I do like that! New every morning. We have days that are not so easy, and when the new day comes, it is just that--a new day!
Last night I could not sleep, so I got up and read, and read, and read some more. It helps me relax and clear my mind of thoughts that come in those late night hours of quietness. I woke up this morning able to face the day again, but with refreshment and confidence that was a bit chipped away from me yesterday. We know that this walk in life is not an easy one, but it is made so much easier by thinking aloud what we are feeling or experiencing, and someone always knows just the way you feel, or just the right words to say. You know who you are! You wonderful encouragers! How you make this world shine, and how you sparkle!

I love libraries! I love the smell of books, the feel of the paper, the textures, the bindings, the books that are really worn. The pages that have been read and re-read as if the reader could not read the book enough. I love the books that have people's name written in them. I find it so comforting to hold a book that has been passed from person-to-person-to-person. I have a book that was my dad's that was written in the early 1900s. It is a wonderful book. It has my dad's name in it.

Can you imagine the history of this book? I wonder where my dad got this book, and who read this book before dad did.

My dad was a great reader, and he passed along the love of reading to me. I have nearly all of dad's books that were in his library. They are very special to me because they were his books. They are special because he shared them with me when I was a child, and then as an adult. Now as I pick those books up, and I do often; I sit down in my dad's old chair, under his own lamp that he made in as a young man, and go back in time. As I turn the pages, I think of my dad and our conversations regarding this book. My dad opened my eyes to the world. He gave me not only the gift of reading, but the most valuable thing to me, he read those books to me as I grew older. I can still remember his voice, and how he made those books come to life.

I like sparkly things. I like things that shine and things that draw you to them. I believe that is what draws me to people who are enthusiastic and who just shine with life. I can be so uplifted by those wonderful people! I am so thankful they are in my life.

But not everyone you meet can be that starry light. Sometimes life has burdened people down, and perhaps they just cannot see the stars for the clouds, and we all know how that can be. That is when those shiny sparkly people's example can give us that extra lift to be that sparkly and shining person for someone going through a cloudy stormy time. We can be to them what was given to us!

We are not meant to be alone. We need others at times to help us through those times when we know that just a little encouraging word, a smile, a pat on the back. We can turn those scars to stars!

As many people today face problems, difficulties and those valleys, I too am facing my own little problems in this world. My heart knows that problems are there to help me become stronger and to perhaps be a better person because of them. But then this little voice crawls in and says, oh my life is just terrible, it is not fair. And I tremble a bit, but then I have to remind myself -- many people walk along these valleys, and many tests are given to see how you will do facing those tests. Today is your day for the test, and maybe even tomorrow, and how about next week; well and then next month. I am only promised today. I am not promised tomorrow, but I do have today, so I think I will be a bit like Scarlett O'Hara and for now just say, "I won't think about that now, I'll think about that tomorrow!"

It is when I am weak that I am strong!

Passing or failing?

I have to ask myself this on a constant basis. Did I just pass that test or fail it?

Have I treated my neighbor fairly?
Do I forgive even when I did nothing wrong?
Did I say I was sorry for speaking something that could have been harmful to someone?
Did I take the time with someone ill who is in the hospital?

And we thought tests were just specifically for school! When we are younger we just really think school/college is terribly difficult, when in fact it is our "testing ground" getting us ready to the test of life!

What do you remember today? Do you remember the unkind words from someone, or do you remember the kindness spoken to you?

We are tested daily. We may not know who is watching us, and who is listening to every word we say, or every thing that we do. How well do I handle a problem, and how well I answer a question from someone honestly seeking an answer.

I hope that you are doing well in your daily walk, and that you are passing with flying colors!

Test your thoughts. Test your questions. Test your reasons. Test your motives. Am I passing the test? I need to ask myself that more often than I do.