Good Morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners and Happy Cinco de Mayo! This is the beautiful day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside early this morning, I could not find the new moon but clouds were covering most of the stars and the air was cool and already birds were singing their early wake-up songs! God is Great!
We had a nice chat with Terry at the Park yesterday. He is a great friend and always makes me laugh. Lots of people were enjoying the sun and the walks, and I am sure, the baby gators. I watched an anhinga fly to a spot to spread the wings to dry, and always see them sitting on branches or the ground with outspread wings.
We saw three peacocks on the way in to the Park and one had his tail feathers spread and was slowly turning so his beauty could be seen from all angles. He is so vain!
From Quiet Moments with God:
1 Samuel 3:19 RSV
"Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground."
"There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played;
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day passed away
His insurance was denied;
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died!"
Unknown
Progressing through life is so risky, and we all must face it at one time or another. In order to learn to walk, toddlers must risk painful falls time and again. Teens with their first driver's licenses immediately face the most dangerous time of their driving careers. Couples taking the vows of marriage must face the possibility that the very union they expect to bring life's greatest joy could also bring them their greatest heartache. And entrepreneurs trying to launch or expand their businesses know that it could easily bring about a substantial loss.
Therefore, if there is such potential for pain in our attempts to grow and achieve throughout our lives, why do we even try?
One reason is that God has blessed us with an inner drive that compels us to improve our life. To paraphrase Anais Nin, "The day comes when the risk to remain tight in a bud is more painful than the risk it takes to blossom."
And we know that we cannot gather our beautiful roses without the possibility of being pricked by the thorns.
But when the prospect of facing those thorns seems too sharp and painful, remember that as God urges you to reach for new roses, you can also rely on His strength and guidance to help you manage your way through the thorns.
The weaker we feel, the harder we lean on God.
And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow.
Joni Ereckson Tada
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
