SWB: Sunny side banana bread

There's a dark & a troubled side of life
There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

Upon waking this morning, I was not-abiding-so-much-in the sunny side of life or mind. I think the words some of my family members might be tempted to use are..."She got up on the wrong side of the bed. Or maybe the wrong side of the planet."

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life

My thoughts upon waking were focused on what was wrong with my life, what I had failed to do and where I felt stuck or overwhelmed. When after a few necessary delays in getting out the door to go on my morning constitutional I found myself thinking, "God, I really don't know what to share this morning with Sleeping with Bread - I could really use something good to happen."

And then in came to mind, all of it.
The warm bed I slept in with my husband happily sleeping by my side all night,
the refrigerator with food in it,
the place I called home,
the two healthy children I scrambled to get a portable hurried breakfast into on their way to a safe and supply filled school.

There is so much good in my life, that at times I forget due to swimming in it. Yes there are challenges to face, but I can choose to see things from a dark or sunny point of view. I can be dashed upon the rocks and turned upside down and inside out by the surf of life, or I can wade in the warm tide of what is good in life.
It's all about perspective and choice, isn't it?

The storm and its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear;
Clouds and storms will, in time, pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
Let us greet with the song of hope each day
Tho' the moment be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Saviour away
Who keepeth everyone in His care...

As I came round the corner and was headed back home after almost an hour of muttering, walking, jogging and muttering to God some more, another song came up on my ipod that is called The Recipe by Riley Armstrong. This song is a quirky mix of noodling music and the voice of the musician's Mom reading her recipe for banana bread. This song always makes me smile when I hear it and I felt it also held some significance in our bread sharing this Monday. You can take old mushy bananas and toss them out in the trash when deciding that they are good-for-nothing (like I felt about myself before my jaunt today), or you can add a few simple ingredients and end up with a tasty treat that is yummy enough to be shared with others. I like the second option myself, and hope that this retelling of my internal conflict and conversation this morning is helpful for you as you look into the past seven days of your life and consider the bad, the good and the sunny-side banana bread.

Blessings to you and I pray for you that something lovely, beautiful and good into your life today - something like sunny side banana bread.

Today's post includes lyrics to the song "Keep on the sunny side of life" and "Banana bread". For more information on theses songs, just click on the hotlinks. Happy bread baking all...

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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