I love reading signs, especially ones that have
quotes that make something seem simple or clear. Ones that make you think “Oh,
Yeah!” or “Yes, that is exactly what I couldn’t say myself.”
quotes that make something seem simple or clear. Ones that make you think “Oh,
Yeah!” or “Yes, that is exactly what I couldn’t say myself.”
One that we have seen on signs in most recent years is…
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much,
simple but says a lot.
simple but says a lot.
One I have hanging on my wall says,
Life
is not measured by the amount of breathes that you take but by the moments
that take your breath away.
Life
is not measured by the amount of breathes that you take but by the moments
that take your breath away.
Here is my picture collection on the wall. Is there
anything that you notice about my “Life” picture?
anything that you notice about my “Life” picture?
I cannot tell you how many times I have straightened
this picture. I do not like my picture frames to be crooked. I straighten them
the moment I notice them.
this picture. I do not like my picture frames to be crooked. I straighten them
the moment I notice them.
Why? because I want them to appear orderly. I am not
sure why this “Life” is always crooked. But it is. Always.
sure why this “Life” is always crooked. But it is. Always.
I am not sure if it is due to the lack of insulation
in the walls and every time a car drives by it rattles it crooked on the wall.
I am not sure if it is trying to irritate me or if I am supposed to have this
perspective on my “Life”.
in the walls and every time a car drives by it rattles it crooked on the wall.
I am not sure if it is trying to irritate me or if I am supposed to have this
perspective on my “Life”.
You see every time I look at my crooked “Life” framed
on the wall staring at me- taunting me- I am a bit uneasy.
on the wall staring at me- taunting me- I am a bit uneasy.
I am reminded that I can walk over there and simply
try to fix it for the time being, just to become crooked the next day, or if I
am supposed to accept the fact that my “Life” is just imperfect.
try to fix it for the time being, just to become crooked the next day, or if I
am supposed to accept the fact that my “Life” is just imperfect.
I have chosen to go with the latter choice. I have now
accepted the fact that my imperfect picture arrangement is a daily reminder
that life is just imperfect and I can be okay with imperfect.
accepted the fact that my imperfect picture arrangement is a daily reminder
that life is just imperfect and I can be okay with imperfect.
There are many temptations in this world especially
with social media to be bogged down, feel discouraged, or even downright
depressed by my imperfect life.
with social media to be bogged down, feel discouraged, or even downright
depressed by my imperfect life.
We look all over social media and we mostly get
everyone’s best foot forward. Pictures of happy smiling families, traveling the
globe far and wide and having the greatest adventures anyone could ever come up
with.
everyone’s best foot forward. Pictures of happy smiling families, traveling the
globe far and wide and having the greatest adventures anyone could ever come up
with.
I am not saying people don’t have happy families or
great adventures. I’m saying, in reality, hanging on the walls of everyone’s
lovely abode is a crooked “Life”.
great adventures. I’m saying, in reality, hanging on the walls of everyone’s
lovely abode is a crooked “Life”.
Lives full of imperfections, struggles, and hardships.
Lives full of things that get under our skin. Sometimes you just don’t know if
you want to go in for the quick fix or accept the imperfection and learn how to
love it for what it really is.
Lives full of things that get under our skin. Sometimes you just don’t know if
you want to go in for the quick fix or accept the imperfection and learn how to
love it for what it really is.
I can be a bit of a perfectionist. I want my kids to
walk and talk and think like me, kind of. I want my husband to agree with all the
wonderful things that float from my mouth. I want the traffic to part way as I
drive down the street.
walk and talk and think like me, kind of. I want my husband to agree with all the
wonderful things that float from my mouth. I want the traffic to part way as I
drive down the street.
But then hanging on the wall of my house is my “Life”
staring me right in the eye, saying it is okay.
staring me right in the eye, saying it is okay.
It is okay that your kids are not perfect. It is
okay that your husband, although he adores you, doesn’t agree with your every
whim or listen to you blabber on about things that don’t really matter. It is
okay that as you travel through life you encounter things and situations that
are tough.
okay that your husband, although he adores you, doesn’t agree with your every
whim or listen to you blabber on about things that don’t really matter. It is
okay that as you travel through life you encounter things and situations that
are tough.
Why? Where can I get that assurance? Where can I
find rest in my uncertainties?
find rest in my uncertainties?
I find them in my rescuer. I find them in the God
who assures me peace when life is beyond my understanding. I find them in the
promises of a God that reminds me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.
who assures me peace when life is beyond my understanding. I find them in the
promises of a God that reminds me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.
I find assurance in my creator. The One that loved
me first. The One that doesn’t promise me an easy road but assures me of an
eternal hope.
me first. The One that doesn’t promise me an easy road but assures me of an
eternal hope.
