Living Without
What are the things you want most in life but feel you are living without? I overhear people talk about wanting that new designer purse, buying the latest alternative fuel sports car (costing over $100,000), or taking that fabulous vacation with the family. What is it that you cannot live without? What would make your life so complete that happiness and bliss are with you all the time?
I am living without the one person that I have loved the most in my life. Yes, I love my children and that love cannot be matched. Even though I do not have the love of my life, I do not live without love. I am so blessed to have support in my life of my children, my family, my community and mostly my friends. I have to thank those that are always with me to listen to my whining when I feel I lack something. I thank those that love me with all my warts, bad habits, and short temper. I thank the friend that moved my old printer from the third floor to my van. I thank the friend that bought me a ticket to the movies because I was running late. I thank the friends that sat with me after surgery to be sure I would be OK. I am most thankful for those ladies that walk with me and talk with me on a weekly basis. It is great for the body and the soul. And that one special friend that helped me understand that I have this love in my life because I am sharing that love first.
I realized this past week that we have passed the mark where my youngest daughter, Katie, has now lived more of her life without her father than the time with him. It has been five and half years and Katie was five years and five months old when Peter died. That realization impacts me more than it does her because she only knows this life. My oldest child, Emma, said recently something that helped me realize how the kids view this loss. She said, "It is not that I miss having Daddy not being a part of my life now, but that I feel bad that he is the one missing out." It was such an insightful and smart thing for her to say.
A few years ago, I helped facilitate a book study at church, and asked a very important question at one session as we were discussing the death of my husband and my best friend. "Think of the worst thing that can happen in your life." As I looked around I could see that each person was thinking of their worst nightmare. I know they were envisioning the loss of their spouse or a child. But what I said next had the most impact, "Now imagine you have lost your faith!"
Monday, January 19, 2015
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Resolution.
1. The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. The act of resolving something
2. An answer or solution to something
3. The ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail
Many of us make New Year's resolutions at this time each year. Do we stick with what we say we want to change? Most choose health related actions like losing weight, starting a new workout program, or eating a diet rich in nutrients and consuming less alcohol, sugar and fast food. I love to hear of those that choose more cerebral changes like reading more books and watching less television, spending more quality time with family, especially children and of course my favorite, cursing less. This one is high on my list!
But what about making a resolution to focus on our spiritual life? I live this one each day and I am always looking for ways to keep Christ centered in my life and in turn the lives of those around me. There are several things I do to keep this in my daily actions. I read a devotion each morning and night (a simple app you can add to your phone). I pray often, especially for those that request prayers from our church prayer group, Partners In Prayer, which I facilitate. (If you are interested in being added to this daily prayer group, email me at pip@stmcary.org.) Contemporary Christian music plays in my car often as my favorite XM channel is The Message, channel 63. I also listen carefully to the voices around me that offer a glimpse of Christ in our midst. What we say and do can bring faith to those who have none.
Making these resolutions can seem daunting when we look at the huge chunk of time such as a deadline or a goal. My choice this year is to see Christ more clearly in my life each day. Day by day.
And you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQEUzOACm4
1. The act of finding an answer or solution to a conflict, problem, etc. The act of resolving something
2. An answer or solution to something
3. The ability of a device to show an image clearly and with a lot of detail
Many of us make New Year's resolutions at this time each year. Do we stick with what we say we want to change? Most choose health related actions like losing weight, starting a new workout program, or eating a diet rich in nutrients and consuming less alcohol, sugar and fast food. I love to hear of those that choose more cerebral changes like reading more books and watching less television, spending more quality time with family, especially children and of course my favorite, cursing less. This one is high on my list!
But what about making a resolution to focus on our spiritual life? I live this one each day and I am always looking for ways to keep Christ centered in my life and in turn the lives of those around me. There are several things I do to keep this in my daily actions. I read a devotion each morning and night (a simple app you can add to your phone). I pray often, especially for those that request prayers from our church prayer group, Partners In Prayer, which I facilitate. (If you are interested in being added to this daily prayer group, email me at pip@stmcary.org.) Contemporary Christian music plays in my car often as my favorite XM channel is The Message, channel 63. I also listen carefully to the voices around me that offer a glimpse of Christ in our midst. What we say and do can bring faith to those who have none.
Making these resolutions can seem daunting when we look at the huge chunk of time such as a deadline or a goal. My choice this year is to see Christ more clearly in my life each day. Day by day.
And you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQEUzOACm4
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