I have some to realize, through prayer, that I am not a nice person. God has been showing me where I am being completely selfish. I have spent so many years doing for others that I have spent the past 2-3 years becoming very selfish and worrying that if I give of myself again that I will once again become lost.
God has shown me that in order for me to grow and become the woman that I should be I must learn to let go of my fear and learn to love not only myself, but my children and my husband once again. I love them, but not in the self-sacrificing way that I should and that will make me a better person.
God, I pray that you will open my heart so that I may let my loved ones inside once again. Allow me to accept the good with the bad and to remember that the good will always outweigh the bad as long as my heart is with you.
1 Cor. 13:4 "Love suffers long . . ."
Being patient is a form of love. In order to be patient we must respond nicely to a bad situation. Instead of getting angry and huffing and puffing, we must take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, and respond with kindness. The next time someone is yelling or belittling you, stop, breath and think about your true feelings for this person outside of the situation. I once read that "harsh words are never truly forgotten." I'm not sure how true that is. I do know that it takes ten positive statements to counteract every one negative one.
I challenge you (and myself) to treat our closest loved ones as visitors in our home instead of like our enemies. Bite your tongue instead of screaming.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Proverbs 21
Lord, Enter my heart and give me the words that you need me to hear. Give me the guidance so that I may serve you better. In your name I pray, Amen
Proverbs 21:4, 5, 17,22,23,25
Once again wisdom prevails in the Proverbs. In this chapter I have learned that being haughty and proud are a sin (or should I say I am reminded of that). Being patient leads to great abundance-if you rush things then you will be poor. The old saying "All good things come to those who wait" comes to mind.
If you love pleasure, wine, money,etc. you will not be rich. If you love the Lord you will gain many riches.
Above all be wise, guard your mouth. Think before you speak. Work diligently at the job that God has given you. If it to work outside the home then do the best job you can do, regardless if you enjoy it or not. If you work inside the home then take it seriously. Keep a schedule and/or list of "jobs" to be done daily and DO THEM. I say this because I have not taken my stay-at-home job seriously enough and it has caused me great heartache in my marriage, with my children, with my family, and with myself. I pray that you may be able to find something helpful in these words and learn from them.
Proverbs 21:4, 5, 17,22,23,25
Once again wisdom prevails in the Proverbs. In this chapter I have learned that being haughty and proud are a sin (or should I say I am reminded of that). Being patient leads to great abundance-if you rush things then you will be poor. The old saying "All good things come to those who wait" comes to mind.
If you love pleasure, wine, money,etc. you will not be rich. If you love the Lord you will gain many riches.
Above all be wise, guard your mouth. Think before you speak. Work diligently at the job that God has given you. If it to work outside the home then do the best job you can do, regardless if you enjoy it or not. If you work inside the home then take it seriously. Keep a schedule and/or list of "jobs" to be done daily and DO THEM. I say this because I have not taken my stay-at-home job seriously enough and it has caused me great heartache in my marriage, with my children, with my family, and with myself. I pray that you may be able to find something helpful in these words and learn from them.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Heart of a Woman
"Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." -Anais Nin
This is where I am in my life's journey. I have come to the realization that if I don't change then my life will become a living Hell. Pardon the language. I thought that I was one of those people that embraced change, that loved a great adventure. I was wrong. I am terrified. I cried so hard last night I thought I would never stop. All because of the epiphany that I HAVE TO CHANGE. The way that I am now is no longer acceptable.
However, for all the fear there is a little excitement. I am pretending it is a great adventure and I am looking forward to finding my happiness once again. Finding my light heart.
