"If someone hands you a snake, it is wise to drop it fast."

Good morning and happy Thursday, wow where has this week gone to? I cannot believe it is almost over! Yesterday we had a lovely high of 60 to day we are supposed to be back in the 70's and tomorrow 90, we are definitely in a yo-yo pattern temperature wise! I pray your day no matter how hot or cold it may be is amazing for you, I pray that you find something to smile about and that you share that smile with all that you come into contact with. Remember you are of great worth and beauty to our Father in Heaven which should give you a permanent smile upon your face. You are loved!!!

In my morning chat with our Father God I thanked him for the beauty of this day, for the sunrise, for the blue skies, and for allowing me to wake up and see it once again. I have another chance today of making him proud of me and I will not take this fact lightly. I asked him to bless each of you in whatever it is you might be going through today, I asked him to lift you up our of your stress and allow you peace in your hearts. I thanked him for the presence of you in my life and asked that he continue to bless me with the wonder of each of you. I asked for special blessings for the young man battling with the last stages of cancer that he have no fear of the next phase in his life, that he allow himself to take the hand of God with knowledge that the next journey will be an amazing one filled with perfection of body and beauty! I prayed for those suffering with pain and grief that you might allow God to pull you into his lap, lay your head on his chest and allow his heartbeat to be yours in this storm called life, I asked for miraculous healings and for unconditional love in all things. Today is a new day all, thanking God for it and for allowing me to be a part of it. I ask for peace in your hearts, calm in your minds, comfort in your bodies and an abundance of blessings in your day. I love you Fathed and ask these mercies, favors and blessings for all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

The following story is one of my favorites and so filled with truth...are you going to hold on to poison today or are you going to drop the snake and keep on truckin'? 

Dropping The Snake

It was a glorious day to be out for a drive. The trees lining the country roads were full of green leaves. White daisies were blooming along the sides of the hills. The sun was shining, giving the whole world a golden glow. My son and I were singing along to songs playing on the radio. Suddenly, an old favorite of mine came on and my son whose memory is far better than mine at times reminded me that we had once had it on cassette, but it was stolen from our car. 

Quick as lightening that old memory flashed in my mind. It was 12 years ago. We had just finished shopping at a local grocery store, and when we walked out to our car we found that our cassette box, full of tapes had been taken from it while we were inside. I laughed when I thought of some young boys thinking they had stolen some great new music only to open the box and find instead my collection of moldy oldies. 

I even tried to share my humor at the incident with a few friends but had to stop. They all expected me to be angry and outraged over it instead of just laughing it off. They just couldn’t understand my peace with the theft. I, however, remembered an old saying that I had read once. It went, "If someone hands you a snake, it is wise to drop it fast." 

God doesn’t want us to carry those snakes around with us. God wants us to drop them and move on. God wants us to forgive and to smile. God wants us to let go and to heal. God loves us and wants us to love as well. God wants us to go through life lightly with laughter on our lips, a joy in our step, and the peace of Heaven in our hearts. The next time then that someone hands you something poisonous don’t hold it close. Drop it fast. Then you can spend your day happily holding your loved one’s hand, smelling the flowers along the side of the hill, watching the sun shine down on the leaves, and letting your own spirit sing.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~