Joy

And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of grey Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there
Everywhere.

Rabindranath Tagore

Ancient Egyptians believed that upon death they would be asked two questions and their answers would determine whether they could continue their journey in the afterlife. The first question was, 'Did you bring joy?' The second was, 'Did you find joy?

Dr. Leo Buscaglia

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:11

I Know Nothing But Miracles



As for me, I know nothing else but miracles,

Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,

Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,

Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,

Or stand under the trees in the woods,

Or talk by day with any one I love,

Or sleep in bed at night with any one I love,

Or watch honey bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon...

Or the wonderfulness of the sundown,

Or of stars shining so quiet and bright,

Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring...

What stranger miracles are there?

Walt Whitman

Jesus answered, "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."
John 9:3

What A Beautiful Morning!

Don't you just love mornings this time of the year?  The sun is rising BEFORE eight o'clock. It was actually light outside at 6:45 this morning.  It's not so frightfully cold, inside or out.  I even heard a few birds this morning.  (My sister will tell you that I have a "thing" for the birds outside).  The snow is melting.  I even see patches of grass outside my window.  Not in my yard, mind you, but the neighbors have some grass showing and it gives me hope!  The weatherman says we will gradually rise into the 50's over the next week!  Thank You, God!!

Maybe the groundhog will be right this year.  Maybe spring will come early.  I love springtime, don't you?  Everything coming back to life.  The grass turning green again.  Buds on the trees.  The birds coming back to my birdfeeders.  More squirrels in my yard (not sure about that one this year).  The pollen in the air (OK, maybe I don't relish that part so much).  It's like everything just stops for the winter and we all go into hibernation here in rural America.  We do the things that must be done and a lot of the extras just get put on hold.  The month of January has always been a hard one for me and I think this must be the reason.  Even with every effort to plan things to do and places to go, January is just a difficult time for me. 

But once we get to the middle of February, it's like someone flipped my switch back on and I can hardly wait to start each new day.  I've rested during the winter, my hibernation is over, and I'm ready for new adventures!  I wonder what new things God will send my way today?  I can hardly wait!