Rainbows after the rain......

Ahh.........Rainbows after the rain are certainly beautiful to catch a view of....peaceful, serene, glorious!

What is a rainbow?  A spectral arc of seven beautiful colors appearing in the sky opposite of the sun.....a result of the refractive dispersion of sunlight in the drops of rain or mist.........a display of God's incredible imagination and beauty!!!  Given just for us to view..........

Consider the splendor of colors:  red, orange, yellow, emerald green, aqua blue, indigo blue and violet........which is YOUR favorite color?  Which color makes you feel wonderful, alive, joyful???  Think about it!

What makes each of us reflect a specific color in our lives???  Have you ever thought about your wardrobe and if you choose specific hues time and again?  Or, what about the decor of your home?  Is there a theme that permiates your sacred space?

Do you reflect the color of God's love to others?  Does your friendship "disperse" throughout your corner of the world?  Is joy a display of raindrops or mist that splashes over to others in your life? 

How can your favorite "color" be used to reach out to those who may be hurting or lonely?  Can you spread a little cheer and color by sharing yourself with someone in need?  Flowers from your front yard or garden are always endearing! Or, how about a bow wrapped around a plate of homemade cookies or bread?

Think about someone in your life whose "color" has infused some joy in your life!  What was it that made them so special?  Was it that they represented the first colors of spring such as yellow and lavendar, or was it the burst of autumn in reds and oranges that drew you to them? 

Or, was it something in your life that brought back fond memories such as the fragrant smell of green grass being cut in summers past?  Or, sharing a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day?  Remember watching the clouds roll by as a little kid while laying in the grass?  And, don't forget the incredible shades of blue in a sky that doesn't have a cloud in it!

We have the gift of so many colors in our lives.......cherish them!  Watch for them!  Incorporate them into your soul and share them with someone you love!

A rainbow in the sky reminds us that God keeps His promises!!!
You are loved............go and enjoy the colors of your life!!!

Rain.......

Rain........beautiful rain!!!  Water condensed from atmospheric vapor, falling to earth in drops!
It has been almost 3 months since Kansas has seen any steady rain for longer than 20 minutes.........ahhh..........the moisture and wet drops fill my heart and soul with JOY!  

Have you ever smelled rain?  If not, next time it rains go outside on your porch or deck or driveway and smell the rain.......it is heavenly!!!!  

Years ago, there was an email sent around several times about a premature baby who almost doesn't make it, then years later after the crisis is over, this baby who is now 5, 6, 7 or 8 years old smells the rain and runs to her mother and says:  "Mommy, do you smell it?  Do you smell Him???"  The mother sits her child down and says, "What do you mean, can I smell the rain?"  The little girl replies, "it smells just like Him - the one who held me when I was born........it's Him!"  The mother sits back and realizes how God held her little girl in those infancy stages when she almost did not make it.........wow!  What a gift her little girl is today and what a gift from that little one to tell her about God!

Rain, beautiful rain........keep on coming today!  Drop away, Lord, drop away!!!

Can you smell it?  Can you smell Him???  The fragrance is ever so sweet........enjoy!!!

Releasing old emotions.....

RELEASING OLD EMOTIONS..............hmmm........that is a tough thing to do!  So many emotions fill me today as someone I love is extremely upset with me and won't allow the healing balm of forgivenss pave the way to say he is sorry or accept my apology.........I am very sad at losing such a person in my life because he has choosen to end the relationship.

It is amazing to me how the human ego and/or pride reign in situations between family members who love each other dearly, yet can be the hardest to get along with!  How do you mend a broken relationship from one side?  Making amends is not very likely, however, I plan on continuing to offer forgiveness from my side and pray that God's love, mercy and grace will be triumphant!

"Be still and know that I am God," says Psalm 46......I am still, and do know that God's Comforting, Almighy, Loving and Majestic Hand holds me close as I heal from this rift...............CALM.  Yes, Lord!

If you are experiencing a rift with someone you love, hold fast to God's Word.  God has a plan of redemption for all of us and so it is between brother and sister..........it may take a week, a month, a year, but that love that permeates my heart will win out - I am sure of it as God's Word tells me so on every page of Scripture.....

Be blessed as you await the Prodigal Son coming home to you.  I know I will!

Take a Journey Today..........

Take a Journey today.......have you ever thought of that concept as you wake in the morning?  What is a journey?  Do you have to travel far to go on a journey?  Do you need a lot of money to go on a journey today?  No.  A journey is to travel from one place to another.  That means right in your own living room, if necessary!  You do not have to take an expensive trip to go on a journey!

My mom never went to the grocery store the same way.  Seriously!  She would wander her way to the store going on street to street looking for a tree that was in bloom today that wasn't yesterday...or she would look for a neighbor's garden which was bursting with colors today that were not there yesterday!  Imagine - what would life be life if we took a journey every day???

