As another year comes to a close and a new one begins, I'd like to take some time to reflect on 2018 and some of the highlights from my year. It seems that each year goes by faster than the last, and I think that makes it all the more important to reflect back and really soak in the things that happened. 2018 had its challenges to be sure -- challenges with work, with volunteer work, with health, with home life and family -- but we'll save those for another day! For now, I'd just like to think about the biggest lesson learned through those challenges, and that is about changing my own attitude. When I found myself in less than desirable circumstances, I found myself complaining a lot and stressing or worrying about the situation -- until suddenly a two-pronged lightbulb came on. Firstly, I realized that in all my complaining, I was not stopping to think about what I could do to solve the issue. Wouldn't my time be better spent strategizing and problem-solving (I supposedly love problem-solving!) than complaining and worrying? Secondly, and closely related, was that I needed at attitude shift. I didn't like where my mind was at. I could be more productive in trying to solve or better manage the situations in my life -- but I could not change other people. What I could change was myself. If I put forth the effort to do all I can to help a situation, I can rest content in knowing that I did all I could. The rest is not up to me, and I can choose to either worry or stress over the things I can't control, or I could decide to be content, hopeful an even optimistic about the outcomes. What I really needed was to recapture the joy in my life. A lot of that stems from reframing my state of mind and focusing on the good. There's a Sister Hazel song that includes the following line,
Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty. Parched. Cotton mouth. Where it’s painful to even swallow. How about in a situation where you had no water and didn’t know where to get some? Perhaps on a hike or other adventure that was longer or hotter than expected. Think about that moment of thirst. Then think about the moment when you finally got a sip--or even a whole glass--of water. How refreshing was that water? How wonderful did it feel? To a parched mouth, water is immensely satisfying. Indeed, there is nothing quite like water to quench a thirst. This past summer, Tom and I had the opportunity to visit Iceland and drink some of the purest water on earth -- fresh glacial melt. This is water that had been frozen as ice for about 900 years -- long before the earth was so polluted by mankind. As it melts, it runs in streams through the glacier, pure, fresh, cold, and refreshing to the core.
This week, I turned 34. It's hard to believe how quickly the years are starting to go by. One of the challenges I find in life is to not get bogged down by negativity. I've been talking with a couple of friends recently about recapturing joy and focusing on the simple things in life. I've said before that the little things are important, and taking the time to notice and appreciate all of the little joys and gifts in this life can go a long way to change your attitude and reframe your thinking. In fact, the Bible even tells us to focus on the positive. Right after giving instruction on dealing with worry and anxiety, God instructs us to set our minds upon the on the good things in life:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." -Philippians 4:6
It is in that light that I am going to share, for my 34th birthday, 34 of my favorite things - many of them everyday things that bring me joy and make me smile. Peruse through my list, then tell me what makes YOU smile!
Spring is officially here -- hooray! My crocuses are up, the robins are back and I'm ready to come out of hibernation. Spring is my favorite season. Don't get me wrong: I love summer and fall, but spring has the distinct honor of being the first season that is classified as "not winter." And "not winter" is really my favorite season. Spring brings along with it sunshine, longer days, refreshing rain, and the hope of new life. What once appeared dead is now alive and blossoming into something beautiful. Spring is a season of dreams and possibilities. For me, it's also the start of garden season. Well, normally. This year, I got a grow light for Christmas, which I have been experimenting with in my basement. I tried growing basil, parsley, lettuce, chard, arugula, cilantro, spinach...and just for good measure: tomatoes. Of course the primary intent of my grow light is to start seedlings, but I wanted to see what I could actually get to grow indoors -- hence the focus on greens and herbs. And, I got an early test for my tomatoes by planting a few seeds. And let me tell you...I have never grow a tomato seedling as strong and vibrant as this one!
Last year, Tom and I took an amazing trip out to Colorado. After visiting with some family in Denver, we rented a car and drove in a big circle clockwise around the state, stopping in several little towns along the way. My favorite was Ouray. This little mountain town booms at 4th of July -- and not just because is the fireworks (though those were amazing). Nestled in the San Juan mountains, it's a beautiful area and a neat place to experience. My favorite part of the trip, however, was a little ways south of there, closer to the town of Silverton. We did the most amazing mountain hike -- starting at about 9,800 feet and going to almost 13,000. With steep switchbacks and thin air, the hike was a real butt kicker for us flatlanders!
