Naming My Blessings – Join Me

Happy Monday!  November, at least in my small corner of the world, has gotten off to a gorgeous start!  For me, that means no snow (although many have already had some of the white stuff – oh my!) and plenty of sunshine …with temperatures close to 70!  So much autumn loveliness!  Just as I would plan all of autumn, if it were up to me:)

My first post for this month was my monthly Currently post…which I posted last Thursday.  And that leaves the rest of the month for turning my thoughts toward to Thanksgiving!  With the holiday just three weeks away and my posting just twice a week, that only means about six more posts.  Hard to believe.  I am hoping/planning to use some gratitude prompts for the next few weeks and to post some things for which I am oh so thankful. I’m also hoping these prompts might get me to thinking a bit outside of the box.  But, just a bit.  (I don’t usually stray too far “outside of the box” – lol!)

I thought you might want to join me.  At the end of each post, I will leave the prompts for the upcoming post.  Maybe you will want to include one of them in your post….or you might just want to have a heads-up so that you can share in my comment section.  I would love to hear from you.  I’d love to hear some of what you are thankful for this year.  This season.  Or even this week.  Either way – if you write a post, leave a comment, or simply want to read along – I look forward to you joining me here each week. Every Monday and Thursday.  Now, for today’s prompts.

A person I am glad to have (or to have had) in my life – my sweet friend, Juanita.  I’ve mentioned her more than a couple of times here on my blog.  In just a couple of weeks, it will be one year since she went to Heaven.  Not only do I think of her regularly but her life continues to impact me often in personal and powerful ways.  Although small in stature and with a quiet voice, she was large in personality! She was fiercely independent, strong in spirit and opinion, and very determined.  At 93, my friend had experienced much that life offers.  Lots of love and plenty of joy but plenty of struggles, deep disappointments, and hard days as well.

She also knew more than her share of grief.  She lost her husband after a long battle of cancer that drained both of them physically and mentally.  Earlier, her life was devastated when her (preschooler) grandson was killed in an car accident.  Soon after his death, her only child and daughter, who was also in the accident but survived, turned to alcohol in order to cope.  She died tragically from her addiction.  But Juanita continued to press on.  She not only leaned on her faith but trusted in the Lord for strength and for courage.  For peace and a renewed hope that was real and evident to those who knew her.

She was a living example of Isaiah 61:3 – the verse that inspired both my blog and its title.  It says (the spirit of the Lord is upon me….) “to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mounting, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness……..that he might be glorified.”   Juanita allowed God to give her beauty for the ashes of heartache and grief….and He was glorified.  I am so blessed to have been her friend!!

Some positive new I’ve gotten recently –  I mentioned not too long ago, in this Share Four Somethings post, that I had completed a sugar-free challenge with a friend.  No sugar for 30 days.  Honestly, what started as a no-sugar challenge soon became a challenge of will and determination.  I was much more focused on simply sticking with it – and not being a quitter (well, other than a sugar quitter!) – than I was focused on eliminating sugar or any benefits thereof.  In fact, as I mentioned here, it was only a couple days after the challenge’s end that I tried to enjoy some sugar.  That did not go too well and I have not been eating too much sugar since then.  However, I have not been sugar free.  I mean, did it really make a difference?

Well, yes it did actually.  I had treatment this past Thursday and, as usual, my blood work was done beforehand and my glucose was down ten points!  On the weeks that include lab work, I typically try to do some fasting beforehand but I had forgotten about it last week.  I was not even thinking about lowering my numbers or trying to improve my results. Yest, there they were…in black and white.  It was actually my husband who made the connection between the challenge and the improved numbers.  The surprise was quite a nice one and was just the motivation I need to continue.  To continue saying no to those delicious, yet pesky Oreos and other temptations!  But now, it will be less of a show of willpower and more about better choices as I continue to regain my best health.  And, note to self:  not all benefits are easily, or often, seen on the outside, but healthy, positive decisions really do make a difference.

Well, I would love for you to share some positive and/or good news you’ve received recently.  A great way to start a new week!  On Thursday, I will be sharing something beautiful I saw today (or this week); a challenge I’m grateful for; and a life lesson I have learned.  Think about joining me:)