Forgiveness .... Day 1,437

About 15 minutes early; but this really got my attention .... There is a show on the Gospel Music Channel about forgiveness. The one that peeked my interest was the lady who forgave the lad that murdered her only son. It took her 12 years & what got her attention was this poem. I guess I am blessed in that I am forgiven & in saying that, I am even more thankful for that same forgiveness. So with that I shall say goodnight. My post for tomorrow is up.....I am truly blessed, blessed indeed!!!! ♥  Sometimes the most difficult person to forgive is yourself; but in order for you to truly make a difference for anyone it is important to forgive.  If you don't, the roots of bitterness & anger can grow so deeply within your heart that you become useless to yourself & others.  The chains formed from unforgiveness do not bind others, they bind your hands.  They keep you from being able to help others, they are a hindrance in your life.  So free yourself from the damage done, forgive, break those chains & make a difference.   Do it today!!!!

The Two Mothers

Long time ago, so I have been told,

Two angels once met on streets paved with gold.
"By the stars in your crown, "said the one to the other
"I see that on earth, you too, were a mother.

And by the blue-tinted halo you wear
You, too, have known sorrow and deepest despair."
"ah, yes," she replied, "I once had a son,
A sweet little lad, full of laughter and fun."

"But tell of your child." "oh, I knew I was blessed
From the moment I first held him close to my breast,
And my heart almost burst with the joy of that day."
"Ah, yes," said the other, "I felt the same way."

The former continued: "The first steps he took-
So eager and breathless; the sweet startled look
Which came over his face-he trusted me so."
"Ah, yes, " said the other, "How well do I know."

"But soon he had grown to a tall handsome boy,
So stalwart and kind-and it gave me so much joy
To have him just walk down the street by my side."
"Ah yes," said the other, "I felt the same pride."

"How often I shielded and spared him from pain
and when he for others was so cruelly slain.
When they crucified him-and they spat in his face,
How gladly would I have hung there in his place!"

A moment of silence-" oh, then you are she-
The mother of Christ:; and she fell on one knee.
But the blessed one raised her up, drawing her near,
And kissed from the cheek of the woman, a tear.

"Tell me the name of the son you love so,
That I may share with your grief and your woe."
She lifted her eyes, looking straight at the other,
"He was Judas Iscariot; I am his mother."

May you be touched by the Love of our Precious Lord today...as we near the celebration of His Advent! Ask Him to be Lord of your life...He deserves your love and you deserve His!

In the love and grace of Jesus,
James Wesley

Friendship, sharing & laughter ... Day 1,438

Today I was blessed to be able to meet with my friend Liz.  We both travel just over an hour to meet in the middle.  I brought her Christmas gift that I made for her, a shawl & elephant shawl pin.  I think she liked it, what do you think???

That was a snicker, giggle & smile as she snuggled up close to her new friend.  Afterward she posed proudly outside, wearing her shawl & pin for whoever walked by as we took the photos.

My hubby joined in & we laughed & shared.  This is our last meeting till Spring, it will keep us through Winter when we will drive again & enjoy another meal of laughter & sharing.

I am so very blessed to have such a special friend, one of a few true friends.  Love you Elizabeth!!!!

Opportunity to do for Another Day 1,439

Blessing 1,439 Today I am blessed that the hat I designed a couple days ago has a name.

It is called Lakken, named for a young lady battling cancer. Those who can crochet, will be able to purchase the pattern in a day or two. It is with a tester today. The proceeds will ALL go to Lakken's Benefit Fund. Those who do not crochet, will be able to place orders for hats after the 1st of the year in the colors of their choice. I am unable to do any before that time. ALL proceeds will go to Lakken's Benefit Fund.

