I awoke this morning feeling pretty yucky. I was cold, it looked dreary and every fiber within me wanted to just crawl back into bed and sleep it off. But I knew that if I did, I would feel even yuckier. So, I thought, "Hmmm...it's the last day of the Piedmont Park Green Market and I haven't ridden in weeks due to the cold and the strep. I wonder how cold it is outside?" So I stuck my head out and, lo and behold, it was in the mild 50's. I knew that a cold front was headed our way that is supposed to make the weather pretty miserable over the next few days but at that moment, it was ridin' weather. So I came in, got a shower, packed my bike and off to Piedmont Park I went! I remembered on the way that I needed to buy some soap at the Trader Joe's across the way from PP and I needed to check on an orchid for a friend for Christmas at the Atlanta Botanical Garden which is right beside the park. So I had a plan. I got my soap at TJ's, mounted up and went on down to the park. It felt so GOOD to ride!I stopped in at the Green Market for a few more bags of Papperdelle's Pasta (check them out...absolutely AMAZING pasta and lower in calories and carbs than normal store bought stuff... http://www.pappardellesonline.com/servlet/StoreFront) a few bars of organic, good-smellin' soap and then pedaled up to the Botanical Garden gift shop. Sure enough, the had just the right orchid for my friend! I paid for it and asked them to hold it until I brought my car around. Then headed down to the dog park area to check on the status of the new path they will be opening, hopefully soon (not open yet, though), and then back to my car at Trader Joe's. 3.53 wonderful miles. I was absolutely zonkered and by that time, FROZEN. The cold weather really makes a difference to my endurance and half-way through the ride, the sky started clouding up and the temp started to drop. I knew I had gotten my ride in just in time!
After packing my bike into my trunk, I stumbled into the Starbuck's at the other end of the parking lot and managed to gasp, "coffee. now." She said, "What kind?" and I replied, "BIG!" ....ahhhhhhh..... After thawing a bit, I got in my car and drove down to the Botanical Garden and picked up the orchid. I then headed over to my friend's house for a surprise "Merry Christmas" to her.
There is so much JOY in giving! My friend, who is in her late 80's and not able to get out very much, was absolutely delighted! She always loved gardening and still loves to watch blooming things go through their transitions. I was overwhelmed with that warm, glowing feeling you only get from giving to someone, watching their reaction, knowing that you "hit the spot". I was so glad to be alive and to be a human being, caring, loving and living outside of self. Living only to please my Maker. Loving to see Him love through me.
I then ran the other errands I needed. Scored BIG time at the thrift shop...for a pittance, a whole box of used candles with which to make ice candles next week! Also, some old, unused Christmas cards for a project I'm planning for TOPS. After then going to Walmart for my items I needed from there, I was once again totally overwhelmed by God's goodness to us.
This time of year, it is so easy to lose sight of how much He loves us and wants the best for us. I have felt His love and blessing "pressed down and running over" the past few days. How it must hurt His heart when the children He created don't understand just how much He does love us. Right now Narnia is playing on tv and Aslan has just accepted the punishment that rightfully should have gone to Edmund. In real life, Jesus did that for us. Do I really, REALLY live worthy of that sacrifice each and every breath I take? I hope so. How He cried over Jerusalem. We are Jerusalem. He loves us so much and I know it breaks His heart when we don't let His love flow through us to those about us. He LOVES. Therefore, we can love. And the joy, the joy, the JOY that ensues! Let's DO it! Let's let His light shine to the whole world through us!
