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.
What are you thankful for in your life?
Think about everything; the good, the bad, the pitfalls, valleys, and the mountain tops. The accomplishments and the failures, the dead ends, and the clear paths along your journey.
Take a moment and reflect on your life, and think about how it has led you to where you are right now. The prayers answered and the ones not answered the way you wanted; the lessons learned along the way and the growth you experienced from it all.
Everything happens for a reason. There is a plan for your life and all things come together when the time is right.
Count your blessings for it all, and be thankful for every step along the way.
All of that is what made your journey so unique and you so very special.
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.
Small steps lead to big things; that open up a world of possibilities.k
In our daily lives; small steps; one foot in front of the other; no rushing; no haste, slow and steady; can be a great guideline for living life.
American astronaut Neil Armstrong took the first small step on the moon in 1969.
A step that opened the doors to information about the moon and space. A step and a quote that has been remembered to this day.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” ~Neil Armstrong
Let your small steps lead you to your big journey one step at a time. The rewards are endless.
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Proverbs 16:9 NIVLohttps:rd establishes their steps.
In order to soar to new heights; you must first take your focus off the ground.
~Charlie Walker
Let your focus and goals in life reach to the sky and your mind and imagination soar higher than ever before.
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
The race; the epic battle of the tortoise and the hare. The timeless fable of an overconfident hare that was sure it could beat the slow moving tortoise.
While the story seems to be about the race; it is a metaphor about life.
Life is like a race; realistically, a marathon. It has a beginning and an end, with a lot of distance in between. So many things can happen along the way; obstacles can pop up, staying focused, pushing yourself when you hit the wall, and pacing yourself to finish.
Rushing to the end and trying to have, and accomplish everything in life is not always the important part of the race. Slow and steady, enjoying the run and scenery along the way, will bring far more pleasures to life.
It is not important how you start the race; but how you run the race and finish it that matters. Enjoy the race of life and all that it offers.
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.
Let your life and love be brighter than the worries of the day.
May your heart be filled with happiness and your palette filled with bright colors, so you may paint the world that you would like to live in.
Be the palette for the world to paint from.
As you travel along your journey, keep your eyes focused on the new beginings. Glance back only enough to remember where you came from, but not enough to turn around and go back.
~ Charlie Walker
Cross-stitch is a beautiful piece of work when completed.
The hours spent pulling different colors of thread through a fabric, in X shaped stitches to create a scene, patterns, phrases, flowers, people, and so many other things are a skilled piece of artwork. The beauty of the finished product is stunning for all to behold.
The hidden backside of it, though, is a complete mess. Thread going from one spot to another, in a gridded pattern, using different stiching patterens at times, that ends up looking like a bowl of spaghetti. A complete disaster that is often hidden and unseen when completed, and so different than what the finished piece is seen by others.
People are much like a cross-stitch piece. We see the beauty and outward appearance of a seemingly happy and wonderful human being. What we mostly do not see is the mess and turmoil deep inside, that is hidden from the world.
The distress of everyday life that causes chaos deep within. The smile and the persona that hides all of the inward battles and is projected in a beautiful smile, a kind action or word.
However; there is the cleaner version of cross-stitch. The version that took more time and work to make the front a work of art and the back cleaned up and neat.
People are exactly like that, and go through that same transformation when they work on their inner self. A cleaned up and better projected inner version that is amazing for themselves and for the world to see.
All it takes is a little work, dedication, faith, belief, effort, and a willingness to make ourselves beautiful inside and out, leaving a masterpiece for all to see.
Be the cross-stitch master piece in life.
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.
Journey-of-Inspirations 