I generally have at least one cup of coffee every morning.....hubby will get up after me and then make me a cup of coffee and bring in to me to have as I do my quiet time. I've never asked him to do this, but he chooses to do this for me. I sometimes take it for granted, and sometimes I'm looking at my watch wanting my coffee and knowing he is still in bed. I enjoy a good cup of coffee and at most places that is hard to find. We've tried different brands of k-cups for our Kerig and we both pretty much agree that medium to bold is the best. Sometimes I will even have two cups of coffee ... especially on weekends... or when I wake up with a headache and need more caffeine to get rid of it. Strong caffeine at that.
Yesterday was a very quiet day around our place. We listened to Jentezen Franklin's message yesterday morning then decided to listen to the Baptist church that we are looking at. We watched the Saturday evening service..... I told hubby that just watching it I felt old. Not that that is a bad thing.... I just don't FEEL old. That's ok, isn't it? To not feel old? I'm just not used to watching a worship team of people in their 70's and 80's (judging by looks) and the beat has slowed to a 1 and a 2 (versus 1-2-3-4) (does that make sense?). We watched that service ... and then I went to the Sunday morning service so that we could see how it was. Same message, of course (with which neither of us were impressed with). They had a choir, there was a special song, then the pastor started the message. We didn't rewatch the rest. Again, being in a 55+ community and this church is in the middle of it... yeah... even Sunday morning was full of 'old' people.
I love old people, don't get me wrong! I adore them and love to spend time with them. And I could probably adjust if going to a church here in our community is what we end up doing. But I am afraid. Yes, I am afraid of becoming old. Not by age, but in actions. Being around young people keeps me young and active. I push myself to do things (like lifting light weights, exercising, etc.) because I don't want to be my mother.
Now I loved my mother.... but she was lazy. I never remember her cleaning the house, doing dishes. She cooked and sat down (pretty much what I do now). She wasn't involved in things (which has been hard to do due to the current pandemic). Oh she and my step-father traveled some - out here a couple times, and often spending the winter in Florida...in an RV park full of other retirees. I don't want to be my mother, hanging around old people all the time. When you do that, you become them.
I want to LIVE. I know I can't do a lot of things I've done in the past. I'm restricted on just what I can do now.... some of you understand that statement.... but I am afraid that if we start just hanging around old people, I will become like them. I already live with an old person (at least one who acts old all the time) and I struggle constantly not to .... ok, enough.
So what did we do yesterday after watching the church services? I made a new dish for lunch... something almost like mackeral patties, only with salmon, and cooked them in the air fryer. I cheated (again) and also cooked us about 7 tater tots apiece (I'm still using food I have in the freezer) and then I fixed asparagus for our greens. I was full all day and so was hubby. With having our 'snacks' in between .. neither of us were hungry enough for a dinner (yay!!) so I didn't have to cook again. I finished one baby blanket yesterday and have started another. We watched three movies yesterday (which is totally unusual, but that shows you how long I sat on that couch crocheting!) Two I've seen before - several times, but enjoy them - and one we hadn't seen before but it was fun to watch. I think it was called The Perfect Romance or something like that. Watched it via prime video on our TV.
That was our day yesterday - very restful for sure - and somewhat quiet. I did manage to read a few chapters of a book before going to bed last night - and ordered another book that my sister text'd me and told me it was so good I needed to get it. It should be here Tuesday or Wednesday I think. As if I don't have books on my kindle and on my bookcase that I haven't read yet.... and I still order more. It is just too easy to order things on Amazon. But I love books and I love to read. I still need to keep myself at crocheting when hubby has the TV on and reading when he doesn't. I can't just sit still and do nothing.
Reminds me of a T-shirt I've seen on facebook lately.... "Jesus took naps. I want to be like Jesus." I don't recall the Bible ever saying that Jesus took naps.... it doesn't even say He slept.... but it does say that He arose early in the morning and went to a deserted place to be alone with His Father. Which is the basis of my getting up early in the morning, coming into another room where I can shut the door and be alone with Jesus. I've done this for so many years now, I can't imagine not doing it. I think God would wake me up and tell me to get off by myself in the early morning hours if I tried to sleep and not get up. I mean, I do try to sleep a little later on the weekends, but most days by 5-5:30 my internal clock is waking up (this morning I woke up at 2:20AM but figured God must be kidding, right?) and wanting to get up and alone with Jesus.
This is my favorite time of day... the early morning hours, shut up in a room with my Bible, my devotional, perhaps a book or two. Just me and God. My computer just happens to be kept in this room which is why it is so easy for me to write something in here nearly daily. With working from home, I can do this, but if I have to go to the office, it is more difficult. This morning, here I am... sitting in my chair, typing on the computer, trying to think of something to say of interest (hope I haven't failed) and listening to the birds wake up outside. It will be getting light soon and in another hour I'll emerge from my hiding place and begin to start the new day. But for now....
it's just me and my computer, and Jesus. I would really love to take a day and go away by myself and just spend the entire day with Jesus. I used to be able to do that. The hermitage I used to run away to is no longer available to the public. Some people go to hotels for a couple days to be alone... but hubby would never allow me to do that; insisting that he come too. We've tried it, but it's just not the same for me. I do get something out of those times, but ... I'm not alone alone.
When was the last time you were alone? When was the last time you were alone with Jesus? Do you even remember that time? Was it a productive time or did you decide to take a nap? I've done that, too. When I'd go up to the hermitage, the first thing I'd do is lay down and take a nap. It brought a peace upon me that I can't explain... and I was ready to receive whatever Jesus had for me. I truly miss those times.... and I refuse to give up my early morning times. This is my time with Jesus.
Take some time this morning to pause and reflect... maybe you can just take a few minutes every morning to just be quiet and allow your mind to turn to Jesus and just 'be' with Him. You will find that even those few moments will bring peace to your soul. Try it.
Have a blessed day!
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