Various weekends in the past year we have tried to escape from responsibilites or treatments, you name it, and it just hasn't happened. The same was for this time, only we were able to say "no" loud enough, have no more treatments to go to long enough, and to finally get the time off of work to go- and I can't wait.
Eric and Kerri have a wedding reception we will be going to. There will be fun, family, fellowship, friends, and food...all topped off with "THE FAIR." It has been years since I have been to the fair that I grew up going to. We showed animals and practically lived at the place for the whole week and then some for clean up. Now, going as an alumni is even better. NO chores, just fun! =)
I always find it interesting. In my mind, home freezes and is exactly how it used to be when I visited last year. Only that is in my mind, so it is something of an overload coming back with everything and everyone different. There is so much to take in and adjust to. It is awesome, yet almost sad at the same time. Things change, the town grows, people move on or have grown up or crossed over...all of it is wonderful; just different. I wouldn't have it any other way, though.
Change is about the only constant in life, but I am coming to embrace that as well. Things certainly don't stay the same for long, especially when you move away and then come back. It is SOOO incredibly difficult to try to see everyone that you spent a lifetime getting to know in a single trip, sometimes multiple trips. I unavoidably always hurt someones feelings for not stopping in for a chat, but honestly, I love each and every one and whether I see them or not, that doesn't change. We try to stretch our trip as long as we can, to see as many people as we can, and this time we are able to see almost everyone in one shot! The reception and fair are a great thing! =) We are thrilled and so excited to spend this time with family. Obviously my time will be taken up with helping mom and seeing all my siblings again, but to catch up with wonderful friends and family- oh, I am so thankful for this gift. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
After this past year I have realized something. With time marching on, people growing up, change always constant.....life is precious. Family is so dear. Whether you have family or not, begin investing into others' lives enough that you begin to surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you (and vice versa) and begin filling that void. Life is too short to be anything shy of who you were meant to be. No pretends, and we don't have "do overs." I am realizing I don't want to hold onto baggage of unforgiveness, hurts, anger, or anything negative. As simple minded as this may sound, this world has enough negative that we have to process and work against us, that I don't need to add more.
As I mentioned before, this cancer has changed more than just me. We (as friends, relatives) see things differently now. We appreciate each other more. We try just that much harder to make more of an effort to keep in touch. Phone calls, letters, visits, it doesn't matter, any form will do. With life we have to take what we get. It is too short to try to please everyone and to do everything. Learning to live life with no regrets is getting simpler by the day. Why? Because whether your life was good or bad, happy (or sad), we all had our beginnings from somewhere. That will never change, only we will by the choices we make in the everyday moments of life. We have the choice to be bitter, broken, or better because of it. The choice is ours. So, wherever you make your home, recognize that where you are and what you are doing started with one choice, one thought, one decision. Some choices don't come easily, but must be made at one point or another. The friends you have (good or bad) are made or unmade with one decision. The family we have (like it or not) is all the family we will have. The past we have lived (good or bad) is the only past we get.
TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE
by Max Lucado
Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions.
Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s temper tantrum.
Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime.
Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse.
Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery.
Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement.
Today’s guilt is tomorrow’s fear.
Could that be why Paul writes, “Love … keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5 NIV)?
Some folks don’t know we have an option.
Paul says we do: “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage—“capture every thought,” “make it give up” and “obey Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that.… Jesus said to Peter, ‘Go away from me, Satan! You are not helping me! You don’t care about the things of God, but only about the things people think are important’” (Matt. 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus?
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life” (Prov. 4:23).
You are not a victim of your thoughts. You have a vote. You have a voice. You can exercise thought prevention. You can also exercise thought permission.
Change the thoughts, and you change the person. If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s love? Will standing beneath the downpour of his grace change the way we feel about others?
Paul says absolutely! It’s not enough to keep the bad stuff out. We’ve got to let the good stuff in. It’s not enough to keep no list of wrongs. We have to cultivate a list of blessings. The same verb Paul uses for keeps in the phrase “keeps no list of wrongs” is used for think in Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (RSV). Thinking conveys the idea of pondering—studying and focusing, allowing what is viewed to have an impact on us.
Rather than store up the sour, store up the sweet.
by Max Lucado
Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions.
Today’s jealousy is tomorrow’s temper tantrum.
Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime.
Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse.
Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery.
Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement.
Today’s guilt is tomorrow’s fear.
Could that be why Paul writes, “Love … keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5 NIV)?
Some folks don’t know we have an option.
Paul says we do: “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage—“capture every thought,” “make it give up” and “obey Christ”? You get the impression that we are the soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn’t bear the thought of it. “Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that.… Jesus said to Peter, ‘Go away from me, Satan! You are not helping me! You don’t care about the things of God, but only about the things people think are important’” (Matt. 16:22–23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus?
What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life” (Prov. 4:23).
You are not a victim of your thoughts. You have a vote. You have a voice. You can exercise thought prevention. You can also exercise thought permission.
Change the thoughts, and you change the person. If today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s actions, what happens when we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s love? Will standing beneath the downpour of his grace change the way we feel about others?
Paul says absolutely! It’s not enough to keep the bad stuff out. We’ve got to let the good stuff in. It’s not enough to keep no list of wrongs. We have to cultivate a list of blessings. The same verb Paul uses for keeps in the phrase “keeps no list of wrongs” is used for think in Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (RSV). Thinking conveys the idea of pondering—studying and focusing, allowing what is viewed to have an impact on us.
Rather than store up the sour, store up the sweet.
The grass is NEVER greener on the other side- it just looks that way. Refuse to be a victim of your circumstances and be a victor over them. God's glory never looks brighter than when a single person persues with passion and reckless abandon, the freedom found only in Christ. It began with a choice, and He chose us. In the safety of His forgiveness and love, there's no place like it......
Erin, I hope that you have a wonderful time in Michigan with your family and friends! I have found memories of visiting you at your home there, and can only imagine how excited you are to spend some time there. SO glad that you can do that! Have a blast! =) And thanks for the e-mail you wrote me! Hope to be able to write you back soon. Love you.
ReplyDeleteChristy