Happy Wednesday to TSJ Peeps!
Summer has officially arrived and for many of you that means the school year is ending too!
The end of the school year finally brings relief for teachers and kids’ weary brains! Families feel the excitement of summer fun along with some pressures of summer care. But the overall mood of happiness is in the air. Freedom to sleep more, play more, and spend time with friends and family all bring a certain anticipation of happiness.
So today the TSJ Boys and little Lovey are sending you this picture.
Can you tell what they are doing? It is hard to tell, I know.
When I came into the kitchen to write to you (where write and look out at the beautiful sun shining through the tree leaves and watch the birds at the feeder), I heard some happy sounds .
“What is going on?” I ask.
Solomon explained they were trying to do a high five with each other. Now that was just funny to watch. Their feet are not designed to meet each other! Little Lovey did her best too, as you can see. I thought it looked like a happiness huddle!
Solomon and SJ said they want the peeps to know they are happy for summer to start.
But they are especially happy today because I announced, “Ms. Margie is taking the weekend off from worries about selling the house.”
“No Worries!” Weekend . . .
Solomon was delighted because he thinks all peeps should stop worrying and being afraid anyway. But he also added that this is as a good start!
Also, they are very excited because we are planning a party this weekend.
Happiness is Contagious . . .
As summer arrives, all kinds of happiness is in the air and happiness is contagious and we like the happiness contagion. So we are going to celebrate our thankfulness for Mr. Tom’s life. Sunday is his first birthday with Chief Shepherd in pastures totally free from pain, fears or worries.
So we do not want to be thinking about house selling or moving etc. on this rather special time of memory.
I don’t know where the common statement, “No worries!” started, but it is a delightful shorthand version of what appears repetitively in the scriptures.
To cease from worries and fears seems to be a consistent message given to shepherds and prophets and ordinary people throughout the centuries. Repeatedly we read, “Do not be afraid, fear not, do not worry.
I guess I must not be the only one who needs the repetition!
I recently read… “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12;32) And this made me pause because I have a great tendency to worry. It also made me smile because here at TSJ we make liberal use of the shepherd/sheep metaphor and there it was again.
Our Inheritance . . .
And quite honestly, I have been thinking the kingdom is our spiritual inheritance. It is accessed within our hearts.
Solomon keeps reminding me that an inheritance does not take work. It is a gift to be handled with conscious love and gratitude. But when we do not access this spiritual inner reservoir and place our trust in things that are temporary we tend to fall into worry. It is human to do so. That is why we need reminders.
So in the midst of a world swirling with things to worry about we have (and need) reminders to take a break and access our spiritual kingdom where love and conscious gratitude become wells of inner abundance. From this place of heart we can find contentment, rest from worries, and peace. All we must do is dip our cups into that well and be refreshed.
Have a great day playing in the pastures of your life!
Margie and Solomon
