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Friday, December 21, 2007

Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable

These words have been branded on my heart (in a good way) ever since I read them at the beginning of this always busy season...

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one- at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2. Worry every day about something. Don't let yourself get out of practice. It won't add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.

3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.

4. Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man's gotta live.

5. Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they're going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.

6. Stay away from absolutes. It's what's right for you that matters. Be your own person and don't allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.

7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people's. You have your life to live, they have theirs.

8. Don't fall into any compassion traps- the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people's troubles, you may neglect your own.

9. Don't let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what's really relevant-things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones- they're where it's at now.

-from Keep a Quiet Heart, by Elisabeth Elliot

Tuck these words away, friends, put the opposite in action- and let us keep our Joy!


You are always welcome at my little place - A Path Made Straight

6 Comments:

Blogger Beka said...

Oh, how we all need to remember these words-- especially at this time of year! Let us keep our joy, indeed!

Thinking of you, friend, and hoping you are well. I really will be in touch soon, I promise! Just so much going on right now.

Hugs!

December 20, 2007 at 9:58 PM  
Blogger ~nanashouse~ said...

Ahh, yes...we can always count our troubles. God is soo good to us. Even our "troubles" are blessings. We have soo much to learn. Thank you Jesus for gentle lessons wrapped up in beautiful blogs!!

December 20, 2007 at 11:48 PM  
Blogger Denise said...

Bless you for this.

December 21, 2007 at 12:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Delightful! I will print this off to share with my family!

December 21, 2007 at 8:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is something that belongs on the refrigerator so I can see it everyday. It's amazing how the smallest negative thought, if allowed to grow, will totally wreck the whole day, (or week or . . . ) What a great reminder. The timing is perfect.

December 21, 2007 at 3:03 PM  
Blogger Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

what an ouchy list! ;)

much love to you, elise...

Have a Merry Christmas..

Lisa

December 21, 2007 at 10:10 PM  

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It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!

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