soul care

this is the blog entry that started out as a personal journal entry but throughout writing it it transformed into a blog post.

Here I am sitting at the Dwight Beach dock. 

listening to the wind rustling the harvest stalks decorating the shelter, 

the waves lapping the rocks and the dock, 

feeling the wind brushing my cheek and the sun kissing my face.

What a gorgeous autumn day.

Big fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky, 

bright colored leaves adorning the trees in the distance, 

and quiet...

peace.

Even the people i have encountered both at Ragged Falls
and now here at the beach are not loud and chatty cathies.

they are whispering and silent as they take in the beauty that is Muskoka/Algonquin in the fall.

maybe there's a sadness on their hearts, 

perhaps hope and joy.

maybe they are in an invisible pain, 

or their bodies aren't what they used to be.

perhaps they have reached a time in life that they are good - life is good.

maybe there are stresses they have never shared.

i pray that in the silent moment as they take in the beauty, 

the solitude of nature...

i pray that they will hear the whisper of the Creator

"i love you, precious one."

i know that is what i heard as i took it all in.

Gertie and Norbert 

Norbert is my new iphone 6

came with me on this adventure.

i walked barefoot 

(should have left my birks in the van)

along the Ragged Falls trail and loved the feeling of the mud squishing through my toes.

the best feeling ever.

This was not a planned adventure.

When i got up this morning i was just going to get ready for family coming to visit this weekend.

but as the kids and i waited for the bus i had this pull to grab Gertie and Norbert, 

get into Meatlug 

(the van)

and go somewhere to be surrounded by the creation that refreshes my soul.

so i did it.

i didn't have a destination until i let myself drive past my beloved Limberlost trails.

Sometimes our souls need a time of refreshing, 

so that the Lord can speak to us.

it is so important to take those times 

- when possible - 

i will admit a little something.

i skipped my ladies Bible study to do this.

i needed this time with me, God and the beauty He has blessed us with.

Take time this Thanksgiving weekend to refresh your soul.

Let God speak to you.

this can be a crazy weekend and for some it's a time of stress, 

others sadness, 

and other's laughter.

At some point take some time by yourself.

sit, 

walk, 

run, 

hike, 

lie down,

skip,

cuddle a sleeping baby

and thank God that He loves you and calls you precious.

Thank you Lord.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
how vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:17

photos taken by me with Gertie and Norbert

Lois and Eunice, thank you for your example.

There was this man named Paul.

He wrote a bunch of letters to people he loved.

two of those letters were to this young man named Tim.

Paul had taught Tim many things, Tim was like a son to him.

Paul had instructed, and demonstrated what it meant to be a follower of this Jesus called Christ.

Many people have read these letters to Tim,

and have so much respect and admiration for the man that Paul was as he instilled the truths to all those he wrote to.

Today as i was reading such a letter i was brought to a portion of it that i have read many times.

many. times.

Paul came alongside this young man,

but there were two that were teaching Tim and instructing him from his infancy.

it was their faith and love of the Scriptures that helped bring this young man to be the man he was.

Paul wrote about the faith that lived in Tim's grandmother,

her name was Lois,

and mother,

whose name was Eunice.

They taught him from a babe about the Scriptures,

so that as he grew he was able to recognize that this Jesus was exactly who He said he was and was able to come to a saving faith.

Eunice and Lois.

their roles were so key in this young man's life and Paul recognized this.

He says to Tim:

"I am reminded of your sincere faith,

which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and,

i am persuaded,

now lives in you also."

both those women had a sincere faith.

sincere: free from pretence or deceit

they had a faith that was real.

with a capital R

they didn't put on a false front,

but it was true and who they were.

through this faith they raised young Tim,

from his first days,

in the Scriptures and by demonstrating a life of faith.

i pray that my faith may be sincere, and true.

i pray that as i raise my kids they will see a genuine love for the Scriptures and for the Lord and it may continue on in their lives.

Thanks Paul for recognizing the love and faith of these two women and the impact they had on this young man who you were a mentor to.

'because you know those from who you have learned it'

when you're instructing and teaching your children,

or anyone for that matter,

does your life demonstrate that you believe what you're teaching?

can your little ones trust what they're taught because they know from who they have learned it?

they see our daily lives...

are you teaching them what you yourself believe?

just a thought.