So many different things happen in peoples lives that make it difficult for them to get past and let go of. The list is long; from personal, to professional, hurt, from others, to the loss of loved ones and everything in between.
It takes a lot of work, prayer, counseling for some, meditation, self-help, and determination to overcome it all. The healing process can be long as well.
In the mix of it all; there are blessings to be found from the growth, learning, and the scars. The release of the past is liberating, and the freshness of a new start is rejuvenating.
Let go of the past; let the Lord heal your heart, count your blessings, and enjoy the start of your new journey in life.
Psalms 25:17 NIV Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
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.
Doors
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
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.
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.
The Race
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
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.
There is always the one piece of fruit that can spoil all the rest.
Be the Fruit
It is usually the fruit at the bottom of the bowl, not seen, that ruins the rest of the good fruit. It must be removed before any other damage is done to the remaining good fruit.
People are much like fruit; one toxic person or thing can ruin so many around them. It is up to us to remove the toxic from our lives; so that we have a happy and healthy life that leads to a positive influence on others around us.
Matthew 7:18 NIV A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Galatians 5:22 NIV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Journey-of-Inspirations 