work like snow

      I already know what it’s like to work frantically all day and fall into bed at night counting the things I left out anyway. Today, I’m going to work like snow -- quietly, quietly, leaving nothing out -- just to see what happens. 

“Suppose we did our work / Like snow, quietly, quietly, / Leaving nothing out.” Wendell Berry

“But what happens when we live life God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard -- things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.” Galatians 5:22-23

change?

      When you’re stuck in a frustrating, same-old-same-old way of relating to somebody, the bad news is that (no matter how hard you try) you can’t change the way the other person acts. The very good news is that you can change the way you react. Choose to react differently, and everything changes.

“Nothing changes if nothing changes.” Unknown

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2

buddy system

      When you’re trying to change (the way you eat or work or react or whatever), the buddy system works a lot better than flying solo.

“Two people are better than one. . . . If one falls down, the other can help him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Most humbling of all is to comprehend the lifesaving gift that your pit crew of people has been for you. . . .” Anne Lamott

monkey bars

      Making progress in life is a lot like making progress on the monkey bars at recess -- you have to risk letting go before you can move forward. If you don’t, you just stay stuck.

Father, give me the courage to let go of old resentments and regrets and anything else that keeps me stuck. 

“Instead of focusing on what lies behind, I reach forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13

say thank-you

      If you spend the day focusing on what’s wrong and what you don’t have, you’ll be up to your ears in self-pity and discontent by tonight.

Lord, please remind me, over and over again, to say thank-you for what I have instead of focusing on what’s wrong and what I don’t have.

“I am thanking you, Lord, with all my heart.” Psalm 9:1

people-first

      Depending on your mindset, the people you meet today (even in passing) could look like either interruptions to be avoided or guests to be welcomed.

Father, please help me to live today people-first.

“[H]e ran to meet them and welcomed them . . . and said . . . ‘[R]est. . . . [B]e refreshed. . . .’” Genesis 18:2-5