“Prepare…How?” Blog #140
One question today: “What AM I prepared for?”
As I look at my life now, I suddenly realize here I am in a world filled with constant change.
Everything around me changing, quickly. Whether its world chaos, health situations or
personal decisions to make. I AM in charge of me all the time. Internally I ask, how can I
prepare for today? Where can I find courage to deal with whatever comes my way now?
More than anything, what does “being strong look like?
To be so strong internally so nothing can disturb my peace of mind. That is the kind of
strength I am talking about. I believe anger has something to do with this. Real, authentic,
internal anger at myself when I let myself down! All the platitudes, all the sayings and
“help quotes” take a back seat to “JUST DOING IT”. To go into my mind, change my mind
and put in place courage must be a “want to.”
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. CREATE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH INSIDE ME. DECIDE TO PRAY.
So the most important thing I go back to is where does internal strength come from? My
strength comes from Jesus. When I decide to get rid of all the little “lower self me” issues
and excuses and blame for “Why- does- this -happen -to-me- attitude”, THEN strength
begins to creep in. Each and everyone of us have different challenges to deal with
constantly. This is because it is in THE CHALLENGE OF PAIN (should we choose to accept
this challenge), that we GROW STRONG INTERNALLY!
Two cases of using “life situations” to change and two people I knew, I use as examples.
My Grandfather (ON MY MOTHERS SIDE) and my Father. My father lost his own father to
drowning when he was a young boy. My grandpa almost drowned as a young boy and
lost his eye. My father was raised in a family with many children, yet faith was not
important. My grandfather was raised in a family with many children and faith was all
Important. As an adult my father had many talents and found a job where he made lots
of money fast. However, he then chose to gamble and drink it away. This was all before
he met my mother. As I grew up, I watched as my father consumed a case of beer and
two packs of Camel cigarettes daily My mother worked around the clock. My father
seldom worked. While smoking and drinking habits consumed him, my father used the
vices of life to hide behind. In the end, my father developed mass amounts of tumors in
his mouth and throughout his body. He was in agony until the day he died at fifty two
years old. Almost half a century in age before my grandpas’ age at almost one hundred.
My mothers father; my grandpa was a man also raised with problems. Yet, this man
worked at something until he was almost ninety years of age. My grandfather believed
work keeps the mind healthy, alert and active. A kind, encouraging man, he found an
amazing attitude to living life to its fullest. Faith was private but guided him in every
aspect of life. I was fortunate to be in the same house with him. At almost 97, Grandpa
came down to breakfast on his last day, looking fresh and ready to take on the world.
Neatly pressed dark pants, crisp white shirt, a smile shown on his face as he passed my
chair. The aroma of Old Spice cologne hung in the air. My aunts were incredible cooks
and waited on his every need, for he WAS the Patriarch of our family. What an amazing
breakfast of fresh fruit, hot cereal, fried eggs and homemade coffee, all presented on a
white linen tablecloth with homemade cinnamon rolls, hot out of the oven, awaited him.
This was the daily norm. After a stimulating conversation with many of his family present,
my grandfather decided to go upstairs and take a small nap.
A few hours later, leaving the pool and coming in out of the Arizona desert heat, I found
the house in frantic mode. Both my aunts were hysterically crying. I instinctively ran up
the stairs. With the sun shining in on his bed, my grandpa lay quietly on top of his cozy
white chenille bedspread. Hands folded over, bible open on the side of his bed, he had
quietly drifted off to sleep forevermore. I thought to myself what a peaceful way to leave
life. No horrific health problems. No addictions. Almost one hundred and still in good
shape. Here are two examples of men, two lives both of which had constant choice.
Where DOES courage to choose “the right way to live” come from? Not once did my
Grandpa ever tell me to believe in Jesus. Yet, he lived his life showing me and I saw first
hand the right way to live.
Whether I like it or not, someday I will have to face HIM head on. Jesus will say to me,
“What DID you do with your life?” I will have to answer HIM with truth. Without Jesus, I
become a slave to worry, fear and temptation. I choose now to push darkness away. I no
longer hang onto my pride yet admit, I cannot do it alone.
Can I put my hands together and ask for HIS help now?
NOW LISTEN TO SONG FOR TODAY - CLICK PLAY BUTTON IN VIDEO BELOW