SoulFull Week Five

  "Earning Feathers"

Good morning, Friends!  How was your week?  Can you believe that Valentine's Day is one week from today?  Do you have any special plans?  I have a dinner date with The Mister.

Did you enjoy this week's lesson?  It was a tough one emotionally.  I enjoyed Farrell's metaphor of the peacock eating thorns in order to create, or "earn," his beautiful feathers.  I admit that I have a love/hate relationship with peacocks.  My great-grandmother had them on her property, and facing a three to four feet tall hissing bird with massive plumage is downright frightening.  I can remember running as fast as I could from the car to her front porch, praying that one of those scary birds would not round the corner of the house and run after me.  I'm surprised a woman as practical as my great-grandmother would raise peafowl: they are strictly ornamental and inedible.  

I also appreciated how she references Flannery O'Connor, one of my favorite Southern writers.  I intentionally took classes in both undergraduate and graduate school just because her stories were on the syllabi.  She often used the peacock as a symbol for Christ, and she suffered during her lifetime as she battled lupus.  She fascinates me because she not only felt "freakish" from the ravages of lupus, but also because she felt like a freak for being a Catholic in the Rural Protestant Deep South.  Most of her stories had a freakish character or two in them

This lesson is all about how we can live "soulfully" when the wheels come off the wagon.  The bad always comes: No one is immune.  Farrell's suggestion for how we should respond to life's difficult times is to minister to those who are struggling more than we are.  Didn't you just LOVE her examples of how to help others as they suffer?  This book is definitely becoming more of a reference book, isn't it!  I will definitely refer to her Tips for Helping Others Through Suffering List.

When I was going through cancer treatment, cards meant more to me than anything.  I displayed them on a rod in my art studio, and I would re-read them all the time.  I received a couple on bad days, and I set them aside and opened them later.  I kept all the cards and notes from that time as a reminder of the kindness of my friends, and how I, too, want to be an encourager.

Which one of Farrell's tips did you think was the best one?

Here are the Bible verses from this week's lesson:

Often times we are so overwhelmed with grief and sorrow we don't know how to pray.  Below is a snippet from The Book of Common Prayer that you can pray or share with others.

Below is another share from my Bible teacher Betty.  It is a quote from Joyce Rupp.

The Holy one has created each of us

as a wonderful human being

with something special

we are meant to share with our world. 

Think of the simple yet significant things

others have done for you

because they were done 

with kindness and consideration.

Recognize and accept the beauty

of who you are in God's eyes

and do something with love today.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for our military securing and protecting our southern border.
• Praise Report from Carla:  The Wisconsin National Guard that was deployed to Iraq are home.
• Carla's parents appointments went well. They are pleased with their new doctor, and she is helping them feel better.
• Pray for Kitty's son Mike to get a job that uses his talents.
• Pray for the Americans displaced by the derailment (East Palestine, OH), fires (Maui and California) and Hurricane Helene (East Tennessee and Western North Carolina).  Pray that they will receive the help they need to rebuild.
• Pray for Kitty's grandson Connor, that he will find a path to follow and good relationships.
• Carla requests that we pray for Trump's cabinet, and his picks will be confirmed quickly.
• Pray for our daughter Shanley Belle as her post doc is coming to an end.  She is in the midst of a job search.  Please pray for God's guidance in her next step.
• Please continue to pray for the victims of the tragic plane and helicopter collision in Washington, D.C.
• Carla is running for Trustee for her local Village Board. The election is April 1st.  Let's be in prayer that Carla can continue to be the change she wants to see in her village.

It has been a beautiful week here in Central Alabama.  I have spring fever, and I want to do something spring-y.  I might go to my favorite nursery today and see what's up.

Have a blessed weekend and week!

Until next time...

Blessings!
Ricki Jill