Okay, last week I said I would write about the "little things" for this week, but as I was taking a shower this morning (I seem to do a lot of thinking there...more than usual...;D) I remembered that today is Independence Day. It is our formal reminder of the liberties we live with and in on a daily basis. It is a day when we can legally have fireworks, get to wear red, white, and blue clothing, and sing "God Bless America" or our National Anthem more than we normally do.
We get to buy "To Do List" magnetic note pads with stars/stripes on them, eat additional servings of hamburgers and hot dogs (extra burnt for me, please), and other than the heat luring us, enjoy more time in the pool. We are willing to park in a busy lot somewhere a mile down the road and walk the crowded sidewalk others are heading the same direction on in order to find the best spot possible to see a display of fireworks in a park or college field. We do it all so that we can be silenced...silenced in rememberance of why we're doing all I have mentioned in the first place.
We are being thankful and grateful for the ability to do those things amongst so many others because not only do we WANT to do them, but because we have the FREEDOM to do them. We sit silenced thanking God for not only the freedom He gives in our hearts, but for the freedom that so many people have fought to give us and still fight today to give us. There will be many who will continue to fight in the future for us as well.
Here's to those that lose somewhat of their own liberties in order to secure ours: THANKS a hundred-fold!!!
NEXT WEEK: The little things (for sure!)
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
...hold grudges!
Aside from my own perspectives about life being too short for things, I asked my family, friends, and colleagues for their thoughts. Today's particular issue is one I struggle with like many people do, but nonetheless, it is an issue that must be worked on and worked OUT, if you know what I mean. The quest to conquer grudges is like the Spartan trying to conquer Xerxes, however, in real life, by the grace of God, we can prevail over the grudges. Grudges do not go down without a hard, and sometimes long, fight.
Here's what some had to say about grudges:
"Being angry at someone for any length of time is harmful to you. It's just a waste of time. It's best to forgive and let go. Give that grudge, frustration, anger over to God. Let it go. When you start holding grudges you start some stinking thinking. You start making up little scenarios. You drive yourself nuts! Ya gotta move on. It's best to enjoy life."
"Life's too short to hold a grudge, resentment, or guilt. In fact, I would include anything that would be a weight or hindrance to becoming all that God has planned for you to be or accomplish."
"Life's too short to stay angry with anyone."
For someone like myself, who is very convicted about justice and who cares that people treat others the right way, it's very hard to just let things go because then it feels as though there is some kind of permission granted to those who are being hurtful. The truth is...that is NOT the truth.
By holding grudges we are imprisoning ourselves to our own hurt and anger. We must let go in order to live in the liberty we THINK we are gaining by tacking someone up on our mental, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey wall.
NEXT WEEK: The little things...
Here's what some had to say about grudges:
"Being angry at someone for any length of time is harmful to you. It's just a waste of time. It's best to forgive and let go. Give that grudge, frustration, anger over to God. Let it go. When you start holding grudges you start some stinking thinking. You start making up little scenarios. You drive yourself nuts! Ya gotta move on. It's best to enjoy life."
"Life's too short to hold a grudge, resentment, or guilt. In fact, I would include anything that would be a weight or hindrance to becoming all that God has planned for you to be or accomplish."
"Life's too short to stay angry with anyone."
For someone like myself, who is very convicted about justice and who cares that people treat others the right way, it's very hard to just let things go because then it feels as though there is some kind of permission granted to those who are being hurtful. The truth is...that is NOT the truth.
By holding grudges we are imprisoning ourselves to our own hurt and anger. We must let go in order to live in the liberty we THINK we are gaining by tacking someone up on our mental, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey wall.
NEXT WEEK: The little things...
Sunday, June 20, 2010
...not eat cheese!
For those who cannot indulge themselves in this heavenly creation because it messes with your stomach, I'm sorry, but maybe you can just dream about it for the day. Considering I just had pizza for lunch with my family, I'm gassed up (pardon the pun - oh, sometimes I crack myself up!...) to discuss one of the luxuries of life - cheese.
There's nothing heavy about this post today (unless you decide to gorge yourself after reading this, but please don't do that), so incline your ear to me. Cheese is one of those comfort foods I always get excited about when the opportunity to eat it arises. If you think about it, cheese really does make everything taste better. There's macaroni and cheese, cheeseburgers, cheese fondues, nachos, cheese/fruit bites (eaten together), cheese/crackers, cheese/meat slices (eaten together), cheese on your pizza, cheese on my pizza, string cheese, cheese toast, cheese dips, cheese toppings, cheese balls...what else can I say? I'm sure you can add your own idea.
It's amazing that there are so many choices of cheese anywhere you go. Think about it, you will find cheese when you're on the road at the pull-off quick mart. You will find cheese danishes and bagels and cream cheese at a bakery. You will find a plethora of cheese in the deli section of your local grocery store, and the yummy gourmet types are usually in the refrigerated center case. Everywhere you look there's cheese! It's like the world is one big Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but for cheese. Can you imagine floating down a creamy, lazy river of melted Brie while you're passing trees made of Parmegiano shavings that are gracefully falling to a ground made of chunky Gorgonzola? Oh, how I can only dream....
NEXT WEEK: Grudges
There's nothing heavy about this post today (unless you decide to gorge yourself after reading this, but please don't do that), so incline your ear to me. Cheese is one of those comfort foods I always get excited about when the opportunity to eat it arises. If you think about it, cheese really does make everything taste better. There's macaroni and cheese, cheeseburgers, cheese fondues, nachos, cheese/fruit bites (eaten together), cheese/crackers, cheese/meat slices (eaten together), cheese on your pizza, cheese on my pizza, string cheese, cheese toast, cheese dips, cheese toppings, cheese balls...what else can I say? I'm sure you can add your own idea.
It's amazing that there are so many choices of cheese anywhere you go. Think about it, you will find cheese when you're on the road at the pull-off quick mart. You will find cheese danishes and bagels and cream cheese at a bakery. You will find a plethora of cheese in the deli section of your local grocery store, and the yummy gourmet types are usually in the refrigerated center case. Everywhere you look there's cheese! It's like the world is one big Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but for cheese. Can you imagine floating down a creamy, lazy river of melted Brie while you're passing trees made of Parmegiano shavings that are gracefully falling to a ground made of chunky Gorgonzola? Oh, how I can only dream....
NEXT WEEK: Grudges
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