Monday Musings

I haven't done a Monday Musings post for a long time, so I thought it might be a fun way to move on from my "31 Days of Letting Go" series.

Out in my yard today... a chilly 40 degrees! A right proper blustery November day. Most of the trees have lost their leaves. The elms are always the last.

 

This mulberry fascinates me. It usually drops all of it's leaves within a day. I like to sit and watch them all fall. It's as if I can see the branches actually releasing their leaves. The tree lets go of the remnants of the previous season and then takes a rest in preparation for a new season of growth. What a great life lesson!

I'm grateful for... this time of year dedicated to giving thanks. Each day in November I am posting a picture that represents something I'm thankful for on Instagram and Twitter. I'm trying to expand my horizons and do more with other forms of social media besides Facebook. You can follow me if you're interested- @laurel_gibson

One of my favorite things... is this ceramic owl luminaria that my husband got for me. My Aunt Edith had a very good friend who loved owls and had them throughout her home. I remember her telling me that one of the reasons she loved owls was because they bring good luck. I always think of her when I add another owl to my growing collection.

 

This week I'm reading... multiple books, as usual.

authentic relationships by Wayne Jacobsen and Clay Jacobsen This book is the reference for our Fall Ladies Bible study groups. The subtitle is "discovering the lost art of 'one anothering.'" A great resource that illustrates how to live out all of the various "one anothering" scriptures in the Bible.

                     
An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor. This is from the Irish Country Doctor series. It reminds me of the James Herriot books that I loved to read with my dad.   
                                








I'm looking forward to... attending the District High School Honor Clinic concert this week. Brianna will be playing her cello in the orchestra. I love to watch her perform. She is quite expressive when she plays.

Simple life tip for the week... "Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality." ~Alfred Painter  Be mindful of opportunities to say thank you as you go about your daily life. We choose our attitude, so make it one of gratitude!                                                                                                                                                        

Day Thirty-One- Letting Go of the Future

“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Planning ahead. We’ve all been told that this is a very responsible way to manage our lives. Five-year plans, ten-year plans, education plans, retirement plans- these are all good things. I am certainly not opposed to good planning. However, we can get so caught up in thinking about the future that we forget to enjoy the present. We start anticipating the next season before the current season has even ended. 

Sometimes all of this looking ahead can cause us great anxiety. We start to worry about how it will all turn out.  Fearful thoughts race through our brains as we try to foresee the future. As we worry about what will be, we forget to appreciate our present. 

The truth is that none of us really knows what lies ahead. We might think that we have it all figured out, but Proverbs 27:1 reminds us “Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.” None of us even knows how many tomorrows we have left.  “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (James 4:14) We need to keep the future in the proper perspective.

I may not know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future. God has great things in store for us. No need to worry or fret. He is with us every step of the way. Trust Him with your future today!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

Day Thirty- Letting Go: On Grief and Loss

We live in a fallen world where pain and loss are a part of the human condition. Whether it is the loss of a job, a home, a beloved pet, a close relationship, or the death of a loved one, all of us have or will eventually have occasion to grieve. It is a natural part of life, and yet most people have no idea how to deal with it. Much has been written on this topic, but I do have a few thoughts that I would like to share with you based on my own experiences with loss.

Grieving is a process.

 

Like most things in life, grieving is indeed a process.  When dealing with a loss, allow yourself to go through the entire process. While there are some general stages of grief that we all seem to go through, the rate and manner of grieving is different for everyone. Even though it is hard, don’t avoid it. Give yourself permission to release all of those feelings so that you can begin to heal. 

It’s okay to ask for help.

 

This whole process can be overwhelming at times. Change is hard and we don’t always know how to respond. There are many different ways to deal with intense heartache and pain. Some are healthy and some are not. When we are hurting, we don’t always make the best choices. You don’t have to go through this alone! There is no shame in asking for help. Talking with a close friend or wise counselor can give you some extra support in moving through this process. 

Sometimes when we are hurting it is hard to remember that God is with us and wants to help us. Psalm 34:18 tells us “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” He is always available and has a never-ending supply of grace, peace, and love waiting for you. Cry out to God and allow Him to start healing your broken heart.

Keep moving forward.

 

Wherever you are in the grieving process, make it your goal to keep moving forward. Prolonged grief can be harmful. The only way to avoid getting stuck is to keep making forward progress.  After you have been sitting with the pain for a while, there will come a time when you will know that you need to do something. Get out of bed. Take a walk. Go do something for someone else. God will continue to do a healing work in your heart even as you reach out to others who are hurting. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” 

The grieving process can be challenging. If you are in the midst of this, my prayer for you today is that you will feel God’s comforting presence more than ever. I pray that He will bring healing and restoration to your heart and gently guide you in the days to come.   

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”~ Psalm 147:3

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”~ Matthew 5:4

Day Twenty-Nine- Letting Go of Control

The term “control freak” is widely used in our culture. Some even wear it as a badge of honor.  While self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, the control I’m referring to definitely is not. This desire to be in charge of every little thing can quickly become a stronghold in our lives.  Soon we begin to try and manipulate others to get our own way.  What we thought would bring us peace actually causes anxiety and chaos.

I believe that this desire to be in control is actually rooted in fear. We like our ducks to be in a row because we’re afraid of being caught off-guard. We try to get others to do things our way because we’re afraid it won’t turn out right otherwise. We do not delegate because we’re afraid it won’t get done. We run ourselves ragged trying to do it all and we fall apart if it doesn’t turn out the way we planned.

Life is full of so many unknowns. We often over-compensate by trying to exert control over what we do know.  However, even that can change in an instant. But there is One who knows the beginning from the end. Doesn’t it just make more sense to let Him be in control? When we live fully submitted to God, then we don’t have to be in control of it all. 

Letting go of control allows God to truly work in us and through us. Experience the rest and peace that comes from giving God control of your life today!

 “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” ~Romans 12:1-2

Day Twenty-Eight- Letting Go of Pride

“Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion.” ~anonymous

Pride is quite sneaky and deceptive. It leads us to believe that we can do it all and have it all in our own strength. Pride tells us that we alone are enough. It partners well with stubbornness. Proverbs 16:18 tells us “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” I like The Message translation of this verse, “First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.” If we want to live our lives completely surrendered to God, then we will have to let go of pride.

Pride is a stumbling block that keeps us from receiving what we need. Whether it is help, forgiveness, or even love, it can be challenging to admit that we don’t always have the ability to meet our own needs. Letting go of pride opens us up to allow humility in. It is okay to admit that you can’t do it all by yourself. Learning how to graciously receive from others and from God is one of the most important lessons we can ever learn.

Pride can also keep us from giving to others. When we buy into the lie that we can do it all ourselves, we harden our hearts towards those who are in need. Instead of lending a helping hand, we expect them to take care of it all themselves. Letting go of pride softens our hearts and allows us to see others the way God sees them. Then we can truly begin to “love one another.” 

Letting go of pride will help our love walk to grow with others and with God. Dare to be vulnerable and surrender it all today!

“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” ~Proverbs 11:2

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Day Twenty-Seven- A Sunday Scripture for Letting Go

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28

Day Twenty-Six- A Poem for Letting Go

let it go – the

~e.e. cummings

let it go – the

smashed word broken

open vow or

the oath cracked length

wise – let it go it

was sworn to

go

let them go – the

truthful liars and

the false fair friends

and the boths and

neithers – you must let them go they

were born

to go

let all go – the

big small middling

tall bigger really

the biggest and all

things – let all go

dear

so comes love