Forwarded from EverySparrow Paula T
My Yellow Leaf
I watched a yellow leaf struggle to just hang on to an empty branch as the wind blew it fiercely. It just held on for dear life. Inside myself I was cheering it on, rooting for it to just hold on.
I turned my gaze for a second and when I looked back it was gone. I ran to my window and started frantically looking for it. There it lay on the ground by a patio chair.
I felt sad. Did it just give up? Was it just too tired? Could it bear no more? I thought to myself, why am I witnessing this? Why did this little leaf even catch my attention?
Some might think I’m crazy to even be giving a leaf blowing in the wind a thought. Upon sharing what had just happened to a dear friend, she gave me a different point of view. She said, instead of thinking that it gave up or it failed, maybe it realized it had the strength to accept and let go, to trust and surrender.
Maybe it realized Who would catch its fall, could be trusted. That shook me to my core.
What am I holding onto so tightly? What stresses are tossing me too and fro? What do I need to surrender and let go of? Whom can I trust to catch me when I fall?
I am not defeated, I have the strength of God to accept the change He is calling me to. After all, I did go and retrieve my little yellow leaf. It’s bravery to know when to let go and let God will forever be my treasure.
It will serve as a reminder that God is always there to guide me. Even if He has to use a little yellow leaf to remind me.
—Cheryl Griffin
I watched a yellow leaf struggle to just hang on to an empty branch as the wind blew it fiercely. It just held on for dear life. Inside myself I was cheering it on, rooting for it to just hold on.
I turned my gaze for a second and when I looked back it was gone. I ran to my window and started frantically looking for it. There it lay on the ground by a patio chair.
I felt sad. Did it just give up? Was it just too tired? Could it bear no more? I thought to myself, why am I witnessing this? Why did this little leaf even catch my attention?
Some might think I’m crazy to even be giving a leaf blowing in the wind a thought. Upon sharing what had just happened to a dear friend, she gave me a different point of view. She said, instead of thinking that it gave up or it failed, maybe it realized it had the strength to accept and let go, to trust and surrender.
Maybe it realized Who would catch its fall, could be trusted. That shook me to my core.
What am I holding onto so tightly? What stresses are tossing me too and fro? What do I need to surrender and let go of? Whom can I trust to catch me when I fall?
I am not defeated, I have the strength of God to accept the change He is calling me to. After all, I did go and retrieve my little yellow leaf. It’s bravery to know when to let go and let God will forever be my treasure.
It will serve as a reminder that God is always there to guide me. Even if He has to use a little yellow leaf to remind me.
—Cheryl Griffin
❤33👍1
Yesterday was our 25th wedding anniversary.
Felix took me to a fancy restaurant. You know, the kind of fancy place with fancy empty wine glasses sitting on a white fancy tablecloth waiting to be fancily filled with a fancy liquid –the fancy kind of place that brings you clean fancy silverware with each new fancy course.
Though I really wanted to keep wearing my un-fancy (but totally awesome) pajama bottoms, pullover hoodie, and slippers, I did change my clothing so I wouldn’t embarrass him. I even undid the bun and brushed my hair.
Because that’s what love does.
Love isn’t fancy, it’s considerate.
Felix took me to a fancy restaurant. You know, the kind of fancy place with fancy empty wine glasses sitting on a white fancy tablecloth waiting to be fancily filled with a fancy liquid –the fancy kind of place that brings you clean fancy silverware with each new fancy course.
Though I really wanted to keep wearing my un-fancy (but totally awesome) pajama bottoms, pullover hoodie, and slippers, I did change my clothing so I wouldn’t embarrass him. I even undid the bun and brushed my hair.
Because that’s what love does.
Love isn’t fancy, it’s considerate.
🥰52❤37👏8😁2👍1
When the waitress asked the secret to a long and happy marriage, love refrained from telling the waitress, “Don’t be a schlub,” but instead love said, “Humor.” And love is when your spouse looked at you, smirked, then said, “I know you wanted to say something sassy, but you didn’t,” because they know you so well.
