NOPE! DON’T simply “Build up your self-esteem”, friend!
A long time ago, someone said something funny.
I won’t say WHO because I’ve learned (the hard way!) that if I say embarrassing things about my friends or family online, they’re mad at me for a while, which is annoying. Also, none of us (always!) have enough tricks up our sleeves to restore the power balance. (For example, by being nice to them so you can be mean to them later, etc.)
Join people in sixty-seven countries who read this! (Look! I don’t know why people read this stuff, either! It must be because they’re cool, too!) Let’s journey together!
So anyway, this family member and/or friend and/or relative and/or stranger once looked at the clock before leaving in the morning.
“Great! I have time to poo today!” the person said, before leaving the house. I thought, but I DIDN’T say (See how wise I’ve become?), “Maybe you should wake up 2 minutes and 30 seconds earlier each day?” But I didn’t say that, because sometimes we get stuck in a rut or an unhelpful habit.
For example, I forgot to learn from my husband for 25 years in an area that would have really helped me.
There are other unhelpful patterns that I’ve been noticing – for example, a friend who has been stuck in the same relational problems for 30 years – different people over the years, but the same essential problem. “MAYBE your (potential) emotional wounds have something to do with these broken relationships?” I want to suggest, gently. She is not open to suggestions in this area. Luckily I AM! (See the mountain biking example above or HERE!)
So how do we get out of these unhelpful life patterns that all of us have, if we’re honest?
What have I learned? Oh! I’m glad you asked!
Well, unfortunately (for you), I still have (a FEW!) bad habits I need to recover from, including desperately striving each day to extract enough love from every passerby to fill my unending tank by seeking love everywhere I go. Still, I have been growing in this area! This is what I’ve learned:
- When I remember that I am (Me! Little ol’ me!) NOT perfect; ironically, this is when I can finally put down my busy work and rest awhile. So, the surprise is that it’s NOT in building up our fragile self-esteem where the healing comes. Instead, it’s in honestly (Hey! We know this stuff if we’re honest!) admitting we messed up again that the sigh of honest relief can be let out (finally!) along with our stomach fat.
- I come in this state, this NOT PERFECT state, and hold up my glass to Jesus. Can You please give me a drink?
- Then I swim in the deeper water of His love.
And the irony is that the more broken I am, the more healing is His love.
If only I could remember stuff like that, because USUALLY, I’m pretty awesome! (Not gonna lie). As the song below sings, consider asking Holy Spirit, “If I had time to rest, where would You want me to sit with nothing else going on, and take 5 minutes to receive a glass of Your comforting love and water from the deepest well?”
(What do you sense in the depths of your soul?)
And may you be transformed, friend.
Receiving a few more drops of the love of God MAY not solve all your problems (like setting your alarm a bit earlier, now that I think of it), but you would be surprised how much transformation happens this way! And hey – maybe you can even become a little more awesome! Like me! (just sayin’)
You’re welcome!
Good luck!
Let’s journey together.
Photo Credit: May The Light Light Your Path, Friend by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash
By your words I can see where I’m going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
