The Right People and the Right Outcome

Aware that I am empowered by God, I have nothing to fear. Lately my family has had a couple of health issues. As hard as I try not to worry, the serenity I desire is not always there. At those times, I have to surround myself with people who truly are 100% supportive. It's important to have people in our lives who build us up. These are the positive, faith-filled people who connect with us, inspire us, encourage us, and challenge us to be our best. I met someone the other day who had a positive attitude toward our teaching jobs. She had faith that no matter what the economy is doing to discourage the district, that we should stay with it and that things would work out. I came home feeling like I was on the right path. It's the same with my family. I have to believe that they will make the right decisions for their health and well-being. I know that God is arranging things in their favor. My daughter is a naturopath and believes in alternative methods for healing. I want to embrace her vision and faith. I have been encouraged by her optimism. God always sends the right people to help me in my quest to stay positive, and for that, I am very grateful. I keep my guard up against negativity and when I fail at that, I forgive myself pretty easily. I stay in the present moment and know that God has everything under control and will always help everything to turn out as it should. Love and Light, Patty

There Is No Comparsion

"To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are," writes Sven Goran Eriksson. If we could only learn to be comfortable with the person God made us to be, we would not get distracted from becoming the best possible self we can be. Others can inspire us and challenge us, but we need to stay focused on our own goals. Jerry Jampolsky, renowned psychologist and one of the most inspirational people I read, writes, "When I find myself comparing myself to other people, I can now recognize that I am not only being unloving to myself, I am setting the other person up as my enemy. Admiring someone's abilities and aspiring to them as a positive role model is quite different from drawing comparisons and judging myself or the other person. As I look for and find everyone's uniqueness and support them where they are, I can also support and enhance myself."

Joel Osteen says that "when you celebrate others, God will celebrate you." Our job is to support other people in their success. This is not always easy. Sometimes we get jealous. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair that other people seem to get the breaks that we don't. However, each of us has talent. Each of us has something great in our person to be celebrated so we should hold our head high and be the best we can be.

The other day I saw a poster that said something like, "Don't aim to be perfect. Just aim to be better than you were yesterday." I am taking that to heart. I was in yoga class last night, and I couldn't do the poses perfectly or even as well as most of the people in the class, but I noticed that I was doing them better than I used to do them, and that I was feeling stronger than I used to feel.

This morning in spin class, I was listening to a song that said, "You probably think that you're cooler than me." Well, that is OK because I know my limits, and I also know there is nothing wrong with who I am. I don't have to measure up to anyone else's skill level. I am celebrating myself and I hope you are doing the same.

Light and Love,
Patty

Walk with Love

We need to accept direction from an internal GPS (God's Powerful Spirit). We need to be open to the words of our friends and family, but ultimately we have to follow our own heart. There is a gut instinct, often called the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit that guides us through any challenges that come our way. Isaiah 30:21 says, "And you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"

Sometimes we try to determine what is right and what is wrong. It is hard to know that. I have found that the most reliable guide to knowing is to ask myself, "What would love do?" That is where wisdom is. When we do the most loving thing possible, we will always make the right decision. We shouldn't be afraid to follow our own wisdom. We all have a direct line to God. If other people try to dissuade us from our goals, we need to remember that we only need to please God, not anyone else. In Galatians 1:10 Paul says, "I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God."

Walk with love today. Let God guide you safely like a lighthouse guides ships safely to shore. Trust your wisdom.

Light and Love,
Patty

Stretch

Frank and I moved to Denver in 1998. This country girl had never driven in that much traffic. At first I would not drive out of my suburb, but one day Frank called me to pick him up at the office because his car was being repaired. I panicked. I was so nervous. I had no choice but to drive in traffic. Not long after that I was driving all over the city. My confidence soared. I felt really good and proud of myself. Frank did me a favor by forcing me into a situation that made me stretch beyond my comfort zone. I entered a new phase of my life. It opened new doors. I started substitute teaching in five different districts. This gave me a very flexible life. Before I had always held a contract teaching position that tied me down. Now I was free to work when needed but also to travel with Frank and spend time with family.

We need to help other people stretch too. Every day that I teach, I have students who want my help. I want to help them, but I do not want to hinder them by not teaching them to think for themselves. I do not want to do things for them that they can do for themselves. I want to empower them and give them confidence that they are equipped to solve problems, write creatively, and understand literature. I don't want students to depend on me for the work that they can do themselves.

We need to believe in ourselves. We are capable of doing so much more than we think we can. "We have to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies," writes Roderick Thorp. We need to stretch and let others stretch too. We really can do it.

