"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30
The older I get, the more valuable this lesson is. Having peace of mind, peace of heart- a simple quality of life; it's priceless. We all want to be the Joneses. But I think we find the flashy, glitzy, trendy, social status, temporal things just don't hold any permanence. They are simply vapors of happiness - truly a glittery mist of a rhinestone world. Now, I'm not saying for one minute I haven't been beyond blessed to have those moments and they are amazing. I feel they are God Given in some respects- standing in the middle of Tiffany's in New York City, buying two Tiffany purses on a whim is one of my most amazing memories, being a child who grew up in well hidden, secret poverty. Standing on Waikiki Beach watching the sunset with my mother, seeing her dream come true not knowing it would be a foretelling of her unforeseen passing just a few weeks later- priceless. Seeing the starlit sky from a cruise ship and countless shooting stars; I saw the Hand of God that night. They do have value- they just cant be the core of our peace and happiness. They are the "nick-nack" moments that can reiterate the amazing blessings He gives; if seen in that light, they truly are priceless. They just cant be that core because they can't always be there and be happening in our lives.
I think as we age, the Spirit draws us back to our roots, back to our place in life, back to His simple plan: To serve Him and find a trusting peace in His plan, whatever that may be for each of us. At least, that's what He has brought to me the past few years. My life's journey has been hard, as most of ours has been. It has been filled from the beginning with pain, poverty, sickness, fear, anger, embarrassment, heartache, loss, envy, hatred, resentment, broken dreams; losses I never thought I could bear. But, He has seen me through every step. He has even pulled my angry adult selfish self when I went kicking and screaming, cussing and digging my heels in like the spoiled, bitter brat I had become. That was my path; I don't know the Jones' path, but I guarantee it wasn't all flowers and rainbows either. They just gussy theirs up better, I guess. All I know is that rhinestones are made of plastic and made by man. Diamonds are formed from pressure and heat and made by God. As I age, I want to be His diamond, not the world's rhinestone.
So. A steady job giving me enough money to meet my bills and buy a few squeaky toys for a sweet puppy, a reliable car to go see my precious sister and brother-in-law on a regular basis, wonderful friends who love me, a safe place to lay my head at night- that's a mighty blessed life. A peaceful life. A life worth having and living. I WILL rejoice in it and enjoy a blessed peace.
So my day yesterday, for example: A day with a cool breeze, two awesome SEC wins, a chance to see dear friends and honestly wish a beautiful young bride well as she plans her marriage to a Godly man; that, my friends, is an amazing day. Its a diamond of a day.
And throw a mess of boiled peanuts into the mix? How can you NOT have a heart at peace with life??
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Get a Blog...
So, it took me a bloomin' HOUR to figure it out, but I got one! Now maybe my FaceBook posts will be that and not my commentary. *And my FB friends breath a sigh of relief and look forward to me just posting about tomato sammichs and what my puppy is doing. That is, if they haven't "hidden" me so far.
So, I guess I shall begin with who am I? Assuming anyone is going to read this! LOL. I think.
I am a 40 year old self described "Southern Belle" living in Pensacola, Florida. Born and raised here. And yes, I AM a Belle! Contrary to popular opinion, Florida is in the South. Funny, you have to go further north to get deeper south these days. But I am in the Panhandle, much closer to Alabama than to Mickey. I love Jesus, my family (what's left of it) and my country (what's left of it too.) I have a little terrorist of a Bichon puppy named Alabama Moon Pie (Bama for short), I have the best friends in the world and I am single with no kids, but "Ok with it." I love the Crimson Tide, the SEC, the Braves, the 2nd amendment, and I'm fluffy (MUCH kinder word than overweight, in my humble opinion.)
Yes, one of THOSE girls- one who is continuously yacking about her dog like its a child. One who got interested in football back in the day because she thought it would help her land a man. (For crying out loud, I bought a Seminole shirt back in college to get a fella's attention. He has yet to notice me with my awesome 'Noles shirt and sweatpants. Though he did end up interning in my office later in life. I found a booger on his desk. Dodged that bullet-Funny how God brings things full circle! But I digress...) Talks firearms because that's what men like to hear, she thought. The overweight girl who thought she checked all the right boxes to prepare to be a good Southern wife and mother-one day. Well, that pony never showed up and I ended up actually loving these things. And I still feel remorse about that 'Noles shirt. Felt icky to write that. ROLL TIDE!
The girl who has spent entirely too much of her life lamenting about "not having a man." Oh, if only-woe is me! Spent too much time thinking if she lost weight, Prince Charming would ride on up in his souped up pick-up truck. Or Range Rover; I'm not choosy. Well, I'll be blessed if I didn't loose 120 pounds and the sucker never did show! The girl who people secretly say in the back of their mind or behind closed doors to others, "She's so pretty- if she would just loose some weight, she would be married in no time!"
