The Gift of a Bird's Nest

One of the many feathered friends that came to visit us... Photo Credit: My husband

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of a Bird’s Nest

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune without words,

And never stops at all.

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chilliest land

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity, 

It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Hope has been written about many times.

It springs eternal. 

It lives in the soul and mind. 

Hope sometimes seems a bit far away.

But if you tap into the music of your soul, it will march into the fray.

It will march in some circumstances like that of a small bird. 

Small taps, small flutters, small chirps on the wing of the bird. 

Other times hope marches in like a lion, roaring and making big waves. 

In both circumstances, hope will make a way. 

It is stored inside you, it may take a little time.

But if you keep searching, it will come in its good time. 

Tap into that hope, that prayer, and reverie. 

Make that hope like the stubborn bird that makes its little nest. 

It may look little but it can withstand the test. 

The test of rain, wind, bitter cold, and heat. 

Make that nest of hope inside you, draw from its strong nest. 

When you find it, hold on to it. 

You can withstand this test. 

Things may look bleak, you may not know what to do. 

But dear reader, hope can show you the path and fly you to a better place. 

Build that nest of hope. 

Let it be an anchor to your soul. 

When you need it, that hope will be there. 

To guide your precious soul. 

Today I have pondered hope a great deal. I have written about it quite a lot. I recently saved Emily Dickinson’s poem because I had never pondered the concept of hope being much like a bird. During the time when we spent a lot of time in our home, we decided we wanted to feed the birds. We bought a big bag of bird seed and set it out on the back porch. Each morning as we rose, we heard the bird song that greeted each and every day. Before daylight had touched our eyes the birds were flying to our back porch to partake of our bird seed. They had no idea just how much their daily habits gave us hope. Why? Well, first the colors of the birds and the variety. I counted as many as 15 different varieties and colors of birds that came each morning to feast. They sang, brought their little birds and then took a moment to bathe in our bird bath. There was a pigeon couple that came daily to partake. It was a picture of hope. Of course the squirrels and chipmunks came to feast as well. One day, a giant hawk came and perched himself on the porch to see if he could partake of a meal. The squirrels and chipmunks scampered off but the birds remained close by. They knew the danger was fleeting and they knew they could come back. As we watched these birds they taught us that in the rain, storms, punishing wind, bitter cold, soul sucking heat, and the days in between the birds were always there. They were faithful no matter what the circumstance. That is hope. Hope is discipline. Hope is showing up even when it is hard. Hope is pulling from that well spring, that nest that is within you to keep going. I leave you with this quote: “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.” Rabindranath Tagore

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo-Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

Appalachian Allegory: A Southern Novel

Buy me a coffee… pretty please… actually it would be a proper cuppa in my case. Thank you for reading! 

Patreon:

Positive Pensées

Paypal:  familyking8@gmail.com

The Gift of a Blustery Rainy Day

 

Photo Credit: My husband

Positive  Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of a Blustery Rainy Day

 

"Without rain, there is no life."

Jerry Yang

 

Most people look at rainy days as a source of gloom. 

A rainy day means there is no sunshine high in the sky.

The day gives way to gray colors, wetness, and blustery trees.

The wind swirls and swirls, and the rain washes the dirt away.

Rainy days don’t have to be dark or even sad.

The rain provides much needed water for humans and plants.

The birds, the bugs, and all the outdoor animals need those rainy days to sustain them.

Instead of looking at a rainy day as a hindrance, look at the day as an opportunity for hope. 

After the rain passes, the air is clear, the sun comes out while the rain clouds dissipate, and a glorious sky is painted in beauty and grace. 

Learn to love the rainy days, and sometimes splash in the puddles. 

Bring a little joy into your life; alleviate your troubles.

 

A little edition to this musing... Last night, and this morning we have had January thunderstorms. This is a little out of character for the south. We are used to those rumbles in the Spring and Summer but the Winter? Not so much. These storms brought to mind the concept once again of knowing that rain is necessary to water and grow things in nature. How much more does this apply to life? While it would be wonderful to walk through in perfection with no real growth... well, that is simply not possible. Once again I am reminded that we must have the rain to water us to grow into a better person. What we have planted and how it germinates, that is up to us. You may ask, "Is it really?" I would wager that yes, it indeed is. Over and over again I have come in contact with Corrie Ten Boom quotes. She was the lady who hid folks during the holocaust. Even though she was not Jewish, she did so because of her love of humanity. She lost her whole family during World War II. Yet she soldiered on. Sure there were times she had an attitude but she never stopped. I wish I had an ounce of her strength. This quote really was poignant to me: "If God sends us strong paths, we are provided strong shoes." Wow. If rain boots are needed. Through prayer, etc.. God will provide. We may have to get our feet a little wet to get there but He is waiting. I hope that we can see the blessing of rain.. God bless your day friends.

