It's My Birthday, and I Can Cry Happy Tears if I Want to!

Sweet time with my Frisco family yesterday at a great restaurant and then to see the new "Overcomer" movie. I was totally on that bandwagon of celebrating me. This is my life -- the only one that was meant for me. Alexia asked "Nana, how does it feel to be younger than the Great Depression? How does it feel being younger than the greatest drought ever that led to the dust bowl years? How does it feel to be younger than the Empire State Building?" With happy tears, I was elated that something was older than me! 🤣

And I'm so grateful to be younger than something....especially when my doctors, lawyers, teachers and preachers.....are younger than me! Honestly, I'm so blessed beyond what I deserve with the love that I’ve received from friends and family. I’ve been made to feel that I matter. And, the real crux of the matter for you AND me is -- we always did and always will matter because we are God’s treasures. “They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession.” Malachi 3:17

Treasures. God always saw us as treasures and on our birthdays we get to rock that truth. I’m rocking even as I type this post today. While the media leads us to believe that youth somehow has more value, the truth is, we are treasured by God at every age. Not only that, but He gives us specific gifts to share with the world in every season of our lives. We best be owning and sharing those gifts. They are the specific ones God planted within us.

Birthdays are a big deal – because birthdays represent our God-given mission and destiny and every year that we’re here, we get to celebrate our journey. And with each year -- we have the opportunity to celebrate -- not just THE day, but EACH day that God gives us. Celebrating it with a joyful, thankful, forgiving heart that is open to bringing forth flourishing fruit. So, today, let's party -- at least in the sense of celebrating YOU and me! Whether you are 8, 38 or 88.....you are to be celebrated. You're still bearing fruit. We're still here....we're not done! "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be vigorous and flourishing." Psalm 92:14

The anthem of the musical, “The Greatest Showman” was “This is Me”, sung by Keala Settle. As I was looking for the lyrics for this post, I saw the original video of Keala singing the song with the rest of the vocalists in a practice room for the first time with Hugh Jackman. Of course she was intimidated at first. She didn’t even want to step out from behind the music stand. You must see the transformation that took place as she sang the song as if it were her own anthem. I was in tears, and I think you will be, too! “This is Me” – let’s own who God made us to be. He has plans and purposes that only we can fulfill. Walk out being YOU! Because YOU matter!
Here is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLFEvHWD_NE

Look out 'cause here I come;
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum.
I'm not scared to be seen; I make no apologies, this is me.

My Plants Bend Toward the Sun

Day 294 of Photo Inspirations -- My Plants Bend Toward the Sun
I have two plants:  one that I received from my husband's funeral (almost 5 years old now) and the other I received when I spoke for a women's meeting on December 3rd, a year ago.  Both are thriving and flourishing which, of itself, is a miracle.  I have never been known to have "a green thumb" and most indoor plants didn't last too long under my care.  What amazes me about these two plants which I have in a very sunny spot in my home, is how they continue to grow toward the sun.  In fact, weekly, when I water them, I turn them around because they're BENT over toward the sun. Those plants are leaning towards the life-giving energy, even if they have to bend in a completely different direction.  What would have happened if the plants had never been turned?  A strong stem bent leaning in the wrong direction.  Crooked, leaning, and bent. The turning, the changing – always towards the sun gives the plants a strong base.  Growing towards the sun was the only plan that was truly life-giving.

What an amazing phenomenon.  Plants actually move all day, every day. They're very slow, but they're still moving.  Plants need sunlight to make food. They absorb sunlight through their leaves. Every day, their leaves follow the sun across the sky to get as much sunlight as possible.  The higher concentration of auxin (a plant hormone) on the shady side causes the plant cells on that side to grow more so it bends toward the light. Because light is the energy source for plant growth, plants have highly sensitive mechanisms for perceiving light.  At this point, I just have to look up to heaven and say, "Thanks, God!  You did that!"

I'm sure you already recognize where I'm going with my analogy today.  What are we bent toward in our lives? How often are we so bent on one way, our way, or no way?  No turning, no changing, and maybe even not realizing we are growing away from the SON -- our LIFE-GIVING source?  But, I like to think that every day, I'm thriving and flourishing because "my bent" is toward THE SON -- the greatest of all LIGHTS.  I need Him for my peace, my comfort, my joy.  I want to absorb His  love and light into my very being.  And the higher concentration of Him in my life, the more of Him I will want.   He is my energy source for growing to be more and more like Him --  kinder, sweeter, more peaceful, more grateful, more joyful.

John 8:12:  “I am the LIGHT of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”.

I believe the key to flourishing and growing is BENDING toward HE Who is our Light.  And, the more of His concentrated power and presence we receive from our BENT toward Him, the more we will grow, flourish and bear fruit.

Psalm 92:12-14 promises it:   "The righteous will FLOURISH like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord,
they will FLOURISH in the courts of our God.  They will still BEAR FRUIT in old age, they will stay fresh and green."