You can take a journey through books, through pictures, through videos or photographs,
through experiences you have had, through a new craft your want to explore, through a new friendship you hope to have - whatever you can imagine - that is where you may take a journey from one place to another!  Today's technology is such that each of us can journey to a foreign country by internet, if we choose.  Imagine exploring a new country every week or month!  You could travel the world without spending a dime!!!

Life is definitely a journey, not a destination.  We may find ourselves in one spot due to health reasons or finances, but that does not mean we are land-locked!  We have an entire universe to explore out there - take advantage of the tools our world offers and go exploring TODAY!!!!

Why wait???  Go on.......get started on your journey today!
And, rememberto ENJOY the journey!!!

The Gift of Gentleness....

I bought a card to send to my sister that says:
"Give yourself the gift of gentleness today..." 


It made me think - what is gentleness???  Softness, kindness, something easily managed,  easily handled, being considerate - not harsh, not severe - nothing but ease...and flowing from the heart???


What is your definition of gentleness?  It is a soft touch from someone you love?  Is it the warmth of a friend's hand while waiting in the doctor's office?  Is it the way you touch a baby, a bird, or a bunny?  Is it the feeling of a feather on your cheek?  Or a warm breeze upon your face?  How would you describe gentleness?


Do you offer gentleness to others?  To your children?  Your elderly parent?  Yourself???
Think about it - when do you stop to consider being gentle to another human being?  Or does it come naturally for you?  


Where do you find gentleness?  Look around.  See the beauty and gentleness with which a new day dawns....it is truly amazing to look for gentleness throughout the day.  It will change your mood, your outlook on life, your perspective.


Give yourself the gift of gentleness today!

Become Awestruck...

Become awestruck.....how do you do that???  Take a tender moment and look at something beautiful in nature.  That's it....stoop down and literally smell the roses, flowers, or daisies blooming in your garden or one that you visit!


Do you see the little tiny, yellow disk in the middle of a Daisy?  Imagine what it took to create such beauty!  Take a peek at the lovely Purple Bearded Iris - what incredible imagination that took to make!  See the small petals of lilacs and smell the wonderful aroma of their scent!  Pick a bouquet and enjoy them for several days!  Take them to a neighbor and see the smile on their faces....Have you ever seen an entire field of coral orange Calalillies?  They are exquisite!


Imagine stopping along the highway to watch a meadow full of baby sheep frolicking through the field - such fun to watch!  Or, imagine seeing real bluebirds at the park you walk in - such a brilliant blue that it takes your breath away!  Or, imagine touching the soft fur of a small bunny...wow!  Have you ever thought about a Zebra - are they white with black stripes or black with white stripes?  What about the originality of a rainbow?  Seven colors in the exact order like a color wheel.......imagine creating such delight!  Or, surround yourself with the colors of a sunset........hues of red, orange and yellow turning to pink and purple as the sun sets.  


What lovely pictures these images bring to mind....capture the essence of the creator in the gifts of nature.  Stop along the way and take it all in........don't miss a single drop of beauty!
Take a deep breath and realize that beauty is within you as well........

Feel the awe........feel the wonder........enjoy the gift!

Healing...

Healing........how do you heal a broken heart?  How can you restore that which you feel is lost, gone or dissolved?  How can one return to a place of health and wholeness in your heart?  How can one set aright the fracture lines that cannot be seen?  It is not easy nor a quick process.  Healing is definitely a long process........slowly....one moment at at time, one day at a time.  There are many things in this life which are difficult to navigate and healing a broken heart is one of them.  Over time, with love, care and compassion the fracture lines begin to heal and mend.  Allow yourself time to grieve........allow yourself to cry and shed all the tears your heart needs to so that you may feel whole again.   Each heart heals in its own time as we nurture and care for ourselves and grieve the loss which has occurred - no two hearts are alike.

A broken wrist may heal in six weeks, however, a broken heart does not.  Mending a broken heart does not happen overnight or over a specific course of time such as six weeks, six months or six years.  But know that it will heal.  Allow yourself to place your fingers over the break lines when necessary and then, take the time to mend those broken lines.  Go deep within your heart to see what hurts - Release the hurt, acknowledge the betrayal, bury the broken dream...and then, as Melody Beattie so eloquently says in her Journey to the Heart book:  "Lightly, gently with love, rub a golden layer of forgiveness and love around your heart."  Forgiveness heals many break lines if only we will choose to forgive.  Healing comes in stages.  Comfort yourself when needed, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, take a hot bath, go outside and feel the sunshine, allow yourself to feel hope.  Emily Dickinson has a beautiful message of hope:  "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in your soul, and sings the song without the words and never stops at all."   Beautiful - that is what hope is, that is what healing does - it brings you hope for a brighter day and that day is today.

Become willing to heal your heart and know that love surrounds you each moment.  Give yourself the gift of healing your heart with love.....Feel that love from your family, from friends, from those in your life who support you and most of all from God.

Allow God to bring you the comfort that only HE can give........feel His Divine Presence near you and draw near to Him.  The Holy Scriptures tell us the He heals the brokenhearted........allow Him to heal yours.