Less is More

It's been ages since I've posted on this blog.  I've started some entries, but never finished them.  This morning while reading my devotion I was struck by this scripture - Ecclesiastes 6:11 NLT The more words you speak the less they mean.  So what good are they?

As a mom of 3 who are 18, 13, and 11 it struck me square in the forehead - OMG!  This scripture was telling me what my children have been trying to tell me for years without actually saying it.  You know that look on their faces and the dead silence when I've been going on and on and on about whatever it is that they did and shouldn't have or didn't do and should have.

I thought being mom was hard when they were little, but as they develop into their own it's actually even harder.  As the oldest is now in his first few weeks of college, I don't want him to make the same mistakes I did.  With the younger two it's trying to keep them on the path while they want to wander off and explore. 

I guess this is God's way of saying correct and guide with few words.   Lengthy lectures aren't always necessary.   Even then they should be discussions not lectures.

Ok God.  I'm listening, and I'm going to practice using fewer words.

It's not the Change, But the Reaction to the Change

Yesterday I discovered that the half marathon that I have been getting geared up to run this fall has been cancelled (possibly postponed until the spring).  Does this mean that I am not going to run a half marathon?  Nope!  I immediately began the search for other half marathons going on from Virginia to South Carolina that would occur between September and November.  Found several...and have chosen one that is still fairly close to home.  It's a couple of weeks earlier than the mid-November date that I had my mind set for, but if I keep focused on my training I can do the earlier date.

After running four miles last night, I sat thinking that I could have said "Ok, so I won't run a half marathon this year."  However, the competitor in me would have never been satisfied with that conclusion.  Not to mention that after this half marathon I've decided to add training for a triathlon in 2013.  I'll need to figure out how to add time for bike rides and swimming.  I still plan to do long runs, but the half marathon training requires lots of long runs, whereas after the half marathon I can scale back on the number of long runs and just add as much biking and swimming as I can.

This then led to the bigger question about how we react to change to change in general.  Some things we can control, others we cannot.  Even today things changed.  I had planned to take the Friday before the half marathon off so I could go to Raleigh and get settled.  After talking with my boss about his annual fishing trip to the middle of nowhere, I discovered that since he won't be here that Friday, I can't take that day off.  I said no big deal, I'll just leave later.  Plans change all the time.  Could I have acted like a big baby and pouted because I couldn't have the day off?  Yes, I could have, but would that have changed anything?  No.  I'll adjust.  Instead of my last longer run happening in Raleigh, it will happen in High Point.  I'll use the Saturday before the run to 'drive' the course to get an idea of where I need to mentally prepare myself for hills and turns and do one last short run to help me relax and put the jitters aside for a little bit anyway.

Rain happens...soccer games get cancelled.  Kids get sick...may have to take an unexpected day off.  Unexpected expenses happen....can't go to the movies this week.  Life is full of change!  It's not  the change, but how we deal with it.  You can't pout and throw temper tantrums when things don't go your way.  You have to learn to take the change and do something.  1) Work with it, 2) Work around it or 3) Work against it.  

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

Casting My Shadow

Today's devotional reading came from Isaiah 51:16 (NIV)

I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand — I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth,and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"

The text challenged me to think about the shadow I cast.  Who am I influencing and what kind of influence is it?  My immediate thought for those in my realm of influence was my children.  They see what I do or don't do and hear what I say or don't say. 

I try to follow the rule if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything.  I admit some days I do better than others; all too often I let  the stress or chaos get to me, and I say not so nice words.  Words that could not be used at all or a more suitable substitute used and the meaning of what I'm expressing still very clearly understood. 

I know someone who has let curse words become a standard part of their language.  I often cringe when I hear them speak.  However, it has made me become more aware of my choice of words.  Today's devotional reading has illuminated that this person is in my realm of influence and as a Christian I need to cast a positive, encouraging shadow.  I need to in love approach this person and let them know that the shadow they are casting is not one that is encouraging, uplifting, or simply even nice.  Words can hurt, and that simply making the choice to not use profanity can cast a shadow that doesn't darken.

I want to thank friends, both new and old, for casting positive, uplifting shadows on me and either knowingly or unknowingly helping me grow in all aspects of my life.

Starting the New Year Right

I saw the new year come in for the first time in several years.  I finally went to bed about 2:15am.  I got up this morning (yes,still tired) and got ready for church.  Somewhere I missed the announcement that church service was starting at 9:30am this morning, but we did get there for most of the sermon and were able to partake of the communion service.  It was really good to start my year praising and thanking God for all the great gifts that he provides on a daily basis, but remembering that one greatest gift and that without it my life would not be the same, and I could not look forward to eternal salvation. 

After we got home, TJ actually said I'm going for a brisk walk...I said "wait, I'll join you."  Eventually Mariah, TJ and I all went for that walk.  It was just over 1.2 miles up to Main St and back to the house.  As I have a smaller goal of 25 miles per week to make my bigger goal of a 1/2 marathon in the Fall and a total of 1212 miles in 2012, I actually stretched and headed out for another 4 miles.  Felt good in the new shoes.  Already have 6 miles in them. (Note to self:  start saving for next pair...400 miles will come fast at this rate.)

Between reading my own book and kids books and playing Go Fish we made the most of the unexpected rain that caused us to cancel the trip to the park.  We did have one of the traditional New Years Day foods - black eye peas.  The kids are happy that we generally only have them once a year.  I on the other hand plan to add some rice tomorrow and keep on enjoying them. 

I feel that the year has gotten off to a great start.  God, family, and health and fitness.  We each have our goals for what we want to accomplish in 2012...weight loss, weight gain, run a 5k, run a 10k, run a half marathon, read more, spend more time with God.  We now just need to stay focused and work toward achieving our goals.

Happy New Year, and may God bless you in 2012.

Christmas

It is Advent Season, and December 25th is the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. As I type this I think about what this really means to me.  It is a season of celebration; not just celebrating the holidays that fall from Thanksgiving to New Years, but celebrating the birth of Jesus and what it means for me as a Christian. Our celebration is most prominent this time of year, but we should celebrate it all year long. 

First, let me say that yes, I am a Christian, but that does not mean that I am perfect or "holier than thou." What it means is that I am a follower of Christ, and I try to do all the things He would have me do.

The Advent season reminds me that "God gave his only begotten son so that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).  God has given me a gift.  I have chosen to accept His gift.    
As I do my best to raise three very active, smart children I hope that they too will accept this beautiful gift from God.