There are so many rules these days, aren't there? I try to give my kids simple directions as I drop them at school/care or to someone's house for a visit. These days, I could use a few simpler rules for myself. I've finally found my new mantra on the tail end of a few email forwards. (Wisdom comes in so many forms, no?)
- Live simply.
- Love generously.
- Care deeply.
- Speak kindly.
On another email it had the same footer... but with this as a fifth:
- Leave the rest to God.
I felt as if it had read the mind of my inner cynic who asked, "so after the first four rules don't cut the mustard, well THEN what??" My shoulders lowered with the comfort of knowing there was an answer for the gremlin in my head. It mirrored the beautiful postcard on my wall that says:
"When the day is over and you have done your best,
wait the results in peace."
I've defined the first 4 rules for my own life over and over... waiting results in peace and putting trust in something other than myself is a little foreign still (that entrepreneurial nature...), but I'm working on it.
Where in your life do you need to trust?
1 comment:
Shannon Nail emailed:
"What does it mean for you to "live simply?"
I like these questions.
I would like to trust more in God’s plan for me. Most of the time I can do it .. .I can be stressed and think – God’s plan. . God’s time. I was with my niece a couple of weeks ago at Wal-Mart and I was in a HURRY (trying to leave to see a certain wonderful friend in Wisconsin) and it seemed as though everyone was going a super slow speed. . . I found myself starting to get frustrated and then realized this was a perfect opportunity to teach my niece (and myself) a lesson on patience. . . so I started singing my patience song (Have patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry, when you get impatient, you only start to worry, remember, remember, that God is patient too and think of all the times when others have to wait on you) and then started thinking – what if we would have left 5 minutes early and got into a wreck. .. being at Wal-mart waiting in line at this time is God’s plan. May be goofy but it calmed me down, put a smile on my face and started the trip out in a good mood instead of frustrated. Now the trick is to just remember that before I get frustrated – to trust with more faith (if that makes sense at all!!)
Live simply – that has been my motto as well! For me, right now, it was donating all of the clothes I have not worn AND all of the excess clothes I have (30 t-shirts. . . unnecessary!!). . . and then not buying anything new unless it is NEEDED (not just wanted). I also no longer want THINGS . . I don’t want knick-knacks or really anything that cannot be used up (exceptions are pictures and books – my vices). And even books are donated away unless they are my favorites. Jacob, when he moved to college, fit everything into 6 totes. .. that is what I want. I see no reason to have so much STUFF!!! It is a work in progress but it is so liberating!!
Live simply applies to the mind as well. .. .I try to avoid conflict and drama (not always possible but what is possible is how you deal with it) – I try to eat and drink in moderation (does not always work but it is always on my mind) – I try to find quiet time every day to read something uplifting and positive (keeps my spirit happy).
OK – must get back to work. . .Love, Shan"
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