Well with it being Burn’s Night today I thought I’d have a scottish theme to the thought for the week. Burn’s Night celebrates the birthday of Scotland’s national bard – Robert Burns who was born on 25 January 1759.
Another birthday celebrated in Scotland this month has been that of a lady called Jessie Gallan. She has become Scotland’s oldest woman and earlier this month she celebrated her 109th birthday. Jessie was born in a two-room farm cottage in Kintore on 2nd January 1906. She slept top-to-tail with her five sisters and one brother on a straw-filled mattress before leaving home at 13 to become a milkmaid. She was then a farm kitchen helper before working at a hotel that was visited by the Queen and Queen Mother while she was there.
Miss Gallan, who now lives in a care home in Aberdeen, said: 'My secret to a long life has been staying away from men. They're just more trouble than they're worth. I also made sure that I got plenty of exercise, eat a nice warm bowl of porridge every morning and have never gotten married.’ Well that’s an interesting take on life and she obviously believes that it’s worked for her.
At this time of year there is all sorts of advice being given out about living well some of it is very conflicting. Of course the bible is filled with good advice about living well but in particular I believe the well-known message Paul gives us in his letter to the Philippians is great and will always stand. He says,
‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ (Philippians 4:11-13)
Whether living in times of darkness, whether living in times when everything is going well, whether living in times of spiritual and/or physical lows or times of spiritual and/or physical highs the secret of living well is to keep our faith in God and know that he’s the one that give us the resources of heaven to deal with whatever we face.
As we continue to be mindful of the Commitment Sunday theme ‘Open Your Eyes’, may our eyes be wide open to God and his guidance in our lives so that we live well and know that we can do all things through him who gives us strength.
God bless
Captain Clare