LiveLoveLifeSong...: November 2010

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Choosing Thankfulness at ALL times...

I absolutely love the huge tree planted in our front yard. It's a vivid reminder of each season transitioning into another. I can truly say I enjoy each magnificent display of change it offers. The Winter months can be desolate, cold and often unrelenting with wind, rain, frost, ice and snow. The branches are barren and lonely from loosing their colorful display of crimson red, burnt orange and vibrant yellow leaves of Fall. Winter eventually gives way to Spring. The small determined buds begin to appear in abundance. Hope is in the air once again as we see the sun shining between the rain showers and rainbows. Summer brings lush green refreshing beauty, as the tree beckons children to climb, find safety and mystery in it's height and strength. Then just as every season comes and goes. Autumn appears in all it's glory and graces the world with a canvas of watercolor. To pear up to it's branches is like an invitation to breath deep, enjoy, reflect upon all that we have to be thankful for.

As the leaves fall the clean up begins and the cycle starts all over again. As I looked at these leaves twinkling in the sunlight, I felt my spirit reflect that I have as much and more to be thankful for than this tree has leaves....My heart is full of gratitude too numerous to count!

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Colossians 2:6-7

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven...
the Words of Ecclesiastes 3 says it best.

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

In each season of life, there is an unveiling of life's, joys or sadness, griefs or celebration. It is so good to know that God walks with us through it all. Storm or Stillness, God is with us, teaching us His will and His ways season by season.

My husband and I love to reflect upon this poem called the Paradox of man...no mater what season we are in we try to be....

Strong enough to be weak;
Successful enough to fail;
Busy enough to take time;
Assured enough to cry;
Leading enough to serve;
Serious enough to laugh;
Rich enough to be poor;
Victorious enough to lose;
Important enough to be last;
Loving enough to be angry;
Wise enough to say I don’t know;
Right enough to say “I am wrong”;
Compassionate enough to discipline;
Conservative enough to give freely;
Mature enough to be childlike;
Righteous enough to be a sinner;
Courageous enough to fear God;
Planned enough to be spontaneous;
Controlled enough to be flexible;

Free enough to endure captivity;
Knowledgeable enough to ask questions;

Great enough to be anonymous;
Responsible enough to play;
Industrious enough to relax.