Daily writing prompt
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
I’d ask him if it was like a lightbulb turned on in his head?
Don’t forget to take a cookie…
(2024) Thomas Edison …
(March 2023) Hey Bob
So, here is a funny story! I love the outdoors and if I can help it, I am out there as much as possible. I make an effort to take a walk nearly every day, and I have a route that I have used for some time now. I do a good amount of thinking on these morning jaunts, as I call them. Sometimes it can be very productive, but at other times, I let my mind just wander to relax. On one of these such relaxing mornings, I hatched a plan, that in my mind, would be very funny to any that were involved. I have a great many squirrels that I encounter on a regular basis, and I was going to recruit them for this idea.
I came up with a plan to simply begin saying hello, out loud, to every squirrel I encountered and give each a random name, as if I actually know them. I thought that if I did this, eventually, the passersby that frequently saw me, would begin to think that maybe I knew the squirrels. I could simply wait for the time when someone would stop me to ask how I knew all of the squirrels names, and I could then say, “Oh no, I have no idea, I just thought it would be funny”. I didn’t say that it WOULD be funny, I just imagined it would be funny.
The next morning, I headed out onto the trail, thoroughly tickled with myself, for what I thought would be an extremely funny idea. Honestly, I giggled to myself all the way down the block as I began looking for my first unwitting participant (a squirrel, that is). I got about a half hour into my trek, playing over and over in my head how it would play out, and then I spotted a squirrel.
I learned two things that morning. Number one, I discovered that, apparently, a lot of squirrels share the name Bob. Number two, Peanuts! I should have brought peanuts. My recommendation is that we not engage in conversation with wildlife, unless we bring some sort of food offering. I think someone else may have been conditioning these guys way before I ever thought up my ridiculous idea!
Here is how it went down…I saw the squirrel, I approached confidently, thinking how funny this was gonna be, I called out, “Hey Bob”, and before I knew it I was being chased down the trail by three hungry squirrels. I felt like it happened in slow motion…lol…I spoke, our eyes connected, they looked hungry, I had nothing but a coffee tumbler and a tissue, Coffee over Heathens I say! I did not care how absolutely ridiculous I must have appeared to onlookers. I actually think I may have laughed out loud at myself, but I did not care! I walked a different route for two days after that to let them forget me hopefully.
I still see the same three squirrels on the trail regularly, and the accusation is still there on those furry little faces… Where Are OUR Peanuts!!!!
(2024) Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha……..
Are you kidding?! I absolutely do NOT trust my own instincts, which have gotten this girl into more trouble…
I was sure I knew what I was doing, and where I was going.
When things didn’t feel like they were right or I realized the direction was wrong, instinct told me to bury the errors and just keep going, which only took me down another wrong path…
When God pointed out my predicaments, my instinct was to argue my case and continue trying to do things my way!
If I have learned one thing through all of it… it’s that I can ONLY do all things through Christ, who strengthens me! My instincts are not and will never be enough to navigate this thing we all call life.
Instincts get surrendered to God every single morning, for this recovering runaway. The new rule of thumb is to seek the council of God throughout the whole of my day. Scripture warns NOT to lean on our own understanding, and I’m learning to listen!
Just sayin…
(2024) Truthful Tuesday…
While selecting an image for this morning’s post, I had an epiphany, of sorts…
Sometimes, we get stuck in a miracle rut! You know, thinking of miracles as a singular earth shattering occurrence that all can be amazed at, in only an instant!
One might think that the miracle for this little girl, occurred over 40 years ago, upon a darkened highway, but you’d be wrong…
…she was!
God, in only his wisdom, is now revealing the true miracle of that lost child, within the woman you see before you…
She could be a stranger, or perhaps not… it might be you, a family member or friend… anyone really!
God’s held onto my stubborn heart down many long highways,
pursued this wanderer through the wastelands of her own making,
removing detours, repairing breakdowns and healing wounds I thought would be my undoing…
and He loves me, unconditionally!
Just believe!
His miracles will reveal themselves upon the horizon of each new morning, if we will do this one simple thing… believe!
Epiphany = Each and every human soul’s miracles have been in the journey this whole time!!!
(2024) Three Guesses…
Use your heart, use your eyes,
Look for meaning between my lines,
If you know me then you know the answer,
If you have me figured out, go on and give it a gander.
Have a cookie while you think…
for into your brain, the answer might sink.
(2024) Today…
Give over your worries
Cast off your fears
and let go of yesterdays
for they are no longer changeable…
Receive today as such a gift
Live it like you’ll never see it again
Love it like you could lose it
and hope for a beautiful tomorrow…
Trade your worries
your sorrows
and all of your fears,
for a hope and a bright future…
He who is so much more than you can ever imagine
Will fulfill his promise to us, in us, and for us…
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
(2024) Why Do I Want To Say Where?
