Can we call it winter now? After all, it is June and supposed to be winter in Cape Town, although with the weather we’ve had it doesn’t feel like it. The sun was shining, the sky blue and Mike & I were both working away. I felt a bit of eye strain coming on and felt a walk was in order. He said he would join me, so we did what we have never done in the 27 years we have been living here. On a working day, Tuesday morning, we took a walk around the neighbourhood. We saw life unfolding for adults and children alike. The schools were abuzz with learning happening. Infants played in the gardens of play schools and happy laughter filled the air.
We did not walk fast. We sauntered through the area, admiring houses and appreciating that we could do this!
It was amazing. I don’t know how it is possible to slow life down so that these kind of things could have been done before. Life whizzes by so very quickly and the phases of life change like the seasons. Single, married, babies, children, teenagers, university students, wedding, carer of my Mother-in-law, her passing, empty nest and now Mike ‘retired’. How did that all happen so quickly?
Getting out and smelling the roses, appreciating the blueness of the sky and the gentle warmth of the winter sun. If I can live with an attitude of gratitude for this day only and repeat the process tomorrow and the next day and the next, then by the end of my life, I will have had a life of appreciation and enjoyment.
Of course there are hard days. But somehow amidst the difficulties, we have to try and dig deep for the treats and blessings. They are always there. The most important thing is to bring them to mind. There is also loads of encouragement from the Bible. Special advice given by ancient prayer warriors who learned how to focus our attention away from our worries and onto the Author of Life.
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