The girl who's heart quietly breaks at wedding and baby showers, knowing there is a mighty good chance that will never be her in the chair surrounded by gifts, laughter, nervousness and excitement.
The girl who makes people laugh. The "funny one" in the group.
Yes, we are a dime a dozen, we fluffy single old maids. We are everywhere. We are bitter and hiding in cubicles or in our offices. We are the ones in the middle of the dance floor wearing something that would make our mama's blush just to fit in and show we, too, are one of the girls. We are the ones who order two meals in a drive through and say a casual comment to make the cashier think we are bringing some for others. We are the ones that usually show up to work and are "dependable" since we have no families of our own, thereby keeping business going. We are the ones that pray at night for him to find us and save us from ourselves.
Well, I'm done with being THAT kind of fluffy single old maid. I have spent the last few years working through all my garbage and ending a journey that has been hard. I HONESTLY have a peace in my life, I know God has a plan, I value my life and those in it. My life is funny. It is blessed. It has been hard; but better days ahead. No, I don't intend to blog about being a "single girl", though I am sure that will come up. I don't plan to focus on weight issues, either so this won't be a fatty blog. I really dont know where this will lead, if anywhere. But, here we go- the adventures of Belle and Bama!
Now, I gotta go peal that barking puppy outa the window. Poor delivery man outside just weed himself. Bama thinks he is Cujo. Little 16 pound terrorist....
So, I guess I shall begin with who am I? Assuming anyone is going to read this! LOL. I think.
I am a 40 year old self described "Southern Belle" living in Pensacola, Florida. Born and raised here. And yes, I AM a Belle! Contrary to popular opinion, Florida is in the South. Funny, you have to go further north to get deeper south these days. But I am in the Panhandle, much closer to Alabama than to Mickey. I love Jesus, my family (what's left of it) and my country (what's left of it too.) I have a little terrorist of a Bichon puppy named Alabama Moon Pie (Bama for short), I have the best friends in the world and I am single with no kids, but "Ok with it." I love the Crimson Tide, the SEC, the Braves, the 2nd amendment, and I'm fluffy (MUCH kinder word than overweight, in my humble opinion.)
Yes, one of THOSE girls- one who is continuously yacking about her dog like its a child. One who got interested in football back in the day because she thought it would help her land a man. (For crying out loud, I bought a Seminole shirt back in college to get a fella's attention. He has yet to notice me with my awesome 'Noles shirt and sweatpants. Though he did end up interning in my office later in life. I found a booger on his desk. Dodged that bullet-Funny how God brings things full circle! But I digress...) Talks firearms because that's what men like to hear, she thought. The overweight girl who thought she checked all the right boxes to prepare to be a good Southern wife and mother-one day. Well, that pony never showed up and I ended up actually loving these things. And I still feel remorse about that 'Noles shirt. Felt icky to write that. ROLL TIDE!
The girl who has spent entirely too much of her life lamenting about "not having a man." Oh, if only-woe is me! Spent too much time thinking if she lost weight, Prince Charming would ride on up in his souped up pick-up truck. Or Range Rover; I'm not choosy. Well, I'll be blessed if I didn't loose 120 pounds and the sucker never did show! The girl who people secretly say in the back of their mind or behind closed doors to others, "She's so pretty- if she would just loose some weight, she would be married in no time!"
The girl who's heart quietly breaks at wedding and baby showers, knowing there is a mighty good chance that will never be her in the chair surrounded by gifts, laughter, nervousness and excitement.
The girl who makes people laugh. The "funny one" in the group.
Yes, we are a dime a dozen, we fluffy single old maids. We are everywhere. We are bitter and hiding in cubicles or in our offices. We are the ones in the middle of the dance floor wearing something that would make our mama's blush just to fit in and show we, too, are one of the girls. We are the ones who order two meals in a drive through and say a casual comment to make the cashier think we are bringing some for others. We are the ones that usually show up to work and are "dependable" since we have no families of our own, thereby keeping business going. We are the ones that pray at night for him to find us and save us from ourselves.
Well, I'm done with being THAT kind of fluffy single old maid. I have spent the last few years working through all my garbage and ending a journey that has been hard. I HONESTLY have a peace in my life, I know God has a plan, I value my life and those in it. My life is funny. It is blessed. It has been hard; but better days ahead. No, I don't intend to blog about being a "single girl", though I am sure that will come up. I don't plan to focus on weight issues, either so this won't be a fatty blog. I really dont know where this will lead, if anywhere. But, here we go- the adventures of Belle and Bama!
Now, I gotta go peal that barking puppy outa the window. Poor delivery man outside just weed himself. Bama thinks he is Cujo. Little 16 pound terrorist....
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