Rainy Day Adventure

Today is a delightful cloudy and rainy day. Grace and I went grocery shopping after dropping Alex off at school and enjoyed a wonderful time together. As we were leaving the store all the lights went out, from the storm I assume, and we enjoyed giggles as we made our way to the door that was pushed open for us by two of the employees. Grace even enjoyed our run to the van to avoid most of the rain drops. Below are pictures of Grace jumping in the rain a few months ago. Clearly the rain is so enjoyed by our little sunshine. Ahh, to enjoy the little things.

Just Pondering

I've recently been thinking about our perspective and how it affects our lives. I love to focus on the good, and allow my world to be seen from such a perspective that I may fully enjoy what is around me. I do not suggest that we do not allow ourselves to feel our sufferings, we should, every feeling should be acknowledged, but I am speaking of what drives us, our sufferings or our joys? I sometimes hear that this is not honest but I cannot agree. If so it would be dishonest to allow the negative experiences to define my focus and understandings as well. I think we all find that our behavior reflects how we feel, but how we feel is affected by what is going on at the time. To simply state, if we choose to experience the positive then we are happy, if we choose to experience the negative then we are sad. Of course there are times in our lives where there is great pain, I have felt some, and I ache for those of you who have felt it more, and it is the example of some of you that allow me to feel so strongly about where we place our thoughts. For a simple example, the other day I was at the store and a woman bumped into a stack of nuts in boxes. One of the boxes fell and she loudly announced that this was a sure sign that her day was going to be horrible. It was only 9:00am. I have many weaknesses, I am not the most coordinated person, I probably would have dropped the nuts too, I am not the best housekeeper, or the most organized and more. I have moments where I feel tempted to think that my world is not going so well because of such weaknesses that hinder my ability to be as great as so-and-so, however, this thinking only keeps me from progressing forward, overcoming my weaknesses and building on my strengths. What else would the adversary wish for us? I am not accepting his plan, I have a plan that I accepted long ago that is mine to keep and I will not be bogged down with the negative. When I focus on the the frustrations of parenthood, I miss all of the beautiful moments of great joy that it brings. When I focus on where I am lacking, I miss all of the great blessings that have been bestowed upon me. Oh, how I hate to miss such things. I don't think either point of view is dishonest, I've just decided that I do not have time to focus on all of the negative, which there is plenty, for I would then miss all of the good and great, for which there is more. I will deal with what comes, and I will allow myself to see the Lord's hand in all things, for it is with Him that I am able to see clearly the sweet blessings that are in my life.