The Good & Bad of Seeing Red

Today I was 'seeing red' after hearing some rather distressing news. It was obvious to me that some people have forgotten the age old Golden Rule and replaced it with something of their own making.

Tomorrow, when my anger and hurt have subsided a bit, I will decide how best to deal with this troubling situation. I am sure it wouldn't hurt for me to pray about the matter too.

Despite the fact that today was painful, I'm choosing to end it thinking of blessings and not anger. Surprisingly (not!) the color 'red' comes to mind this evening and since so many good things are red, I thought I'd end the day surrounded by some of the reds I have known...and thanking God for the blessing this color has played in my life.

I used to be a blue girl. In fact, most of my life was spent enamored with the color blue. I loved blue skies, blue oceans, blue plates from England (just dug out of storage not too long ago), powder blue turtlenecks, and the song “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. I loved blue’s cousin too--purple. In fact I had a purple room when I was a teenager with a deep (as in thickness and color) purple carpet in it --which I must confess was often, no usually, covered with -- well teenager stuff and papers. Oh, no! I must be the reason my kids were messy; no wait ... I do remember my hubby's apartment when I first met him:)

Over time though something happened …maybe it was the influence of the red home I spent my young, formative years in--the one with a red kitchen and red brick exterior--or

perhaps it was all those red clothes my mom sewed and bought for me. Or something simple like eating red jello for dessert or a teenage obsession with red jawbreaker candy or my never-ending love for red licorice!! Maybe.

But it could have been Hollywood's influence on my tender, young, impressionable mind too, suggesting that “Dorothy” shoes had special powers which brought you to your nice, safe home when you tapped them together. Hum. Not likely. Actually, the more I think about it...this love for red was probably there all the time, lying dormant for years in my DNA, growing slowly as it was nurtured by my surroundings until…

the time we stayed at a Norwegian-style B & B, decorated in red, white and blue and I wanted -- all of a sudden -- to redo my home.

Actually, when it comes down to it---I think it is all of the above--plus the accumulative effect of being surrounded by this color all year long and every where I go.

So my blessing of the day--red. I embrace the red in my life--except for the 'seeing red' one!

And I still have a soft spot in my heart for blue Bachelor Buttons, blue skies and oceans, blue plates and the song--Crystal Blue Persuasion. But I am kind of over the messy deep purple carpet thing--for now:)

Blessings, Aimee
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Photos: summer's red begonias, rose hips in winter, Scandinavian rug, Bernese Mt Dog at festival in Washington, childhood skirt & shoes (I was into kilts), decor from Norwegian B & B in Washington, autumn leaves, flag and view from near the Astor Column in Astoria (Oregon), llamas in rural NW setting, Swedish candlelight set & other decor, Valentine's placemat & napkin set, nisse under tree.

A Walk in His Gardens--Of Willows & Daisies

Spring will be here very soon---everyday that passes and every stroll that I take outdoors in God's creation reminds me that we're moving swiftly from winter's time of rest to the season of new life.

Soft, gray catkins on the bare branches of our willow.

Daphne Odora buds beginning to open into the very fragrant blossoms of early spring!

Clusters of buds on the plum trees in our family orchard waiting for that annual signal to break into beautiful white blossoms (repeat after me---no frost, no frost, no frost!)

Bead-like buds of the Pieris opening up into the white blossom clusters that mark the coming spring season.

Irises and Daffodils are taller but haven't blossomed yet; still every week brings new growth and it won't be much longer before they will add their beauty to the garden too.

Cheerful white and yellow daisies multiply daily on our too long meadow grass. Soon it will be time to mow the winter's growth but for now I take delight in their color and think of the daisy chains of the young.

Oh, Lord

Creator of the seasons

and Giver of life.
Thank you for bringing us safely through winter's storms

and thank you for the spring of new life and this annual rebirth of the earth.

You, who called all things into being

and who still holds our world in Your hands,

we ask that You grant Your children

a rebirth and renewal of their souls too so that we may share Your love to the world around us.

Amen.

"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches. Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are created: and Thou renewest the face of the earth."

Psalms 104:24,30 KJV

Blessings, Aimee

Photos: Oregon Grape, Willow Catkins from last year (sorry try as I did, I couldn't get one good photo of this year's), Daphne Odora, Shiro Plum buds with raised garden beds, Pieris blossoms and daisies!

God's Origami - in Progress

Origami is made by folding small, beautifully decorated pieces of paper into different shapes like cranes and other animals. It's gorgeous and I'm fascinated with it!

I'm beautiful too, just the way I am, because God made me; just as the origami paper is beautiful because its designers and manufacturers made it to be that way.

But God designed me to even more beautiful so that I can be a reflection of Him, the Master Creator and Artist to others. Like the origami artist, He sees that if I am folded (shaped, molded) just so I will be even more lovely!

So, God continuously works to shape me into what He sees I can be--what He wants me to be. He works patiently, carefully, lovingly for He realizes I'm just a fallible human being and He doesn't want me to be torn. I may not always like this process of being shaped, because it sometimes hurts or is scary, but He keeps on gently but firmly putting pressure on me, bending me to His will and working to complete the good work He has started in me.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 KJV

"...being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6 KJV

Blessings, Aimee

Photo: a very small portion of the origami made for my son's and DIL wedding by her grandfather, one of the most talented -- and kind -- people I've ever met.