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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

RENEWAL AND REBIRTH

Look at that!  Our forsythias are in bloom!  In March! What a joy this past week has been.  I believe I might have been suffering from that sun deprivation syndrome, because suddenly with the emergence of the warm weather I feel energized.  It's like that scene in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy steps over the threshold from a somber black and white world to a technicolor  fantasy land. How wonderful it is to open the windows and let the breeze blow away all the staleness.  What a joy it is to run errands without the burden of heavy coats and boots. Kind of a metaphor for life isn't it?

This past week,I've read blogs about women with empty nest syndrome,others worried about the health of loved ones or their own health, others fearful about the economy and what it means to their own stability.  My dear friends, I want to assure you that just as those old gray twigs bring forth lovely bright spring flowers, so is our Lord working miracles in your life.  But just as sometimes the plants need the help of a gardener to prune away  the dead branches, we sometimes need to prune away the dead  branches of our lives; the self-doubts, the should ofs, the what ifs, the guilt, and  the worry.  Don't let them take over and ruin the beautiful bush that is your spirit.

"Well", your probably saying," easier said than done!"  One thing that I've found that helps is to be a little selfish (just a little).  I know that bucks conventional wisdom, but I truly believe even the best Christian, wife and mother needs a little time to themselves just to connect to their self and renew their spirits.  So each day, I set aside a half hour to do something just for myself.  Whether  it's reading something just for entertainment that doesn't serve the purpose  of educating, or proving to someone that I'm an intellectual.  Just something purely entertaining.  For me that's childhood favorites like Anne of Green Gables or the Betsy-Tacy books.  BTW, I must confess that I've become quite impatient with this snobbery that  only certain books (such as Glenn Beck and Oprah's book lists and PBS)  are deemed worthwhile.  Read and watch what you want  and hang those that think you are shallow or silly if it isn't  "serious". Or doing a craft for the love of it.  Not for a gift or for charity, or as often in my case, to be sociable, just for the enjoyment.   Or how about watching your favorite childhood sitcom on Youtube.  Swing in a hammock and daydream. Go outside and do some cartwheels.  It doesn't matter what it is, just as long as it makes you happy.  Just for a little while tuck away all the thoughts about what a mature person should be doing, stow away the worries and just be a child again. Just for one half hour a day unpack your burdens and feel the joy, just like shucking that heavy winter coat after a long winter!

24 comments:

  1. Wonderful and fun encouragement for all times! You are correct about the Lord's pruning. There are often times sin and bad habits in our lives that need to go. Pretty forsythia, and yes, what a delight to run out the door without bundling up, makes things fresh and breezy, just like spring! Have a great week, I enjoy your down home, sensible advice. I'll bet you weren't born yesterday, were you? ;) Ha!

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  2. Thanks Joy! No definitely wasn't born yesterday. I was going to add unfortunately, but decided I was pretty fortunate to be born when I was. Probably the last generation to experience true freedom as a child. Even friends in their forties seem to have had a lot more restrictions then we that have reached the half century mark.

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  3. Oh Jane I had to laugh out loud at doing a cartwheel now. Somethings could be dangerous after a certain age- heehee! I love "homey" books- like Miss Read- where nothing much happens but it is wonderful- kinda like most of life! Angela

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    1. Not going to do cartwheels anytime soon Angela? This winter I discovered that my old body wasn't as fragile as one might think a 50 something should be. It was so icy that I fell several times just like Charlie Brown does when Lucy pulls the football on him. Just splat! Talk about embarrassing! But at least I discovered that I'm not so old I have to worry about breaking a hip! I need to check into those Miss Read books. Have heard lots of wonderful things about them. And I like books that portray life like we all live it.

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  4. Yes, we all need "pruning" once in awhile. I also like what you said about reading what YOU like, not what's in or what you're being told you should read.

    Oh, and love the picture of the forsythia. It so wonderful to see their colour each spring because they come so early...well, really early this year! :o)

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    1. Isn't this early spring amazing Sandra? One day it was brown and bleak,the next was like bam! Even the birds sound excited. This weekend we heard someone cutting their grass! Usually this time of year we're blowing snow.

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  5. I am learning this my friend. Today I baked just because. It has been such a long time since I had been able to do just that :-D

    I am slowly relearning to be happy... what a concept!

    m.

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  6. Good, I'm glad Maria. Happiness is a concept that seems to be foreign to many in these times it's sad to say. Sometimes you have to manufacture some instead of waiting for it to find you. I love to bake too. But have no one to feed it to. I think I'll have to go out and befriend an old bachelor so I'll have someone that appreciates it. My husband and son don't care too much for sweets.

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  7. Wonderful words of wisdom :) I love when the flowers open in the spring, such a wonderful feeling of newness! Unfortunately, we have a while to go before that happens here!

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    1. Usually we have a way to go also,Jane. This year's weather has certainly been strange. Hope we don't have too hot of a summer. But for now, we are enjoying our free spring break vacation! This weekend we are supposed to be back in the 40s and 30s, so I'm glad we didn't get too excited and pack away our winter coats!

