Eating, Relaxing
Foreboding yet to come in
Betrayal waiting
As we remember the events of the last few days of Jesus life, lets us bow in prayer for what he has done for us. Even in His death, His kindness was still true. Let us remember to always reflect the kindness he shared.
So many feelings have run through us over the tragedy at Notre Dame. Watching it blaze, knowing what the building stood for over the centuries. The history that took place in that building. The love the people of Paris, France and around the world people had for this building. The art it contained. Such a loss, and yet, now as the dust is settling, we are amazed at what was not lost. The millions of people who visit this place daily were not there. The most sacred artifacts were saved. A lot of the artwork was saved. Some of the beautiful stained glass windows as in the beautiful rose window was saved. The fireman did an amazing job saving as much of the structure as they did from the over 200 foot high flames that rose about this structure with an intense heat that I could never imagine.
The unity of the people on the streets as they sang hymns in loving memory of what it used to be but I think the comment I heard says a lot about this tragedy and the fact it is Holy week. As Christ died this week, he arose to bring new life. This building will again rise to bring new life. My hope is that the love and passion felt in the streets as it seemed the building would die, would remain and go forward in the Godly love that is to come out of any building of worship of our Father. However, Acts 7:48 reminds us that ‘The Most high does not live in houses made by man.’ We must never worship the building or anything in the building. And we must also remember that we who follow Christ have Christ living in us and we together are the church. We go to worship in a specified building to honor him for what he did for us on the cross. This is Holy week and that must be our focus, whether we are a fine church or a tent meeting, needs to be Christ and what He did for us.
Jansen-photo challenged us for today’s Tuesday Photo Challenge on Worship in honor of the tragedy of Notre Dame.
I am enclosing pictures of my church as it is nearly 200 years old and has many beautiful stained glass windows. It would be tragic for us if we lost it but we know we would continue onward. In 1955 a tornado took off the tall spire of this church and it was not replaced when repairs were done.
Below are the 3 large windows that I thought you might enjoy. All of the windows in the sanctuary and parlor are beautiful stain glass that reflect color all through the room when the sun is shining.
As we focus on the meaning of this week, Holy Week, let us remember to share the love God shared so richly with us. You never know what tragedy someone may be going through in their own life so always remember to be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love.
Again I have been inspired by a photograph from Heaven’s Sunshine. Irene Tron takes wonderful pictures of nature which I have used several times to write about. Her photo called Holding On amazed me as the petals of one flower seem to wrap themselves around a fellow flower as it died. It spoke of the fellowship we should all have in taking care of each other as we go through the trials of life. If you have not visited Irene’s blog, I suggest it. It is a good read and has wonderful photography.
MY DEAREST, MY DARLING
My dearest, my darling, I will always love thee
When remembering the beauty we both loved to see.
The swaying of the wind as it moved through our lives
Through good times and bad, we managed to survive.
I wrap my fingers tightly around your growing limp hand
In hopes to keep you from falling down to cold hard sand.
I reach back in memory of all that we had and share
Thinking those who don’t know us may not even care.
Remember this my darling as you are taken away from me
You are my dearest my darling, I will always love thee.
-Anita Neal-
And as always I close in reminders to always show your kind side. The kindness you share may be the only kindness felt by the one recipient.
Go Dog Go Cafe writing prompt for Tuesday’s Challenge is : Describe about a recent world event without saying what the event actually was.
Their feet were hot with the souls of their boots literally melting with each step. The jungle of broken concrete and iron beams made it difficult to walk as the hopeless search for life continued. The billowing smoke raised ever higher shrouding where the building once stood but now lay in melted heap as the acrid smell of jet fuel still filled the air. The search dogs were horrified as this scene did not match their training. They were supposed to be able to find life but none was to be found and the sadness for man and beast alike would be a long time healing, if at all.
As humans, we show our best likeness to God when we show compassion and kindness to those affected by tragic and desperate times. Remember to be kind.
I saw this photo and chuckled out loud making Mimi wake from snoring as she snuggled under her blanket on the sofa and looking at me like something was alarming. Our pets can so make us laugh so I am sending the first picture in honor of Shelley’s cats over at Quaint Revival. They always have interesting stories about us hoomans.
The other picture is my crazy dog Mimi trying to entertain herself tonight in negative temps and many inches of snow because she did not want to come in. She was jumping up hitting the leaning over evergreen. When she realized just how cold she was getting she came running in.
Yes our pets do entertain us from time to time. It is what makes them special to us. And as my closing always speaks of kindness and we are talking of our pets, I though I would share some of my favorite pictures of animals showing kindness. We could learn a lot from them.
And one more chuckle…
You have seen my post where I talk about kindness but I believe that animals, even in the wild, understand kindness and compassion, sometimes better than we humans do. The photographers across the internet are fabulous and I really enjoy viewing their work. While I was going through some new pictures from Pinterest, I ran across these and thought I would share them with you.
With domesticated animals we can kind of understand it as they sometimes get their cues from us humans. Even on the farm there seems to be some compassion spread about especially with younger ones who may have lost parents.
But sometimes you see it in zoo situations with the more fierce creatures where the animals become somewhat conditioned to trust and feel secure in their surroundings.
