Tag Archives: Spirituality

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To Try and Fail is Still the Better Choice

Wednesday morning one of our outdoor cats caught a baby bunny. He knew he shouldn’t have as soon as he saw my daughter approaching, and he dropped his catch before taking off to hide. The bunny, a cottontail, was only a week or so old, eyes not yet open. His name is Pip since he has such a little squeak, and we knew it was unlikely he would survive.

We raise big, fluffy Angora Rabbits.  They grow to be 7-10 pounds and are bigger than our cats.  When they are born, they are tiny but no where near as tiny as Pip.  The baby bottles we have used on the Angoras are bigger than Pip.  Pip is as tiny as his squeak.

Pip did well on the first day, and there was hope.  The danger for rabbits, baby rabbits especially, is that they will hop, or violently twitch, and break their backs.  Hungry baby rabbits twitch and spasmaticly jump when they sense it is feeding time. Sadly, even with great care, they can harm themselves.  Pip showed no signs of broken bones, and his back legs worked well.

By day two, Pip was actively eating. His belly would get large and then he would get sleepy.  After a bit of cuddling, he would take his nap in his shoe box home, just feet from my desk.

Today has been a long day.  The world is a crazy place. People we know, members of our community are hurting.  Some are gratefully praying because their children changed theaters last night and were safe as dawn shed light on a tragedy.  Others give long distant support to their children as friends in the hospitals are visited.

Today has been a very long day, and I sit here writing with Pip on my chest, knowing that his little body just can’t fight much longer.  So I keep him near, praying the beat of my heart will give him comfort, knowing his life is in God’s hands.  I knew when I held him on Wednesday that saving him was a long shot, but it is still better to try and fail the to never try at all.

Pip is such a little squeak, but he is God’s and the tears running down my face do not negate the blessing God has given me as I have cared for Pip.  If Pip should live beyond today, it will be God’s will.  If today Pip breaths his final breath, it too, will be God’s will.

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Let Your Light Shine

When you look around, overwhelmed by the negativity, sorrow, and despair of the world, feeling there is no positive to be found, remember the positive is inside of you.  It may be your actions, your smile and your attitude that will brighten the world you live in for yourself and for the multitude nearby seeking a ray of hope.  It may be through you that the Light will return, shine forth and brighten the day.

When we are the candle bearer, it can be hard to see the positive around us. Everything will look to be in shadows compared to our circle of light. We just have to pray that when we are down and gloomy, someone else will hold the candle and help us lighten our path.

Matthew 5:16                                                                           Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Psalms 18:28                                                                           For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

Psalms 27:1                                                                            The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

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Saith Me… Hope

When natural forces wreak havoc, does it help to know you are part of a shared calamity?  Or does the magnitude of nature’s devastation isolate you in a feeling of despair?

Have hope, for if you are still alive to hope for a tomorrow, then today is still a blessed day.

 

 

* shared the clip later.

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Answered Prayers

Prayers are often answered in the most unexpected ways. Preconceived notions can cause us to miss the answer when it comes. Therefore, we must always be receptive and alert.  Most especially, we should be grateful, regardless of how the answer is delivered or by whom.  The Lord will send us angles and answers to our prayer, but we must be willing to receive them.

Matthew 21:22

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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Reflection

Take the time to reflect on the hard work you have done today.

Take the time to reflect on the many blessings you have received through your hard work.

Take the time to reflect on the All Mighty who gives you the opportunity to work, the ability to work and the blessings you receive from that work.

In His name, have compassion for those who do not have the opportunity to work, have not been taught to work, or do not have the ability to work.  In His name, all things are possible, but without compassion, in other words – charity, nothing good is possible.

Take the time to reflect…  and when you are done be grateful.

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Blessings of a Blackout

While losing power for twelve hours is not on my list of fun ways to spend a family evening at home, it does have some positive attributes.  Yesterday a vicious wind blew up from the south. The wind never really stops on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, a reality one learns quickly if they want to prosper here.  My daughter, a much heartier soul than I, considers most of our light gales to be nothing more than pleasant breezes.

The wind and weather can come from all directions: blizzards from the north, rain from the east, and hail from the west, but it is the wind from the south that is to be feared.  Barns blown over, trees uprooted and shingle roofs shredded, these are commonality not rarity with winds from the south.

Yesterday’s wind began with blustery force.  Hair had to be re-combed at church, even super-hold hairspray and gel withered under the assault.  The drive home was a challenge for the newbie behind the wheel.  No drivers ed course could prepare the novice for the head wind he faced, but luck was with him and the dust cloud arose only after he had safely made it home. One new driving challenge faced, one saved for a future day.

By 5pm the wind was gathering strength, but animals still needed care.  The stalwart, hearty daughter braved the crossing of the yard, only to become imprisoned with her wards in the rabbit house.  A decade of living on the plains has taught us to build strong, permanent shelters for our animals. Our rabbit house was built with the knowledge that our daughter would also spend many hours inside it.  When the full force of the angry wind struck, we knew she was safe.  When the power went out from multiple power lines being blown down, we knew she was prepared with emergency light.

The wind raged, escalated and began to sound more dangerous than anything we had heard before. The power went out. We heard sounds of crashes and wondered which yard items had been destroyed. Then as if the wind knew havoc had been rendered, it died down returning to the soft gale my daughter calls a breeze.

Dinner was jelly beans, Oreos and cheese.  Lap tops provided a few moments of entertainment, books emerged and the piano was played as darkness settled in for the night.  Baseball caps equipped with LED lights donned the heads of one and all. Quiet pursuits and conversations, calm thoughts and contemplations, broken periodically with laughter were the activities of the evening.

The power seldom stays out this long and we are prepared for emergencies.  We could have cooked a warm meal, we could have lit a lamp, but the peacefulness of a simple evening was too inviting. The blanked quite of the night calmed our minds and gave us rest; a break from the world, the blessings of a blackout.