Ruby Tuesday: Simple Joys

Originated by MaryT at http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

On today's Ruby Tuesday post I will be sharing several pictures once again, together with their stories. Not all the pictures will have something red in them, but I have posted them anyway because they are also part of the story!

I turned 56 last March. When I was in my teens, I thought anyone who was 50 and above was really ancient.

Now that I myself am at that age, I realize that "being old" is all a matter of perspective.

I found out long ago that life is more manageable if one is traveling light. Now, only a few things really matter; some things that were really important to me during my younger years are not so important after all.

I just love this season of my life!

Now I understand which things are vital for survival in this deadly jungle called life, the things that really matter "when push comes to shove, " like:

choosing which battles are really worth fighting,

accepting that sometimes the best strategy in order to win is to put our weapons down,

having only a few earthly possessions to value,

cultivating the largeness of heart to overlook an offense,

being always ready to extend forgiveness to someone who has disappointed you,

being willing to give life another chance,

understanding that God often lets us take the longer road to our destination,

taking time to pause and appreciate God's beauty in nature to rejuvenate one's spirit!



My wants are simple, my needs are few: for example, my Spirit-filled Life NKJV Bible is more important to me than a high-definition TV. An afternoon spent reading a good book, with my Basset Hound-dachshund curled up beside me, is more delightful to me than a 40,000-peso Louie Vuitton bag.

Please don't misunderstand. I say these things with truthful modesty, not with an "I'm better than you" arrogant spirit.

I have simply realized that if I can no longer jump into a local "tricycle" to take me to the nearest 7-11 grocery store, or take time to hug my dog, or sit on the grass to photograph a weed, or put a piece of fruit out in the yard for the birds and quietly watch while they peck at it ... then I think I'm growing old!


So, I have entitled today's Ruby Tuesday post, Simple Joys.

Lately, one of my simple joys has been to take pictures. This reddish tender sprout was out the day after the big storm. I find it to be a beautiful picture of simplicity! Despite its humble beginnings, in a few weeks, it will be a woody stem capable of bearing many flowers...

... like this!

For the past four Sundays that I have been here, Obedient One and I have gone to her church in the morning after which we would have lunch at a restaurant, then spend the rest of the afternoon together.



Last Sunday was Mother's Day. All the mothers in the congregation were given this little gift:

It was just a small token of love.

The more substantial gift was the preaching of the Word which was dedicated to all of us who were mothers. Pastor Manny Carlos gave a moving sermon about the two women who raised Moses, namely Jochebed and Pharaoh's daughter.

Jochebed was a woman of intuition and vision. Her baby was born during a difficult season, but rather than wring her hands in despair, she looked up in hope. Believing in the destiny of her child, she was willing to let go of him, and let another woman raise him as her own, something that not many mothers would be willing to do.

Pharaoh's daughter was a woman of compassion, wisdom and discernment. She was the one who named the child Moses, saying, "Because I drew him out of the water." She, too, knew the boy had a destiny.

Both women contributed greatly to the realization of this man's destiny. Jochebed's faith and the compassion of Pharaoh's daughter gave Moses the necessary upbringing to be the mighty yet humble leader needed by God to "draw out" an entire nation out of slavery into freedom.

While listening to the preaching, I was having a dialogue with myself.

What caused Moses to be a great prophet? His teachable heart.

What caused his heart to be teachable? His humble spirit.

What caused his spirit to be humble? His growing faith.

What caused his faith to keep growing? His willingness to go beyond his fear, and to try new things he's never tried before!


Hearing this word was a time of refreshing for me!

The world today is in dire need of humble leaders!

We need mothers like Jochebed and Pharaoh's daughter to raise this new generation of world leaders!

After lunch, Obedient One and I went to Greenhills where there is a huge bazaar called Tiangge. Here one can find everything from bags, to watches, pearls, fashion jewelry, shoes, and clothes, all at very low, reasonable prices.

I love white blouses, Lesportsac and Kipling bags, and Crocs shoes! I guess this is just the little girl in me that still enjoys things like these.

These Lesportsac and Kipling bags come in very many up to date designs and styles, and they cost only US$10-15 each.

These pop on charms for Crocs shoes are called Jibbitz. They come in hundreds of different designs and are sold at only 50 US cents each!

Mother's day gifts from Obedient One:

this white tee blouse...


a pair of stud earrings...


and these cute shoe charms for my favorite pair of Crocs!

On Sunday morning, my daughter-in-law God-given sent me a message thanking me for how my love and example have taught her to be a better mom and wife. First Born also told me he loves me!

First Born, God-given and their baby Forerunner (Matthew), taken when he was four months old. I miss my grandson Matthew!

And I also miss my dog Samantha! Sammy is a cross breed between a Basset Hound and a dachshund. She is a" chair specialist" - she has tried to sit on every single chair in our house, but this is her favorite, a bamboo rocking chair. (Another dog I have, is Patches, a dachshund, but I don't have a picture of her with me!)

In the evening, Worshiper called from our home in Bacolod City to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and to tell me that he had ordered a bouquet of flowers for me!

Flowers from Worshiper

I thank God for the simple joys that brought a delight to my heart on Mother's day. Truly I was refreshed by His timely word for me, as well as the words and tokens of love that I received from my children.

I have realized that being able to appreciate the simple joys of life is God's way of keeping my heart young... teachable, pliable, ever ready to go where He is taking me.


As I am about to end today's Ruby Tuesday post, my thoughts turn to Moses once again. He was said to be

...very humble, more than all men
who were on the face of the earth.

- Numbers 12:3

God also said this of him:

... My servant Moses, He is faithful in all My house.

- Numbers 12:7

Moses was a servant.

Moses was faithful.

Moses was humble.



Humility.

I just can't get it out of my heart.

I've traveled the secret road of pride, and believe me, it is a difficult path to take.

On that road, one always has to watch out for oneself, make sure people are treating you right, make sure people are saying (or thinking) the right things about you, make sure your plans go exactly as you want them to.

You develop a self-serving and demanding attitude. You expect to be served, rather than the other way around!

Life becomes heavy, and complicated, and you lose the freedom to appreciate the simple joys of life!

But with humility, our hand is open to accept, and let go, instead of being weighed down by a grasping, clutching, selfish spirit.

Our hearts are enlarged, our vision becomes clear, our perspective of life and people is unclouded because our focus is outward, not inward!

My ongoing desire is to have a soft, humble, and servant heart, like Moses. A humble heart helps me go through life looking for the simple joys that are so readily available!

With simple joys, one is never too old to change or to learn new lessons!

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many.

- Mark 10:45