Bam! I just got hit in the face with a God moment….I love
when that happens! I am so excited I am going to spend my lunch hour sharing about it rather than running to TJ Maxx as I had planned on doing ha!
For anyone who follows my blog, you know that I have not
been writing for quite a while. I never have been one to post daily but over
the last two years or so, I have rarely posted at all. It is always encouraging
to have people ask me to write again or to tell me that they miss reading what
I had to say but still – my brain and the pen have just not been connecting
like they used to….until today. I had a professor at Winthrop, Mrs. Miller. I
have always known she was special and today is a perfect example of that.
I woke up on Monday with the words “Less of me and more of
you.” on repeat in my mind. All week long I have repeated those words probably
one million times silently and even aloud a few times throughout the day. I
knew that this was a remind to stop getting distracted by the things I want to
happen and to remember to want more of what God has planned for me but I also
had a few other things on my mind that I knew this phrase was significant about
at this moment. Restoring a relationship with a family member, preparing myself
better for what is needed out of a future relationship and writing. Those three
things have been so heavy on my heart all week.
I have seen things happen
around these concerns all week long and have had to remind myself that those
things are not happening by coincidence, but they are happening because I have
been praying “Less of me and more of you.” nonstop. It just so happens that God
and I really do want the same things for me but I just need to remember that He
is making them happen and not me!
So back to Mrs. Miller, she sent me an email today stating “I
thought you might want to read this again. Hope your life is happy
and full of the best things in life.” with an assignment attached from where I wrote an Ethical Will from years ago.
Ummmm….wow! Not only does my ethical will start out speaking
to the one person I need to restore my relationship with it also speaks about romantic relationships and it obviously lit a fire in me to write out my thoughts! I
think I may have shared this excerpt from that same assignment many moons ago
but I do not believe I am the only person who may need to be reminded of some
of this so I will share it again….I hope you find as much reassurance in these
words as I did way back when and as I do again at this very moment.
(Warning: There are a lot of points but they are short and simple :) Also, I removed the beginning part that was for my family's eyes only - sorry nosy people haha!)
Now
for everyone else, I would like to share with you a few points that I have
always strived to live by. Notice I said strived, so don’t be sitting there
thinking off all the times, I didn’t, and instead be thinking of all the times
ahead of you that you can!
When
others let you down, don’t feel extremely hurt or surprised….We let ourselves
down, how can we expect others not to?
Simple
things, it is the simple things you miss when you lose something so remember to
be thankful for and truly enjoy the simple things. It is not possible to name one thing you
cannot live without, but you can name a million things…realize that you need
them all.
Talk
to God daily, not just when you need Him….truth is, you need him daily so make
sure you tell Him or He will tell you.
Smile.
Do
not stay angry. Most arguments last a few minutes and are over….let them be
over. At some point in time you will look back and not even remember what the
argument was about.
Do
not have regrets. Even if you wish you could change something, don’t. It may
not have turned out how you expected but learn from it rather than regret it.
Stay
involved, surround yourself with people, you will find that in helping others
you also reap the benefits. It makes you feel good!
Don’t
be afraid to let the things that made you laugh when you were a child also make
you laugh today. Build sandcastles, swing on a tire swing, and eat ice cream
before dinner.
Make
your children each feel special. My mom still gives me a piece of candy or
tells me a “secret” and tells me not to tell my siblings this makes me feel
special…just as it does them when she does the same for them. Never tell mom
you know she does this for each of you.
Do
not settle. With another person or yourself, do not settle, always have what
you know you deserve.
Remember
we are all different, our little things, or idea of settling, or what makes us
laugh is different. So never belittle someone else’s ideas, just understand
that they are different from yours…chances are if you stopped pointing and
joined in, you may be able to add a few things to your lists of simplistic
laughs!
Remember
that because it hurts does not mean it is wrong. The pain will go away but the
situation won’t, so just know that you will get through the hurt at some point.
Also remember that point does not have clock so do not give it one.
Trust.
Some people say they trust until the trust is broken. Fix it. This is a hard
one but fixing it is not the problem….allowing it to be fixed is the problem.
If your trust is broken again then fix it again. This does not mean keep
getting your trust broken from the same situation, it just means repair it and
move on while remembering, just because it hurts doesn’t mean it’s wrong
Love
your spouse unconditionally with everything in you. If you truly do this, then many arguments
will be avoided. Think about something you are truly passionate about, sports,
children, your job…now think about how often you overlook the small stuff that
can arise from this passion…be this way about your spouse.
Listen
to people. Really listen. Don’t just hear, but listen.
Always
remember people’s name. Nothing impresses them more or makes them feel
important like being remembered. Even if they don’t remember yours, I bet they
will remember you.
When
you say you forgive, then forgive.
Forgiveness: To give up resentment of. –Webster
This is one of the only times I say to give up.
Nobody
is made to flatter you, so when given a compliment, remember it is genuine and
say “Thank you” instead of pointing out every flaw to show the person they are
wrong. Just say thanks.
Always
say what you need to say just not always as soon as you feel the need to say
it. Write it out, put the note away, three days later read it…if you still want
to say it without changing one small word on your paper then say it. But if you
do want to change one word, then change it, put it away and try again three
days later, continue this until it is ready to be said without changes or until
you realize it never will be ready.
Take
care of yourself. Do not go to the doctor only when 911 is in need of being
called. Make sure you treat your body right…it’s the only thing that I can
guarantee you will never leave you, it is always yours. How you choose to treat
it at 15 effects how you have to treat it at 75.
Help
people. Not only the people who help you or the people who would if they could,
but also the people who can and never would…help them too.
Have
fun.
When
asked to keep a secret, keep it. Even if the person who tells you their secret
tells a thousand other people you still keep it and as often as you may hear
others speak of it, you don’t. Eventually this person will remember why it was
so important to be classified as a secret in the first place…always know that
you kept it just that, a secret.
When
wanting to share your own secret, look in the mirror and share it with the
person staring back.
Cry
when you need to. Also, not only women were given tear ducts, there is a reason
for that men…it’s ok to cry.
When
stressed, If you pass an empty field, pull the car over, do a few kart
wheels…the people waiting on you will understand or not believe you, either way
I can assure you that once you catch your breath, you will be breathing better.
Send
her flowers, buy her a dress, change the babies diaper and take her to dinner
without needing a reason or special occasion.
Send
him fishing, buy him a new Driver, change the air filter, and make him his
favorite dish without needing a reason or special occasion.
Honesty
is just as important to other people as it is to you…think of this kind of like
you do the Golden Rule.
Be
welcoming but not naïve.
Do
your part and even above your part, but ask for help, there is a reason you are
not the only person on earth.
Be
thankful for your five senses…use them each for something good daily.
Remember
to say always say Please and God Bless You.
Sip
on your favorite drink. Taste your favorite meal.
Write
important stuff down; remember to go back at some point read what you write
down, to help you remember what is important and if it isn’t, if it should be.
xoxo,
Faith
