A lot can change in five day's time...

It started with a granddaughter taking a buggy ride with her pop and concluded with a daughter joining her father for a similar buggy ride.  A “hidden” blessing I’ve realized in the past few years is the beauty of my parent’s property.  There is such a variety of trees, bushes, flowers and assorted plants adding additional beauty to their landscape. Both my parents are always busy outside once the weather changes over.  I’ve commented I might never retire because they are always so busy in their retirement but father has explained it this way, “When you retire, you are busy doing what you enjoy – not what you HAVE to do!  It is a choice and love what I do!” Dad is known for saying, “I’m not busy, just puttering.”  Ugh…he does more puttering than most do at work, he makes me tired.

Anyway, back to the generational buggy ride.  As with most Saturdays, we went to my parents to visit and hang about.  Once the warmth of spring starts up and the ground is dry enough to support the weight of the buggy – Grandpa and his girl can be seen buggying about.  Both beaming and chatting the entire way.  Saturday afternoon, 4/23 was no different.  I’ve shared some of the photographs from their jaunt that day and have a couple more to come this week.  Yet this isn’t the message of today’s blog.  Today I wanted to highlight how quickly life can change.  Only five days later I joined my Dad for a buggy ride around the property and we came upon the same flowers poised above the water, waiting to be captured.  At the first drive-by there were colors of yellow and white reflecting on the water but in less than a week…pinks and reds had joined the party.  It was beautiful and a reminder to each of us.

Life is short…a smidgen of time when you consider an eternity in heaven. I’m thankful for the opportunity to slow down and notice the changes around me.  I enjoy and look forward to watching a grandfather and his granddaughter work and play together on the same property as my youth.  I marvel at the friendship I have with both my parents, as an adult (I wasn’t so sure during those teenage years, lol, thank goodness they did have rules! I wouldn’t be who I am today without them!)  In today’s society we are all so busy, too busy ~ forgetting to slow down and appreciate what God has blessed us with each day.  In only five days the flower bed blossomed and was even more beautiful…a beauty I could have missed if I didn’t take advantage of sometime visiting with my parents.

Life is about choices…it is the way we respond to those choices that determine what will happen next.  Some days and some choices will be easier than others.  More challenging and stressful days will come and take their toll on you. I’m guilty of letting life get me down sometimes yet I strive to see the beauty and joy in life.  It requires keeping me in the Word and having a wonderful group of friends to lift me up and pray, support from my family and most importantly…my choice!  I can choose to let the trials and tribulations of life run me down like a Mac truck or I can stand up, brush myself off and say “I can do this! “What will you say?  Are you going to slow down and notice the changes occurring around you?  Will you scoop up your children and grandchildren to make a memory today?  Will you escape for a walk with your spouse? 

We have a choice to make…what will you choose today?  The daffodils and tulips will grow and blossom whether we slow down to notice them or not.  Our children, your grandchildren, friends and family will continue to grow and change…we are not guaranteed tomorrow.   I pray you choose to embrace life, the people close to you and God’s creations – it is a beautiful world!  Don’t let the “stuff” stop you from enjoying the beauty!

Philippians 4:12 -13
I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.