Dear Reader:

Yesterday…when I woke up I felt down…and I didn’t even know why? I made myself get up around 7 and water the garden and plants in the yard before coming in to shower…pretty typical start to the day. Yet something just seemed missing…and whatever it was saddened me.

Certainly our political climate right now is a real downer, add in Covid19 and our apprehension of the future safety of our most precious treasures (our children) is pending, then there is the unstable economy  bringing great hardship to so many hardworking Americans who just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when certain jobs went under.

Still…these problems have been circulating for quite awhile …why now on this day was I feeling sorta… lost?

I began to wonder if I was experiencing something close to PTSD or at least some form of survivor’s guilt. Here I am…to date….healthy as possible under my on-going struggle with “little c”…with a home, garden, car and most importantly family and friends. I know I am blessed…so why the sadness?

Anne had recently run a copy of an article for me since my copier is semi-dead and I texted her to let her know I would be stopping by to pick it up yesterday morning. When I got there Anne shared a very personal story about a current dream she has had involving her sister, Nancy, who recently passed away.

It was so beautiful and uplifting…I suddenly began to feel my sadness slowly rising up… off my shoulders. Then for no reason…I said that I wished that I had some kind of a daily mantra or a guideline to keep me on the right path without falling prey to troubling situations that I have no control over.

Anne pulled a prayer off her smart phone from Pope Francis that nailed the words I was grasping to find…

A beautiful message from Holy Father Pope Francis: he says, “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.

Anne went on to say that when the world gets too much for her …she now just concentrates on doing, at least, one kind deed for one person every day. This is something she can control and kind deeds, as we all know, have a ripple effect like none other.

I realized at that moment that every now and then I suddenly feel like I am not doing enough in this world, that I am not making a difference….that I am not using my time here on earth to its full potential. So much so…that when the world’s troubles occasionally sneak inside of me…I find it hard to fight my way out of the quicksand effect to more solid ground.

I had taken two of Honey’s mouth-watering mountain apples to give Anne…and she started telling me about this delicious new recipe she had concocted that needed apples. So unknowingly, I had helped her by simply sharing what Honey gave me.

Then when I got home…I had a post comment from Jo that Gin-g agreed with in her comment…all of this made me realize that God had sent four, unknowing, guardian angels to me on this “sad” day (Honey, Anne, Jo, Gin-g) to encourage me to follow the course…to not let the boulders or slippery rocks of the world deter me…but to keep giving daily and looking for ways to keep random acts of kindness alive in my small world.

Jo’s Comment:

Big Red became like a family member to so many of us as we watched her grow and bloom. Someone said that we should bloom where we are planted, and she surely did that. How sad we all were to learn of her fate, but now new life is there and filling hearts with joy and pride once more. Thank you, Becky, for continuing to bloom, write and inspire us daily. In Psalm 30, we find these words, “Joy comes in the morning.” Certainly, for me, much joy comes every morning when I find your words of inspiration, fun, family adventures, history, stories and joy. Keep blooming!

Amazing…just when I needed someone to talk with…to reassure me I was not taking up oxygen on this earth for nothing…God sends me four friends/guardian angels to do just that…

So until tomorrow…

(Tammy Bennett/artwork)

“Let’s be human together. Let’s remember that we all need and want the same things. We want to be heard and loved and understood. Let’s admit to each other that things are hard sometimes. It’s okay not to be okay. Let’s remember that each of us is imperfect. It’s okay to ask for help. and each of us can help someone else. Let’s remember that we are not alone. we are not burdens. We are ALL humans. Let’s be humans together.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

When a mother has a child…and stares down in that innocent sleeping face…I think the phrase “Let’s be human together” takes on an even deeper meaning. The first time I considered that idea was staring down in little Mandy’s newborn face….on a beautiful September day…a September 3. Happy Birthday Mandy! My first-born…my forever love.

While Tommy and Kaitlyn were at Folly Beach…they celebrated their fourth anniversary! Happy Anniversary you two…and many more!