Sunday School

I would like to welcome everyone for attending this session of Upon My Word.

I love words and it's a good thing I do since I've had to eat more than my share a time or two served with a side of crow.

I love the sound of them.  I love the ring of them.  I love the way they can make me laugh or cry...shudder or shy.

Sometime the most powerful ones are only 2 or 3 letters long.

Yes...No.

Sometimes the words get in the way.

Sometimes they can be words of wisdom.

When writing a post, I've made no secret I'm just the typist with Him providing the words and this morning was no different.

I awoke with a single word repeating in my head.  When that happens, I know it's time to sit, type and talk.

Shall we begin?

Today's word is blessing.

bless·ing

   /ˈblɛsɪŋ/ [bles-ing] noun

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

2. a special favor, mercy, or benefit.

3. a favor or gift bestowed by God.

4. the invoking of God's favor upon a person.

5. praise; devotion; worship.

Get all that?  Good.

Let's look at this definition a little closer...shall we?

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

Sometimes when we look at the blessings in our lives, we I fail to see the small ones.  The ones that sneak up on us, tucked sweetly in a pair of loving eyes and.  The pat on the back, the small words of encouragement, all freely given from a generous heart with nothing expected in return except feeling the joy they brought to someone else and the sound of shared laughter.

Lessons to be learned?

To work at being someone who blesses others and never being so proud as to find ourselves cheating anyone out of the opportunity to be such a blessing.  To reach the point of recognizing all the little blessings that come our way and realizing sometimes just a simple thank you really is enough.

2.  a special favor, mercy or benefit.

Blessings aren't always as obvious as a wrapped present.  Sometimes they are layered in white cotton, tied with heart strings.  Oft-times they climb out of clowns' cars with a burst of imagination, all technicolor and candy apple red.

They unfailingly do things for others...not because they're asked to or because it's expected, but because they want to...need to...have to.  It's in their genetic make-up cases.

Lessons to be learned?

To acknowledge and accept that sometimes a little help is needed.  Realizing we all...from time to time...need a leg up, a helping hand, or a caring shoulder to lean on and remembering sometimes just a simple thank you is enough.

3.  favor or gift bestowed by God.

4. the invoking of God's favor on a person.

5. praise, devotion, worship.

All the blessings in our lives, both big and small, flow from one source.  He provides the people in our lives who make us feel brave when we're scared, beautiful when we're not, and loved when we're at our most unlovable.  He sends them quietly...and sometimes raucously...into our worlds to remind us we're never truly alone.  These seemingly small blessings come with a word, a deed, a gesture to help us along in the day-to-day business of trying to get it right.  They're our business advocates, our cheerleader squad, the ones who want us to succeed and who don't even expect a thank you, but blush when offered one.

Lessons to be learned?

These guardian angels without wings sent by God are the daily reminders of His presence. To miss them is akin to missing Him.  He deserves all the praise, devotion and worship for these blessings...and most importantly...a thank you God is always enough.

I'd like to add one more thing.

I may not always make sense, but given the opportunity...and the words...I may make a lot of non-sense. And bless my soul, I promise up and down to always have the good sense to praise and thank God for each and every one of you.

From my big ol' Texas heart,

God's blessings on all y'all.

Class dismissed.

  

  

Bonfires of My Vanities

Recently, while raking and bagging leaves, it suddenly occurred to me why a season is deserving of two names---autumn and fall. For every one leaf I raked, 5 would fall and sadly I paid the price of all that bending over!

 

My muscles told me that I too had entered a new season in my life. I no longer could spring back when I toted that barge and lifted that bale. My insides might say I was still in the summer of my life, but my outsides screamed ouch! And while I'm still a long way from being in the winter of my discontent, I am no longer a spring chicken and have to admit I am an Autumn in more ways than just my color wheel.

 

I have morphed into a leaf on a tree. I know it when I look in the mirror and see a woman who's hair is fading and skin has lost it's dewy suppleness. Even my feet have wrinkles and the girls'---Mary Kate and Ashley---no longer stand at attention like good soldiers, but fall to the floor upon my standing upright!

 

Where just a few years ago, my signature seasoning was a tiny bit salty and a whole lot peppery, nowadays I'm more sagey and thyme-y.

 

Which brings me to today. With my aching back and screaming joints from going up and down a ladder in preparation for Christmas, I have to accept I no longer am middle aged, but am officially Medicare age.

 

(Upon my word, I am also officially shocked to admit it!)

 

But with each change in the season of life, comes changes in perspective and goals. Things that once mattered a great deal to me, no longer hold my attention. Besides, let's face facts. Staying focused was never one of my strong suits. Can you say "squirrel"?

 

I can't speak for Cat Daddy, but for starters one change I'm making is semi-retiring from the business of junk. And personally, I don't think there's a better time to do it than now.

 

Why you ask?

 

Simply put---the business isn't anything like it was 5 years ago.

 

(And if you find yourself wondering what's changed---just ask and I'll elaborate on another post!)

 

One change I've already made is Facebook time. I no longer hang out there much. Like me, it too has aged, but unlike me, not in a good way. Where before it was a place to reconnect with people as well as share good things., now it's morphed into something unrecognizable and down right ugly, filled with political diatribes, self-promotion and more than an unhealthy dose of self love. And quite frankly, I don't feel like I am welcomed unless I'm willing to accept the unacceptable.

 

(Note to self: Remember---not everyone using FB is guilty of the above mentioned evils, but trying to separate the wheat from the chaff is wearing thin. In other words, there still are good people on there, but getting to them takes a whole lotta scrolling!)

 

I have ventured into Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/york.deb/), but as to how long I'll be there is anybody's guess. I will admit it is fast, but it can be a little bit confusing and I don't work well with confusing! We'll see how long it takes this old dog to learn a few new tricks before giving up!

 

Another change I'm making is this blog. Before I would ramble on and on about upcoming shows, cool finds and the like. Now instead I'll be talking about whatever God throws into my stream of consciousness. Should you choose to hang around and listen to my answers to life questions, it will be a little like peeking into my psyche!

 

I truly feel He has led me back to where I started.

As 2016 slides into 2017, I am rekindling my love affair with words and together I hope we can make some beautiful---or at least loud---music together!