I have an amazing friend (well a few actually) who has a great blog. Her post last week really touched my heart because it had some good reminders for me in it. I’ve been doing a lot more writing lately (obviously not here) because I’ve had a strong feeling that I should strengthen that skill and work toward a goal. While I’m still working out what the goal should be, I’m trying to be faithful to the prompting. Today I read Dawn’s blog and re-read this quote:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson
Reading this today just sort of picked me up, shook me by the shoulders a little, and set me down firmly on my two feet. I can be so quick to compare myself to others and find myself coming up short. "She’s so spiritual, I could never…" "She’s such an amazing writer, I could never…" "She knows how to make her home so lovely, I could never…" In light of the powerful quote above, I will add:
I am a child of God. Who am I to second-guess His work, His promptings, or His blessings? What level of impertinence is it for me to second-guess His methods of bringing joy to my life by using words like "never" and "can’t" when describing my finite life on this earth? He sent me here to this life with only the limitations of time and a physical body. Sometimes those feel like huge limitations, but He is a God of miracles and blessings and I believe He enjoys sending miracles and blessings when we open ourselves up to receive them. Does the way I live tell God, "No thanks. I’m doing fine today; besides, I’m not sure I trust all those miracles you’re sending." or do I open my heart saying, "Yes! Thank you for the miracles today!"
If you are curious what my friend wrote that prompted all this, go to
It helped me remember that although what I think I want may not always match what God sends my way, what he sends my way will ALWAYS bring me joy if I will only let it in!
And so, on to my more "mundaily" things. (Yes, I made that word up, but I’ll bet you can guess what it means.)
Yesterday I twisted my ankle by falling off a curb. What a way to flag down a bus – dress in red and fling yourself onto the pavement as it is approaching. "Hi, my name is Gracie-Lou Freebush." I’m really grateful that in spite of the pain at the time, a part of my mind could see the humor in the image of a woman in a red skirt flying to the pavement in front of the bus because now I keep laughing about it even though my ankle still really hurts. I thought of this absurd accident in light of the idea of miracles and God wanting us to have joy in our lives and I asked myself, "Where is the miracle or the blessing in this? Is there something I need to learn or a message He’s trying to send me?" The answer came pretty quickly to my mind. While I won’t tell you what the message was, I will tell you that I know I need a few days with my feet up and my laptop on and I would probably not have taken that time without the "excuse" of a hurt ankle. Sometimes the Lord just needs us to slow down and listen. Apparently now is one of those times for me. (Thank you for the miracle!)
Weathering The Journey 