Stand Or Sit?
What do you do when you know something is wrong? What do you do when you see or witness something that you know in your heart just should not be ? What in creation can we do? What does God expect of us when we see something happening or about to happen and we have the power to stop it? Do we stand by silent, or do we stand and voice ourselves? Do we stop what we know to be wrong, or do we sit silently and as the years go by yearn for what might have, could have, should have been or what we might, could, and should have done? Do we stand and fight for what is right, or do we sit out of fear of losing that which we hold most dear? Do we get involved and stop what we know to be wrong, or do we sit and spend year after year having regrets for not taking action?
I try to live my life without regret. I try (the key word in that statement is try), I try very hard to do what I would consider “the right thing.” I do have one regret, and that is what spawned this posting. The time when I could have stood up, had my voice be heard, stopped something I knew down to my toes was wrong … I didn’t. Instead, I was a coward, and I stayed put, not muttering a word. Yes, I said coward. That is what I was – plain and simple, a coward.
I have faced my own mortality on more then one occasion, looked death in the face and said, “Let’s dance, you and I.” I have stood up to prominent physicians, at the risk of not only my job but reputation. Why this one time … this ONE time in my life when I could have stopped something that i knew was wrong on every level … why did I sit on my hands and let the universe go out of balance?
My ancestors called out to me and urged me to have the courage to do what my heart told me was the right thing, regardless of the potential personal loss. To this day, it is my one regret. It was a mistake I feel everyday of my life.
I look back with tear filled eyes, saying, “If only” … if only I had the courage … if only I had the strength … this one time!
There are times in our lives that we have to make a choice. The right thing may bring personal hardship, loss and emotional pain. The easy road is just that, the easy way out. But is the lingering pain of regret worse? For me, it is.
The saying around now-a-days is “YOLO” meaning You Only Live Once. A very wise and caring person once wrote to me and said, “We are not guaranteed another day.” Life is short. You shouldn’t spend it with regret or plural … regrets. Live it to the fullest, let yourself be loved by those who have it to give to you. Discard those who would use you or take you for granted.
If only you have the strength, if only.
When that time comes in life when a choice is to be made, what will you do? Will you look down the easy path, or will you draw your sword and charge down that path of hardship because your heart says, “That’s the way to go!”?
If I could go back in time and correct a mistake I made, I would do so without hesitation. Ah, but alas, we cannot go back, only forward.
Learn from yesterday, plan for tomorrow, and live for today.
I live with my regret and touch it daily. I pay for it with tears and a shattered heart. If I have learned anything from my yesterday, I will not be sitting down anymore. No, not any more. I have my feet firmly planted in the ground. I don’t know what the path in front of me will bring. I only know that I haven’t fought this hard to be IN this life to stay sitting any longer. So I say, “Look out world, the wolf is off the chain.”
I may have regrets but realize there is nothing I can do about the past. However, please know that I am not letting it govern me. I am proud of all of my scars. They prove that I have fought and fought hard, which is something that I will continue to do.
So, to life I say, “Bring it! I’m up off the ground and will never go down again!”
And so to the question, “Stand or sit?” I now say to life’s challenges, “Let’s dance … you and I.”
The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character– Margaret Chase Smith
Bloom
We’re gearing up for Friday, y’all! Write your little hearts out for five whole minutes without worrying about getting it “just right.” Don’t worry about perfection. Just let those fingers fly!
Ready?
Set?
GO!
There is a saying that goes a little something like this, “Bloom where you are planted.” What, exactly, does that mean? Let’s explore, shall we?
Thinking back, I was uncomfortable in my own skin for way too long. Circumstances and things of the past influenced my overwhelming feelings of low self esteem. I was lacking self confidence, and I was full of insecurities.
I’ve known about Jesus from a very early age, and I had asked him into my heart and life early on as well. It wasn’t until I was much older in my adult walk that I came to really realize and appreciate what having this relationship with Jesus was about and what it truly meant to be a Child of The King!
For so long I sought other people’s approval. I wanted to “fit in” when the truth of the matter is that I was not like everyone else. I think that added to my insecurities in my younger days; however, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that I am different as I’ve grown older and wiser (or so I’d like to think). Now I don’t concern myself with fitting in or agonize as to whether people will like me. I don’t try to be just like them because I recognize our differences and respect them, knowing full well that God made each of us in our own unique fashion because each of us brings something valuable to the table. No, we may not be like Suzie Q, but that’s okay because God wants us to be exactly who WE are and who He created us to be. He wants us to recognize the beautiful people that we are, how He made us with His very hands, taking His time to form every detail of our being. He smiled looking at his beautiful creation, why then do we stare almost in hatred at ourselves when we look in the mirror?
Bloom where you are planted … to me, that means to appreciate where you are today. You may have faced many trials and tribulations along the way. You may have had situations arise in your life that threatened your sanity, your well being. But know this. God can take the most horrible situation and turn it into something good to be used for His honor and His glory. Bloom where you are planted … watch the tiny little rose bud (that’s you in your younger days wrapped tightly in the bud with insecurities and lacking confidence) slowly begin to open up (that’s you as you’ve grown and matured in life) and transform itself into this bright, vibrantly colored rose displaying all of its wonder and grace (that’s you now, sweet one … we all recognize it but you!). Bloom dear one, as God intended you to be. Recognize your beauty in the present day, appreciate your transformation and know that God has great plans for you … bloom, darlings. Bloom …
STOP!
Be Thoughtful
Do you practice being thoughtful of others? Merriam-Webster defines thoughtful in three ways. The one I want to talk about today is this; “showing concern for the needs of feelings of other people” or their full definition: “given to or chosen or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and wants of others <a kind and thoughtful friend>.”
In today’s world it is so very easy to get wrapped up in our own lives that we can lose sight of what is going on with those family and friends that are an important part of our life. There is a wonderful book that I am re-reading to gain some more insight as to how I can be a better person towards others; Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” There is a singular concept that is talked about throughout the book that really hits home with me; we all need to feel important. This doesn’t mean we all have to have a big ego, it just means we all need to know that someone thinks of us and cares about us. I try very hard to live my life within this philosophy and to treat people with kindness, compassion and respect for their feelings.
Being thoughtful towards others is not difficult. It could be just remembering a special day in someone’s life and letting them know that you do remember. It could be stepping aside in a long line at the supermarket to let someone go ahead of you when they have a few items and you have a cart full. It is as easy as holding a door open for someone. All of these things can be considered being thoughtful towards another. Just doing a small thoughtful gesture for someone can brighten someone’s day.
Take a moment today and think of those you care about. What is some thoughtful gesture you could do for them today?
Be thoughtful!
This was supposed to be a part of the We Care Wednesdays segment. Yesterday, Tamela shared an important message regarding the need for everyone to feel loved. Gregory’s message complements it and goes hand in hand with the message that everyone needs to feel important! Therefore, we thought we would share these two back-to-back … We Care Wednesdays and now Thoughtful Thursdays. 🙂 We hope you enjoyed! ~Shirley
