Category: Blog: Grammy at Wits End

We gather together to count the Lord’s blessings . . .so goes the old hymn.   In a world that believes more is always better, may we – at least for one day – challenge the carelly crafted advertisements and marketing schemes by focusing on the giver of all gifts, being especially thankful for the special people He has brought into our lives; may each one of them know that we are grateful for who they are and how they’ve blessed us.  Come ye thankful people come . . .

I was reflecting; pondering what life has taught me to-date.  Here are some thoughts:

1. Great relationships don’t happen overnight, cost a lot, are few, and a most precious gift
2. Always hear both sides of a matter before drawing a conclusion
3. People can change, but not quickly, easily, or completely
4. You can’t know someone until you’ve been around them quite a while and experienced them in many different circumstances
5. Feelings are untrustworthy; the best decisions are based on evidence
6. When you dance with the devil, the devil always wins
7. It’s important to differentiate between the symptoms and the real problem
8. Awful things really can be used for good if we forgive and move on
9. Anger and bitterness are two of Satan’s greatest weapons
10. Evil exists – we cannot always understand or explain why bad things happen
11. Good exists too – being grateful is healing and gives new life to a weary soul
12. When the game is over, no matter who wins or loses, the pieces really do all go back in the box
13. Children need parents to parent; when the job is done, friendship is the reward
14. No one will ever meet all of our expectations and we won’t meet theirs either
15. Too many good relationships are thrown away because they are not perfect
16. Boundaries in relationships keep us healthy and whole
17. Failing does not make us a failure
18. People who bring us down should be few and far between
19. Although there are exceptions, men and women are very different-and that’s a good thing
20. The days are slow but the years are fast
21. Make the most of today – tomorrow you may wish you would have
22. Tell everyone you love that you love them and tell them often
23. Disappointment is part of life; deal with it
24. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so
25. Grandchildren – ahhhhhhhhh
26. Don’t take yourself so seriously – nobody else does

Yesterday someone said to me, “What if tomorrow all you had was what you were thankful for today?”  Wow!  I felt almost a sense of urgency to quickly go through my list.  I was keenly aware of how much I take for granted and had a renewed sense of determination to not allow all that’s trivial capture my attention, heart, and time.  If I know you, I’m thankful for you – see, I’m starting already!

So, Thanksgiving is around the corner and then Christmas. . .ready or not! If we look past the expectations and time constraints, though, what a great time of year. I can remember past Christmases way back to when I was a little girl. Family gatherings, special gifts, great food, games and being couch potatoes-brings a smile to my face. No matter what else is going on, time with family and friends provides a welcomed escape from the rest of life’s demands. Instead of taking a deep breath, exhale and enjoy the season!

I’ve talked to several people this week who have been unexpectedly hurt in a significant relationship.  Expectations weren’t met.  Feelings of being wounded, of being betrayed, crept in and oozed through their veins – hard to shake.   It can be challenging to work through – sadness, anger, resentment, and equally as difficult, just overall feeling vulnerable in relationships with others.  It happens to all of us because we’re all human and flawed – sometimes we’re the recipient and sometimes we’re the cause.  At these times it is valuable to draw from our support system for an extra measure of comfort and affirmation.  To address the issues-if it is timely and appropriate-and to seek forgiveness where we’ve been wrong is critical (even if we don’t feel like it).  Taking care of business puts us back in control in a good way.  Then we have to choose to move forward and put the negative event behind us.  The good news is that God promises to use everything for our good and if we let Him, He will.  Although painful, these experiences are valuable.  You’ll probably find more gray hair though.

Ever had one of those weeks? Friday comes none too quickly, right? A friend reminded me that God uses times like these to mold us and craft us into a more precious vessel. So, I’m thankful that God uses all things for good and that, even in the midst of too many Monday’s in one week, Friday always comes!

My granddaughter fell and had to get three stiches in her chin-ouch! I moved my dining room table and put two big scratches in my hardwood floor-ugh! Stuff happens and neither we nor our possessions stay ‘new.’ If you think about it, whether it’s the first dent in the car or the spill on the new carpet, it kind of relieves the pressure. Being a little worn or a bit tattered enables us to relax a bit rather than engage in the never-ending task of maintaining – so, consider putting your feet up and enjoy the moment. It beats washing the floor!

This week I was blessed to watch the birth of Brannen, my fourth grandchild. Brannen was born close to the birthday of his mom, my daughter. I couldn’t help but remember her birth and seeing her participate in bringing a new family member into the world was almost indescribable. He is my fourth grandchild and I am blessed beyond measure for these incomprable gifts whom I will love throughout all of eternity. God is very good to us.

My husband talked to a pastor today who just returned from China. The pastor had visited a leper colony where he met an 85-year old man. He had been engaged to a beautiful woman when he was young but she left him when he was diagnosed. The total of this man’s possessions was a mat, where he slept. Sad, isn’t it? Yet, the pastor reported this elderly man was a very happy person. He was part of a community and had a sense of belonging. I’m not sure where he was in his faith. I’m sure he isn’t living the life he dreamed of when he was 17 but he has accepted and chosen to make the most of the hand that was dealt to him. I am definitely spoiled.

This week I had an opportunity to see how several people handled
disappointment and change. Some did well while others did not. As I reflected
on what I saw, I was reminded that I want to model the behaviors that exhibited
professionalism, integrity, and even faith. Yes, faith. If we believe on a
heart-level that God is who He says He is, then why do we react when things
don’t turn out the way we want them to? Well, I guess it’s because we’re human.
Oh, I’m not saying we don’t have a right to say ‘ouch’ at times. We may feel
discomfort, even pain. We may need to work through some feelings of injustice,
anger and even grief. This is especially true when missed opportunities occur.
Yet, God promises to use all things for our good. This missed opportunity is part
of God’s plan for our lives and can contribute toward molding us into the
person God has called us to be, as long as we choose to let God use it for good
and not stay entrenched in the negative emotions. May we remember to ‘choose
joy’ and surrender ourselves to the will of God over our own desires.