As Forrest Gump said; Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what your going to get.
Those words ring very true in life. You never know what you will get from one day to the next.
Everyday seemingly starts the same, and may seem like any other day; but in the blink of an eye; it can all change just that fast. A bad day can turn out amazing and and amazing day can turn dark fast.
So; eat up and savor every moment that life has to offer.
Doors come in all sizes, shapes, and forms.
Some are massive and heavy, small and light, made of wood, metal, glass, etc. and with locks; that you can open and close at will.
Then there are those doors that are invisible and you can’t see them; but they are there. Some of them will open and some stay locked forever.
These are the doors that require faith. The ones that you can’t physically open; the ones that you can’t always understand why they remain closed; the ones that seemingly force you to take a different path and door.
Not all doors are meant for us; or are good for the well being of our lives. There are hidden traps, disasters, and unknown events that cause havoc upon us.
Then there are some that are seemingly great, but are not meant for us right then; because it is not time for that door to open; or a better door lies ahead.
Understanding this and having the patience to wait is hard, and will take every ounce of your strength to get through. It may take, days, weeks, months, and even years for one to open; but the benefits of waiting are worth the reward that waits upon you.
Be thankful for the blessings of closed doors, detours, and roadblocks. They protect you from paths and places that are not meant for you, your family or your friends.
Lean not on your own understanding, but on your faith.
Revelation 3:8 NIV
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Flaws
What we think is a flaw, sometimes is what makes someone or something so very special.
Flaws show up in many ways. Some are visual; like a crack, blemish, a mark, a chip, a knothole in wood, or a distortion in a pattern. Some are invisible that we only think we can see; then some are not flaws at all; but are something very beautiful that appears uniquely different.
At first glance we look and see something that we think is hideous, unsightly, or unworthy.
We tend to focus on the imperfections and flaws so much; that we miss the actual beauty that the flaw gives to the masterpiece itself.
Humans do the same thing with their lives. They focus on the imperfections and flaws that they see. They begin to see things that they think are flaws; extra wrinkles, love handles, gray hair, droops and sags, and a variety of other things that bring on anxieties and self-doubt.
No matter how much they fight against it and try to ignore the flaws, self-doubt creeps in; causing anxiety and distress. The battle to once again seek perfection, creates hurt, anguish, conjures blame, denial and resentment; that robs them of the joy and the actual beauty inside and out.
Our idea of perfection is not the same as the ideas of others and God’s; that we tend to ignore and not listen to.
Instead; we should realize the beauty in all the flaws and imperfections that we think we see. Knowing that we were created by an incredible, awe-inspiring Creator just as we were meant to be. Each and everyone, made similar, but very uniquely in our own ways, that creates the value and self-worth that is very special and very priceless.
Flaws are never bad; they are a blessing and a thing of beauty in the creation of all things.
Embrace your flaws; show the world and yourself how special you really are.
Psalms 139:14 NIV
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Balancing your daily life can be quite the task. With work, family, chores, children, school, hobbies, church, errands, and other outside distractions; days, weeks, and even months can become hard.
Prioritizing and finding the time to fit it all in can become extremely stressful: especially if you are doing it alone. Like a juggler; you can only have so many balls in the air; before you begin to drop some.
Understanding that it is only possible to fit so many things into one day and that some things must wait is the key. Removing things that are not essential; is perfectly fine and does not make you a failure.
Being humble is ok; and asking for help from friends or family can save your sanity, your health and your family.
Find that balance for a healthier, happier and more stress-free life.
Psalms 68:19 NIV
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Rainbows are a sign of hope, peace, tranquility, a sense of calming, and witnessing the beauty after the storm.
The young and some old; think of that magic wish or a pot of gold and good fortune at the rainbow’s end, and some just admire the amazing splendor of it all.
For some, a rainbow now carries a personal symbolic meaning that represents inclusivity and diversity, an all-encompassing image of love and friendship.
For others it is a reminder of God’s love for us and His covenant and promise that the waters will never again flood and destroy all life.
The peace and tranquility one finds in a rainbow is unique within each person and the belief and sense of comfort that comes from it.
The song “Somewhere over the rainbow”; that was sung by Judy Garland, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (IZ) and others; is a comforting reminder of hope and dreams that can come true.
Genesis 9:13 NIV
I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder; is one of the truest statements ever made.
Beauty is far deeper than outward appearances. Beauty is the heart, mind, and soul of a person. The compassion, love, caring, actions and understanding that makes a person beautiful.
The outward appearance is but a pretty shell that changes with time, but inner beauty lasts a lifetime. When one sees this inner beauty in a person and in their own self; it is then that one’s appreciation of true beauty shines.
Love yourself and others for the real beauty.
Find the beauty in yourself.
Find the beauty in everyone you meet.
Find the beauty in the world.
1 Peter 3:4 NIV
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Things are broken all the time. In some instances, they can be repaired, and in others, they must be discarded. There are things that can be replaced and things that will never be replaced.
The same holds true for people’s lives. There are things in people’s lives that can be repaired, and some that cannot be fixed and must be discarded. Moving on, leaving the broken pieces behind and starting a fresh new life.
Lift your problems to the Lord to repair the broken pieces and bring blessing from them.
New and healing begins where the broken and old ends. ~Charlie Walker
Psalms 34:18 NIV
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Be the one that helps others look forward to tomorrow.
The one that gives hope; the one that brings smiles; the one that fills others with love.
Be the one that gives others encouragement to help other people.
Be the one that helps change lives.
Be the one that wants to make a difference.
Weakness is a trait that everyone has in some form or fashion. It covers different facets of our lives.
It may be in the form of a physical lack of strength, good health, firmness, vigor, or feebleness.
It may be a lack of effort, energy, enthusiasm, or a feeling of an inadequate or defective quality in a person’s character.
It might be a self-indulgent liking or special fondness of something or an object of special desire; something very difficult to resist, like chocolates, candy, soft drinks, tv, hobbies, etc.
Then there are those weaknesses of addictions, habits, drinking, gambling, smoking, self-loathing, and so forth.
No weakness is greater than another. They are all as hard as the next and everyone has their own struggles with them.
How we handle them, seek help for them, and work on getting through and past them that matters. Prayer, counseling, the ear of a friend, self-help, and even groups can help.
Never consider a weakness as a failure; it is a part of life that we face, and from our weaknesses come our strengths, and our best qualities arise for all to see.
Your weakness is your super power.
Isaiah 40:29 NIV
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Practice is used in everything in life.
It is said that practice makes perfect.
Though it may or may not make things perfect, it does make things and us far better in so many ways.
Practice is not just reserved for sports, athletics, musical instruments, singing, and so on. Practicing having a good mental attitude, being polite, helping others, praising all, respecting people, encouragement, self-improvement, and the list goes on.
Practice being the best that you can possibly be, doing the best in everything you do, and treating others the best that you can is the best practice that you could ever do.
Practice makes us as perfect as we possibly can be; if we are only willing to do it.
Romans 12:13 NIV
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Journey-of-Inspirations 