June 16, 2017 marks our ten year wedding anniversary. Crazy. A whole decade of life, lived together. It hasn't always been easy, but it has always been worth it. There is something about two imperfect people coming together and committing the rest of their lives to one another that is at once beautiful and a recipe for disaster and conflict. It's a romantic thought: spending the rest of your days together. But the reality is that two people trying to merge their lives together is difficult. I I've been a conflict avoider my whole life, and so has Tom. So, it's not surprising that we brought those patterns into our marriage. Avoiding conflict may make for the sort of relationship that looks great on the outside, but it means we aren't dealing the inevitable differences, disappointments or failures. Over the years, we have learned the hard way that not having those conversations that *gasp* might lead to conflict, may only create greater issues down the road. Having the hard and uncomfortable conversations is what allows two lives to merge into one and creates the path for open communication so that we can truly do life together. Quality conversation, and yes, even conflict, can help each of us to become better people.
I want this to be a picture of our marriage. We rub off on one another, and, even when we clash, if we are constructive in our conversations, we can help shape one another into better people. I am a better person for having met Tom and for having lived with him for the past 10 years. Learning to see things from his perspective and to understand another's point of view has helped me to be more open-minded, accepting and supportive of other people -- even in disagreements. Our commitment to working through any challenges that come our way means that we've learned better communication skills that can also serve to deepen friendships, strengthen family relationships and even add value to our professional roles.
I see our marriage as an ongoing process of learning how to do life together and learning how to do it well. I had a conversation with a younger, unmarried friend recently who made a comment about finding a way to keep a marriage the way it is at the beginning. I understand what she meant -- keeping that romance alive, which is important. But, I told her that, actually, I didn't wish that we could remain in that first year of marriage. Not that it was bad -- some people claim the first year of marriage is the hardest, but that wasn't true for us. However, we were still young and in many ways immature and even naive about what it takes to build and maintain a good marriage. I don't want to be stuck in that first year, because we have grown and matured so much since then. Instead of capturing that feeling of a new marriage, my goal is to continue to build a better and stronger marriage, so that each year is better than the last. I'm so grateful for the lessons that we've learned and for the love that we've allowed to grow and deepen over the years.
We have been blessed to have a lot of really wonderful times in the past decade, with lots of fun shared together. God has also been faithful in bringing us through the challenging times and helping us to use those challenges as opportunities to deepen our relationship and grow in our character and love for one another. Whatever life may bring, I am grateful to have Tom by my side, through it all. There's no one else I'd rather share the adventure of life with, and I hope for many wonderful decades of marriage yet to come!
For the past couple of years, I've started a tradition where I write a post near and around my birthday. It started when I turned 30, with my 30 Life Lessons, then last year I focused on 31 Proverbs, or nuggets of wisdom. This year, I wanted to take some time and focus on 32 things that I'm thankful for now that I've completed 32 years of life.
It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Proverbs 19:2)
Have you ever been so excited about something that you charged ahead full force without fully considering your actions? It's easy to do when it's something you are passionate about, or even if you're just in a hurry and don't take care to stop and think before you move. Serious mistakes can be made through this sort of carelessness. Not to make light of the matter, but to draw from recent experience, I have a rather silly example of this.
I stole a pillow. There, you have it. My confession. It wasn't on purpose, mind you, but because I was a bit too hasty...and just downright impatient. You see, I had been planning to redo our master bedroom decor and had gotten to the point where I was tired of looking up ideas and ready to be done with the project. But, that meant I had to commit to a look and purchase my new bedding and other pieces. So, I very quickly went through my list of saved pieces for my bed set and realized too late that I had purchased a pillow off Amazon that was coming from overseas. Not on Prime. Not to arrive until weeks after everything else. And this was not just any pillow. This was the focal point of my new bedroom design. It was a peacock pillow. Fancy Peacock Pillow, it was called. Realizing this mistake, I quickly emailed the seller and asked to cancel my order stating the ship time was too long -- and immediately purchased off another site. Crisis averted. Almost.
The next morning, I had an email from the Amazon seller assuring me that my Fancy Peacock Pillow would be there very quickly, and urging me to keep my order. Fine. If it would be there on time, I would keep that one since it was cheaper and cancel Fancy Peacock Pillow order #2. And so I told her such -- a bit too hastily, as I found out, since when I called to cancel order #2, it had already been processed. After jumping through some hoops, I finally confirmed that I could cancel order #2. Only, it didn't really get canceled. I didn't get charged for it, but they also failed to stop the shipment, and it unexpectedly arrived at my doorstep couple days later. To make matters worse, cheap Amazon Fancy Peacock Pillow arrived as simply a sham without a pillow insert. Duplicate, stolen pillow arrived as a true Fancy Peacock Pillow in all its glory. Ugh.
