Perspective

I wrote this almost 2 years ago on another site, but it was a great reminder and encouragement to me. Hope it does the same for you!

Perspective~ this word has been the key in changing my life and the way I live it. My husband and I ventured into small business ownership three years ago, filled with faith and excitement for the journey ahead. Who knew that a month after we started walking down this particular path that as a country we would fall into some of the worst economic times that this generation has experienced? To say the least, our faith was shaken many times and our excitement was replaced with anxiety over what might happen. Then, very suddenly, I lost a friend that was very special to me. She and I had our kids 2 weeks apart each time until she raced ahead and had a fifth baby when I was done with four :-). Cancer took her life so quickly I barely had time to blink. Left behind were 5 beautiful children ranging in ages from 9 to 4 months. At her funeral I was reminded how fragile this life really is. None of us know when our last day will be. I had spent the past 9 months worrying day in and day out about what may or may not happen with our business, while at the same time that worry was robbing me of precious time with my kids and those I love so much. Many years ago, my mom in the faith, had said something that really stuck with me. "Live each day as if its your last, but plan for a lifetime." Until my friend died, it was a great quote, but really more of a platitude. I liked the idea of it but had no clue how to walk it out in every day life. When she passed so quickly I got true perspective on that quote for the first time. Every day is a gift! Every day that I have the privilege of waking up and taking care of my kids is a blessing. It may seem obvious, but I had never really 'gotten' it before. It makes so many things easier to handle. Long lines, traffic, irritable kids, bills piling up. I could go on and on. When each day is truly seen as your only day, you tend to appreciate the little things so much more. It's not from a morbid perspective or anything, but when today is all you have...the words you say are chosen more carefully, the way you spend your time is much easier to prioritize. It has been a major life shift for me. I definitely don't succeed at this every day. But, when I purposely focus my life around that quote, it is so much more enjoyable. I cherish the things I think God intended for me to cherish daily and so much less is taken for granted. Perspective is a wonderful thing!!

Came to my Rescue-Hillsong United

One Word

Instead of making a bunch of New Year's resolutions (of which I would almost certainly break in the 1st month) I was challenged to pick a word that would define this next year of my life. As I prayed about it and mulled it over, there was one word that stood out above the rest. Intimacy. This word conveys so much to me. The dictionary defines it as a close, familiar, and affectionate or lovingly personal relationship with another person. I wholeheartedly agree. I heard a pastor describe intimacy as 'In to Me, You'll See'. That statement had a profound impact on me. I want my relationship with my Lord and Savior to be so close that I can feel His heartbeat, that I would see with His eyes and feel with His heart. There are so many good things the bible directs us to do, I could stay busy each and every day doing them. But God has called us to be human beings, not human doings. In observing Jesus life, He said that He only did what He saw the Father doing. And, if you read the gospels, most of the things he did made sense, but there were things that at times, makes you scratch you head and wonder (Ex. not going to see Lazarus right away). But, God sees everything from the beginning to the end and the end back to the beginning. I have learned that if I take the time to lean upon Him, He will show me the MOST important things I should put my hand to. And, I love this about my Lord....it's always changing. I want intimacy to define my other relationships as well. I want my love for my husband to be one that is moved by what I see God doing in his heart and supporting that, not one that is motivated by what he can do for me. I want my relationship with my children to be one that is marked by a knowing, in me, what stirs their passions and interests, and helping mold those things to be gifts suitable for their King. I want my friendships to be marked by intimacy as well. When God awakens my heart to a friend, I want to respond in a way that would reveal His love. What is the common ingredient in all of these things? Time, spending time with Jesus and allowing Him to whisper to my heart what is most important at that moment.

If you had to pick a word to shape 2011 what word would you use? I would love to hear it!!