The SMILE

What is a smile?

Here is something from an ANTnonomus source:

"A smile costs nothing, but creates much good. It enriches those who receive it, without impoverishing those who give it away. It happens in a flash, but the memory of it can last forever. No one is so rich that he can get along without it. No one is too poor to feel rich when receiving it. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad and nature's best ANTidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen."

For Your Extended Information

Just to let you know there are many good sites on the web pertaining to the Ant. I did some searching and I found a good site to visit. It is: 42explore.com/ants

I wanted to compare the make-up and lifestyle of the ant, and to compare it to the human make-up and lifestyle. Interesting!

Too much information to give you, so I will compare in bits and pieces along the way. If you want some interesting reading on ants, go to your search button and search out 'ants'. Simple as that!

WELCOME Walk Softly OBSERVE CLOSELY

WELCOME TO THE ANT HILL !

Let's get down on our faces, close to the precious earth, and observe the unseen "Blessings" around us. We stand way too tall to ever notice the world that God created beneath our feet. We go about our days, filling them with the things at only eye-level. We need to get down on our faces and observe from a different prospective. Closely, we need to capture the everyday activities of the 'other' creatures God created. He created them for a purpose, just like you and me. He even instructs us to observe them and follow their ways. (Proverbs 6:6) We are not to be lazy or sluggish in our deeds, we are to be wise in our every action, we are to have faith for each day for the provision that He gives. They are not told what to do by anyone, but yet they know just what to do during each season of their life. They know they are provided for and gather at just the right time. The Lord gives them strength for each new day and for the work that needs to be accomplished. It is only a small paragraph, but yet, says so very much.

Take a close look at an ant when it is trying to move a twig or insect carcass to the nest. Compare the size of the ant to what is being carried or dragged. Amazing! Sometimes the object is many times the size of the ant. And think of the many times they need to rebuild their home. We as humans aren't as forgiving as them. They persevere and do it all over , again. How many times have you intentionally stepped on an ant hill and the next day it was back again? How many times does the rainwater wash away their hard work? We need to be like them when circumstances seem to try to destroy us.

Just like humans, there are may different 'races' of ants. Some are brown, some are red, some are black, some are multi-colored and some are a mixed race. There are ants that like 'sweet' and ants that like 'oily' there are ants that like meat-fiber and ants that like plant-fiber. Some ants are harmless (except for being a nuisance) and ants that carry a whopper of a sting. There are ants that crawl beneath and on the ground and those that climb to enormous heights. Some even soar in the air as they fly from object to object. It is no wonder God used the ant as an example for us. Whether we are crawlers, stingers, or fliers, we need to take heed, be obedient to His Word, and to take into consideration some unobserved actions of these critters to be part of His plan.

Today, Tomorrow or Ever?

When, if or ever? Today, tomorrow or never? Sounds like an oldies song of some sort, but I am sure you sang that tune sometime in your life. I know I have!

Whether it be projects, places, actions or such, you wonder if it will ever materialize. Will your dream ever be a reality?

We all have dreams of some sort and hope to accomplish an array of visions of grandeur in our lifetime. It is like the ant trying to move the stone. It takes perseverance and faith. And it also takes time! One step at a time!

We have had projects around here I was hoping to have finished, long before yesterday. But to my disappointment, yesterday passed, today it can't be done and tomorrow is another story!

Will it ever get finished? Does it really have to get finished? We would like for it to be finished, but maybe this thing never will be finished or accomplished. We keep looking for the end result and not take the time to enjoy the journey getting there. Sometimes the journey is not always a happy one. It is the challenge it creates, and this in turn, forms character. We need to know our limits and tackle the projects...head-on, full speed ahead! The dreams, the ideas and hopes will always be there, ...but time won't.

Empty Headed

Do you ever have days when, no matter how hard you try, you just can't focus correctly? It's not that I'm distracted easily, or have too much on my mind; I just can't get myself in the right state of mind to do anything. Everything seems kinda blank and empty. No fresh ideas at all! Then, all of a sudden, you get bogged-down with thousands of thoughts and ideas; traveling through the mind, all at once. This drives me crazy! The thoughts usually come when I am busy doing something else, and I wonder if I am to stop what I am doing and switch to something else. I am not as good at multi-tasking as I once was. Maybe I need to carry a small notebook in my pocket, as one of my friends had suggested. Only problem is that by the time I think about the pen and paper in my pocket, my head goes blank again. I pray that this is only a passing-thing and not a sign of old-age deterioration. I try and analyze my symptoms only to become more lost. Am I the only one? Have any of you been going through the same thing?

More Than a Tear

Heavy-hearted, is how some people would explain the feeling I seem to walk around with lately. Maybe it is a mild case of depression that doesn't go away. Maybe it's the gloomy, cold mornings, cold showers and cold cereal for breakfast. Then it could be the cold affection, from those, who you once thought were close to you. Maybe the feeling comes from 'CHANGE'? The many changes that occur throughout one's life that are 'less' than expected. Unfulfilled expectations; in me and those around me? Do I expect more from 'ME' and not accomplish the task? Or, is it those around me that don't seem to care? Are my daily tasks so minimal that no-one notices? Is it that I feel there is more to life than just existing? Is it the world's events that bring me down? Only God knows! All I know is the lost, empty feeling that goes along with the heavy-heartiness that I seem to carry these days.

I am grateful for all that God has done for me and my family, and I am thankful I woke up this morning, but I just can't shake this 'Blue' feeling. I am NOT feeling sorry for myself in anyway, I just want to smile and laugh every now and then. I want to be the person I used to be! But, it is not there, I lost that person, somewhere along the way.

I am not a so-called 'people person', so surrounding myself in like-people is not the answer. They bring me even more grief; as I seem to compare their smiles with the lack of mine!

Getting creative with craft-projects aren't the answer, either. Now you have to find someone to take all the things your hands have created. You could land up with a basement full of finished craft projects that don't have a home. Give them away? I've tried!

Volunteering somewhere or anywhere only causes you obligation. That causes more pressure. I do not need pressure at this point.

I will be the first to tell you, I know I don't have 'it all together', but I was wondering if anyone else has been there and what they did to get out of this sort of place? This is not the shade of blue I was expecting!!!!