Once again it is Friday and time for a topic chosen by the LBC, a group of writers who take turns choosing a subject to write on and to post weekly. This time the subject is” The Perfect Life”. I have listed all the writers for this group on my sidebar under Consortium Writers and I invite you to go to their blogs and enjoy their different writing styles and their creative approach to the subject.

I don’t believe the perfect life exists although I have often thought that others might have fared better and from my view, their lives indeed looked perfect. In other words that old “the grass is greener” adage seemed pretty true. Well I no longer hold this idea to be bona fide.

Instead, I know that everyone has good times and bad times, but the perfect times, are fleeting for all of us and I have come to value the perfect moments that come and go in daily life rather than to envy the perfect life which more than likely doesn’t exist.

My life has never been perfect, but when I think of perfect moments in time, I realize there have been many. Here are three little snippets that come to mind:

Evening meal - quiet dinner for two. A meal prepared with love. Sweetest comments on “Gourmet meal” received, quiet conversation and then because I eat faster and less, I head to the piano and play for his enjoyment while he continues to enjoy a leisurely meal.

This to me was the perfect moment in a not always perfect life. I miss those dinners, but the problem with perfect moments is they are fleeting and seldom repeat themselves.

Another perfect moment is one I remember when hiking with my boys. The trail was difficult, the path winding, and my pack heavy. My youngest was ten years old, red-headed and freckled, and caring. He made his way up the path like a small mountain goat, turned to see me struggling, came running back down the hill, big smile on his face, and said, “Let me help you, Mom.”

It has been a long time since my son died, but when I remember him, I always remember that one perfect moment in time.

A New Years Eve - aboard a cruise ship docked just outside Acapulco Bay. Standing near the railing, my husband’s arms around me, I lean back against him, sipping champagne. All around the port brilliant fireworks explode in bright colors that light up the sky, dazzle the eye, and thrill the soul.

As I write this so many perfect moments rush to my mind. They are like snapshots of time and I realize in all of them there is the magic of living in the moment. Perhaps that is the answer. Live in the moment, love those around you, and treat each perfect moment as a gift and then if you believe in fairy tales, all those wonderful moments will bind together and become the perfect life. If you don’t, then just try to enjoy those fabulous moments when life seems perfect.

Snow is very unusual here and after three days of El Nino rains pouring down all over Southern California, our temperature dropped dramatically and for the first time in many years, it snowed. It was also the first snow for the puppies and they were caught somewhere between being horrified, curious, and cold. I caught these pictures of them in the backyard.

Verizon has worked sporadically and we are often without e-mail or web ability so I will hurry and post this before the next storm.

The topic for this week is Doubts and Regrets, a very hefty subject indeed. I invite you to visit the other writers in the consortium. You will find them in the right hand column of my Blog under Writers Consortium.

Ah, the joys of growing old include looking back and wondering if or if only…… but like old age where one fears the first fall, the next sign of deterioration, the next forgetful moment, time spent with doubts and regrets is not only a dangerous activity, but in many ways a total waste of the time left in which to live, laugh, and love.

Do I have doubts, of course. Do I have regrets, of course. I have lived a long life and my path has had many challenges, but over the years, I have found sanctuary from doubts and regrets in the following prayer”:

God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

When regret and doubts invade my sleep, when anger rises, when I feel out of control, I quietly repeat the Serenity Prayer over and over. This prayer has a quieting effect on me and often helps me to see more clearly.

I believe that with each regret and each doubt has come a lesson learned or a challenge met. Do I always learn the lesson? Of course not. Like some of my students the lesson goes right over my head and comes back to haunt me later in life. The challenges are not always met, but I have in time, acted with courage and conviction.
There are times for which amends are needed. Do I always do this? Of course not. Courage to do so often evades me.

In this late stage of life, I am still learning to let go of regrets and doubts. I am learning to accept the things I cannot change, (often reluctantly,) courage to fight for what I know is right, and I pursue the sometimes, illusive wisdom that will lead me on my spiritual path.

We are experiencing many days of El Nino rains and I was toying with the idea of building an Ark when my friend Joy from
Joy of Six honored me with the “Over the Top” award and gave me something to do on this cold, wet, and drizzling Southern California afternoon.

Here are the rules: You have to answer the questions with one word answers….then pass on the award to three other bloggers.

Okay, here goes.

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? silver

3. Your mother? deceased

4. Your father? deceased

5. Your favorite food? steak

6. Your dream last night? boring

7. Your favorite drink? coffee

8. Your dream/goal? serenity

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? blogging

11. Your fear? pain

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? here

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something you aren’t? tall

15. Muffins? Bran

16. Wish list item? health

17. Where did you grow up? Minnesota

18. Last thing you did? exercised

19. What are you wearing? sweats

20. Your TV? on

21. Your pet(s)? many

22. Your friends? loyal

23. Your life? content

24. Your mood? restless

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? Smartcar
27. Something you’re not wearing? bra

28. Your favorite store? Bullocks

29. Your favorite color? Red

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? fortnight

32. Your best friend? Tina

33. One place that I go over and over? Wal-Mart

34. One person who emails me regularly? Dianne

35. Favorite place to eat? Lodge

That’s it….in one word. I pass this award on to three of my other blogging friends; and if you haven’t already visited their blogs, please stop by to say hello:

Mary of Momma’s Corner who writes from her home in Michigan and has a wonderful down home way about her. Mary is the kind of person you would like to have as a neighbor.

Kay of Kay’s Thinkin Cap who has just come back to blogging after a hiatus and it is wonderful to have her back. Her Groaner of the Week post always has me laughing out loud and I love her insight on politics.

Judy of Imagine . . . truly a talented woman. Her photos of flower arrangement and floral decorated sites are breath-taking. Always ready with a story or a joke, a visit to her blog is well-worth it.

Thanks again Joy for this very nice award…. ~Maria

Welcome to Friday’s LBC posts. This week Anu has chosen for us the subject Faith. The members of the Bloggers consortium are listed in the right hand column. I invite everyone to read these great and greatly differing posts.

In Christian Theology, Faith is trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures and by which humans are justified or saved.

The lyrics of the old gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow” exemplifies this faith in God.

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

This song ,popular today in African-American Churches, was actually written in early 1900’s by white Christians; lyricist, Civilla Martin and composer Charles H. Gabriel and it is based on the following verses from the New Testament:

Matthew Chapter 6:26
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Chapter 10:29-31.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Civilla Martin when asked about her inspiration to write the lyrics for “His Eye is on the Sparrow” offered this explanation.:

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.”

Charles H. Gabriel who wrote the music for “His Eye is on the Sparrow”is a renowned composer of gospel hymns having composed over 7000 hymns in his lifetime. His music for His Eye is on the Sparrow was composed and published in 1906.

The video below is from the 1952 movie, “Member of the Wedding”. The highly talented Ethyl Waters, Julie Harris, and Brandon De Wild sing “His Eye is on the Sparrow”. The simple words of faith and comfort resonate through the song.

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