Joy in little things

Good evening Friends ~ I hope you all survived seeing in the New Year. I was in bed around 9, lots of fireworks woke me up around midnight. I am thankful for this new year and thank God for this first day of it.

Yesterday I washed a load of laundry and while hanging the laundry out to dry, I noticed a bit of ‘shell rock’ in what looked like to me, the shape of a heart. I bent down and picked it up and yes, it was a heart shape. I slipped it into my pocket and continued hanging out the laundry.

I forgot about the rock until I felt it in my pocket later. I took it out and put it on the lamp base of lamp I just moved from my ‘creative space’ to the living room. This morning I decided to take a picture of it because it was a gift to me from my heavenly Father, and I was just so happy with it. He knows my love of hearts, He also knows my dear husband would bring them to me when he found them. Well, as I was taking the picture, I noticed something that I could hardly believe. I raced, all of 6 feet from the living room to my creative space, sat in my chair, pulled up my art program, downloaded the photo and my own personal heart/seat of emotions, just became overflowing with love and thanksgiving.

There in this shell rock heart is a stylized ‘M’, (at least that’s how it jumps out at me),

which is the first initial of my dear husband’s first name.

I find this little ‘heart gem’ on the last day of 2016,

and see my dear husband’s initial in it on the first day of 2017.

God showed His great love for me in this small piece of fossilized earth, part of His creation that is ancient. To others it wouldn’t even look like a heart, just a rock on the ground. If you start looking for hearts, if you are into them, you will find some. It’s a great way to start a ‘free’ collection from the creator of the universe, be it rocks, leaves, pieces of wood, etc.

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This morning one of my lady church family friends gave me the little devotional by Sarah Young, “Jesus Always”. In today’s reading was this:

“Search for signs of My loving Presence as you journey along the path of Life. Look for the little pleasures I have strewn alongside your pathway – sometimes in surprising places – and thank Me for each one. Your thankfulness will keep you close to Me and help you find Joy in your journey.”

Wow, I certainly felt this was meant just for me today.

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I was given the book “Jesus Calling” on Valentine’s Day 2013, 2 months after my dear husband left this planet to be with God, by a sweet friend. For my birthday in March of 2015, I was given the book “Jesus Today” by another sweet friend. Today I was blessed with this latest book by Sarah Young, “Jesus Always” by a new sweet friend. These books are written based on scripture, but written as if Jesus Himself is talking to you. Scripture references are included at the bottom of each day’s reading. I recommend any and all of these to those searching for a closer relationship with our God, the Great Creator and Savior of the world, Jesus.

What a wonderful way to start this new year for me. May you all feel God’s love surrounding you and drawing you to Him.

Have a fantastic 1st week of this new year. Be thankful. All won’t be a bed of roses, we weren’t promised that, but we are promised that God will be with us through every step of our journey in this life.

Love, hugs & prayers to all of you ~ FlowerLady