It seems that when hard times come we can loose sight of the beauty all around us. I just now looked at a gorgeous picture of a bowl of strawberries and felt joy! And I thought to myself, “get your head  up”. I also have experience times of intense awareness of my surroundings simply because my heart is hurting and the glory of God, seen in His creation, soothes my
troubled heart.

At times we want to work hard to fix the troubles in our lives and it can be real work to “let it rest” even when you know that is what is asked of you!  At other times we are called to boldly “enter into the fray”. Not to get what we feel we deserve but to help bring about God’s will.

This reminds me of a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. I was at a Cascade lake beach with my daughter and granddaughter. It was a warm day even tho it was overcast and windy. Just fine for sitting in a chair and relaxing. Before too long “little girl” was grabbing at me to get up and venture into the rippling water! My thought was we would meander along the edge in the shallows. Choochie had other ideas! She wanted to head for the deep. It is etched into my mind! She was holding tight to my hand and pulling with all her might deeper and deeper into the cold water, facing into the wind.  The look on her face! Such joy and excitement! Her laughter bubbling over! And she kept going, pulling her reluctant Mimi further out. The wind was blowing her hair back from her face. Her smile stretched wide across her precious face! I will never forget her loud laughter mixed with screams of joy and the holding of her breath as waves would splash water in her face! I want you to understand this! She pulled me so far out she could barely touch and the water was up to her face! I then took both of her hands and started to lift her up and out then lowered her back in turning her back and forth while she kicked and laughed and screamed with excitement! How my heart soared to see her joy and her bravery! It made me think about the many ways we all look at life and it is my prayer that she will always face life head-on with joy and excitement!!

Look at her kicking her feet and laughing!