Footprints in Snow

Most people who live in wintry climes experienced climbing over a snow bank. Sometimes it is a small hill out of piled or wind-drifted snow, pristine and ready to explore with child-like delight.

Sometimes we face a muddy, gravel-pitted and icy hurdle to get where we want to go.

Yesterday's snowfall left a shoulder-high wall between me and my morning run to the bakery. I wasn't going to be deterred. I plowed ahead with snow spilling over the tops of my knee-high boots.

We learn to place our steps in the footprints of those who climbed over the snowbank before us. The chance that we'd sink deeper than those footprints is miniscule; we know its a safe path.

As I climbed back over the snowbank on the return trip, a thought danced through my mind and I wanted to share it with my readers.

We often see "footprints in the sand" signifying Christ walking with us, carrying us in times of trouble.

When things get REALLY tough and the world gives us the cold shoulder, Christ is still there, climbing over the snow banks with us.

Even when we are stubborn and insist that we can tackle the challenge on our own, Christ walks a step before us and encourages us to walk in His footsteps, for that way we know the path is safe for us to walk too.

~ESA

Hide and Go Tweet

It is no secret I enjoy tweeting, but sometimes I am so overwhelmed I tuck tail-feathers between my legs and hide.

A recent count revealed that I received 540 responses in one 24-hour period. I get hundreds of direct (@me) tweets per day, not counting in the main twitter stream (home page).

At 300 followers, I could not read every tweet from every person I follow. I continued to read every direct tweet, however. But I needed a smarter way to manage them.

I once thanked each mention, retweet, favorite and follow. Plus there are endless loops, where I would thank someone, they would retweet that, I'd thank them again, etc... Thanking each via DM (direct message) took even more time.

So as I reach the 10,000 mark... 

Replies and Responses:

I send lyrical blessing or response when I can to every mention in chronological order. Sometimes I am months behind, due to health reasons or other responsibilities.

An exception to this rule: I respond immediately when Spirit grabs me by the scruff of the neck and points out a tweet. 

There are a few that clearly try to get someone to mention them (think "advertising"). I may respond, but often not.

I respond to tweets in large groups, responding as little as ONCE per account per grouping, regardless of number. I sincerely appreciate each one, but I can no longer respond to all.

I also cannot reply to every "amen" or "thank you."

Retweets and Requests:

If a tweet really inspires/impacts me positively, I may favorite or retweet it.

I share prayer requests, if asked. I also do pray when I receive a request ~ sincerely.

I do not (re-)tweet ads, company pages, voting sites, fundraisers or similar. On occasion, I share a link in response to major disasters. But my tweets are ad-free.

Direct Messages:

I may not respond to DM's immediately, as I do not check Twitter daily. Please also note, based on Twitter's technical requirements, you need to follow me in order for me to respond to your DM.

I delete DM's with unknown links, unopened.

I happily accept prayer requests via DM, and will tweet a prayer request (including anonymously), if asked.

What you tell me privately remains private, unless a life is in danger, including yours. In which case, I do NOT post anything on Twitter, but may contact others via other DM's or make a phone call to appropriate authorities.

Following and Friends:

I follow people who mention, follow or retweet me, as well as accounts suggested by others or Twitter on a whim. 

I do not refuse to follow based on religion, opinions, political party, language (either foreign or foul), or adult content.

I don't tweet follow requests.

Occasionally, I free account space by unfollowing those not following me.

I also unfollow accounts that read like a newspaper classifieds section (all ads), or are full of hatred and animosity.

In Sum:

While this seems unnecessarily complex, I seek to find a balance between sharing positive tweets, showing my gratitude and not feeling so overwhelmed.

May God's Blessings reach you each day.
May you find Joy on Twitter I do pray. :D

~ ESA / @JesusSister

Sulk

Often I like to envision myself like the image to the left.

I am confident.

I am a beloved child of God.

I am following the Spirit within me.

I am sharing God's Light and Love.

All is well.

I'm connected with my brothers and sisters.

All is right in the world.

But I'm a big girl and know this is not always the case.

Like today.

There are days where I will dig in my heals and fight against what I am guided to do.  

Given our free will, the Spirit will figuratively toss up its hands and warn that we will not be happy.

For today's sulk, I wanted to tweet. I was up early, but after a few tweets, I kept being drawn to work.

Technically, I don't have to be at the office until 8 am, and it was 5:30. I had already emailed my boss that I'll be out with a stomach flu, but I was also expected to generate my weekly reports this morning.

Those reports took a LOT longer than I expected. It may have taken less time if I didn't keep fighting and tried to back to Twitter, or Farmville or anything but work. But even with the fight, they were done by 9 am.

In a half-hour, my boss emailed me with a list of "hot" reports that needed to be done by noon. Then two more reports added to that list, which took me until 1 pm.

By 1 pm, I was physically and mentally exhausted. The flu bug had taken it's toll and I was ready for a nap. But the work was also done; I could sleep in relative peace.

It wasn't until I woke up around 3:30 that I realized how much I was sulking through the morning. It's now 5 pm and I never got back to the tweets that *I* wanted to do. But (as my cell phone rings again from the boss as I type this!) there are other responsibilities.

I cannot easily forget that when I do follow, the mundane work will be slid into the schedule effortlessly as well as all God wants me to do.

Was it God's Will that I tweet today?

Or was it my desire?

I have to face the truth of the matter: am I really following God's Will when I want to do things *my* way?

Or am I just sulking?

And, let's face it, we never out-grow the sulk.

:D

~ ESA