The cousins world tour continued – this time with my mom – great travelling companion. Saw 6 cousins from my dad’s side in 2 homes – great opportunity to travel and we seemed to miss the worst of the weather in our travelling ahead of the rain…

We started yesterday morning, travelled a little south then diagonal up almost to the state border – had great dinner – then stayed over and today travelled home via a route across part of the state – stopping to see 2 more cousins in one other town.

And wow the flowers of the season – and the crops to harvest – the tomatoes are better up here this year – ours not so much… The mums are getting close to being in bloom – and the farmers use a drip irrigation system – they bring the water to the plants… Every season is different and we are different in different places – and yet we are to bloom wherever we are – to bear fruit – to be counting blessings – and even to store up strength as we store up harvest fruits to tap into when the weather (and life) is colder… (WOW my cousin’s canned goodies are fabulous)… And the weather was a warm cool – not too hot and not too cold – nice…

We are to listen to God and bloom where we are planted but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up your roots or stretch your stems and slide them around place to place – even sunflowers track the sun…  Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes… 

Solomon would be a bit philosophical: “A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,…” Eccl. 2:24-26

More philosophy – Ecclesiastes We!

“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.” Eccl 5:18-20

And an advantage in knowledge and in fear of God:

“… But the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
Consider what God has done:
Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise – why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool – why die before your time?
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.

Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.” Eccl. 7:12b-18

So, let us enjoy this life one day at a time – and bloom in season and harvest in season – and just smile at God’s treasures shared…

Harvest in Health – Depend in Downtimes – Share in Suredness – Hope in However Life is… Be a witness to God’s abundant life – and bloom where you are planted (in His Arms Forever)…

AMEN