Grateful for Small Witnesses
My mind has been full of little things over the past few days. They keep bouncing around in my head. Over and over again. Sometimes I ride the highs. Other times, I wish I could be back on the highs and wonder how I got so far away from them. I ask myself why I can't feel the highs all the time. I don't know that I know all the answers to that question. I find myself reflecting upon those people who share with me their highs and can't help but wonder why they are riding highs all the time.
Today, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of great people. Together we have been handed a new obstacle in life. Individually, we will work to overcome that challenge. Some of us may reach out to each other for assistance in trying times, others of us will reach out to loved ones outside of our circle. I am concerned for those who will not reach out at all. I fear that there are some who will slip between the cracks and be swallowed up in the obstacle.
Anyway, today as I met with this group, I was asked how I was doing. My response, "I am Incredible!" Mentally, I thought of Russell and found myself correcting my response to say, "I am AWESOME!", because would expect nothing less from him. The reaction I received made me start to wonder. She asked me how I could be. How could I be give such an obstacle and still tell people I was Incredible? She could not figure it out, but she wanted to have the same. It was was then that Russell started whispering in my head. "You are what you Choose to be." Not only do you have to tell yourself, but you have to believe yourself. It is contagious and will spread. Then those who have it will give it back to you and you will catch it. It is an Eternal round. It is a plan.
I love this plan. You see, one of the first things I did after seeing this obstacle was counting to 10. I caught be breath, held back tears, searched for a brown paper bag, and then, I found a quiet room, fell to my knees, shed a few tears, and opened my heart to my Father. I shared my concerns, fears, and challenges. I did not get all the answers or direction I was seeking right then and there, in fact, I still don't have the all the answers, but I did feel and overwhelming peace. I knew that it would all work out, everything would be fine, and that I would figure out how to overcome this challenge or it would be removed from me when the timing is right. That was good enough for me.
The next morning, I crawled out of bed, showered, and went to work. Once in the building, I started to doubt myself. I could not feel the peace. I started worrying about all the "What Ifs?". Then someone asked, "Are you OK? Is there anything I can do for you? How can I help?" I looked them in the eye and remembered the peace. Suddenly I visualized all the challenges this person was facing in their personal life and yet they were focused on me, right there, right then, right when I needed it. How could that be? They had so much more to worry about than I did. It was going to be OK. He listened. He could not be there at the moment, but he sent someone.
I am grateful for such concern, care, and attention to detail. I hope that I can be an equal instrument when needed.
I hope that all of you can do the same. Share the little things, even when they seem far and few between. I like the inspiration I have received as of late. The Little Miracles of life. It may be a smile, a pray, a story, or hug. It may be the fact that someone just talks and listens to you when it does not seem that others will. Maybe it is recognizing that prayer works and sharing your witnesses of it. Maybe it was the miracle of persistently insisting that someone pray for help or allows us to pray for the help for them. Who knows? They come in small packages.
Look beyond yourself. You will find the high you are looking for as you become the AWESOME instrument. If nothing else, it will make you feel good for being. I thank those publicly for letting me witness your willingness to help others at all times, giving of yourselves, being Incredible, even when you may not be there yet, but you believe you will be. You lift me. I hope I can do the same. That is my goal. We will make it.
Today, I had the opportunity to meet with a group of great people. Together we have been handed a new obstacle in life. Individually, we will work to overcome that challenge. Some of us may reach out to each other for assistance in trying times, others of us will reach out to loved ones outside of our circle. I am concerned for those who will not reach out at all. I fear that there are some who will slip between the cracks and be swallowed up in the obstacle.
Anyway, today as I met with this group, I was asked how I was doing. My response, "I am Incredible!" Mentally, I thought of Russell and found myself correcting my response to say, "I am AWESOME!", because would expect nothing less from him. The reaction I received made me start to wonder. She asked me how I could be. How could I be give such an obstacle and still tell people I was Incredible? She could not figure it out, but she wanted to have the same. It was was then that Russell started whispering in my head. "You are what you Choose to be." Not only do you have to tell yourself, but you have to believe yourself. It is contagious and will spread. Then those who have it will give it back to you and you will catch it. It is an Eternal round. It is a plan.
I love this plan. You see, one of the first things I did after seeing this obstacle was counting to 10. I caught be breath, held back tears, searched for a brown paper bag, and then, I found a quiet room, fell to my knees, shed a few tears, and opened my heart to my Father. I shared my concerns, fears, and challenges. I did not get all the answers or direction I was seeking right then and there, in fact, I still don't have the all the answers, but I did feel and overwhelming peace. I knew that it would all work out, everything would be fine, and that I would figure out how to overcome this challenge or it would be removed from me when the timing is right. That was good enough for me.
The next morning, I crawled out of bed, showered, and went to work. Once in the building, I started to doubt myself. I could not feel the peace. I started worrying about all the "What Ifs?". Then someone asked, "Are you OK? Is there anything I can do for you? How can I help?" I looked them in the eye and remembered the peace. Suddenly I visualized all the challenges this person was facing in their personal life and yet they were focused on me, right there, right then, right when I needed it. How could that be? They had so much more to worry about than I did. It was going to be OK. He listened. He could not be there at the moment, but he sent someone.
I am grateful for such concern, care, and attention to detail. I hope that I can be an equal instrument when needed.
I hope that all of you can do the same. Share the little things, even when they seem far and few between. I like the inspiration I have received as of late. The Little Miracles of life. It may be a smile, a pray, a story, or hug. It may be the fact that someone just talks and listens to you when it does not seem that others will. Maybe it is recognizing that prayer works and sharing your witnesses of it. Maybe it was the miracle of persistently insisting that someone pray for help or allows us to pray for the help for them. Who knows? They come in small packages.
Look beyond yourself. You will find the high you are looking for as you become the AWESOME instrument. If nothing else, it will make you feel good for being. I thank those publicly for letting me witness your willingness to help others at all times, giving of yourselves, being Incredible, even when you may not be there yet, but you believe you will be. You lift me. I hope I can do the same. That is my goal. We will make it.
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