Archive for March, 2009

Thank You, God

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

My friend Pat shared the prayer below with me today and I wanted to share it with you. May it help you articulate your gratitude to and trust in God in every way!

DEAR GOD:

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better.

I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.
~ Author Unknown

Be blessed today, and don’t give up on yourself!

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If You’re Happy and You Know It…

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Everyone wants to know the secret to happiness.

Maybe you’re convinced that if you had more money, or lost the extra weight, or found Mr./Ms. Right, or achieved some of the things on your “someday list” you would be happy.

All of the above can indeed be milestones on your path to happiness, as the characters in my novel, The Someday List, learn in the fictional setting, Jubilant, Texas. However, human behavior experts will tell you what the Bible already reveals: Happiness comes from learning to be content in just about any circumstance in which you find yourself. Not that you’re happy because of a scary diagnosis or a failing relationship or an unsettling dilemma, but in spite of those things.

I can tell you from firsthand experience this is easier said than done. Deciding to be content, and even happy, no matter what, requires that we summon the strength to push through our challenges to find and focus on the bright spots in our existence, and to surround ourselves with loving people who are willing to walk with us when what we desire most seems so far from our reach.

I’ve been following a blog for more than a year now called The Happiness Project. It’s author, Gretchen Rubin, is collecting research and sharing her personal journey to discovering what it takes to be happy. One of her posts this week debunked the myth that it is selfish for people to put their own happiness above others. To the contrary, Gretchen insists that when we are the happiest, we’re more likely to help make others happy.

Read her thoughts on this topic by clicking this link to her blog, The Happiness Project and let me know what you think.

Is happiness a myth? A destination? A daily choice?

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Three Talk Shows Tackle Domestic Violence

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

If you’re a parent and haven’t already discussed the Chris Brown / Rihanna situation with your son and daughter, and what is or isn’t acceptable in dating relationships, today may be a good time to do so.

Three television shows will take on the issue of relationship violence today in the wake of pop star Rihanna’s alleged beating by singer/boyfriend Chris Brown.

BET presents a live “106 & Park” at 6 p.m. devoted entirely to domestic violence currently affecting teen couples. The show will gather a panel of experts, industry insiders, victims, perpetrators and survivors to carefully examine the impact of domestic violence among our youth and provide tips on breaking the cycle of abuse.

Guests include Alesha Renee, Free, Kevin Powell and Relationship Experts Dr. Michelle Callahan and Dr. Jeff Gardere. The two-hour special begins at 6 p.m. EST.

Meanwhile, Tyra Banks will devote today’s episode of her talk show to the topic, and will share her own experience of dating a man who emotionally abused her.

Banks says the man chipped away at her, trying to break her down so he could be in control. One day, she woke up and decided to end the relationship because “when you’re done, you know you’re done.”

Banks will also be a guest on today’s live edition of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which Winfrey has dedicated to dating violence in response to the alleged assault of Rihanna.

Source: EURWeb

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