Tag Archives: joy

Know It By Heart

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When I was little and I would memorize a new song for my piano recital or learn the Gettysburg Address for 4th grade, I would say “I know it by heart.”  Now, knowing something “by heart” means something entirely different….it’s being able to recall something, deep inside, remembering the smells and sounds and touch of something as if it was yesterday.  It’s remembering by heart the feeling of riding my bike, without a helmet, fast down Mt. Run Lane road, the wind ripping through my hair. bike2 It’s feeling by heart the soft stuffed elephant that my then-boyfriend and now-husband gave me at the lockers, his first gift to me.   It’s hearing by heart the sound of my  baby’s first cry as he made his way into the world.  It’s smelling by heart the warm, breezy, salty air as I stepped out of the car at the ocean. bike3

It’s sensing by heart the excitement of Christmas morning as my sister and I ran downstairs, my parents’ happy faces beaming.

So many things I have learned “by heart.”  And I am thankful for each precious one.  Have a blessed weekend.  Slainte, Lisa

Surrender

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musicocean

Holding on, letting go, and finding joy and meaning in the midst of it all…life seems to be a balance of all these things.  As I grow older, I find more and more that what I need to hold on to, what is constant, is my relationship with God who made me and knows me.  Whatever changes in my life, He doesn’t.  And I’m so thankful for that.

I’m a musician, a pianist mostly.  Everything else springs from that…the vocals, the songwriting.  And in the past few months, I found that I have a problem in my thumb…no cartilage from overuse.  So I’ve been icing, heating, exercising, resting, bracing the thumb that I took for granted all these years.  My daughter and I were talking about Prokofiev the other day, and it hit me…I probably will never play that again.  Too much strain on the thumb.  And it made me sad.  Holding on, letting go, finding joy.  Loss is a part of life for all of us, but after the storm of sadness, there is still joy.  I can still play the piano, just differently, and I am thankful.  I don’t take it for granted anymore like I used to.  And I’m not just a musician; I’m God’s child.  And one day, all will be made new; no more tears and sadness.  And that’s joy.

I thought about not sharing all this, because I never want to be a downer, only an encouragement.  But I know that many of you are facing hard times also, and we are here to pray and help each other along the way.  Let me know if I can pray for you.   Blessings, Lisa

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” – Isaiah 12:2a

 

 

The Impulse to Soar, Part Two

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This is a reprint of an older blog about Fungi, the amazing Dingle dolphin.  I saw a beautiful video of him today that I had to share with you.  He has lived 30 years in Dingle Bay now, and he’s so friendly.  Please take the time to watch…he will make you wonder all over again at the marvel of God’s creations.  Slainte, Lisa

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” -Helen Keller

Fungi, the Dingle dolphin, feel the impulse to soar, and he does so magnificently.

I have days when I just go through the motions: get up, make breakfast, walk the dog, etc.  I don’t see the small beautiful things that God is putting all around me to show me that He’s there, that He cares, that He loves me.  But some days, I wake up and I still do all those things, but by the grace of God, He somehow awakens me to those small wonders.  I feel the impulse to soar.  I have that sense that God is right there beside me and that He will help me to be more like Him, little by little.  We are made in the image of God, and a little of His awesome creativity has been put into each of us.

As I have gotten older, I am slowly learning not to really trust my ups and downs of emotions (this is extremely hard for me).  But still, it is an amazing feeling when I do feel and sense God’s reality, that there is more to life than what I see right in front of me.  And that reality is that if I love and trust Him, I will soar and fly and have strength for the road ahead.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  (Isaiah 40:31)

Slainte, Lisa

What Love Means

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My daughter Amy, age 6, is my guest blogger today, and she would like to share her thoughts on what love means.

DSCN0019My doll Laura wants to tell you about love.  Love means showing care to people.  Love means being a nice person.  Love means telling the truth.  Love means helping people when they feel bad.  The way my doll can show love is by always being near me.  And the way I can show love is by always being very, very nice to people.  I hope you like this blog, and I’m going to say goodbye now.  So remember, love is the best way to encourage people.  Love, Amy and my doll Laura