Control – Love – Concern

Hello friends –

It has been over a month since I’ve written any blogs/posts, not because of writers block just too many ideas floating about my head.  This past month has been very challenging to me and I’ve been kind of stuck.  I’ve had to remind myself that most of the things that are causing me stress I have absolutely “NO CONTROL” over.  Also, I had to reflect upon the lessons I’ve learned over the past year.  One of the biggest accomplishment has been recognizing boundaries for healthier living.  Another important discovery was realizing that every situation is not as simple as one person being right and another person being wrong.  Actual, if someone is right about a specific topic doesn’t mean the other person is wrong.  Of course, there’s at least two sides of every story.  *Example: “I can say the sky is blue and I would be correct.”  Someone else could say, “The sky is grayish.”  And they would/could be correct.  My perspective is determined by my experiences as well as my health.  If my eye sight were deficient to distinguish colors I may never know what blue might be.  Recently, my frustrations regarding my job had drastically affected my overall attitude while at work.  I allowed someone else’s management style which is quite different from mine to steal my joy.  In actuality, I gave and allowed my joy to be taken and silenced.  I became bitter, irritable, withdrawn and angry.  None of this was helpful and it only made me miserable, the object of my frustration never even knew what I was struggling with.  So…decision time, continue down this senseless road or decide to concentrate of what I have control of and make changes.  Then, I needed to identify things that I have concerns about and be completely honest with myself…why does this bother me so much (?).  It was then when I realized something very profound…
I am Charlotte,
I am a child of God,
I am a daughter,
I am a granddaughter,
I am a sister,
I am an aunt,
I am a cousin,
I am a friend to…many and I’m blessed,
Charlotte’s job is what she does NOT who she is!  I am not my job, you are not your job.  I work to earn money to live and pay bills and  to support things I care deeply about.  Honestly, if I were not in need of money I would still want to do the job I currently have.  I love my job, I have some wonderful coworkers and I am energized performing the duties required by my position.  I feel part of something bigger than myself and I truly respect and hold dear some of my work relationships that have formed over time.  My job allows me to interact with a wide variety of people on different levels and in multiple areas and locations.
There’s freedom in letting go of the stuff we can’t control.  Front the very first time we take a breath, we are exposed to things we will never have control over or of.  As I started to think about these things, I realized it’s not a bad thing…I can’t control the weather, I can’t control the sun, I can’t control time, I can’t control what other people think or say, the list goes on and on and on…
What I do have control of…
My attitude,
My temper,
My language,
My memberships,
My beliefs,
My friends,
My money,
My decor,
My car,
My likes,
My dislikes…
I cannot take all the credit for these insightful things, God has and continues to bless me though I am not worthy.  God’s divine grace and unconditional love engulfs me. I have a family that loves me, a church family that loves me, friends that love me, and just as important I am learning to live myself.  Love has to include loving ourselves, it’s difficult to love others when we don’t like ourselves.  It’s similar to the air-mask on a plane, if you’ve ever flown the instructions for placing the air-mask on is to put it on yourself first l, then you can help others.  *See reference below great blog!
“We love Him, because He first loved us. If a man say, “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loveth God love his brother also.”
My hope and prayer is that you love yourself and that you know and experience God’s love.

What does the Bible say?

1. Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.

2. Ephesians 5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.

3. Proverbs 19:8 To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

Love others as you love yourself. 

4. 1. Mark 12:31 The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.

5. Leviticus 19:34 Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

6. James 2:8  Nevertheless, you are doing the right thing if you obey the royal Law in keeping with the Scripture, “You must love your neighbor as yourself.”

7. Leviticus 19:18 “You are not to seek vengeance or hold a grudge against the descendants of your people. Instead, love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

~Blessings and Peace~

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