I snapped this picture when touring a local, historic jail.
And it occurs to me that our lives are a lot like this wall in the jail cell.
We write our version of our story on top of the circumstances that have placed the walls in the first place.
And then many of us continue to be imprisoned by the story, the walls, and the bars.
But, the jail I visited was open to come and go. It would have been a little crazy for me to close the door, sit down on the metal bunk and claim my place in that cell.
Because the words written on that wall aren't my life, my story to tell. Nor are the words that I've written on my own walls complete truth. We are not stuck in the cell, and with that story, those words, unless we don't do anything about it.
Choose to live. All aspects of living. Reclaim, Rewrite. Live.
So. I wrote new words.
True?
Through shows what was hiding behind the scary obstacle.
Through shows us landscape we've never encountered.
Through shows us what we are made of.
Through teaches.
Through shows us who's really with us on our journey through life.
Through changes us, grows us, and challenges us.
Yes.
The quote is buried in the trees, as in can't see the forest for the trees.
So here it is because it's a thought provoking one.
Isn't it?
" Courage doesn't always roar.
Sometimes courage is the quiet voice
at the end of the day saying,
'I will try again tomorrow.'"
Sometimes, it takes courage to just get out of bed and stand to face the day.
Sometimes, courage is opening that door and going back into that place that shreds your bravery, tests your boundaries and causes you to break out in a sweat.
Sometimes, courage is ending the battle you've been waging when the battle costs too much to continue.
Many times, it is falling to your knees and giving the control of your life to God, and accepting His love and guidance.
Courage has many faces and they all come with a price tag.
God tells His people to take courage and fear not many times throughout His Word. Is that because He knows how prone we are to losing hope?
One of the most valuable discoveries I made about courage was during a Bible study. If God tells us to have courage, hang on, fear not...and He tells us to ENcourage each other (building up courage), then what is the opposite of encouragement? Discouragement. Which is the taking away of courage. And who's goal is to steal, (take away) kill and destroy?
Is there a quiet courage whispering that the time to do the very scary thing right in front of you is now?
This quest for less negativity. Indeed a journey.
Some days are better than others for me.
Lately, I've been challenged to see things from another person's point of view. And God's is a really good point of view to start with. If God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to die for any person who would be believe in Him, well, I think I need to acknowledge that each of those people is valuable to Him. Even the ones who drive me batty.
The other day a friend mentioned something that's hung around my mind for awhile. She said that if we are each created in God's image, then the basic human personality types are part of who God is.
Hmmmm. So if a melancholy is a deep thinker, creative and artistic, God has those qualities. A phlegmatic is laid back and dependable, yep, God has those qualities. A choleric is detail driven, God is a God of exquisite detail. And the sanguine. The dreamer. God dreams the best dreams, doesn't He?
Our personalities are tainted by sin, selfishness and circumstances. God's attributes are pure and motivated by love. He is light without shifting shadows. At the deepest core of who we are, we are created in the image of God, and He loves each of us.
What kind of ripples do you want in your pond today? Drop those kind of pebbles then.
Consistent, dripping or moving water changes landscape or etches stone.
Our attitudes and our interactions shape our landscape and etch the people around us.
Have you ever wondered what one smile can do? Or one harsh word? A kindness? A selfish act?
Do you bring an attitude of life, a breath of fresh air, joy, love and mercy into a room with you? Or does your attitude suck that room dry?
Are you okay with your answer to that question?