Today was the first day we had rain in the deep South in three weeks. That is quite unusual in the land of pop-up thunderstorms, they even come in the fall. Everything seemed a bit dreary and dusty because of the lack of rain. As the rain started to fall, it was almost as if the trees, the grass, and even the birds were suddenly renewed. Add in the changing leaves dancing through the sky as the wind blew, and it was almost like a perfect picture.  Birds danced in our bird bath, and the trees became a very verdant, freshly washed green, yellow, orange and red. The leaves also fell like rain as the wind blew. It was like a postcard. It only rained for a few hours, and the sky started to clear right around sunset. As the gray clouds passed, the sun painted the most beautiful rainbow sky I believe I have ever beheld in my life. Even the sun gave a nod of thanks to the passing rain through the painted sky.   All of these glorious occurrences came from just a few hours of rain. If you were to think of songs that were written about rain, what comes to mind?  The song "Listen to the Rhythm of Falling Rain" comes to mind. Chopin wrote piano pieces about rain (I played one of them in college, some refer to the piece as the "Raindrop Prelude") and Beethoven wrote symphonies that were about rain. There are portions of our country that are in dire need of rain, the Western United States comes to mind.  We all need rain in our lives.  Recently, I read that there is a term for people who love rain.  Pluviophile is the term used to describe this person.Interesting, right?  How does rain apply to our lives?  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in one stanza of his poem Rainy Days, "Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary." Right here, right now, I want us to look at a rainy day not as dark and dreary but as a chance to renew ourselves and grow.  We would not be clean or grow if it did not rain and we did not have that opportunity to wash and water. Without the rain, we would not have the life giving water that we all need to simply survive. Without rain, our dams would not run, and what would happen?  Some people would not have electricity. Rain is not an impediment but rather a blessing. Apply a little rain to your life by learning something new.  Water someone else’s garden of life by doing something kind for them. Talk to someone who believes very differently than you do to give yourself a breath of fresh air. As we have discussed in other writings, we are in a time where a lot of people are hyper focused on what we don’t have in common. Let us focus on what we do have in common. As always, too much rain is not a helpful occurrence, and in some cases flooding occurs, which can be detrimental. So have just enough rain to build your soul and the souls of others. So if you encounter rain, do as you would on a rainy day. Put on your fuzzy socks, put your feet up with a cup of hot chocolate, perhaps a good book, and a cozy blanket, and contemplate all of life’s blessings. Rain also helps us slow down in our fast-paced lives. We all need this activity from time to time. When my kids were little, they would lay on our driveway during a summer storm and just enjoy the rain. We are at the bottom of a hill that takes care of a lot of the drainage for our neighborhood. As they lay enjoying the rain, they would wave their arms much like you make a snow angel. The rain cascaded over them, and they smiled the smile of children who had not a care in the world. It was a great joy for my husband and myself to watch. Take a little time and enjoy the rain.

Source: allpoetry.com

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo-Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

Appalachian Allegory: A Southern Novel

Buy me a coffee… pretty please… actually it would be a proper cuppa in my case. Thank you for reading! 

Patreon:

Positive Pensées

Paypal:  familyking8@gmail.com

The Gift of Dreaming

I was playing around this afternoon with this song... to warm up. Dream the impossible!

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Dreaming

“You are never too old to set another goal and dream another dream.”

C.S. Lewis

Do you dare to dream?

You hear leaders say to you, “Dream!”

Do you really take their advice?

To dream means to leave the realm of what is possible and to venture into what may be impossible.  

But what are we if we do not dream?

To imagine? To ponder a better life for both ourselves and others around us. 

Dream, imagine, take the chance! 

Some dreams are admittedly silly, some dreams are serious. 

But what are your dreams for your future and do you still try to attain it?

