Winning Words 8/16/11
“When hope is difficult, God smiles and says, ‘Relax sweetheart, it’s just a bend and not the end.’” (Adapted from Hawkeye George) One of the advantages of having lived through The Great Depression and too many wars is that I can imagine God saying today, “Relax, sweetheart!,” as we fret over growing fears and fading hopes. This is also good advice when personal cares seem to be weighing us down.. ;-) Jack

FROM YOOPER NANCY: SO TRUE.////FROM JACK: People who walk the walk are able to talk the talk.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: I've had caregivers and been a caregiver over and over and now just ruminating here at the computer pondering if, when people have poured out their troubles on someone else, if it's comforting to have the person smile at them? The "Relax sweetheart...." part does all sound comforting though. The distance between ourselves and God can sometimes seem so big, I suppose it's just at the moment it can be bridged and maybe a smile at that time would do it. Thinking of a smiley God.////FROM JACK: One of the reason I chose today's quote is that it seemed to bring God down to earth, talking to us directly...friend to friend.

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE: I've lost my voice in the past over business worries. But my faith has been greatly strengthened during those times.////FROM JACK: One of my favorite Bible verses is: "My way is not your way, says the Lord." This is something to remember when worry is about to consume us. God allows us to choose the path, and whether it be right or wrong, he still walks beside us.

FROM CWR VISITING IN MICHIGAN: .......I like that one !!!////FROM JACK: You and God speak the same language...at least, it appears so.

FROM BLAZING OAKS: That is comforting, "Relax! We can't see around the "bend", so tend to be anxious...more for our children and g.children than ourselves! As my friend Shirley Wood said, "Worry is pulling tomorrow's clouds over today's sunshine". Something to think about! ////FROM JACK: It helps to step back and take the wide-angle view of life.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Maybe we are guaranteed a safe landing but not necessarily a calm passage.////FROM JACK: I always liked the Bible story which described how the disciples were so afraid during a storm and how they couldn't understand why Jesus was asleep in the boat during that time. "Don't you care?" We are so like them.

FROM HAWKEYE GEORGE: The very first verse I memorized is Matt. 6:34. "Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own troubles be anxious for itself." I have/had a tendency to try to live up to people's expectations.////FROM JACK: Do you remember the movie, "High Anxiety?" Sometimes that describes us when our faith is weak.

FROM JL IN MICHIGAN: ;) nice! Perspective is good.////FROM JACK: An artist friend described for me how perspective (foreshortening) was developed in art as early as 500 BCE. Some lives are "flat," because they lack perspective.