Homework

One of the blogs that I read every once in a while is Back in Skinny Jeans, which is a blog by an average woman about meeting the extraordinary expectations of today's world. Last week, she put up an entry citing 7 Ways to Help You Make It Through the Thanksgiving Insanity, and while we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, I thought she had a couple of pearls of wisdom that were very relevant to anyone. Just replace "Thanksgiving" with [Insert your holiday here]:

Thanksgiving is basically one big homework assignment. You said you wanted to become more patient, understanding, forgiving, and loving. Well, this is your biggest chance of the year, and even better, you can get some two for ones in there. Remember in Evan Almighty? God doesn't give people patience, he gives them opportunities to become a patient person. You only become by practicing, so remember that when the irritants begin.

Don't give your fears & insecurities more power than your happiness & joy. Who's really in charge? It's you! And why spend your day miserable? What will you gain? Wouldn't you rather experience joy even if it's just a small dose over nothing. Again, everything is perspective, and you have the power to look at your family and this Thanksgiving day with a whole new set of lenses.

The day can turn instantly just based on one decision you make to look at it and everyone involved differently. Remember last week when Nathan talked about how one day you can look into a mirror and see a superstar, and the next day see a haggard. It's the same face looking in the same mirror, so what's the difference? Perspective. That's it. You choose how you look at things.

Amen.