At some point last night I realized that I had posted my second post before the initial one. Im still figuring all of this out~blogging, etc….but I just want to share my thoughts. I laughed at myself because the post ‘Anxiety’ came before the initial post about “Living Gratefully”….I thought to correct it but then began to think about how sometimes mistakes in life can send a person spiraling…..a teen getting their first traffic ticket, a Mom yelling at her child, a friends betrayal….. We are human beings and will make mistakes every. single. day. As a person who wants to live a life pleasing to God, Im well aware that I cannot do this on my own. It’s apparent that when Im irritable, and/or exhausted I’m leaning on my own strength and not His. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Don’t walk around carrying the guilt. The Bible says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). I would encourage anyone to pour their heart out to God every day. Thank Him for a new day, confess anything that you’ve done wrong and make amends if possible to the person that you may have wronged. Ask God to help you live in a way that is pleasing to Him. Enjoy your day and remember to smile. It might brighten someone else’s day! As I’ve often said, “Your worst day on earth with Jesus is better than your best day on earth without Him.” I realize that every person that reads these posts may not share my faith. It’s okay, I know that God meets every person whose heart is open to Him right where they are on this journey called ‘life’. Im grateful that you’re here:)
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Have you ever been anxious about something and by the end of the day realized that the situation that was causing the anxiety had worked itself out? My daughter texted me that she thought she might have a flat tire. Immediately, my mind started swirling….”What if she gets stuck on the highway? It’s still dark outside…….” Of course I prayed for her to make it safely to work. She made it but did, in fact, have a flat tire by the end of the day. When I went to pick her up we started thinking of how to get the car to the auto shop. My husband wasn’t at home and there wasn’t anyone else around to assist in any way. Both of us were considering the options. Since we were on a military base, we thought there must be a service available for emergencies. I drove to the auto port and we could get help but it would take a while. My daughter ended up calling for a tow truck to get her car repaired. Since it would be a while before it arrived, we zipped back home for a bit. In short, before the day ended, she purchased new tires and all was well again. How much energy we can expend on situations out of our control! How often have I read “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). In truth, I’ve often wrestled with the “thanksgiving’ part of that scripture. Be thankful for a flat tire? Be thankful that there wasn’t anyone around to assist us when we needed help? Of course not. I am thankful, however, that she made it to work safely. Im thankful that the tire was flat while her car was parked on the base in a secure area. Im thankful that I was at home at the time to help my daughter when she needed it. Once again I am reminded that I will have peace of mind when I pray to God first –this is what keeps anxiety at bay!
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Welcome dear soul:) My intent in creating this space is to share my faith & encouragement to anyone who finds their way here. While I wouldn’t consider myself a “blogger”, I have been a writer for most of my life~journaling, writing cards, letters, etc. With Thanksgiving only a few weeks away, I thought it was a good time to write this initial post This is my favorite season of the year. I have fond memories of the holidays with all of my family around and plenty of delicious dishes to enjoy as well.
While the holidays can be bittersweet or sad to many people for different reasons, may I encourage you to do something that you normally would not do. For example, if you’re alone for Thanksgiving, why not call a friend or visit a church to see if there will be a Thanksgiving dinner? Maybe volunteer to serve at a homeless ministry for the holidays? You’ll be surrounded by people and also serving your community as well:) There might be a neighbor who would welcome you to share a Thanksgiving meal. This season is the perfect time to reach out and make a new friend. The library often has a calendar of local events in the area. For those of you who may enjoy being outdoors, participate in a turkey trot! Who knows, you might be the winner:) If you’re grieving through the holidays I know that it can be a difficult time. My prayer is that you’ll find words of comfort in this space to lift your spirits, if only briefly. While your loved one is no longer with you, is there some way you can honor that persons memory now~making their favorite dish, watching a movie, listening to a song or even writing that person a letter? It is possible that when you do so, a sweet memory will also come to mind:) Please know that however challenging the holidays may seem, you are never alone. Always remember, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
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