The News From Whispering Pines

It's been a pretty good week. I had a birthday on Tuesday. I think I was born on a Tuesday. Not sure, though. You'd have to check with my mother. I do know that according to my grandfather's journal I was born in a snowstorm. I googled February 14, 1956 and up popped a weekly column by Eleanor Roosevelt. I thought that was interesting as she is one of my historical heroes. In that particular column she extols the Girl Scouts and talks about their S'Mores. I always knew the Girl Scouts invented the S'More, but are not given proper credit. Cookies and S'Mores--those young women knew their priorities! (I'm kidding of course, the Girl Scouts do much more for young girls and young women than promote eating sweets.) I know I'm rambling, but there are just so many things to say... As always my husband was his usual extravagant self on my birthday. He presented me with several lovely gifts and made a fabulous meal of steak and crab legs for me and a few of my family and friends. I was tempted to rebuke him for his extravagance, then I remembered John 12:1-8 from the New Testament of the Bible. Mary had bathed Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and wiped them with her hair. WOW! That's pretty extravagant and sensual! Jesus' disciples thought she should have spent the money on the poor. Jesus basically replies that there is a time and a season for everything--just like it says in Ecclesiastes. There is a time to give to the poor, but there is also a time to shower extravagance on those we love, just like the Father in heaven showers gifts on us. It helps me appreciate the gift and the giver and know that to show gratitude instead of judgement is the proper response to my husband for his show of extravagance to me.