To live free: Give yourself a little grace
You wrap your arm around her. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Look at how much you’ve grown. You’re brave.”
And then when you mess up, you say, “What a screw up. Why can’t I get it right? What’s wrong with me?”
What if we gave the same grace to ourselves that we gave to others? It might look like this:
Yes, today was not a perfect day, but am I trying to achieve perfection? Or am I simply following in the footsteps of Christ. Loving Him. Listening for that voice. And when I stumble? Getting back up and asking that His grace not only cover me, but show me a better way. Helping me to learn through the stumbles.
To live free: Give yourself the same grace that you give others.
Scripture: Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Cor 12:9 (NLT)
Just You and God: Focus on the first part of that verse. “My grace is all you need.” Let it sink in.
Posted by Suzie @
3:44 am |
To live free: perspective can change everything!
The other day someone responded harshly in a conversation.
And a couple of hours later, there it was. Still pestering me. The reality is that I care for this person, and it was simply a quick emotional response to an emotional topic. It had nothing to do with me, really.
I asked God to help me put it into perspective.
How big was this, really?
Yes, it stung, but it wasn’t big. It just felt big for a moment, and then felt bigger the longer I nurtured that feeling.
Was it important enough to pursue?
In this case, the answer is no. But sometimes it is. There have been times that I have walked away in the heat of the moment. Perhaps emotions were high. Someone was hurting, or raw, or the timing just stunk.
But if it’s important, then we can go back and start the conversation fresh at the right time, with the right frame of mind, and with hope toward healing and a willingness to work through it.
Was it worth the energy and thought that I was giving it?
Flame, flame higher and higher. That’s what can happen when we feed a hurt feeling. It grows beyond its rightful size and consumes energy we can devote to things we really love.
Did I play a part?
Is there something said or done that might be done differently? In some instances, this is not the case. But as I examined the above conversation, I realized that I could have worded my point differently. This one change might have changed the entire course of the conversation.
To live free: Perspective is powerful. Are you willing to change yours?
Quote: You and I do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. ~ Anonymous
Just you and God: Is it time to shift your perspective? Do you feel stuck? Grow through this by asking God to change your focus.
Posted by Suzie @
4:46 am |
The real monster
When I first married Richard, I lay awake every night.I was a city girl and used to the sounds of traffic. Of sirens. Of people.But not quiet rustlings. Scampering. Coyotes howling. Skritch. Scratch. All night long there were sounds. This city girl didn’t know what to do. I felt a little like a little girl afraid of the monster under the bed.
You know it’s not real, but the fear? It’s absolutely real. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:30 am |
Conflict is an opportunity
In the book, Hope in the Face of Conflict, it reads: No researchers have ever found a conflict-free society.
There is conflict. . .even in healthy families.
There is conflict. . .even in normal relationships.
If we perceive conflict as always bad, things get confusing. We enter a marriage and think that if we love each other, then there shouldn’t be conflict. Or we have a baby who is perfect, but then they grow up and we wonder where things went wrong.
But if instead, we accepted from the very beginning that there will be conflict, instead of being suprised, we’d be prepared with a plan.
What will I do when conflict arises?
What is my plan? (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
11:30 am |
To live free: Envision a just outcome
Our brains are powerful. They can be a theatre where we dream. Where we imagine. Where we remember.
They can also be a place where we go over and over again the words that someone said. Or where we plot.
She should get what she deserves.
How much of our thought life do we spend devoted to bitterness over the words or actions of another? (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:12 am |
When you need a peacemaker
I didn’t have the words to respond. I was angry that I was there. . . again. I felt defeated. Because I wanted to do the right thing, to say the right things, but everything I said just seemed to make it worse.
So I finally shut up. But my internal dialogue continued.
I love you, but right now I don’t like you very much at all.
Why can’t you hear what I’m trying to say?
Why can’t you see how hard I try?
Have you been there? We all have, at one time or another, but no one wants to remain in unresolved conflict. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:48 am |
