Plastic Flowers

She walked down the median between the six lane road. One hand proudly carried a plastic flower and the other held a grocery bag over her shoulder like a purse. Clothes hung loosely on her body. She didn't cross at the light, but kept walking down the median.

The woman might have been around 50-something, it was hard to tell. But as I stopped at the light in the turn lane next to her, she smiled and nodded. All the way down she was smiling and her lips moved to some unheard song.

It gave me an unpleasant feeling, as if something was terribly wrong. Or was it?

Was she crazy? Was it some kind of experiment? Why did a smiling stranger seem strange? Could it be she was happy with her world and with herself?

"Walk while you have the light." John 12:35

When people look at me, do they see me walking in the joy of my soul? Do my lips move to the words of my God? Am I happy with the world God has given me?

Oh my, what lessons learned from a stranger who loved her plastic flower.

Photo: Bing

The Joy of Coloring

My grandson just found out how much fun coloring is.

And that it's even more fun to color with someone, like your big sister.

And the finished project. His first coloring of Big Bird. I think it's a masterpiece for sure. His big sister helped. Isn't that just wonderful? Aren't they the cutest?

I am delighted to share my grandkids achievements with you. :) Kind'a like home movies, huh? But it brings me much joy.

"These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." John 15:11

Many things exist for me to enjoy and color in the life that God gives. I imagine He smiles and laughs with joy when I find Big Bird sitting on the table all along, but I just wasn't ready for the colors yet.

In this time of turmoil in Haiti and the world, may we find joy, His joy in the everyday things around us, as we prayerfully remember them.

Remember to share your colors, it's more fun!

Run for Joy-Children Christmas Truth

Running with excitement on Christmas morn. What makes these pictures so endearing to me and makes me smile with my heart? Well, it sure isn't my curly-perm hair-do that was popular then...

Is it waiting to see if my children liked what was brought by Santa Claus? All the work my hubbie and I did to gather their special requests, and sometimes work to put together those "easy to assemble" items? No....

For me, the gifts didn't matter. It's watching the undisguised joy in seeing what they dreamed for come true.

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel...and he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus...he took Him into his arms, and blessed God." Luke 2:25, 27-28

"And there was a prophetess, Anna...and at that very moment, she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Luke 2:36, 38

All of these waited and hoped to see the miracle of the Messiah. God granted them their dream and filled them with joy.

I wonder if the Lord smiles in His heart when we run to see Him, or when we find what we've longed and hoped for? I think He does. (He probably laughed at my hair-do, too.)

Keep me running Lord, filled with the expectation of seeing You.