I live in suburban Atlanta....its very typical of suburban southern cities actually....lots of little houses built in the 50s & 60s...some bigger brick ranch houses interspersed...and then some newer subdivisions sprinkled in...with even newer condos and townhouses, and what we fondly call McMansions in the mix...here in GA they are often sitting empty due to the mortgage crisis. There are lots of trees and big yards along side the Walmarts, Walgreens and grocery stores...plenty of churches and yard sales galore on a Saturday. I take a fairly scenic route in to work and for a few miles drive through just such neighborhoods before entering busier more commercial areas. Right now the trees are vibrant with autumn color and the sky is blue..(in case you haven't heard, it has stopped raining in northern Georgia)..the air is brisk and the smell of fall leaves is in the air. One house I pass...a brick ranch with a big yard, has chickens...and occasionally I see one or two out front....they make me smile. I often drive to work through this stretch with my sunroof open even if its chilly....a perfect time and place to spend a few moments with the Lord. I find myself thanking Him for all the good things in life..and right now they are most prominent in my mind...things are good..for me and my hubby, for my children...all the people I love are in pretty good places right now....but I have lived long enough to know that nothing lasts forever and it may not be long until I am spending that drive crying out to Him for mercy and help. Don't get me wrong..I'm not being negative or pessimistic...just realizing fully how wonderful life is at this point in time, yet knowing that trials will certainly come again...
til then, I believe I'll just enjoy living in the moment....
I am consciously taking time to be grateful.....today all is well...
I passed that brick house today with the chickens....today they were ALL out front.....it was quite the contrast to the McMansion just across the street....they made me smile...for now...all is right with the world. Thank you Lord for this moment in time!
21 comments:
looks like a place straight out from a story book. wish i could see the place you're at in person.
good perspective. breathing in the moment. i do this too. stop and enjoy the chickens. :)
what a great post. I think i would crash into something if I saw a chicken in my neighborhood.
Sounds alot like my neighborhood with the Walmarts and Walgreen's. Yard sale season is over except for the crazy on I am working at on Saturday. Love the idea of seeing chickens on theway to anywhere but especially work. I don't want to rush thru these days leading to Thanksgiving. I know that 1/2 hour after dinner the ads will come out for Black Friday and Thanksgiving will be almost a memory. I want to be thankful everyday no matter what the circumstances but with this fabulous season, it seems to make it that more meaningful...
Glad to hear that all is going well...and I love the photo that you chose for the post ;) She is beautiful!!! I will often take a different route home from teaching in the big city to enjoy the view just as you described.
I enjoyed your post. Hoping your new business adventure is going well too.
How nice to be able to reflect on the stuff around you. Funny how the simpleness of chickens makes one smile (as apposed to those stuffy McMansions). I have always told my hubby I'd rather have an old house (with one of those creaky back doors even) than to have a stuffy old mansion any day!
Embrace, breathe in, and wade knee deep into these most lovely times. They will become that beautiful memory that one day you will recall with a smile.
Sweet picture too!
Great post imagery.
you shared,
all the people I love are in pretty good places right now....but I have lived long enough to know that nothing lasts forever
So true. Change is good and then it isn't. Sometimes it grieves me when I think of all the good there is to lose and yet happy in all there will be to gain. God is truly a giver of good things. Keeping a focus on Christ will bring peace. He is whatsoever is true, honsest, just, pure, and lovely.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
A pleasure to meet you.
:)
These moments are precious, aren't they :)
So glad you shared yours with us :)
"Thankfulness for this moment in time" and realizing that trials will come again. Such is life. I heard recently someone saying that hell is on earth and another saying that heaven is on earth and neither is true. Heaven will be heaven and hell will be that. For the here and now there is eternal life in the Son and we just hang on from moment by moment as the love of Christ constrains us, awaiting His bodily return to earth and to usher us in to the new Jerusalem. Adorable picture!!!!!!
Boy can I relate :)
I have missed your posts!
We have a cornfield near our home, since we live on the edge of a suburb. We love to walk down there and enjoy the view of "our" field. It reminds me of home (I grew up on a farm in Kansas), and helps me feel like I live in a bit more of the "wide open spaces".
I keep praying for rain for all of you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
happy thanksgiving, cheryl! may God bless you more and more.
Thank you, Lord, for this place of peace and respite for our friend!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'd love to talk to your friend. I have been a little slow in getting back to you (to say the least). Have her contact me anytime. : )
Gina
Darling picture of your grandbaby girl! Thanks for the stroll through Atlanta. It is very much like Texas. We live in one of the little 50's places but within a mile we have every range of house viewing. I love to look at houses! I see from within when you share the Lord, Cheryl.
Yes, staying grateful is a discipline for me. Keeps me in a good place with Him and those He has gifted me with. Thanks for your kindness to me.
Hey, at least you did not see a lion driving!! Did you hear that on the news? And he was trying to overturn cars!! Oi. Give me chickens!
i came via Pia's blog. i know what you mean about enjoying the moment. i did a post last week about bouncing off the walls. that was my high with the Lord. i've learned to enjoy my mountaintop experiences while they last. i do find thru my continuous walk with God, i don't sink as low in the valleys as i used to, even when i'm down there. i hope you had a good thanksgiving holiday.
Thanks for the tour!
Ah yes, being thankful for the moment we have, yet knowing the Lord will never leave us or forsake us, whatever may come.
Hey, we're nearly neighbors. I live in the Atlanta area, too! It's such a mixture, isn't it?
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