Second Chances

Hello, friends!

I hope this finds everyone healthy and happy and full of Spring Fever! Springtime is such a beautiful time of the year, when everything is washed fresh and new, as the spring a rain melts the snow, and as the sun begins to warm the earth, and as the robins return to remind us that a new season is here. It is as though the "apparent deadness" of the earth - the trees so barren, the grass turned an unattractive shade of brown, and the skies of winter so gray - is given a "second chance" at Life! Don't you love to listen to stories of second chances?

Movies like Rocky, Pretty Woman and Erin Brokovich were all stories of "second chances!" We loved to cheer them on and we hoped that they would rise above their stations in life to places of success!! We love to watch the underdog win – it is the American Dream! Stories of kids brought up under horrific circumstances who rise to greatness, and use that experience as a banner that says, "If I can do it, YOU can do it!", and they become the beacon of light to show the way that others can see and follow and overcome.

We all need someone in our corner, who cheers us on, and someone who sees greatness in us, though we feel as frail and fragile as dust in the wind. We look for acceptance and affirmation and love and nurturing and guidance, though we would like the world to think we are never needy or hurting or lonely or unsure of ourselves or not "so together."

So who is in your corner? Your Mom, or Dad, or best friend or neighbor or co-worker, or do you think there is no one at all who understands you and can empathize with you, or can love you unconditionally? For me acceptance and peace and confidence come when I rest in the arms of the One Who Loves me completely, who never hurts me, who sees good and not bad in me, and who never, ever, EVER gives up on me. He is the One who shows me the way, who whispers in my heart, "this is the way, child, walk this way." The One who says I will never leave you or forsake you and NO-thing can separate you from MY love. He is the One who surrounds me with others who love me and are there for me as I make my sojourn, my journey as it were, through this life.

So my message for today is, REJOICE!!! For there is One who desires to walk beside you, to guide you, One who says, “Child, trade your shame and sorrow for my confidence and joy, your weaknesses for My strengths, your fear for My Rest." He is the God of many, many, MANY second chances and He does not countn our mistakes, only rejoices in your victories.

For He is the One Who says, "A bruised reed I will not break, nor a smoldering wick I will not extinguish." He is the keeper of the stars, the Lover of men, the creator of the universe, but the best part for me is that He is the lover of my soul…..

So let's dance!!

Greetings!

Are you as excited as I am that Spring is in the air? We are seeing more lovely blue herons, gracefully and gently soaring over our beautiful Lake Erie! And it is with joy that we watch as a mostly frozen lake opens up a few pools of open water - and in those pools we see a couple of ducks and geese floating around in that icy cold water! Aren't their little webbed feet freezing???

One of the things I like most about living in Northern Ohio is experiencing the change of seasons. The trees look so dead in winter, only to show how deceiving looks can be as they flower and bloom and bring forth amazing beauty! There is so much similarity between the change of seasons and the changes in our lives. We have moments of abounding joy as we see the birth of a beautiful newborn, fresh from heaven and carrying heaven's scent. And we have moments of utter despair as we watch a loved one suffer, wanting so much to take that pain from them, and realizing we can only be there to pray for and support them, our gift of love to them - but alas, we cannot change their circumstances.

But the times I am thinking about right now are those dry, desert times - when we wait, and wait and WAIT for some sort of a breakthrough - the house we are trying to sell, or the new job that we hope to get, or just a time of depression that we hope and pray will lift. And this is where we spend an awful lot of our life, somewhere between the highs and lows. So what can we do during these dark, dead, dreary times? I say.... Let's Dance!! If we have done all that we can, and are in a waiting time, let's do what Matt does and dance! Dance by yourself, dance with your pet, dance with your husband, wife or significant other! Let your thighs jiggle and let your joy explode! Smile! Laugh! And especially - dance! Enjoy the video below - pretty much guaranteed to make you happier!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY