Not On My "To Do" List

"Joy, now don't say no until you hear the whole proposition ok?"
I don't know about you but when my sister Jill puts it to me like that it means
I am going to have to do something I don't want to do, or as some of you would say,
that is out of your "comfort zone".

Suffice to say I was right.

Kayaking while vacationing in Hilton Head.  Yep, she made reservations for me, my husband and herself to kayak off the shores of shark infested waters (that's how I see it) while on vacation.  Oh boy what fun and I dreaded every minute of it.   I mean have any of these people been watching the news?  Sharks, lots of sharks eating people up off the coast of North Carolina, so who's to say they wouldn't swim down to taste a little Georgia peach?  Not fun, not looking forward to it and praying for rain.

Thursday morning came, alarm goes off at 6:30 we are up and out and standing on a dock with seven
other participants donning our life vests and getting a quick lesson on how to use our oars.  One by one we are loaded into our own kayack, down I went into a little puddle of water on my seat, already hating it mind you, and as the twentysomething girl shoved my kayak from the dock I had no control and proceeded to head into the tall grass coming out of the water.   Yeah, now I see how baby Moses' basket was secured, ugh,  the experience was not pleasant.  I untangled myself, yelled and hollered for Prince Charming to come help me but no luck, he was happily putting his oars in the water and paddling away.  What a way to start a 2 hour excursion.   We get quite a way down the waterway and the group stops, everyone places their oars across their kayak and listens while the guide tells us we will now wait for the DOLPHIN to come up to us!!!!!!!!!!!  What? Nope, nope, nope, this was not on my list of things to do today, are you kidding?  I do NOT want anything with a fin swimming next to me coming up under me or causing me more angst then I had already experienced on an almost empty stomach ok?

After some time floating and trying to stay with the group (my kayak was always drifting away, it was so frustrating) the disappointed participants asked if we could go further down and try to find some dolphin or other wildlife......oh dear lord deliver me.   I sat in my puddle waiting for someone to give me direction when to my right it happened.  Flipper's fin came out of the water, 'Oh Lord help me help me help me,' I couldn't speak so this was all in my head!  Up he came one eye saw me blew me a little airy "Hello" and back in he went and I was speechless!  "JOY!!!!!!!!"  it was Jill she could not believe I had the experience all of the others were waiting for.  Jeff just laughed and commented "Of all the people for this to happen to!"   Why me?

Bottom line you guys, I almost missed it.  My inability to embrace something new and my overwhelming sense of dread would have kept me from eyeballing the most wondrous creature and the majestic flow of life.  I was the one out of 10 that had the experience to last me quite some time, it was quite wonderful.  I became an expert kayaker that Thursday in July and now plan to do more of it.  I may wobble and tip but I will enjoy every second of it lest I miss another opportunity to see and experience something new.

What opportunity lies ahead of you today that you are facing with dread and angst?
Don't miss it, it just may be waiting to say "Hello!"




Job 12:8  Let the fish of the sea speak to you.

You are loved!

Breathe!

A very good friend of mine was attacked via social media just the other day by one of her sweet Christian sisters.  She prefaced the attack with her declaration of love and then proceeded to dress her down in front of God and everyone.  It was painful to read and just as sorrowful to see what it did to my friend that evening.  She was in her own words "undone" and ready to just lay down her mission of love and encouragement for women.    

Anyone that knows me knows that I have a tendency to have knee jerk reactions to those that make me angry, it's a fault I admit it.  This particular incident I took my time before responding to my friend and shared with her what I believe was God given advice.  It was beautiful to hear it coming out of my mouth and see my words as I typed them to her.  I was breathing hope back into her as if spiritual CPR was taking place!  She was revived, she knew it and I knew it, and she would be stronger because the attack meant for evil was turned around for good  She learned something, she prayed over it and moved on.  I am so grateful God allowed me to be a part of her experience.

Why?

I needed it too!  I spoke words that I needed to hear!  I was being ministered to by the Holy Spirit speaking through me!  Awesome, magnificent and life changing as well.  

Do you need some CPR today?  Ask Him to revive you with His words and fall into His love for you this very moment.


 

Will anything ever stay the same?

It seems not too very long ago I was trying most afternoons to get to the school before 2:30 to get the kids in carpool line.  It also seemed that just a few short years ago I was chatting it up with my kids and laughing in the living room while we scarfed down some pizza on a Friday night.  The house was full of activity and conversation, dogs running around, cats staring us down and the constant flow of visiting boyfriends and girlfriends along with late night chats about the future.

Those days....passed so quickly.
The halls of our home resound with silence.
There were 3 dogs 3 cats and now there are 3, the dog and the two cats that
continue to stare me down as if to ask "What is wrong with you?"

Lord will it ever be ok?   Will I ever know the sound of life again in this home we built 25 years ago?  Where did everyone go?  Do they eat pizza and laugh somewhere else now?

His answer was a simple, loving as the touch of His hand on my heart,  "They have not abandoned you, they are doing what you raised them to do.  Your children are living life to the fullest, they are experiencing the love of another and my presence in a whole new light.  You have your husband who I gave to you 29 years ago along with a mandate to be a blessing to one another and to the world.  You my sweet child have never been alone, I am here."

It is just like my precious loving Father to speak truth to me gently but succinctly and then to do what He is so good at.....He gifted me.

Judah Kesler Walter came into the world and changed mine.
My home has a little baby bed for occasional visits, I have a diaper genie(have no idea why, trash can seems to work), and the silence has been replaced with the tender cry of a grandchild, "mah mah mah mah."

I am living life as God has planned.  I will not resist, I will comply because He knows best and has made the way.  Do not fret over an empty house, embrace the silence and His presence, He always has the plan.

It is today and this "Gamma" is encouraged, I hope you will be too.

Parenting your Parents

It's funny what our parents think is important as they age.
First it is difficult to feel that you have to discipline those that 
got the switch out when you crossed your eyes at them, let alone
tell them "Hey you can't do that anymore!" Let's take a case in point 
shall we? 

Phone call from parent:

Me:  Hey
Parent:  Joy we have an emergency, the cable is down
Me:  Are you sure?  Last time you just had the power strip
turned off.  Make sure the power is on.
Parent:  Oh it's on, it just isn't working and the ballgame is going to
start, we need someone over here to look at it now
Me:  Ok, I will get Jeff over there

Jeff returns home to inform me that the cable was not out, and nothing had
been plugged in, crisis avoided and when he left the play off game was being
enjoyed by all.

Phone call from parent weeks before:

Me:  Hey
Parent:  Joy can you bring me some clothes I am in the hospital
Me:  What!?!?!?!  How did you get there?  What happened?
Parent:  Well I thought I was dying and called an ambulance
Me:  Why didn't you call me?  
Parent:  We didn't want to bother you

And so the saga continues, it seems emergencies are registered differently
after the age of 70?  Cable, Keurig, and all matters pertaining to social media and how to download a document take high priority.  Death however?  Call an ambulance and notify the kids later.

I wonder if the emergency medical people can help with cable and such?  It would help us out a lot I know:)

Gotta love the Rents, I know I do.

Take one day at a time ya'll and be encouraged!