What are you grateful for today?

Growing up in a Military household required many moves through the years.  In the early 70s and 80s, I did not have the internet and social media, so it was much more challenging to keep in touch with old friends.  I wrote letters and sent postcards while at the same time, I made new friends and learned about new cities, countries, and cultures.  Most of the time, I lost touch with friends. Life, like this, is exciting and sometimes overwhelming.

The advent of Facebook allowed me to reconnect with these old friends in a new way.  While some people are critical of the time we spend on social media; I have found Facebook to be a rewarding experience.

As I began painting again, after twenty years of raising children, posting my artwork on Facebook allowed me to gain confidence, refine my skillset, and receive positive feedback from many people who have known me much of my life.

One of my dearest friends came with me to my first "show," this past weekend, The United Methodist Annual Conference in Collierville, TN, allowed me to showcase my prayer journals and my gratitude journals in addition, to my artwork.  I recognized a man, and his wife, who had a significant impact on my life some 40 years ago.  There is so much joy in reunions such as these. I felt such support and kindness from these friends and everyone around me.

I am grateful for great friends and the relationships I have had, I am grateful for my new friends, and I am grateful for social media.

What are you grateful for today?

I think of nature, and flowers, trees that bloom, there are also steep hills to climb, narrow trails to navigate, and we are not born with a map

Our Christian walk is not a straight path.  It is more of a hike in the woods and, it can be like a walk in the park with many things to enjoy along the way.

I think of nature, and flowers, trees that bloom, there are also steep hills to climb, narrow trails to navigate, and we are not born with a map that lets us know what lies ahead.  We have unsuspected storms and other weather conditions that can make us cold, frightened, and hungry.

The Bible gives us many lessons to help us find our way, and a journal can also help us keep track of this journey and find comfort.  As we write each day, we consider our circumstances, actions, and emotions.   Every one of us has a different path, and we make different connections from one Bible verse to another bible verse.  Our inspirations also come from our spiritual leaders, friends, and other surprising places in literature, T.V. movies, and YouTube videos. As we write, our trail becomes more tranquil.

There is no "right way" to write in a journal, some of us write prose, some poetry, and sometimes we doodle or write a stream of thought allowing ourselves to imagine and vent our emotions.  Keep these journals private.  It is between you and God -  Do not worry about grammar, spelling, political correctness.  A journal belongs to you and you alone.

Rose Elaine Journals is a play on words.  For me, journaling is a "rosy lane"  filled with flowers and pleasant photos and paintings.   Find your journaling path and enjoy the exploration!