Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Posts tagged ‘joy’

Laughter is Good Medicine

We all need to laugh
Laughter is good medicine
Brings good endorphins

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Laughter reduces pain, increases job performance, connects people emotionally, and improves the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. Laughter, it’s said, is the best medicine.

Let Laughter Reign

I hope you laughed out loud at some of these. I did!
Did any of them shock you?
Did that make you laugh louder?

The Major Function of Laughter

Some researchers believe that the major function of laughter is to bring people together. While we are socially distancing (afterall, you may be thousands of miles from me), we CAN laugh together!

You may have been surprised that this usually prudent 80 year old blogger would post more than one meme with the word “asshole” in it. Right?

But did you laugh, or did you just breathe deeply and say, “Oh my!”?? Deep breaths are good for you, too, you know!!

Did you know that laughter reduces blood sugar levels? It is believed that laughter increasing glucose tolerance in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. It’s worth a little shock effect of naughty words, don’t you agree?

All the health benefits of laughter may simply result from the social support that laughter stimulates. Just loosen up and laugh, my friends. It’s good for you! It keeps us connected, even though we may be far away.

Photo by Godisable Jacob on Pexels.com

Have a happy day… laugh a lot … and spread your joy…
Especially during these extraordinary times.

What meme or comment
have you seen or heard
that made you laugh out loud?

See ya tomorrow.

Category:

friendship, Haiku, happiness, humor, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Poetry

Tagged with:

Do For Others

Living under clouds

Of fear and trepidation

Renders us helpless

What will you do to

make life more beautiful for

someone else today?

Category:

blessings, friendship, Giving, Haiku, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

Take Time to Smell the …

Take time to smell the flowers

Along life’s busy road

Their fragrance fills your senses

And lightens your heavy load

Flowers are companions

Like pups, our furry friends

Who give love unconditionally

No faking – no pretends

Flowers lift our spirits

In ways little else can do

Take time to smell the flowers

I’m sending these to you

Have a blessed day!
Take time …

See ya tomorrow

Category:

Animals, flowers, friendship, happiness, Love, pets, Poetry

Tagged with:

The Joy & Power of Prayer

This is the cover of a little book that belonged to my mother-in-law.
I inherited it from her. The circle stain was created one morning when she set her tea cup on it. She was mortified! It didn’t spoil the book, though. The contents still are as precious as ever.

Bob’s sister gave the book to her in 1975 for Mother’s Day. Grandma Beekman treasured it, and read its inspirational quotes on a regular basis during her morning prayer time.

Here are a few of my favorites:

I like this last one a lot. Look at some of the ways it has been translated:

New International Version
Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?

New Living Translation
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?

Berean Study Bible
He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

Christian Standard Bible
Can the one who shaped the ear not hear, the one who formed the eye not see?

Contemporary English Version
God gave us ears and eyes! Can’t he hear and see?

Good News Translation
God made our ears–can’t he hear? He made our eyes–can’t he see?

International Standard Version
The one who formed the ear can hear, can he not? The one who made the eyes can see, can he not?

GOD’S WORD® Translation
God created ears. Do you think he can’t hear? He formed eyes. Do you think he can’t see?

American King James Version
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?

World English Bible
He who implanted the ear, won’t he hear? He who formed the eye, won’t he see?

Two questions…
no matter how you word them,
the answer is always the same.

YES!
He hears.

YES!
He sees.

Reading the Guideposts magazine this morning,
this quote reinforced what we know:

So, that’s the bottom line.
There is joy and power in prayer.

God hears.
God sees.
God answers prayer.

Prove that reality…
Just pray!

I’m praying for you.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Living in Christ's Family, Love, prayer

Tagged with:

Ashes to Joy

In her devotional this morning, Cynthia Ruchti reminded me it’s Ash Wednesday. She wrote (on this Feb. 20 devotional in Daily Guideposts), “… my sins have been incinerated, a fine layer of ash is all that remains – and that layer has been blown away by the breath of Jesus’ mercy.”

Photo by Jakob on Pexels.com

What a wonderful image that is! She reminded us of the devastation of the 2019 California fires that left whole neighborhoods (in fact major parts of whole cities, like Paradise, CA) incinerated. She mourned, “The ash was so fine it left only a dusting over the footprint of each lost home.”

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Cynthia reminded me that Ash Wednesday is “a time of reflection, self-sacrifice, spiritual discipline, and fasting to prepare the heart for Easter.” Her “Faith Step” at the conclusion of the message was: “Our humanity and our sinfulness have been conquered in Jesus and we are free. Ashes to joy. Dust to life. Live victoriously.”

At http://www.Christianity.com the author wrote:
“Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays) marked by repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. The 40-day period represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection.”

My niece, Jodie

I am ready to embrace this season.
I am ready to “live victoriously.”
I am ready for “Dust to dust”
to become “Dust to Life.”

I am ready for “Ashes to ashes”
to become “Ashes to Joy.“

Are you?

How do you recognize Lent?
Tell me about it.

Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
See ya later.

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, blessings, Faith, Family, happiness, holidays, Jesus, Living in Christ's Family, Love, peace, prayer, writing

Tagged with:

Cherish Aging

I have a journal titled, “I Can and I Will … Watch Me!”

