40 days with Sal

SAL aka Petunia Pig

Psalm 51 (50):12

Create a pure heart for me, O God; / renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Yesterday we kicked off our Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Remember students we are focusing on our hearts. Did you do your homework? As I read and studied this morning this verse popped up! This happens to me very often. I call them God winks. God speaks to us in many ways and one of those ways is scripture. We all want a clean heart. As we read and study this 40 days I hope our hearts are shining bright by the end of our journey.

As I was getting ready for bed last night my sister called me. She was crying and I was scared when I heard her trembling voice. We have been fighting and struggling to get one of our siblings into treatment. After she caught her breath, she said “Sarah you got your miracle.” I said, “What are you talking about?” She told me she just dropped our brother off at rehab and he wanted to go. She said that he was very humble and wanted to start over. He told her he was so tired of living chasing a dragon that he could never catch. He told her he wanted more. He wanted to be loved and to love us as we always have before this horrible addiction took him away. In other blogs I have talked about addictions because he weighed on my heart. He is the oldest of us. As a little girl I admired him. He was charismatic and handsome. But he always had a hole or void in his life. He tried to fill this void with every drug imaginable. I know he hurts. I know there’s something very broken in his heart and it is hard. As I’ve grown older, I realize what can heal his heart and that is what he runs so fiercely away from: God. This is only the beginning for him and his recovery but I thank God for this miracle that I have prayed so fervently for and will continue to pray that he will embrace the life that God wants for him. Students, you do realize that God wants us to be happy, right? He does. As you read this think about it. Are you happy? If you are not happy, think of why you’re not happy. Do you have a desire that needs to be filled? Is that void filled with stuff? Cool friends, a huge house, a fancy car, drugs, or food? Are you ever peaceful and satisfied? Remember we are cleaning our hearts. In doing that we have to find out what really makes us happy. Don’t you wish we had an instruction manual? Well students, we do. It’s what I read and study every single day.

I asked you if you were happy. Well let me tell you that even with ALS I am so happy it is ridiculous. How can someone be happy who has big medical bills, a sick husband, and looks like Petunia pig with this new nose contraption? Here’s the secret. I am obedient to God. I try to screen every thought, every action, and every adventure through the eyes of Jesus. As I study and read, I listen with by heart for God and I try to hear what he is telling me. He guides my every action unless I’ve had too many Apple sangrias! Today’s homework is to think about your happiness. Tomorrow I want you to do something healthy to make yourself happy. It could be eating healthy, taking 10 minutes to just sit quietly and pray, listen to your favorite music, or have a conversation without looking at your telephone. Remember we are cleaning our hearts and we want to be happy. Tonight whisper a prayer of thanksgiving. I know I will continue to be thankful for all the little miracles we are given each day.

Sal the Happy Gal

Sarah Anderson Alley

Quote of the day:

“It’s a helluva start being able to recognize what makes you happy.”

Lucille Ball