"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." ... 1 Corinthians 9:27
******
Man, my 'never assume anything lessons' just never stop. (Well, if I'd remember them, they might. sigh.)
I didn't actually measure my gardening shoes before pacing-off our hedges so now it turns out I'd been conquering 100 feet of hedges(!) these 8 years, not 60.
And now the hedge guys are here to rip them out at a more expensive cost.(What a huge, messy, time-consuming job.)
Oh well.
But still, next time I pace something? I'll measure my shoes, first. Live and learn: the story of my life.
*****
Tom arrived home from a new doctor, reeling. He must change his eating and lifestyle, that is, if he wishes to feel well.
I had to calm him down, saying, "Hey. First, you'll need to accept this. I've become an expert in acceptance over the past 3 years, especially, so welcome to my world! It's a process, it can be painful and it takes time. But it makes Life brighter on its other side."
And did you know that slippery elm is one of the more natural remedies for GERD? ツ
******
My last 3 years of acceptance brought with them a new appreciation of what happens when you finally use self-discipline.
Self-discipline:
The ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.
(Oooo, that's good.)
If we can just stick with a thing long enough to finish it! To make it a habit, a lifestyle. Wow, Life becomes less frenzied, disorganized and our heads (and others) stop nagging us so much.
I know this now, firsthand.
When I practice discipline--
My house stays cleaner (with consistency, one need not scrub stuff or rent dumpsters. Think about it.).
My important daily tasks (online and otherwise) get completed (this still shocks me).
My pieced-together wardrobe pleases me; it's a joy to dress (ditto).
I remember to exercise (big-time ditto).
I have much leftover time to relax, read and play.
And more.
Many people try new helpful things for 1 week, perhaps 2, and if huge changes don't happen? They quit. Accept defeat. Take a miracle-promising pill, a super drink or spend tons of money where a tiny bit would've sufficed had they searched longer or --- .
Self-discipline doesn't look like that.
Instead--
It searches for answers, even if it requires months.
It reads, learns about new ideas, methods, then practices them.
It keeps what works, discards what doesn't.
It hops out of the Status Quo Box so to view things differently.
It uses wisdom.
It moves forward, even in inches because they count. All inches matter.
And then? Self-discipline walks us to the perfect place in the road where God will find us, prepared, having lived a wonderful life--
--to then keep on walking home with Him.
"Wisdom is doing today what you'll be satisfied with later on." --- Joyce Meyer
******
Oh wow! Did you know vinyl record sales are poised to outsell CD's for the first time since 1986?
My vintage-stuff-loving-heart found that very cool.
******
Remember when, last December, I walked over and spoke with our new neighbor, Marsha?
Well, she's moving already! Sold her house in just 4 or 5 days. When I visited Neighbor Sally she told me Marsha had received a job transfer. sigh.
Anyway, I liked the photos online of her house, especially of her couch which makes me think, next time? Perhaps we'll buy a turquoise couch, though a darker shade. (I do love blue lately, especially anything close to Prussian blue.)
******
P.S. Woo hoo! The hedges are completely gone. And though it's a little sad, still, my life became easier today and--at 60 now--I needed that. I
******
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
6 comments:
That is a fast turn around time for your neighbor to move in and then sell.Changing jobs, selling a house, buying a house, are all stressors, even if happy ones. I like your idea of Prussian blue for a couch.
You don't need a new couch to have a turquoise or Prussian Blue couch - you just need to search for material in the form of old sheets or whatever you can find that is the color you want and then make a slip cover or if Prussian Blue doesn't clash with your present couch, you can just get a blanket to throw over it for the color. Prussian Blue looks gorgeous with brown. Have at the thrift shops and garage sales looking for the perfect Prussian Blue. For me it would be yarn - finding the perfect color and then crocheting a blanket.....but I once made clumsy slip covers for my couch many years ago - they weren't great but they looked ok, not bad really. They were old sheets in a light color that covered the entire couch, arms and all and slid over the top - I could wash it whenever I wanted unlike the couch itself - and it was SUCH a relief.
OR dye white sheets - you'll get a lot closer to the actual blue you WANT that way.....
So much here in this post Debra. Sorry about the additional expense for the shrub removal. That's never a fun surprise. Also, sorry about Tom's new lifestyle change. That's never easy. Too nevers so close together! But, I'm here to prove it CAN be done. I've shed 13 lbs in 6 the past weeks with more to go. Dennis has reversed his pre-diabetes with his 5:2 intermittent fasting for the past 3 years. Change is so difficult sometimes. Sugar calls to me. Chips call to him. We are resisting the call! :-)
That was a fast move-in and then sale of your neighbors home. I hope you find the new owners are friendly and, well, neighborly. Our neighbors rarely talk or are even outdoors. I wave, take treats along with a card with pertinent information, (garbage day, mailbox key info., our phone # if they need anything, etc.)when they move in, but they rarely call or even make eye contact after that. Everyone is so wrappd up in their own little world. I have to admit, I do miss the old days when you knew your neighbors and actually had relationships with them.
Wishing you a wonderful day Debra. I hope you get that prussian blue couch someday soon.
Blessings,
Betsy
Yay!! Your hedges are history! What a relief that must be. Hate to hear that the cost was more than expected, but it will probably be worth it, in the long run.
Self discipline isn't easy, but when we get good results, it's so satisfying. I will pray for Tom. As we get older, it seems that we face more changes. Since my husband retired, we were noticing our weight was gradually increasing, and neither of us can risk that. We decided to try the intermittent fasting (Betsy mentioned it, too). At first, the thought of eating less and going without food for 16-18 hours seemed impossible. But we're doing it nearly all the time and have gradually lost some weight and improved blood sugar and blood pressure. I sleep better and no longer have digestive problems. Thank God!
Love Prussian Blue--Marsha's home is really lovely. Won't it be interesting to see who buys it? Keep us posted, Debra. Bless you all!
Great reminders about self-discipline. I needed 'em. Again.
Post a Comment