I mean, is this not the fanciest peacock pillow you've ever seen??
I decided to keep the stolen pillow and try to pay for it. But when I emailed the company, they said they didn't have my payment information and that I'd have to call the 1-800 number. Ugh again. I called, already annoyed (after all, why should I be inconvenienced for trying to do the right thing!), was placed on hold for several minutes (you know how it goes), and in my further impatience, I gave up. For a few weeks. I was so frustrated at the silly situation, but eventually realized I really should be annoyed at myself for 1) not paying attention to exactly what I was ordering (sham from China), and 2) being too hasty in my buying/canceling. And, of course, for using a stolen pillow for a number of weeks with only minor remorse, but that's a different lesson.
After realizing that this was all my fault to begin with, I decided to wait out the hold music until I could talk to someone and actually pay for said pillow. I felt much better after I did and no longer felt the shame as the peacock stared me down while making my bed each morning. As a side note, I kept the sham, too, because I didn't want to bother trying to return it to China. And now I have two Fancy Peacock Pillows. Because everyone needs a spare.
New bedroom decor is now fully paid for! Hooray for not stealing.
A silly example perhaps, but I think it still demonstrates how being hasty often causes you to act without thinking and make unwise choices. Wisdom is taking the time to gain knowledge of a situation before acting. It's pausing to think and observe before you move. It's looking ahead to be sure that you're taking the right path and not unwittingly passing it by.
This is a lesson that the Ents know well -- perhaps a little too well. Ents? Yes, you know, tree herders. Shepherds of the forest. In case you're unfamiliar with The Lord of the Rings, allow me to enlighten you and share another silly example in the opposite extreme. Meet Treebeard, the Ent.
There's something you should know about Ents. They are most definitely not hasty. Here's a case in point:
In fact, I think Ents tend to take things to the opposite extreme. Whatever the opposite of hasty is, that is the Ents. They think and ponder and take a year to say a sentence, but rarely seem to actually do anything. Only deliberating and never actually doing isn't what we are called to. We are called to love "with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18)." Having zeal and proactively following a course are good things -- so long as they are tempered by knowledge, forethought and wisdom.
In the end, the Ents were finally spurred to make a decision to act. By that point, they knew what had to be done -- and they were instrumental in saving Middle Earth.
The lesson as I see it is this: Don't be hasty lest you end up with superfluous peacocks cluttering your bedroom, and don't be so permanently rooted in indecision that you never branch out toward something better.
So let's have passion. Let's have zeal and enthusiasm. But let us first set forth a solid direction, through wisdom, prayer, knowledge and discernment.
_________________________________________________________________________ For my 31st birthday, I decided to write down 31 of my favorite proverbs, or wise sayings from the Bible that I had been studying. This year, I am hoping to take a deeper dive into each of them and share some thoughts on them with you here.
The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)
This is a verse that I've been pondering on for some time now, as I think it gets at the heart of a skill I've been trying to obtain: the art of asking good questions. If you'll recall from my 30 Life Lessons, I recognize the need for this skill; however, I often have difficulty actually doing it. I have a few friends who are very good at this. It makes them excellent conversationalists and I'm trying my best to learn from them!
Knowing how to ask the right questions is something that does not come naturally to me, but I think this proverb highlights one of the reasons that it is so important. People are complicated. Many are closed off and guarded for any number of reasons. Others are simply introverted (we have two of those in our two-person household!) and need some prompting to share from their thoughts or experiences. Whatever it is that is stirring inside a person's heart -- that which is deep and at their core -- often needs to be drawn out, as a bucket is drawn from a deep well. And when we take the time to draw those things out of a person, it often benefits both parties.
As usual, I love how Matthew Henry underscores what we are missing when we don't practice good question asking:
"Some are very able and fit to give counsel...but they are modest, and reserved, and not communicative; they have a great deal in them, but it is loth to come out. In such a case a man of understanding will draw it out, as wine out of a vessel. We lose the benefit we might have by the conversation of wise men for want of the art of being inquisitive."
- Matthew Henry's Commentary
Not only can you learn from others if you take the time to ask good questions, but it makes the other person feel valued, too. And there's a benefit to the soul of being able to share things from your heart to someone trustworthy who wants nothing more than to understand you better and learn from you.
