Before It’s Too Late, I’m Taking Time To…

Live, Laugh, Love!

Care to join me?  I don’t know about you, but I’m numb, sad, angry, walking and living in smoke-filled ruins all due to the tragedies and heartache that seem to accompany each step sojourned this side of heaven. 

Between funerals, our roaring fires in California, the earthquakes in Mexico, to the tragic shootings in Las Vegas, along with the hurricanes that flooded and destroyed the south and surrounding tropical islands, it’s been a rough few months.  It hard to see the beauty, walk in the hope and remain joyful.

I have decided that before it’s too late, I’m going to take the time to live, laugh and love by utilizing some self-compassion and kindness on myself.  My heart and soul needs to be poured into and restored with a whole lot of sunshine.  Abiding in all hope!

Today I’m Going To…

Today I’m going to…  Take the time to remember that God loves me and He goes before me to prepare the way.

Today I’m going to…  Thank my Lord for His protection and provision even when I don’t understand everything as it develops.

Today I’m going to…  Take as much time as I need to receive the love and comfort that is being offered and poured into me.

Today I’m going to…  Tell someone, anyone, that I love them and that their life matters by pouring the love that is richly sprinkled over me into their lives!  What a privilege God gave us to be able to love!

Today I’m going to…  Stop and think.  Really think.  What a concept!  To be still in complete silence with absolutely no influence or distractions from TV, internet, or my phone.  Now that’s a source of power to plug into!

Today I’m going to…  Choose to be happy.  That’s a choice that we ourselves make, choose to be happy!

Today I’m going to…  Take the time and be okay with, maybe even fall back in love with, who I am and be comfortable in my own skin.

Today I’m going to…  Remember that being a people-pleaser robs me of my worth and value along with the boundaries that are meant to hedge in my protection.  My life shouldn’t be performed with a “me-focused” striving, it’s about being “Jesus-focused.”

Today I’m going to…  Be me!  Be beautiful me!  There’s power in acceptance.

Today I’m going to…  Go outside and play.  Unleash the little girl that still exists inside my beating heart.  Skipping along while singing a song is said to be the fountain of youth.

Today I’m going to…  Laugh out loud, even giggle, until it hurts my belly.  It is, after all, music to our souls.

Today I’m going to…  Dance in the streets or retail stores and grab someone to join along with me!  Now that’s grocery shopping!

Today I’m going to…  Read several different books.  After all, reading is the fountain of all wisdom.

Today I’m going to…  Pray.  I want to unleash that power that has been neglected.

Today I’m going to…  Be friendly and purposely engage with others to help them achieve a glorious smile.  After all, a cheerful heart is great medicine.

Today I’m going to…  Give to someone in need.  Life’s too short to be selfish.  Needs are everywhere we look.

Today I’m going to…  Take some time and work.  God gave me these gifts for success.

Today I’m going to…  Look in the mirror, without makeup and clothes on (hardest one for me), and thank God for creating and molding me, battle scars and all, into His beautiful masterpiece!  I can’t love unless I first love myself.  And that’s so stinkin’ hard!

Today I’m going to…  Cry!  Death and destruction surround my life so I must mourn that which is lost.

Today I’m going to acknowledge this amazing hope that we have which is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.  Talk about reassurance of the love and encouragement that is ours when we find shelter in our Lord. 

My prayer is that we take the time to mediate on a few of these self-compassion elements and apply them to our lives.  We are imperfect beings living in a world that demands perfection, and it’s hard not to get caught up into those expectations.  When we apply kindness, truths, comfort and understanding to ourselves, we are caring for the truly important and beautiful beloveds we are.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain… (Hebrews 6:19).  That’s hope that is secure and totally immovable just like the anchor that holds the ship stable in a violent storm.

Until next time…

Thank You For Taking The Time To Be Beautiful You!