Good morning…
During our therapeutic community group on Tuesday morning, we discussed things that are “out of my control” and things that are “in my control. “Out of my control” are these important facets of life. How healing happens. The scars of my past. What God thinks of me. Other’s opinions. Results of my obedience. If others want healing. How you were made. When seasons come and go. How long I have to wait. What the world thinks of me.
“In my control” are these empowering facets of my life. Who I trust with tomorrow. My perspective. My commitment to healing. Choosing love over pride. My language. How I wait. My attention to His Word. Tenderness to others. My rhythms. Prayer life. What I think about God.
Then, we did an activity which involved symbolically burning away things that hold us back from experiencing fullness of life.
Like I said, that was Tuesday morning.
God continued this life-giving lesson. On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, I taught chapter eight in Choose Joy by Kay Warren, entitled “Nurturing Joy in Others.” Both classes highlighted one sentence on page 144. The repeated reminder two days in a row was very helpful to me.
Kay writes: “I recently found this anonymous riff on Reinhold Niebuhr’s famous serenity prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.”
As God burns away my attempts to change others, I am gifted with the courage to gradually change myself.
Jesus says it this way in Luke 6:37-38a in the Message translation. “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.”
…Sue…
