Waking Up on the Right Side of the Bed

Some days, I just want to stay under my covers and pretend like there aren't classes to be attended, tests to be taken, practices to be at, work to do, conflicts to sort out... Satan likes to get inside my head and tell me I'm weak, and that I don't have the strength I need to get through my day or whatever task is before me. My mind gets diverted from the end goal by the distractions to my left and right. When my focus is sidetracked, every aspect of my life seems much more cloudy.

I hate feeling pessimistic about life. I know that there is so much for me to be thankful for, yet sometimes it can be difficult to climb out of the self-pity pit. When sitting in this pit, life loses its colorfulness. Everything becomes a bland shade of gray. I can imagine that Satan just loves when I'm in this mood.

There are different ways to rise above this bleak dreary pit. It requires an intentionality; a decision to look on the bright side. It requires a perspective change. In their song Perspectives, Kutless writes "why can't you see freedom is sometimes just simply another perspective away? Who could you be if your lens was changed for a moment, would you still be the same?" It requires surrender of selfishness and pride, and a reliance on God to provide and help us get through each day, each task, as it comes.

No matter what the world or Satan tries to tell us, we are not powerless. We are where we are for a reason and for such a time as this. We need to keep an eternal perspective and keep our eyes on the end-goal and run our race of life in such a way as to win the prize. (1 Cor 9:24)

Here is a verse that's been a huge encouragement and a great reminder to me lately of what my perspective should be when I rise each day:

Romans 8:37-39 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Happily Ever After...

Fairytales and Princess Stories, Romance Novels, and many Romantic movies portray a type of love that many would today deem as unrealistic or make-believe. The Happily Ever After endings seem to be fanciful and intangible.

In today's culture, divorce rates are sky-high. Dating seems to becoming more and more a thing to simply fill in the gaps for a short while, until it's no longer convenient or new and exciting. The words "I Love You" are overused and undervalued.

I believe our culture has accustomed us to believe that love comes and goes with our emotions. That it's subjective. I'd begun to lose hope throughout the years of the possibility of someday finding that Happily Ever After, Till Death do us Part, kind of love.

However, my hope was reset when i was working at the nursing home: There is a lady in her upper 80s who recently moved in to our nursing home. She is a very pleasant woman and is with it mentally, but her body is failing her. She fatigues very easily. (I will call her Mae) The nurse told us that Mae's husband wanted her to lay down. My coworker and I went to find her so that we could help her lay down. Her husband was visiting with her. (I will call him Eddy) Eddy gets around on a motorized scooter. He still lives at their home, but comes in every day to visit his Mae. Mae, in her wheelchair, was facing Eddy in his scooter. Eddy had Mae's hand in his and was speaking softly to her when we approached them.

He looked up from Mae when we asked him if he'd like us to lay her down. "I think that'd be a great idea."--was his response. I put my hands on Mae's wheelchair to bring her towards her room. Eddy looked up at my coworker and I and said, "you girls take good care of my Mae. I just love her so much." We assured him we would take good care of her. My coworker asked Eddy if he'd like to kiss Mae goodbye. He said, "well I almost forgot the most important part!" he drove his scooter nearer to the side of Mae's wheelchair. They both leaned in and he gave her a sweet, long kiss. Mae smiled and said "see you next time dear." Eddy told her he'd be back the next day and began to drive away. Mae called after him in her weak voice, "Goodbye Babe!" Eddy stopped his scooter, looked at his wife, and said, "I love you Mae."

This example of life-long love gave me so much peace and hope! I think this could be a great example for our world to see. Our culture may be advertising a temporary, superficial love, but that isn't the only option. I know life wasn't always easy for Eddy and Mae, but their "happily ever after, till death do us part" love carried them through. This is the type of love that is worth giving away your heart for and being vulnerable for.

Holding on to Firsts...

Firsts are exciting.

First steps. First day without a diaper. First day of school. First sleepover. First basketball game. First crush. First pimple. (okay maybe that wasn't so exciting) First date. First hand-hold. First day of college.... you get the picture.

We are continually facing new firsts. Though they can be intimidating, they are simultaneously exhilarating. I remember being so eager to go to my first day of school! I would've liked to go a year sooner than was allowed if I could've! I thought I was so ready to face that first day. And now, here I sit in a college library.. still in school. Don't get me wrong, these past 13 years of school have been great. But I don't think I realized as an eager 4-year old what a first day of school meant... a thousand more days of school.

Firsts are great things, when the time is right. One of the greatest things about firsts, is that we can never get them back. On the other hand, this could be a tragic thing as well. Some firsts are unavoidable. The first day of school had to come. It was just a matter of time until that first pimple appeared.

But some firsts happen within our control. Granted, they will most likely happen eventually, but they are often all the sweeter and more valuable if we take our time and don't be too eager for that "first" to happen.

Recently, as i was talking to a friend, we were talking about some recent firsts in our lives. I expressed my longing to have the day of a certain first come. My friend quite wisely put me in my place. She said, "Don't rush it. Wait. You can never have that first again."

That made me stop instantly and consider the value of some firsts. They will truly only be firsts once. I decided that I'm going to let the firsts happen as they must, and I'm going to be picky about letting the firsts happen which I can control. I want to have my first at its full value, and never have to regret it, or question myself about it.

I'm holding on to my firsts.