🌊🏊🏼‍♀️'STUCK - OUT - IN THE MIDDLE OF - THE SEA OF LIFE'‼️😳😩🙏🏼

✝️👩‍👧‍👦 Although, I am writing (actually typing) this post during the month of MAY, "2019," I won't be posting it until JUNE❣️Easter was early this year, which, is fine with me, because, last year it was later than usual, and that, seemed strange to this ole girl❣️Ha❣️🏊🏼‍♀️🏊🏽 Our pool's been open for a few weeks now, and, I'm praying that, The Lord shall, answer my prayer, and, give me back the strong desire, in which, I once had for, swimming and outside activities, and the such❣️The chronic back pain, as well as, a couple of other culprits, are to blame for my diminished desire for these‼️👩‍👧‍👦'Mother's Day' is this Sunday, which, has me thinking about HOW very blessed I am, because, GOD, gave me a loving mother, and, many other "like - second mothers," and, also, entrusted me with the GIFT of being a mother myself, ALL of which, are TREMENDOUS BLESSINGS in my life❣️Well, it is now, Monday, the day after 'Mother's Day,' and, although, I find myself continuing to STRUGGLE with:  ANXIETY, DREAD, LACK of, MOTIVATION and DESIRE, their "HOLD" on me has decreased a "smidgen" (IDK if that is an actual word or not - HA❣️), gradually, the past several months - NO DOUBT - as a result of The Good Lord answering, mine and other people's, prayers, concerning all of this❣️🙌🏼 Yesterday, I was thinking about how it sort of seems as though I'm WAY out - in the middle of the "ocean of life" (I've had this thought several times - the past couple years), and, have been "treading water, "so to speak," for a LONG time, and, every now and then, a sharp, thought and emotion, strike at me, "saying," that, "you aren't going to make it out of this situation...you're going to drown...you cannot make it...you have nothing left to give...etc."‼️But, then, I pray, and, try to find something, in which, I can physically DO, in order to stop that "sensation," attempting to get my mind off of it!  And, normally, the sweet Holy Spirit comforts, encourages, etc., me, and, HE, as well as the physical busyness, drive the evil negativity away - for a while - anyway‼️PRAYER IS A, WONDERFUL and POWERFUL, gift from God❣️Sometimes, whenever, I am reminded of a future event, that, I believe I must attend, once again, an overpowering "wave of dread and/or anxiety" crashes upon me, and, I become seemingly "OVERWHELMED"‼️😩 Because, I've been dealing with this "wave after wave of anxiety," it also, causes me to often live with a "dreading - whatever MAY confront me - oppression," and, sudden, unexpected, "JOLTS OF FEAR," triggering thoughts, such as:  you cannot deal with life...you are done...and, the such❗️😔 It's rather difficult to explain❗️However, people whom have experienced anxiety, and, its "cousins," can probably relate to what I just TRIED to explain❗️😘 So, this morning, whenever, I began thinking about - me - being in the middle of the "ocean," it came to my mind, which, was probably sent - through my spirit - from The Holy Spirit, "telling" me that, the "water," in which, I find myself, consists of such things as - GOD'S - MERCY, GRACE, LOVE, BLOOD, WORD, ETC., ETC. (Hebrews 4:16, James 3:17, 4:6, Luke 1:78+79, 2 Corinthians 12:9+10)❣️Therefore, I imagined myself, peacefully floating on my back, instead of, nervously "treading" "water," and, upon doing this - The Holy Spirit comforted me, and, I was helped❣️"SHE IS TOSSED BY THE WAVES, BUT, DOES NOT SINK!" (t-u - Cheryl Overton - 'Pinterest')❣️I enjoyed 'Mother's Day' weekend, with the only "planned" events being the regular Church activities - all day Sunday❣️Saturday, David and the kids had a "surprise" 'Mother's Day' cookout/celebration, for me here at our home, for which, I, was grateful, and, enjoyed❣️I always enjoy time spent with my family❣️It being "unplanned," was "KEY" to me thoroughly enjoying it❣️Sunday, after church, I spent the afternoon with my mother, which, was a blessing❣️My daughter, C.C., and, her two youngest children visited with us for a little while, also❣️The next BIG holiday is 'Memorial Day,' therefore, IF, I LET myself, I'll become  overwhelmed, by concerning myself with, WHO, is going to have our "family celebration," and, wondering, if, David is going to want to have it here, which, has oftentimes been our drama our past thirty five previous years (many of them - anyway)⁉️🤣 Chronic back pain is what makes it  difficult for me, otherwise, I enjoy it❣️After, "it's all said and done," and, everyone has gone home, everything is cleaned up, and, my, nerves and anxiety, have calmed down, I realize, yet once again, that, I DID, after all, enjoy the entire "episode" (back and other - pain - and ALL- considering)❣️There have also been times, through the years, whenever, I have initiated the idea of having "parties" here‼️It's just that, the chronic back, pain and issues, have profoundly affected me‼️A couple of years ago, I read an article on ANXIETY, which, recommended a technique called "GROUNDING," which, suggests that, doing so, decreases a person's anxiety level.  I believe that, it said to start with your eyes, and, with them notice, one by one, five different items, in which, you actually SEE. And, then, do the same with your other four senses (example - observe four different  entities that, you can hear - one at a time).   This exercise has helped me at times whenever I start to have a "PANIC ATTACK," deal with anxiety, etc., feel overwhelmed, etc.