To stop dreaming is a hopeless place. 

Dreams have kept many a person from feeling dismay. 

So don’t stop dreaming even if you are feeling blue. 

That dream, that hope could give you the boost of confidence and respite.

Dare to dream! Grasp for the stars! Pray for it, do the work.

You can do it, know your worth.

Many songs have been written about dreaming through time.  The dictionary defines a dream as a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal.  Do you dare to dream?  Or has your life become devoid of dreams?  Think about the songs about dreams.  Dream a Little Dream of Me, To Dream the Impossible Dream. Sweet Dreams, Dream Weaver, Wildest Dreams.  Having seen a few of these titles one could wager that dreams are quite important.  What happens when we stop dreaming?  We lose hope.  Our hope gives us expectations and desires for things in the future.  Hope is the pathway that helps our dreams come true.  Now, dreams don’t just come to fruition.  There is also hard work and discipline that is mixed in as well.  But if we don’t have that goal (even if it is small) or that dream to work towards, how will we not become stagnant?   Dreams help us grow, dreams help us have vision, dreams help us to keep going even when the going gets tough. Also, in our time of instant gratification realize that dreams do not always come to fruition as quickly as we would like.  Sometimes those dreams, that hard work, takes months and even years to yield fruit.  Even then, keep dreaming.  Stay focused, keep that vision in your mind and keep on the path of that dream. The quote that I shared earlier I have shared before. It always speaks to me each and every time. It is so important for the human spirit to dream. When I was younger I used to wish that I could play the piano like certain folks, draw like certain people (I cannot draw a stick figure)....I dreamed I was as beautiful as some of the other gals that were at my school. As I have gotten older I realized that each person has their gifts. There is no reason to want another person’s dreams and talents, we all have our own. As a pianist I can appreciate how each pianist’s personality is reflected in their playing. Some of the playing is soft, beautiful and contemplative. Other's playing is so technically correct that Franz Liszt would blush. To those who do not know, Franz Liszt wrote some very technically difficult finger patterns in his pieces. He had famously very large hands with long fingers. Then there are those pianists whose soul is laid bare when they play. They may not be one hundred percent technically accurate, but you know that piece is from the very essence of everything that they are. Then there is the combination of all that commands the room as soon as their fingers touch the keyboard. After making this realization, I thought why would I want someone else’s talent/dream? That is what makes music the speech of angels. What does all of this have to do with dreams? Well, paint that picture, write that book, take up that new hobby, minister to that friend, share your passion with others. Share your dreams. This morning when I was working with some little old ladies they were all talking about how they wished we could have a “Good News Network” that we could watch every single day. They didn’t want to completely ignore what was going on in the world by any means. They just wanted some good news. One little lady said that she believes that there are more good people, good dreamers, and good souls in the world than those who report the news would lead us to believe. That dreamer may be you!  I leave you all with this quote: “Dare to dream, then decide to do.” Annette White

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Appalachian Allegory

The Gift of Perfection

Positive Pensées

Kathy King 

The Gift of Perfection

“Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.”

Mark Twain

Perfect. 

Without flaws.

Not a wrinkle to be seen.

Perfection, is it attainable or actually real?

After all, isn’t the phrase, “To err is human, to forgive divine” the epitome of the futility in this life of trying to make that impossible climb.  

Continuous improvement. 

A will to do your best. 

A dash of discipline and patience. 

A cup of grit and a tenacious will. 

This will move you more toward perfection than just expecting it by sheer will. 

Strive for perfection, absolutely do your best. 

But don’t beat yourself up when it is not your perfect best. 

If we all were perfect, how could we ever learn?

To be better, to do better, to pass the test. 

That dear reader is perfection at its best. 

