Don't Let the Song Go Out of Your Life

"Happiness grows by our own firesides, it is not picked in strangers' gardens."

Happiness is ours to have if we do not let the song go out of our lives even when the melody flows in a minor strain.

Dont let the song go out of your life

Though it chance sometimes to flow

In minor strain; it will blend again

With the major tone you know.

What though shadows rise to obscure life's skies,

And hide for a time the sun,

The sooner they'll lift and reveal the rift,

If you let the melody run.

Don't let the song go out of your life;

Though the voice may have lost its trill,

Though the tremulous note may die in your throat,

Let it sing in your spirit still.

Don't let the song go out of your life;

Let it ring in the soul while here;

And when you go hence, 'twill follow you thence,

And live on in another sphere.

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I am going to share a bit of old farmers' advice that I came across. It is both kind of amusing and serious. The advice is sound and true and more people should take it into mind.

"Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong."

"Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce."

"Keep skunks, bankers and lawyers at a distance."

"Life is simpler when you plow around the stump."

"A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor."

"Words that soak into the ears are whispered...not yelled."

"Meanness don't jest happen overnight."

"Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads."

"Do not corner something you know is meaner than you."

"It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge."

"You cannot unsay a cruel word."

"Every path has a few puddles."

"When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty."

"The best sermons are lived, not preached."

"Most stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway."

"Don't judge folks by their relatives."

"Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer."

"Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time."

"Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none."

"Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance."

"The eastiest way to eat crow is while it is still warm, 'cause the colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller."

"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'."

"It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."

"Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got."

"The biggest troublemaker you'll probable ever have to deal with watches you shave his face in the mirror every mornin'."

"Always drink upstream from the herd."

"Lettin' the cat out of the bag is a whole lot easier then puttin' it back in."

"It you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."

"Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God."

"Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt."

A Unique Individual - A Specific Purpose

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Y ou are a unique individual with a specific purpose in life. Did you know that? So is everyone else. You are made in the image of God, and He has a very special reason for your being here, a special purpose for your existence and a specific job for you to do.

Oft times we tend to just see the outside of the shell of a person. In fact, most times. We just see "someone" as ugly, obnoxious, or whatever else we may label them as. We don't stop and look beyoung the outside shell. If we did we would see a struggling, hurting human being. Or we see them as pretty, stylish, handsome, smart and what not and we don't stop to think that they have needs also, that they struggle and have hurts and disappointments also. We think they have it all made.

We need to stop just seeing people as they appear outwardly and to look beyond to the pain they feel. But don't analize people either, don't try to solve their problems for them and don't push yourself on them if they don't want you. Be caring, but don't push.

Each person has joy, pain, struggles, laughter, sorrow, hurt; each person has feelings just like us and too often we are selfish and only think of ourselves instead of looking to the needs of other people. To often we don't think how others may feel but the things we say.

It is important as children of God, not to jump to conclusions and to always give others the benefit of the doubt. To treat them as you would want to be treated, thereby obeying the Golden Rule.

Others may do a greater work,

But you have your part to do;

And no one in all God's heritage

Can do it as well as you.

Always remember that each and every one of us are unique indivduals and we each have a purpose to fill in God's plan for this life. Never forget that you are special, you are valuable, and you are made in the image of God.

Many people today are suffering from depression. Laughter hides their silent cries. No one seems to care, no one seems to see...except God, and they usually don't think God does either. But He looks pityingly down from above, looking for a child of His that He can send to encourage them. People are good at faking, at pasteing on happiness, but deep down they are crying for something better, something higher. I know, I have been there. Not to the depths that others have been, the Lord saved me from that, thank Him, but close enough.

People need the Lord...

Can't I Have Fun?

Why, yes of course you can! In fact you can have a blast! I do!

I am sure many of you are wondering if I ever have fun. You might be asking, "Can't this girl have any fun? All she ever talks about it this boring, serious stuff." For the record, I don't think it is boring, but that is off topic right now.

Indeed, I must say, I have a lot of fun! And to to shock you and really make you wonder what I do to have fun, I'll tell you that no I don't play video games, or go to movies, I am not into sports, and I don't hang out every evening. So what do I do for fun?

Well, obviously you know that I do some surfing of the web or I wouldn't be here in blogger world. But let me tell you what I had a blast doing this past week.

My brother owns a farm and it was haying season. He still currently does small square bales, so they are easily handled by humans. *smile* So we spent this past week doing hay. You'd come in late in the evening, tired, sore, scratched up, and eat supper, do chores, shower, and crash in bed. What fun is there in that? We love it! I love it! It is a holiday, something that we look forward to year after year.
This is a conversation I had with my Grandmother while watching the men unload one of the wagons.

Grandma: "Don't ever marry a farmer."
Me: *surprised* "Why?"
Grandma: "Because they have to work so hard."
Me: "Oh, but I love it!"
Grandma: "Oh really? Ok."

I honestly do. As I explored that barns later, and gazed over the fields, my love for farm life increased. I'd never be able to live anywhere else. Why? There is something about farm life that is special. There is something so wonderful about it, that even though you have to work hard it is still considered fun.

Hanging out in the barn with the boys, milking cows and feeding calves (though we don't have many), sharing the happenings of the day. It's all wonderful.

Now, what else do I do for fun? You know I don't really think about it much because the majority of the work I do I consider to be fun. A fun thing is mowing the lawn. We have a John Deere riding lawn mower and I love to mow, I enjoy every minute of it.

Mail. I love to write letters and receive them, there is delight in seeing a envelope with my name on it in the mail box. Mail time at our home is when every one comes running to see what came.

I enjoy walking when the weather is good. Especially in the evening when everything is quiet and still. There is something so calming about it.

I love to cook and bake and any kind of housework. It is fun, believe me.

The other evening we were blessed with the fellowship of other Christian youth. Oh what fun, and what a blessing to gather together and sing beloved hymns, praises to our Almighty God. I love to sing. There is nothing like gathering with other believers. Nothing like good friends and good music. 'Tis all so wonderful.

My version of fun is likely very different from many of yours. But in the winter time we go out skating in the evening with the neighbor young people. We come home nearly frozen to hot soup, hot chocolate, a warm fire and a warm home. Now that is fun.

I really enjoy scrapbooking. I know that someday I will treasure those pictures. They will be special.

There is nothing like curling up in a warm blanket, by a blazing fire, with a steaming cup of tea, on a cold, winter evening with a good book. I'm a book worm, just ask my family, when I get my hands of a good book and have the time to read it, I can't put it down.

I also love riding horses. I haven't had much of an opportunity to ride the past few years, but when I did, I most definitely didn't pass it up. It is one of my dreams to one day own a horse, a beautiful, black mare. There is nothing quite like galloping across the fields with your face to the wind and your hair flying. It is such a blessed taste of flying free. You almost feel as though you could be flying, only it is better.

Going to the beach, going canoeing, picnicing with friends and family. What could be more fun? Watching the blazing sun sink behind the horizon casting its golden hues across the water. To me, this is all blessed fun.

This is not likely what you may consider to be fun. But to me this is all the height of living. This is fun. This is wonderful. Glorifying God in everything I do is my goal in life. I want to be a living witness of His love and grace.

Try it and see if you enjoy it. I am sure you will.