I went to a FUN baby shower yesterday. What I enjoyed most was the laughter and banter of 5 or 6 people who work or have worked in the same office for a long time. Several of them planned the shower for the daughter of a co-worker. They know each other very well, and can take the inevitable teasing that comes from experience together. There was a lot of joking and funny stories. One other "outsider" said as she left, "I've never been to a baby shower that was so noisy!" I loved it!
I wasn't sure I should attend the shower. I hadn't been well physically, and had lots of things to catch up on (laundry, etc.) I felt like it was a ministry opportunity...which it was, but there was something MORE.
As I drove home, I realized what I had been needing most recently that I received at the shower: LAUGHTER. It wasn't bitter laughter, put-down laughter, laughter at anyone's expense. It was laughter from pure hilarious life lived in proximity. I honestly felt better physically and emotionally!
It made me want to work in that office, or at least be a fly on the wall!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Don't Give Up on Joy!
Do you give up easily? When you are facing a tough task, are you easily discouraged? Do you prefer a challenge to the proverbial "piece of cake"? If I am well-rested, feeling healthy, and everything is right with the world, then I may be up to it; but more often than not, I prefer to walk away.
I don't walk away easily from relationships though. I have learned some things about how I deal with important people in my life. Maybe some of them will help you.
----I used to say, 'I'm sorry,' too quickly, simply to keep the peace and not have people angry at me. I don't do that anymore. I sometimes mull over the situation to try to discover under-lying issues that are lurking there. Do I need that person to not be upset with me? Did I really do or say something offensive or was their perception of my words the issue? Do I have other unresolved problems with this person?
----I consider the life situation of the person I'm struggling with at the moment. Am I a safe person for them to vent to, dump on, or be angry at ... and do they need such a safe person right now? Are they hurting over some other painful issue right now, and can't talk directly about it?
----When I do confront, do I do so only after discussing it with the Lord and listening carefully for His nudging? Do I write it out first to rid myself of the unhelpful feelings that might be impairing my vision...and then go on to discover the truths that I need to recognize? Do I confront with "preparation" instead of "exasperation?"
We cannot make anyone else respond positively to us. But we can enhance the chance that others will be open to discussion and possible reconciliation if we practice prayerful, careful, respectful conflict resolution.
JOY CAN COME ONCE MORE IF WE DON'T GIVE UP TOO EASILY ON VITAL RELATIONSHIPS.
I don't walk away easily from relationships though. I have learned some things about how I deal with important people in my life. Maybe some of them will help you.
----I used to say, 'I'm sorry,' too quickly, simply to keep the peace and not have people angry at me. I don't do that anymore. I sometimes mull over the situation to try to discover under-lying issues that are lurking there. Do I need that person to not be upset with me? Did I really do or say something offensive or was their perception of my words the issue? Do I have other unresolved problems with this person?
----I consider the life situation of the person I'm struggling with at the moment. Am I a safe person for them to vent to, dump on, or be angry at ... and do they need such a safe person right now? Are they hurting over some other painful issue right now, and can't talk directly about it?
----When I do confront, do I do so only after discussing it with the Lord and listening carefully for His nudging? Do I write it out first to rid myself of the unhelpful feelings that might be impairing my vision...and then go on to discover the truths that I need to recognize? Do I confront with "preparation" instead of "exasperation?"
We cannot make anyone else respond positively to us. But we can enhance the chance that others will be open to discussion and possible reconciliation if we practice prayerful, careful, respectful conflict resolution.
JOY CAN COME ONCE MORE IF WE DON'T GIVE UP TOO EASILY ON VITAL RELATIONSHIPS.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
JOY, EVEN THOUGH
The prophet Habbakuk wrote: "Though the fig tree should not blossom and no fruit be on the vine, yet I will rejoice in the Lord." The Psalmist wrote: "Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
As this crazy cold grabbed me for the 3rd time this winter, I was feeling miserable, with a fairly high fever. My friend texted me that she was having extreme tooth pain, dentist couldn't do anything until infection lessened and she had been crying in pain for 4 days. "Please pray." I texted a prayer...a loud cry to JESUS ... via the cell phone. I texted her early the next morning asking, "How r you?" She didn't answer. In about an hour a text came: within 3 minutes of praying, the pain totally left, and she slept so soundly --- and slept in that morning.