This morning I was thinking about perfection.  That one moment when the sink is free of dishes.  Actually that 2.5 seconds that the sink is free of dishes is a more accurate representation of the truth.  That 1.5 seconds that there is not one shred of laundry to wash.  The glorious pay day that sits there, if only for a minute before you have to pay for everything.  Would you say that is perfection?  Perhaps.  Here is the concept, if that is perfection… Well, it is only momentary.  As a pianist and singer, I can practice something forty thousand times, it will sound wonderful to my ears and to my family’s ears.  But… I can go to the venue and mess up quite spectacularly.  So, perfection...  Yeah, it may not be achievable.  As we look at what is going on in the world, I can’t help but think that our “perfections” from the safety of our homes is important yet small compared to what others are going through.  If anything, I would say those folks who are really struggling would say, “Do your best!  You never know what will happen next.”  In other words, keep trying even if you know that it won’t be perfect, keep writing, keep praying even if you have not gotten the answer yet.  How often do you start a task, get frustrated, leave the task, start it again and… then give up? I have done it over and over recently. Earlier today I was listening to a podcast about the concept of happiness. Did you know that we as a society are the least “happy” we have been in quite some time. The leading cause? Well, again and again the conversation came back to social media. Perfect lives, airbrushed perfection of skin. Growing old gracefully? The hosts said that concept is completely lost on society at the moment. I also heard about a concept of “quiet walking” that is apparently gaining popularity. While I am glad that the younger folks are walking without the distraction of noise in their ears... I couldn’t help but think… Generation upon generation did that for millennia. What did Soloman say in the Bible? “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9. To me this passage means that we humans from age to age struggle with the question of existence. Why are we here? What is my purpose? Technology may advance and change, but that basic question will always remain. Thank goodness we are not expected to be perfect. The podcast ended with a theory that we humans should re-embrace the concept of service to others. To know that there is something greater than self. This leads to "soular" peace. Do you have to be a doormat? No, absolutely not.  However, you can adopt a servant's heart. The speaker ended with the concept of flowers and seeds. Cut flowers are beautiful but they die, if you just focus on selfies, self, me! Me! Me! That eventually dies. But if you cultivate that flower of service, of love, etc.. and keep it growing that will lead to germination and more flowers, more goodness, more common decency and less perfection. I work with older folks, the median age is probably about 75 years old. This morning I was talking with them about perfection. Mr. Patrick looked at me and said, “Sugar, that is not even possible. I see you young folks lookin’ at those phones, takin’ all those pictures, you live your lives there. I am going to tell you this, when you get to my age you realize that what you want from life is to help others and promote peace. That is better than any old selfie or phone any day. You ain’t gonna find perfection no where on this earth. You are going to just have to strive to be better.” Wise words, Mr. Patrick. 

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Gift of Apples

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Apples

“Every thought is a seed, if you plant crab apples don’t count on harvesting Golden Delicious.”

Bill Meyer

Apples are a fruit that sometimes is overlooked. 

But what a multitude of snacks and dishes this small little fruit can produce. 

Apples can be savory or sweet dishes. 

There is a cornucopia of apple dishes that are quite delicious. 

There are at least 2500 varieties of apples today. 

Some tangy, some a little sweet, some sweet like molasses and honey.

Some apples are a little bitter but that is okay.  

They can be made into a delicious pie for all to appreciate.

You and I are like apples, we come in many varieties.

Each of us has a place and purpose in the grand scheme of humanity.

Find out what kind of apple you are and cultivate a beautiful tree that is full of love, compassion and humility.

Today is Halloween. As a child we never celebrated it. Growing up in the belly of the Bible Belt meant that you were not doing that.  At all. We had Hallelujah Parties at the Baptist Church. I really don’t have any terrible memories of that time. I remember it was Bible themed and a lot of fun. Also, I have never, ever, ever o a scary movie in my life. Some folks love them, good on ya mate. Not me. Life is scary enough in my opinion. I do however relate to the fall season, the harvest moon, the crisp cool air. Yesterday the leaves were raining down in our backyard. It was like a picturesque postcard. After watching the nature show I got to thinking about apples and fall. My favorite variety of apple would probably be a gala apple. It is not too sweet but not too tart. What kind of apple are you? An Apple a day keeps the doctor away! Does anyone remember that saying?  While it is not actually true, one little tidbit came from the study about folks who ate an apple a day.  They were on less medications.  Apples.  There are so many varieties of them.  Twenty five hundred to be exact. Each has a distinct flavor and intended purpose.  There are traditional apples that we have heard of like a honey crisp.  But then there is a lesser known apple called the Esopus Spitzenburg, it was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson.  Inside the apple there are five to eight seeds all of which can be planted and made into apple trees.  You need only to plant two trees to yield an abundance of fruit.  Historically speaking apples have a very long history.  One of my favorite stories of lore is that of Johnny Appleseed. I used to love the little tales about him.  He went from place to place planting a variety of apple trees and spreading Christianity to the villages all around him. I often thought that this story was made up but… he was a real man. He wore a pot on his head for a hat and a cooking utensil. He mainly went around barefoot going from village to village planting apple trees and spreading what was close to his heart. I read that he was not a particularly poor man, he just chose to live humbly. Back to apples… What kind of apple are you? The apple does not have to be one exclusive to type. Some days you may need to be like a Granny Smith, you know a little tart to take away the abundance of sweet. You could be a buttery golden delicious apple with just a mild touch of sweet. Pick your apple because those trees can teach us a lesson. A lesson in patience. Why? Because the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit. Apples take up to four to ten years to produce fruit. You may be praying for answers in your life, you may not see the fruit of the seeds you have planted. With some time, prayer, patience and a lot of good sunlight you will produce a tree of fruit. I leave you with some advice from an apple: Be well rounded. Savor variety. Let your plans ripen. Eat healthy. Take a bit out of life! 

