Skip to main content

"Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it."

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2012-10-02) from his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential (p. 111). Center Street. Kindle Edition.

We are heading into the holiday season.  A lot of people are going to run to overcrowded stores frantically getting things that nobody really wants.  But it was such a good deal but it really wasn’t what they wanted.  After getting it and still spending too much we’re too tired to really enjoy the season.

How about your day today?  I understand the importance of the meal and of how it doesn’t just appear but maybe it isn’t what really makes this day a happy day.  Maybe it’s just being with each other.  Oh don’t stop cooking but just add that part to the celebration not the stress. 

I was reading today in Luke 11 (The Message) of the first time Jesus met Mary and Martha.  Mary loved the relationship and spending time with Jesus but Martha felt the stress of all she had to do in the kitchen.  Later she interrupted Jesus and Mary and said, “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me?  Tell her to lend me a hand.”  Then Jesus said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing and getting yourself worked up for nothing.  One thing only is essential and Mary has chosen it – it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Just make sure what you are doing is the main course.  “Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.”  The meal is so very important and it is work but it doesn’t take the place of what we really want.  What we want is sitting around the table eating the meal.  They are what brings happiness into this day.  So our family around our table wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving. 

Now of course some of you men could stop in the kitchen and ask what you could do to help.  That would really make her happy.

So how is your stress level?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)   Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle?   Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...

“When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life.”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 57). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. To realize that from God’s perspective life is a test goes a long way in determining how you handle your life.   It is important to see that in testing your character is both developed and revealed.   Rick goes on to say that “even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God.” So there is a God purpose behind each situation in your life.   Even the bad ones are there to strengthen you and develop you.   You see those bad situations are really good ones because they are there for your good. I start each day with a reminder that God is good.   Not every situation that is going to come in my day is good but because G...

“What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?”

A thought by Rick Warren, (2012-10-23) from his book, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? (Purpose Driven Life, The) (p. 35). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. Rick posed this question at the end of his chapter, You Are Not an Accident.   In this chapter he deals with the fact that God created you the way you are with a purpose.   In other words you are not an accident.   I am also reading the Apostle John’s view of Jesus and what He said and did while He was here on earth.   In the beginning of Chapter 9 there is a story about a blind man.   And the disciples who were with Him asked Him a good question, “Who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? ”   Have you ever asked the same thing about something in you that you don’t like?   Like that characteristic is a curse or something.   Society has set a standard that is not a standard of God.   Remember, He created you and you are not an accident. Je...