Tag Archives: joy

Overachievers, or Reaching Past Herd Mentality

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As I regard our lovely holly bush this morning, I laughed as I looked at the fast, vigorous growers on the top. They are lush green, reaching to grow as much as possible before being trimmed into submission by my ever-hardworking husband.

As goes my mind, I thought about the various ways you could see these shoots of green.

  1. Unsightly sore thumbs- they just don’t fit in. They are not following the lines of the accepted holly bush shape.
  2. Overachievers – they are just showing off. They want to outshine all the others around them.
  3. Reachers of grandeur- they want something more, something different. They are not content to merely follow the herd mentality and stay within the accepted boundaries of holly bush rules. They are reaching for the heavens.

Now I know by writing this, my sweet husband is now going to have trouble trimming this bush, as he will feel bad for trimming their exuberance. lol

How do you see these lovely green shoots? I would love to hear in the comments below.

Have a wonderful day seeing the world that God has made in all its exuberant glory.

Slainte, Lisa

Peace

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Gleniff Horseshoe, County Sligo, Ireland, 2015.

“When everything seems to be against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

“A quiet conscience makes one strong.” – Anne Frank

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” – Isaiah 26:3

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10

The Real Me

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Shadow me, Outer Banks NC

How many of you can relate?

Scene 1: Early Morning. Lisa arises, feels new, refreshed, ready to tackle the day. She blogs about rising above the storm clouds, about dealing well with the “it is” in her life. Feeling good.

Scene 2: Late afternoon. Lisa is half crying and half mad. Things have gone from bad to worse with little and big irritations, changes, stresses, people being people. Husband laughingly, lovingly, asks where the “it is” girl has gone. She feels a headache beginning.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

We are human. Life happens. People keep on being people, and none of us are perfect for sure.

Is the real me the one who blogs in the morning? Or the frustrated headachy one in the afternoon? The real me is both of these creatures. God has created us with a myriad of colorful, wonderful and sometimes exhausting emotions.

Verses like the one above bring me great joy and peace. He knows me. He loves me. He gives me new compassion every morning. He will remain faithful to me no matter what.

Thank goodness.

Love, Lisa

It Is

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There are many ways to get where you’re going…..down the road or through the hedge.

One of the best things about blogging is getting the chance to put the things that are flying around in your mind into a concrete form. Writing something makes it seem more lasting.

As someone who deals with a permanently dodgy ankle, there are times when I am confronted with things I have trouble doing. I have found that focusing on the things I can do, rather than what I can’t do, is an infinitely better way to live. But sometimes circumstances or needs come up and force my attention onto the can’ts.

My sister said a very wise thing to me as she saw my struggle and guilt over my can’ts. She said, “It’s an it is. You can’t worry over something you cannot change.”

Read that again: “It’s an it is.“

Instead of ruminating endlessly of how to change my ankle and its oddities, I have been accepting it better since she said this. My completely fused ankle is a fact. Unable to be changed. Not my fault. I have been looking for accommodations, for other solutions, for ways around the problems. And not beating myself up with guilt for things I cannot change.

Yes, I realize that this is a variation of “It is what it is.” But for some reason, just hearing the words in a different way helped me to accept it.

So, little sister, thank you. This has helped more than you know.

Also, note to self…..you never know how little things you say to people can make a difference in encouraging them along their journeys. Keep encouraging, keep loving.

It is…..well with my soul.

Love, Lisa