SURPRISE, Scaring people, and 30 days of Gratitude

Day 14

Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I still like to surprise people by staying out of sight - fine, call it hiding if you must - then saying BOO when they come close.

It is silly, but always brings a laugh. From me anyway. And people fall for it over and over. Perhaps they think I will grow up some day? HA!

Life is full of surprises, isn't it?

Lots of bad surprises, challenging ones, debilitating ones.

You've had those, haven't you?

So have I.

But then there are the sweet surprises...

Big surprises like a healthy baby when pregnancy seemed unlikely. An unexpected check when the bank account was empty. The return of an estranged family member.

Small surprises like a kind note from a friend. An unseasonably warm and sunny day. One more bloom from the rose bush.

It is of great interest to me to note that the more gratitude I have, the more likely I am to stumble on nice surprises. Coinkydink? Nah.

Try it for yourself.

Gratitude opens a door, and draws happy thoughts, new friends, renewed energy, all sorts of things that brighten your life.

Just for today, do your best to smile, say thanks for all the blessings you have, be kind - you will be surprised by the effect it has on your world. One of the surprises may even change your life!

November is a month of gratitude...will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow...

BP

SURPRISE, Scaring people, and 30 days of Gratitude

Day 14

Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I still like to surprise people by staying out of sight - fine, call it hiding if you must - then saying BOO when they come close.

It is silly, but always brings a laugh. From me anyway. And people fall for it over and over. Perhaps they think I will grow up some day? HA!

Life is full of surprises, isn't it?

Lots of bad surprises, challenging ones, debilitating ones.

You've had those, haven't you?

So have I.

But then there are the sweet surprises...

Big surprises like a healthy baby when pregnancy seemed unlikely. An unexpected check when the bank account was empty. The return of an estranged family member.

Small surprises like a kind note from a friend. An unseasonably warm and sunny day. One more bloom from the rose bush.

It is of great interest to me to note that the more gratitude I have, the more likely I am to stumble on nice surprises. Coinkydink? Nah.

Try it for yourself.

Gratitude opens a door, and draws happy thoughts, new friends, renewed energy, all sorts of things that brighten your life.

Just for today, do your best to smile, say thanks for all the blessings you have, be kind - you will be surprised by the effect it has on your world. One of the surprises may even change your life!

November is a month of gratitude...will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow...

BP

Words with Friends, Cancer and 30 Days of Gratitude

Day 13

One in three...1 in 3. Strong odds. And not good when the subject is cancer.

Today, my dear friend Nancy finished 30 days of radiation for a recurrence of ovarian cancer. She had endured chemotherapy during the summer.

Cancer is ugly. The treatment can be ugly as well. But today was the conclusion of treatment.  Today, at the end of this game, the score stands: Nancy- 2, Cancer- 0!

Certainly reason to celebrate and be grateful for God's provision.

I don't know how it feels to have cancer. But, twice, I have walked this road with Nancy.

So I do know the power of prayer.

I know the comfort that comes from a note, a call, a meal, a hundred other gestures.

I have seen how touched Nancy has been by this kindness from friends and church family.

As a writer, I spend much time reading, being moved by the words of other writers, seeking inspiration in every situation, every normal moment of the day.

Sometimes that comes from best-selling authors, from obscure authors, from the Bible.

Sometimes it comes from a conversation I hear, a life I glimpse for just a moment.

Very often, inspiration and strength for the day comes from friends who may or may not know it.

Today, from Barb - Struggling is God's way of getting us to pay attention, since we are more alert when we're needy. It's quite humbling, really. 

And from Tricia - Life is hard Beth, isn't it? And then, it is suddenly wonderful....

Today was a day of celebration - for that I am grateful

Words from beloved friends sharpened my focus. For that I am even more grateful.

What sharpened your focus today?

November is a month of gratitude...will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow.

BP

Cuisinart, Irritation and 30 Days of Gratitude

Day 12

Jumping back into the blog pool after missing two days. The only person who chastises me for missing days is, well, me! The world of blogging, and the world in general, keeps turning if I tune out for a couple days.

Yeah, grateful for that.

And Cuisinart Customer Service did not hear from me today. Very grateful for that.

Here is the back story. I have a Cuisinart coffee maker - Grind and Brew to be specific. A year or so after purchase, it became impossible to remove the grinder for cleaning. Actually, it toyed with us for some time. Minor struggles one day, no struggle for two days, huge struggle one day, repeat. Finally it just wouldn't come out at all. I called Cuisinart to register this frustration, albeit with no expectation since the machine was more than a year old. To my surprise, the representative offered to send a replacement machine at no cost! It seemed likely this was a known issue Cuisinart was trying to correct. "Trying" being the operative word.

The new machine is just over a year old and - you guessed it - the grinder won't come out.

This has been coming on, as it did last time. But today was not a day to mess with me.

Several people I love are struggling with illness. So many other folks I know are hurting - emotionally, financially, in relationships. Lots of pain all around - and in my face today.

So no, I wasn't in the mood for a stubborn grinder. I was very determined to get that sucker out. VERY determined. Pulled. Grunted. Pulled harder. Unplugged the pot and put it on the floor. Tried sliding a knife under to pry it off. Pulled with both hands. Said unpleasant things.

