Dancing Daffodils...

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you enjoyed your weekend and celebrating Easter yesterday. It was a beautiful day.  I stayed up into the wee hours of Saturday night/Sunday morning putting the finishing touches on my next chapter so I can send it to my wonderful author friends helping me.  The alarm woke me by 6 a.m. Oh my gosh…what was I thinking? LOL While still feeling accomplished for the writing I completed, with my eyes barely open I trudged to the kitchen and turned on the coffee. While the coffee started to brew and the aroma of caffeine opened my eyes I started pulling the ingredients to make cheddar cheese home fries for our church breakfast.

With cheddar home fries in the crock pot and warm coffee in my hands I looked around me.  Ugh…I should be dancing and celebrating for Christ is risen yet all I saw was my messy house, piles of dishes and clutter.  I felt like the daffodil above, while bright and cheerful generally, the darkness and ick of life felt as if it was covering me.  I had a decision to make – either crawl back in bed and feel sorry for myself or get busy and change my outlook.  So…I picked up a little, placed white powder bunny paw prints on the carpet, kitchen table, couch and stools to leave a path for my daughter when she awoke to find her Easter basket.  As I stamped each paw print, the Lord began to remove the blah so I could see the joy before me. 

We had a busy day planned.  Ed picked up his Mom so she could join us for our resurrection Worship service and church breakfast.  Others had planned to join us but they didn’t make it.  I left breakfast early so I could get home and put the homemade rolls in the oven so they would still be warm when we arrived for dinner at my sister-in-law’s house.  A wonderful visit with my mother-in-law while the rolls cooked as I made sure everything was ready to be packed in the car, once it was decided which we were driving.  Ed and Mary stayed to fellowship a bit longer since it didn’t take four people to put rolls in the oven and joined us as I was pulling the rolls from the oven. The house smelled great!  After brushing a garlic, dill, parsley & butter mixture atop the nicely browned rolls ~ one was sampled to be sure they were suitable for serving.  My mother-in-law said they were delicious and it was a good thing she checked. 

Things were looking up, or so I thought.  Some of the family didn’t know the way to Ed’s sister’s so they were going to follow us, fifty minutes late, they arrived.  I must admit to the world ~ I’m a complete crank when things don’t go as planned. I get cranky when I’m sleep deprived and as joyous as Easter is…the day in itself has the potential to bring out the worst in me.  Instead of shining for Jesus yesterday afternoon I was the polar opposite.  I couldn’t get over myself or seem to push the dark cloud smothering me.  What was my problem?  I made poor choices in response to family.  I was a bad reflection of Jesus, no I wasn’t reflecting Jesus…this was the problem.

Once back in Oswego County we stopped so I could finally see my parents and wish them a happy Easter.  Had this been my problem all day? We visited and then the (grown up) boys started playing some golf on the gaming system. Mary and I decided to walk home and enjoy the beautiful weather…it was refreshing and invigorating!  As we walked home and visited she asked, “Mom, what happened today that set you off?  You’re not usually like that?” Ouch…more reflection of Jesus and very bad example for my daughter.  I was honest with her, “I don’t know.  There was no excuse for my behavior and I’m sorry.  I hope you can forgive me.”  She smiled and said “Mom, I’m not upset with you, just worried. You don’t normally let people get to you.” 

Long story short…each day is what we make it.  I had a choice the moment my feet hit the floor.  I could choose to enjoy the beautiful day, celebrating Jesus and His resurrection or I could mope around the house feeling sorry for myself and missing my sister.  The saddest part is I meshed the two together…it started with celebration and praise, transitioned into the crank who should have been in bed and the day concluded with a humbled Lisa asking the Lord to forgive her. 

Instead of worrying about the hash browns, the company or traveling – I should have been on my knees thanking God for sending Jesus to suffer and die for my sins. I should have been lost in prayer (communication) with God – expressing my thanks for all He has done and blessed me with in my life.  I should have opened up my Bible and filled myself with Him because I know in my own strength I am nothing more than the dirty daffodil BUT with Jesus I am the brightly colored dancing daffodil! 

Life is a choice…I choose to shine and dance!

Psalm 30:10-12 NIV
Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
   LORD, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing;
   you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
   LORD my God, I will praise you forever.