Difficult Blessings

Ever receive one of those blessing in your life that requires frequent "this is a blessing" reminders?   Short term thorn-in your-sides, that eventually become long term joys.  We are experiencing a couple of those in our family.  Though they are private experiences, I thought I'd laugh with you all about it without sharing any details.  I think it's quite hilarious that there are things you want, you hope for in your life, and when you get them the slow uphill climb of difficulty sets in.

For instance, for me child bearing is extremely difficult.  No, I am NOT announcing a pregnancy here, just using this as an easily relate-able example.  Children are a wonderful gift and blessing.  We pray for them, and long for them.  But actually getting pregnant and staying pregnant, (for me) is not fun.  It means months of illness, tests, stress, and accepting help from others.  Pregnancy is definitely one difficult blessing.  But it is absolutely worth every hardship!  Children are a beautiful gift and there is nothing in the world like loving and being loved by a child.

I would also include schooling in the difficult blessing category.  What a blessing higher education can be.  But there are many moments where you have to remind yourself, "This is a good thing",  "It will be great in the end"  or "It WILL be over one day!".

So if you have a moment, please humor me and share one of your previous "difficult blessings".  It will help me get through mine, and it's always fun to laugh at things from the past.  Thank you for sharing your experiences and laughing with me.  You were laughing with me right?  Just Kidding.

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Personal Gifts

Have you noticed that each person on the Earth is unique.  We have our own physical characteristics.  Some of us have red hair, some have brown eyes, some are tall.  We also have different personalities.  Some are shy, stubborn, fearless.  Some characteristics we were born with, and some we receive through our experiences.

To make us even more unique, we all have different talents or gifts.  Each and every one of us have multiple talents or gifts.  Typical gifts are things like: musical ability, culinary skills, artistic abilities, but there are also gifts not as obvious.
Gifts like:

• patience
• being a good friend
• being a good listener
• lifting others up
• being hardworking
• the gift of loyalty       
• the gift of humor
• being easy going
• faithfulness
• not easily offended
• the gift of imagination
• the gift of communication
• easing the burdens of others

The list could go on and on.

I think that when we take a moment to find out what our own gifts are a few wonderful things will happen.  First, our confidence and self worth increases.  Yay!  Don't we all need a little confidence boost!  I know I used to think that because I didn't have an obvious talent like "Singing Sally" my worth was less than hers.  Not so!  We all have value.  And when we realize what our gifts our self worth will increase.

Second, we will use our gifts to help others.  If you are a good listener look for opportunities to help others by listening to them.  That not only makes you feel useful, but helps those in need.  Double blessing!

So when you have a moment, think about what your personal gifts might be.  We all have them.  No one was created talentless.  OOoooh, and if you see a gift in some one else, tell them.  Maybe they don't even know they have it!

Good Luck my talented friends!

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Where's the drive - updated

In July we celebrate Independence Day and Pioneer Day here in the South Western United States.  To me those holidays are important because of the many sacrifices that were made for greater causes.  In the days of the pioneers, people were courageous and unwavering.  Most everything they did had tremendous value and purpose.  Where has that gone? 

When was the last time you or I were passionate about something?  Yes, I did try really hard to get my finger nails perfect, I passionately shooed the kids away as I applied the oh-so-cute polka dots, but that's not what I'm talking about. 

It seems like we have forgotten two things in my opinion:

• what is important (to see what I personally believe is important click here.)
• and how to keep those things in the important column.

Seriously folks, a lot of work has been done for us by our ancestors, and in return we are.... casual and laid back???  They lived and died to give us so many blessings and I feel like we have totally dropped the ball.  We hardly remember what their struggles were, and at times even mock the things that they worked so hard to give us. 

Sure it is great to live nowadays when everything is done at the touch of a button.  But let's not get so caught up in the trends of today that we forget why we are here and how we got here. 

I personally am perturbed with the lack of values of the day.  It is a frustrating thing to teach my kids right from wrong, when the world thinks wrong is right.  So here's an idea, let's follow the example of our ancestors and put forth real effort in to something.  And hopefully something of great value. 

I'm not saying stop what you are doing and go save some dolphins. In fact that's the opposite of what I am saying.  I am saying today for just a moment stop.  Stop and think about what is really important.  And then figure out a way to share that with others -through your actions.  And then stop doing things that are contrary to what you believe is important.  That's it.  That's how we get back to civility.  One person at a time doing what they believe is right.  That is enough to impact others.

Alright, that's it.  I'll get off my soapbox for the day.  I just like the kindness and purpose that I imagine life had long ago when a handshake, your name, or your word meant something.  I don't want to go back to churning butter, but I wouldn't mind life with a little more curtsies and a little less curtness. 

As always I am curious to hear your thoughts.  Please comment.