It was September two years ago when we were in the midst of the pandemic, isolated, sequestered, missing friends and family. I posted this blog titled “Smile.” It’s time this cold, snow sparkling in the sunshine day in November to repost it. I hope it makes you smile. It brought a smile to MY face!
Smile when your heart is aching Smile even though it’s breaking Though there are clouds in the sky You’ll get by – if you’ll just smile!
Do you know that song? I’ll share it with you … Along with some things that made me smile today:
Everyone needs a blue-footed booby for a smile!And I dare you to look at this cross-eyed owl trying to see that ladybug – and not smile!!This snowy egret got its feathers ruffled over SOMEthing!I used to have a pet goat when I was a kid. This one made me smile big time!
(Change the Thursday to Friday on the following meme) And that “Good Night” can say “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” (depending on where you are in th world).But before I leave you, I told you I’d share that song with you. It’s not the current version of “Smile” by Katy Perry. It’s the version from the 1950s when I was a kid (a freshman in high school -to be exact!)! Here it is. Smile!
This is one of Nat King Cole’s songs that I loved the most. Its message is so important for us in this world today.
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you’ll just smile!
Hug each other tight… Just like these rainbow lorikeets
SMILE!! Thanks for visiting JanBeek. See ya tomorrow.
A beautiful, bright yellow, little bird found its demise this morning. Flying too fast, confused by reflections in our large kitchen window, it crashed into it. Sometimes birds who do that are just stunned, After lying on the ground a while, they get up and fly away. This one was not so fortunate.
There is a bird that looks just like this one that is flying from tree to tree outside the kitchen window. Obviously, it is looking for its buddy. My heart goes out to the poor, lonesome one.
I am reminded as I see this little beauty of the lesson to be learned here: SLOW DOWN and LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING!
If you’ve followed my blog this past month, you know I didn’t do that! I was walking too fast – and I was not watching where I was going. I caught my right shoe on the top of the (higher than normal) curb, and down I went! Fortunately, I caught the weight of my fall on my left pinky finger. Not my head or hip. Not my right hand. Not my face. It could have been so much worse. I have lots to be thankful for. But the message is clear. SLOW DOWN!
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
But, if you run, make it be in a safe place to do so… and keep your eyes on the road ahead. And when you walk, be purposeful. Look ahead. Be alert. When you wait, wait patiently. Pray for guidance. Listen. Be discerning. Be obedient.
I’ve got time for slow dances in the kitchen now. The Lord said, “Rest. Ice that hand! Exercise those fingers. Go to your occupational therapy sessions, and skip all those other obligations for now. Wait!”
OK, Lord. I am listening.
Are you listening, my friend?
Slow down! And have a safe, sane, and happy Tuesday.
That picture is a reminder of another time a year or so ago when I was walking too fast and not looking where I was going.
Oh my… not a very fast learner, am I?? S’pose I got the message this time?
Have you??
See ya later – Love, JanBeek
Looking forward to a healed, useful hand again!
Here’s a wonderful song (I had not heard it before) about that message of slowing down… so true!
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Our dear neighbor, Scott, came by today. He brought his shovel and gave us his all! All the energy he had stored up he poured out!
Our front porch was buried in snow. Our TazE’s exit from the kitchen door was blocked with over a foot of snow. The sidewalk approaching our house was covered with over 2 feet of snow that the wind had blown as a drift yesterday.
When Scott left, the porch and entry were cleared. The sidewalk is passable, so UPS and FedEx can deliver the package we are expecting today. And TazE was able to go out and do her business. Hooray!
The robins who were hovering under the patio chairs yesterday are dancing in the trees today. The sun is out – melting the snow that had clung to the branches.
Happy Holy Week, my friends. Scott gave us his all! He was exhausted when he finished. God bless him!
Jesus gave His all! How much energy – how many coins – are we willing to give?
I send my love to you, my friends. Have a Wonderful Wednesday! See ya tomorrow … Maundy Thursday… Hugs, JanBeek
As often happens to me, I read the first devotional this morning in Daily Guideposts, and I was inspired to choose the word for my blog today. EQUIPPED!
Then when I opened the next devotional, “All God’s Creatures,” the March/April Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers, and the word “equipped” showed up twice on that page.
What are the chances, you ask? Pretty good batting average, I’d say. There it was again:
Ephesians 2:10 (a)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”
The story in “All God’s Creatures” was about a woodpecker who was “beautifully equipped for his unique purpose in life…” as he aggravated the writer with his incessant tapping on the tree trunk outside his window.
The writer, Terry Clifton, mused that he, too, is “a result of God’s handiwork – equipped with talents and skills that have meaning and purpose for [his] life.”
What has God equipped you with? What unique gifts and talents do you possess that allow you to let God’s workmanship shine through you to fulfill His purpose in your life?
On the Daily Guideposts’ page for today Jerusha Agen wrote, “All I have to do is walk with God through each day, confident He will provide all I need to accomplish His work.”
Heart made of sand
It all sounds so theoretical, doesn’t it? About as solid as that sand in the hand. But, what scripture is telling us is that our hearts are not made to be solid.
We are not expected to look at tasks from our earthly perspective. Tasks are formed for us beforehand by our Maker in Heaven.
