I've been rereading one of my favorite books again… I pick it up every few years, and I love to go back through its beautiful message. It's called Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. It's a lovely read, and it made me think of a post I wrote for my Sunday message back on February 19, 2017. As I read what I wrote back then, I realized I'm actually now doing what I wrote then with my #BucketList adventures! 🤭👍 I guess my next adventure will have to be painting.😉 I hope you have a beautiful Sabbath day. And always remember, you are loved!!!
Marie’s Sunday Message
February 19, 2017
My friend #KellyLang and her darling husband, TG Sheppard, stopped in to say hi before our show last night in Vegas. It was so much fun catching up with our busy lives after the show. While chatting, Kelly said, "I worry about you, Marie. You always seem to go, go, go… 'n go.” I responded, “Well, in our business, you have to keep riding that wave!” Kelly responded quickly, “But sometimes, don't you just want to sit on the beach and watch the waves?”
You know, she’s right! I’ve been thinking more about carving out some time for a little slower-paced life - a fuller, more balanced one. I enjoy my work, but I also cherish those moments of having sand between my toes on the beach, especially during my getaways with my sweetheart, Steve, in Mexico. I often reflect on past R&R vacations with my children… sitting on warm sandy beaches and swimming in cool turquoise waters. Pondering on this today made me think more about the various stages of our lives. As we approach our golden years, will we choose to walk into the sunset, sitting on the sideline of the beaches, watching others rise and fall with each thrilling wave they catch? Or will we choose to venture off into the glorious waters ourselves and have fun swimming to our heart’s content?
Sometimes, we can get so busy that we forget to LIVE life…we just DO life. I think that's what Kelly meant about “Riding the waves too much.” Sometimes, it might be nice to sit on the beach and watch. Maybe I'll try to do more of that in this fall season of my life!
There is something about those waves of life that are so inviting! I love Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's words, “My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” It’s no wonder Christopher Columbus was brave to venture into unknown territory and the high seas. "The sea will grant each man new hope."
The other night, after my show, my son Matthew, daughter Rachael, and I stayed up till two in the morning eating popcorn and watching "The Joy of Painting” on PBS, starring the late Bob Ross. The three of us flippin' love that show! 😂 It was so much fun seeing him in the episodes create various sceneries of water in oceans and how he painted the waves.
I decided that night I wanted to try and paint!!! It's amazing how Bob brings the light in from the heavens and how it puts its life-giving energy into all the details of his paintings. To me, light is Godly power, bringing life into darkness! Our Savior brings us this energy of love, warmth, and especially light when life seems too tough to bear. When we are in those deep waters and may feel that no one can rescue us, remember He is ALWAYS there to pull us through our darkest sorrows. He's our lifesaver, and His grace is sufficient for us ALL! All we have to do is reach up to Him and ask!
Maybe I'll try to paint a picture like Bob Ross, with the strokes of my paintbrush creating light-filled waves. And you know, I think I'm going to try even harder to swim in them.
#Happy #SUNday!
And here's the link to Amazon for the book if you're interested. Love you all. https://a.co/d/iv5ZhG0
#HisDay #PeaceBeStill #stageoflife #LetsPaintSomeWaves #seasthemoment
