JoAnne's Blog

Pause

Practice the Pause!

When in doubt, Pause. 

When angry, Pause. 

When tired, Pause. 

When frustrated, Pause.

When stressed, Pause. 

And when you Pause, Pray.

Why? 

Because in every encounter, we either give LIFE, or we drain it.  There is no neutral exchange.

                - from Toby Mac at Speak Life  

Such sound advice! I know that I have said things and then wished I hadn't, especially when experiencing some of the emotions mentioned above.  Let's take time to think before we speak.

To quote the words of King Solomon "Death and life are in the power of the tongue."

 

 

 

Love at First Sight

Following Valentine's Day, I wonder

Do you believe in love at first sight? 

I can't say that I really know the answer to this question; but I would venture to say "No".

I think what happens at first sight is infatuation and that can definitely lead to love.  But I question whether it happens instantly.  To really love someone, you need to know who they are. 

When I first met my husband, I thought I was in love. He was tall, dark and handsome, kind of looked like Elvis Presley to me.  On our first date, we went to my prom and danced all night; then afterwards we ate pizza with my  brother and his date.  At the end of the night, he kissed me at the door.  I can tell you I thought I was in love.  I was in love with how he made me feel, not who he was.  I didn't even know him. 

We have been married for over 48 years now and I can tell you that I do love this man.  I love my husband for who he is.  He is a man of integrity, kind, caring, supportive, and a good provider.  He is my friend and I can trust him to be there for me.

What do you think about love at first sight?   I would love to hear your comments.

Valentine's Day

"When you love someone, you love the whole person, just as he or she is, and not as you would like them to be.” a quote from the book Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Today is Valentine's day and many people will receive gifts of flowers, candy, cards, etc. items to show their love for the other person.  Some will choose this day to become engaged as a remembrance of their love for one another.  Love is something that we all desperately need.  Studies have shown that babies do not develop properly unless given love. Children and teenagers unacceptable behaviour can often be traced back to a lack of love.  Relationships die, divorces happen, because people don't love each other any more.  Old people in nursing homes, lonely and sometimes forgotten, are starving for love and often die of a broken heart. 

Why is it that love comes easy to some people; while others find it difficult to achieve? What is love? 

 The Bible describes love in the book of Corinthians and this passage is often cited at weddings.  Love is not a feeling.  Love is an action.  Love is a choice.  If you want to experience true love, you must be willing to accept people as they are.   To experience true unconditional love; we must not put conditions on it.

Reach out to someone today!  Call that friend you've been meaning to touch base with.  Smile at a stranger!

Tell your child, teenager, mom, dad, wife or husband that you love them.  Plan a special outing.

The best story of unconditional love is told in the Bible.  God sent his Son, Jesus, to die for us.  There is no greater love than this.  

Have a great Valentine's Day!

 

 

Love

Here are just a few quotes I found about love, considering that it will soon be Valentine's day.

"Love is the greatest power on earth.  It conquers all things."  Peace Pilgrim

"As love grows in you, beauty grows too.  For love is the beauty of the soul."  St. Augustine of Hippo

"The law of attraction or the law of love; they are one and the same."  Charles Haanel

"Love is life and if you miss love, you miss life."  (not sure where this quote came from)

"Where there is the greatest love; there are always miracles."  Willa Cather

"There is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love; the more they give, the more they possess."  Rainer Maria Rilke

"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."  The Bible NLT

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   The Bible  KJV

 

 

Feelings

The following is an excerpt of something I recently read.  I believe it is a simple truth that we must understand if we want to truly succeed.

Feelings LIE!  Emotions LIE!

To be successful, you must not follow your feelings.

Your feelings will lead you to excuses.

Your feelings will lead you to quit.

In those times, you have to Choose to speak life & stay focused on the Truth.  Stay focused on the direction you know you need to go, and do not be swayed one way or the other. 

Push through the feelings and stay focused on action, and it will you to success.

I would love to hear any of your comments.

