I took a short nap just now. Upon awakening, I asked God to show me that He loves me. After all, most of my addiction/freedom work is a slow slag through the mud of self-recrimination (can I get an "Amen" here). I'm now ensconced on my back deck, listening to the birds, watching the sunlight filter through the willow birch and crepe myrtle trees, and taking in the grating sounds of some sort of carpentry work one street over.
I laughed when I pulled up my deck chair...chuckling that, instead of the full-on glory of nature, I would be treated to that infernal saw noise. Pretty quickly, though, I thought about what a gift work is. What a gift! How wonderful to hold a tool in your hand and to know, at day's end, that ya did something profitable in some way. Just one more of God's blessings. What a gift to hold a computer in your lap and to write something that encourages someone. What a gift to swing a broom and treat someone to a clean house at the end of their school or work day. What a gift to work very hard all day and to then, at days end, rest very contentedly.
I want to come out of the half-light of addiction-hobbled living and take whatever days I have left, wringing them dry of their juicy joy, angst, or whatever they bring! I want to leave each day exhausted of any and all opportunities to serve God, enjoy Him, and learn from and experience the world around me. I have been very blessed my whole life. I do not expect that to change!
Today I choose to live. I made a promise to myself last night. When thoughts of regret come, I will dismiss them without a conversation. If the regret is coupled with a dilemma that past action or inaction has created, I will look at it as a challenge for God to help me solve, an opportunity to watch His creative care at work, and to be a part of it. If the regret involves something I cannot change, I will focus my mind on one of the millions of good things God has provided for me to think about! There is so much good to focus on! With Jesus in my life, there always will be.
Problems shall henceforth be challenges to be approached creatively!
I laughed when I pulled up my deck chair...chuckling that, instead of the full-on glory of nature, I would be treated to that infernal saw noise. Pretty quickly, though, I thought about what a gift work is. What a gift! How wonderful to hold a tool in your hand and to know, at day's end, that ya did something profitable in some way. Just one more of God's blessings. What a gift to hold a computer in your lap and to write something that encourages someone. What a gift to swing a broom and treat someone to a clean house at the end of their school or work day. What a gift to work very hard all day and to then, at days end, rest very contentedly.
I want to come out of the half-light of addiction-hobbled living and take whatever days I have left, wringing them dry of their juicy joy, angst, or whatever they bring! I want to leave each day exhausted of any and all opportunities to serve God, enjoy Him, and learn from and experience the world around me. I have been very blessed my whole life. I do not expect that to change!
Today I choose to live. I made a promise to myself last night. When thoughts of regret come, I will dismiss them without a conversation. If the regret is coupled with a dilemma that past action or inaction has created, I will look at it as a challenge for God to help me solve, an opportunity to watch His creative care at work, and to be a part of it. If the regret involves something I cannot change, I will focus my mind on one of the millions of good things God has provided for me to think about! There is so much good to focus on! With Jesus in my life, there always will be.
Problems shall henceforth be challenges to be approached creatively!
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