I don’t write in it every day; just when I am inspired by something else “I Can” do that “I DID!” Some of my topics are I CAN:

  • Emerge
  • Participate
  • Heal
  • Remember
  • Bee Positive
  • Taste
  • Encourage

You get the idea…



Today my topic was I CAN “Cherish Aging.” I was inspired by my experience last Tuesday at Big Sky Ski Resort while I sat at the bar, sipping my Irish coffee, and enjoying my book.

“You remind me of my grandma,”
The young waitress smiled and said,
“She was a little, compassionate lady
Who loved me dearly – and was too soon dead.”

She told me of her virtues, her illness,
And her faith. Tears filled her eyes.
She told me how she missed her hugs –
And their long talks. Grandma was quite wise.

Then, wiping away the teardrops,
She went on about her job.
Soon she returned with a piece of apple pie
On which was a big whipped cream blob.

“I thought you’d like this little treat;
My grandma sure loved apple pie,”
She gave me a hug and rushed away.
Now it was my turn to cry.

I don’t mind t all growing older
If my wrinkles and my silver hair
Can bring cherished memories to someone
And make them know: Us Grandmas Care!

Look at these wonderful Pexels.com photographs of various grandmothers:

Photo by Luizmedeirosph on Pexels.com
Photo by Edu Carvalho on Pexels.com
Photo by Sayan Ghosh on Pexels.com
Photo by Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas on Pexels.com
Photo by Immortal shots on Pexels.com
Photo by Dazzle Jam on Pexels.com
Photo by Himesh Mehta on Pexels.com
Photo by Yulia Rozanova on Pexels.com

The one above is my daughter-in-law, Monika, with my great-granddaughter, Cosette. Monika’s a young, loving grandmother … See, not all gramas are silver-haired and wrinkled!

Look back at those grandmas. Which one touches your heart the most? Do any of them remind you of YOUR grandma? Tell me about her!

Here I am with Xander and Sienna.

Do CHERISH AGING!
It brings with it
many blessings and joys.

And the alternative?
Don’t go there young!!

See ya later.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, children, contentment, Family, friendship, Gratitude, Life and Death, Life's Challenges, Love, peace, photography, Poetry, relationships, respect, self-acceptance

Tagged with:

Optimism is Far-Sighted

If you’re myopic
Looking only at your feet
You can’t see the joy

Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com

Ya gotta look out
Optimism’s far-sighted
Valley’s got mountains!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Today’s tasks are hard
That’s a lotta wood to chop
The warmth is worth it

What does tomorrow bring?

Know that your troubles
Aren’t going to last forever
Optimism reigns!

Don’tcha just gotta see the optimism
when you look at Bob’s giddy face?

Thanks for looking out beyond
your blog to see mine!
I hope it cheered you.
I love you, my friends!

See ya later!

Category:

blogging, contentment, Haiku, happiness, humor, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry, self-acceptance

Tagged with:

Choose Joy Today

I love playing around with various poetry forms. I love learning about new forms. Yesterday I encountered a “Dalit” for the first time. Do you know it? It is 4 lines of 8 syllables each. I thought that would be fun to try. Here we go…


The choice is yours – choose joy today.
We are blessed to be in sunshine.
I select happiness today,
And it splashes over to you!

Yes, even if you are in rain or snow,
you can have sunshine in your heart.
My heart prays for peace in war-torn places.
My heart prays for safety for those in Harm’s Way.
My heart prays for rain in Australia
and stability in all places of turmoil.
My heart prays for joy in your heart.
Choose joy!

Try a Dalit poem. Share it!
And Have a Marvelous Monday!
See ya later.

Category:

blessings, friendship, Giving, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Poetry, prayer, writing

Tagged with:

My Prayer For You

We had a wonderful day yesterday – the day of Bob’s 81st birthday. It started at our son’s house in Placerville where happiness definitely knocked on our door and entered in full array!

We went to church with our family at “Jesus Culture” in Folsom. We filled a row in the congregation of more than 1,500 people. It was amazing! Every seat was filled. People were standing in the aisles. The music and the message were God-inspired.

After church we visited dear, long-time friends whom we had not seen in a decade. We learned that our friend has stayed in touch with us (between years of Christmas cards) by following my Facebook posts. She doesn’t click “like” or leave a message, so I had no idea that she was one of my regular followers. When we got together, the years dissolved … and it was like we had never been apart. Do you have friends like that?

After that wonderful visit, with a delicious lunch and memorable, heart-felt, warm conversation, we returned to our son’s house where we celebrated Bob’s 81st birthday. Our daughter-in-law and granddaughter made Bob’s favorite birthday “cake,” a Jamoca-Almond-Fudge pie. Mmmm!

I pray that the happiness we feel be in your heart today. May it knock on your door, stay late, and leave the gifts of peace, love, joy and good health behind.

Happy December 30th.
Have a wonderful day.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, children, Christmas, Faith, Family, friendship, God, Gratitude, happiness, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, prayer, Serving One Another

Tagged with:

First Coming

From George & Kathy Goodrich
A poem by  Madeleine L’Engle

First Coming

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till men and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime,

turned water into wine.  He did not wait

till hearts were pure. In joy he came 

to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame

he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word make Flesh

the Maker of the stars was born.


We cannot wait till the world is sane

to raise our songs with joyful voice,

for to share our grief, to touch our pain,

He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

 Madeleine L’Engle

Photo by Edu Carvalho on Pexels.com

Category:

Belief, Bible Lessons, Christmas, Faith, God, Gratitude, Jesus, Love, Poetry

Tagged with: