It came and went with just a stroke of midnight. The old year gone and now the new year has begun! 🙂
Yesterday I kept thinking to myself, “What am I going to do today that is different?” Last day of the year, might as well do something. So I did, but it just turned out to be a pretty normal day. I helped my mom vacuum/dust and did the dishes. Put away some Christmas lights. Caught up on a few emails. Enjoyed the evening with my aunt/uncle. And watched the birds play in the snow outside.
Cute little creatures! Mom had placed slices of oranges covered with peanut butter, sprinkled with seeds or something on the top. There they were–fresh snow falling in all around them and they just were having the time of lives eating and flying around. Others were seated near each other in the big bush right outside my window. For being so small, they sure can ruffle their feathers to make them appear two sizes bigger.
The bush is not in its time of glory. I would say that comes in the summer. It shoots up (after pruning) to such a height, sometimes it is hard to see out my window. The green leaves are a shade–even Muffy finds a cool haven from the heat. And the butterflies just can never have enough fill of the purple blossoms. It was the inspiration for this painting I did for the art show (which now hangs in my room 🙂 ):
On a day like yesterday I realized that this bush, more full of icicles than leaves, was a safe haven to the birds. They did not mind that it was pretty much dead from the winter months. At that moment it was what they needed. I sat there thinking. It reminded me of one of my favorite passages in Matthew, where Jesus talks about not worrying.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ~Matthew 6:25-27, ESV.
My mind wonders at times. Not really “worrying” per say but I like to plan ahead. When my plans don’t go in the way I think they should, it usually turns into worry or frustration. Take last week for example. Not what my plans had in mind, but in the end it was for the better.
I never make New Year’s Resolutions…mostly in part by the end of the month I can’t keep them. So instead of a resolution, I decided to use this year and focus on what these verses say, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (vs. 33-34.)
I know I will not remember this everyday. But I am hoping God sends me reminders, even if it just means taking more time to watch the birds from my bedroom window. “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. But empties today of its strength.” ~Corrie Ten Boom
I look forward to continuing the journey. More to come…
My Life with NF2 
You are such an inspiration to me. Would you mind if I read some of your blogs at church sometimes. Give your family my love.
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2013 19:17:41 +0000 To: bdillon12@msn.com
Hi Beth!
I do not mind at all! If you find you have friends or people from church who are wanting more information or a reminder of the blog name, I can send you a stack of my “business cards” that goes with my paintings. Just has my name, email and blog name on it. Let me know if you are ever interested in this…I have a ton! 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement! Mom says hello!
Loved this one!
Happy New Year, Melinda to you and the family.
Thanks Sheri! I miss you and Bre’s smiling faces. Think of you often!!
Thanks for the good reminders for the new year! Yesterday I was listening to a show on the Moody network. They were discussing adopting a “word” for the year (in the process of becoming more Christlike). I thought that was a good idea and have been wondering what my Word for the Year should be.
P.S. I would like a few of your business cards!
Tanis
That is neat. I actually have a cousin on dad’s side that picks a word like this for her year and applies it to her life and how she can grow in it. I had never thought of doing anything like that before until it came up in a conversation a few months ago. I thought about a specific word but none came to mind. So I decided a theme verse instead. 🙂
Your envelope with business cards is all set. I will try to mail it for sure by Monday. We have company coming in and this weekend is busy but next week goes back to more normality. 🙂 You should get it by the end of next week.
Love, Mel
Thank you Mel – beautiful reminder!
And I thought of you as I read the Corrie Ten Boom quote. 🙂 I am thinking I should read more of her writings this year.
Happy 2013 sis!! May you be blessed beyond measure with peace and love from our Heavenly Father above this New Year =) Yet another great post!! Love ya, Megs XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Love you too! 😀 xoxo
Melinda,
Thank you for your blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to especially thank you for your “Happy 2013!” post! This new year for me has started with a sense of anticipation in my walk with God that I have not had in a few years. Ryan encouraged me in an area and that was when the anticipation begun! Yet it was your post that the Lord used to give me the Scripture passage that describes the anticipation that I feel: Matthew 6:25-34! Verse 33 is my target verse for this new year. Thanks so much, Melinda, for allowing God to use you in others’ lives by writing your blog.
Praying for you,
Ed and Jean
Hi U. Ed and A. Jean. Thank you for sharing this with me. I will be praying for you too as we all learn and grow more in Christ togther. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share on my blog what I go through, because then I learn and grow and get encourged by others as well. 😀 Wish I could have seen you over the holiday! Hope we can get down there sooner than later! Love you!
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