Meaningful Words (3/7/09)

I guess the real question is, can I be thankful for “Minnesota Nice”? In pondering this, I find myself thankful for the people in my life that call Minnesota their home. However, sometimes I wish they could understand that I really don’t need them to be so “nice” to me. I work to be gracious when I am confronted with my own mistakes and defects and hope that they learn from my example. It does hurt when people don’t think well of me or when I have to face the consequences of my own mistakes, yet it hurts even more when I find that the people who have a problem with me can’t bring themselves to say so to my face. Truly, I don’t bite ;-) After all, Jesus once said, “If your brother sins against you,a go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).” That is the model for how we should work with others.

Here are two poems that I have found helpful in learning to be thankful in my relations with people and one poem of my own

Take Time
Take time to think...
it is the source of power.

Take time to play...
it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to pray...
it is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to love and be loved...
it is a God-given privilege.

Take time to be friendly...
it is the road to happiness.

Take time to laugh...
it is the music of the soul.

Take time to give...
it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to work...
it is the price of success.

Take time to do charity...
it is the key to heaven.

Author Unknown

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr


Let Go
The Father:
I invite you, My child, to let go.
Let go of your need to worry,
for it really does you no good.
Let go of your need to control,
for you really have none.
Let go of your need for a plan,
for I am all you really ever need!

I invite you, My child, to let Me in.
Let Me into your concerns,
for I can bear your load.
Let Me into your life,
for I do know what I am doing.
Let Me into your heart,
for I am the One you were created for.

I invite you, My child,
to know the truth.
Know that I care for you and I will see to your needs.
Know that I am taking care of them even now.
Know that I am Your Faithful Father.

His Child:
Lord, help me to trust when I don’t want to trust
Lord, help me to love when I don’t want to love
Lord, help to give, when I don’t want to give
To give my life to You.

For you, Oh Lord, are the Lover of my soul
Yes, You, Oh Lord, are faithful.
Yes, You, Oh Lord, will watch over me
And care for me better than I ever could.

As I close out this letter, I do find myself extremely grateful for each of you and all of the people God has place in my life over the years. I know that God has shown me so much in my relationships with each of you and I pray He has blessed you through them as well.