I know a lot of things passed around the Internet are cute and trite. We read them rapidly and pass on to the next in our multi-tasking, busy, pressure filled lives. I'm going to post some of these I come across, and just by chance if you happen to have 3, 5, 15 minutes a day to set aside as YOUR time....then maybe one of these may hit home.
As we face each day, if we start with a positive or at least calmed, fresh attitude, I guarantee that whole day will be a little smoother. Each potential problem will "appear" smaller and more manageable. Be ready for a battle in your mind as you try to concentrate or meditate, as this is the battleground of the enemy. I believe he/she/it, whatever: wins the mind early on, sets the tone for the entire day.
I also believe you can take "every thought captive" and make a conscious decision on whether to keep it, let it go, or act on it. You can DECIDE whether it will alter your mood or change your thought process.
WHEN DOES A THOUGHT......BECOME YOURS? AT WHAT POINT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE?
1. ONLY WHEN YOU DECIDE TO KEEP IT!
DWELL ON IT
THEN ACT ON IT!
This is kinda the thought process as I see it.
UNTIL THEN YOU CAN THINK ON
IT----THEN LET IT GO BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO ACT ON
IT! & I'VE FOUND: THE LONGER YOU KEEP IT AND DWELL ON IT, THE
HARDER IT IS TO LET IT GO.
SO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS, BASED ON YOUR MORAL COMPASS AND NOT SOMEONE ELES. TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN MIND. QUESTION EVERYTHING; BELIEVE NOTHING, UNTIL YOU DECIDE IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU. THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS, BUT THEY ARE HELPING ME BE A BETTER ME, AS WELL AS FACE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS/CRISES IN MY LIFE.
John
Clay Balls
A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.
He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock . Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.
Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves... Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!
It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it...
We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them.
I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you.. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.
APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE
THING YOU HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUR FRIENDS!
LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND FRIENDS ARE TOO FEW!
I learned at a young age to look for the good in people, not the exterior- which could be beautiful,but hide great ugliness. Then the not so pretty, which can blind you to an inner beauty. I have always had good instincts about folks, which has saved me from a lot of grief.. I wish the World could all know- beauty is not what you see, but what you perceive...
ReplyDeleteI would never throw you back in the ocean, Juan. You are one of those rare gems, a real treasure, and of course, "my leetle fren."
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe in acknowleding and appreciating the good people in our lives. They're awesome, and you're so right, life is short!
Buffalodick- I learned a lot from the line about the line- the not so pretty which "cam blind" you too an inner beauty- that goes into the "Gem" book! Great insight Bro.
ReplyDeleteScarlet- Between you and BD that is more insight in two responses than I ever expected. We have an awesome "Group" of special people in this Cyber Circle. Thank you for your kind remarks, and I would be honored to sit like a conch shell on your porch!
As long as you wear the Tee- shirt- LOL.
Damn I can't be serious for one whole response!
Love you two Clay Balls!
John