Growing Older - Life Lessons

Regina Brett - 

"45 lessons life taught me 

– updated to 50 when I turned 50.”

1.   Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2.   When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3.   Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4.   Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5.   Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.   You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7.   Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8.   It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9.   Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion.  Today is special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Healing

My Courage + My Action + His Grace = Healing.

Heard recently.  I can't remember where I heard it.

Life Can Be Very Difficult

The truth is that life can be very difficult at times. There can be a lot of pressure to keep it all together, to be smart and beautiful, to be so good and perfect. But sometimes we don't have it together at all. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes we don't feel good or look our best. Sometimes things are not good at all and we feel miserable, lonely or depressed. If you have lost your way and feel down, that feeling belongs to you. If you feel miserable — it's yours, and no one should take it away from you. Maybe things really aren't very good at all right now. Maybe you have good reasons to be depressed, and the last thing you need is someone telling you to be happy.

But one thing you do need, is at least the respect from others to let you sit with your valid feelings. You don't always need a cheerleader, but just someone to be a friend and acknowledge where you really are, and how you really feel. Real problems can't be fixed with a motivational poster, a cute quote or a pat on the back. While you are in your pain, it does not matter how intrinsically special you are, or how beautiful life is, or how precious each moment is — if you don't accept and respect your suffering, it isn't going anywhere. Submit to your pain; don't suppress your pain. If you can sit with your pain, listen to your pain and respect your pain — in time you will move through your pain.

Pain is like a healing emotional fever. Allow your pain to cleanse you and burn away what needs to die. A new and better you will grow from the ashes. The most important parts of your life will be marked by pain. Some of the most amazing people in the world were not perfect; they were scarred by suffering, hardships, losses and imperfections. But, when they recovered, they were stronger, wiser, and more loving and compassionate. Your life is going to get better in the proper time, and you will be stronger and more at peace than ever before. Out of our suffering we emerge. Our struggles are really our only hope. Stay strong.

Bryant McGill

Patsy Clairmont

When I apply my make-up and do my hair in the morning I often tune into Radio Pulpit.

This morning it was well into a Focus on the Family slot.  Patsy Clairmont was talking.
These are the quotes I jotted down:

"God uses crackpots, and I'm a visual aid."  (I relate to that!)

Her child came back from school early and said "It's (school) is too long, too hard, and it's boring."  Patsy replied "You've just described life.  Now get back on the bus."

"SET your mind:  "I will do exactly as I say..."

She described a scene in which one of her children needed to go to the emergency to probably have stitches.
On the way her son said "What if it hurts more than I can bear?"
Patsy replied "Then you'll reach down inside yourself and pull up your courage."

She later said "It's through pain that we learn some of our greatest lessons."
and "Don't be flaky and flimsy."

And the final I wrote down:  "SEEK Godly counsel and SETTLE your past."

I looked up on the internet to see what she looks like. 
 


I wandered around and found this account by a Susan from a "Woman of Faith" conference she participated in in which Patsy was a speaker:

"During the last hour of Patsy’s time with us, she took questions from the audience. She held the hand-written note cards in her hands and when she saw what was written on one of the last cards, she paused, a shadow of pain passing over her face that had just been creased in smiles a few moments before.

She then read these words, “ I am the mother of two teenage daughters and I have been diagnosed with a terminal disease. I am struggling to hold onto my faith.” 

Still holding the card, Patsy looked out over the vast audience of women and asked, “Honey, if you are okay with this, can I  ask if you would stand up? If you don’t want to do that, that’s okay too. We will still pray for you.”

At the very back of the room, a woman in her forties rose to her feet. Her eyes were dry, her shoulders pulled back straight.

My first thought was, “She doesn’t even look sick.” Just by looking at her, I never would have known anything was wrong.

Another reminder to never assume anything about anybody. We don’t know.

“Honey, would you mind coming up here to the front?”

The enormous room was silent as she walked up to the stage, every eye riveted on her face. The sounds of sniffles could be heard throughout the crowd. I think that every mama’s heart went out to that woman.

Patsy bent down to reach out and take this woman’s hand. She asked her name and the woman told her in a clear voice. Patsy then asked for some volunteers to come surround their fellow sister in Christ.  Several women came to the front, wrapping their arms around her, stroking her hair.

Patsy prayed a most heartfelt prayer and as I looked at the scene before me, I realized anew that Jesus was in this place in a very special way. Until He returns and we are with Him physically, He asks His people to be His hands, feet, mouth, ears, and eyes for Him. Jesus was coming to this woman through the love of His women.

It was a beautiful sight of unity and love."

From Susan's Blog -  http://powerofamoment.com 

I feel blessed to have heard her and read about her.  Thanks Patsy.  Thanks Susan.