Water Your Seeds of Happiness

I had this one thing in my life that I'd convinced myself was absolutely awful.  When I spoke of it, I made sure to point out the negative things associated with it.  I mean I remembered all the bad things that had happened anytime this topic came up.  That's how I had trained my mind to think in regards to this thing.  

One day, I shared a picture with a friend of this "dreadful" event and he said "That looks nothing like you've described all these years."  He saw something totally different.  It caused me to wonder if it was as bad as I'd trained myself to think, or if I'd simply been watering the wrong seeds.  The seeds I'd watered had turned into bushes and bushes of thistles and thorns in my mind.  So much so, that I didn't see the roses in the garden of this area of my life.

Paul says in Philippians 4:8, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think on these things" (i.e. water these seeds).  Mind blown!  I was indeed watering the wrong seeds. 

That one moment with my friend, reminded me that there were roses in the garden.  I just needed to be reminded of them and water them.  And the more I watered them, the more I saw their beauty, the more I smelled their fragrance and the more I appreciated their presence.  Sometimes the things that make us the happiest are the things we neglect or simply don't make time for.  But like the lens on a camera, we simply have to make an adjustment to change the focus and get a totally different picture.

What seeds of happiness do you have in your life that simply need to be watered?  Water them today and watch your happiness grow.

Love Always,

Shy

I Can't Do It Alone

I just love listening to people tell their story.  If we listen closely, there's always an encouraging and empowering thread woven through even the most painful story.  Some of the worse tragedies are laced with hope, strength, grace and triumph.  Today, as I was listening to a particular celebrity tell his story, I heard just that - hope, strength, grace and ultimately triumph.  He told of a tragic, low point in his life and how someone came along, walked with him and helped him turn his life around.  He told the story of being on the streets for 2 year, going into a drug rehab and eventually being well enough to leave rehab and live on his own again.  Upon leaving rehab, the person who had walked with him through this dark time had given him a home to live in to start over.  But when she took him to the home, he asked her not to leave him there, because "I can't do it alone."   Wow!  That really struck a cord in me.  I appreciated his honesty with himself.  Clearly, he understood his vulnerable state, his desire to succeed at a better life, and what it would take to achieve it.

I was reminded of a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou entitled Alone that says, "nobody but nobody can make it out here alone".  How often are we walking through something that we can't do alone?  Sometimes we need someone to walk with us through a particular season, while other times we need to walk with someone through their season.  Either way, Dr. Angelou was right.  We can't make it out here alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us "two are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed".  No matter what you may be going through, know that you don't have to go through it alone.  Don't be ashamed, embarrassed, or too proud to ask for help.  Find someone trustworthy and ask them to walk with you as you grow through your situation.  Whether it's a friend, a family member, a therapist or a life coach, hold someone's hand and strive to succeed, because nobody, but nobody can make it out here alone.

Love Always,

Shy

Sinking Fear

Have you ever stepped out on faith doing what you know God called you to do and right in the middle of it you had a sinking fear?  I mean, you had absolutely no doubt that you were walking along the path that you were called to walk along.  Then, the sinking fear happened.  You started to doubt if it was God who actually called you and if you could actually be successful at it.  All the thoughts telling you it's impossible rose up, fear took over, and you began to sink.

If this has ever happened to you, then you know it can be overwhelming.  Well, you'll be happy to know you're not alone.  Peter did the exact same thing!  He was in the boat with the other disciples when Jesus called him to get out of the boat and come to him.  He was definitely called!  So, he got out of the boat and took the first step.  He apparently had enough faith to answer the call and step out of the boat.  That is, until he realized he was operating a in realm far beyond his own power.  And right in the middle of his calling, he started having a sinking fear.  (Matthew 14: 25-31)  Yikes!  What I love the most is that even in the middle of his fear, his faith was strong enough to say, "Lord, save me!"  Thank God for that mustard seed faith.  It wasn't strong enough to keep him on top of the water, but it was strong enough to know Who to call when he was sinking. 

I was reminded of this story one day when I was walking along a path that I'm sure I was called to walk.  And it was like I got a tap on the shoulder out of nowhere saying, "Hey, you know you can't do this."  WhaTTT?!  The voice was right.  I couldn't do it...in my own power, that is.  That's when my faith kicked in and I said, "Lord, save me!"  Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  TRUST in the Lord keeps me from sinking daily.  TRUST!  It's a huge thing, and it's the only way I'm able to stay afloat.

Trust me!  Well, maybe not me, but trust God.  When He calls you to do something, He will deal with all the obstacles along your journey.  You don't have to understand the how.  You don't have to know all the details.  Your job is just to flow in His will.  He makes the way.  You just have to listen, be obedient, and flow.  And when that voice of fear speaks and you feel yourself sinking, just do like Peter did and say "Lord, save me".  He will hear you and answer every time.

Love Always,

Shy