The word "draw" is the word that stuck out to me most in this passage, and I'm still trying to unpack it. There's a tugging, a gentle pulling that brings out the heart of a person -- and it begins with good questions. But how do you ask good questions? I think it starts with observing and listening. Pay attention to what's important to someone and ask them about that. Notice when someone doesn't seem quite his or herself, and inquire. Ask the "whys" and the "hows" -- not just the "whats". Ask specifics and not just generalities. When you draw out the whole person, you get to see a glimpse of who they really are -- who God created them to be. You are able to know and be known. And it is beautiful.
-------- For my 31st birthday, I decided to write down 31 of my favorite proverbs, or wise sayings from the Bible that I had been studying. This year, I am hoping to take a deeper dive into each of them and share some thoughts on them with you here.
Today marks our 9th wedding anniversary! I can hardly believe it. Time seemed to drag on forever when we were dating, but these nine years have flown by. Though not without its share of challenges, Tom and I have had an amazing 9 years, and I look forward to one full decade of marriage next June!
"A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4)"
As I work through my 31 proverbs, I thought this would be a great one to focus on in light of our anniversary. The marriage relationship is a unique one, as we are so deeply responsible to one another. My actions affect Tom -- down to the bone! I have power to lift him up and bring him honor and power to drag him low and into disgrace.
I thought focusing on this verse this week would be appropriate since we are celebrating our dog Happy's third birthday. I think it's interesting how one's attitude and actions toward animals is indicative of his actions towards people -- but this proverb turns it around from the way I usually think of it. You often hear of young boys who torture animals who grow up to be violent or abusive men. The cruelty they show to animals even from a young age extends into their attitudes and actions toward people later in life. But the reverse can be seen, too. Think of someone you know who has a soft heart toward animals -- my mom and grandma have always shown extreme kindness toward animals of all types (think: ordering extra food at McDonald's to feed the sea gulls that live in a nearby parking lot; or stopping on the side of a busy road to try to capture a wounded groundhog so you can take him to the vet). And this kindness to animals also reveals their hearts towards people. It's often in the details of one's life that we can get the bigger picture of who that person really is. And I think it's a good reminder for me to pay attention to how I handle the small and mundane things of life -- because that will likely be how I handle the big and pivotal moments, as well.
Going back to the theme of this blog, you might guess that this is a proverb of importance to me. I understand the importance of learning and I have a strong drive to always be learning something new. But there's a part of this verse that has always been very hard for me. See below with my added emphasis:
For my 31st birthday, I decided to write down 31 of my favorite proverbs, or wise sayings from the Bible that I had been studying. This year, I am hoping to take a deeper dive into each of them and share some thoughts on them with you here.
The book of Proverbs in the bible is full of instructions for living and wisdom for daily life. But one instruction stands above all else: guard your heart. The heart is our deepest self, our true self that we are commissioned to keep safe. Everything we do flows from our hearts. It's the essence of who we are. So how do we guard that and keep it safe?
For my 31st birthday, I decided to write down 31 of my favorite proverbs, or wise sayings from the Bible that I had been studying. This year, I am hoping to take a deeper dive into each of them and share some thoughts on them with you here.
The picture above is from a Mission Trip that Tom and I went on to Honduras in 2008. The picture is of teenagers at an "orphanage". I put it in quotes because it is nothing like what comes to mind when I think of the word "orphanage". It was a dorm-style home built by one woman -- I believe a former nurse from overseas -- for those without families or with families unable to care for them. But it's not a sad place. It is a place of hope. In fact, the orphanage is called "Renacer" -- which means "rebirth". It was a new beginning for the kids there and when I asked one of the teenagers how he liked living there, he replied "me encanta" -- "I love it." This orphanage is a very large undertaking, but is a huge example of providing good from those who are deserving and those who are most on the heart of God: orphans. The whole trip served to remind me of how I should be. I hope I was able to help the people in the communities we served in some small way, but I feel like I had some big missed opportunities even on this trip.
Remember that clothing brand that was popular in the '90s: No Fear. That's what came to mind as I read through this proverb -- and I think it works as a slogan or mantra for life in Christ. It's easier said than done, though, isn't it? How easy is it for us to fixate on the bad and worry about the maybes of life? But before going further, let's take a step back.
What is fear? Is fear a bad thing? When we are afraid of something, there's often a good reason for it. I'm afraid to touch a fire, because it will burn me and hurt. I'm afraid to get too near to the edge of a cliff lest I lose my footing and plummet to my death. I think fear in instances like that is a helpful and healthy emotional response that we feel in order to maintain our own well being. But, like anything else, the good can be twisted very easily into something bad. What happens when we obsess over a fear? A legitimate fear of touching fire is different than an irrational fear of anything that has a flame. It's the irrational fears or even legitimate fears that we become fixated on -- and the anxiety and paralysis that often come with it -- that I think we are to get rid of.
