"Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save." --- Isaiah 46:4
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Yikes! It took me nearly 16 whole weeks to finally begin reading this book--
Months ago, my head kept repeating, "You need that new Joyce Meyer book." Yet did I order it? No, not until 3 months passed. Then the book took nearly 2 weeks to arrive. Then it sat upon my shelf another week.
Finally I sat at our dining room table, began reading it and good gracious. I recalled this so-important truth:
Satan fights us hardest on discovering the things we need the most.
Oh, what I'm learning and relearning and being ultra convicted about! But to keep this short, I'll just concentrate on one facet.
Remember that post where I shared how Tom's using a roll-around walker now, we might not be able to travel again and neither of us are the strong young kids we used to be?
Well, Joyce's book showed me that those types of sad thoughts had become my mind's default. After digging holes and moving backyard plants around? Automatically I'd think, "Man, I don't know how many more years I can do this."
When the humidity rolled in? "Ack! I feel wearier than ever before." Then I'd camp on the couch, discouraged (and feel lazy).
Watching young people on tv I'd think, "Long decades ago I used to be able to walk/think/shop like that. Those days are pffffft. Gone City."
Other "I used to's" nagged me, as well.
Then, thankfully, this paragraph in Joyce's book shook much sense into my sorry head--
"There are always things we cannot do, especially as we age, but there are also things we can do, and we should focus on those things. We can let the loss of things we were once able to do depress us, or we can decide to be happy with what we can still do."
Those and similar words switched my head's default from the What I Can't Do Anymore button to the What I Still Can Do one.
After some practice and persistence, automatically now my mind leaps to What I Still Can Do. What a much more pleasant place for my mind to rest and you know? That Can Still Do list is far longer than the other one. Far. Longer.
In fact, I noticed--in one day--I'm still able to clean (part of) the house, pull weeds, make lunch and iron Tom's shirts.
Hmm. Maybe someday I'll actually enjoy playing that What I Can't Do Anymore card, after all. For certain things it just may become handy. ツ
"Focusing on what you do have instead of what you don't is a wonderful habit to develop. The aging process is a normal part of life and developing the right mental attitude toward it early in life will be beneficial later. Your latter years can and should be beautiful." ---Joyce Meyer, from the book, How To Age Without Getting Old
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ---Philippians 4:13 (That is, all things He wants me, specifically, to do, as opposed to any old thing I may wish I could.)
I super recommend the above mentioned book for anyone who's kinda shocked at this growing older stuff. Lots of wonderful information all in one spot and she speaks much about the dangers of too much stress, as well. Oh, and she urges us to ask for help when needed, etc.
(And as a side note, I've listened to Joyce for 26 years, yet have never seen her quite this open and vulnerable before.)
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Oh! For those who enjoy Leave It To Beaver (or simply 1950's and 60's home decor) here's something totally enjoyable.
Say what you will, but my heavenly home will--in a few ways--resemble this one. シ
The light coming through the windows nearly changed the whole interior look of this home in the video. Light changes everything.
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Gee, I enjoy the Somers In Alaska Youtube videos! What a delightful Christian family. I never tire of these and a new video is always an event in my heart.
I've mentioned these before, but thought I should again. During these turbulent days in our Country these are especially calming.
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A good reminder:
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"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
3 comments:
I remind myself, quite often, the things you were saying about Satan being behind so many of my excuses. It is easy to think this is the way it is meant to be but I love it when I remember, it is not the way God wants it to be.
Have a great weekend.
HUGS
Now this is inspiring! It's really easy to be influenced by the lies Satan is whispering in our ears, and if I'm talking to someone who shares their difficulties, I climb aboard the train and commiserate with them. This post made me reflect that I need to focus on the truth. The truth is, I am a 2-time cancer survivor, and although my cancer is classified as active, I am blessed to have medication that keeps me stable. Plus, I don't suffer from many side effects. Praise God! Another truth is that I became grandma for the first time 18 months ago, and I have helped care for this precious gift every single week of her life. She's one hour away, and there have been weeks when we watched her up to 4 days. I can't tell you how many people have said, "I could never do that!" or "How in the world do you keep up?" or "You'd better be careful, once you get down you might not rally." My husband and I both felt led by God to help care for our little Anna. Her mom (my daughter) is a RN and her maternity leave ended right when Covid hit. Day care centers were shuttered, and other options dried up fast. Our daughter needed to work and we wanted to get to know Anna. I'll admit, my husband and I are very tired at the end of a day of childcare, but a person really sleeps well when you're exhausted. Both of us have lost a few pounds (hope that continues) and I'm much stronger from lifting Anna and getting up and down from the floor to play with her. God has shown up to help us all along the way. It's not always easy nor comfortable to be fully dependent upon the Lord, but when we try to obey him and follow where he's leading us, there is true joy. Debra, I often tell you to keep telling us the truth, and I want to thank you for doing that again today! God bless you! Have a great weekend!
That sounds like a great book and if I ever dig myself out of boxes, bags and furniture, I'll have to check it out. I have the same issue, especially now with the move. The humidity IS hard to get used to but I need to stop complaining about it.
I'm sorry it took me a few days to comment. Since I was traveling I can't comment on my iPad, only my laptop. But I can post! I'll never figure Blogger out.
Blessings,
Betsy
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