Rambling Friday: Are You Due for a Good Laugh?

A Bagpiper Tale . . .

Warning! If you hate to laugh, DON'T read this tale. :)  If you're needing a laugh today, read on. . .

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight.

There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down, and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.

The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around . . . I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.

And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, and we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car.

Though my head hung low my heart was full.

As I was opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "Land of the living, I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for over twenty years!"

Quote: Wouldn't it be nice to have this said about you? Consistent and persistent!
 
Blessings

Rambling Friday: Rushing Around, Mr. Rabbit

Have you ever thought when gazing at your desk (or house, or at work, or some other place) that everything piled up looks like lint? Or worse, dust?

Have you ever thought when gazing at your desk (or house, or at work, or some other place) that everything piled up looks like lint? Or worse, dust?

• Rushing around gives me a headache. Granted I love to be busy and can't stand it when I have nothing to do (which has been so long ago, I feel like I'm telling a fib when I mention it). I always have something to do.
• Rushing around causes me to forget things. I forget I have a post I need to write, that I wanted to walk today, that I'd scheduled to meet a friend, or that I had an appointment I needed to keep. 
• Rushing around causes me to make mistakes. Typing too fast? Have to go back and make more corrections because of the sensitive touch of my computer and my clumsy fingers. Hurrying with supper preparations. Dropped eggs, spilled flour, broken pottery. 
• Rushing around causes me to miss things, like the beauty of my gardens and garden pond. The hills with the morning mists hanging over them. The moonlight shining through the treetops. My animals wanting attention, their beautiful green/brown/blue eyes on me, trusting me to give them what they need. My hubby, sons, and grandsons (and many others too!) wanting my company or attention, loving me even when I'm too busy to talk with them.

So what to do? 

Slow down...again. Relax. Take a deep breath and remember to...

Keep to my schedule. 

Check my lists.

One thing at a time.

Thankfully, I'm getting better at realizing--and, thus, reacting--that I need to stay focused and organized. 

That does the trick. When my over-excited, overloaded brain accepts that everything doesn't have to be done at once, then I stay relaxed and more productive. I'm released from those heavy chains of pressure. 

The moral of this lesson? 

Slow down, Mr. Rabbit. 

When you're worn out from rushing to the goal line, 

you may rush yourself to losing the race. 

So...make your list today of all things that are beautiful in your life. When you've thought of all you can, then thank God for them. Name each one aloud. Think about them. Study your list. Pray over it.. Tuck it into your Bible, your purse, a notebook. Somewhere that you can see it often.

What good does doing things like this do? Makes us more thankful. Helps us realize what blessings

we have and how quickly we sometimes lose this or that blessing. 

After all, why should God give us MORE blessings if we're not thankful for what we already have?

You're blest. I'm blest. God loves us. Let that thought sink in, and may it resound in your heart throughout your day and evening.

Quote:

Rejoice, and again, I say: Rejoice!

Blessings

Rambling Friday: Mistakes and Confessions

Who has never made a mistake?

I didn't see any hands go up, and if you did raise yours, I sincerely doubt you were being truthful. I couldn't raise mine, because, I'm afraid, I've made plenty of those things in my time. Oh, you wanna know what some of mine are, do you? Hmm.

Okay, here goes, but be sure to add at least one of yours in the comments! :)

1. Fretting over things that may happen before they do. Oh, yeah, I'm one of those. Especially lately, though, God has been talking to me. Reminding me that usually those things I've imagined, don't happen. That a certain thing I'm praying about (and thinking 'this will never come to pass' may be happening right now, and here I am complaining. Again. Or: Trust me; it will all work out. 
2. Judging. Oh-h-h, that's a mean one. But yep, sometimes, I will decide that it's why a certain unpleasant thing happened to so-and-so. Or that person has a problem (with me or someone else or God or whoever), and find out later that's not the case at all. They were busy, preoccupied, worried, sick, etc. I need to remember I've not walked in their shoes. Ever. Be kind!
3. Being lazy. There are days when I don't FEEL like writing or cleaning or talking or anything else. That's understandable in a few ways, but if it gets to be a habit--then look out. Pretty soon the evening arrives, the weekend arrives, the year ends, and I have to ask myself, what have I done. Don't! Take steps to keep my enthusiasm up, to keep my determination intact, and my reason alive that to move forward, I must follow through on what I need to do. Do it!
4. Impatient. Sigh. This is a hard one. I try to rein it in, to be patient for God's plan, for our plans, or life...but sometimes I don't succeed. I know what I like when decorating, what songs I like to sing, what food I enjoy the most, etc. To have to take the second choice doesn't set easily with me. I'm not saying I'm selfish. I'll wait on others at meals, happily making sure family and friends have what they need. I like giving gifts and encouragement to others. I want others to be happy and strive for that. But my own impatience is a sore test to me. 

By myself, I am a failure. I know that. God knows that.

God says:

1.  Do not be anxious for nothing.

but in everything with prayer and supplication

let your requests be known unto God.

And the peace of God which passes understanding

will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6 & 7

2.  Judge not, that you be not judged.

For how you judge another, so you will be judged.

Why do you see a splinter in your brother's eye 

when you have a beam in your own eye?

Matthew 7: 1 & 2

3.  And whatever you do, do it heartily unto the Lord.

Colossians 3: 23

4.  Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart. 

Psalm 27:14

Good admonition? You bet! God always has the answers, and that's why I'm continuing to learn that turning to God for the answers I need in my own life is right there, waiting for me to claim the promises, the instruction and the rebukes that I need. 

How about you?

Sunday Morning Peace: Things to Forget

Things to Forget  

The mean thing others have said about you.

The injury any person has done you.

The mistakes you have made in the past,

except as they may warn you in the future.

The kindness you have tried to do others.

The ill-natured gossip you have heard concerning others.

The secrets entrusted to your confidence.

The worry that hinders your happiness.

The drawbacks that seem to stand int he way of your success.

Blessings!

Making Mistakes

Ever make any mistakes?

We did the other night.

On the way home we traveled through Louisville. It was near midnight, the traffic was light, and we were tired. I was sleeping, so half dozing.

My hubby missed his interstate route. Because of the light traffic and being right in town (ususally not a good thing when you mess up) we were able to exit and get back to where we needed to be to get our exit.

AND crossing the bridge again, we had a perfect view of the town of Louisville on the river, lights shining against a black night. Totally gorgeous. A perfect picture for a tiring night.

Hubby said, "Look what we would have missed if I hadn't made that mistake."

I guess some mistakes are worth the aggravation, huh?





Quote:
It takes a lot of things to prove you are smart, but only one thing to prove you are ignorant. --Don Herold


Blessings