Sometimes life trips us up.

Chunky Sandals

 

   My middle daughter was going through a clumsy stage at about ten when she fell in love with a pair of chunky sandals. You may remember this fad; they had wide, brown leather straps and tire tread soles. They were so heavy that they stretched out which made a sloppy fit.

   We all decided to go to the mall and she asked to wear the sandals. I told her no, but she wore them anyway. She tripped as we entered the mall and there she went, all the way down, spread eagle on the floor, with her giant orange smoothie in her hand.

   Well I flipped out to put it mildly. Melody was crying, I was yelling and there was orange smoothie everywhere. I probably should have reacted with a little compassion, but I was embarrassed. I finally told my daughter she had to take off the sandals and walk barefoot through the mall. She was mortified at this and cried that she would look stupid walking through the mall in bare feet. I just looked at her, dumbfounded! I was thinking how ridiculous she looked spread out on the floor covered in smoothie!

   Isn’t this the way it goes in life sometimes? We make wrong decisions and end up embarrassing ourselves, and making a big mess. It’s so comforting to know we have a loving Father that has a perfect path etched out for us and is willing to gently guide us along the way.  He instructs us through His word and time spent with Him. He is the best teacher of all; He wants us to be blessed and to succeed not trip all over and mess up our lives.

Psalm 32:8

   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

 

Working on a better me.

Where are the Endorphins?

 

I have to admit I’m not an exercise enthusiast. Actually, I don’t enjoy it at all. You can try to disguise it all you want but if it feels like exercise it probably won’t happen happily. I’ve tried a lot of programs with those super happy, over energized trainers. I can hear them in my sleep! Promises of a slender body and more energy tug at my mind in hopes of a little motivation. I am still waiting for those tranquilizing and pain killing endorphin hormones to do their job.

  I think I read somewhere that your brain releases endorphins if you eat chocolate. Now there’s a program I can get on board with.

I don’t say this because I am anti-exercise; we all need to keep in balance and I’m trying to figure that all out, but I am convinced that it is more important to  exercise your spirit and mind. By meditating on the Word of God, we strengthen the "heart muscle" and learn to forgive. You can increase your stamina and patience through prayer. Build and strengthen “church body” muscles by helping others and encouraging them. Feel the tranquilizing and pain killing “endorphins” of the Holy Spirit and the peace God brings with a loving relationship with him. It’s really a great program. Development in God’s program is assurance, for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:7,8

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

 

 

 This is my little exercise friend, if it were any more laid back I would be laying on the floor and someone else would be moving my legs for me. (wait, is that possible? or is that physical therapy?)

Bad Habits

   I have to admit I have a few bad habits. Besides the usual ones like over eating and under exercising, procrastination, talking too much, not reading directions and when I do read directions not following them, I am a spontaneous buyer. I love a sale. It usually doesn't matter what it is, if its on sale I feel empowered and its hard to resist. Buyers remorse then sets in and I am left feeling ridiculous and broke. Once I bought a live animal trap because it was  hugely discounted, what in the world was I going to use an animal trap for?! That one goes down in the log of shame along with the oxygen weight loss video (breath your way to a skinnier you) and the "happily paint your walls in one stroke" painting system. (painting never makes me happy)

   When I became a grandma it really got out of control. At one point when Olivia was three she had fourteen pairs of shoes and both grandkids have owned at least three winter coats at one time.

   I recently took a trip to the local "everything mart" and was excited to find another great deal, pickled sausages.  I loved those little sausages and they bring back memories of  pregnancy cravings I had thirty years ago. I picked up my GALLON jar of sausages and tried to slyly tuck them under my arm. I have to admit I was a little embarrassed to walk around the store with a gallon jar of pickled sausages under my arm, but I plunked my money on the counter, avoided eye contact with the cashier and left for home.

   No sooner had I left the store when buyers remorse set in. What in the world was I going to do with a gallon of pickled sausages? I saved sixteen dollars but I still spent twenty dollars on PICKLED SAUSAGE!! 

   I returned them an hour later, still trying to avoid eye contact with the cashier, and I put my money back where it belonged. The fact that I returned them gives me hope that I will someday not succumb to those urges. In the meantime feel free to drop me hints about your kids' sizes or what your favorite treat is, you never know when they might come on sale.