Then I noticed the dogs were sitting in the doorway with the "someone is in trouble" look on their faces.

And suddenly, I was grateful.

Grateful for the wisdom of dogs.

Grateful I didn't have to look up Cuisinart's phone number, wait on hold, have my anger multiply with every minute of being on hold.

Grateful for a matured spirit that tells me coffee pots aren't worth the energy anger requires.

Grateful for a willingness to relax, use ground coffee, buy a new coffee pot soon...and know that none of that will change the world one way or the other. It just isn't important enough to matter for more than a minute.

How about you? Have you had a moment like this?

I hope so. Very freeing. Light-bringing. Soul-opening.

November...a month of gratitude. Will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow.

BP

Struggling, Remembering and 30 Days of Gratitude

Day 9

The bright sunshine reminded me that today I can be grateful for the abundant grace and mercy showering my life daily.

Good thing, because I am not feeling much gratitude today.

At all.

Have you been there?

I know...people recovering from  a hurricane...people with end stage disease...people in warzones...many people with bigger problems.

I KNOW. I do.

But the situation with which I have been struggling for 3 years is pressing down hard. I am weary to the bone.

Have you been there?

Every day I wake up with hope of resolution. Sometimes it lasts most of the day before disappointment sets in. Other days, like today, I find out very early about another delay, another setback, no resolution.

It isn't the worst problem in the world. But it is sucking the energy out of me.

Have you been there?

So I make myself breath properly.

I look at the blue sky.

I pet my dog.

I am delighted to unexpectedly cross paths with a dear friend.

And I hold as tightly as possible to this knowledge: Whatever report a day brings, Jesus can override it.

Eventually - in HIS time - all will be well. This too shall pass.

I am grateful for that - and for the grace and mercy sustaining me until then.

Gratitude in spite of circumstances...

Have you been there?  

November...30 days of gratitude. Will you join me?

We will talk again soon...

BP 

Michael Jackson, Change..and 30 Days of Gratitude

Day 8

Two days after the fact, and the noise is slowly beginning to subside. Over-enthusiastic people whose candidates won, Chicken Littles whose candidates lost. Madness.

So now what? We all go back to sitting around waiting for politicians to fix things?

Today I am thankful for the ability to affect change in my home, my church, my town, my nation.

How about you?

You want change? So do I. But I am not content to sit around and wait.

Is that what you want?

Waiting for politicians to change has failed us miserably. Yet, we continue to do it, don't we?

And it must stop. Now.

We have the power to change our world. In fact, we are the only ones who have the power.

For that, I am very grateful.

I'm going to make a change for once in my life

It's gonna feel real good

Gonna make a difference, gonna make it right

We complain about jobs going to China. What if we stopped shopping at places like Wal-mart that sell primarily Chinese goods? What if we take the time to seek out products made in the United States?

We make a difference every time we buy Made in America.

We complain about the state of our towns. What if we make more of an effort to patronize local businesses - you know, the ones that are owned by your neighbor... the businesses that pay taxes locally, the neighbors who spend their money in the same grocery stores and gas stations you do...the neighbors who send their children to local schools and sit behind you at church?

We can make huge differences in our local economy, one purchase, one meal at a time.

We rage about government assistance programs. Is there any way we can affect change in this area? Well, we could continue to make and/or repeat nasty remarks about "those people" being lazy and good-for-nothing and unproductive members of society. We could continue to assume we know why they need help. We self-righteously declare that we would never be in a similar situation.

But what if we started a grass roots movement in our towns to understand, to determine the best way to help? I hear people say we should simply stop all government assistance and let churches and social groups pick up the slack. What if we were so successful at helping people climb out the hole that assistance become unnecessary for many families?  We can do that - one coat, one meal, one GED, one job at a time.

As I turned up the collar on my favorite winter

This wind is blowin' my mind

I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat

Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their need?

We rage even more rabidly about services like Planned Parenthood. We throw nasty labels at women, assuming we know exactly how they feel, what their circumstances are.

What if we reached out, held out our hands instead of holding nasty signs? There are pregnancy resource centers in many towns. Most of them are privately funded. Have you ever donated money or time?  

Signs will never change anyone's mind. Legislation will never change anyone's mind. Love can change minds, one young woman at a time.

A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart

And a washed out dream

They follow the pattern of the wind ya see

'Cause they got no place to be that's why I'm starting with me


You might be thinking these ideas are simplistic. I'm sure they are.

You might be saying, "Who is this hippie who thinks each of us can change a small part of the world?"

Maybe you are right.

But what if we can make changes?

What if turning our great nation around is up to us- not politicians, not corporations, not Wall Street but US?

Gratefully I say:

I'm starting with the man in the mirror...I'm asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself and then make that change  

November - 30 Days of Gratitude. Will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow...

BP

My ruler...Whining...and 30 Days of Gratitude

Nov 7

Today is rather direct.

I am thankful to live in the greatest country in the world.

But I am more thankful for a secure future. Not because of who occupies the White House. Not EVER for that reason.