For my 31st birthday, I decided to write down 31 of my favorite proverbs, or wise sayings from the Bible that I had been studying. This year, I am hoping to take a deeper dive into each of them and share some thoughts on them with you here.
The first proverb I listed was this:
"Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. (Proverbs 1:19)"
When re-reading this, the first thing I thought of was the creature Gollum from J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings stories. Gollum was once a small man or Hobbit, I think one of the river folk, and he went by the name of Smeagol. However, a fierce and consuming jealousy took hold of him when his friend found and beheld the Ring of power -- to the point that Smeagol committed murder so that the Ring could be his -- his "Precious", as he called it. Ill-gotten gain, to be sure. And what was the result? He had the Ring, yet it whittled away at his life, while still keeping him alive, until he was nothing more than a miserable creature, tormented by his own self and his desire for the Ring.
Doctor Who - yes, the inspiration of this blog post!
I don't watch or read the news very often. One of the reasons for that is that it's often depressing -- with media choosing to focus in on the bad stories that show humanity at its worst, leading me to feel like the world is a mess and there is nothing I can do about it. There's just too much. It's too overwhelming. And I'm just one person.
The problem comes when I let that become an excuse. An excuse for not doing anything. We have indeed made a mess of the world, and I cannot fix it -- but I can do something. Something to make just one person's life better, to make just one person's day brighter. Just because I can't solve the world's problems and bring peace and harmony to all, doesn't mean I can't make some impact, and I need to remember that. Remember that it all matters, and the smallest act of kindness may be more powerful that you ever know. We are all just one person, but together, we are a people, a community, who can reach out and care for one another.
My challenge to myself headed into the Christmas season and the New Year ahead -- and my challenge for you, too -- is to focus on small things I can do on a weekly or daily basis to make someone's day brighter, to let someone know that they matter.
It's a simple concept and nothing new, but I was reminded of it the other day while watching Doctor Who. Yes, you'd be amazed at the life lessons that can be gleaned from Doctor Who. Without going into the back story, there was a flashback to the time when the Doctor was the inadvertent cause of the volcanic eruption of Mount Versuvius, which we know from history destroyed the whole town of Pompeii. The Doctor's companion, Donna, begged him to go back and save someone -- not the whole town -- but just save someone. Here's a clip for your viewing pleasure:
It reminded me that we are responsible to do the good that we can do. We can't do it all on our own, but each of us can do something.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." - Romans 12:6-8
As I was thinking about this post, something else popped into my head -- a song, that I had to look up because I knew only the words -- "Make someone happy...make just one someone happy".
This Christmas, let's take some time to think of just one someone whose holidays you can make a little bit brighter. Send a card. Give a gift to someone who wouldn't be expecting it. Invite someone over if you know they are going to be alone. Call up a friend who may have a hard time getting through the holidays after the loss of a loved one. Let someone know that you care. Give an extra donation to a charity. Smile and give a friendly greeting to a stranger. Big or small, any act of kindness and giving can impact the world in a positive way. You may be just one person, but you have what it takes to help just one person.
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
I love Christmas time. I love the decorations: trees, lights, poinsettias, wreaths; thesounds: bells, Christmas music, joyful commotion at family gatherings; the smells -- fresh pine, peppermint and cloves -- mmm, so good! I love how so many people take the time to place some extra emphasis on joy and giving during this season. I even love the snow this time of year (which is conspicuously missing in Michigan right now...). I want to take a moment, though, to focus on Christmas lights -- be it candles, LED lights, or a Clark Griswold-esque display. Lights, Christmas or otherwise, all share the same basic characteristics.
