Day Three- Set Your Intention

Decisions. Our daily lives are filled with decisions. When to get up, what to eat, how to spend our money, how to care for our families. The list goes on and on. Some decisions are easy. Some are overwhelming. It can be exhausting and soon we feel completely bogged down. Life is happening to us and we’ve lost control. All we can do is hang on and endure to the end. Sounds depressing, doesn’t it?

When we feel like life is just happening to us, it is easy to settle into a reactive mindset. We assume a defensive position and expend a lot of energy just trying to survive. This doesn’t produce much enjoyment or fulfillment.

The good news is that Jesus didn’t come just so we could endure our daily lives. He came that we might have abundant life! (John 10:10) When we approach life from this perspective, we can have a proactive mindset. While we can’t always control what happens in life, we can control how we respond when it happens. We can set our intention to embrace our day no matter what comes our way!

Choose to be proactive. Make a daily affirmation. It can be as simple as this:

Say it to yourself in the mirror every morning. Whisper it under your breath throughout your day. Declare it even when things don’t look so good. Changing your mindset will change your day. Set your intention today to enjoy your life!

Day Two- A Sunday Scripture

 My pastor shared this scripture back at the beginning of this year and I have been meditating on it ever since. How are you numbering your days? Something to think about as we begin this journey together.

31 Days of Simply Embracing Life- Day One

Welcome to 31 Days of Simply Embracing Life! I’m so glad you’re here! It has been a couple of years since I participated in the 31 Days of Writing phenomenon, but I am so happy to be back. I am excited for this challenge!

As I contemplated a topic for this month, my thoughts drifted back to why I started this blog in the first place. Seven years ago I was in a very difficult place in life. I had been “downsized” out of a job that I loved, our finances were a mess, and I felt like my life was literally falling apart. Paralyzed by fear and depression, I was struggling just to get out of bed every day. Hopeless and heartbroken, I prayed many desperate prayers, begging God to show me a way out. He gently reminded me that my life is a gift from Him, meant to be enjoyed, not despised. He led me to the verses that became the inspiration for the title of this space:

“Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth.” ~1 Peter 3:10-11

I dared to believe God’s word and started taking baby steps daily towards embracing my life. Creating this blog was one of those steps. Seven years later and I am still standing, free from depression, loving my life! God’s word is true and I am living proof. Upon further reflection, I knew in my heart that the topic for this challenge would share the title of my blog- Simply Embracing Life!

Over the course of this month I will be sharing with you what I’ve learned about embracing life. Each week will begin with a Sunday scripture. The rest of the days will reveal key areas of focus with some simple, practical methods of application for your life.

Please come join me in simply embracing this amazing gift called life!

A Room of Her Own

Ms. Gibson's First Day of School

I have been helping my oldest daughter get her new classroom ready this week. She just graduated from college last May and is beginning her very first teaching job. Sixth grade Social Studies. In the very same building where she attended middle school once upon a time. Arranging desks, putting up bulletin board displays, hanging posters, organizing books, and labeling EVERYTHING (the label maker is her new favorite toy). A room of her own. It has been quite a project.

While we were working, I started to think about all of the other rooms I have helped to prepare for this girl of mine. The nursery her daddy finished remodeling just a few hours before we went to the hospital for her birth (I was telling him where to put stuff while I was having contractions!). All of her different bedrooms during her childhood (she endured nine moves). Her college dorm room. Her first apartment. Let’s not forget all of the different décor- Disney babies, balloons, Winnie the Pooh, ballerinas, flowers and butterflies, a ridiculously large poster of the Jonas Brothers, ISU Bengal everything, and loads of inspirational quotes. There have been A LOT of rooms over the years.

This classroom, though. This room is very special.

All of the other rooms have been preparing her for this room.

This is the room where she will step fully into her purpose. Where she will live out all that she has been preparing for since the beginning. Where she will prayerfully plan her lessons and consider the needs of each and every child. Where she will mentor and mold the tender hearts of her students. Where she will inspire, challenge, and encourage those around her to do their very best. Where she will lovingly guide those awkward kiddos along their journey to finding their own purpose.

There will be laughter. There will be tears. There will be music and corny jokes and lots of questions. So. Many. Questions.

But, most of all, there will be Hope.

You see, she is the one thing that all of these rooms have had in common. She is the one who brings her very own spark of magic into every room she enters. Her light, her heart, her desire to be used by God in every situation. Her ability to bring hope to others.

Yes, this is a very special room.

Today she will welcome all of her students into this room for the very first time. When they enter they will see this hanging on the front wall by her desk.

Yes, it does. For all who spend time in this room, may it be an adventure to remember!