I believe my life is in the Hands of One far more powerful than any human being. I believe He always has the best in store for me. I believe He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and has all the resources I need to live an abundant life. No man can take that away.

How about you?

If you are a Christian, I am wondering why you are bemoaning your fate this morning? Why are you whining and being a sore loser?

If you are a Christian, the President does not control your life.

If your beliefs don't line up exactly with mine, there is still good news.

YOU alone control your destiny.

Not your family. Not the hand you were dealt. Not your current station in life.

NOT the government. MY GOODNESS - not the government.

I am grateful that I can CHOOSE where my attention and efforts go.

I can CHOOSE my attitude.

I can CHOOSE where my life goes.

You can too. Do you believe it?

If you don't like your life, change it. Determine your own destiny.

Gratitude opens doors.

Gratitude clears your path.   

Gratitude is a multiplier of everything good in your life.

And be very sure that lack of gratitude does just the opposite.

I give all praise and honor and gratitude to the God who made me and saves me.

He has made me GLAD.

I hope you are or will come to be full of gratitude.

Not "because" of anything...in spite of everything.

November...30 Days of gratitude. Will you join me?

C'mon - get HAPPY!!!

We will talk again soon...

BP

Van Morrison, Sugar, and 30 Days of Gratitude

Day 3

Today I am grateful for laughter. And Trick or Treat. And college football. And good music.  And ice cream.

All which made my day better, in spite of some darkness.

This week has been filled with no resolution to my ongoing issue, daily 100 mile trips with a loved one who is receiving radiation, visits to another hospital to see a beloved uncle, images of Hurricane Sandy all over the news, political nastiness...bad vibes all around.

But I laughed with several family members today - always a good day, even in a hospital!

And my Nittany Lions won again  - always cause for celebration.

And how can anyone not dance, even in the car, when this comes on:

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance with the stars up above in your eyes...

You know the night's magic seems to whisper and hush

And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

See, you're smiling, aren't you??  

And goblins and Super Heroes and ghosts and skeletons came to my door this evening for candy, leaving giggles as a trade-off. One kind of sugar for another!

AND I still have almost 2 quarts of the best Butter Pecan ice cream in the world. More sugar!! Strict rationing is in effect as it must last until March. But even a spoonful is wonderful!

This hasn't been the best week. 

Gratitude is still my choice.

How about you?

Will you choose gratitude in spite of, rather than because of?

November - 30 Days of Gratitude...will you join me?

We will talk tomorrow...

BP

Spewing, Smoldering and A Month of Gratitude

Day Two of  a Month of Gratitude

If you have been tracking with me for any time, you know I am waiting for resolution to a long-standing issue. LONG-standing.

There was reason to hope the resolution would come this week. Every day waking up with hope. Every day disappointed.

The delay this morning hit me hard because now we must wait until Monday. I was intentioanlly wallowing in my frustration, verbalizing, acting out...

And I heard the whisper in my ear...GRATITUDE?

UGH

Deep breath.

Refocus.

So, on Day 2, I am thankful for the acquired ability to control myself!

Acquired ability. My natural wiring likes to wallow and/or act out. That circuitry has been reinforced by people close to me. "I can't help it - that's just how I am" was something I wore proudly.

How about you? Is your natural inclination to spew, stomp, show your frustration loud and clear?

Or maybe you are inclined, instead, to stew? You appear to handle things well, even tell others they should not get so upset. But inside the anger is smoldering, just waiting to explode.

Acquired ability.

Years of prayer, meditation, steps and missteps, concerted effort.

And here is the hardest part: accepting the responsibility. Understanding that much of our emotional turmoil is self-inflicted.

Initially, I didn't like that much.

How about you? Are you excited about taking ownership of your emotions? 

You should be. Owning your emotions is one of the most freeing choices you can make.

Freedom from the results of immediate spewing. Freedom from the delayed results of smoldering. Freedom for loved ones. Freedom.

I am not perfect. Self-infliction still occurs - like it did this morning.

BUT I recognize it quickly. I pull myself out.  

My world is drastically better for it.

How about you? How would your world change if you owned your emotions? Dealt with them quickly and honestly?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

November - a month of gratitude. Will you join me?

We will talk again tomorrow...

BP

30 days of Gratitude...Join me?

Well, October is passed us. I participated in a writing project in October, and while I did not write every single day, it was a worthy venture. I learned much, including that I am, indeed, a REAL writer! On days I didn't write, there was a noticeable hole. 

Writing is not just something I enjoy - it is something I must do. Like singing, writing is an extension of my soul. Good lesson.

Now November...my birthday, Thanksgiving, my birthday, the start of Christmas madness, and did I mention my birthday?

Gratitude is a resounding theme for this month. You may have seen other writers dedicating their blogs to 30 Days of Being Thankful. Add mine to the list.

On this first day of the month, I am grateful for the reinforcement of just how much writing means to mean.

How about you?
I hope you will join me and think about gratitude for the next 29 days.

We will talk again tomorrow...Until then, ponder these words from hymn writer Martin Rinkart:

Now thank we all our God,with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things has done,in whom this world rejoices;

who from our mothers' arms has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

BP