“Growth is a phenomenon of nature… There is struggle in the growth process… Pain is always the teacher, but with each period of growth it becomes less acute.” Anonymous"I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it,” said my boss the first time I was asked to write a proposal. “Do you have an example of a proposal?” I asked. Apparently not, he walked away. After several rounds of edits we presented it to my boss’ boss. He liked it, but gave me suggestions on how to improve it before presenting it to his manager. With five succeeding management presentations, each new manager gave me feedback. Many times I was sure it was as near perfect as anything I’d ever done. But, each successive presentation brought more changes.
Lord, humility is not my strong suit. Help me learn to take constructive criticism without taking it personally, and remind me that humility means I’m only human…not a failure. Amen “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:11 What are your thoughts? Libby
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"But when we find ourselves striving, or “struggling in opposition” as defined by Merriam Webster, it’s a clue that we’ve lost our way. Striving is a sure sign that we’ve replaced God as master and put ourselves on the throne… Faith and striving cannot coexist. One negates the other.” Ginny L. Yttrup“It's just too hard! No one on the committee volunteers for anything.” Tears dripped down my cheeks as I tried to justify why I couldn't see my commitment through. “Why is it so hard?”
It took months to right this wrong and turn around my frustration because I was raised to follow-through on my commitments. But, I did get some relief when I began praying, asking for help on the committee. God quietly gave me the suggestion to be patient (not a surprise) and wait when I ask for a volunteer. Sometimes it takes a minute or two for people to think about something before they volunteer.
Are you frustrated by the weight of being over-committed? Did you take on a commitment in response to the pride of being asked or a desire to belong? What will you do today to relieve the frustration; or do next time to better balance your scheduled commitments?
Note: Ginny L. Yttrup (unknown- ), American novelist and winner of the Christy award for her first novel in 2012. She writes contemporary women’s fiction, coaches writers, critiques manuscripts, and designs websites for authors. "They just fall from my lips a hundred times a day, |
The pastor asked what abrupt change we experienced when we first met Jesus. I quietly called out, “I quit swearing.” He didn’t hear, so he stepped off the podium and approached me in the second row. OMG! So much for being an anonymous voice in the crowd; now everyone knows I used to swear a lot. In my case, I didn't even realize I had quit swearing until others mentioned it to me. One thing I did notice, however, every time people around me spoke Jesus' name (or His title--Christ) in vain it hurt a little. |
Rather than confront the person speaking--since it was often a conversation just within my hearing, people at another table or just over the partition or standing behind me in line--I just took
the opportunity to pray. “Lord, forgive them, they don’t know what they’re saying. But, now that we have your attention, I just want to thank you for always being available and giving Your full attention when I call Your name.” All the time I was swearing I had no idea I was offending others. This old song reminds me just how precious the name of Jesus is to many people. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, There’s just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, Like the fragrance after the rain… There’s Just Something About That Name Bill & Gloria Gaither |
Note: Bill & Gloria Gaither (1936- ; 1942- ), American singers, songwriters, authors and speakers who have written and performed numerous gospel and contemporary Christian worship songs.
"The idea of purpose is the idea that what we do matters to people other than ourselves.” Angela Duckworth
My mother used to say, “You’re doing too much, save something for when you’re older.” I just ignored this comment; I was having too much fun. I figured I haven't been blessed with a husband and children so it wasn't really being selfish to focus all my time and effort on myself.
In fact, there were those who envied my life. On Monday afternoons the same two married-with-children women would wander by my desk to ask what I did over the weekend. I’d share my bike ride around Angel Island or walking across the Gold Gate Bridge or the Shakespeare play I’d seen or the mystery dinner party I’d attended or rock climbing in Yosemite or going to the coast for the Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society. They would happily live vicariously through my escapades.
Yet, after a while I think I was getting more pleasure out of wow'ing these women and less pleasure out of my ramblings. Why, if they thought my life was so interesting and adventurous, was I not more satisfied.
At the point which I was finally able to articulate the void I felt, was the point when my journey to find purpose began. Discussing it with a friend, she challenged me to discover my spiritual gifts. First I had to learn what spiritual gifts were, then my quest of discovery began. A few months later a new goal began to surface in my life. It wasn't all about me any longer. I began to have a desire to make a contribution in my lifetime...to leave a legacy. As Anne of Green Gables said, “It’s not what you get out of life but what you bring to it.” Have you recognized an emptiness in your life, or have a |
Lord, thank You for helping me see my self-centered lifestyle for what it was. Help me constantly renew my focus as my own selfishness tries to pry me away from being useful to others. Amen
Note: Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942), a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning in 1908 with Anne of Green Gables; she became famous in her lifetime and gained an international following.
"To say nothing is perhaps the hardest, most demanding response of all, but it can also be the most loving and respectful…silence, in certain circumstances, is to encourage a friend to feel those feelings.” Anonymous
The church office called me at work. Cheryl, a woman I barely knew, was in ICU with her daughter and she was asking for me. “But I just met her over the weekend, are you sure there’s no friend or family you could contact?” Apparently her husband had died the year before leaving her with three young children, and she had no family in the area. |
When I walked into the waiting room the pastor and nurse filled me in on the accident and the little girl’s condition. I turned to the couch where a head of disheveled hair sat atop a rumpled coat leaning across the arm rest.
I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. She wasn’t crying. She must have been in shock. Shouldn’t the nurses be treating her as well? Then it occurred to me, maybe this is why they called me...but what was I supposed to do? What should I say?
I just sat there like a bump on a log. Cheryl broke her silence and re-lived the accident as if she was asking for forgiveness. It was clearly an accident but she somehow felt it was her fault. I held her tighter. The nurse came out to get us, “Her temperature is dropping, you need to come in now.” Cheryl held her daughter. I was still speechless (if you don’t count my yelling at God). She spoke in short spurts telling me about her daughter…she was a twin, she was the older of the two, she was the more adventurous, she walked first and talked first. |
At the time I was confused, ‘why me,’ ‘I don’t have any experience,’ ‘I don’t know what to say.’ But looking back I can see that silence was what she needed…silence, listening and a hug. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you didn’t know what to say? Have your prayers for ‘just the right words’ felt like they had gone unanswered? What situation is in your life where you struggle with the words you need to say? Lord, thank You for keeping my mouth shut; for not allowing me to force conversation or spout off a dozen useless platitudes. Amen |
What are your thoughts?
Libby
Welcome
I love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby
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