Just Walk Away...Some Thoughts for Labor Day -Revisited Again

Originally posted for Labor Day weekend, 9/1/2014! Still some great thoughts for today, four    seven years later!  I still need to do some of the same things on my little checklist below....how about you?

Hope you and yours have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!!   (9/6/2021 Note:  I am revisiting this on Labor Day evening, but this message is good for anytime!!)  

I absolutely love this jaunty little fox, trotting away after very efficiently darting into the woods, finding a tasty morsel of something to eat, rodent or reptile I do not know, finishing it off rapidly,

and continuing on his way back into the woods for the day.  This little fox has captured my imagination...and possibly a few others who have seen my post of these pictures on Facebook since yesterday. (in 2014)

Got me to thinking about the times that we need to do just like this fox...take care of the necessities of life, whatever they may be...work, food, shelter, and then just keep on going.  Don't get bogged down by things that distract us from our real purpose.

Things like:

• toxic relationships...people that drag us down, lead us astray, keep us from blossoming
• material attachments...more things...bigger, better, more expensive, prettier, or sentimental objects that weigh us down
• too many projects that really have no vital purpose and take up our time, money, and space
• social attachments that steal our time away from our loved ones...cell phones, social media, internet
• "Responsibilities"...duties we take on that perhaps aren't really our responsibilities but somehow we have allowed ourselves to become pressured into making them our own
• clutter...cluttered closets, garages, sheds, kitchen cupboards, shelves, desks, drawers, rooms, attics, basements, porches, cluttered minds...
• guilt trips...things I should have done, things I should not have done, things I want to do and can't, things I don't want to do but do anyway
• toxic memories...memories of sorrow, fear, anxieties about things that I need to forget...and perhaps forgive

I see myself in several of these...what do I need to walk away from today? How about you? Perhaps you see yourself here as well.  It's certainly easier said than done. But the first step is to identify the things that need to be eliminated from our lives.... 

1. The First Step is to PRAY.
2. Then go down the list above...make your own list and prioritize those things that need to go first.   
3. Work on one item at a time. 
4. PRAY again. Ask God for wisdom.
5. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33
6. If you need wisdom to carry out this process in your life, ask God.  "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."  James 1:5-6
7. Don't allow this process to further bind you in guilt and frustration. Take your time. Let God lead you. But DO listen to His prompting when He speaks to your heart. Don't turn away from the help He is sending your way.

I love this passage in the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verses 4-9:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!

Let your gentleness be known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.

Be anxious for nothing,  but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely, 

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,

MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS.

The things which you learned and received and heard 

and saw in me, these do, and the

God of Peace will be with you."

There is really nothing else for me to say.  I've got my own list to ponder...and some things to pray about on this Labor Day. Then I need to be on my way to a life free from the burden of things...

You might also like to read another story about some little foxes in our lives... Click on the blue.

Friday Foto Friends - Lazy Bones Sleepin' in the Sun

Lazy Bones Sleepin' In the Sun

Lazybones, sleepin' in the sun....how you spect to get your day's work done?
You can't get your day's work done......sleepin' in the noon day sun.

Lazybones, layin' in the shade....how you gonna get your cornmeal made?
You can't get no cornmeal made....sleepin' in that evening shade

When taters need sprayin', I bet you keep prayin'
The bugs'll fall off of the vine
And when you go fishin' I bet you keep wishin'
Them fish don't grab your line

Lazybones, loafin' all the day.....how you spect to make a dime that way?
You won't make no dime that way.....loafin' in the shade all day

Songwriters: CARMICHAEL, HOAGY / MERCER, JOHNNY  Lazybones lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Howdy Friends! I feel like it's been a long time since we last communicated...but it's really only been a week...It's just that last weekend was such a "wash-out", with Hurricane Matthew passing by and the loss of power, and absolutely no communication with the outside world for 36 hours.   But then I look at what the poor people up in the Carolina's are still suffering...with flooded homes, towns, roads, and many unable to go back to their homes, and I feel a little bit guilty that we were spared so much...but so very, very humbled and thankful. 

Yesterday we met with our family at a restaurant for lunch up on the St. John's River.  It's one of my favorite places to go because we can sit out on the deck overlooking the river while we eat. These "lazybones" baby alligators were totally unaware of the world around them as they snoozed in the noon-day sun.  I say they were unaware, but I am certain they would have sprung to action if someone had jumped in the water nearby...something I was not about to do even if I could have...because you can be assured where there are baby gators, mama gator is probably not far away.

While we enjoyed our lunch on the deck, we couldn't help but notice this houseboat floating by on the river.   I imagine the people on that houseboat are a lot like the baby gators...just "sleepin' in the noon-day sun"...not a care in the world it would seem...enjoying a day on the river...which is a wonderful way to spend a beautiful fall day after the stresses of last weekend's storm.

It has occurred to me that "sleepin' in the noon-day sun" is probably not a bad idea...perhaps not literally in the noon-day sun, but the idea of resting after a week of unusual stress is actually a very good thing.  When we go through the trauma of a bad storm and all the extra work that goes along with the preparation and clean-up afterwards, our bodies suffer more than we realize. Add to that other unexpected issues, whether they be physical, financial, or the environmental stresses and strains...or how about the current political assaults being assailed constantly by the media wherever you look...these are all issues that are overloading and affecting our minds, bodies and spirits.

The Lord gave us a beautiful picture of the rest that He provides for us when we are overwhelmed by the cares of this world. Read along with me:

"The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness 

for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the 

valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, 

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever."

Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV

This tells me that it is okay to take some time out to rest from the stresses of this old world...it's okay to spend some time just "sleepin' in the noon-day sun" when our bodies, minds and spirits are worn out, overwhelmed, or just plain tired.   Jesus told His disciples (including you and me):

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

So, if you are feeling guilty about taking that extra nap, or you find that you feel like just sitting somewhere peaceful and doing absolutely nothing for a spell...DON'T! (Feel guilty, that is).  This is God's way of bringing healing to your soul.  He knows what you need...and He gives you permission to do just that.   

Thank you, Lord!

Linking up with Deb and friends at Friday Foto Friends today.  Hop on over there and see what others are sharing today.