"You Must Do the Next Thing" 2222222

Goodness, my heart is heavy tonight..

Heavy for the warriors who day in and day out, take great delight in shaping the minds of our children. They know their young people by name, they know their story and regardless of the details, they love them dearly.

Today, the telephone rang early...I knew immediately who was on the other end, and I jumped at the chance to help out a teacher who needed a break. She needed someone to step in, if only for a moment. I consider it an honor to be there when I can, especially today. I shared my smile and my voice in the Music Class. To hear them singing 'Silent Night' and 'Jingle Bells' brought joy to all of our souls.  I only do a fraction of what they do. But, I love these children just the same.

As I strive to find perspective in the pain and brokenness...I remember this advice...given quietly to me from someone much wiser than I.

When I couldn't seem to get started on something,.... let alone complete it.

He simply said...

"You must do the next thing"......

Slowly and deliberately, I did, and life began to move forward..

I know I must do this now, as well....

Indeed, my heart is heavy, as I am certain most are....

But, I will remember to do the next thing..

I will begin with something simple...

Listing out what comes to mind,..........to be thankful for..

I am thankful that when I asked a group of second graders today, how many days it was till Christmas...They, of course soooo knew...and shouted in unison "EIGHT"!!!

I am thankful for the teachers...our warriors in the classroom...who taught me something today too.

I also...thank-you God for soft furry kittens...and our wonderful Benji-dog who is snoozing 'at'...

(well,..... actually ON ) my feet on this cold rainy night.

I thank you for rain-drops that are cold, because then....I am glad to have an umbrella, and a warm sweater.

Thank-you God for the gift of You....

I thank-you for Hope,
a gift we can each claim and that gift allows us to hold on when we don't think we can on our own...

Thank you for being the light at the end of a dark night (literally too)

I thank-you that a glass can be half-full, and realizing that when it is half-empty...it is because I have already enjoyed some of the goodness..

Thank you God for toilet-paper...(that!...doesn't need to be explained :)

Thank you, Lord for my eyesight, and my ability to hear..

I thank-you for friends' that listen..
I thank-you that I don't have all the answers, and this is okay.

I thank-you that I can leave you to work out details, especially knowing that I can't...and You can..

Thank-you Lord for the cool coffee mug that I love to drink my morning coffee from..
Thank-you,...that you put arms at the top of our bodies to give and receive hugs.
Thank-you Father, for rainbows..

and in honor of my friend Katherine...Thank-you God for the color purple.. ;)

This was 'my' next thing...and you know what??..it helped...

What is your next thing,..that you need to do ??

Praise and thankfulness changes things, 

My heart isn't quite as heavy as it was..and for this I say..'Thank-You God".

Special thanks for my friend Barry Fraley, who snapped this clear moonlit night,
as pictured above...

                                              from the East Coast, near Connecticut