You know how sometimes your mind dwells on ...

... things or people that are missing in your life?
Or conversations that have left you sad?
Or frustrating situations?
Or disagreements that ended unfairly?
Or hurts and hangups that remain hurtful and hang uppy and disappointing?

Yeah, well, if you're unemployed and live alone, there are a whole lot of hours in a day when the only voice you hear is the one in your head. And if you don't control that voice, holee hannna, is it ever easy to get in a rut, listing all the crap that is wrong with your life. It's becoming a struggle not to dwell on sad things these days.

A few days ago, I posted this on facebook:
Instead of worrying or reliving sad memories or getting anxious about tomorrow, think on THESE things:

Today, after the closing ceremonies, while sitting out in the backyard, I wanted to stop my inner voice from filling my soul with sludge, so I started writing a list of things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

The list is in my prayer journal and I hope to need to add to it every day.

Here's what I've got so far:

THINGS THAT ARE TRUE

• God loves me.
• He is continuing the good work He started in me.
• God loves Clint, Max and Drew and is continuing the work He started in them too.
• God's promises are all true.

THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE

THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT

• Praying instead of worrying is (the) right (thing to do).
• Families are right. Family units were God's idea.
• God's word is right. It's never wrong.

THINGS THAT ARE PURE

• The water that comes straight from my tap; it's pure. 
• My dad's love for my mom.
• The joy of the Olympic athletes. 

THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY

• Delphiniums.
• Hydrangeas.
• My kids' faces. 
• The house my dad built for my mom.
• The moon.
• My truck. Oh yes it is. 
• Greeting cards filled with nice words.

THINGS THAT ARE ADMIRABLE

• Max's willingness to share his story at detox centers.
• The apology I recently received from a friend. Whoa. Such transparency and vulnerability.

THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT

• Diamonds and pearls.
• Well-written books.
• Meryl Streep's ability to act.

THINGS THAT ARE PRAISEWORTHY

• The way God uses colors and textures so creatively.
• The way that God designed oceans to have breezes.
• Guys who get their One Year cakes (for being 'clean')

As you can see, I got stuck on 'noble'. I guess I don't really know what the word means... because I think a nobleman = a royal family member. So I supposed I could have put Wills, Kate and Harry's names in there, but somehow that seemed wrong.

So I just left it.
Then I read today's devotional ...

All your children will be taught by the Lord, and they will have much peace. Is 54:13
"Never underestimate the ponderings of a Christian parent. Never underestimate the power that comes when a parent pleads with God on behalf of their child. God listens to thoughtful parents.
Praying for our children is a noble task. If what we are doing is taking us away from prayer time for our children we're too busy. There is nothing more special, more precious, that time that a parent spends struggling and pondering and praying and pleading with God on behalf of a child."

... and proceeded to pray for my kids. " ... protect them from evil and harm. Speak to them clearly; enable them to hear and recognize your voice. Help them surrender their will to You. Guide their footsteps, direct their paths. Bring friends of YOUR choosing into their lives - friends that challenge and love them. Friends that help them see You more clearly. Send your messengers of Good News into their lives and enable them to embrace it. For Your Glory, may Clint, Max and Drew be leaders of men into Your kingdom..." etc

and I prayed for those couples that I know are pregnant
and I prayed for those couples that I know are engaged
and I prayed for those couples that I know are newlyweds

and I prayed for my daughter-in-laws and their families

and I prayed for my mom and my dad. (This isn't getting any easier. My dad is asking my mom if he couldn't please come live with her, he loves her and he'd be 'good'. Then he said, he'd been thinking and thinking and realized that maybe she was trying to get rid of him, by leaving him there.

Oh dad. I'm so sad that you're so broken. Heart disease, Parkinsons, Dementia, and Stroke.
And I'm sad that it's so lonely, living in a nursing/care home.
And I'm sad that you don't understand any of this.

And mom? I'm sad that you are in such pain. I'm praying you will feel relief today.)

Whoa. And just like that I'm sad again. I tell you. I have got to Stop Thinking.

ANYWAYS, it wasn't until just this moment, while I'm typing this out, that I noticed the sentence in the devotional: "Praying for our children is a NOBLE task."

Really? It is?
Well alrightly then.

THINGS THAT ARE NOBLE

• Praying for your kids
• Praying for your parents
• Praying for your parent's friends
• Praying for your kids' friends

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three FIVE things that I'm thankful for:

1. Cake night tonight at Max's NA Meeting. I'm thankful for these guys who are committed to living in recovery. I'm thankful that they support and care deeply for each other. I'm thankful that family relationships have been restored. I'm thankful for their transparency in sharing their struggles and victories. I'm thankful for their dependency on a Higher Power. I'm thankful for the 12 Steps Program. I'm thankful for each guy that shared this evening.
2. I am thankful for the Olympics. And the way it promotes not only excellence in athletics, but a global warm feeling. We are all connected. What happens on the other side of the globe, matters to us. Yay, Uganda for winning the Most Important Gold Medal. What is happening in your country? Do you need help? What can we do?
3. I am thankful for musicians. Seriously. Who doesn't love music? 
4. I am thankful for the cool night air. I love sitting here, beside an open window, and feel the breeze on my face. 
5. I am thankful that God is patient. 

Shalom,

~~~~~~~~~~~

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.