Which Word Is Your Picture Near In The Dictionary?

      We were recently travelling quite a bit zigzagging around the country. I am sort of a people watcher. My Uncle Pete always said, “Idiots come in swarms!” I believe it. Some people are a delight and others are a fright.

     We meet a lot of different people in our various ministry endeavors. Some people crack me up with their forwardness. And there are people who are comical to watch as they interact with others. So many people seem to be lost in spirit without any purpose in life. We have met people who are so loud and obnoxious in public places that it makes me cringe to think of how they interact with their families at home. Some cannot have a conversation without spewing four-letter words. You know the type – they have no filter and say whatever pops into their pea brain. Yikes. 

      Occasionally I see people who seem to be on vacation but look as though they could have never found their way without help. On those occasions, I glance at Jody and ask, “Where are their keepers?”

      Recently, I  keeper-glanced at Jody while we were walking behind an elderly man at an airport as he stumbled and bumbled. We met Bill when he fell as he exited the airport. Bill ended up staying in the same hotel and also went on the same tours. Bill is 89 years old and his wife had died not long before this trip. He wanted to take the trip that the two of them had planned, in her memory. Apparently, his children don’t live near him but stayed connected to him by telephone. He seemed to be doing fine as far as they could tell and so they encouraged him to go on the trip rather than just sit home and mope. Oh my stars, Bill had no business travelling alone internationally or for that matter even domestically. Bill is a precious, grieving man whose picture in the dictionary is next to the words “lost as a goose” and “needs a keeper.”

     So that brings us to the question. Which word or phrase would be near your picture in a dictionary? When people think of you, what pops into their mind?

     When I think about which word or phrase pops into people’s minds when they think of me, I’m challenged to do better! My goal is for words like caring, dependable, joyful, honest, forgiving, patient, kind, humble to come to mind, but I’m afraid that there are times when selfish, unforgiving, judgmental, impatient, and gripey are the words that others think first about me because of things I’ve done or said. I have made many mistakes in my life, but I am trying to live a mindful life now, as Christ intended. He is transforming me into the person he created me to be.

     Join me in examining your life, your words, your actions. No, it’s not so much about what other people think – it’s about what God thinks. But, sometimes, when we examine closely and consider what others think, like me, you might be challenged to draw closer to the Lord so that he can continue that transforming work.

     Lord, thank you for giving me a separate, distinct, and unique personality. I am special because you say so. It’s not because of anything I have done, but because of who you are and how you are working in my life to make me into the person you created me to be. Help me to lean in to the changes you are making. Give me the qualities that honor you and help me move away from those that don’t.

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The book "Keep Your Hands in the Air When You're on a Roller Coaster" is now available as an e-book on Amazon in addition to being available in print (as a real book). We are overwhelmed by some of the comments that we have received about the book. Thank you for taking the time to call or email us.

As you’ve followed along, you know about the undertaking and sometimes struggles of writing the “Keep Your Hands in the Air When You’re on a Roller Coaster” book. You also know that my main impetus behind the book was to be obedient to the Lord and what I felt he had called me to do. It’s never been about making money or notoriety. The project was a big one since we did this ourselves because we didn't have a publishing company. We did explore than option and found it to be very expensive, but also restrictive in a variety of ways. One person I spoke with suggested the title was inappropriate and had to be changed. I explained that the title was already prayed over and cast in stone and was not going to change. Another said that the emotions were over the top and not believable. I challenged that since they were my true, raw emotions. Another insisted that I post on Facebook, Instagram, etc. at the minimum of 3 times a week each. I explained that we are not on any social media. Then I was told that it would never make any money. I again tried to explain that I didn't write it for making money... And so, we chose to self-publish.

In doing so, I have determined to leave the results and how He chooses to use the book up to Him, while in my humanness I want to know if the book is hitting a chord with anyone or making a difference. Of course, it is not necessarily something for me to know – it’s just that in my frailty as a human I want that confirmation that I have done the right thing at the right time.

So now I am asking for your help. If you find the book recommendable, please recommend it to your friends. Feel free to post it on your social media or through newsletters, etc. And if you are so inclined, please leave a review on Amazon. Reviews help with the book rankings. 

Thank you, Lord, for choosing to bless me in such a tremendous way. Continue to work in my life as you teach me more about you every day. Thank you for the encouragement from others that you sent to me to challenge me to write this book.  The challenge was huge for the original book and then we had another challenge in trying to get it into an e-book. Thank you for guiding our steps through all the ups and downs and ins and outs. Thank you especially for my dear husband who kept me going through it all. What a blessing you have given me. Hoolaray.

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This is the final post on CaringBridge. It has been a long and winding road. Thank you for walking with us.  💜

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