A Beautiful Life...

She lived in the house down the road from me. It was a little white house with black shutters. Ivy grew along the bottom of her immaculate home and ran along the door frame.
Her house reminded me a fairy cottage from an old children's book. With the worn stepping stones that ran up to met her front door. And the little stone pots filled with colorful Zinnias, one on each side of the front porch.
She had bird feeders in the front yard that always seemed to be full of chirping birds.
I would pass by on Summer mornings and there she would be in her front yard trimming her bushes. After she finished the bushes she would rake her yard.
She wore an old straw hat while she did her lawn work that seemed to envelope her whole face. I would often see her lovingly tending her garden in the back yard as well. She had enormous Mammoth Russian Sunflowers and beautiful rows of tomatoes and okra. She had green beans running up little poles, and rows of cabbages that looked like they belonged in Beatrice Potter's garden.
Her garden was so pretty it could have been in a magazine.

I never stopped to talk to her but her life spoke volumes to me. The energy , care and love she put into her yard made me wonder about her life.
So often people let life run them into the ground or the grave. I have been there, and have felt like that lately, but I am fighting it.

I think this woman may have had a troubled heart too. But she choose to take her hurt and pain and turn into something productive and beautiful.
We have the power to do that. We can take our hurt and pain and make a beautiful Life. I am not going to lie, it is not going to be easy. We may have to claw, kick and scratch our may into making or creating something beautiful.

That something beautiful may be as simple as a wonderful breakfast you cook for your family or yourself. Or, it may be as simple as a kind word spoken to someone who needs to hear it.

You may get up some mornings and think, " I just want to go back to bed." Fight that feeling. You can make it.
Nothing in life that is worth anything comes easy. It is always the struggle in life that develops our character, and gives us the ability to sympathize and help others.

She died a few years ago at the age of 96. I was shocked to learn her age, because she appeared so much younger than her years. Upon learning her age I was even more inspired by her life.

A life that says I care can be seen by someone who never even knows you. You may be inspiring someone just by living the way you do.
I hope you all have a beautiful week end.

~Nita~

Tonight's songs, Boondocks by Little Big Town

When The thought of You Catches Up With Me by David Ball

I also love, Bring It On Home by Little Big Town

If you get a chance listen to them ...