This is 100% for Lakken, she shows so much grace & dignity, this is a way Eddie & I can help share her strength with others & still benefit her too. It can be done in a variety of sizes & colors, so we hope to be able to bless Lakken & her family through this small token of love. ♥

Why just one or two special days, day 1,440

I am terrible at remembering birthdays, I seldom send Christmas cards, almost never do an anniversary or any special remembrance card of any kind.  Heck I don't remember to get cards for wedding gifts.  I do remember a gift; but not the card.  I suppose it is more because I don't know what to do with them when I get them myself.  I enjoy reading a hand written letter & some of my friends make me special, unique cards that are quite awesome; but to get stacks of cards that are the same just seems to make more stuff.  Though, not to discourage anyone, I have started using them to make fun ornaments.  I choose an interesting area & cut out that section, then I join it with, I believe, 8 others & have a unique geometric shape.  That is fun; but please do not be offended if I do not send or include a card.  It is not something I do.

If I do then you are blessed, if not; well I may remember you on other days for no particular reason. Not just the one or two when others do; but just because you come to mind on this day or that. I have a calendar on the door in the kitchen. Today I updated it.   I actually turned it from May to November.  The one in the bedroom is still on June, 2006. Well, I guess I live everyday like it is someone's special day & I love you all the same every day if you are in my life. What can I say.

I enjoy finding a reason to make someone smile each day, just because it is something I like to do.  So if I miss your birthday, or anniversary, or some other special day...I apologize now; but I hope that you will know that doesn't make you any less special everyday.   It is just me!!

Be blessed & know that you are special not only to Eddie & me; but so very very special to God too!!!

Strength of a child, Day 1,441

Blessed by the strength of one little girl, gives me the will to go on when I think things are too much.   We have the pleasure of knowing a sweet young thing.  She is battling a terrible disease with such grace & dignity, it gives me the ability to go on when I sometimes want to give up.  Knowing this sweet child is such a blessing in my life, I only hope that I can bless her in a special way & make a difference in her life too.

Recycling ingenuity day 1,442

Today I think of the clever ingenuity found in the items that can be reused & recycled.

Sometimes a blessing can be in passing down articles of clothing to someone who can make use of them.  Donating them to a church thrift sale, the kind that are free of charge or to a family that has had a difficult time in life through circumstances that they had no control over.  Not as a hand-out, more as a hand-up.  People don't really like charity; but they don't mind getting a boost to help get them on their feet, helping them to keep their self pride & that is a good thing. 

It can be by recycling through the trash system; aluminum, plastic, paper & much, much more can be made into like products or other items for reuse.  Paper can be rolled into logs, thus saving trees that would be cut down.  Some plastic bottles are recycled into decking materials used in building.  I am sure you can think of many more examples in this area.

As a crafter we reuse many items, in fact we find it a challenge to do just that.  Just this week I used the rings off of water bottles to make the centers for some wreaths.  This saved me purchasing 2" rings from the store.  Often crafters will purchase sweaters & unwind the yarn, only to overdye it & then knit it into a new updated project.  A 100% wool sweater that was washed accidentally, or on purpose, becomes felted & usable as mittens, slippers & a multitude of other useable items.  You can use old calendars to make envelopes, in fact most anything can make awesome envelopes.  Then simply put a white label for where the address goes.  Makes for a very happy letter or card to the recipient.  It is fun to find useful ways to reuse things in & around the home, rather than simply to toss them out the door.

These are just a few.   Even we can be remade, sort of recycled into something new.  We don't have to be what we once were, we can become better & improved.  We do have that choice & there are many trustworthy people around who are willing to help if we need it.

So in what ways could you reuse or recycle, look around & see how you could make a difference in this way!!!

Doing for others, does for you.....day 1,443

So I was watching a movie & the young lady talked about a dream she had.  It was Thanksgiving & everyone was seated around the table.  There was one small problem, no one had hands.  Nope, everyone had forks where their hands should be. 

Now she said the way they all succeeded at enjoying the meal was to assist each other, in doing so they too were blessed.

This works in so many ways in our own lives.  The saying, 'What goes around, comes around...' is often used when someone does a bad turn toward another; but it can also refer to a good turn.  I am not going to point out examples of this, I am just going to let you look around & see the multitude in each of your own lives.  I can only imagine how many times you have blessed others & those blessings have returned a smile to your own doorstep. 

Have an awesome day!!!!