Tag: pretty

The Eye of Beauty

Jennifred Jones

Can you see it? See what? See beauty around you!

It’s not a foreign word, although in some ways it seems disregarded.

Just what is beauty? It is seen in many ways…

Calm; color; vibrancy; order; cleanliness; clarity; detail; simplicity…

Beauty comes by inspiration – meaning God-breathed. Everything God made was beautiful. It had order, rhyme and reason – purpose to it. He breathed it out with his words, and it became. He spoke us into existence and said, ‘Go tend the garden…you’re made in My image…make more life, perpetuate it. Feed it. Encourage it. Take it and make it wherever you go. Be inspired by what I’ve done. I will inspire you to make more beauty.’

If we look closely at what God made, we will develop an eye for beauty. True beauty lasts. It is deeper than looks only.

Beauty brings comfort, peace, calm, joy, hope, encouragement, trust, relaxation, contentment…

How do you feel when you look at something beautifully made? Does it inspire you to make something beautiful or do something beautiful? It can become contagious.

By beauty, I don’t mean pretty. Beauty has an uplifting element to it…a nobility if you will, in that it causes you to notice it, and brings a surge of hopefulness.

I don’t understand how it all works, but it does.

What do you see and how does it affect you?

And the Kids Are Watching…

Jennifred Jones

Somebody is always watching you. It’s your kids!

If you don’t have kids, then it’s somebody else’s kids. They learn by example. What better way to teach how to saw a board in half than model it and let them try it. How to fold clothes, unload the dishwasher, organize their drawers will be taught as they observe you. No book needed. You are a live example, and they will watch and learn.

  • Daddy pays the bills on time; the kids are watching.
  • Mommy loves daddy; the kids are watching.
  • The neighbor threw sticks in your yard; the kids are watching.
  • The bus driver ran the light; the kids are watching.
  • Daddy helped the neighbor; the kids are watching.
  • Mommy dresses pretty; the kids are watching.
  • Daddy yelled at mommy; the kids are watching.
  • Mommy and daddy forgave each other; the kids are watching.
  • Teachers form a picket line; the kids are watching.
  • Parents pray together; the kids are watching.

Watching, learning, hoping, dreaming. They are being shaped by what they see and hear.

Be encouraged. We’ve all been little kids. We’ve all seen just and unjust. Fortunately, we can see and strengthen the areas in our lives where others weaknesses may have affected us.

We can all change. We are not static. There is hope. We can be better examples next time…and the kids are watching 🙂

Every Window Needs a Garden!

Jennifred Jones

Today is May 1st, May Day, when children used to hang flower baskets on someone’s door, ring the bell and run away so they could be surprised.

Years ago, in ‘Fine Gardening’ magazine, a woman told how she wanted every window of her house to look out and see a garden. She submitted pictures of her home and lovely flower gardens as examples.

I decided to do that at my house. Why shouldn’t I have something pretty, and inspiring and beautiful to greet my family’s eyes when they looked out the window? I made it happen and loved it. I wanted others who came to visit able to see beauty also.

Houses and windows change as we move from here to there. Maybe you live in an apartment and have no control of a pretty outdoor view. Can you place a plant in your windowsill, or on the counter or table near it? Can you hang a floral patterned sheer curtain or window shade for the view?

I feel it’s important to have something living…plant-wise in our homes. We need to see green life, it helps purify the air we breathe. Plus we need something to tend to. If you don’t have a green thumb or travel alot, why not bring home a bouquet of fresh flowers from the grocery store. Costs about the same as a coffee and lasts about a week.

Try it and watch it change your mood. It really will!