Health Trek Day 44

My sister in law has a son who is a Pastor in a Church in Texas. He is a wonderful speaker who motivates all who listen to his sermons. He did a sermon recently about "Unique Thanks". This is when you thank God for something that happened to you that maybe at the time you didn't think was a good thing. For instance, when you were a child you were punished for something and then realize later, that this lesson you learned made a huge difference in your life. So My "sister" challenged all of us to share stories of how we could give Unique thanks for things going on in our daily lives during this wonderful Christmas season. I had a unique experience the other morning that I would like to share. It may or may not meet the criteria of the Unique Thanks premise, but it gave me goosebumps.
First I have to start with my anniversary on November 20Th. My hubby took me to dinner and bought me this wonderful laptop I am writing on as a gift. We had agreed to meet in the parking lot of a restaurant as he had to bowl later in the evening as he is on a bowling team. When I arrived at the restaurant, Mark was standing there holding a beautiful card and a large pink Mylar balloon in the shape of a heart with the words "Happy Anniversary" in floral decor emblazoned on it. I have kept the balloon in my living room since our anniversary. A week or two ago, Mark noticed that the balloon was getting a bit limp. He took the string off of it and blew some air back into it, then he tucked it into the nook of a built in bookcase in our living room. A few days ago, I noticed it had come out of the nook and was bobbing around the living room ceiling. I smiled and thought no more about it.
Later that day, I was upstairs in my craft room making Christmas presents and wrapping gifts. My kids and other family members are having a rough time right now, and I was remembering all the hard years Mark and I had as we raised our kids. I looked around the craft room, saw the shelves that Mark had put up for me so I could organize all my crafts and a surge of love came over me that shook me from head to toe. At that moment I saw something out of the corner of my eye and I jumped, startled and turned around to see what it was. That pink heart came bobbing in to my craft room. It had made its way through the living room, the kitchen, up the stairs made a right turn then a left turn to bob into my craft room at that exact moment! A coincidence? Maybe. But maybe there are forces there we can't explain. A higher being who is there for us and guides us in our daily trials. I am convinced we are not alone. We are all together in this big beautiful, mysterious world with a benevolent God watching over us. I give thanks to Him for the profound blessings I have in my life.
Rock on, everyone!

Christmas Poem 1999

My Christmas Wish
I wish a special Christmas day
A most glorious holiday
One that will fill all hearts with joy
And impress each and every girl and boy
Each year we seem to try and compete
With all our neighbors to find the best treat
We light our homes and stoke our fires
Each house ablaze with Christmas wires
We worry so much that our gifts won't suffice
And try really hard to be extra nice
But the message we need to remember to say
Is the really true meaning of each Christmas day
The babe that was born brought such a sweet, simple word
Through the blazing of trumpets, it needs to be heard
The only gift that we need to impart
Is the one that can only come straight from the heart
Love your wife, love your kids, and your neighbors and friends
This is where the true Christmas must begin and must end
Listen to others, GIVE your time and your TALENT
You don't need a shield and white horse to be gallant
It just takes a moment, a gesture, a smile
To make Jesus's birthday a memory worthwhile.

Merry Christmas to all!
Judy Patt Hall
1999

Plan for today: Be thankful and eat lightly