Choices

[Leah]

Hope no one minds my sharing of my reading from my little RBC booklet that they kindly send from Michigan each quarter, all about CHOICES.

Interestingly, that is something that has been in my thoughts, and upon my heart, for some weeks now, along with Reciprocal living.

It speaks of how with every Choice we make, creates a ripple effect on our lives, as well as, on the lives of others.

The choices that we make throughout life (I am thinking in terms of my new life ahead of me) determine where we are and what we are becoming.

That's quite exciting really, to think of the choices that we make now and how they will create a ripple in our lives ahead.

Hopefully, NFree lives ahead 

Goes on to say how Choices are also telling.  What we really want, love, and think, make up the choices that we make.


(It quotes Philippians 1:3-11 for those who may wish to know).


However, afterward, it mentions Joy.

Lots of folk, myself included at one time, consider Joy to be a whimsical feeling or suchlike, however, I was amazed to learn some time ago, that it is quite the opposite.

and I quote from another source ... What is Joy?

.........But before we can pursue joy we must have some kind of an understanding what this joy is. What does a joyful person look like? How do you distinguish a joyful person from a happy person, or a giddy person, or a foolish person? You can be happy your team won, you can be giddy about a great opportunity, you can act happy yet be under the influence of some substance. So, what is it that makes joy different from these things?

Joy is something that is unaffected by circumstances. It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. Joy is deep. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope.


So with all that, my hope for my new life ahead; is to makes good healthy Choices that maintain real Joy.


There is a quote:  "our lives are not made by the dreams we dream, but by the choices we make"


I quite like that and find it most encouraging.


Sincere good wishes to ((( everyone )))

with genuine; Love, Hope, Peace and Joy

Love, Leah

[Certain Hope]

Wonderful post, dear Leah... thank you!

I am very encouraged to remember that I am not helpless or bound by circumstances and feelings... unless I choose to be!

Love to you,
Carolyn

[Leah]

Thank you, Carolyn,

One of my Choices is:  not to let anyone steal my Joy.

Simply, will not permit it to happen.

Love, Leah

[axa]

Leah,

Funny, before I logged on I was thinking about choices I have made in my life.  Many of which I regret deeply but I reminded myself that all the choices I have made are not bad.  I read an article in the paper today about addiction, it said something about addicts always wanting to be somewhere other than where they are and I could relate to this.  I remember when my kids were little wanting to be away from the mundane tasks of life and wanting something more exciting and adventerous.  What I was doing was building a family but I did not know that.  I let so many opportunities go around building that family.  I had no idea what a family was about.  To me it was being organised, kids clean, cooking healthy food, house clean etc.  I had no idea of what it was really all about.  I made those choices out of pure ignorance and I feel so sad now.  All in all I did some things well, loved my daughter so much and without a doubt she left this world feeling very loved and wanted but I did not pass the same thing onto my son and I am full of regret about that.  We do get on ok but there is little depth to our relationship and I have no sense of us being a family.  This makes me very sad.  We talk once a week, he comes to visit etc but it is like there is no history between us.........I am not sure how to explain it.  Like we are people who know each other and are very nice to each other but are not sure why. 

Leah, hope I am not hyjacking your thread but this thread really moved me.  There has been joy associated with my choices but also deep regrets.

xxxxxxx

axa

[Leah]

Dear Axa,

Oh, I am delighted to read your post, thank you.

Oddly enough, this afternoon, I was doing a little self reflection, and admittedly, I have regrets over choices that I have made.  Not beating myself up over them, but at the same time, regrets just the same.

One of my regrets is placing emphasis on keeping the home as a clean and tidy nest, feeling guilty that I went out to work, and that I could have done much more, though that said, I did take my son out at weekends to various places of family amusement and adventure stuff.  And enjoyed my evenings with my son playing games, colouring, reading etc.  My now exnh expected the home to be spick and span and was very regimental and legalistic, he never seemed to enjoy fun, never understood a joke.  Sad really.

