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The Best Gift

December 20, 2011 in Inspiration, People with 4 Comments

 

At this time of year, it’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of consumeritis. To get frustrated in mall parking lots.  To grumble about the small (or nonexistent) company Christmas bonus. To wonder why there were less cards in the mailbox this year.

I think there are four little actions we can take to combat all this noise:

1. Spread Joy-Smile at a stranger. Surprise your checker at the grocery store with a happy “Merry Christmas”. Hug your friends.  Be radical and swim against the current of tedium that can easily overcome the holidays.

2. Choose to Forgive-Most of us will end up cooped up with family over the next two weeks.  Are it’s most likely there’s someone in the room who has hurt us. Choose to let it go.  And if you’ve done the harm, say two little words that mean everything: “I’m sorry.” If not for them, do it for you.  The weight of resentment and unforgiveness is so heavy.  Free yourself from those chains.

3. Give Until It Hurts-That’s not “spend until you’re broke.”  There are things we can give of through our time and resources that can be life-changing for another.  Pay for a grocery bill. Stop by the neighbor’s house and fix the garage door. Take two hours and fill five boxes with good things you have lying around the house that could help a homeless person. When the giving hurts a bit, the reward is so much sweeter.  Kinda like paying for college yourself.

4. Speak Life-There are people all around us carrying huge burdens, especially at this time of year. Spouses hiding the fact that they are separated, but “playing house” for their families. Parents who can’t afford Christmas for their kids. Friends grieving a lost loved one. Sometimes, it’s enough just for people to know that you See them. That you support them. And that you pray for them.

God, in His infinite wisdom, made these acts of kindness feel so good to us that it’s almost as if we benefit more than the recipient. This year, let’s BE CHRISTmas to a world in need of light and laughter.

What do you do to make Christmas special?

P.S. What do you think of my spruced up new blog?  Shout out to the wonderful Jamie Rowe for working his magic.

 

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The Power of Letting Go

February 3, 2011 in Inspiration, Leadership, People with 8 Comments

Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured. -Mark Twain

Life can sometimes be brutal.  I’ve felt the sting of too many kicks this week.  And at some point along the way, I got angry.  Why was everything happening at once?  Why was the work I was putting in seemingly never enough?  Why does there have to be tension?

God, in His wisdom, gives us each a “breaking point”…the inner battle that tells us we must “Let Go and Let God.”  Hot tears stung my cheeks as I hit my own breaking point and realized that the only way I was going to make it through this was to do both.  How merciful is our Lord that even in our weakness, He reminds us He is strong.  In those moments of relinquishing my need for control, God reminded me of these things:

The goal is not to make everyone happy-Far too often, I fall in the pit of trying to get everything done and keeping everyone happy.  Not only is it impossible, but our role in life is a far higher calling than burning daylight striving for the approval of people.  If  we are serving Him well, the rest more easily falls into place.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving in-In our desire to be right, we can lose sight of what’s most important.  This week, letting go of some things, even when I haven’t fully agreed, made more sense than trying to prove a point.  Sometimes “Okay” is the smartest word we can use.

Saying “I’m Sorry” covers a multitude of sins-There are times when it’s hard to apologize.  We feel wronged or slighted, and the last thing we want to do is say “I’m sorry.”  But there’s so much power in those two little words.  They erase tension, breathe fresh air into discussions, and open the door to reconnection.  I found myself apologizing today…it was needed to get things back on track and as soon as I uttered them, I felt better and so did the other person.

I fight the need for control of…well, everything in my life…fairly often.  But God continues to show me the power of letting go.

Question: When life is knocking you down, how do you fight back?

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Helping “the least of these”

January 20, 2011 in Outreach, People with 11 Comments

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Matt 25:40

Every morning for the past few weeks, as I’ve gotten in the shower, it comes to mind how easy it is to access water.  A turn of one dial sends clean, cool water gushing out.  In the evenings, I walk into a warm, clean, spacious home where I can open one door and find a feast of things to cook for dinner. I can visit any kind of doctor with little concern about cost because of insurance.  And I can hop in my car and drive anywhere on a whim.  What it all means is that Life has become easy, and it’s in the ease of life that I find my struggle lately.

Each day, I drive past a lottery billboard…the numbers make my heart ache. Those millions could end homelessness.  Eradicate disease. Make poverty a thing of the past.  It seems so easy.  But easy isn’t usually where the lesson comes from, is it?

Even with the sponsored children, time and donations to the mission, and Christmas gifts of goats and new wells, my investment seems small.  I know that joined together, we can do much.  Community is so important in relationships…in work settings…in helping the least of these.

What charity/relief organizations are you plugged into that I (and others) might not be aware of?  And how can we help?

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#OneWord2011

January 3, 2011 in Family and Friends, Inspiration, Leadership, People with 16 Comments

Several friends have been blogging and sharing online their one word for 2011. The task, for me, was a bit daunting.  One word that would be a theme for my year?  Hard to reduce to one thing.  Over the last two days, I’ve prayed, dreamed, and jotted down ideas.  I thought I’d landed on it yesterday, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized there was a required action behind it.

My word for 2011 is: Commit.

As I’ve gotten older, as my career roles have changed, as I’ve started a family, I’ve realized that what was once the cornerstone of my “get things done” personal brand has evolved to being a great starter, but not always a strong finisher.  And, in some areas of my life, it’s not only beneficial, but necessary. But there are a few areas where I see it as a detriment to real growth, so in these areas, I am making a commitment to action over the next year:

1. I commit to knowing God more.  To trust daily in grace, forgiveness, and faith. To grow my prayer life into a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus. To begin and end each day with true worship.

2. I commit to being more intentional about my personal life.  Time that should have been spent on the treadmill was spent in front of the computer. Conversations that should have been had in-person were done by email. Life that should have been lived was put on hold because I didn’t want my child raised by an absent parent. I want to be healthier and more engaged this year. I want to make-and keep-better connections with friends, new and old.

3. I commit to having more adventures. In my childhood and young adult years, I actively pursued new adventures (which put many gray hairs on my parents). With age and responsibilities came a fear of jumping into the unknown. I want to live with passion and purpose…not live safe just to pay my mortgage.

4. I commit to spending more time on my art. This covers not only painting, but also photography, crafts, and blogging.  I’ve been inconsistent with them all, even though they bring me joy.  Time to put more priority on the color of life, rather than just that which is black and white.

I love having an anthem for this year.  I love being accountable to God and my life in a big way.  I am committed.

What about you?  What’s your One Word for 2011?

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