Do More

Okay, my four year old won a bracelet for me today at our company picnic. And I put it on and guess what it says, "Do More." Huh? Me? Is this some voice telling me to do more? Do they not see the craziness in my life already? What other insane activity could I possibly "do" to take up more of this overwhelming abundance of time they seem to think I have.

Then the conspiracy theory set in... Is this bracelet from my employer? Is it some sort of osmosis that I'll wear it and work harder based on some subliminal, unconscious message? Do they think I'm a slacker and that this is my first clue that I must "do more?"

Well crazy enough, these two little words drove me nuts today! Nuts, I tell you. How can I possibly do more? What is it that I'm missing that needs to be added to my schedule? Do I need to read more (if I could without falling asleep from exhaustion I would)? Do I need to help more? Like helping run our football/cheer program isn't community involvement enough. Or maybe I need to do more housework? More laundry and more dishes, maybe my spring cleaning needs to be done now that it is almost fall?! So this little bracelet (which was such a sweet gift from my dear kiddo) has made me obsessed with what I'm doing. Of course, now, here I sit, typing away, rambling more or less and half watching the Olympics. But anyway, I finally realized what things there are that are pulling at my mind to "do more."

So I will do more, even if I have to figure out how to add more hours to my day. I'll do more, but it's not the cooking and cleaning and work that will be added. I know what I need to do more of, now after obsessing for the last 8 hours. I will do more fun, I will laugh more, and cry more. Sing more and write more. I will play more and love more. I don't need to expand on the areas of my life that are just that, "things." I need to do more of the things that build me up personally - besides, no matter how much I try and cook a chef I will not be! So watch out, my little prize bracelet (won in the duck pond game no less) will drive me forward. I will do more and in turn I expect to have more. More fun, more love and more of the me that I've been missing.

This World

This world we live in is so tough at times. I look around and see all the pain that is inflicted by people looking out for themselves. The mistakes that people have made that have influenced their families and friends. Not myself withstanding...

There is too much selfishness in this world. Too many looking out for number one, and not looking for the real number one. This world should not revolve around "me", or "you." But so many times, that is the reason that people make the mistakes that they do. They are looking and seeking that pleasure that isn't from God. They want happiness that they see through the world's eyes and not His eyes. And once they look through the lenses of the world they cannot see the blessings and happiness that He has waiting for them. Blinded by sin. Blinded by greed. His blessings are waiting for us, but too many times we walk right pass them with our blinders on. We see the other light at the end of the tunnel of temptation. We see the light that is blinding us to the true light.

It is disheartening to watch others fall into this pit. It is hard, when you know others have tried to tell them, but they won't open their hearts and eyes to see. It is especially hard when you know that the ones that will be pulled down with them are innocent children. This world will bring you down. I've let it try and pull me down. I've let it almost consume me with anger and frustration. The change came when I quit looking at the faults of those around me and found the faults within myself. None of us our perfect, and the grass is not greener somewhere else. But in order to find that the grass isn't green, some of us have to try and eat it ourselves.

I have to say that God has blessed my family. I have seen his blessings and I am thankful everyday for the life that He has given me. I know that there will be trials, and I know that life isn't always smooth, but I was taught a long time ago that life is what you make it. I am the one that decides my own happiness. God may give me trials, but I will be the one to decide if I smile as I face it or drop to my knees in failure. Too many of us expect that happiness is a state that we get when the world has given us what we need. When in fact, happiness is what we have when we decide to look past the faults of the world and face the day with the love and hope that only He can give us. Happiness, like Love, is a decision. I will decide to face each day with a smile on my face and a song in my heart.