This truth gives
them confidence that they have eternal life, which God–who does not
lie–promised them before the world began. Titus 1:2
them confidence that they have eternal life, which God–who does not
lie–promised them before the world began. Titus 1:2
Then
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am
humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-29
“As for God,
his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge
in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31
his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge
in him.” 2 Samuel 22:31
I need that. I need the assurances that only God can
give. I need His promises to me to mark out my path. I need to know that
imperfect is sometimes the best I have and it is okay because I serve a God
that loves me anyway and there I find my refuge.
give. I need His promises to me to mark out my path. I need to know that
imperfect is sometimes the best I have and it is okay because I serve a God
that loves me anyway and there I find my refuge.
To Read More Encouraging Posts Check Out These Recent Posts: Grace and Mercy,
My Hope In Him, and You Are His Masterpiece.
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I love that he shields those who take refuge. Oh how I just need to hide behind him sometimes. Thank you so much for this.
One great thing about writing is we can lay out the things we need to think about. The things we need to work on. Sometimes I just need to say out loud the things I know so I I can start to work on them on the inside.
"The One that doesn’t promise me an easy road but assures me of an eternal hope." Oh, what hope we have in Jesus! Thank you for your beautiful post.
Alyssa
Thank you Alyssa for the encouraging comments. I hope that this is a hope that people know they can hold on to. It is an amazing assurance we have in Christ Jesus.
Like the life lesson you shared about the picture arrangement needed fixing often and not freaking out when it is crooked. I have learned not to spend so much time on fixing the imperfect but being thankful He is perfect for me and loves me just the way I am. Great post.
Thank you Betty what a valuable lesson we can all learn to be thankful for a Perfect Father loving us even in our imperfection. He is Good.
It seems like each of us has a picture frame that simply will not remain as it should! I love that your crooked frame has also taught you a valuable "life" lesson! I will remember this next time I see a crooked picture, thank you!
Thank you for stopping by Sarah. Always encouraged by others comments and knowing that I am not alone in the middle of my messiness.
Such a great post! Life is certainly far from perfect, and you are absolutely right in pointing out the "pseudo perfection" of life as perceived on social media. We need to give ourselves a break sometimes! I, for one, am truly grateful that God does not require perfection from His children… isn't that a huge relief? 🙂 Stopping by from Blessing Counters.
Thank you Laura for stopping by and reassuring us that life is not perfect and what we see in other's is just a "false reality". God died for us while we were sinners thankfully did not wait until we became these perfect ideal creations. He is always amazing.
Encouragement and caring through this "crooked LIFE" picture…not just on the wall but in your words. We each have such and need to depend upon the One Who holds our lives in His hands. Glad you are my neighbor at Laura's today.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Thank you for your kind sweet encouragement.
I love the lessons we can learn by the simple things in life! Thanks so much for sharing this encouraging post! Stopping by from Sunday Stillness.
I felt the same way about our tree in the front yard! It was tilted after a storm and my husband fixed numerous times. The tree plagued me. In my mind it represented the awkwardness I felt and that growing normally was something not done at this house. Then I realized all the trees on my block were reaching for the sun and the leaves were pointing in that direction. The tree maybe growing straight but the leaves are reaching towards the sun. I'm blessed whenever I see it now. Thanks for sharing your story! I could totally relate!
Jamie, oh how we do live in an imperfect world. Sounds like we may have some things in common. Thank God He loves us perfectly in spite of our imperfectness! Thanks for your words.
Christy
Life does get out of whack at times. Your picture needs some additional help as we often do to keep on the straight and narrow. A bit of Holy Spirit glue on tape might do the trick. I love your sayings and often grab a lovely one myself when their words are better than mine. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Haha … I have a little welcome plaque by my front door that always ends up hanging lopsided, no matter how often I've straightened it. So I just decided to let it be that way. A kind of harbinger, perhaps, for guests that sometimes life in our home is a little off centre too.
Wishing you glimpses of heaven in unexpected places … even crooked signs.
Brenda
The Japanese have a term for those things that are imperfect…wabi sabi. I like things that are like that. They make me feel at home….I do have a tip though….hang your Life sign on two nails instead of just one. Space the nails just a bit apart and then it won't tilt.
Hi Jamie, I have run into these scripture twice already today Mat 11:28. I think God is drawing my heart towards something…..*thinking aloud*
I am grateful for those awkward moments that needs readjusting it reminds I am human and I could rely on the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for sharing
God Bless Jamie
Thank you all for the comments. I think we can agree on one thing for sure, life is not perfect. I am so thankful that there is a God of Hope and a God who will transform our mess into something beautiful.
The Lord has such a fun sense of humor! How beautiful and honest the correlation you made to this and life, and the perfectionism found in social media. I think it is best to be honest and share the real truth about our lives, and yes sometimes they do get messy but that's why we have a Savior. Awesome post! Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
We know that the Lord is Brilliant but How many times do we think He has a sense of humor? How could He not? We sure do and we are created in His image. I am with you, I just love when you can see glimpses of His humor. Thank you for stopping by from Social Butterfly Sunday.
I love how the Life picture becomes a metaphor for real life which is sometimes out of kilter. Thanks for sharing on Literacy Musing Mondays. I hope you will come back and link up often. 😉