A friend of mine read a book to our daughters a few weeks ago. It was called "Fancy Nancy". For those that don't know it,Fancy Nancy is this little girl who is all about dressing up in tutus and feather boas and pearl necklaces. She uses all kinds of "big, fancy words". Well as my friend was reading this book she looks at my daughter and says "Nancy is just like your mom"
Now this is a lady I went to high school with and we have only just moved close to one another again. I almost fell over. I'm standing in jeans and a tshirt with my hair in a ponytail and little to no make-up. Then it hit me. I use to be Fancy Nancy. I got all dressed up the way I wanted to, I didn't care if anyone else liked it. I liked it. Not only were my clothes different but I was light and carefree and "here I am, this is me, take me or leave me, I don't really care. And you know what? I didn't care. But then I realized that there was a difference back then. I had a close group of friends that I KNEW loved me no matter what. No matter what I did, they were there for me.
After high school we went our separate ways and I got married and then my husband cheated on me and I had no one to turn to but my mom and that didn't help. I felt alone and unwanted. I think that's where my Fancy Nancy went. I no longer felt carefree because I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and that no one wanted the real me.
So now, many many many years later I realize I must find that fancy girl again and find the loving woman that went with her. I must do this to save my family from falling apart.
This is where I am in my life's journey. I have come to the realization that if I don't change then my life will become a living Hell. Pardon the language. I thought that I was one of those people that embraced change, that loved a great adventure. I was wrong. I am terrified. I cried so hard last night I thought I would never stop. All because of the epiphany that I HAVE TO CHANGE. The way that I am now is no longer acceptable.
However, for all the fear there is a little excitement. I am pretending it is a great adventure and I am looking forward to finding my happiness once again. Finding my light heart.
A friend of mine read a book to our daughters a few weeks ago. It was called "Fancy Nancy". For those that don't know it,Fancy Nancy is this little girl who is all about dressing up in tutus and feather boas and pearl necklaces. She uses all kinds of "big, fancy words". Well as my friend was reading this book she looks at my daughter and says "Nancy is just like your mom"
Now this is a lady I went to high school with and we have only just moved close to one another again. I almost fell over. I'm standing in jeans and a tshirt with my hair in a ponytail and little to no make-up. Then it hit me. I use to be Fancy Nancy. I got all dressed up the way I wanted to, I didn't care if anyone else liked it. I liked it. Not only were my clothes different but I was light and carefree and "here I am, this is me, take me or leave me, I don't really care. And you know what? I didn't care. But then I realized that there was a difference back then. I had a close group of friends that I KNEW loved me no matter what. No matter what I did, they were there for me.
After high school we went our separate ways and I got married and then my husband cheated on me and I had no one to turn to but my mom and that didn't help. I felt alone and unwanted. I think that's where my Fancy Nancy went. I no longer felt carefree because I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders and that no one wanted the real me.
So now, many many many years later I realize I must find that fancy girl again and find the loving woman that went with her. I must do this to save my family from falling apart.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Proverbs 2
Lord help me to discern the knowledge and wisdom in what you have for me to learn.I praise you and thank you for this opportunity to grow closer to you and closer to my family. In your name I pray, Amen.
Proverbs 2: 10-11
"When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you;Understanding will keep you."
Using your brain instead of your emotions will keep you whole and preserve your peace. So before you yell at your babies, think about why they did what they did and act accordingly. Did they spill the mild because they've been asking you for some for 30 minutes and you keep saying just a minute? Is it really their fault? Or could you have prevented it by taking 5 minutes to get them a drink? I only ask this because I myself am having to take a long hard look at my reaction to my kids and I realize that a lot of strife in my home is my own making. It's time to change. Time to grow up.
Proverbs 2: 10-11
"When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you;Understanding will keep you."
Using your brain instead of your emotions will keep you whole and preserve your peace. So before you yell at your babies, think about why they did what they did and act accordingly. Did they spill the mild because they've been asking you for some for 30 minutes and you keep saying just a minute? Is it really their fault? Or could you have prevented it by taking 5 minutes to get them a drink? I only ask this because I myself am having to take a long hard look at my reaction to my kids and I realize that a lot of strife in my home is my own making. It's time to change. Time to grow up.
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