For the life of me, I want to say that the prompt should be asking, Where is your favorite place to go in your city. Or better yet, if they want to ask what is your favorite place to go, wouldn’t it make more sense to ask What is the name of your favorite place to go in your city.
Do they want an address? They aren’t asking for a name, just your favorite place. Does it exclude places that can be found everywhere, i.e. McDonalds, Walmart, or The Rack?
Maybe this is one of those person, place, or things, kind of confusions… who knows? Or perhaps, I’m just too tired to care much about what the prompt was asking me about.
In the end, it won’t matter any way you look at it, as I am a country girl at heart, so I avoid the city like a visit to the proctologist!
Here, have a cookie for your trouble…
(2023) Old Toys…
Just the other day, from out of nowhere, came a happy memory of one of my favorite toys from childhood, my Hippity Hop! I was born on a farm and aside from my horse, my favorite toys were ones I could ride on. I have many memories of bouncing around the yard and pasture on that thing, and boy it must have been made of magic rubber because it never sprung a leak, that I can remember.
When I thought on it a bit, I realized that for the life of me, I cannot remember whatever happened to my favorite toy. As I pondered this, more memories of toys that brought me joy came to mind. Some of them came to tragic ends, as some toys do, when we are too hard on them or just don’t take care to protect them. Others, however, I quite honestly cannot remember what became of them.
It occurs to me that people are kind of like toys, in the sense that we sometimes, for whatever the reason, lose track of people that we once loved and held dear. Sometimes I feel like the child, and at other times I have felt like the toy! Instead of this thought leading me, or you for that matter, into the negative, I want to share an insight with you.
I have a soft spot in my heart for those little old fellows that own huge pieces of land simply teeming with old things…some rusted beyond repair, while others may yet be restored and reused. The point is that they simply refused to let go of anything that might one day be saved. They never stops loving and dreaming about bringing the beauty back to those old things. It doesn’t really matter if the old man ever gets them restored. I am just encouraged by him always hoping and dreaming.
I am so glad that God will never get tired of me! He will never forget that I am there, or nudge me aside with His boot. God never stops believing in me, no matter how damaged or dinged up I become. The Masters hands are always mending, rebuilding, and restoring me to how He sees me…His own!!!!!
Book or Books?
However strange it may seem, my reading usually involves multiple books at the same time. No, I’m not a marathon reader, nor do I have magic eyeballs that let me read two books simultaneously.
When I say that I read multiple books, what I mean is that I have trouble only reading a single book, one by one.
I read my bible each morning, and then I usually have between one and three other books that I take turns with, chapter by chapter. If it’s a fun fiction, I might power read through it, burying myself under blankets with a cup of tea.
My problem is, of you wish to consider it a dilemma, I don’t usually read simple stories. I have a passion for the really big Saga stories, for diving deep into something, and/or reading on topics that really make you think about what lies beneath the words written. This means I have to take a break from a tougher topic, long enough for it’s meaning to sink in, if you know what I mean.
Right now, I’m reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, as well as the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margarette Weis and Tracy Hickman. The first is not an easy read, and the second is an action packed, imaginative Fantasy series with everything from elves to mighty knights in shining armor, riding on the backs of silver dragons.
I know it seems like a rather odd combination, but hey… don’t judge this Willy Wonka brain! I can’t help it… it’s just what I do.
Here, take one or two of my cookies…
You can dip them in your coffee or tea. Happy reading!
(2023) Note to Self…
Doubt
I read somewhere that doubts were like little fears trying to come to life, or something like that. It makes sense if you think about it for a moment.
I guess when I have doubts about my writing ability, that can be seen as the same thing as fear of failure or rejection.
When I have doubts that we will ever get beyond one step above homelessness, isn’t that the same thing as fearing God will let me down… that He’s forgotten me, or simply left me here?
Some call it doubt, some call it fear, and most often, you’ll hear me call it a Rabbit Hole.
Whatever we choose to call it, we all face obstacles that can cause us to doubt ourselves, and our fear of failing to overcome sends us down all sorts of rabbit holes to try and wriggle out of things.
I think the bottom line is whether we have enough faith, or maybe enough courage, and/or enough inner fortitude to rise above the things we face.
I think it is a good idea to regularly remind myself to do some self-checks of who and what I am… to God, to others, but very importantly, to myself! If I don’t believe that I am valuable and worthy of love, how can I believe that God feels that way about this daughter of His? Does that make sense? If I don’t I am worthy enough to serve God, it makes it very difficult for me to step out in faith when He asks it of me, because I get too caught up in doubt.
So, for a healthy reminder to regularly sweep out my doubt closet, Note To Self #12 is from one of my favorite authors…
“We are what we believe we are”. C.S. Lewis
Just to make sure I have brought my point across about doubt and about believing in ourselves, I’ve included a song by Lauren Daigle called You Say. I hope to leave you with a reminder for those who need it…
Journey With Me! 