. The type of tumor he had can be persistent.  He will have to have a scan every 4 ~ 6 months for 2 years to make sure it isn't growing back. But all was clear there. Thank God!

Last week we saw the oncologist who ordered an MRI of his brain. That was done on Monday and we go back to the office at 3:30 this afternoon for results from that. It turns out that some of Scott's symptoms could be neurological. This type of cancer is prone to heading for the brain. We did not know that before. So we were a bit shook up with that news. However, the doctor's say the problems could also be a combination of side effects from radiation, which he finished in mid January, and the fact he only has 40% of a pancreas now. He did find out 4 weeks ago he is now diabetic. So, anyway, I have been a bit preoccupied, you might say. We are praying and believing for the best. I appreciate any of your prayers as well.

Another down side for me is that anything that taxes me emotionally flares my rheumatoid arthritis and I have to limit how much time I sit at the computer because it causes me too much all over pain. Plus I have no new knitting or crocheting to show :( because my hands, elbows and shoulders are bothering me so much I have had to take the last couple of weeks off. But hopefully I will pick up the needles and hooks again next week and get back at it. I have still been having my Monday night Knit Night here and love laughing with all the Girls while they create beautiful things! Plus I still  work with my homeschool student most weeks. So I don't ever cut myself off from the world of yarn play totally.

And to end things on a happy note ~ the other thing that has been keeping our household in a flutter around here is that we have another Bride in our midst. So we have had plans to make, apartments to hunt and showers to attend. {The picture below is of my granddaughter, myself and my daughters at Chelsea's house during the shower she hosted for Hilary}.  Oh! And we've had wonderful Mother/Daughter chit chats filling in the gaps here and there. What a whirwind with both of our girls leaving the nest 6 months apart! Though it is time and we are happy for them, it is bittersweet for Mom and Dad!

Gabby, Me, Hilary, Chelsea

Our youngest daughter, Chelsea got married in October. And now our firstborn daughter, Hilary, is getting married this Saturday. We will be taking a little trip for this one. She is having a small, private outdoor ceremony about an hour and a half from home. We will all spend the night away. Then they will be off for a honeymoon and on May 5th we will have a big reception with all our family and friends.

So! Life is full, as it is with all of you. I hope you are all healthy and happy. I will let you all know how things go with my husband and I will post some pictures of my lovely Bride.
Be Blessed!