On Singing and Happiness

From the book Lark Rise by Flora Thompson (found in the trilogy Lark Rise to Candleford):

Most of the men sang or whistled as they dug or hoed. There was a good deal of outdoor singing in those days. Workmen sang at their jobs; men with horses and carts sang on the road; the baker, the miller's man, and the fish-hawker sang as they went from door to door; even the doctor and parson on their rounds hummed a tune between their teeth. People were poorer and had not the comforts, amusements, or knowledge we have today; but they were happier. Which seems to suggest that happiness depends more upon the state of mind - and body, perhaps - than upon circumstances and events. ...The singers were rude and untaught and poor beyond modern imagining; but they deserve to be remembered, for they knew the now lost secret of being happy on little.

I can't tell you how much singing to myself has improved my life. I rarely sing out loud; the halfway pretty voice of my youth has long ago left me. Yet sometimes I do croak away when there's no one else around. But even singing silently to myself works miracles.

The most difficult part was developing the habit of realizing, or catching myself, whenever I was thinking thoughts that served no purpose whatsoever. Over time I improved that skill, however, and anymore I can almost immediately "play a song from the jukebox in my mind" and send those lousy thoughts packing with their tails tucked 'tween their legs!

Because Dear Ones ... it's all in our minds. The key to happiness is simply to control what's on our minds. And if your mind is on wholesome, positive thoughts as often as possible, then your attitude reflects the wonderful thoughts you are thinking. And by far the easiest way, for me anyway, to have happy thoughts, is to frequently have happy, positive, wholesome songs running through my mind. I'm not there 100% yet, but I'm sooooo much better off than I was. I just have to remind myself that I know the way out of my self-pity, and then do it.

Guess it's obvious this subject is near and dear to my heart! Many websites on overcoming negativity mention singing a cheerful song, but I haven't found a site that elaborates on this. So if you want elaboration, just check out my sidebar! :O)

The photos are of my fun Mother's Day loot! You can check out these and tons of other beautiful stationery products at papyrusonline.com. It's a fantastic site for those of us who still love the art of writing letters on lovely papers.

Gotta love this journal cover!

Sing to him, sing praise to him;

tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

1 Chronicles 16:9-10

Has anyone told you today how awesome you are?  How awesome you are! 
Thanks for visiting!
Bess

Even I Can't Imagine ...

Source

There is a balm in Gilead

to make the wounded whole.

As I mentioned in this post, it "only" took me eighteen years to "get over" my kidnapping. Or at least I remember thinking I was as over it as much as I was ever going to be, and that's been the case. (Even though what I experienced was on a much, much, much ... enter a thousand more ... smaller scale than what's been in the news this week, I believe my personality and lack of supportive resources in those days adversely affected my rate of recovery.)

Please say a prayer for the victims in Cleveland. They are going to need all the support, love, understanding, reassurance, and security on their terms that they can get. 

And I will restore to you the years that

the locust hath eaten ...

Joel 2:25

Peace I leave with you,

my peace I give unto you:

not as the world giveth,

give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27  KJV

Lifting us all up in prayer this blessed Friday evening,
Bess
(Comments are off on this one. Thanks.)

A Great Old Hymn

From Megan Berry at Lilac & Lavender

IS YOUR ALL ON THE ALTAR?

1. You have longed for sweet peace,
   And for faith to increase,
   And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
   But you cannot have rest,
   Or be perfectly blest,
   Until all on the altar is laid.
   • Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
     Your heart does the Spirit control?
     You can only be blest,
     And have peace and sweet rest,
     As you yield Him your body and soul.
2. Would you walk with the Lord,
   In the light of His word,
   And have peace and contentment alway?
   You must do His sweet will,
   To be free from all ill,
   On the altar your all you must lay.
3. Oh, we never can know
   What the Lord will bestow
   Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
   Till our body and soul
   He doth fully control,
   And our all on the altar is laid.
4. Who can tell all the love
   He will send from above,
   And how happy our hearts will be made;
   Of the fellowship sweet
   We shall share at His feet,
   When our all on the altar is laid.
   Elisha Hoffman 1900 PD

Certainly something for us to aspire to!

From Megan Berry at Lilac & Lavender

Such sweet birdies. Alas, the three babies from my first nest of house finches didn't survive our recent record low nights. I discovered their tiny, 1" naked bodies on my front porch yesterday. I assume the parents removed them from the nest. It's a shame because they even built the nest a month later than usual, but it still wasn't late enough. I wonder if Mr. and Mrs. Finch will use the nest again, or if another couple will take over.

You will show me the path of life;

in Your presence is fullness of joy,

at Your right hand

there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 AMP

The graphics are from the talented Megan Berry at Lilac & Lavender.

Wishing each and every one of you a week as lovely as you are!

Bess

I've always loved this quote:

Tatted bookmark on left, crocheted bookmark on right; both made by my great aunt.

I don't know what the future may hold,

but I know who holds the future. 

Ralph Abernathy

(Just in case we needed to be reminded of that today.)

And for anyone who was frustrated I didn't share the titles of my most recent "donate" books, which have now "left the building":

The bottom book if you can't see it is a cute children's book: Just Being Audrey.

The top book is The Color of Tea (a novel). (I often turn books upside down to protect them from kitties, etc.) I never did read the Claudine series by Colette. After perusing the introduction or whatever, I decided it wasn't something I wanted to read. The book underneath Holy Habits is Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray. Didn't finish that one because it wasn't speaking to my heart, and life is too short! But I was disappointed I didn't care for it. Maybe some other time... Oh, the bluish book turned away is simply an extra journal. The rest of the books were enjoyed, but just not "keepers" worthy of taking up my limited space for books. 

The Color of Tea had just a very few ... I'll call them steamy parts ... which I skipped over because at my age I'm just not interested in that anymore, plus I want what I read to be as wholesome as possible. These days I think that's a bit more difficult to do with TV and movies, but the content of what I read or view is something I try to keep in mind.

Well Dear Ones, you can tell I couldn't think of a thing to post about today so this is what you get! :O)

For I know the plans I have for you,

declares the Lord,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing with the glory

that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

Blessings for a safe, healthy, and happy week!

Bess