Learning and Growing

In less than a year, I have lost my job, my business, and my credit. Moving my office furniture out of my office and trying to arrange it all back in my house, I hurt my back. In a moment, because of jealousy, I spoke against a brother and lost my integrity and a friend.

God used all of these things to teach me some life changing lessons and to start this Blog.

If you are in your 20's you are still just a child. In your 30's you are like teenagers, trying to find you way, and make your place in the world. In your 40's you are learning who you really are and start placing more emphasis on what is really important. Over 50 you realize it is time to give back and start to train those coming behind you.

Today, I am thankful for all the lessons I have learned:

1.     I have learned the power of forgiveness, both in forgiving and being forgiven.

2.     I have learned to worry less. I understand the meaning of the words in the Lord's Prayer, give us this day our daily bread. We cannot get back what we lost yesterday, and we cannot borrow from tomorrow. We only have today.

3.     I have learned to pray. I write my prayers and thoughts on index cards because during difficult times, the devil will try to steal your thoughts and lose your focus with his fiery darts of fear, doubt and worry.

4.     I have learned to be grateful by focusing on what is truly important.

I am not the only one who has faced loss this year. Someone lost their one year old granddaughter who drowned, another lost their 20 year old granddaughter in an automobile accident. A friend was diagnosed with cancer. Marriages have collapsed where their young children are the victims for losing a life with two parents in one home and the grandparents have had to help take on the role of parent again.  Their lives are forever changed. Because of not having a job to go to every day, I have been able to walk in the mornings with my mother-in-law and glean from her stories and experiences she shares with me. Rather than rush out the door after services, I spend more time talking to my fellow saints and staying to clean up in the fellowship hall after serving food without looking at my watch every few minutes, thinking about how soon I am going to be able to get into bed.

 If I don't admit my mistakes how can I learn from them?

If I share them, others may learn too.

Stay tuned .........