The last 40 days for me have been some of great joys/disappointments/encouragement/laughter/tears/renewal/hope and happiness. ....As some know, I took a hard break from FaceBook for Lent. That was just one of several steps I took , these past 40 days to try and do some changing in my life. I am back to walking more. One reason is for my health, obviously, but even more my spiritual health. It is during those walks around the track/walking trail that I have undivided time with God. Oh yes! you're right, I know what you're thinking: SHE IS DOING ALL THE TALKING! LOL! YES! I do a LOT of chatting to God, but that is ANOTHER thing I'm TEACHING myself. To LISTEN. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! that is EXTREMELY hard for me. I distinctly remember one time running my mouth and daddy saying, "SLOW DOWN!" I laugh b/c it annoyed me but he was right. I needed to back down/SLOW DOWN. Listen more. Talk less. SOOOOO hard for one like me. Like I have had to TRAIN myself to listen more. To weigh situations. To be more HONEST. To be less critical. To be more understanding. Instead of trying to "top someone's story" with one that is bigger and better , to just listen. You know how hard it is to want to say, "yes, I've done that/been there/ate that/saw that/did that". In other words, giving people some attention by listening instead of always responding. LOL! Again, these are things I'm still working towards, not something I have achieved completely. So, I'm a "work in progress" still. And , most likely , will be for the rest of my earthly life!
Strangely, I dread the 40 days being up. I really do. I have liked my quiet mornings with no interruptions of social media.Of course, I have a CHOICE whether to go back to the way things were. Will I? I have enjoyed sitting at this very desk with the window looking out over our lake and watching the sunrise and NOT being on the computer. Or if I was, doing something constructive vs mindless. I realized how much TIME I have wasted. time that I could've spent in better ways. It's scary how time slips by. Wasn't it yesterday I was getting married? having children?? Now my children's children are growing up! And I don't want to miss any more time with mindless time but spending that time writing or praying or doing whatever it is that God is leading me to. Not sure where that is yet but plans are forming in my mind. (lol).
So, for those who have sent me emails/texts/called and told me they missed me on FB? and want me to come back??? WOW, that touched me so deeply. So, of course, I will return, because that is something else God has told me. Stay connected to people BUT spend LESS time on there and the time I DO spend will be limited and hopefully never critical or pointing fingers or judging others. That's not the purpose of FaceBook. It's a place to connect and show you care to others. So, that's my stand on that.....
Again, thank you for caring enough about me to read my blog/read my sometimes crazy and goofy words. You are special to me but , much more importantly, you are special to God. ....(and hey FB peeps: I'll be back after Easter!)!
P.S. I made this picture in a beautiful church in Assisi, Italy. I was moved to tears and I was standing there all alone and was able to just worship, right then and there. Yes, as a Protestant, I worship the risen Christ. But, unless we understand and go through the dark day of Good Friday, we can't possibly grasp the magnitude of His great love for us. It's overwhelming and hard to fathom.......YES, HE DIED FOR ME. AND YOU.