“Do not be upset if things are not as you would have them to be for a long time to come.   Do the little you can very peacefully and calmly so as to allow room for the guidance of God in your lives.  Do not worry about the rest.”           

                                                                                                                       St. Louise de Marillac

When I was a child in Brookfield, IL,  a cinder alley ran next to and around the back of our home.   It was a place were I road my old hand-me-down bike.  The bike had a chain that would catch in my slacks, get me full of grease, and cause me all types of problems.  That chain was off the bike more than on it.  I also recall times of sliding and falling, the cinders were not kind.

Once I dropped my freshly buttered slice of bread upside down in that alley and the black pieces wrecked my dessert.   It was of course, not eatable and made me extremely sad.

Some episodes are like these about the  bike and bread; they teach us valuable lessons.  The bike served a purpose in teaching me to ride and how to be grateful for what I had.  I learned not to play in my good clothes or favorite slacks.  When better bikes came my way later, I was really grateful.  The slice of ruined bread was tossed away.  The value of enjoying it was lost.  I learned how precious food can be; to take time to sit down and eat.  Even today when I feel forced to eat on the run, it usually ends in disaster.

It is  like the words we use.   Words are meant to help us communicate.  Once out of our mouth, they can’t be retrieved. I recently said something that was not meant to be unkind, but it came across wrong. The more I tried to explain, the worse things appeared.  I hope the person realized I was not intentionally unkind.  I will be more prudent and keep my some thoughts to myself in the future.

Perfection in flowers like these has to be a mini miracle.   There is no mistake in the beauty they provide.   They are ruffled and gorgeous.  Flowers send us peace for the moment and colors to brighten our days.   They don’t communicate in words, but they sure help those of us who can see beauty in another way.   And for those who can smell, they offer a fragrance to touch our hearts.

May your day be filled with fragrance from flowers, color of the rainbows, and beauty to behold.  May your words be filled with thought and kind ones.  “Delight in Living”