Purposeful Pain

Recently, I've been getting some nasty knots in my back due to work. Usually they're in my shoulders, so after a few days of stiffness, and if I remember, I'll ask John to rub them out for me. Sometimes it just needs a little rubbing, and other times it needs quite a bit more. After all is said and done, my shoulders are relaxed, my back feels better, & my neck as well. I'm very thankful for John removing the knots. The pain from rubbing out the knots can be nothing, or rather intense. Occasionally I will squeeze his other hand to death so he can keep going. I know deep down that if I just wait until he is all done, I know that I'll feel right as rain again.

Now, keeping that in mind, why do I forget that important truth when God does the same thing? 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV) says "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." The painful trials we may face in our life, whether it's a paper cut or a deep wound, God will work it out the rest of the way. Sometimes we just need to have patience and wait it out. Sometimes we just need to squeeze his hand and cast our cares* upon Him. I encourage you today to remember this as you go about the rest of your day and into your week. You may be going through something painful, but it's for a time, and God will work out those knots the rest of the way for your good!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (ESV)

*Isaiah 41:13 and Psalm 55:22

Beautiful Blessings - 1/12/16

~ Hungrily devouring a few chapters of "The Phantom of the Opera"!

~ Realizing how much I missed reading!

~ Catching up with many old friends today!

~ Seeing prayers answered in their lives!

~ Achy sore muscles from dance yesterday! Literally a pain, but they make me happy! God is good!!

1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Being Thankful No Matter What

My head hurts.

My reading glasses are bugging me.

My head hurts for the umpteenth time.

The slightest noise from the kids sounds like a tuba in my face.

Its kinda gloomy out.

I am tired.

And snappy.

I post things Im thankful for every day. 

Each blessing is a gift from God.

Sometimes its easy to say what Im thankful for when I have an amazing day.

But on days like this it is hard.

Especially when youre dealing with wet affectionate cats who decided to go out and play in the rain.

Or when the kids are playing together, and show you with great loud excitement, the worlds theyve created in their Polly Pocket Land.

And then you remember:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

{1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV}

I remember the other day, when I was walking from the library, I thought of everything wrong at the moment. 

Yet God reminded me of Philippains 4:11-13.

It was a timely reminder to be content, appreciative, grateful, and thankful for all God has done.

So back to the beginning of my post.

 My head hurts, yet I have medicine to take to help and heal it.

My reading glasses are bugging me, yet I can adjust them a little and read properly with them.

My head hurts for the umpteenth time, yet I have a warm cup of coffee to drink to help soothe it.

The slightest noise from the kids sounds like a tuba in my face, yet they arent arguing and they are keeping themselves contentedly entertained with their Polly Pockets.

Its kinda gloomy out, yet its finally raining and we need the rain desperately.

I am tired, yet I can rest on the porch with my blanket and coffee.

And snappy, yet I can choose to be gentler with my remarks.

God has blessed me, and you, and all of us for that matter!

We need to choose to be thankful, no matter what!

What Dance Is: A Guest Post

 Today I have a guest post from the lovely Emma who blogs at thedancechronicles.blogspot.com

Dance is a tangible way to express intangible thoughts and feelings.  Every specified movement of the hand, every distinct turn of the head, is part of the character you’re playing. Dance is captivating for me because you can imprint emotions on an audience through movement.  It's presented to audiences as a pure art form composed of flawless steps and gravity-defying movements.  

But I've seen--and experienced--first-hand the struggles dancers go through every day.  I see the girls I dance with crying in class or in the hallways as we hug them.  I see them fall on their faces.  I see them fall apart as a muscle or tendon swells to three times it's size.  I see them cry for each other.  I see them dance until they can't breathe, work until they overheat.  I see them come in and many days say, "I don't want to do this," then give everything they have to their teacher.

But I also see them get back up.  Come back.  Go back to class still crying.  Dance through the pain.  Push their leg an inch higher than the highest leg in class, no matter how much it hurts.  Put pointe shoes on bleeding feet.  Pull it together.  Wince and push through it.  Rehearse for several hours.  Keep dancing.

Because a true dancer knows that they can never stop dancing.


Other posts related to dancing you might enjoy:

Beautiful Feet
Dance Shoes
What's in my dance bag?
The History of American Ballet Performances
Ballet Shoes
 

Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional.

Today's post is from a cyber "pen pal" friend. She has had many health issues, and today she posted this:

Pain is inevitable. Misery is optional.

Mom has been telling me that since I was a toddler. I try to live by it. Especially recently. Looking on the positive side of things has become a habit for me. :)
It's very painful for me to eat anything besides liquids and soft things, but hey, I can still eat something. :)
My joints are unexplainably deteriorating, but hey, I can still move. :)
My heart is broken and not healed yet, but hey, I still have a heart. :)
I'm too sick to go out and get a job currently, but hey, I can make crafts at home and sell them online. :)
A lot of people that were close to me have left for various reasons, but hey, they made an impact on me and I'll see some of them again. :)
I've been struggling with gross dreams and not sleeping well, but hey, there are still nights where I sleep perfectly. :)

My problems are nothing. In fact, I see myself as blessed. :) I'm alive. That's the greatest blessing of all. As long as I'm alive, I can help others and make an impact in my world. :) Even if I end up in a wheelchair. Even if I have to have something special put inside of me to fix my small intestine. Even if all of the people I love leave. I will still smile. :) Because I am alive and there will always be chances to help others. As long as I can make someone smile, I'm happy. As long as I can do what I was made to do, I'm happy. :) Misery is optional and it's not an option I feel like choosing. I'll choose to be grateful and positive. :) 

 Pain in life can come from problems, health, money issues, and more. If you choose to find the good in the problems, then misery won't be an option. This doesn't apply to just one person, it applies to us all!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.