Love isn’t blurt-y; it self-regulates.
A little unsure, but willing to try something new, Felix ordered the steak I suggested. He even got it cooked the way I recommended.
Love isn’t secluded; it trusts.
In honor of our anniversary, the fancy restaurant gifted us a fancy little ramekin of crème brûlée. But, we decided we still wanted to get the fancy chocolate chip dessert thingy we saw on the fancy dessert menu.
Love isn’t timid; it’s adventurous.
Love isn’t blurt-y; it self-regulates.
A little unsure, but willing to try something new, Felix ordered the steak I suggested. He even got it cooked the way I recommended.
Love isn’t secluded; it trusts.
In honor of our anniversary, the fancy restaurant gifted us a fancy little ramekin of crème brûlée. But, we decided we still wanted to get the fancy chocolate chip dessert thingy we saw on the fancy dessert menu.
Love isn’t timid; it’s adventurous.
🥰45❤12👏7🔥5👍2🙏1
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
The fancy restaurant sits off the road I took to get to Felix when he was in the hospital. I don’t head out that way too often, but when I do, I have to mentally dig my heels in so I don’t get dragged to darker memories. Felix gets solemn, too –not that he remembers what happened, but because it is still so jarring to know it happened and that he is a walking miracle.
So we gazed to the west, watched the sunset and the birds, pushed the melancholic memories aside, and felt that strand of gratitude reverberate in us.
Love isn’t fancy; it’s a bedrock.
Love is brave, steadfast, faithful.
Love –choosing to love and showing that love– is simple.
Nothing fancy.
Love is his laugh, his presence, his devotion –the amusement in his eyes. Love is his hand in mine. Love is his quiet ways.
Happy Anniversary to The Love of My Life.
So we gazed to the west, watched the sunset and the birds, pushed the melancholic memories aside, and felt that strand of gratitude reverberate in us.
Love isn’t fancy; it’s a bedrock.
Love is brave, steadfast, faithful.
Love –choosing to love and showing that love– is simple.
Nothing fancy.
Love is his laugh, his presence, his devotion –the amusement in his eyes. Love is his hand in mine. Love is his quiet ways.
Happy Anniversary to The Love of My Life.
❤100🥰18🎉8🕊4🔥3🙏2
Forwarded from Vince Guerra
If you get a chance, stop by and wish @shannonthornsleyguerra a Happy Birthday. She's currently at an undisclosed location with her books, cat, and unending cups of tea.
Thank you for being awesome, babe, in every way.
Bingley also broke her second favorite tea mug this morning, so there's that. 🥴
Thank you for being awesome, babe, in every way.
Bingley also broke her second favorite tea mug this morning, so there's that. 🥴
❤17🎉15🙏1
Hey friends — My oldest son could use some prayers. He had a septoplasty (deviated septum) with turbinate reduction and adenoid removal procedure done Tuesday.
He's in pain (understandable), but also his neck is sore from the position his head was in for the operation. The discomfort level of not being able to blow his nose is through the roof. Some swelling, too (but bruising does not appear).
He's rested as best he can (I'm going on very little as I've been taking care of him/watching him closely).
Today his fever got up to 102 -which we don't believe is necessarily connected. (He was in a Christmas production which ended Sunday and many performers have taken ill since.)
I understand the first 24-72 hours are rough. Post-op follow-up with stint removal is Monday.
We could just use some prayers as we journey through this recovery process.
He's in pain (understandable), but also his neck is sore from the position his head was in for the operation. The discomfort level of not being able to blow his nose is through the roof. Some swelling, too (but bruising does not appear).
He's rested as best he can (I'm going on very little as I've been taking care of him/watching him closely).
Today his fever got up to 102 -which we don't believe is necessarily connected. (He was in a Christmas production which ended Sunday and many performers have taken ill since.)
I understand the first 24-72 hours are rough. Post-op follow-up with stint removal is Monday.
We could just use some prayers as we journey through this recovery process.
🙏137❤3