Author: anitashope

Retired Quality Manager but still have the "Why" curiosity drive so I am turning my love for Christ and nature into my new why chase and am trying to discover more of His word as it relates to His love for His creation.

CMMC – May Pick a Topic

Cee has created a fun mid week challenge, CMMC, that can really get you thinking.

Due to where I currently live, there are various forms of murals painted on the older building downtown. I chose one that I may have posted before but it so depicts this area by the Mississippi River.

Even though the paint is beginning to chip, it is still a marvel to see. There is a railroad that runs on both side of the river and occasionally you will see a restored paddle boat taking a tour group up river. Beauty of a era gone by.

As we remember the eras of long ago, remember the simplices and the kindness we tried to share where we could and try to share them again today.

Regardless of the generation you are in, Always Be Kind.

Googled Puppies

See, this is what happens when it raining, or you can get out, or you are just plain bored or even all three. You google fun pictures. I saw one of these posted on Facebook with a caption so I had to go play too and then write a poem about it.

The Puppy Climb

Why did you go climb way up there?

I can’t come, it’s the top of the stair.

You are my friend and should be with me

Now you’ve walked off where I can’t be.

What do you mean, It’s not that hard?

I would rather we play here in the yard.

We can go roll and romp in the sun

Climbing stairs is no way to have fun

Must you look at me with that frown?

What goes up is bound to come down

I will try climbing up there just for you

But if I fall down I will blame you too

Even if you are not much on dogs, there is something about puppies that makes you smile. Remember to always be kind, to all kinds. Kindness can be the key we all need to survive this life.

Always Be Kind

View of Rain

On my day off it decides to rain, again, which delays my tasks scheduled for the day. So Instead, I write cheesy poetry and give you pictures of rain.

View of Rain

Some say it’s sad, the falling of the rain

Reflecting misery of remembered pain

Flowers see joy as the rain gently falls

Gathering on leaves to form little balls

This is a day of much dampness and wet

My planting schedule has yet to be met

Tomorrow with hope the sun may shine

Planting my flowers, a joy of mine

All forms of weather give us things to think about and tasks to either do or sit and watch. When I was younger I enjoyed being out in the rain but now it just makes me wet. But thank goodness this rain has been gentle…but this is day three – enough already.

So I went outside and took picture of the few flowers I did get in the ground. Hope you enjoy them.

Guess I will spend the rest of the day painting my wooden flowers and butterflies that will adorn my fence. Another fun task of spring. As you enjoy your spring weather, remember to be kind to all things. Flowers as well as people and animals enjoy the gestures of kindness.

Always be Kind

The Door of the Cross

The importance of daily study of the Bible creates for us light bulb moments. You know what I mean…those moments where you have looked at a passage a hundred times. You think you fully understand what it means and then something happens in your day that when you read that passage for the hundred and first time it gives it an entirely new understanding – a light bulb moment.

Although we don’t fully understand it, we all believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man. Oswald Chambers in his devotion this morning reminded us of the gift God gave us. He deliberately limited His, omnipotence, His omnipresence and His omniscience to be the Son of Man…for us.

During Jesus’ time, the people of God were under the law. Billy Graham reminds us that the law was a mirror reflecting the wayward heart of man. While the law in itself wasn’t bad, man would never be able to follow it, he was condemned by it. But the Cross and Jesus’ ascension into heaven redeemed us from the power and condemnation of the law.

 When Jesus ascended into heaven, He returned to His Father in glory not only as the Son of God but also as the Son of Man. And as He did this, He left the door wide open for anyone to have access through that door of the Cross to the Throne of Heaven. And now, Jesus, as the Son of God and the Son of Man, has all the power at the Throne of God. So take a deep breath knowing as hard as it can be sometimes, God always has our back.

And knowing that God has your back, remember to be kind. Someone next to you may not know that.

Always Be Kind

Too Busy

Too many times I have heard it said that “If you are too busy to spend time with God, then you are just plain too busy. Slow down.

God reminds us through His Word that He just wants to walk by you side being close. He wants an intimate relationship with each of us.

In today’s devotion of Quiet Times with God, we are reminded of the intimacy we should have with God. Normally when we think of intimacy, we think of the husband and wife bedroom scene, but intimacy is so much more than that. You can be intimate with someone from across the room. Webster define intimacy as something of a personal or private nature. I think it is knowing someone so well that you can speak volumes with them without saying a single word or making a single sound.

