I Can Control ME
I thought I’d mix it up. Instead of my usual chair that faces the TV, I decided to sit in the chair that faced out to my screened-in patio. Amazing how changing things up can change our perspective. My eyes were drawn to this wall hanging that the previous owners left behind. It was a bonus to see words that I needed, and maybe you do, too!
I read with intention: “Think deeply. Speak gently. Love much. Laugh a lot. Work hard. Give freely and BE KIND.” That’s a great mission statement for anyone! Was God nudging me to read those this day? I did, with a little haughtiness. If God was wanting me to read them, I figured I passed His test. Actually, I think He was wanting me to up my game! Each one of those phrases is a sermon in itself.
“Think deeply” – that one gave me pause because lately I haven’t been thinking deep thoughts – pondering, like Jesus’ Mother, Mary, did. Treasuring these times instead of resenting them. I embraced these words today – to think deeply about God’s promises and how He loves me so much and He is surely working on good for me. I needed to reel myself back in from the things that have distracted me from Him and ponder and treasure Him.
“Speak gently” — it’s easy to get caught up in all the angry folks out there, who speak anything but gentle words. I really want to be gentle with an encouraging voice, but there are times when I know I need more gentleness! But, Lord, it’s so hard to stay quiet when I or my friends are being attacked by unkind words! Oh, I get it, you are wanting ME to control ME!
“Love much” — This is the crux of what God wants from us. Remember how Jesus narrowed down the 10 Commandments to just two? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. AND, love your neighbor as yourself.” If we loved that much, we would always keep “the ten”! Lord, You loved much when You were attacked, rejected and spoken lies about. Please help us love as you love. WWJD!
“Laugh a lot” — I have a friend in Tulsa who helps me with this one. Witty, herself, she sends me jokes and hilarious stories. I love hanging with my grands. They make me laugh, especially when they remind me of ME and some of my ways! Laughing is good medicine. I love the laughter that families are embracing during these times. I’ve seen many funny memes that have come out of it.
“Work hard” I can give myself a high-five for this one. I’ve always been a hard worker – even when I wasn’t working. I’m a doer. I loved watching The Chosen Series. It portrayed Jesus as a hard worker – cooking meals, carving wood, making furniture – after all, He was born into a hard-working family. He set the example for us.
“Give freely” My husband had the gift of giving. He would give away anything we had to someone who needed it more than we did. He gave away our bed when I was having severe back problems. We resorted to our son’s water bed and within two weeks of sleeping on that warm, watery bed, my back was completely healed. I think God wants us to freely give, so He can bless us even more with abundance.
“Be kind” — What a wonderful world this would be if kindness was our mode of operation! My mind is flooded with examples as I am sure you can reflect on encounters where kindness made a difference in your life. Kind words and actions from others have caused me to realize that every day I have the opportunity to let kindness pour out from me. I want to be sensitive to God’s prompting when He nudges me to be kind and to speak kindness into the life of another.
We can’t always control the things that life brings our way — especially during times like these — but we can control how we respond. I’m taking in the words of this sign today. I will accept Jesus’ invitation to walk more closely to Him and to “Think deeply. Speak gently. Love much. Laugh a lot. Work hard. Give freely and be kind.” Thanks, Lord, for loving me so much that you want me to be the best version of ME that I can be! And, thanks to the sellers of this home who left that message for me!