A light, bright and twinkling, catches the eye; a light makes itself visible--but more than that: it makes other things visible. It is illuminating and reveals that which would otherwise be obscured by darkness. Have you ever realized that Jesus is often described in terms of light? Take a look at a few examples:
"The rising sun" - Luke 1:78 "The sun of righteousness" - Malachi 4:2 "The bright morning star" - Revelation 22:16 "The light of the world" - John 8:12 "A great light" - Isaiah 9:2 "A light of revelation" - Luke 2:32
That first reference -- "the rising sun" -- caught my attention as I was reading through the gospel of Luke which begins with a story of another miraculous birth of a baby boy -- he who would grow up to be known as John the Baptist. His parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, were old and beyond childbearing years. They had had no children. When an angel appeared to Zechariah telling him that he would have a son, he did not believe it, and so God made him unable to speak until after the child was born. When at last he was able to speak again, he immediately praised God and began to prophesy with these words -- about not just his son, but the one for whom his son would make a way:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
- Luke 1:68-79 (emphasis added)
That last part was what stuck out the most to me. I love sunrises -- on the few occasions I'm up early enough to see them. One of the things that has been great about our mild December this year is that we've also had less cloud coverage. That means I've actually gotten to see some beautiful sunrises on my way into work that would normally be covered up by overcast skies. To me, the rising sun signifies hope, bringing to light a brand new day. Jesus was the sunrise that brought to fulfillment the ultimate hope, ushering in a new era. He is a light to the world that shines in the darkness, illuminating the earth and revealing to all God's plan of salvation. Jesus came to guide our steps and show us how to live our lives. Whether it's the sunrise, the moon, the morning stars, candles or Christmas lights, I want to let each light be a reminder of "THE Christmas Light" -- Jesus, the hope that he brings and the truth that he brought to light by his life.
Christmas lights and decorations and food and family gatherings are wonderful. But what I love most about Christmas is that it's something to celebrate everyday, all year long: the gift of Jesus, the Christ. At Christmas, we celebrate hope and joy and peace -- because Jesus was the hope of nations--the long awaited Messiah, we find the greatest joy in the life and salvation that he brought, and we have peace with God through Jesus and have also been taught how to live at peace with one another. I don't know about you, but those seem to me like some pretty good things to celebrate this Christmas season and always!
Last year I did a blog post for my 30th birthday with 30 life lessons that I'd learned through life thus far. This year, for 31, I wanted to share a collection of wise sayings, or proverbs, that I've been studying. Proverbs are like little nuggets of wisdom, and I think committing them to memory can help you to stay on course and make the right decisions in the heat of the moment or in a season of trial. Proverbs, the book in the Bible, has 31 chapters so I thought it would be perfect to pick one proverb from each chapter. However, I found a number of my favorites congregated in a few chapters. So, instead, I will share 31 proverbs that I've been focusing on and that I want to have ingrained into my way of living.
1.Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. (Proverbs 1:19) 2. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (Proverbs 1:32) 3. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. (Proverbs 3:26) 4. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. (Proverbs 3:27) 5. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) 6. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. (Proverbs 9:9) 7. When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19) 8. A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. (Proverbs 11:16) 9. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Proverbs 11:25) 10. A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4) 11.A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10) 12. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. (Proverbs 12:16) 13. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18) 14. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30) 15. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) 16. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22) 17. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:25) 18. The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3) 19. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2) 20. To answer before listening -- that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13) 21. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. (Proverbs 18:15) 22. The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forth to question him. (Proverbs 18:17) 23. It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (Proverbs 19:2) 24. The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5) 25. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2) 26. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) 27. As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. (Proverbs 27:19) 28. The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are. (Proverbs 28:11) 29. Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) 30. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25) 31. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31:8) There you have it. 31 wise sayings to live by, and I'm hoping I can learn to employ these at little better each year of my life. How about you? Do you have a favorite wise saying or one that you have committed to memory? Please share in the comments!
**This post is a part of the first annual RA Blog Week, spurred on by RADiabetes. For more information and the full list of prompts, click here. RA Blog Week Day 6 Prompt: "tell us your stories about your diagnosis, what were you thinking, feeling or when did you first know something was wrong?"
Oh, college days of yore...
It was a sunny spring day in 2004. I was 19 years old, and a happy, healthy college student at Cedarville University in Ohio. Or so I thought. It was almost the end of the semester when I noticed that a finger on my left hand was sore -- almost as though I had somehow jammed it. I didn’t recall doing anything to it, but who knows--I was fairly active. I ignored this symptom for a while, until I realized that it had been a few weeks and it had still not gone away or gotten any better. My mom prompted me to make an appointment to see my doctor and find out what she recommended. Nothing much was accomplished at my first doctor visit. She simply referred me to a hand specialist. By this point, I believe college was done for the semester, and I had moved back to Michigan. I spent the summer living with my dad and babysitting my cousins, while taking courses at the local community college and preparing for a more permanent move to West Michigan. At some point early in the summer I had my appointment with the hand specialist. Based on my symptoms, he believed that I had tendinitis. He prescribed some Naproxen, told me to take it for a few weeks, then he’d see me back.
