CHOOSE: FIVE FOR THE 5TH FRIDAY

Choose: Acts of Kindness could have been this entry because kindness is key in relationships.
According to a google search, I've already written 5 entries on kindness and according to the marginalia in my NKJV Bible, a needed reminder....
"Desire a life measured more by kindness than by competency."

So...you can "choose" to search through the links below for your favorite of the five:

Kindness Reciprocated pays it forward.
Mature in Kindness.
Kindle Kindness.
Kindness "gentles" responses of others, even family.
Be Kind.

https://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2009/02/kindness.html (2/24/09)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2009/08/watermelon-kindness-analogy.html (8/18/09)

https://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2011/11/kindness-kindled.html (11/7/11)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2014/11/loyal-tea-adams-family-cuppa.html (11/7/14)

http://dotsydetails.blogspot.com/2017/01/choose-kindness.html?m=0 (1/24/17)

Desire a life measured by kindness more than by competency. (Marginalia, NKJV)
Choose: To Be Kind in at least one of the 5 ways. It will bless your heart!

CHOOSE: FRETLESS

To be "Fretless in Memphis," one has to fret less and trust more. 
Cut out the worrying. That means fret NOT, Dots! (That's scriptural---just read Psalms 37: 1, 7, 8! Okay so it doesn't say Dots---feel free to insert your own name.

Choose faith not fretting.
Easier said than done, sometimes. Maybe if I were "more" fretless it would render me less sleeplessness. What a praise that would be!
But God....through Cole Huffman's  Philippians 4:4-7 sermon (3/19/17), reminded me of 2 things I know. Two things that give me peace.

1. I know I am not in control. (God is)
2. I know that I am cared for.  (By God)

Knowing those 2 truths reminds me that in the midst of fears (basis for much of my fretting) the Lord is at hand! (v. 5, ESV) Therefore, I not only can lean into His control but I can also lean into His care.

Fretless hot tea drinkers see their cuppa as 1/2 full, NOT 1/2 empty. A cuppa positive-TEA!

CHOOSE: WACKY WEDNESDAY

This was an easy choice as "my" Molly needed me to accompany Owen to today's "Wacky Wednesday" event at the Brooks Museum.

So....I've decided to look for God there---as Jenna Fergus taught us. Look for God everywhere, even in an art museum. (Job 34:21)

I'm headed out, having asked God for direction and will  report later on what I "see."
I'm back!
I thought God would have me use my "sense of seeing" in order to clearly see Him in works of art.
But God......impressed me with two "life lessons" using my sense of smell and sense of hearing. WOW, GOD!
As we approached our destination from the backside, a new direction, we stopped to smell the roses. Not knockout roses, which are pretty to look at but without even the barest scent of a rose.
Roses. Fragrant roses.

Roses along our journey to see museum art, which emphasized the sweet-smelling "life lesson" that goal-oriented, destination-bound folks need to enjoy the journey along the way.
As the old adage says, "Stop and smell the roses!"Which is exactly what Owen did.

The 2nd lesson was auditory and was gleaned from the voice of a school teacher who simply said, art classes are more than teaching painting or drawing.

"Art is teaching people to see."  

Wacky Wednesday---what a sensory experience, even beyond the visual!

CHOOSE: PRAISE

Signs of God's creation have a way of making my heart leap in praise. Such was the case this past weekend in Brentwood when God's sunset had me in awe!

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. (Psalm 65:8)

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)

CHOOSE: FLEXIBILITY

"Nora's Day" is Thursday---at least it has been for the last 6 years!

For many years it was every Monday-Friday. Once Molly started kindergarten we only had her once a month and it was always on Thursday. She would spoil us on those days with the BEST fried chicken and pound cake or carrot cake for Larry. 

But....when I retired, those Thursdays became Elnora's Day. A "treat" day for her after 30+ years of her "treating" us! 

Then, this week a schedule snafu had us changing to Monday. What a laughing, eating, (Freddy's w/ Nancy) hugging (w/Margie) visiting, (at KDS nursing home) more laughing time----with laughter that even followed us from the movie, "Going in Style," all the way back home!!

God's Word says "there is a time for everything"---so grateful that our choice of flexibility allowed us a time to LAUGH! (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

CHOOSE: NEW EQUATION

New mug at brother Bobby's for my morning cuppa says it all as I begin the day and share "tea" with him, a fellow hot tea aficionado. A morning ritual  carry over from childhood days at 2211 in Hoptown!

Start the day grounded in faith (Colossians 2:7) and filled with hope (Colossians 1:23) to give joy for one's self that it might be poured out into the lives of others to bolster their faith. (Ephesians 3:17)

Equation of the heart: Rooted and grounded in faith + gospel hope = joy and love poured in to one's heart and then out to others!

Choose this equation daily!

CHOOSE: TO CELEBRATE

A Liles wedding.

There's nothing quite like them.
Sacred ceremonies. Vows before God and man. 
Then the dancing begins!
Tonight's wedding dance of Michael and Megan began with dancing down the aisle as the recessional music was played for these newlyweds----celebrating their new life together.

Dancing continued at the Old Natchez Country Club for all of us.
For them, the beauty of this new season in their lives is that from this time forth there is a new dance---regardless of the "music" life throws their way, that they will dance it together, led by the Lord.
How easy it is to choose to celebrate with Megan and Michael Liles.

CHOOSE: TO REMEMBER

More later but here's a hint.

CHOOSE: THE WAY

Choosing the Way of the Cross in last week's VBS was a way for children to begin to understand the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

Focusing on the "way" means to choose to do what God's word tells us to do or say. Following His way is easier when one understands, God loves us, God is for us and God is always with us.

Be kind. (Ephesians 4:32) Just two simple words---easy to say but sometimes hard for little ones to remember to do, especially to siblings. It's hard for all of us to choose the right way at certain times.

It's easier to choose the "right" way when our focus is on the cross----a great reminder for adults created by the hands of young children.

CHOOSE: accorDANCE

More often than not, I'm a rule follower. Years ago in a friendly game, participants described each other with adjectives that began with the same letter as one's name. Example--pretty Patricia.

If Siri had been playing, she would have named me "ditsy" Dotsy. I would have gladly settled for that or delightful or dancing....but the consensus for me was diligent. 

Diligent. How boring! 

Yet, as aging has set in, it is a trait that I tend to admire in others. Too many seem to see themselves beyond the rules---as if "rules" are for others, not them. They are a member of the "terminally unique." Think those who litter, park in handicap spaces, keep their phones on in theaters, or text while driving.

They don't "dance" according to the rules. Rules are for others. They are the exception.

Maybe young people need diligent rule following adults in their lives as good examples.

This young lady chose to "model" the "quiet" rule at the St. Jude golf-tournament recently---not just in accordance with this respectful rule but by encouraging others to do the same.

I, the diligent one, choose accorDANCE---to waltz through life in accordance with the rules set out in God's word, even though sometimes I do "trip" up. 

The good news is that when I stumble in my accorDANCE, God is there. (Psalm 37:24)