REDEMPTION OF HOPELESSNESS

 One of the local gardeners is well know throughout the area for her beautiful garden.  She is a stand out in the midst of a variable sea of green thumbs here in Ruston.   She is not only a talented gardener, but also a gifted photographer.  She shares her talent in both areas by regular postings of beautiful photos of her blooms.  Recently she posted a photo with a comment which began the wheels turning.  

Photo Credit ~ Sunant Ranjitkar

She had taken the blooms broken by a recent rain and created a gorgeous flower arrangement.  Did I mention she is also a gifted flower arranger?  (The lady is extremely talented in many areas)  Taking flowers which were doomed to quickly wilt and fade after being broken and turning them into another art form, she redeemed the doomed blooms for continued enjoyment.  The life giving rain had caused damage which threatened sure death to the blooms, but with careful trimming, arranging, and supplying with needed water they lived to be enjoyed for more days to come.

At times we face damage and trauma with little or no warning.  We are then faced with the question of how we will react to the storms of life.  Are we able to redeem the beauty remaining or do we walk away in defeat?  My gardener friend could have walked through her damaged garden that day and thrown away those blooms affected.  She chose to gather the blooms and create another work of art from the damage left behind.  She chose to redeem what seemed to be beyond hope.  She knew there was hope and chose a future for her beautiful blooms.  Thankful for those who look for redemption in even the worst of circumstances and thankful for a God Who is a Redeemer of even the most hopeless times.

"There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off."

Proverbs 23:18

TRULY- YOU ARE!

Recently I looked at a new friend across the room and noticed her beautiful eyes and flawless creamy complexion---which reminds me of childhood coffee---a little coffee and a lot of cream.  As I listened to her speak with great words of wisdom and a deep knowledge of The Word, her inner beauty shined and her deep love for Our Lord poured out with every word she spoke.

Later as everyone stood and the hum of conversation swirled around the room, I walked over --looked into her deep dark eyes--and said, "Do you know you are really beautiful?"  The head of PR for a large local institution----she is constantly in the spotlight---and never at a loss for words.  She stopped in her tracks and looked down--without comment.  I repeated, "You do know that don't you?"  As she slowly gazed up, there were tears in her eyes as she responded, "No, I do not ever think that."  I assured her---you are beautiful and do not ever think otherwise.

We get so hung up on the standards the world has given us---that we are bombarded with daily--those yard sticks to measure ourselves by---that we become convinced we do not measure up.  BUT WAIT---we are wonderfully and fearfully made--in the VERY IMAGE OF GOD.  HE is beautiful and His Word tells us we are beautiful. 

Who are we going to listen to the Great Deceiver and all of his agents or Almighty God?  We all need and desire to be told we are beautiful/handsome.  I am telling you----you are beautiful---TRULY-YOU ARE!

"Oh, my dear friend!

You're so beautiful!

And your eyes so beautiful-like doves!"

Song of Songs 1:15

FOR YOU GIRLS ONLY---

FOR THE HANDFUL OF MALE READERS I HAVE---TURN YOU EYES AWAY FROM THE BLOG AND MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS

Girls---I need to share what has been on my mind today---and most of us girls need this little pep talk---we may be the fairer sex and we may be Steel Magnolias, but logic flies out the door when it comes to aging for most of us!

IF you have the time and the money, you can put off the inevitable---but the inevitable is truly unavoidable!  I will begin by reminding you of my OWN foolish attempts at fooling Mother Nature.  Back in O Nine---you do remember the "Face Lift"?  NO---Look here.  In an effort to "Keep My Man" and take a few years off, I had a face lift.  That worked REALLY well-- and I still have the same face.  ---I can be a little thick headed at times!

Then there is the LONG list of products that I no longer use, nor can afford--the "Keep Your Youthful Eyelashes" gel--it really works-----BUT the first second you do not follow the regiment of application--ALL the new lashes and some of the ones you still had fall out in a huge heap!    The Retina A--the super soft supple moisturizer, the restore the elasticity to your skin cream (WHAT A DUD!)---the list goes on and on   AND  we suckers just keep plopping out the money.

Then there is the SPA--OH THE GLORIOUS SPA----Facials---Mani/Pedi's---Massages---SPECIAL MAKE-UP---QUEEN FOR THE DAY Treatment---OH HOW SWEET the treatment.  You need to get a second line of credit upon your house before making a visit.

BASICALLY---if you have enough money and keep throwing it at the problem of aging daily--you CAN postpone what's coming---BUT BOTTOM LINE

MOTHER NATURE WINS!!!!!!

What has created our desperate attempts to delay her victory?  Vanity, ego, denial, ---a multitude of reasons.  Mass marketing and the beauty industry knows a sucker when they see one---and we ALL are suckers.

This is not to say that you should not exercise, eat right, and do all you can to remain healthy and active.  I am NOT a proponent of taking it laying down.  There is nothing wrong with moisturizers, massages, make-up---and on and on.  What I am telling you---with a great deal of love---is DO NOT get so hung up on it that it consumes your life and your pocketbook.  

In ALL honesty---I do not really notice what my friends are wearing--nor if they are aging--or gaining/losing weight.  What I do notice is their hearts and minds--the thing that drew me to love them in the first place.  SO RELAX--enjoy--be joyful with today and let tomorrow take care of itself.  I cherish you all--who cares about Mother Nature's Earthly victory!  WE ALL KNOW WHO WINS THE ETERNAL VICTORY!

Today I am joyful and thankful for the ever-lasting beauty

of the One True King.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever."

Isaiah 40:8