Plans and Changes...

The one thing I can always count on is change. I never put too much trust in plans, because my experience has been they often fall through or at least pan out differently than expected.

Our youngest was set to graduate from college, then right at the beginning of finals a couple weeks ago, he took ill. Some kind of vengeful, viral flu. After trying to push through anyway, he finally had to take the recommendation of professors, counselor, and the nurse, and accept he could not finish. His first worry was, it was an automatic failure of those classes, but was greatly relieved to find out the professors chose to give him a postponement. Such good news! It looks like he'll be able to complete exams and final papers without having to return in the fall. Either way, I believe things work out the way they are meant to. It's just hard accepting it when you're in the middle of a major upset to your plans.

Learning to deal with the changes life brings, is an opportunity for growth. You learn to slow down, reassess, and move forward in a different direction. You become aware change does not mean defeat or failure, but rather another way of achieving your goals. Sounds great doesn't it? Now, I just need to remind myself of this when the next big change comes my way. One thing is certain, changes will always keep coming.


© 22May2016 ajj

If Life Has Hurt You...

Pause the Playlist before starting the video...

This speaks to those moments when you feel there's been too much pain, too many disappointments, those you counted on let you down, you've faced unbearable loss, your world came crashing down...  Whatever the sorrow... maybe something good will come from it... maybe He still loves and cares... if you can keep on trusting... if you just Believe. 

Faith over Fear

In honor of Faith and of Angels, I am posting these two Free Images for you to copy. If you click on the image, it should enlarge so you can save it to your files. I know one says Easter Greeting, but she was so cute I didn't want to leave her out.

I've just been thinking about how blessed I am. No matter what the trial, I feel like angels are watching over me. That's not to say I have an easy life, it's just that my faith keeps me on firm footing.

I want to be resilient when fear tries to wash over me. It's work for me to look at the glass as half full... I'm naturally geared to seeing the worst case scenario and trying to imagine how I could get myself out of that one. For example, I saw a little boy on the news today. He was from Tennessee and had been attacked by a bear during a family camping trip. I knew exactly how he felt when he said something along the line of, "I told my dad a bear would get us." Then he kind of rolled his eyes up toward dad like "I told you so." It made me smile. I hope the experience doen't cause him to carry fear with him, but that surviving it will give him strength and faith.

I'm the "girl" who was always afraid of the dark, wild animals, boogie men, etc. Lions and Tigers and Bears.... Oh MY! I was really afraid of the flying monkees and the wicked witch! I just knew at any given moment I could be killed in a car, my plane would crash, I'd be robbed, my house would burn down (in my own defense, I had many near misses which may have fed the fear... I may share one or two on another day).

Sometimes I was right to be afraid, but to be wary doesn't mean to live in the fear. Even as an adult, I often have to "have a talk" with myself. "Have faith... don't be so negative... pray... believe... hope... and have peace". I doubt I'm the only one out there. So to all you "half empties"...

Take Peace, Hold Hope In Your Heart, Trust God, Have Faith...


Blessings,
Nita Jo