July 4

July 4, 2021 will be here shortly.  It gives me pause to think about my own freedom and how my freedom comes with the help of others.  I look at the news and know without our military and democratic way of life, we wouldn't have the freedoms we do.

I remember a trip I took in 1994 to Europe, staying in Vienna.  I had my movie camera and was taking pictures but police across the street promptly came over and told me not to take pictures.  And he said it in no uncertain terms.

Even at that time I thought it strange to be squelched like that; nothing like that would ever happen in the USA! We take so much for granted in the areas of speech, actions and living. Only when we travel the world do we see the difference. 

 So, this 4th of July, consider pausing a moment to consider, and be grateful, for all the ways you and your family experience various freedoms in your daily life.  

Also, it is a time to be considerate of those who have been traumatized because of war, are ultra sensitive to the fireworks and noises this time of year brings.  Consider time of day, area of those individuals and the fact that not all appreciate these loud celebrations. I thank you and they will thank you! A blessed 4th of July to you and your family.

Courtesy of Pixabay

Grass, Laundry, Dust

Courtesy of Pixabay

 Yes, grass, laundry, dust!  What do they all have in common?  Let me continue.  I mowed
grass 6 days ago, hoping to beat the rain, which didn't amount to a hill of beans. I wore my oldest clothes to mow, dig dirt and other outdoor work. Dust?  How does that all fit in? 

Well, it's six days later, it has rained just enough to spur the grass on and my clothes are ready to walk!  But dust? Yup, dust. 

I have not made friends with a dust rag for quite some time and in spots I will not point out to you, it is really getting to be quite a sight, to the point that  when my sister comes to visit, I do not want her reporting me to social services!! LOL! 

This leads me to one more thing, which just popped into my head...resentments.  Yes, they fit in here too, but you ask, wondering how this all ties together. 

OK, the answer:  Grass keeps growing and it needs to be cut again and again, as does laundry needing to be washed. Dust, too, just keeps on getting dustier and dustier until it gets our attention eventually.  Thank goodness for visitors.

But resentments?  Yes, they just keep building and building and we keep acting out in various ways because of them.  Resentments are a number one killer that keeps us tied to unbecoming behaviors, addictions and other things until we identify them and face them head on. 

We often need help with the grass, laundry and dust and so too, with our resentments. It's amazing how our spirit feels after we have cleaned up our messes, whether it's grass, laundry, dust or resentments! I know someone who knows how to help deal with the resentments, too!

Perspective

Have you ever had anyone put things in perspective for you?  Yup, after my last little post as I was whining that someone took/stole my homade "for sale" sign, as I had hostas and ferns on the curb, a friend of mine made one little comment that helped me get out of my crankiness. 

Then I remember reading a sign several years ago: "A lump in your mashed potatoes is not the same as a lump in your breast!" And if a little stolen "free" sign tips me upside down too much, something isn't quite right!  

You bet.  There are bigger things to be upset about. After all, no one stole my identity, no one stole my good name, reputation or anything else!  There certainly is a difference, isn't there? 

What are the things I CAN be grateful for? There's plenty! Excess flowers are gone; shared with the taker; grass is mowed and long enough to fight the drought; friends who care enough to come over and share a fish dinner and watch TV awhile!  There really is nothing worthwhile to crank about...it's all perspective, isn't it!

KNOCK

It has been a hot one the past several days and being gone during that time I was worried about my plants dying because of lack of rain. I had pondered calling someone to water but didn't want to bother anyone.

However, it happened again!  Another "gift."  As I was unpacking the car this afternoon I heard a gentle knock at the back door. It was the neighbor boy who wants to mow my grass but he didn't talk about the grass, he simply said, "is there anything I can help you with?"

Oh my goodness!  My heart melted because I also was wondering today if I should call a friend 4 blocks away to help me lift the A/C into the bedroom window. That's the first thing I thought of when he asked me but I couldn't get the  A/C out of the closet yet. 

So, I asked if he would be so kind and water the flowers.  He had never watered flowers before so I showed him.  He even asked about others in the yard that I never thought of. He will come later this eve and we will do the A/C but I have a few things to do first.  

This morning I sat in my rocker on the deck and marveled at God's creation and thanked Him for it all. I ran out of time and wasn't able to finish all the yardwork that I wanted to do but expressed gratefulness to God for all that was there to enjoy. I wonder if He heard me?

And then the knock on the door; I bet He did!  It's the first time ever this neighbor has come over and offered to help.  I don't have a question about Who heard what; I know! Has this ever happened to you? 

Remember: "coincidence...God's way of remaining anonymous!"  Have you ever had some chores that needed an extra hand to help you and you just didn't know where to turn? Or has there been an issue or situation in your life that you didn't know how to sort out? 

Have you ever had someone on the other side of the door who knocked and said, "Is there anything I can help you with?" Maybe it was the neighbor but maybe Someone bigger than the neighbor inspired him(her) to offer to help! Amazing...grace!!

A Jungle

May was "no mow May" month and I tried hard to not mow but got sympathy from a neighbor who anonymously did the good deed!  I then got the name of someone who wanted a mowing job so I called him. My yard really has begun looking like a jungle.

He came Friday and instead of mowing saw the poor shape of my entire yard, offering suggestions, telling me his past experiences; he jumped right in to digging weeds and separating flowers!  I couldn't believe his excitement and acting like this yardwork was play to him!

Have you ever received a "gift" that fell out of heaven into your lap and  marveled again at God's goodness?  This has been happening to me a lot lately. 

Yesterday he saw my cedar trees and being taller than I am he had to duck just walking in the yard.  These never caught my attention like it did him!  But, he was so excited to cut limbs and branches I thought he was cutting all the trees down; you should see the piles of branches he tied up for disposal!

He has worked 6 hrs. in a couple of days and the yard is till not cut nor edged, but you should see how the "jungle" parts of the yard are looking; my heart soars like a hawk!

My life, too, sometimes looks like a jungle.  Often I don't even realize it. When situations creep up on me from behind, it isn't until someone else says something, or with my own spiritual director, a word or situation will be reflected back to me that awareness occurs.

Courtesy of Pixabay

I walk away amazed at how God has been working in my life. Has this ever occurred to you? Have you ever considered connecting with someone who could be this gift in your life, especially in a jungle!! Think about it.