What a difference a day can make.

Waking up to blue skies is good.  But this other good stuff that tucked me into bed last night sure didn’t hurt.

1. Shedding a few good tears: Last night, as I was presenting a paper in class, my eyes began to water and before I knew it, a few tears had escaped.  For years, I avoided crying in public because I thought crying signaled weakness.  I’ve obviously gotten over this thinking, eight years removed from the business world.  But it has helped me to learn, from my spiritual direction reading, that crying not only remove toxins from our bodies but that it helps lead us to heart’s truth whenever we follow the tears.  I’m still working on the leading, but at least I’ve a good signpost to direct the search.

2. Reading a good book: After class, I picked up a book that has languished on my nightstand for months.  One page into it, I thought…,  “Ahhh.”    Two pages into it, I thought,… “Oh, why have I denied myself this pleasure for so long?”  And my third  and next thoughts joined those in the story.  The irony of the novel’s title, The Help, is not lost on me, even as I became lost in the story.  I went to bed grateful for the writing gift of Kathryn Stockett — and for having the good sense of finally putting pleasure before work.

3.  A Good Lap Dog: I slipped into bed before reaching for the comfort of that good book.  Yet, before I could crack open its covers,  my forty-six pound poodle boy was covering me from neck to foot.  I adore a good lap dog, which was the reason we brought a little Scottish Terrier into our lives last summer; but Max has proved to be more of a lap dog than Cosmo, in spite of his being too big for my lap.  But, who cares if his front legs cover my chest and his head rests on my tummy and his trunk and legs cover my trunk and legs.  Maybe last night I needed more than a good lap dog  because Max fit my need perfectly.

Soul care comes in all shapes and sizes.  Inevitably, I find mine buried right under my nose — or sliding down beside it.   Sometimes we can find it buried between two slices of bread, like this other good stuffing.

Pimento Cheese

Spread on bread, crackers, corn chips or celery sticks.

1 lb of grated Cheddar cheese (I sometimes use half Cheddar and half Monterey or Pepper Jack)

1 4 oz jar diced pimentos (do not drain)

1 Tbsp sugar

Dash of salt, white pepper and garlic powder

2 dashes of Tabasco

Mayonnaise to moisten (3/4 to 1 cup — I use Duke’s Mayonnaise)

Combine and mix all ingredients.  Keeps in the fridge for several days.