Love and Light,
Patty

Justice

Sandra Fluke, a 23 year old Georgetown University law student, testified before Congress, and presented her opinion that women should be allowed access to birth control. For some reason, this has been controversial lately with the Republican party. Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio talk show host, lambasted her and called her a slut. This very mean, critical, and hurtful attack was totally unjustified. I could not imagine the hurt and anger that Sandra must have felt.

When President Obama heard about it, he called Sandra and thanked her for standing up for women's health issues. He was her avenger, and I am proud to say that he is my President.

So far, Limbaugh has not apologized or asked for Sandra Fluke's forgiveness. I feel that even though Sandra was treated unfairly, she took the high road. She realized that Limbaugh was trying to silence her and all women by his insulting remarks. She did not try to defend herself or strike back, but she held her own and controlled her emotions. I was proud to have her represent the women of this country. She is a brave young lady who will not be silenced by a bully. Yay for her.

I feel that God sees every time we are wronged and vindicates us. I feel that Sandra passed the test by using her time and energy to promote fairness for women. Joel Osteen writes, "Those hindering you, trying to bring you down, will see you stepping to a new level" if you don't sink to their level.

I think Sandra has already received the respect she deserves for championing women's rights by receiving a call from the President of the United States. I think Limbaugh will see Fluke's promotion and vindication and that she will have the last laugh. I predict that she will become a great lawyer someday and that Limbaugh will fall on his face. God bless you, Sandra Fluke. You told our story and you will be avenged.

Love and Light,
Patty

Commit to Love and Happiness NOW!

What is holding me back? What challenges do I face? Nothing is holding me back. I have no challenge that can keep me down. I really do enjoy life. Sometimes though something will get me down for a little while before I realize that any problem I have is transient. I am made in God's image which means that I make the most of what I have and who I am. I make no excuses. There is no reason for the blame and shame game.

Last weekend was my husband's birthday. I had planned a nice weekend with him. We ate lobster and went to a KU basketball game, and then Sunday I invited the kids to come celebrate with us.

Well, on Sunday I felt cranky. It may have been from lack of sleep or some other reason, but I was a little short with everyone. I woke up Monday morning feeling a little guilty so right away, I messaged my family on facebook and apologized. I didn't want to wallow around in self-condemnation or waste time making up excuses for my behavior so I just decided to ask forgiveness. I received it right away.

Most of the time, it is our own unforgiveness of ourselves that is holding us back. The truth is that we don't have to stay in a state of crankiness or unhappiness. We can move out of it. That's not to say that we always have to put on a happy face even when we don't feel like it. It just means we need to realize that our inner joy runs deeper than our pain.

Sometimes we try too hard to be perfect. God accepts us as we are so there is no guilt or condemnation for being human. All we really need to do is ask for forgiveness. God is our strength. In Him we find joy.

I also find joy in my family. About the time when I was feeling the crankiest, I saw a picture on facebook of my new baby granddaughter with the hugest smile on her face. This lightened my mood considerably.

I'm not going to sit in judgment of myself for my crankiness. Instead I am going to commit myself to love and happiness NOW! I love that quote from Maria Robinson that says, "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." Happy Mardi Gras!

Love and Light,
Patty

Be a Valentine to Yourself

Aww! Valentine's Day! It's a beautiful day to remember love. I'm thinking of all my loved ones, but I am also thinking about how much I love myself. Everyone is in on this. Many of us think that it is not spiritual to say we love ourselves, but after all, aren't we creations of God?

Why do some of us want to feel unworthy? Romans 8:1,4 says, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." That is the key. Walking in the Spirit where there is splendor and unlimited joy is a choice we can all make.

Too many of us feel unworthy and look for something outside ourselves to make us feel complete. Some turn to alcohol and drugs or unhealthy relationships to make themselves feel better, but truly the only thing that can bring relief is forgiveness. We need to forgive ourselves when we make mistakes because God does.

Saturday we heard the shocking news of Whitney Houston's death. I am not judging or trying too hard to interpret what happened to her, but I can't help but wonder why someone as young as 48 is gone. She was beautiful, talented, rich, and famous, but still there was something missing. She had a relationship with God, but I wonder if she realized that like the prodigal son, she could have come back to her Father and He would have forgiven her for her wild, partying, undisciplined life. God is so merciful. I know that Whitney is now at peace. I just pray that her daughter can realize the comfort of God and learn to love herself enough to get through all of this.

Well, Valentine's Day is a day of love so remember that God loves us and that we need to love ourselves as well. Let's be good to ourselves today and every day. God bless!

Love and Light,
Patty