Becoming

 Time to light my favorite springtime candle, which is lilac, as I write my April post/letter to you.

This months beginning was most unlike early Spring in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It teased us into believing that possibly this year, we would have an early 'vernal equinox'. I saw the first Robins. Canadian Geese landed on the little pond behind our house to begin making their homes building nests for the gosling families to come. Thomas turkeys began the courtship rituals, but, for me, it's the first time I hear the song of the Meadowlark that heralds the arrival of Spring to me, even if there's snow on the ground. (& Spring snows can be bountiful in April!)

& so, that early morning, after answering the call of Mr. Meadowlark, I came in & fixed myself a hot cup of Jasmine tea, which I save for special times of celebration, & Cinnamon toast. It was a warmish morning, so I opened the window to enjoy the continuing birdsong.

Jasmine tea has such a sweet scent that I have to sit & drink in the aroma through my olfactory senses before I begin sipping it. Mmmmmm....like drinking spring flowers.

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My husband tilled our garden spot. My kitties, Oliver, Clooney & I got 'into' the action.

Literally!

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Clooney, looking up at me.

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 The Old Gentleman likes to just lay in the dirt. They both like to roll in it!  I like to do my 'grounding' in it, sinking to my ankles as shown in the above picture. The dirt is cool, soft & delightful, a pure pleasure! Kitties & I spent awhile out here just enjoying soil therapy. 😊

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Lots of April Happy Birthdays!

This is 'Remote Daughter on the Prairie's' birthday cake. I bake it in a cast iron skillet in the oven, which I think tastes the best! & it's pretty too, don't you think? 😋

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Then, which has become my favorite, the celebration of the holiday, or holy-day, Resurrection Day, also known as Easter.

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Aren't these Tulips beautiful? They are faux, but look genuine, even have the waxy feel to them. I couldn't find any natural tulips this color, but I am happy with these because they are so alive looking & will always be 'fresh'!

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These also, which grace our dining room table.

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After a wonderful & scrumptious  Easter dinner with family & friends, came a Spring shower, the kind that rains while the sun is shining & looks like diamond sparkles as it comes down, enchanting. Such a lovely gift, but the best was yet to come.

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God's handwriting in the sky, which signifies hope & a future. New beginnings.

But to have new beginnings, there must be endings. & some endings are not looked forward to. Equally true with new beginnings. Loss can be associated with both.
Let's take the example of a seed, any seed, that we plant in our garden or starter kits. Once the seed is covered by dirt, it begins the process of dying. It seems an oxymoron  to use the word 'beginning' with the word 'dying', or in other words, 

dying = beginning.

"The process that occurs is this - a seed is planted & in order for life to grow from it, it must die. The life then breaks free from the seed & sprouts into something new leaving behind the shell of what once contained it." 

This sounds to me like being born again. But notice that it doesn't stop there. That's just the beginning of the process. After it breaks free from the old, it begins growing. Now it enters the stage of becoming. As Christians, throughout our lives we are always in the process of 'becoming'. That happens through our choices, our responses to choices made by others beyond our control, circumstances in life, sometimes unfair & cruel. We all have one life to live. & we can choose who we are becoming. Romans chapter 12:2, says, 

"Be not conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, so that you can discern what is that good & acceptable & perfect will of God ."

Transformation, becoming, every single day whether we even notice it or not by every choice we make. We can turn the tables on 'the world, the flesh & the devil' when they try to bring compromise, despair, bitterness, fear, anger, on & on, fill in the blank. How? Well, one way is by playing, "The Glad Game", from the book, "Pollyanna". It seems simplistic, but we can have a part in the biblical application of causing all things to work together for good. "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Knowing this that the testing of your faith produces patience.' Becoming patient. We all  have had many (as in MANY!) opportunities to play the Glad Game. Also, many opportunities to play the Complaining Game. (But first take a look at what complaining did for the Israelites. About 40 laps around Mt. Sinai. No thankee spankee!)

We should make a concerted effort, especially if we are born-again, to play another game, 'Kick the Can'. So time to 'Kick the Can' of complaining out of our lives every, single day, which produces thankfulness & contentment & according to scripture, is 'great gain'.    & how about 'Kick the Can' of  pride & presumption, "It's my life & I'll do what I want." A challenge for becoming humble.    Here's a good one. Kick the Can' of supremacy, no matter what culture, color, race or religion. Becoming kind, tolerant (according to Jesus), keeping your 'He Arose tinted glasses' on. 😎    'Kick the Can' of entitlement, an attitude of 'the whole world owes me.' Becoming the one who instead, lays down your life, just because you can't help but love people, even when they don't love you back.   'Kick the Can' of revenge & hatefulness when you are persecuted, reviled, cursed, used, lied about, betrayed, even by friends or family members. In doing that, you are becoming forgiveness, & learning to die to self. Also, Jesus says you are blessed! Wow!! I love to hear that word don't you!?   Another, 'Kick the Can' of unwillingness to do what you were called to do, your God ordained purpose on this earth, because it's not convenient, not the time as you see it, don't want to give up a pet indulgence, don't want to get your hands dirty, don't want the possibility of financial loss or way of life. But you have a choice of becoming submissive to your Lord of Love.    'Kick the Can' of excuses in trying to get out of  a clear command of the Lord. Excuses like, "I'm too old, I'm too young, I don't have any money, I don't want to go alone, I can't" or just plain old "I don't want to!! etc. You know what I mean. (I know what I mean too!) Gosh! Do we really need a Jonah moment?  That is a 'becoming' we DON'T want! A 'Beached Pale'! ( a little play on words. Also a new skin tone. A little levity is needed at this time.) Isn't it much better to just learn to become obedient? I'm sure you can make your own revised version of 'Kick the Can' in your own life, which I promise is not a 'Trivial Pursuit.' (😊)

When I was a little girl, for some unknown reason I decided to cut my hair. Some would say the word butcher would be more applicable. My mother agreed with the latter. Mortified, she took me to the bathroom mirror & said, (more like stated emphatically) "Look at yourself!!" At first I wondered how a scarecrow stick-your-finger-in-a-socket image stood staring at me with a look as mortifying as my Mother beside me. After the shock of fear I probably cried for a few days. I know I've told this story before, but it fits here too. It's time to take a look at who we're becoming by the piercing pinpointing of the Holy Spirit. After a good cry where necessary, well, as the saying goes & with Jesus' help, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, turn around & one foot in front of the other on that narrow road, continue, not in beginning, because you can only begin something once. But continue 'becoming'. He is totally one hundred percent ours. We are 'becoming' totally one hundred percent His, decreasing so that He can increase, thus living His beautiful life not just in us, but through us. It seems to me that we will always be 'becoming'... & that has all eternity in it. 🌷

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Raintree Perk of the Day

"A tiny seed, a hopeful start, a promise tucked inside,  with gentle rain & warming sun its' destiny to ride.   A fragile sprout reaching high, with leaves so green & bright,    Embraces (Jesus) gentle hand, a world bathed in (Son)light.   Then blooms a flower, colors, bold, a beauty to behold.   A testament to change & growth, a story to be told."  (Mabel Watts)

Your story, my story. Our growing, our metamorphosis, our transformation, our becoming.. our own, personal  "Yesterday, today & forever." With Jesus.  

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