My heart is soar, my eyes are wet with tears of loss, my pain is real.... I have felt all these emotions with the loss of my Dad in the last few weeks.... but, I have also found I can pray and seek the Lord easier now than before. hmmm? I am quicker to give God praise for the good in my life! Great!!!! And that I am ready to take on a new path with Him. Praise the Lord!!!!
It seems weird that words effect me differently at this time. It seems strange that I am effected so deeply by words and prayers of friends and family. Someone could say, that I have "thin skin" or "my heart is on my sleeve" - both of these would be true... I am a sappy girl anyway... but, in dealing with stress and emotional times like this I have noticed that I am quick to get to a very strong emotion- either good or bad. Dan has been so wonderful during this time. I need to get past the stage of grief I am at.... and onto???? In learning from this what to do and how to deal with my own emotions...I can apply it in other areas... and maybe be a help to someone in this journey that we call life.
I was reading face book this morning- after having a fun breakfast with my friend Missy from high school..... and found this post from Tyler Perry and it was so good that I thought I would share it here....it reminded me very much of the poem from Mother Teresa...which is also below and one of my favorites.
GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND by Tyler Perry
If you can get this, this will change your life… I was out taking my morning run. I love how still it is when I’m running. I can hear clearly and really commune with God. I wanted to share this with you. It’s a lesson I had to learn.
One of the keys to success is to be able to guard your heart. Now, usually when someone says guard your heart they are talking about keeping yourself from heartbreak. Although that is important (as long as you don’t go overboard... but that’s another conversation) that isn’t what I’m talking about. When we are born into this world we enter with such a pure heart but as we grow older situations, circumstances and people tend to make us change. Now I know it is nearly impossible to keep a childlike innocence in our hearts all of our lives, especially after people have betrayed, lied, mistreated and downright been the devil. Trust me when I tell you, I have seen it all. I have been there big ... time. If you’re like me you’ve been there too. But if this is your situation I want you to know two very important things about those moments of heartbreak.
If you can get this, this will change your life… I was out taking my morning run. I love how still it is when I’m running. I can hear clearly and really commune with God. I wanted to share this with you. It’s a lesson I had to learn.
One of the keys to success is to be able to guard your heart. Now, usually when someone says guard your heart they are talking about keeping yourself from heartbreak. Although that is important (as long as you don’t go overboard... but that’s another conversation) that isn’t what I’m talking about. When we are born into this world we enter with such a pure heart but as we grow older situations, circumstances and people tend to make us change. Now I know it is nearly impossible to keep a childlike innocence in our hearts all of our lives, especially after people have betrayed, lied, mistreated and downright been the devil. Trust me when I tell you, I have seen it all. I have been there big ... time. If you’re like me you’ve been there too. But if this is your situation I want you to know two very important things about those moments of heartbreak.
Number one, learn the lesson in it. See how it will work together for your good, because it will. Once you do, it’s easier to forgive and move on.
Secondly, and this is just as important as the first one, you must not let that person or people change your heart.
What do I mean by that? Well, if you are a giver and someone you have given to mis-uses your gift, don’t stop giving… just give to someone else. If you are a person that loves people and someone you love hates you, don’t stop loving… love someone else. Eventually, you will find people who appreciate your kindness and your love.
Remember this, lots of people have been conditioned to not be able to accept purity of heart. They can’t take it in. Most times it’s not even their fault. It’s just what has happened to them on their journey in life. But don’t let them turn you into one of them. There will be a lot of people in your life who will not appreciate your pureness of heart. If they hurt you don’t stop being you… just be you with someone else.
Why is this so important? Because God blesses you according to what is in your heart. If you are being kind, giving, loving and sharing because it is in your heart and you are not looking for anything in return, then that is a heart that God wants to bless. If you change who you are because you’ve been hurt, then you’ve changed the thing that God wants to bless you according to, and that is your heart. The people who hurt you are not worth that. You can lose everything that you have, but don’t let anybody change your heart.
Why is this so important? Because God blesses you according to what is in your heart. If you are being kind, giving, loving and sharing because it is in your heart and you are not looking for anything in return, then that is a heart that God wants to bless. If you change who you are because you’ve been hurt, then you’ve changed the thing that God wants to bless you according to, and that is your heart. The people who hurt you are not worth that. You can lose everything that you have, but don’t let anybody change your heart.
The version found written on
the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:
People are often
unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you
are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind
anyway.
If you are successful, you
will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and
sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What
you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create
anyway.
If you find serenity and
happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will
often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and
it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it
is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