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  8. I love your forsythia, I always look forward to it's spring blossom, such a pretty happy plant. I am so looking forward to spring's arrival, I love sunshine! Right now we are covered in a blanket of snow, which is pretty abnormal for us this time of year, but it sure is pretty, I guess we are finally getting our winter.

    I love the idea of taking a little while each day to do something fun and relaxing, I enjoy doing that myself, a very nice recharge. Youtube is fun, it is amazing what you can find, great free entertainment for sure.

    Happy Spring!

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    1. The next thing I'm going to do for myself is get out the paints and try your straw painting, April. That looks like fun! Right now I'm watching old reruns of Hazel on Youtube. Sure beats anything that is currently on TV!

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  9. This time of year makes me want to approach life with new vigor. :-) I know things are blooming here even though I am not out and about because my son is complaining about having to wash all the pollen off the care every morning.

    I think you are correct -- it is important to take time to nurture yourself. Makes it easier to nurture others when the time comes.

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    1. I hope you'll be able to get outside and feel the sun on your face Shara. It just revitalizes you. Maybe it will help your foot heal more quickly. Taking time to nurture myself is a lesson learned the hard way when raising my little brood.

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  10. Hi Jane! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful post! You said it all my friend. I especially love what you said about the books. I find that so many of the "popular" books and best sellers are discouraging to my heart. You can't beat Anne of Green Gables! I love to watch the TV shows from my childhood, and listen to happy, bouncy, bubble gum hits from the 60's and 70's. You will often find me doing a disco dance in my kitchen while the spaghetti water boils! It is so true what they say: "Happiness does not depend upon our circumstances, it is what we decide to be ahead time." Thanks for your wonderful words Jane, you made my afternoon. With Love, Delisa :)

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  11. Thank you Delisa! I know that sometimes I may come across as rather silly and shallow, but I truly believe that these little breaks from responsibility each day really help me to face all the responsibilities and bad news. This week I'm watching My Three Sons and sewing a quilt with Peter Rabbit fabric. Peter always makes me smile! My husband and I have rediscovered the Twist. Georgie thinks we are a little nutty when we start up the music and start dancing, but oh well! I know what you mean about those popular books. In my other life when I was expected to keep up with such things, I used to read Oprah's book list. Talk about a lot of depressing subjects! Now I just read for the joy of it. Haven't read a New York Time's bestseller in ages and I haven't seen any of the movies that were nominated for the Oscars for years.

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  12. From Andrea: Hi Jane! Very nice post...uplifting. When the world gets me down I try to NOT read news and to go outside in my yard and look at the little plants coming up! (And this weekend I watched "take home chef" on netflix which inspired me to cook better.) And I was able to get VIP tickets for my daughter and some of her friends for the nearby One Direction concert coming soon....a miracle to get them...I figure she will have enough grief with our national debt in the future...she can enjoy her h.s. years now.

    There will always be times of suffering in our lives, so we must make the most of each day and now make up suffering when we don't have it (yet)! love,andrea

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    1. Hello Andrea! First before I forget, Joy says hello and that she misses your blog. Yes, the time to enjoy life is NOW! Never know what tomorrow may bring. Your daughter will have great memories of high school thanks to her caring mom! BTW, I miss you too!

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  13. Dear Jane,

    Your forsythia is beautiful! We have a little, skinny one that is trying to grow around the base of an elm tree; not quite as impressive! I was chastened today by Evangeline, for swinging on the swing in the backyard; she first said I was going to break it, and then asked how I knew that it was okay for ladies to swing! It seems that seriousness starts early in some. . . :)

    Love,

    Marqueta

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    1. One thing about forsythias, Marqueta, is that they will grow anywhere. Is it just me or do they seem more brilliantly yellow this year? Your children are such a source of joy! I love hearing what they say. You're doing a magnificent job raising them in your Tasha Tudor inspired life!

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  14. Oh, how I love the Betsy-Tacy books, as well my personal favorites-all of the Little House books. I bought the set years ago when I was working at my first job--the clerk asked me if I was buying them for a daughter or niece, and I told her, no, they were for me. Yes, she gave me a strange look, but that was okay. I still get them on occasion and read about the little house in the big woods, or Laura & Almanzos journey from the Dakotas to the "Land of the Big Red Apple" in Missouri. I'm like you--nothing wrong with reading for pure pleasure!

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    1. Hi Charlene! The Betsy-Tacy books remind me of the stories my grandmother told me of her girlhood. She grew up in the same era. Just finished up a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. My goodness! You really have to admire those pioneers. Especially those that settled in place like the Dakotas. Brrrr!

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  15. Shocking! Politically incorrect! Great advise Jane... you are so 'my kind of people'!!

    Blessings, Debbie

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  16. Thank you Debbie! I'm getting to the old and cantankerous stage of life. It's easy not to take life too seriously once you have your family raised. That's why I can't understand those that mope around with empty nest syndrome. I'm having a ball with all the freedom. Everyday is a new adventure!

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