One of the first delights of being on my own was deliberately scattering a couple magazines on the floor, smiling to myself, and leaving them there for a couple of days ....... the pleasure was immense 

Regarding choices and regrets, Axa, remember, we did the best we could, as we were then, without the knowledge and enlightenment that we have now.

Sons are so different to Daughters, so I am led to understand.  I have only a Son, who has left the nest, still miss him!  I am a softy.

Axa, I cannot begin to comphrehend what it must have been like when your dear daughter had to leave you and your family and feel that it must have been so hard to live through.  Feel sure that you did the very best you could be.

Sincere thoughts of you ((( Axa )))

Love, Leah

[changing]

Dear Leah-

When your son thinks of you , he will remember how hard mommy worked to provide , and valued him over leisure and spending money. He will remember how mommy played with him, and valued his happy childhood over a perfect and clinical home. He will remember...that his mum loved him and treasued his little heart and soul- and he will have learned how to be a loving parent himself...I don't see how you could, or would, want to be different!

Love,

Changing

PS- Sorry that I mixed  things up about your son before the edit-I am tending to the kitty as I write and my tiny brain apparently can't handle it!!!

C.

[Lupita]

In the church where I play every Sunday, (until now, they jus hired a professional choir director, and dont know if she will want me), there is a memeber who woudl recieve all the disability money from government, but she chooses to work and be independent. She does not have arms, nor legs. Just a piece of body and a head on top. E piece of skin on her shoulder is made a little ball and in that she is put a ring. With that she pushes bottons and scratches her self. Still, she is the church secretary, prints, types the bulletins, answers the phone and works full time. She sings beautifully and she is very well respected in the worship commetee. I would not dare to oppose to her, she can fire me if she wanted.
She does solo in the choir, and somebody helps her to get her choir robe.
The other night I thought I was going to do anice action and I invited her for coffee, to see if I could get closer to her and be friends.
Guess what!!!!!
She could not accept. her agenda was full.
Not only that, SHE HAS A HUSBAND, HANDSOME, INTELLIGENT, PROFESSIONAL, WHO SEEMS TO LOVE HER VERY DEEPLY!!!!!!
Hope that you get my point. We are missing something.
Or at least I am.

[Leah]

Dear Leah-

When your son thinks of you , he will remember how hard mommy worked to provide , and valued him over leisure and spending money. He will remember how mommy played with him, and valued his happy childhood over a perfect and clinical home. He will remember...that his mum loved him and treasued his little heart and soul- and he will have learned how to be a loving parent himself...I don't see how you could, or would, want to be different!

Love,

Changing

PS- Sorry that I mixed  things up about your son before the edit-I am tending to the kitty as I write and my tiny brain apparently can't handle it!!!

C.

Oh bless, Changing, not to worry, I knew what you meant, and so I translated to read son       Your kind words blessed me more than you can know and tears flowed down my cheeks, warm joyful ones.  Thank you so much.

How is the little kitty?

My two kitties are an absolute delight to me, they follow me from room to room.

Love, Leah

[Leah]

But before we can pursue joy we must have some kind of an understanding what this joy is. What does a joyful person look like? How do you distinguish a joyful person from a happy person, or a giddy person, or a foolish person? You can be happy your team won, you can be giddy about a great opportunity, you can act happy yet be under the influence of some substance. So, what is it that makes joy different from these things?

Joy is something that is unaffected by circumstances. It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. Joy is deep. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope.


Joy is the root of ones strength, is my personal thought.

Leah

[Lupita]

A state of mind is temporary,
 a=b=c

So, if joy is temporary ..........

Noboyd can be happy or joyfull all the time. That is impossible.

OK, I am ready to be shut up.

[Leah]

Dear Lupita,

Interesting comment, however, in context, it reads ............

It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. Joy is deep. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope.


Joy is something that is unaffected by circumstances


Which may be of a similiar trait as 'Loving oneself'

Just a thought, that I have been pondering on.

Leah