step out of that mud puddle and look up!

today as i went on a mid-morning walk
i began by looking down as i walked.
so caught up in things that are burdening me;

my dear friend whose family received an ugly diagnosis
and who are treasuring each and every day they have together.
my knee which is causing me pain when i walk/run
making it harder for me to get out and exercise like i want to.
yesterday was our first easter without my mom in law...
and the general ugliness of the world and the news.

yes, i was thinking on these things when a took off for my walk.

and then, and then...i looked up!

the sun was shining on me!
i had a silly shadow that mimicked my every move. :)

the sky? Oh my goodness!
the sky was this brilliant blue,
the color was so intense it looked
like it had been hand-painted!
the clouds so fluffy
it was as if God had placed cotton balls
in the sky. it was so lovely!
Genesis 1:1

while i was looking UP,
i noticed an eagle soaring above me.
floating on the air & circling overhead.
when out of what seemed no where..

appeared a hawk.

he flew a few hundred yards away from the eagle...
and as i watched these two,
they began to circle in unison!
it was as if they were doing a synchronized dance
just for me!
how amazing!
Isaiah 40:31

i thought to myself...
look what i would've missed
if i would have continued to walk with my head down!?
i would have missed this wonderful dance
and this beautiful sky above me!

it is so, so easy to look down.

to crawl into that hole,
to sit in that mud puddle.
to let all the ugliness just cover you
& to wallow in it all.

but, if you will only pull yourself out.
i mean, drag yourself if you have to!
but, just get out of that mud puddle
and look UP!

see the beauty around you!

maybe it is just something little
like seeing the blue sky above you,
or feeling the sunshine on your back.

beauty is there, if you take the time
to notice.

but, if you are looking down,
you might miss that stranger
who just smiled at you.
the gorgeous snow covered mountain in the distance.
blue skies, puffy clouds and eagles floating above.
or wild flowers growing along side the road

beauty is there.

it's in the everyday and the mundane.

it is, if we will only look.

my wish for you and i both...
is that we see the good in something today!

look in that mirror and smile at yourself!
you are an amazing, beautiful person.

and above all. you are loved!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

have a shiny day my friends.
be blessed!