Even though tough things are happening around and in us, we can cry out to Him even via text, and He hears. Habbakuk goes on to say: "I will sing to the God of my salvation: 'The Lord God is my strength!' Yes, I will rejoice in the Lord!"
If you are ill, sad, depressed or distressed, think about 1 or 2 things for which to praise Him today. And drink plenty of water!
As this crazy cold grabbed me for the 3rd time this winter, I was feeling miserable, with a fairly high fever. My friend texted me that she was having extreme tooth pain, dentist couldn't do anything until infection lessened and she had been crying in pain for 4 days. "Please pray." I texted a prayer...a loud cry to JESUS ... via the cell phone. I texted her early the next morning asking, "How r you?" She didn't answer. In about an hour a text came: within 3 minutes of praying, the pain totally left, and she slept so soundly --- and slept in that morning.
Even though tough things are happening around and in us, we can cry out to Him even via text, and He hears. Habbakuk goes on to say: "I will sing to the God of my salvation: 'The Lord God is my strength!' Yes, I will rejoice in the Lord!"
If you are ill, sad, depressed or distressed, think about 1 or 2 things for which to praise Him today. And drink plenty of water!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
JOY IS NORMAL
Yesterday was the last full day we had before Phil and family left for Seattle today. We decided on a great kids' park in Prosser. Phil said, "Can Dad come with us?" I helped feed Marvin and got him bundled up (it was COLD!), and we drove to Prosser and played.
Marvin slid down the slides (3 of them), and hung from the rings. Phil and I were standing by the simulation of a rope bridge, when Marvin stepped up and started to walk across the ropes. Even though his balance is not exceptional, with Phil on one side and me on the other, he made it to the top!
We then drove down to the Yakima river because Caleb wanted to skip rocks...I brought some bubble-making materials. The rocks weren't great skippers, but the bubbles were! The cold temps and the slight wind sent the bubbles skittering across the river...some clear to the other side before popping!
Then a stop for Starbucks hot chocolate.
Even though our family is touched by a terrible disease, we all enjoyed being together, doing normal, fun things.
We are made for joy, and we are re-energized by it. JOY IS NORMAL.
Marvin slid down the slides (3 of them), and hung from the rings. Phil and I were standing by the simulation of a rope bridge, when Marvin stepped up and started to walk across the ropes. Even though his balance is not exceptional, with Phil on one side and me on the other, he made it to the top!
We then drove down to the Yakima river because Caleb wanted to skip rocks...I brought some bubble-making materials. The rocks weren't great skippers, but the bubbles were! The cold temps and the slight wind sent the bubbles skittering across the river...some clear to the other side before popping!
Then a stop for Starbucks hot chocolate.
Even though our family is touched by a terrible disease, we all enjoyed being together, doing normal, fun things.
We are made for joy, and we are re-energized by it. JOY IS NORMAL.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tracking the Journey
My son and his family are coming to visit, flying Delta from Atlanta to Seattle. A feature of Delta's website is a devise that allows you to track the flight. A little airplane moves across the map towards its destination. I will be following it all morning!
Tracking our life journey is helpful too. We can recall key points along the route when we made vital decisions that impacted our lives. This is a great time of year to begin tracking. Here are some ideas:
Tracking our life journey is helpful too. We can recall key points along the route when we made vital decisions that impacted our lives. This is a great time of year to begin tracking. Here are some ideas:
- Photo tracks: keep a digital camera with you, and take a picture of a place, person, object---1x a day for the next year. Don't analyze them yet, but keep them in date order, and the week after Christmas, 2012, sit down and trace your journey. What happened? Whom did you meet? Where did you go? What did you see? Perhaps you will want to make a binder for 2012 and use it as a family time of talking about the family journey. (You can make a video journal as well if that's your expertise.)
- Write something every day, even if it's mundane or silly. Try to identify and include a feeling you are experiencing each day.
- Make an artistic style book. Include drawings, quotes, writing, photos, and artifacts from the daily journey.
- Find 1 item every day that describes part of your life and place it in a shelf, box, or some place you can keep it. You may need to label items: where they came from, date, and significance. By the end of the year, you might forget.
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