I Love My Life

First of all, I’ve been through a lot of deep and dark valleys, but there have always been sunny skies and mountain tops on the horizon.

We’ve just got to look!

One deep dark valley was so awful, the kids were all little and I was faced with a choice…either fall down in the mire of self- pity or look for ways to help others. It was my decision.

A good friend came over to visit. I fixed all of us a nice lunch (meatball stew, leafy salad with capers, and fruit salad with orange sauce). I wanted to make it really fun for her, they didn’t have a lot back then. We had a nice time together, she and I, while watching our kids play. As they were packing up to go she said she came over intending to encourage me, but she was encouraged instead.

That made my day too!

There will always be something bright to focus on instead of troubles. Doing something good is one of the best ways.

Rearrange your closet, organize the kitchen junk drawer, vacuum out your car, wash all your mirrors, sweep the sidewalk, pick a few grasses and flowers for a bouquet. Pour some coffee and sit near your window to watch the birds. Plan a new craft project.

I love that about life! No matter how gloomy or glum things seem, I am free to think of — and will find something to do that lifts my spirits.

A merry heart does good like medicine, God said.

It really is that simple.

What do you choose to think about today?

Love your life!!!

It’s Just Me…

‘I keep having thoughts that I should go talk to so and so, that I should go help so and so, that I should write an article, book, speak to this person, apply for this job, start this business, but that’s just me and I don’t want to be proud and do what I think, after all, it’s not about me.’ ‘My church doesn’t believe God talks to people anymore so I know it’s not Him…so I guess I’ll just ignore all these thoughts and go about my own way.’

‘Is this right?’

Well, God does use all the ‘ME’s’ out there. He has chosen to use people to speak through, work through, pray through, love through, care though. He doesn’t personally come down and wipe away tears, or sit in the living room and visit with us. He uses us…people. I haven’t heard God speak audibly to me, but now that God lives in my heart, I can hear Him through His word. I may be in a situation and need some wisdom or help, and I say a quick prayer to God, “Help, Lord, I need your wisdom.” And sure enough a verse of scripture many times pops into my mind, or I’ll remember something the pastor said in a message that is the answer to my prayer and everything ends up ok. John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance that which He has spoken to us, so that is what is happening in my life here.   Or, I’ll have the thought to stop by and see someone and it turns out they were in need of something that I could provide; sometimes it was just lending an ear, or walking to their mailbox for them, putting away their groceries or taking out the trash.

If we aren’t careful, we can be so concerned that ‘it’s just us’ that we miss many opportunities to do good to others, because we were afraid of stepping out on a ‘hunch’ we had… that could have been a real blessing to another person.

And I have found when the other person is blessed, so am I. The joy and happiness from helping another human being seems to take away my troubles and I feel light and refreshed inside!

Go out and do good to somebody today!