Monthly Archives: June 2015

Volunteer Victim

23 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Thankfulness

≈ 9 Comments

It’s really all about choices.

But my dad was an alcoholic. But my mom, she never mothered me. And we were dirt poor. And I never went to the prom. And there was this guy, and he really hurt me, and I have all these scars now, and…

Today, I am who I am because of the choices that I have made. Not because of my dad, my mom, my social status, this guy, or whatever else.

Really?

Really.

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Too simplistic? I don’t think so.

I do not believe in being a volunteer victim. Neither does God.

Life isn’t always fair, I’ll grant you that, but in the midst of life happening, we can always choose how we look at it. Because in the long run, our perspective will completely determine our experience.

Indeed, my dad was an alcoholic. And I was greatly hurt by his actions and choices. Yet there came a time when I was faced with the rotten fruits that my own unforgiveness bore. It wasn’t pretty, this justifying my bitterness; it wasn’t becoming, this heart of stone, this wall I erected in the name of hurt. And I chose to break it down, one stone at a time.

A032-00160_Broken_stone_wallIt took a lot of hard work. Uncomfortable work. Humbling work. But at the end, it was worth every ounce of energy given. In the process, I learned to not be a volunteer victim.

Our choices, they all bear some kind of fruit. And my life, it will taste, look, smell, sound like those fruits. And your life, it will do the same. Because there are some principles in life that cannot be changed, or argued with.

I am doing all I know to do to not be a volunteer victim. You?

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home,SDG, Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday,Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday,Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy,Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy,WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word, Reclaiming a Redeemed Life, Still Saturday. Wildcrafting Wednesdays, WFMW

The Thank You Experiment Revisited

16 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Thankfulness

≈ 16 Comments

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A long time ago, after reading a blog post from Michael Hyatt, I decided to purposefully thank one person every single day. It was work at first–I really had to think who I was thankful for, and then make an effort to thank them either by email, or with a phone call, a letter, a small token of my appreciation.

Over the months, this little exercise changed me. I started to open my eyes more to find people and things I was thankful for. My smile grew a bit, my attitude lightened. I began to see the blessing of the Lord on my life in a new light. It was good.

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But then, just like it can happen with anything else, my exercise in thankfulness became stale. It became routine, another thing to check off of my to-do list. A burden. And I never believed in doing things just so they get done, you know? I think our hearts should be completely involved in what we do. We want and need to be sincere. That’s the only way to go.

So I stopped looking for places to be thankful for. And life went on just like always.

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It took several weeks for me to notice the difference. A grumble or two hanging around in my soul, a judgment about someone, a not-so-nice thought crossing my mind, a thickness around my heart… My eyes lost their skill at finding the good; my smile wasn’t quite as bright; my attitude got heavier. Sadness crept in. Not so good.

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I had never realized the boomerang effect of thankfulness–I had practiced it for the sake of those I am thankful for, but it found a way to give me eyes to see the goodness of God all around, and it fed my own heart good meat, and potatoes, and vegetables; it made it healthy.

This thankfulness stuff is amazing.

And I wonder how many places we starve in our lives, or feed poison to, because of  ramifications we don’t even see?  Like bitterness, or looking for fault in everything?

And I wonder how many places we feed vegetables to in our lives, or grow without knowing it, because of ramifications we don’t even see? Like smiling, or looking out for someone’s good, or refusing to pass judgment.

God certainly knew what He was saying when He declared, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Our lives truly are a weaving, each thread completely affecting the next and the entire design.

The quilt tells the whole story, doesn’t it?

I started my thankfulness practice again.

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home,SDG, Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday,Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday,Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy,Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy,WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word, Reclaiming a Redeemed Life, Still Saturday. Wildcrafting Wednesdays, WFMW

What If God lived at my House?

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Thankfulness

≈ 13 Comments

What if God really lived in my home?

house

 

What if He really, really was there? Like sitting at my kitchen table and drinking coffee with me?

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If God really lived at my house, I would not be afraid. Because God, He is the Creator of all things, and nothing can possibly resist Him, so if God lived at my house, what could I possibly be afraid of?

If God really lived in my house, He would be like a Dad taking care of me, and a lover wooing me, and a girlfriend giggling with me, and a teacher guiding me, and a Comforter reassuring me, and a brother joking around with me.

If God really lived in the temple that I am, I would relax more, and laugh more, and take my housecleaning more seriously. Because I wouldn’t really want Him to notice all the dust on the old piano, and the dirty cup in the corner, or the spiderweb up on the ceiling. Because if God really lived at my house, I would want my house to shine for Him.

And if God really lived in the temple that I am, He wouldn’t come in as a guest when I invite Him. He would just take residence there, and feel quite at home. And He would have no problem rearranging the furniture if He liked it better another way. And I would be so delighted to let Him. Because I know that He knows best.

If God really lived at the house that I am, life would be sweet, even when it’s hard. If God only lived at my house….

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home,SDG, Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday,Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday,Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy,Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy,WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word, Reclaiming a Redeemed Life, Still Saturday. Wildcrafting Wednesdays, WFMW

June 2015 Letter–Dear Monsters Under My Bed

02 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Thankfulness

≈ 13 Comments

Dear Monsters under my Bed,

You can be so scary at times.

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I know I am all grown-up now, and grown-ups know that you really don’t exist and monsters under the bed are not for real, but you know, whether under my bed or not, there are monsters lurking all over my life, and they can be very, very scary.

 

You guys don’t always look like monsters; sometimes, you are like little creatures who lodge themselves inside my head and speak lies to me. You always want me to believe you, entertain you, invite you to stay a while. But if truth be told, I don’t like you very much.  Actually, I hate you. A lot. Because you hurt me. A lot.  

monster 2

But in a way, I also like you at times, even though I know better–I’m a grown-up after all. I am not quite sure why you can be so enticing at time; is it because you give me a sense of importance? Or because you have a way of making yourself look so smart, intellectual, needed? I don’t always stand up to you, and you have won a few heart and mind battles.  That’s when I hate you again with all of my strength.

You are such interesting creatures, feeding on my curiosity, growing on my yielding to you. You know exactly how to tear away at my confidence, my joy, my faith.  

Over the years of my adult life, I have loved you too often and hated you not enough.

Today, I remember the truth that I told my little ones when they wondered about you guys lurking under the bed: it turns out that when you turn on the light, there are no monsters under the bed.

I am going to keep the light on from now on.

 

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home,SDG, Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday,Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday,Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy,Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy,WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word, Reclaiming a Redeemed Life, Still Saturday. Wildcrafting Wednesdays, WFMW