Sweetly Put

Sweetly put, I am learning with each passing year  to live in laughter. Sometimes it is a bubble of laughter; my own! As I see it, I have survived definite traumas of childhood, some devastation of my youth, the mistakes of my womanhood,  failures in parenting, After 20 years the final rejection of the man I loved who promised to love me forever, but in spite of it all I am still standing! The best part is I am not just standing, I'm moving forward and feeling so, so good in the process!

Yes, things certainly could have been a lot better, but momma always said there is always someone worse off than you. Against those words my life may look like a taste of heaven compared to another. I treat my life like a bunch of stuff poured into a flour sifter, (does anyone even use those for baking anymore?) while you are turning that little handle after a while the lumps are gone and you can concentrate on the rest of the recipe.

If it’s a batch of triple chocolate brownies the finished product leads to fulfillment and joy! (Okay, I confess, I don’t eat those any more than I bake them) The point is through it all, I am learning to live better with each new day, to laugh harder and love no matter what. When the clumps and lumps are sifted through and you are still standing, whole and complete there something invigoratingly energizing and if you have felt it of course you have to agree, empowering!

  The most crucial element to achieve a life of wholeness is forgiveness. In being able to forgive others our heavenly father is able to forgive us. (Matt 6:14) Does anyone get through life unscathed by betrayal? Whether relational, professional, or mere acquaintances, betrayal produces heartache and /or anger.

The problem is heartache leads to various degrees of emotional crisis and anger leads to bitterness. Both become lethal enemies to our soul as we struggle to obtain, maintain and retain wholeness. Forgiveness never excuses what has been done against one. It does however exonerates the culprit. this is a good thing. My greatest victory has come by releasing others from the responsibility of my pain. believe it! Forgiveness is freeing. It is in this freedom that we find the strength to allow healing, with healing comes wholeness.

An equally important component is loving people exactly where they are. I should add people who consistently drain you of your energy should not be on your guest list nor, should you feel obligated to invite them to share a beautiful sunset. or soft rainfall with you.

Some people are not deserving of your life. It is unfair to you to be constantly bogged down by those who take while offering nothing or even little; particularly emotionally. It is unfair to the other person to expect of them what they have made exceedingly clear they are (for whatever reason) unable to deliver.

  Choices are a very good thing! We can choose relationships which are worth keeping. Remember the ones we keep we will only tolerate faults unless we commit to loving the person where they are. This will require mercy. Mercy says; I show love, forgiveness and kindness toward you although you may not think it is deserved. Mercy is about what is in us, not what is not in the other person.

As we train ourselves to operate out of love, kindness and grace we are less likely to be held captive as prisoners of emotional turmoil. It’s really quite liberating because the end result is mess released. The mess is replaced with peace. Imagine that! Letting go of those incapable of staying in relationships albeit personal, or otherwise is not always a bad thing. The important gold nugget is not concerning that which is gone, but that which remains. Those, who in spite of faults still add value to your life, these are the people to blanket in grace!

  Remembering; grace is not about what another person lacks. It is about what is within us. Our greatest strength is the knowledge of our own capabilities. Without uncertainty we must be able to say; I dictate the absolute flow of peace in my life. I do this by deciding to surround myself with those who believe in my capabilities, who encourage, support and value me.

I decide to live in freedom by giving grace and forgiveness with my love.( I am not where God is in all this but I’ll give it my best) Sweetly put I am learning each day to live in laughter. My joy comes from within; therefore it is not contingent upon another person and because it is not I am able to feel unspeakable joy in my wonderful imperfect Purrfextlife!