MAKING DECISIONS

By this time in your life I am sure you have learned the importance of the decisions you will be making. All of us make rash decisions, often forgetting that the consequences will bounce right back at us. There is no way to get away from that so we need to be very careful in what we decide and how the results will affect us and our loved ones.
Wrong decisions can bring results that might last all our lives. I am number one at deciding something is right to do when actually it might be the last thing I should do. Age doesn't matter; we can decide the wrong thing at any time. All decisions, however, bring good or bad results. Everyone has had the moment of thinking, "Oh, if only I had not done that!" Hurts, but there is no way to avoid the pain we often bring on ourselves. As long as we are breathing we will be making mistakes.
The important thing is to recognise our mistakes, accept the results and go on from there. We can't stall and just stay at that point. Life is moving on and we have to do the same. Go on, face tomorrow's decisions and try to be more careful so that the results might be more pleasant and possibly bring gladness to our lives. We must learn to rely on God rather than ourselves. The greater our faith the less likely we are to do dumb things but we must accept the fact that we often bring these things on ourselves. God didn't and we can't blame others for our actions. Get up, dust yourself off and go on to the next event in your life. Remember that God loves us; His forgiveness is available and His mercy is great.

BELIEVING IN YOUR ABILITY

If you want to succeed at anything, you must first believe in your ability to do it! When you think you can't, you won't. If you believe you can, most often you will! I am still amazed at the years I wasted when I thought I was useless and unable to do anything right. It is scary how this can happen but I am sure that it happens to many. Remember, God gave each of us certain abilities; we can use these talents in our career, our hobby or our pleasure. You can do things that I can't do, just as I might be able to do certain things that you have no interest in doing.
I believe that our special talents involve the things we enjoy. I certainly don't spend a lot of time doing things I don't enjoy; what would be the point? We can do these thing in ways that might help others. I am certain of one thing: we need each other. Whoever says 'I don't need anyone' is not being honest with herself nor with others. My simple belief is that we are here to love and help one another.
Oh, yes! I have met many whose goal is to gain something at others' expense; there will always be these kind of people. The ones who are walking the right path are interested in helping others and they believe they can. When they choose a career, they believe they can succeed. Who would waste maybe years trying to do something they don't expect to do? You are reminded that God loves you and that makes you somebody special, one who can have a life worth living! Go for it! Each day is another opportunity!

ATTITUDE DETERMINES EVERY RESULT

I cannot stress too strongly that our attitudes about ourselves definitely determine whether we succeed or fail! As long as I believed that I was a total failure, I WAS! When I finally remembered that I had been a top student, intelligent and creative, then I began doing and succeeding at many things! The difference was amazing! The feeling of accomplishment gave me such a rush that I began to enjoy challenges. I wanted to see what I was capable of doing!
Each of us has God-given abilities that we use or don't use. It is up to us whether we even try. I would rather try something and fail than not have the courage to try. Just as I have been, you will be amazed at the things you are capable of doing! However, if one thing fails, go on to the next 'to do' item on your list. If all of us did the same thing, life would be boring! Stretch and see what YOU can do; you might be surprised!

KNOWING WHO YOU ARE

At this stage of your life, do you know who you are? Have you decided what and who is important in your life? All of us need to know ourselves, to look at our inner selves and see what really matters to us. Are you happy with who you are? Do you like and approve the things you do and say? If you don't, only YOU can change yourself.
Sometimes we might act as though we are different from what we really are inside. This causes confusion and slows our journey in finding our purpose in life. I speak from experience. During my 20s and 30s I tried so hard to be tough as I acted and spoke in ways that even I didn't like!I thought this would keep others from taking advantage of the soft person I was inside. It didn't; the result was that I did not like the person I had become. Being disappointed in others is bad enough but to be disappointed in yourself really hurts!
I thank God that I finally learned to be ME and this helped me to grow as the person I was and am. I got to the point of wanting to be the one that God saw in me and that was a BIG step forward! As I near 80, I strive each day to act and speak the way I should. I am by no means perfect but my change of attitude about myself helped me get on with life as I learned that life can be an exciting challenge. We will have problems as long as we breathe but I know the One who will guide me out of the valley as I enjoy the gift of another day! Join me, won't you?