The Lenten Meditation program I am working on gave me an interesting challenge: What do I believe? Do I live my life according to those beliefs
That should be easy, or so I thought.
However, when I put pen to paper to list what I believe, I had difficulty expressing those things. The words of the Nicene Creed came first to mind. "I believe in God, the Father, maker of heaven and of earth..." The second was from an old radio spot..."I BELIEVE..."
Yes, those things were a part of the challenge, but I was being asked to go beyond the scriptural foundation and explore how I REALLY live my life. Do I live according to my beliefs or do I have another set that lies below and constantly muddies the water?
I admit that there is often a negative mental tape shouting in my head or at my heart. Since my actions sometimes bely what I really believe, how do I pay more attention to the small, still voice that whispers, quietly coaxes and guides?
This assignment has been surprisingly difficult. There has 
been the noise of the March Elections, the incredibly negative, character assignating campaigns. Doom, despair and tragedy is all that is reported on the "news". Life is busy, sometimes chaotic. I'm not getting any younger and the really annoying, relatively minor health concerns that go with that stage of life sometimes sap my energy. When I am tired or feeling unwell, the stage is often set for an internal dialogue that can shout that I can't possibly get my "to do" list done. Also, there is the "who do you think you are" voice when I sit down to blog.
been the noise of the March Elections, the incredibly negative, character assignating campaigns. Doom, despair and tragedy is all that is reported on the "news". Life is busy, sometimes chaotic. I'm not getting any younger and the really annoying, relatively minor health concerns that go with that stage of life sometimes sap my energy. When I am tired or feeling unwell, the stage is often set for an internal dialogue that can shout that I can't possibly get my "to do" list done. Also, there is the "who do you think you are" voice when I sit down to blog.
At the same time, if I still myself and listen, a small, still voice tells me what a blessed woman I am. This morning, as I sat and thought about the life I have been given, words to the song "Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done...." came to mind.
Every time I open my laptop, my welcome screen shows me the smiling faces of our grown children and those adorable grands. I am married to a man who is my best friend. My parents and the parents of my hubby are still with us in this life, as is Albert's grandmother, who is 98. We have seven adorable grandchildren, with the eighth on the way. We have a home...
I believe that when I count my blessings, instead of my trials, life is much better. When I live my life in a way that is grateful for those blessings I am filled with joy.
How about you? What do you believe?
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