Blessing in Strangest Places

Before I get into this blog today I want to give a thousand apologies to those who take the time to read my blogs and make comment and even go so far as to email me. I have had, to say the least a terrible week since my last post. Firstly I was out walking and was feeling terrible, I could not move and struggled to get home. Not at a pleasant experience. I was told I had a virus, not that this information was much comfort.

During the few days I was feeling unwell I kept getting emails telling me that my virus subscriptions for my computer were not up to date. I found that somewhat funny. Anyway I updated the subscription and the company told me to download the latest version of the software, which I did. Sadly it ws not working correctly. I contacted the company and was told it would not be a problem they would take control of my computr and put it right. Before I knew where I was my computer was more ill than I was. IN fact it had died. The only way to solve it was to reinstall the operating system, which of course lost me all my existing software, my favourites list, all my passwords, pictures that I had as yet not backed up and a grea tmany documents.  So this morning I am still in the stage of trying to rebuild it. As yet no access to any artwork so I apologise. 

I am sure that out of all of this something good will come. It is so often the way that good comes when you least expect it and in the strangest of ways. Like in the following short story.

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son
a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the
sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

It is true that often surprises come in the least expected of packages.

This blog is linked to my other. Friends at Heart are Worth Having

Shipwrecked Lost and Found

It has indeed been a very memorable week. It started just like the ones before until I ran on Monday morning. I managed to knock minutes off my fastest time for that particular run, and something even then told me it was going to be a good week. In the course of the week I knocked a further three minutes of that distance. I also managed to paint two paintings that I felt fairly happy with, and there is still today. Who knows I just might manage another one today.

I also managed to sell four paintings in the course of the week, three that I had almost given up on ever selling.

But more importantly last week had ended with some of my fellow bloggers emailing me. Those emails lifted my spirits no end. Made me look again at the last blog I had written only to find a whole host of messages had been left for me.

It is no wonder that sitting here today admitting I am a year older I am still feeling very good about life. Remind me of the story of the man who was shipwrecked and all alone on a small island.

Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost, even his one or two personal items that had become so important to him, were gone.

He was stung with grief and anger. "Why oh why is this happening to me?" he cried. He had what I call a bout of the, “poor me’s.”

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because with the help of friends the truth is, it can only get better when you are down.

Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground- - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the love of friends.

Today will be a great day, even if I paint nothing but bin fodder.

I have added one of the paintings that sold to this blog and will show it and the other three on my other blog.   Four Sales