Uncategorized

When The Answer Is Not What You Wanted Or Expected???

Live life long enough and you are going to have times when everything seems to be going just the way you want it to go. And I’m sure you have already lived life long enough to discover that there are also going to be times when things don’t work out the way you want them to work out. While this is tough and sometimes hard to understand, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to learn what really matters and grow in unique and meaningful ways.

In 1980, Claudia Minden Weisz penned a beautiful prayer called “When God Said No!” Her life just like any of our’s, was not picture perfect. She was raised in an alcoholic home, her sister was murdered and when she wrote the poem she was beginning a stressful and scary journey through a very challenging and sad time. She found herself dealing with one of the worst nightmares a Mom could ever have to face. Claudia had just found out that her daughter Angela was suffering from a rare disorder known as Rett Syndrome. It’s a neurological disorder that causes the child to withdraw socially as they lose their ability to speak and often suffer from seizers and scoliosis, eventually ending up severely disabled.

With all that in mind and with a heavy, but trusting heart, this is what she wrote,

And God Said No!

I asked God to take away my pride, and God said “NO”.
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said “NO”.
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience, and God said “NO”.
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation,
it isn’t granted, it’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness, and God said “NO”.
He said He gives blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain, and God said “NO”.
He said suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings yo closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow, and He said “NO”.
He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me,
And God said “Ah, finally you have the idea”!

God knows what we need and He will give us what we need so that we might grow and develop into the special creation, He created each of us to be. Know that if God allows it into your life, then there must be a purpose and trust that His grace is sufficient as you learn whatever it is that it is trying to teach you and as it grows you into whoever it is that you are supposed to be…

Growing, mindfulness, Personal, Uncategorized

Seven Steps From Negative To Positive!​

On a good day, life is hard and on bad day, life just seems impossible. We’ve all been at that place where it seems like no matter how hard we try to stay on the positive side of life, the negative just keeps crashing in on us and all we can think about is giving up.

I totally understand, because it’s a battle I’ve fought since the very moment of my birth into this human experience. I am generally a pretty positive person and through the years, I have developed the skills that encourage me toward positivity over negativity. So it’s extra crazy to me how I can so quickly and easily he painted into a corner of defeat.

I have found that there are a few small things that can make a big difference in building up positivity in my life, so that I can take on and take out the negativity. When I feel the negative growing, I use these things as a check list to help bring me into alignment with the positive side of life. Several things on this list are actually a part of my daily routine, which contributes in a very big way in helping me to be an encouragement to others

Seven Steps From Negative To Positive!

1. Scriptures! The Bible is full of promises and encouragement. Take some time to discover and write down some of these that you own as your own. Read it and meditate on it. Speak it out loud and let it be real. Believe it and watch the miraculous happen in your life…

2. Journaling! Pen and paper are a very important part of being healthy. There is something almost magical that happens when we allow our thoughts to flow from our mind, through the pen and onto the paper. Just the act itself works wonders!!!

3. Music! Music jas always been a powerful force and it can lift you up or bring you down. It can excite you or give you peace. Make sure that you are listening to what is helping you. Learn to recognize your emotions and allow them to dictate your musical diet.

4. Quotes! With the internet and social media, we have access to all kinds of encouragement from words and pictures. You can print them out to post in key locations, use them as screen savers on electronic devices and memorize them to speak encouragement to yourself and others.

5. Diet & Exercise! Food and drink have an impact on how we feel. A good meal can do wonders for making you feel better. Pay attention to how food and drink impacts you and contributes to your well being. Exercise does not have to be complicated at all. It is amazing what a difference some simple stretching and a good walk can do for you both mentally and physically.

6. Self Care! We all have basic needs and being aware of those needs and making effort to make sure our needs are met is a very important part of living a healthy and positive life. Think of the three major areas of your life: Physical, Mental and Spiritual – figure out your basic needs in these areas and make sure those needs are being met. You matter and if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.

7. Service! One of the quickest ways I have discovered that I can move myself from negative to positive is by doing something to make life better for someone else. Look for ways to be a blessing to others and you will be pleasantly surprised at how this simple a t opens up your own life to blessing…

Telling Stories, Sharing Grace And Loving Folks!