A Lost Wallet

Have you ever lost your wallet?  Well, I did today.  Wynn and I had been shopping in Victoria and were on our way home.  We took the long way so that I could stop in Cordova Bay to visit a Quilting Shop there.  When I was getting out of the car, I could not find my wallet.   At first, total panic set in, as I began to think about everything that was in it.  I told Wynn we need  to get home quickly so I could cancel my cards and then I need to report it to the police.  Wynn started asking me questions, like, when did you have it last?   I remembered having it in Home Depot, the last place we were in in Victoria.  Then, I remember setting it down when I tried on a headset to protect your ears from noise.  I didn't remember picking it back up again.  Okay, so we turn around and head back to Home Depot.  How could I be so careless?  I should have taken my purse in, instead of just my wallet.  I started getting angry at myself.    Suddenly, it hit me.  This is not how I want to be reacting.  Is it the end of the world?  No!  Am I okay, healthy, safe?  Yes!  I began to thank God in the situation for his goodness and a calmness began to come over me.  I prayed that I would get my wallet back somehow, but knew that it would be alright if I didn't.  When I went into the store, I asked at the 'till if a wallet had been turned in.  I told her where I had placed it down and she phoned that department.  No, they had not seen it.  She checked at the office and no, it had not been turned in.  She said, "Sorry, honey!"  I could have left then.  But I decided to check where I had set it down to see if maybe it had fallen underneath something.  But no, it wasn't there.  An employee was sitting near by at a desk and I asked her if she had seen a wallet.  She said that she didn't work in that department.  Another employee standing nearby heard me ask her about a wallet and he said that he found it and had turned it into the customer service department.  I was elated.  I walked over to the desk and told them about my wallet.  The young man could not find it, but kept looking as I told him what the employee had said, that he took it to customer service.  Finally, he found it.  I went back to the employee and thanked him, again.  It is so good to know that there are honest people in this world.  But more importantly, I am so thankful that I have someone to turn to when things go wrong and I don't have to worry or let things get me down. 

 

Why?

Have you ever decided to do something you have never done before and then after the fact asked yourself the question why?  That was me this morning.  My buttock muscles and lower back are giving me such grief.  The reason is that last night was ballet class, yes, you heard me right.  I am attending an adult ballet class.  We do a little modern dance with it, but it is mostly ballet.  Last night was the fourth night and only 2 people were there.  So it was a semi-private lesson and there was no place for me to hide at the back of the room, ha, ha!  Where was everyone anyway?  Consequently, as there was only one other person to watch besides me, I felt I needed to do everything correctly, give it everything I have.  Yikes!  As a result, the teacher noticed that I have very high arches and she said many ballet dancers would be most envious.  Of course, that made me, in my mind, want to do more than my body really wanted to.  Therefore, the pain this morning.  I know it will pass.  Would I recommend ballet class to someone my age who has never taken ballet before?   No, run the other way!   Just kidding!  It is very good discipline for the body and mind.

Birthdays!

Birthdays are special.  This one certainly was.  Of course, receiving my book at the same time and recalling my clear CT scan has surely put this one over the top.  But I am reflecting tonight about how special our birth day is.  God planned the day that I would be born; it is a special day.  He knew who my parents would be, who I would grow up to be and the special plans He has just for me.  I am part of a family and tonight we celebrated together.  However, part of my celebration tonight is a gratefulness to God for who I am and have become because of His love for me.  My earthly family is a big one; but I am part of an even bigger family than that.  I am a part of the family of God.

Be Active, Feel Good

Well, this has been a very busy summer for me. A trip to Ontario, hiking, biking, bowling, museum visits, our daughter's wedding and a family vacation up island, not to mention all the fun cooking and making cookies (no-bake) with grandkids has certainly caused my summer to be busy.  Being active and using up energy has even generated more energy in me and I feel good.  My body has responded with endorphins (feel-good chemicals) and I have felt truly happy. 

Now that the dust has settled and things seem to be getting back to normal around here; I am left with quiet and solitude, well almost.  My point is do I settle for that or do I continue being active and getting out.  I have discovered that for me, a cancer survivor, I need to be busy.  I need to be active and that makes me happy.  It is the satisfaction of having done something good for me and my body.  Afterwards I can bask in the satisfaction of whatever activity I have completed.

Today Chloe and I, my dog, walked for an hour this morning.  Now after completing a load of wash and hanging it on the line, I am going to read a little in my hammock and then.  Who knows? 

 

New Year's Resolution

Have you heard of the One Word resolution?  Actually, it is called #OneWord365.  I read about it on a Facebook post.  

Basically, the idea is to forget about new year's resolutions.  How many of us remember them after a few weeks anyway?  I know I don't and so don't usually make any.  However, this year I am excited about the idea to Choose just one word! That's it.     

You focus on one word, every day, all year long.  In essence, the word should sum up who you want to be or how you want to live.  On the website, it suggests that it will not be easy; you will need to be committed.  But if you let it, it will shape you, as it wil help to direct your decisions and guide your steps.

I have thought long and hard about what word I would choose.  Surprisingly, I chose "Die". What on earth do I mean?

Die to preconceived ideas that don't match up with who I was designed to be and therefore discover who I really am.  Die to selfishness in all areas of my life.  Die to perfectionism in my health, in my writing, in my relationships.  Die to procrastination, etc.  You get the idea.

How about you?   What word would you choose?