This Journey Called Life

We live in a world where emotions are more than acceptable, where football coaches are seen shouting on the sidelines when a call doesn't go their way and we simply say "oh he's just passionate", we see drivers flipping each other off, not just for being cut off, but when the driver in front doesn't accelerate past the speed limit fast enough and where cyber bullying is one of the biggest cultural problems of our time.

When did we buy into this idea that we can do and say whatever we want and there won't be any consequences, that it is our right to vent our spleen (lose our temper) at anyone and that we won't be harmed by it? Now I have just given some pretty strong examples, what about the smaller ones? Nagging someone for not taking out the garbage, or constantly thinking negative thoughts about those close to us and expecting those ideas not to leave our mouths. Now as my husband and I were talking last night, sometimes we can't control what pops into our thoughts, but we can control what we knowingly invite in and what we chose to entertain. Negative thoughts can be the first step in injuring a relationship with those we love.

I'd like to think that in our pre-mortal life we had a really good idea at what we would face here, maybe not every speeding ticket or C grade, but we agreed and covenanted to certain things that our Heavenly Father knew we would need in this life to learn and grow to become who He needed us to be. He understood what gifts and talents we had developed and would be bringing with us in this life. He knew how those gifts and talents would need to be refined for our divine potential to continue shining through.

So in those moments when we feel frustrated at that one more task we wish someone would do for us, or when we feel lonely, or frustrated that we just can't quite seem to figure something out, be patient, count to ten because what starts as a seed in our mind can wreak havoc on our hearts and lives.

In Phillipians and Colossians Paul talks about being rooted in Christ and rejoicing in the Lord daily. What does that mean in everyday application? Perhaps that we need to remember who is the author and finisher of our faith, He has felt those moments of frustration and pain and He knows how to succor us, He knows how to grant the peace our heart is crying out for, He knows the blessings we've received and knows what those blessings can do in our lives. Let Him help, ask Him to help you count your blessings, allow Him to help you find the good, for there is so much good in this world to find, there is so much beauty and love to be found if we have open hearts to see it.

Society has forgotten the consequences of not controlling our temper and of letting frustration and bitterness grow, don't buy into that, we do more as disciples of Christ when we remember that people are inherently good and that we are all trying in this journey called life.