Sunday, January 02, 2011

Sunday Afternoon Tea


When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long...
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love, in the spring
Becomes the rose.

As a rose beneath the snow... those words bring an image to my mind of hope and faith and grace?   My husband heard this song (The Rose) as I was testing the music on my Play List where it now enjoys second place.  He just said, "Good theology".   Yes... some of the deepest Truths can be found where least expected.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, having realized long ago that writing down what I wish to accomplish the first day of the year... much like a small child's wish list for Kris Kringle... did not usually result in actually doing them.  Wanting is not the same as doing or being no matter how determined I find myself when writing out goals.  Instead of just writing... I ponder (which probably does not surprise you).

As I've grown older and perhaps a little wiser... or is it just more realistic... I find myself in the first week of the new year thinking through and pondering what I have been doing that leads to the good life and what needs to change.  Most often having to do with more quiet times and the eating of colorful and healthy veggies... less cheeseburgers and mindless television shows.

The first week in January has become my time for mid-course corrections.  I think of who I want to be and how to get there by the books I want to read, media watched (or not viewed), things I want to do and places I want to see, ways to stay in touch with family and friends, additions and changes to the garden, new recipes, etc.

For there is something about this time of year that makes me more willing to make additions and subtractions... not so much in say... July.  The year awaits like the first page of a brand new journal with white pages and a colorful pen and lots of hope.

Oh, I know we take with us the same challenges into the new year as we have the same chronic illnesses, bank balance, difficult relationships, and the other stuff of life.  But there's nothing saying we can't look at them in a new way and with deeper faith in the One Who Created Us.  There is another line in that song which goes...

It's the heart, afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream, afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying
That never learns to live 

I want to take chances with people, knowing some will be difficult and hurtful.  I want to dance even if it means falling down.  I want to take chances even if it means making a wrong choice once in awhile.  My natural inclination is to hide under the covers when the winds of adversity blow or people are not kind.

I want to drive even when the weather is bad and pay too much for a Starbucks coffee once in awhile and take a little extra insulin for a piece of favorite pie and make a good friend and have tea parties and read great books and light scented candles and make soup and knead bread and walk the path I feel God has given... even if it not what the World would consider success.

Somewhere deep within is a rose just waiting to bloom.  :)

11 comments:

Susan said...

I want to thank you for Sunday Afternoon Tea. I am so happy that you write for Sunday; it's a quiet day in the blog-world. My husband is traveling right now, so it's just me and my dog for a few more days. It's so nice to see your post pop up in my Reader.

(As I live in Europe, I'm probably one of the first to enjoy them!)

Your Sunday posts always touch me, and strike a chord with what I'm pondering or challenged by. I love how the Lord works that way.

These words from "The Rose" are beautiful and rich with meaning. Your husband is right! Thanks for sharing with us. And as always, thanks for blogging.

p.s. I try to go a little out of my way for a good Starbucks coffee; it's the little things that cheer us through the winter.

Elizabeth said...

A wonderful post!!!

Scrappy quilter said...

Another wonderful post. Keep those beautiful words coming. Like Susan said..I love your Sunday Afternoon Tea posts too. Hugs

Vintage Girl said...

Happy New Year to you and yours! I am so blessed by your words, old and new posts. They are real, they are heartfelt and touch my heart each and every time. Thank you for sharing. In Him, Heather

Joanne said...

So perfect! I just love these thoughts/meditations.
Love that song too! You express so well what many of us think.
"And Mary pondered and treasured all these things in her heart"...(Luke 2)
You put words to the pondering!
Thank you for sharing!
God's richest blessings to you and your family on this New Year!
Joanne

matty said...

Lovely thought today! I love your philosophy about the New Year's... mid-course corrections... nice thought!

Anita said...

I love that thought...a rose waiting to bloom. Thanks for sharing, Brenda!

Jayne said...

Such a lovely post. It's always good to look forward hopefully and think the best of people.

I have fairly recently come across your blog, so I'm going to have fun reading through your archives.

I have also decided to dip a little toe into blogland. I've been thinking of it for a while and decided now is the time xx

Fixing My Thoughts said...

Happy New Year, Brenda! Lovely post. At one time, quite seriously, I wanted those lines that say "Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes the rose" as my epitaph! But I realized that might be a tad long. :o) I am a late-bloomer, and some might say I haven't bloomed at all. But this "low-key" life of mine is exactly right for me, and of course the Lord knew that all along. The World can have its idea of success, because as another song says: We've got to stop and smell the roses, and those who don't really miss out! Bess

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Dear Brenda, I wish you and your family a healthy and happy 2011, full of blessings! Thank you for another wonderful Sunday Afternoon Tea post, filled with things to hold in our hearts and ponder.

Anonymous said...

Dear Brenda,

As always, thank you. What a blessing your posts are to my heart searching for kindred spirits.

Bless you and your first full week of 2011!

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of paying too much for Starbucks once in a while. I go out of my way, costing too much time and gas, for a monthly Barnes and Noble and Starbucks trip. Like, you, I believe it's a sweet part of living this life to the fullest.

Michelle