Don’t eliminate the second part of the Ephesians 2:10 scripture: “…which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Up pops the crocus leaves Tiny sprouts of green Signaling winter’s end – A very welcomed scene.
Only in snowy places Do crocus flowers grow. What makes that a fact? I’d really like to know.
So I checked it out With a quick click or two And learned about this flower. Does its beauty attract you, too?
In her article about gardening, Marie Iannotti wrote the following about crocuses: “Growing from bulb-like structures called corms, crocuses are low-growing perennial plants from the iris (Iridaceae) family. In many regions, crocus flowers (Crocus spp.) mark the arrival of spring. These early bloomers can often be seen peeking up through the snow well before any other flowers appear on the landscape. They grow in a range of conditions, including woodlands, coastal gardens, and suburban lawns. Bloom colors on the tube-shaped flowers include mauve, lavender, and yellow. …”
The crocus in our yard are this gorgeous color of lavender. I wasn’t aware that they also come in mauve and yellow, are you?
My daughter-in-law’s mom, Ruthie, grew up in Switzerland and has lived her adult life in southern California. Speaking with her this morning, telling her about the crocus that are popping up in our yard, she said, “I haven’t seen a crocus since I was a child in Switzerland. They only grow where there’s snow.”
That got me thinking and wondering … and as you read above, they actually grow in a range of conditions. I intend to send her a few “corms” as an Easter gift next week – and I will be very curious to see if they will grow in her yard. She lives not too far from Los Angeles … certainly a place where snow is not expected! But, Marie Iannotti included “suburban lawns” as a place they grow, so we’ll see.
Not quite the same as her Swiss mountainside, huh?
What are some things that you might expect to see only in snowy places?
I love snowdrops. We don’t have any of these in our yard. Gotta remedy that!!
I did a little research on these flowers too, and learned this from Longfield Gardens’ site: “Like other spring-blooming bulbs, snowdrops use their foliage to generate energy for next year’s flowers. Resist the temptation to cut back the leaves or mow them down while they are still green. Within a couple weeks, the foliage will yellow and melt away on its own.
When snowdrops are growing in a location that suits them, the bulbs will multiply and can eventually carpet a large area. The bulbs don’t mind being crowded and rarely need dividing. If you want to move some bulbs to a new area or share them with friends, dig and divide them in early spring, right after flowering and before the foliage begins to yellow. Handle them carefully so the foliage stays attached to the bulbs, and get them back into the ground as quickly as possible.
You may find it takes a couple years to establish large clumps of snowdrops, but once the bulbs have naturalized, you will have flowers every spring for generations to come.”
What springtime flower inspires you?
I hope your home is blessed with a colorful, sweet smelling, beautiful gift of flowers today.
If I could send you a few “corms” as an Easter gift, I would!
Bee well! I send you my love and hugs this day. Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
People’s homes are in danger. Firefighters’ lives are at risk. The habitats of birds and deer, chipmunks and moose, squirrels and rabbits are being devoured.
The smoke blows in. The sun is hidden. Gray engulfs our valley. I hate gray!
And yet, as I sit here looking out at the gray, praying for rain to douse the fires and chase the smoke away, I hear the birds chirping in the trees.
They see the same gray sky, smell the same smoke, feel the same humid, sultry air, and yet – they sing! They dance in the leaves. They fly free – knowing a rainbow sits beyond the gray.
What has made you glad today? Are you thanking God for this day?
I will reJOYce for He has made me glad. This is such a beautiful spring day – The weather is a gift from God and My dear husband, Bob, has our yard Looking like a very inviting park.
Come sit awhile with me. Enjoy the birds singing. Enjoy the sunshine. Let the peacefulness of the mountain vistas Make you glad!
Our robins are such a treat. They make me glad!
Let your heart sing with the music of the birds! So beautiful!
I had a yellow chested blackbird singing to me this morning- -and while up in my sanctuary, a pair of doves landed on the garage roof and sang their hearts out.
(Thank God it wasn’t those “common cranes” or the “snipe” or the “corn crepe.” Those would have driven me crazy!
(If you glide your cursor over the red line on the video, it will tell you what kind of bird you are listening to.
The European turtle dove sounds like those we have here. They make me glad!
It is our uniqueness that makes us An interesting, diverse, beautiful world. We fly our flags in different colors, But in reality we’re all one world unfurled.
Let’s embrace our uniqueness And celebrate how we see things differently While remembering we are more alike Than not… and we’re all designed magnificently!
There’s no one on earth like me; No one in the whole world like you, So embrace your uniqueness, my friend… Share with others your point of view.
No one sees life quite like you do. No one can paint or write as you do. Let your expression of life splash out of you And help others see the world anew.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Just as no pot created on the potter’s wheel Ends up looking just like another pot, And yet each is beautiful in its own way, So each of us beautiful – no one is not!
Something beautiful, something good – All my confusion He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, But He made something beautiful of my life.
Give your brokenness and strife to God. Let Him make something beautiful in you. Then share it – as only you can do – So others can appreciate their uniqueness, too.
Use your unique qualities to make the world a better place. Don’t judge others or turn them away because they’re different. Embrace them. Love them. Appreciate the way they add color to your world. Know God designed each of us intentionally … be reverent!
I love you, my friend. Thank you for adding your uniqueness to my world. See ya tomorrow.
janbeek 