Sometimes, Friday Fun Days may not be exactly as you plan, but how about just making it the best you can?
We had to return to my home state to honor a great man whom we will miss dearly.
We couldn’t stay at our “regular places” due to the recent hurricane that had left devastation in its path.
We couldn’t eat at our “favorites” due to the same demise.
We couldn’t take time to spend with all the loved ones with whom we desired due to having to come and go so quickly and staying at a further distance.
But we took the hours that we could just to make the best of the trip that we had.
We sat out on the beach in the early morning hours and just soaked in the wind and the surf.
We took an adventure to shop for some fun souvenirs for our boys.
We enjoyed an amazing dockside seafood fare and savored every morsel.
We stopped at a fun little coffee roaster and drank in the delightfulness.
Then, we said our sorrowful goodbyes, packed our bags, and headed back home.
Sometimes, Friday Fun Days might not seem so enjoyable, but if you search hard enough, you might just find a little sunshine peeking through those clouds.
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
When did you fly away from childhood heroes and boyhood dreams?
When did you run down the trail to new horizons and discover new landscapes?
When did you walk into the footsteps of your father and become a man?
It seems to have happened so fast, and yet, I was there for every joyous moment.
I was present for each and every scraped knee and hidden tear shed.
I remember the little boy behind the mask, and yet, I see glimpses of him late at night when the lights go dim.
I remember the fast beating of your heart as you dreamt of the mighty warriors’ flights and the swords defeating the dragons.
And yet, I still hear that beat to a different drum as you seek to find your way in this great big world and glance back to see if I’m still watching, waiting, hoping for one more embrace.
I love you, my son, and shout to you across this chasm of the unknown.
“Run, fly, chase those dreams! You can do this! This is your time to shine!”
“You were made for this moment!”
Never forget, He will always be right there with you, and I will be here cheering you on, always ready to welcome you with open arms.
❤️
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
I wonder how often this is true for us. In this “Me Society” where we live today, it seems so much is about being happy, being satisfied, being fulfilled, even at the cost of someone else’s happiness and satisfaction.
I wonder where we went wrong.
When did it get so important that you’re made happy that it doesn’t matter if, in the process, I am made desolate?
When did it get so determined that your satisfaction could be at the expense of my daily living?
When did it become ok to demand the freedom of one race, one party, one organization or one people group at the detriment of anyone else who might disagree?
Where did we go astray?
Maybe when we began believing the life of a tree was more important than a human.
Maybe when we began determining which life could live and which could die by our own hands.
Maybe when we began believing we could actually give life and take away life by our very own hands and believed we shouldn’t suffer any consequences for the decisions we made.
Evil is evil, and it has been the same since the beginning of time.
The difference today is too many have began calling evil goo and good evil.
And when these things become the norm, no one can escape the fall.
So, where will we go? What will we do? Who will we turn to?
We must go back to the beginning.
We must go back to the moment we went astray.
Return to that place in time and start anew. Repent. Make new choices. Make amends.
It is possible. But we have to see past ourselves to actually make a difference.
Sometimes, you’ve got to capture the beauty right where you are.
You may have just exited a busy store and felt like a corralled calf trying to get through the one way door.
You may have just spent way too much money trying to get your college-aged son settled in his new place.
You may have just wandered down aisles for way too long feeling you’re about to suffocate following the rules of the mask wearing brigade.
You might have just hurried out the exit, gasping for air before a mighty headache settles in.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to look up.
You’ve got to look beyond the chaos, beyond the hustle, beyond the noise.
Look up and capture the beauty that is right in front of you.
Breathe deep. Breathe long. Breathe freely.
Remember Whose you are and rest assured, it won’t be long till He returns.
There is still Hope.
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Mancoming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, becauseyour redemption draws near.”
How wide do you stretch your lips to spread evil and deceit?
How deep will you swim to discover the depths of His love?
He is there when you search for Him.
He will find you in the midst of the darkness.
Simply open your eyes to see the light.
“O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You arethere; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”
It has amazed me throughout this pandemic how loud the media has shouted and how quiet the church has remained.
It’s been eerily quiet, except for shouts, concerns and finger-points of who should do what, when and how.
It has amazed me how quickly the whole world has given up their freedom and personal rights, even here in America, under the guise of health, security and even “common decency.”
It has been eerily obvious, except for the shouts, concerns and warning signs thrown up by those who recognize this is not what the Constitution nor our Declaration of Independence provides.
Maybe you’ve not read that part recently.
Let me refresh your memory… (Declaration of Independence)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it…”
Who gave you the right to remove my rights? Who gave you the approval to dictate to me where I can go, what I can buy, who I can see and where I can eat?
This happens in Communist countries day after day.
This happens in Socialist countries when a crisis arises.
Because the people are dependent upon a higher power to provide.
No matter your political persuasion, if you call yourself an American, don’t get mad and move on.
No matter your religious integration, if you call yourself a Christian, don’t get offended and scroll past.
Please, stay with me here.
It has amazed me how quickly businesses shut down, the economy faltered, and the wallets closed for trade all over the world.
It has been eerily hasty, except for the small businessman who just altered his delivery of food, except for the churches who simply worked a new vantage point to proclaim the gospel, except for the volunteers who said, “Not on my watch, will you struggle and falter alone.”
It has amazed me how quickly many of God’s people shut their doors, curtained their windows, and shielded their mouths.
It was eerily fervent, except for those who cried out for mercy, except for those who swung wide the welcome for shelter, except those who ran to the needy to provide and proclaim a message of freedom.
It has amazed me how quickly many of God’s people walked in fear rather than faith, claiming to rely on the educated, the enlightened, those “in the know.”
It was eerily evident, except for those who called in God’s Name for deliverance, protection and wisdom, except for those who proclaimed His peace, His hope, His love, despite the storm or the outlook, except for those who stepped forward in cautious optimism to say, “He can save. Look up! The Best is yet to come!”
I write this today, not to stir debate, not to bring condemnation, and by no means to try to trivialize the sickness nor glorify a rebellion.
I only write to stir your heart to prayer, to bring conviction where there has been terror and to proclaim His victory over a he darkness.
If we call ourselves Americans, we should never relent our freedom so easily, no matter the declared crisis.
If we call ourselves Christians, we should never surrender our faith and our fight so easily, no matter the size of the giant.
To slay the giant, never proclaim the intricate details of your foe until you have proclaimed the meticulous victories, promises and testimonies of your God!!
2 Samual 17 … read it again, and become like David, not like the Israelites. Walk in courage rather than fear. Ask about the spoils for the triumph. Declare the victory is God’s not yours…nor theirs!
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
the grizzle grist mill 