Ordinary Accomplishments

My life is filled with very boring and mundane tasks that are quite important in the big scheme of things. For example, I feed the children in my care, I change their diapers, and then I do it all over again. Those tasks are pretty mundane and time consuming. Yet, if I did not do these tasks, their little worlds would crumble. Its actually very important tasks I am completing to help these children grow, one meal at a time. A man that is working an incredibly boring job to provide for his family may feel like his day to day tasks are not that noble or significant. But if he just stopped completing those boring and mundane tasks, leading to the loss of his job, his family would certainly feel the consequences. My point is, if we realized how really significant and important our day to day tasks were, maybe we would have a different attitude when we did them.

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." Helen Keller

How To Cheer Yourself Up After You've Been Hurt

When you're feeling hurt here are a few ways to cheer yourself up.

1. Share your feelings with a friend. Talking about your problems can help lift the burden and make it feel not so bad. Sometimes, you will gain a new perspective and have more clarity after talking it over with someone who cares about you.

2. Pray about it. It helps to pray about hurts or disappointments and ask for God's comfort. The Bible says that he gave his spirit to us to be a comforter.

3. Daydream. In other words, go to your "happy place". Think about a good memory, or imagine a peaceful and comforting situation. Its important to use daydreaming in a healthy way to escape in times of deep hurt or sorrow.

4. Laugh. Laughter is healthy. Talk to someone who makes you laugh, or watch a funny movie. It can get your mind off of your problems for a while.

5. Cry. Crying is also healthy. Sometimes it is good just to cry it out. Chemicals are released in your body when you cry that actually soothe you. Crying can be a nice release.

6. Find someone who can relate. If you have a personal matter that you would rather not discuss even with a friend, there is a place you can go to tell your story and remain anonomous. The site is called, The Experience Project. You might be surprised to find others dealing with the same things you are dealing with. This can also be a healthy outlet and a good way to cheer yourself up.

Who knows your name?

When you feel unimportant to the whole world, remember you mean the whole world to somebody.

The following is written by Charles Schultz (the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip).

"1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners .

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with .

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care."
(Charles Schultz)

Learning To Love Yourself As You Are.

Everybody is so different. Nobody is better than anyone else, but we are all creations of the same living God. There are many qualities that we feel are weaknesses or even failings, but can actually be used in positive ways . I was watching the 700 Club, and they did a story on a man who had lost his wife. His grieving process took him on a lot of twists and turns, and led him down an incredible path. He learned on his path that God loved him as He was, and that God made him the way he was. For example, he was a thrill seeker and loved living a more dangerous life. He realized that God still loved him, and that God could use that personality trait to reach others. You can read more about him here: http://www.dangerhabit.com/. One thing I struggle with everyday is staying organized and on task. When I joined an online group at http://www.flylady.com/ I received a very eye opening message that changed my whole view of myself. It relayed how "messy" people have trouble staying on task because of their creativity. Flylady's focus is using creativity to solve the problems of disorganization and getting sidetracked. Fly stands for "Finally Loving Yourself". What do you struggle with? Try to look at your weakness in a different light and remember, God loves you the way you are, and that you are his creation. Even if you struggle with sin, God still loves you. He paid the price so you can be free from sin and live in his grace. You can't become good enough to please him. You come to him as you are, as a sinner, and he will give you grace and help free you from the sins that bind you. Learn to love yourself. God does.

Saying Goodbye To Yesterday.

"It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday..." I heard a group of men sing on America's Got Talent last night. How true it is. This got me thinking about, how so many people, not excluding myself, hang onto our pasts. Our could've, would've, and should'ves that ring in our minds, holding us back from the present moments and opportunities of today. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes:

"Finish each day and be done with it...you have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely." Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wander...how often does holding onto our past keep us from realizing the opportunities of the present and dreams of tomorrow? Do we let our past failures keep us from taking chances today, and forget that the day is anew, and anything can happen? Of course there is a time and a place to reflect and look to the past. But let us not live there.  The only way to truly say hello to today, and look to a brighter tomorrow, is to say goodbye to yesterday. Every hurt, every pain, every failure is behind you. Today is a new day.

"21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. "
(Lamentations 3:21-23 King James Bible)