For whatever reason it is, the past few days I have been tired and wanting to sleep. In fact, as I finished up crocheting a Christmas gift last night, hubby looked over and commented on whether I was awake or not. I was in bed by 8PM last night - woke up when hubby came to bed - whenever that was - awake at 1AM, then I slept until my alarm went off at 4AM. I could have gone back to sleep even then. I guess the few nights of not sleeping well caught up with me - plus yesterday 'at work' was a very busy day. The day flew by because I had so much to do. Which is a good thing. I was to be in a 4PM meeting but was able to get my boss to cancel it so I could get off the computer. Otherwise I would have been on it until 5PM. The weather is cooling down so perhaps that is causing me to want to rest more. Or I'm just working too hard. Yeah, that's it. Right?
Today is a new day, and although I've gotten 8 hours of sleep (round-about), I'm not anxious to be working. I can think of many more things I'd rather be doing! But, I'll finish up here, get dressed, and take Sheeba for her morning walk. I'm not sure how much longer I can do that.... I am going to have to go to the gym and work on my arm strength, I think. We saw a couple small dogs yesterday and although I went out into the street with Sheeba, I found it difficult to keep hold of her. The leash slid through my hands before I could get her pulled back. Usually I'm ready to use the shocker (collar) on her if she gets out of hand, but sometimes she ignores it and pulls on the leash anyway. I'm still able to hold on to her, but if she continues to do this and I don't get the needed strength in my arms, I will not be able to walk her anymore. If hubby would take her down to the dog park and let her run, that would help immensely and I wouldn't worry about walking her.
When I got back home yesterday I commented to hubby that at one time I had difficulty hanging on to Sheeba and have a need to work on my arm and back muscles so that I can keep a tighter grip on her. He commented that he guessed that he would have to start walking her. I just flat out told him that he doesn't have that strength anymore. He hasn't really worked out in a couple years - just going periodically - and that doesn't build it up. I know that if I can't hold on to her, he may have a little more strength than I do, but he doesn't have the stability he needs. She has caused him to fall a couple times - which he says is because it catches him offguard. Whatever - he still has fallen. Praise God he hasn't broken anything. But he can. And I can, if I'm not careful. Sheeba is over 100 pounds now and she is pure strength. I work out occasionally with my hand weights here at home, but I do need to start going to the gym and build up strength in my body so that I can hold on to her. I laughed to myself when he commented last night he was going to start going back to the gym.
The term "eyes screwed shut" keeps coming into my mind this morning. How many times do we close our eyes to our circumstances, or the circumstances of others. Perhaps we can help, but we don't offer because we don't want to get involved. I know I'm guilty of that. I tell myself it is none of my business; I may observe something, but I cannot fix it, and I need to leave it alone. But is that what we should do? Perhaps in some cases, it is.
But how often do we close our eyes to things that we should do something about? Perhaps it is helping someone do something - but we choose not to because we just don't want to? There have been people in my life who could have helped, and chose not to. I recognize that and I don't hold it against them. I may have thought they could help, but in reality, they could not. Others have offered to help - and I turned them down. Why is that? Why do we turn down help when someone offers? I tend to do that more often, I think. The only reason I can think of is that I can usually do it, but perhaps just can't get it done then. Or I don't want them 'in my stuff'. Whatever that may be.
Sometimes it is good to have someone 'in my stuff'. Yesterday I heard the sprinklers in our courtyard go off and it sounded odd. And it ran for awhile. I had heard it last week and had commented on the amount of water that seemed to fill up the flower beds. The son-in-law came over and planted flowers in my flower pots for me earlier in the day and my daughter helped me learn how to do excel charts and to work on the 'homework' my boss had given me. When I heard the sprinklers yesterday, and looked out, I decided to go outside and see what was going on - to find that apparently a couple of the sprinkler heads were broke and water was going everywhere. I had standing 2" water in the flower beds and it was flowing over into our neighbors courtyard. I text'd my son-in-law and he came over. By then they had shut off but he worked on them and will need to replace one or two of the sprinkler heads. So it is good to let people help - especially when you need it!
I am loving the cooler weather in the mornings and sometimes will chuckle when I see some of the older people (yes, I am one of the older people, but not doing this - YET) wearing jackets as they take their morning walk. It is cool, but since I am probably moving much faster than they are since I have Sheeba, I don't get 'cold' - until I get home and then I am really chilled. Plus I have discovered that the bedroom I use as my office is apparently also the coldest room in the house. Me, who can't stand being cold, is once again in the coldest room. Go figure. But I put on a sweater or wrap up in my prayer shawl and keep working.
Eyes screwed shut. Eyes closed so that they don't see. Or eyes open and not choosing to see. We all do that at some point, I think. But God's Word says we are to have our eyes open to see what we should see, so that we can help as we need to help. It's like hearing the Word, but closing our ears to what is being said. We don't want to do what the Word says, so if we ignore it, or read over it, we don't have to do it. Or so we think. We are still held accountable for the Word.
Where are you at this morning? Are your eyes screwed shut? Let's put it another way. Are the eyes of your heart screwed shut, so that you don't feel compassion, sympathy, love, kindness, etc.? Are you hard-hearted? You know you weren't created to be that way. I get that way sometimes, I know. I just don't wanna care! I don't want to be involved! And yet, we are all called to care for one another. Some people just make it difficult - very difficult - to care for.
Let's start today. Unscrew those eyes and see what is around you. Really look at the people you live with, and watch with eyes wide open. Did you see that little sigh? What is going on? Did you see that wince when you said those words? Were they hurtful? Open your heart a little and extend that hand - even if you know there isn't anything you can do, do you offer? Do you let them know that you support them even if you can't help them?
Thoughts are running through my head this morning.... glad I need to stop and get dressed to take Sheeba out for her walk - this could ramble on for awhile! So I will stop.
Take time today to smell the roses. Their fragrance is pleasing to the air around you.
Blessings!
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