❣️ IF, you deal with any of these "DEMONS," this "EXERCISE OF GROUNDING," may prove helpful❣️Hey, it's worth a try❣️Of course, I always PRAY first, and then, think upon and quote, THE WORD❣️However, the "grounding exercise" seems to refocus my attention - away - from - whatever is causing - the - dread or whatever (which is based upon what "COULD" happen, and, is FEAR-driven) - and - onto reality❣️I find myself in this "strange place," in which, I have ever been, and, I NEVER, in my wildest dreams, could have  dreamed that, I would EVER be! 🤔 I mean, considering that, the first fifty years of my life, even during the many years that I battled that old demon, "Depression," I had DESIRE to do MANY things, and, really believed that, I could "conquer the world," it is understandable that, I find this "STATE," in which, I'm presently experiencing, to be QUITE discouraging‼️😔 I saw a segment on the news today, about two young adults (one male and one female), who, found themselves (I didn't see HOW they got there, etc.) WAY out in the middle of the rough ocean water, needing to be rescued‼️They had been treading water for approximately two hours‼️They prayed that, God would send them help of some kind‼️Around the same time, some men, despite the rough condition of the sea (which, they wouldn't typically have done - in those conditions), decided to go out - for a boat ride, before heading home from their trip. As they journeyed out on the water, they faintly heard someone yelling, in the distance, and, rescued the "kids," from the tumultuous water, bringing them into their boat, which, "just happened" to have the name, "AMEN"‼️I realize that, it is not a coincidence that, I saw the news clip, around the same time period, in which, I am writing this post‼️LIFE LESSON:  UNDERSTAND THAT - THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES IN LIFE‼️😘 So, the message, in which, I wish to convey with this post, is that:  Whatever season, in which, you presently find yourself, upon the "SEA OF LIFE"..."surfing, sitting in a beach chair, or, building sand castles, as the water gushes over your feet, in a yacht, or, on a jet ski, OR...ETC., ETC." (there are lots of scenarios), ANYHOO, WHEREVER, you are, don't LET "the rough waters" "take you under"‼️🌊Remember that, relaxing and not panicking, whenever, you encounter various "TROUBLE of LIFE," is much more conducive to VICTORY‼️REMEMBER that, IF, you are HIS child, then, HIS BLOOD, MERCY, GRACE, SPIRIT, ETC., "HAVE YOUR BACK," and, ALWAYS SHALL‼️‼️Confirming my point that, in life there aren't any coincidences...I was surfing through 'Pinterest,' and, as soon as I began thinking, " I need an appropriate quote or "pin," which, correlates with my blog-post," and, "SHAZAM" (ha!)...there it was‼️So, here it IS (thank you 'Pinterest'):  "SMILE AT THE OCEAN, BECAUSE, THE WAVES TELL YOUR STORY" (pretty deep thought)‼️‼️🌊🌊I didn't plan it, however, this post is "season appropriate," with USA's traditional vacationing time being right upon us (another - non coincidental - occurrence)‼️ AS the cartoon character, DORY, says, "JUST KEEP SWIMMING...JUST KEEP SWIMMING"❣️I attended my husband's tent revival service tonight, and, a man sang the inspirational song entitled, 'THE ANCHOR ⚓️ HOLDS,' which, I immediately, mentally, connected the singing of it to being in correlation with this post (not coincidentally), also‼️🌊Out here on this "sea of life," I have gotten "leg cramps," "bobbled" at times, "taken-in some ole "salty water," been bitten by "sea critters," been "dehydrated," ETC., ETC. - you "get my DRIFT," I'm sure‼️😘 Because, I am fifty five years "young" (I honestly "feel" eighteen - mentally), and, my time in this "ocean of life" (actually - on EARTH) is probably endangered, I CHOOSE to set my eyes on my "lighthouse," on the "other" "shore" (not looking at the "shore" behind me, but, also, looking for the next "big wave" to ride, and, TRUSTING my "lighthouse" (JESUS), whom, shall FAITHFULLY "draw" me 'HOME'❣️I just read this on 'Pinterest,' and, it goes with this post perfectly:  "SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO RIDE THE WAVE YOU'RE GIVEN" (author unknown)‼️🌊To SUM it up:  WHEREVER WE FIND OURSELVES IN "THE OCEAN OF LIFE," LET US CONTINUE ON BY OUR SWEET LORD'S ENABLING, THROUGH HIS - LOVE, MERCY, GRACE, SPIRIT, WORD, STRENGTH, BLOOD, ETC., ETC., AND, DETERMINE WITHIN OURSELVES THAT, WITH HIS HELP, WE'LL NEVER QUIT, FOR HIS, HONOR AND GLORY‼️..."LIFE'S A WAVE - CATCH IT!" (t-u - surgd.com) (even though you might eventually end up floating on your back, as I am presently - IT IS ALL TOTALLY WORTH IT) 😘☺️😊😄..."Believe it or not," I just sent David a text, and, asked him if, he wants to have a "cookout" here Monday, 'Memorial Day,' and, three hours later, he still hasn't responded‼️"What's up" with that (not like him - with such matters)⁉️😗...HUMM⁉️...we shall see⁉️I'll try to remember to inform ya'll, as to "what came if it," on my next post (JUNE'S)❣️We also have a lot of activities, in which, to be involved, with our "grand angel's" Baseball, graduation, ETC.❣️😘🇺🇸💙 ...📖🕊🙏🏼✝️🙌🏼💜...our "waters of life" are never boring (to be sure)❣️Hey - "who knows," IF, I keep my "eyes" on JESUS, but, just maybe, ya'll might one day see me (like the apostle Peter) "WALK'N on the water of my life" (HEBREWS 12:1+2)⁉️⁉️😘😂💞💞💞...👋🏼...until next post...