Day 31 – Putting it in Perspective

October 31, 2014November 17, 2014 / MRY / 5 Comments

It has been a pretty trying week

I was supposed to go to the doctor yesterday, but when my leg started giving me trouble to even lift it, I started to become concerned. I continued to get dressed, but I could hardly move it by the time it I wanted to leave – I knew it wouldn’t improve. Doctor’s appointment was not going to happen. Next available appt – Dec 18. Thus is the unreliability of my life sometimes.

The day didn’t improve surprisingly, my right leg has slowly gone into spasm….it’s still in a spasm actually. I’ve wrapped my leg in a heating pad hoping it will relax a little, it painful and difficult to move. This is the disability I deal with in my life sometimes.

My insurance has decided that my esophagus meds that I have been on for the last 10 years are magically not medically necessary. Hehe, I cant swallow without it. They wanted me to know that they would pay for a much cheaper medicine that does not work for me…why would they want to do that? This is the ridiculousness of my life is sometimes.

“Now how big are the things that upset you today? How Big is your God? Is
your God a puny god, or The Mighty God? Keep things and life in perspective.”

One of my friends sent me these pictures a few years ago, and I find them comforting. I like to look at them when life seems overwhelming. We are just a speck in this vast and deep universe. When we see the Earth that comes with problems seemingly larger than life at times, diminished to no more than a dot on the map of the universe, it is indeed humbling. Even with that much insignificance, the God of this universe not just pays attention to me and you, but loves us to the point that He knows the number of hairs on our heads. It doesn’t seem wise to waste my time becoming sick with worry. (I’ve lived that life, it was called my first 25 years on this Earth, I don’t want to live like that anymore). God is in control. We don’t often know why we go through the things we do, but He knows. As long as we ask Him to take care of our issue, and trust Him to take care of it – He will. This might be something as simple as helping us to see the problem in a different way. It is a gift I would love to give everyone who is caught in a situation they are having a hard time seeing beyond.

Oh my goodness, 31 days is done. I can’t believe how difficult it was for me to post this week, I think the idea of actually finishing something scared me. I’m so happy to have been able to finish this challenge. I kept my posts pretty light for the most part, because I live my life and I know a great deal of it is not light. Coming here was something I looked forward to. I haven’t blogged in years, and the blog I keep now is very quick, mostly a picture a day posts, so this was a nice departure. Thank you for journeying with me. I’m so grateful.

I took part in the Write 31 Days Challenge.

Write it Down!

Day 30 – My Advice List

October 30, 2014November 17, 2014 / MRY / 6 Comments

Trust in God.
You aren’t superwoman, stop trying to be.
Let things go
It is in Christ you find who you are, find out who you are, and nurture that person.
People can sometimes be disappointing. Carry on. (remember you too are a people)
If you aren’t happy with yourself, finding lasting happiness in anything else will be difficult
Never nullify someone else’s experience.
Work on loving yourself – really work at it – you’re worth it
After a cup of tea, the world is a better place
There is another day besides today, live as if there is a tomorrow. (Nope, no YOLO here – guess I’m old)
Get your priorities straight – a $400 purse is never more important than your rent.
Looks fade, character does not
Don’t make excuses for anyone – including yourself.
Time does not heal everything
You should always forgive, but some things you should not forget
Not everyone’s opinion matters.
The road to happiness begins with taking responsibility for your decisions.
Follow your heart, but take your brain with you.*
Be a voice, not an echo.*
Biggest lie on the planet: When I get what I think I want, I will be happy.*

* Pieces of advice I’ve seen other places, but thought they were worth remembering.

Have you ever written down advice you didn’t want to forget?

I am taking part in the Write 31 Days Challenge.

Write it Down!

Day 29 – Embracing Struggle

October 29, 2014November 17, 2014 / MRY / 3 Comments

It has taken me a long time to embrace struggle. No really, I truly have never appreciated things being so difficult that I have to kick, scream and claw my way to a better place. I would prefer to just be okay and on top of everything at all times, but deep down I know that’s impossible. What is possible is rolling with the punches, keeping my attitude in check, and leaning towards the positive, with a prayer on my lips. Not surprisingly, I sometimes struggle with this also. I get so caught up in the complexities of life that I forget to ask God to help me to stay positive and carry on.

In my heart I know that struggle is almost always a meaningful teacher, and I think it is a blessing that as much as I dislike struggling—I embrace learning, and treasure the knowledge that a struggle brings, but I’ll be honest, sometimes it takes a moment for that appreciation to kick in!

Cherish Your Hope

When I was a little girl I remember a story lesson about a butterfly that I’ve never forgotten even after all of these years. The little boy in the story found a cocoon. He was excited, and watched it each day. One day he saw that there was a little opening, and that the butterfly was struggling to get out. He wanted to help his new butterfly friend, so he cut the cocoon so the butterfly wouldn’t have to struggle to get out.

The butterfly was able to get out unimpeded—but her beautiful wings never formed. He learned that struggling to get out of the cocoon allowed the butterfly to squeeze the fluids from its body into its wings. It was the struggle to be free that caused the butterfly’s wings to blossom.

As an adult I learned, the story was actually about a moth not a butterfly. But whether moth or butterfly, the story illustrates that the things we are struggling with at this moment are a stepping stone to beautiful wings. That makes my struggles a bit easier to bear.

God has shown me that struggle helps to mold me into the woman He designed me to be.

In times of despair, remember that when you are struggling it is a sure sign that you have not given up. Someone who has given up doesn’t bother to fight anymore; and if you haven’t given up the fight that means there is still hope. With God you always have hope. And as long as there is hope, you have in your possession the spark that will keep your fire going, even when the going gets rough.