I truly pray I have been Jesus (a rainbow) to people in ways that I don't even know about - that I have touched people's lives in some way giving hope, love, or kindness. I hate to think that I could have left someone with the opposite. Sometimes we only have one interaction with others. We only have one shot. We can be Christ or not. We can't undo our actions. Often we forget our interaction and don't reflect on how we acted.
Maya Angelou talked about preparing ourselves to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud, so we could be a blessing to them. So, how do we do this?
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I've been following a blogger and she will write up her random 7 thoughts once in a while. I thought I'd follow suit tonight and share my random 7 thoughts! I hope you enjoy! :)
I refuse to settle for the trap of feeling old, because I am getting older. I hope that my body is faithful to me as I work at it each and everyday. I've been at it for a year now! I am going to be straight up honest here - I am tired and frustrated with people that complain that they feel old, but continue to do nothing about it. Come on people, 36, 37, and 40...are not old. It really isn't. When you think about it, people that age may live over double that in our world today. DOUBLE! My grandpa is over 80-years-old right now. His mind is sharp; he is funny; he loves his wife; he prays everyday. Now he has the right to say he is an old man, and he has been saying he is old for the last few years. He has worked very hard in his life, he has pains from real old age, and his heart hurts as he watches his wife's memories go. But when I started to feel old at 29 and 30, I was NOT going to settle and become complacent ANYMORE. But it took some time to get there. We can feel old in all sorts of ways: extra weight, injury, illness, disease, responsibility with children, children growing up and/or moving on, taking care of parents, a job we don't like, working too much, losses of all kinds (job, child, boyfriend, parent, spouse, desire to..., house, debt, a sense of purpose/drive, etc.), and so on. However, we were never made to be weighted down by this heaviness. I remember being on a retreat that talked about the seasons of our lives. It was so neat to think that we naturally go through all four seasons in our lives. The seasons change, just as things in our lives change. If something in our lives is making us feel old, it is how we are perceiving it and ourselves. The perception can be changed. I can remember distinct moments where I have said to myself and others that I feel old physically, because of the extra weight my body was carrying, my back pain, and the lack of shape my body was in. My body still wants to break free and go and do the things it is designed to do at this age, but it struggles. Just think, what can your body do if it is taken care of well? I am 32. What can my 32-year-old body do if it is in its prime shape? I am about 1/3 of the way to finding out that answer. It gets more and more exciting the closer I get away from, "I feel old" and closer to, "I feel great." So, my, "I feel old," is physical. What is yours? Maybe yours is too. Or maybe, it's one of the other reasons I listed above. What can you do so you don't feel old? I think it comes down to having goals for yourself, something to reach for that invigorates your life, makes you a better - a more whole person. We can sit around and let life pass us by, but we will continue to feel old until the "cows come home." No one can change your life except you. The amazing part is when life starts to change after the work is put in, life becomes better! As part of my fitness plan, I wanted to get a WI state sticker, so I could explore and hike around High Cliff State Park. I didn't end up getting one last year. In fact, I didn't end up going there much at all last year, because a lot of people weren't around to go with me. I was so disappointed on beautiful Saturday mornings. I decided this past Saturday, that I am not going to mope around this summer, because people are busy doing their "thing," and I have no one to do anything with. Guess what? I have plans. I have places to see. I am going to be active. Maybe you'll join me or maybe you'll see me out and about. My life is important and so is getting to what I want my age to feel like is. This past Saturday I bought that sticker. It is a present to me for my year of successes and for what is to come this summer! My High Cliff Hike (Red Bird Trail) -June 31, 2013 In the end, it was nice going alone. I had some time to think by myself, take in nature, and be quiet. Along the way, I thought metaphorically about the trail, its terrain, and life. You'll see some of that in the pictures. For example, at one point in the trail, there is a very hot, dry, rocky area that is not covered by shade. To me it can symbolize the hard times in life, the dry dessert-like times. While on my hike I reflected that I am glad to be out of my dessert times. There were rocks placed sporadically throughout this place. Each area could mean something different to a person. I love taking pictures of trails. This trail in particular looks so different along the way, just like our life. Towards the end of the trail is a more meadow-like tree covered area after you pass some camping. It is very peaceful. It is less rocky. One side of the trail almost always has the opportunity to do some rock climbing if one chooses to. I only chose to once. Rock climbing is not my strong suit. Especially being along, I sought out a small and rather easy climb. I was pleased with my progress. My "mountain climb" since 2010 has been the most difficult journeys in my life, so it does feel good to actually physically climb sometimes while thinking about that. I hope to feel I've reached the mountain top soon. I know it's close. How could I not snap some shots of flowers. They bring such joy to my life. (The pictures do not do justice here, but I hope you enjoy and reflect!) Reflective Questions:
Remember only you can change this, no one else can. I close with words from Dr. Maya Angelou. May she touch your heart today. She's a beautiful woman. May her words soak into you and inspire you if nothing I've said has. |
So this is me...I am a woman who lives with passion, self-reflection, and a desire to do God's will.
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