Here are some of my favorite posts from my Facebook newsfeed over the last few days. The posts are written by my Facebook Friends, the words are their own not someone else’s, and they’re published with their permission. I look for well-written vignettes that are positive, meaningful, uplifting, relatable, and sometimes hilarious. To me, these stories deserve to be preserved, published, and not left to fade away on the Facebook feed. So, job well done, ya’ll. May your words live on to encourage and entertain for many days to come. If you haven’t already, you can “Follow” this blogsite at the end of this post, and future “Best of Facebook” posts (and other fine essays and articles) will be emailed to you when they’re posted.
Tracking with the magnificent goose
By Lorenda DiGiacomo
Longmont, Colorado
Working out with my oldest daughter on an outdoor track yesterday, we saw many teams of geese flying over us the entire time we were there. Such a beautiful day full of messages … if you choose to see them! The goose’s symbolism is very inspiring, and once you recognize it, you’ll start to see this magnificent bird in a different light.
For example, a goose will fall back when it’s tired and let others take the lead. This says a lot about your need to step back and allow others to fill in your shoes when you’re no longer able. During migration season, if a goose becomes injured another goose will break free from the wedge to stay behind and be with the injured or fallen goose, an incredible display of valor, devotion and loyalty. This is a reminder to protect what’s important to you, but also to make sure that what you’re trying to protect is worth protecting.
The goose is also a reminder of your need to maintain a sense of direction in order to better navigate your life and your need to evaluate your priorities to help ensure you’re on course toward your life goals. Let the goose be a symbol to you to trust your intuition, your inner voice telling you to take care of what’s valuable to you. Next time you see a goose, remember to take time to create beauty in every aspect of your life.
The hopeful flood of disruption
By Sara Skye Gurule
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Disruption.
This word is one of my least favorite words. Life disruptions are inevitable, not just in 2020. What do I do when the waters rise and flood the path I’m on? Maybe I need disruption to re-evaluate where I am and be reminded of where I want to be. Maybe I need to look to the horizon for a boat that leads me to another opportunity I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for disruption. Having our plans/expectations smashed really sucks, but my hope is that we can all learn to see the boats of opportunity only disruption can bring.
Sometimes we get what we whine for
By Shay Sparks
Nashville, Tennessee
While driving through our neighborhood last night, my five-year-old daughter, who we call Poots, was oohing and awing over Christmas decorations on everyone’s house. We got to our house, and she said whinily, “Ugh, mom, we don’t have decorations! It’s embarrassing!”
After I absorbed the “it’s embarrassing” part that was an omen of her teenage years, I said, “Poots, we are moving. I am not going to put up decorations here and then have to decorate our new house. Furthermore, I have had to work like a dog to get our house ready to sell, keep it clean with a messy five-year-old, work full-time, do distance-learning with you, and have the worst case of carpal tunnel in history (I think!). Cut me some slack here!”
She apologized. (I am literally the neighbor whose house is decorated for every holiday, so she gets to experience the magic!) But this morning, just for grins, I woke-up at 12:45 AM and decorated a little plunger tree for her. She’ll be so surprised!
Ode to Papa Bbala: Our friend, David Mporampora
By Kenneth Nyakoojo
Kampala, Uganda
I received this post on my Facebook newsfeed on December 8 from a friend of my friend, David Mporampora, whom his people in Uganda called “Papa Bbala.” I met David while we attended Colorado Christian University together in the mid-1980s. David passed away in December 2019. After he graduated from CCU, David founded a ministry in Uganda called Christ Aid and was pastor to many African Christians. He was a faithful follower and lover of Jesus Christ, with one of the most beautiful hearts I’ve ever known and an unforgettable smile to match it.
It’s now one year since you left us, Papa Bbala, to be with the Lord in heaven
Gone, yet not forgotten
May the winds of heaven blow softly and whisper in your ear
How much we love and miss you and wish that you were here
You may be gone from our sight, but you are never gone from our hearts, Papa Bbala.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal
Love leaves a memory no one can steal
Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure
I will hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven, Papa Bbala.
Louder For Malchus 