Happiness * The Enabler * I Refuse... * When You Can't Go On... * Weariness Prayer * Chronic Pain Daily Devotionals * A Note from God
We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we're frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We'll certainly be happy when they're out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with...and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until you're off welfare, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you're born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy.
"God made us sisters; Prozac made us friends."
One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon. A man sat watching and waiting for the butterfly to appear - and once it did, he remained there for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress - it appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could go. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily through the enlarged hole - but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which he thought would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand is that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening are nature's way of forcing fluid from its body into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we went through our days without any obstacles, it would cripple us - we would not be as strong as what we could have been. And, we could never fly.
I refuse to be discouraged,
I have a God who's mighty,
(from the above website:) I'm sorry that you're hurting so desperately right now. I know how painful the seconds, and minutes, and days can be, how long the nights are. I understand how very hard hanging on is, and how much courage it takes. I ask though that you hold onto one day at a time. Just one day, and slowly this despair will pass. The feelings you fear you're trapped in will serve their purpose, and then fade away. Difficult to imagine isn't it? Almost impossible to believe when every cell in your body it seems cries out in agony, desperately in need of comfort. When it feels like the only thing in the whole world that can touch your pain and banish it is beyond your grasp. And after all this time, the assurance that you will heal has become an empty, broken promise. Just let one tiny cell in your body continue to believe in the promise of healing. Just one. You can surrender every other cell to your despair. Just that one little cell of faith that you can heal and be whole again is enough to keep you going, is enough to lead you through the darkness. Although it can't banish your suffering, it can sustain you until the time comes for you to let your pain go. And the letting go can only occur in it's own time, as much as we would like to push the pain away forever. Hold on. Hold on to appreciate the beauty of the earth, to feel the songs of the birds in your heart, to learn and to teach, to laugh a genuine laugh, to dance on the beach, to rest peacefully, to experience contentment, to want to be no other place but in the here and now, to trust in yourself, and to trust your life. Hold on because it's worth the terrible waiting. Hold on because you are worthy. Hold on because the wisdom that will follow you out of this darkness will be a tremendous gift.
Heavenly Father, I am overcome with weariness and fatigue both of body and of spirit.
Chronic Pain Daily Devotionals...... " Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified...for the Lord your God goes with you; he will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 There is a wonderful saying that states: "Help me to remember Lord, that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I cannot handle together." I have repeated this verse over and over in my mind. It has helped me get through the rough times of my life, when I was not sure of what today or tomorrow might bring. I still say it on when I need to today. When living with chronic illness and pain we need to grasp all the strength that we have to get through the day some days. Living with an invisible illness is particularly difficult. People mean well when they say, "Oh, but you look so good....no one would know you are suffering or in pain if you didn't let on." These words, although they meant well, pierce the soul for me. Everyone has problems, yes, it is all part of life, but to have our guard down and made to be felt that our illness is not understood or discounted is so difficult. One would not say such a remark to someone who broke their arm or leg or to a cancer patient, one would be compassionate. God knows the pains and sufferings that we face each day and He alone can become our Rock, our Strength and our Shield against the insensitivity that some people display.
When we turn to God, He is merciful and compassionate;..."for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him." 2 Chronicles 30:9 In our rest we will find our strength in Christ. Jesus also said, "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:18 With the promise of the Son of God coming to us, only a prayer away, we indeed can get through any problem or circumstance. Remember, God is bigger than any problem or circumstance we face and He will help us when we seek His will for our lives.
Good Morning! This is God, I will be handling all of your problems today. I will not need your help. So, relax and have a great day!
� copyright 2002, Morgain's Mysts
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