“Each of us can be as close to God as we want to be; it all depends on how much time we are willing to put into developing our relationship with Him.” Quiet Times With God, Joyce Meyer

Developing any type of relationship with a person or animal requires time. You are not allowed to be too busy or it just wont work. If we think our relationship with Jesus is not that important, we would be the losers of the equation, for…

Spending time with Jesus is probably the single most important relationship you could ever have. That makes it personal then it fills us with the assurance of His love.

So I remind you of God’s individual love for each of us. It is always available if we just SLOW down enough to enjoy its benefits. And as you do, remember one of the attributes of this love is kindness. Kindness is something that can be shared with man or beast and has the potential to send out roots of kindness out to others in distant places.

Always Be Kind

FOTD-May 13,Flower’s Seed

Two years ago I planted one small plant of Columbine in a container and now they seem to have taken control…but I don’t mind. They are lovely. So for Cee’s Flower of the Day, I give you a takeover queen and she is lovely.

Columbine

Currently there are 8 plants started from the one “mother” plant. They are early bloomers, don’t last that long and give the garden a gentle beauty to bring you out of winter’s cold. You can see they are an inverted flower, hanging their delicate blooms downward.

But when you flip them over to look inside, its is quite stunning. Yes, I am a bit of a flower geek.

Multiple layers of cupped petals with a bright yellow center

As you walk around enjoying the beauty of flowers this spring and summer, remember they are showing you their beauty as a reflection of their kindness. Reflect kindness as well in all that you do. You might just brighten someone’s dark day.

Always be Kind

CMMC – May Color – Purple

Hello there friends. This is my take on Cee’s challenge for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge (CMMC).  The color topic is Purple. Purple is the bestest color ever, especially with flowers and spring.

Campanula
Clementis

The Clementi’s petals as such a lovely purple but the center is a rich dark purple. Purple is a royal color for kings and queens but the beauty of flowers can not be beat.

And as always, remember the beauty of kindness. It should be given freely.

Always be kind

FOTD – May 11, Pink Fuffles

Last week I shared the story of my violets, and how recently I lost one. Well, I now have an empty space in the pot so its time for new. Meet Miss pink Ruffles….

I think she will look nice next to the purple violet. I love how when you look real close, she looks as she is covered in glitter. I am sure it’s a girl thing.

Have a great week and remember always to be kind. Even flowers enjoy a little kindness now and again.

FOTD – May 8, Violet

Hello, my name is Violet. I am here today to tell you my story. But flowers can’t talk you say…I beg to differ. Think of the peace you see and feel when you see a group of us together gently moving in the breeze, we are speaking to you from our beauty. Or think of those who are very fragrant and our scent is wafting lightly in the air. It makes you smile and you close your eyes in enjoyment. See, we may not use words but we speak loudly…quietly. I know It confusing. But I want to tell you my story, well mine and my two friends. Our caretaker had us in her office. Well, it really wasn’t and office. It was a space underneath a mezzanine in a plant where huge injection molding machines worked. It was smelly, hot and kind of difficult to live in but we managed to do well and continued to bloom…until that day. It was a bad day, a Saturday, a day where my caretaker did have to come to work. A day where she was not able to protect us. A sad scary day.

It started like any other day. Things were humming along as usual until all of a sudden there a loud pop, then gurgling whooshing sound and the next thing you know, all three of us are covered in hydraulic fluid. This is not a substance we are known to be able to grow in. The walls outside the mezzanine were covered and it dripped down everywhere like thick melting goo. It covered floor, other machines, desktops, computers…and us. And it was very warm. We knew were were going to die.

On Monday when our caretaker came in, she immediately went into action. She knew we would probably die but she was at least going to give us a fighting chance. She washed us in Dawn. I had heard that it was safe on animals and many have been saved from oil slicks but we are plants…and violets, very sensitive plants. She gently washed all of the dirt and oil away from us where we were naked for the whole world to see. It was so embarrassing. But she then replanted us in fresh new potting soil and took us home to recuperate. And all three of us survived. Last year one of us got sick when the heater went out. His already weakened system could not tolerate the cold and we lost him. But now as you can see, I am back to blooming. My other friend has not bloomed yet but his leaves are bright green and full so blooms are not far behind.

I just wanted to share my story to let you know the value of kindness, even in a situation where all may seem lost. Good can still come out of a kind try, so always be kind.