Fingerprint Friday: Dog Hair?

By Ginny (MAD21)

So I asked my husband where he saw God's fingerprints today. His answer may surprise you. I know it did me. In fact, it took me about 15 minutes before I understood what he was trying to say.

He began speaking about the newness that spring brings... The leaves are full and the shadows are darker now because the leaves on the trees are almost fully grown. But leaves and colorful flowers appearing are not the only sign of renewal. They also appear in the most unlikely (and annoying) of places. Like our carpet.

My husband said that while most people think that piles of dog hair all over the carpet is just a sign that it isn't cleaned often enough (it is if you ask me!), he thinks that it also symbolizes something else.

Dog owners know that during spring and early summer, in just a matter of minutes, the carpet you just spent a half hour vacuuming can once again be covered in dog hair. One tummy rub, one romp on the floor wrestling around can result in a blizzard of hair with piles of fur left behind (much to my dismay!).

My hubby says we can also think of shedding season as a life-lesson, and see it for what it really is (me: a mess? more work?). He said, dog's also get to experience renewal. A fresh coat. A new start.  Shedding the old and growing new. Some dogs experience continued renewal (i.e., shed all year, no thanks!), others experience dramatic renewal (i.e, nothing and then all at once = lots of time outside!). We should recognize God can do the same thing in all of our lives. Continued renewal by fixing the little day-to-day things, as well as sudden moments of change.

As funny as it was to think my husband was seeing dog hair all over the floor as one of God's fingerprints, I'm thankful that he is someone who can see something funny, and something we can learn... and recognizes the fact that it's nearly impossible for me to keep our floors clean this time of year.

Ok, lesson learned... I'm off to vacuum... again.

Fellow blogger Beki at The Rusted Chain has a really great weekly post she does every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday." We are to look around and see where we can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Anywhere? Go find out where Beki saw God this week, and be sure to check out the other bloggers who linked their stories as well.

Fingerprint Fridays: Sisters

By MAD21

My youngest got out of school a few weeks before her sister. Preschool has a shorter school year than Kindergarten. It was good to have some time alone with her. Not that we don't have enough time together, she only went to school two mornings a week, but still, it was a much more relaxed few weeks.

Our favorite library has a little playground behind it with a path to an awesome pond. We have played on the playground a few times, but had never walked the path all the way to the pond. So one day while we were waiting to go pick her sister, my youngest and I decided to go and investigate. It was so beautiful. The lilly pads were everywhere and were in full bloom. While we were enjoying the view and listening to the frogs talking to each other, I looked down in the water at what I thought was a rock... until it moved.

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Are You A Happy Person?

By Pat

Are you a happy person? I am, or at least, I think I am. Usually in a fairly good mood, rarely depressed, and quite content with my life in general.

But not long ago, I began thinking about the word "happy." What makes a person happy? Many things can bring the feeling of happiness. I feel happy when I am busy and productive, when I awaken knowing I had a decent night's sleep, when I know my favorite show is on the television that night. I am happy when I cook a good meal, try a new recipe that is a success. My first cup of coffee in the morning makes me very happy, as does a hot bubble bath and a good book. New clothes make me happy, and losing a few pounds makes me happy. Comfortable shoes, too.

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One Word At A Time: Joy

By MAD21

Have you ever met someone who just lights up a room? Sometimes without saying a word they make things seem better and brighter.

When I was working in a kindergarten classroom about eight years ago, I had a student who was just that. Rays of sunshine walking in the door. She started attending the school mid-year. I remember the very first moment she walked into the room. There was just something different about her. She had a smile and attitude that would just melt away any negative feelings you may have had before she got there. Each morning she would walk in the classroom with the beautiful grin God gave her as if to say, "I'm here people, how can we have an awesome day?"

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Act Your Age

By Sarah (Living Between the Lines)

When I turned 25 years old, I had a minor meltdown.  I sat on my friend Rick’s couch and just wailed about how I was “getting ready to be thirty!”  I just thought that my life was over!  Rick, bless his heart, had the patience of Job and though I’m sure he rolled his eyes, he listened and tried to sympathize.  

When I turned 29 years old, I really started to panic.  I saw 30 rolling in like a freight train and all I could focus on was what I felt I had missed in life.  For a few months, I caught myself really whining at God about it.  But my 30th birthday came and went and soon I noticed that 30 wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was.

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