Our family gathered for prayer this morning and evening. We open our prayer time up with naming an attribute for God. Tonights attributes: Timekeeper (Psalm 31:15), Omnipresent, Mighty, All-Powerful, Caring. God is all these things, and it's good to be reminded.
a. I spoke to CBJ today, and he really encouraged me. I've been feeling like I'm less than a man because I'm having to be so dependent on anthers right now (ladies, I'm not sure you could understand what this feels like). CBJ told me that my wife is not thinking I am less than a man, and encouraged me to keep going.
b. I spent time at the library today until the internet stopped working for me. I must have been on too long yesterday.
c. After leaving the library, I wound up going to a place that Cetelia has very little love for: The M aka McDonald's. Despite my wife's objections to the place, they have good smoothies, cheap coffee, and fast, free Internet. I'm game!
d. After leaving the M, I took my two extroverted children (Max & KJ) to Academy Sports. This place is Texas' version of Dick's Sporting Goods. Although we didn't go to spend money, I wound up picking up a pair of cheap shoes (like $14.99 cheap) because the loafers I've been wearing are worn down on the heel, and cause my knees to ache. We'll see how many days the loafers work.
e. While at Academy Sports, Max got on an electric bike, and crashed it into the shelves. After I made him get off and turned my head, KJ did the same thing! I have to admit that it was pretty funny.
f. I'm still not sure how Cetelia and I, the straight-laced, introverted pair, wound up with two extroverted kids who do just about everything opposite from the way we do them. Amazing!
g. After getting home, the family played a game of UNO. I'm not sure how much the kids enjoyed it, however, because I spent half the game asking them not to bend our hosts' UNO cards. See, with rule-abiding folks like me, even playing games can be a challenge. ;-)
Lessons Learned
1. It's wiser and more energizing to focus on the shorter list, and make things happen. I feel like there's so much I'm not able to do with Marriage Works! due to our temporary living. Turns out the list of obstacles and things I cannot control is MUCH longer than the list of things I can control. It's overwhelming, defeating, and ultimately pointless to focus on the longer list. It's wiser and more energizing to focus on the shorter list, and make things happen.
2. God's holding me accountable for how I treat Cetelia, not how she treats me. Cetelia and I have been snippy with one another a bit the past several days. I really chalk it up to frustration due to the season of testing we're in. This morning I took offense to something she said (can't even recall what it was now -- shows you how important it was, right?!?). God's holding me accountable for how I treat Cetelia, not how she treat me.
3. You reap what you sow. I mentioned earlier that I spoke with CBJ today, and he really encouraged me. He actually encouraged me with the exact words I said to him repeatedly as he was going through a rough period. The words were encouraging, and just what I needed to hear. Knowing that encouragement goes around makes me want to keep encouraging people. In the end, you reap what you sow.
1. It's wiser and more energizing to focus on the shorter list, and make things happen. I feel like there's so much I'm not able to do with Marriage Works! due to our temporary living. Turns out the list of obstacles and things I cannot control is MUCH longer than the list of things I can control. It's overwhelming, defeating, and ultimately pointless to focus on the longer list. It's wiser and more energizing to focus on the shorter list, and make things happen.
2. God's holding me accountable for how I treat Cetelia, not how she treats me. Cetelia and I have been snippy with one another a bit the past several days. I really chalk it up to frustration due to the season of testing we're in. This morning I took offense to something she said (can't even recall what it was now -- shows you how important it was, right?!?). God's holding me accountable for how I treat Cetelia, not how she treat me.
3. You reap what you sow. I mentioned earlier that I spoke with CBJ today, and he really encouraged me. He actually encouraged me with the exact words I said to him repeatedly as he was going through a rough period. The words were encouraging, and just what I needed to hear. Knowing that encouragement goes around makes me want to keep encouraging people. In the end, you reap what you sow.