Source: usapple.com

The Gift of Changing Seasons

This is at Berry College in Rome, GA. Each season highlights this beautiful area.

Positive Pensées

Kathy King

The Gift of Changing Seasons

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.”

Stanley Horowitz

Have you ever heard the phrase, to everything there is a season? 

This phrase is written for a very specific reason.

There are seasons in life that are sometimes like winter.

Or there are times when life is like fall in all its colorful splendor.

The rustle of spring when flowers come to life.

Or the lazy hazy days of summer where lemonade, lightning bugs and long hot days grace our life.  

Life is much like seasons, where we can find some beauty.  

Whether that day may be a day drenched in white snow, a blank canvas for beauty. 

Life may be a bouquet of thrift flowers with their purple and blue hue.

Or the fiery red leaves on a crisp fall day.

To everything there is a season!  Embrace that phrase.

May the beauty of each season grace all of your days. 

I wrote this exactly a year ago. I am still trying to figure out what season our lives are in at the King household. One thing is sure. I will wait and pray until it is apparent what this seasons of our lives holds for us.

It is fall here in the south. There is a freeze warning set for tomorrow.  In the south, where summer sometimes seems like it goes on forever, the first sign of a crispy colorful leaf gets some of us quite excited. The neighbors have pumpkins and fall garland decorating their porch.  This season just sends a great sense of warm and cozy anticipation for things yet to come.  Life is so much like our seasons.  Each season is markedly different yet full of beauty.  In the winter, the first snowfall that blankets the landscape absorbs all the sound and looks like a painting.  Spring, the world comes to life, the greens are varying shades of beauty.  The flowers are peaking through to make their grand finale in the summer.  So much beauty to be had.  In the fall the mountains look like an absolute painter’s canvas of color, adding the crispiness of the cool days and a warm fire.  You are in a space of absolute delight.  In the summer the trees and flowers mature.  The ferns put on a show.  The twinkle lights and fairy lights sway while the wind gently blows.  How can we learn from seasons?  They are very much like life.  If we don’t change, if seasons don’t change we stagnate.  We become inactive and dull.  When we become dull we lack the vividness and brightness life can bring.  While change and growth can most certainly be painful it is quite necessary to grow.  That is what seasons teach us.  Always start each day with a sense of purpose for that season in your life.  To be more honest, to be more empathetic, to take a moment for yourself so that you can recharge to help others.  So much of life in the last few years in the public sphere has been base and argumentative.  Let us, the everyday people embrace what divides us and walk across the aisle and find what unites us.  There is a great fear that humanity is in a season of distress.  I believe most of us would agree.  The way we change those who cleave to dullness, stagnation and never changing seasons is to find what is beneficial in that season and move from there.  Embrace the seasons in your life!  The changes are an opportunity to make you a better person.  Much like the mum in the fall that blooms with great beauty, it has to be deadheaded so that more growth can occur.  Much like flowers in the spring and summer need to be pruned to encourage more growth. As flowers begin to bloom in spring, some parts do not fully germinate because it would be detrimental to the rest of the plant.  This serves for greater growth.  Finally, in winter when things become dormant and rest.  That rest is to serve to bring a productive, beautiful growing season through the rest of the year.  Seasons can teach us a great deal .  Let’s grow through each season.