Small and Wonderful Things . . .

 

  

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life. It's the small things in life which truly mean the most. Simple abundance . . . it's the best.    

 

After 18 months of not being able to attend church, I was finally able to go. It may not seem like a big deal to some, but it was a really big deal to me. I have gotten very comfortable in my armchair watching church for all these months. To actually move out of my comfort zone was a bit daunting and I didn't actually know until I got into my car that I would actually do it. I could have stayed home and watched it on YouTube.   

A part of the fear had to do with the fact that these are people I have not really seen in 20 years or so.  People who waved me off to a brand new life in a new country all those years ago.  I had to eat a bit of humble pie I guess. Its not easy to walk back into your old life, having failed at the new one. But I did it. 

Or course it was quite different. New faces I was unfamiliar with. Social distancing.  Masks.  I was asked to give the opening prayer so I did. 

I was so grateful to finally be able to partake of the sacrament. I have missed it all these long months.  Oh, I know Todd was blessing it and passing it for a great deal of that time, but as soon as I realized he wasn't worthy to be doing so I stopped taking it.  

It felt nice to be able to physically renew my covenants with the Lord after all these months.  I had always renewed them in my heart each week, but to be able to partake physically was such a blessing. I admit that tears came.  Silly to some I know, but not to me. 

We had rain most of the day yesterday, quite heavy at times.  I know we need the rain. Its quite peaceful to sit in a warm, dry house and listen to the rain falling.   I have always loved the sound of falling rain. 

The last few nights I've been able to say my prayers without sobbing my eye out. Lately my heart has felt so tender. I have so many things to pray about. My son's health. Estranged family members. Healing from hurt. etc. Many times the words won't come and I just sit there and cry.  I know He knows the words and feelings of my heart. It is nice to be able to say them out loud however. 

 

 

The window sill geranium my sister gave me is blooming.  And another bloom is getting ready to bloom on it as well. It makes me smile.  I love red geraniums on window sills. How blessed I am to have a sister who remembers that. 

 

 

The way the light shines through the kingfisher hanging in my window.  I love it. It has such pretty colors. It reminds me of the time I walked down the tow path by the river in Llangollen with my friend Jo in the UK and we saw the kingfishers in the trees across the river and watched them fishing. 

 

I've been re-reading Even This by Emily Belle Freeman, and new things are jumping out at me. Last night I was reading about the Servant in Dothan in 2nd Kings, and how he had been afraid they were doomed because the enemy had their village surrounded.  His master Elisha prayed that the servant's eyes might be opened so that his fears in the darkness might be allayed, and when he did the servant's eyes were opened and he saw the mountains around were covered with the Lord's horses and chariots of fire.  

"There in the dark place, the mountain burns with fire, and I see that it is true; we are surrounded by heaven's help. We have been all along.  Instead of rejoicing, I am filled with remorse. Why did I not see it?" 

And I find myself asking the same question.  Where is my blindness? (quote from Emily Belle Freeman)

And that makes me think. Do I build walls around me of mistrust? Does this hold me back from living the life I could be living?  Do I let my fears, my lack of trusting . . .  limit my ability to receive or perceive the abundance that surrounds me?  Can't I just let go and let  . . .  God? 

This year I have been learning just how to do that. One good thing which has come out of all of the badness which has happened, is that I was forced to give up control.  I had no control really. I had no option but to let go and let God . . .  and that is when the magic happened.  My  mountains were indeed burning with the Lord's horses and chariots of fire.  I have learned how to pluck the joy from out of the sorrow, and I take none of it for granted. 

 

 

How good it is to get an unexpected card or a letter in the post . . .  to know you are not forgotten.  I need to send out more too. Spread the joy.

Learning to do things myself.  Pay bills. Build bookcases. Pump gas. Tighten chair legs. Hang curtains. Cancel things.  If you have spent your whole life relying always on others to do these things, these are by no means small accomplishments. They are huge. 

I was brought up to think that I would always need a man to run my life, to make the big decisions, etc.  How invigorating it is to learn, finally . . .  at the age of almost 66, that that  is not true and never was.  I am finding my voice and learning how to use it.

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

.° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★

 *.˛.° ˛°.People will forget what you said,

People will forget what you did,

But people will never forget

how you made them feel.

~Maya Angelou•。★★ 。* 。 

In The English Kitchen today . . .  Cowboy Casserole for Two. Its a simple thing really.

I hope your week ahead is filled with abundance, whatever kind of abundance you are in need of.  Be happy. Be safe. Be blessed and don't forget . . . 

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right where you are! 

And I do too!