Lady scarecrow in Dahlonega, Georgia, 2012, Ellie Kuykendall
When I visited Dahlonega, Georgia this fall with my dear friend Mary Jo, the city was having a scarecrow festival. So many unique and charming scarecrows would surely bring the birds in to see them, rather than scaring the birds away!
How was your autumn this year? Mine had its ups and downs, just like my life in general. I was privileged to go to Waynesville, North Carolina, with a high school friend. Our stated purpose was to see the fall colors in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. We did that. We also ate wonderful food, had long talks, and he even listened to me cry a couple of times. We hadn’t spend any time together since high school, really, and we were not looking for romance with each other. Just friends, thanks. And isn’t just having a friend a wonderful thing in itself?
When I picked out the main photo for this blog entry, the lady above seemed perfect. She has her face turned toward the sun. Is your face turned toward the sun? Mine is, at least most of the time.
“But what about when it’s raining, snowing or foggy,” you ask.
The sun is always there. You can turn your face that way on any day. When you do it, you alter your face, because who can resist smiling on a bright and sunny day? Who wouldn’t laugh in delight when looking at crowds of cumulus clouds in a bright blue sky?
It is not always easy to keep your attitude positive when you feel like you’re being bombarded by the hard times in life, whether they be financial, relationship-oriented, work-related, family matters or health issues. But what’s your alternative?
You can go around frowning. Sniveling. Shrugging your shoulders. Wrinkling your eyebrows. Screaming as if you are watching a horror movie. Crying a river of tears with no rowboat in sight. Have an argument with someone. Kick the ball so hard it bursts.
Options? Not for me. I’d rather turn my face toward the sun and feel God’s love shining down on me. How about you?
Ellie Kuykendall
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