May we all show compassion in like kind to our human specie as needed.
In all of my post I ask all readers to remember kindness to others. It is the easiest and most difficult thing you could do. The book of Galatians reminds us the effects of not being kind in Galatians 5:15 – “If you bite and devour each other, beware as you will destroy each other.” But then in vs 22 the list of good attributes of following the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. And again in Colossians 3:12 -“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, KINDNESS, humility, gentleness and patience.”
All of these commands come straight from the heart – God’s heart. And it is passed down to us for us to share with others in reflecting God’s precious love.
I ran across this posting the other day, not knowing who wrote it but I wanted to share it with you to remind you no matter how small an act of kindness you share, it makes a very large mark on life.
So I ask you to leave fingerprints of kindness where ever you go and help the world to smile.
How can you write about yourself. With Ritu calling today’s prompt from Linda’s Just Jot January prompt, she chose “self “as our prompt word to write about.
I fully agree with Linda’s take as self is many parts of you. So for self I chose to write about my alter ego self of Skeeter C. As a face painter, Skeeter does functions with the church, community and PUNCH to help promote kindness and the love of Christ.
Skeeter has an alter ego herself that is Scatter C but I don’t have pictures of her. Scatter likes to go to hospitals and visit those who will tolerate her scatter brained self. She really was standing behind the door when the brains were handed out. Oh my, that was not a kind thing to say. Sometimes truth hurts, Sorry Scatter. Both selfs like to promote kindness, gentleness and encouragement. Having been on the opposite end of those attributes more times than they cared for they can really see the value of kindness and how if everyone could be kind there is an opportunity to engulf the world and maybe soften the hurt and sadness of it just a bit.
So I bid you, along with Skeeter C and Scatter C to be kind. If we can turn more frowns upside down and put more sparkles into those sad eyes, think how much fun that would be. Oh, and the “C” in their name stands for Christ as He is the center of what they do.
Linda’s Stream of Conscious Saturday combined with today’s Just Jot January had some interesting vowel twist of sap/sep/sip/sop/sup. So I thought I would play a little with some flash fiction. Come join us for some fun and interest as we try to meet today’s challenge.
The screen door slammed as Jerry entered the kitchen sniffing the air of fresh backing cornbread just coming out of the oven.
“Sup, grandma. Smells great in here.”
“Sup? All that education you have had and that’s the way you talk.”
“Sorry. Good afternoon Grandmother. How are you this fine evening?” he teased pecking her on the cheek.
“Hmp, now you are just being ridiculous,” she said as she sipped in her tea. “There is sweet tea in the fridge and get out the syrup so it can be warming up a bit.”
Reaching in the fridge, he pulled out the bottle of Georgia Cane Syrup made by Johnson’s farm at the southern part of the state. He poured himself a large glass of tea and came to sit at the table across from his grandmother as she finished slathering butter of the steaming ears of corn. Reading of the bottle of syrup he noted the date on the back label.
“Does syrup get old?” he asked.
“No, why do you ask?” she said.
“It’s got a date on the label.”
“Oh, that’s a best used date, before it starts to separate,” she explained.
“Separate?”
She stopped with her hand on her hips and stared at her grandson. “Have you learned nothing from me and this farm? What is syrup made from?”
A gleam lit in his eyes knowing a good banter was in the making. “Well that depends. You have maple syrup where they pull sap from a tree, boil it down to make syrup.”
He glanced up to see the good natured scowl deepen on her brow.
“We don’t grow maple trees here in the south. We grow cane. Your grandpa had 2 full acres ever year before he passed. The sugar cane juice, sap, is boiled down as the cane is crushed. If you let it sit too long on the shelf it will turn to sugar crystals – separate. Here, take your plate and grab you some field peas and greens from the stove. Pork chops, corn and cornbread are already here on the table. How big a piece of cornbread do you want?”
“Normal size for now,” he said. “Then I will get a bigger slice to sop up remaining juices on my place before I add the syrup.”
“Yea, that’s the best part of the meal,” agreed Grandma as they settled in to a warm enjoyable meal.
Growing up in the late 1900’s gave a different meaning to the family meal. It was a time for fun shared over good food, teasing to help you grow with lots of assurance of love and togetherness. We seem to have lost that as we are rushing to the next battle to conquer. A lot of the encouragement has been lost and we find ourselves at times not knowing exactly what the next step needs to be. So I challenge you this year to try to regain some of that back. Love on you family members and friends and encourage each other. And as always…remember to be kind. Even when drawing a hard line if needed, it cane be done with love, encouragement and KINDNESS.
It’s me, I am Max, with thoughts that I ponder
Over here, over there and way out yonder.
As I rush out that door and swing by the chair
There is my friend Rabbit and we play statue and stare.
Our game is forgotten with a loud sounding crash
As the monsters next door send the squirrels in a dash
Last round through the yard, ever checking, ever more,
But there is nothing to see so I head for the door
Then I head for the kitchen for a small tiny treat.
Now, it’s on to the couch where I sleep ‘til we eat.
As we follow LindaGHill for our creative Jot, mine does not follow the Wednesday 1 liner plot.
For the Love of 