Good Friday

 

I've often thought about how strange the name sounds....Good Friday.

When you really stop and think about it...the day Jesus was beaten, mocked and crucified.....there doesn't seem to be anything "Good" about it at all. 

If any of us had stood there that day, if any of us had watched it unfold...I don't think we would think of it as good. 

His followers didn't. His friends didn't.

Those who loved Him most...they saw heartbreak, loss and what felt like the end of everything they believed in. 

Can you imagine how terrible that day must have been? A day totally full of sorrow and I'm sure much confusion and darkness.

I'm sure it looked like evil had won!

This day was not an accident and it sure wasn't defeat....it was a decision. 

Jesus did not stay on the cross because He had to...He stayed because He chose to.  The nails did not hold Him there, but LOVE did. 

It was love for His Father and love for you and me.  

Sin didn't win that day and Death didn't win that day.  

....3 days later everything changed!  What seemed like loss turned into VICTORY! What felt like darkness gave way to light...What looked like death, was overcome by life. 

THIS IS WHY WE CALL IT "GOOD FRIDAY." 

Despite its sorrowful nature, Good Friday is considered the "Best Day" for humanity because of the ultimate good..forgiveness and salvation that was given to us through the suffering of Jesus Christ. 

Shug....

Even in the darkest moments...God is still writing something GOOD!

April Flowers and Tiny Wings of Hope

 We have rain this morning!!  So needed!!

I woke up this morning to the soft, steady rhythm of an April shower tapping against the window. I am so loving this gentle blessing falling from the sky.  

I lingered in bed a while longer, listening to the raindrops hitting the roof, the window, and all of the soft places in between.  This is exactly what we have been needing. Woo Hoo!! 

🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺🌻

Y'all....we had our very first hummingbird on Tuesday!!  I was able to snap a picture from my phone, but it is not real clear.  I find it amazing how these tiny birds find the feeders so quickly.  Every year, like clockwork, they show up, and this is something that never gets old. I Love seeing their little wings as they flap in speed of 50 to 80 times per second.  (I had to look this info up)

I've not been able to find the "Esperanza" plant that the hummingbirds love...Still a little early for the nurseries to have them out.  

And our "Turks Caps" are just now leafing out!  I think it might be another month before the hummers can feed on the red and yellow eye catching blooms of these popular plants. 

We usually have both of these beautiful plants planted all around the pool...Adds a lot of color to the back yard and they really attract the butterflies as well as the hummers.  

Hope you all get rain (if you need it) and maybe even a hummingbird or two or three or four, stopping by your place.  

🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺

Sam and I both agreed this morning that we feel "FREE" today!  No appointments of any kind today!!

See Y'all tomorrow!!

Shug..🌺

Our Litttle Artist in the Family!

 We have a new Artist in the family!!  

Our youngest great granddaughter (Emersyn) decided during her Spring Break to do a little painting.  Emersyn is 5 years old..soon to be 6.  

BTW...this picture is painted using her finger prints.  

She sent me a text message with this photo of her holding her art work. She was so happy and excited.  Well..what is a Shug to do when she has a little doll who is so proud of her work??  You buy the art painting!!! $$

She called me on Sunday and wanted to know if there was anything that I wanted her to add to the painting. I told her that I would love to have her signature at the bottom.  

She is going to hold it for me until I am able to fly out there for a visit.  I can't wait to get it and have it framed..  

As I sat there thinking about it later, I realized something a whole lot bigger than just a little painting.  It's not about the colors ... it's about those tiny fingerprints that worked so hard making something beautiful. 

When a child creates something with joy, and then has a look full of pride...what they're saying is..."Do you see me."

And...oh how important it is that we do!!

We don't just hang their artwork on the wall..

We hang their confidence there.  We frame their courage. We preserve a moment where they felt seen, LOVED and celebrated. 

One day this painting might fade just a little, but the memory of being valued never will.  

So yes...we have a new artist in the family and I have a feeling that this will not be the only masterpiece I will proudly hang on my wall.  She has already asked what kind of picture her Pops might like!!

💟 💟 💟 💟 💟

I'm tossing a handful of happiness your way today!!

Shug!!  

No Perfect Words Needed

Oh wow....I just typed this entire post and then....my finger slipped and it disappeared.  Let me try again!!

No perfect words are needed when we are meeting with God.  I don't always pray with bent knees....No, sometimes I pray when my hands are filthy, as I'm busy potting my flowers.  Sometimes I pray driving down the road...Often, I pray when I am just out walking.  

I also have those moments when I am so sleepy, but yet God is speaking to me.  At 2:00 A.M. my prayers sometimes do not make much sense, especially when I am... in-and-out-of-sleeping... and praying. But...They still matter and they are still heard. 

  Many times, this is when my prayers sound more like questions.  Or sighs. Or sometimes my only word is "Lord."

No fancy words. No big endings. Just His name hanging there with me in the dark. 

I don't always finish my sentences and if I'm being real honest, I sometimes wonder if God becomes disappointed with me.  The truth is....God does not grade our prayers!!! 👐 I said: "God Does NOT grade our prayers!"

He is listening to our hearts no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing.  He hears the tiredness in our voices and he hears the fears that we try to hide.  AND...He understands the things we don't even know how to say. 

God doesn't ask us to clean up our prayers and He doesn't say you need  to polish up your words and tie them with a beautiful bow.  He just wants us to come as we are! 

Messy and real. 

My point?  God isn't searching for polished prayers or perfectly strung together words. He is listening for a willing heart.  A heart that shows up even when it is tired. A heart that simply says, "Lord, I am here."

This week...Holy Week...reminds me just how personal that invitation is. 

I am thankful for this sacred time of reflection...a time to slow down and remember that  Jesus walked toward the cross knowing every detail, every pain, every weight He would carry, and He did it anyway. He did it for you and He did it for me. 

He bore the cross not because He had to, but because He chose to. He stretched out His arms in love, taking on our sins, our burdens, our brokenness, so that we could walk in freedom, grace and forgiveness. 

Because of His sacrifice, we don't need perfect words. We can come to Him just as we are with no rehearsing and no pretending. 

This Holy week is about drawing near to the One who gave everything so we could Know Him!

* I will be gone a good portion of today.  We have an appointment with the eye doctor for Sam.  Hoping to get on the schedule to have his surgical procedure done.