Good Happens

On this beautiful, foggy, rainy Carolina morning, a friend’s post reminded me today that I really do believe in HOPE, and that good things happen with and without my help or involvement.  God does good things in people’s lives THROUGH me and DESPITE me!  Two of my early morning readings confirmed that as well.

• On helping others, Al-Anon’s “Courage to Change” reminds me that God’s timing isn’t always my timing:  “There is no magic wand that makes others ready for Al-Anon [read: “recovery” or “help”].  And it is presumptuous to assume that I have a better idea of their true path than they do.  Let me help those who want help…”
• On being used by God, in the Bible Study, “Living Your Life as a Beautiful Offering,” author Angela Thomas confirms that I don’t have to be perfect or special to be used by God.  She writes:  “Feeling kind of plain today?  Then you’re the kind of woman God’s looking for.  I am sitting on my bed, typing on my laptop. I have on gym shorts and a t-shirt. My three-day hair is in a ponytail, kind of…The dryer is buzzing. There are piles of laundry on the other side of the bed…My life is so very common, and yet, God can use a woman like me.”

All this to say that (1) we’re not in charge of other people’s lives BUT (2) we do have an effect on other people’s lives AND (3) we can be used by God just as we are!  So just for today I am putting down my worries, my expectations (for myself and others), and my self-doubts.  HOPE walks in unexpected ways and in unexpected places.

Thank you to A Mom’s Serious Blunder for sharing your walk and your honesty with me and all of us.  You help me by being here.  You all help me by being here.  God Bless!