Avoiding the issues.....

Yesterday was awful.  Worst day I've had in a long time.  It began awful and was awful all day long.....bad, bad, bad.  On my drive home from OKC, I felt extremely defeated.  There are many many things not going the way I would like them to right now.  However....  I am choosing to be thankful for this time in my life because God is still working - still doing something behind the scenes that I don't realize.  My hope is in Him and I will not let go of that.  So sometimes it seems that strife comes to us and we can't do anything about it.  That's just wrong.  Today I see that it tried to come my way but I'm going to avoid it and here's how:

1. Lips:   The wrong words spoken at the wrong time can cause unnecessary stress.  I choose to speak of positive things and choose affirming words.

2. Pride:    Proud hearts want the last word.  I choose to realize that silence is golden.  I do not have the need to be "right" or get the last word in.

3. Opinion:    Trying to convince others of my viewpoint does no good.  My opinion should only be offered if I am asked directly.  Otherwise I should listen and be supportive, encouraging as often as possible.

The other issues that I deal with have nothing to do with communication but more to do with attitude so I have to watch my internal dialogue as well.  What I perceive as bad news from my doctor does not have to be bad!  I have to discontinue the only medication that has worked for me since I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and yesterday the doctor added the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia to my record.  I was initially upset with this - not having realized that some of my symptoms were indicative of this secondary disease.  However, the doctor helped me see the bright side of it in that having the 2nd diagnosis opens me up for more treatment options than I had before.  This could be a very good thing.  I was skeptical about Remicade in the beginning but look how well it worked for 5 years.  I'm thankful for those 5 years of health and perhaps that there is something even better for me.  Perhaps my new treatment could even be protecting me from some of the bad side effects of the Remicade.  That's just how I choose to see it!

I claim Romans 12:12 today:

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. 

I particularly like the last part of that verse:  Help the needy Christians, be inventive in hospitality.  I'm looking forward to a great weekend celebrating my son's confirmation at church.  He is one of my greatest blessings and I can't think of a better reason to get together with friends and family to rejoice in his decision!   I have so many blessings to consider - so many things to be thankful for.  In spite of all the yucky things, there are way more that are good.  This is what joy is.....  proper perspective even when things are not the way we think they should be.  It's also what faith is....  knowing God's got this in the midst of our worry.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.