THE VISIT

Scripture says to us,

“You sweep mortals away,

lasting no longer

than a dream.

They fade like grass that is

renewed in the morning”(Ps 90:5)

When a loved one passes away,

we lose part of our own hearts

and souls. At times, it is hard

to keep going, though we know

God wants us to.. Waking up

to an emptiness does not make

the daily life easy to accept.

Seeking comfort from God

will nourish us. He is there,

showing us that though

our beloved is no longer

in our tangible presence,

there are the sprouts of grass

cropping up where we least expect it,

a gentle breeze felt as we are

out and about,

that resplendent flower seen

leaving us in awe

or a sudden calmness

replacing our anxiety.

Yes, our loved one

has been swept away,

but has come back to us,

visiting for all eternity.

~Marie T. Morrison~

A SMILING VISION

Waiting in a medical room of filled with worry and tension, a baby and mother take a seat. The baby knows no fear, only innocence, giving a smile to each person surrounding him. Eyes sparkle as bright as the little one. Grins are shared with the baby and one another. Happiness replaces anxiety. The Spirit of God brought a skip to every step as names were called out. Only visions of that smile remained.
~Marie T. Morrison~

A REPLACEMENT

Baggage gets heavy, as worries, gossip, anxiety and wrath weigh us down. Toss out the unnecessary load, replacing it with prayer. It is simple to hold, can be emotionally cared for by God and the Spirit is always there, to help grasp any of the burden.
~Marie T. Morrison~

TEA

I love to sip a cup of tea. It is most relaxing. I start my day with a cup of Irish Breakfast tea, using loose tea placed in a small , empty tea bag, made for such a purpose. Mid-morning, I might go for the Earl Grey tea, finding it soothing as I work on a hobby, read or plan a lesson. It can raise my spirits, leaving me calm and good -natured, getting my creative juices flowing.
Remaining in high spirits, it is time to tackle the laundry, clean up the kitchen and perform other mundane household duties. I usually have the house in silence as I work, taking this time to say prayers for those going through rough times and to have my conversations with God. My conversations are as if I was talking to my best friend, which in a way, I am! I may be expressing gratitude for the previous day’s activities, or telling Him how I will need to come up with the right words to use while teaching a class for my Church.
Time goes quickly by. After my lunch, I may finish it off with a cup of red bush tea. This gives me energy to start my afternoon plans. I will likely be venturing out to the Church, to facilitate an adult group of students, sharing what I have learned with them. Often, I bring my thermos cup of brown rice tea with me, to keep my voice from getting hoarse, while at the same time, giving me a bit of nourishment to remain at my high level of excitement as I teach.
The rest of the day zooms by. It may consist of working with one more religious ed. student out of my home, a child unable to make it to Church classes. I offer a cup of peppermint tea to my young lady, while I have apple cinnamon tea. We wrap our hands around our mugs, sipping them as we discuss together different Bible stories, curled up on the couch, facing one another as we converse.
Tea is something I would offer to all my groups of students while I was still teaching full time. They loved it, sipping green tea with honey as I taught. Some had never seen a teabag before, ripping it open to pour into their cups. They quickly learned from their peers how to use the teabag properly. These same young people came to visit me, years after they were in my class, asking for a cup of tea while we visited. What a nice way to reconnect, making a pause in a busy life, to sit and enjoy the company of another.
We tend to forget about the simple things in life, such as enjoying that cup of tea. God wants us to nourish our bodies and our souls, rather than rushing around so. It does not take long to enjoy a cup, but it can bring a long-lasting effect upon one. Others feel the calmness, responding in the same way, letting the tenseness leave the shoulders and neck. This calmness can be passed on to the next individual, and so forth. It is the way God’s world should be, rather than getting angry because of the slow driver in front of us, or the person who takes forever to write a check and post it in the ledger before allowing us to reach the clerk at the counter. Even picturing that cup of tea in a time of tenseness can let the anxiety dissipate.
Spoil yourself. It is actually okay! Go find a favorite mug and purchase some fun flavors of tea. Grab a relaxing book, take off the shoes, cozy up on the couch, sip your tea and enjoy the moment! It is just what God has ordered!

ANXIETY

I love the verse in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It is easy to forget who can truly help us if we are going through stressful times. Blaming another for causing the stress does not solve the problem. It can have the adverse affect, of causing more anxiety. It would be better to find a quiet space, praying for the Holy Spirit to comfort you during this tumultuous time. Take a moment to breathe in the air around you. Shut your eyes and picture a relaxing scene in your mind. It could be a special moment in your life or visualizing one of your favorite landscapes.  The important thing is not to shut the Holy Spirit out. Remember, He is always there to care for you!