What I'm learning

Family dynamics can be so sticky. With my own family I understand everyone, or at least I believe I do.

I can honestly say that while I believe I am right where I am supposed to be and I understand that no one is perfect if I had spent more time getting to know more of the person I was going to marry it might not have ever happened.

Not because of the person, although goodness knows we have had our ups and downs but because of the family dynamic. Every family has it's wonderful points and not so wonderful points. When it comes to family even if we don't always agree we always love them. I keep this in mind.

I'm also learning how to provide a non committal response, non agreement and some way of changing the subject. I've not exactly mastered this but I'm learning.

I know that I have been gifted with the ability to love, and to play peacemaker. Not in the two faced I will say what I have to say to you and then flip flop when I am with the other person type way, that's not a peacemaker. It's not always easy to step back and disengage from negativity, but it's necessary.

I know that we all have our strengths, our weaknesses, our shortcomings, and our past situations that have influenced and shaped who we are. In remembering that we all have our own personal struggles I employed an answer yesterday evening that I plan to implement a lot. "Really we just need to pray." It's not a cop out. The most powerful and wonderful thing anyone can do for another is to pray. Prayer is our direct line to the one who made us.

The Easter service at church several weeks ago a word came forward that was such a powerful reminder. The same spirit that brought Jesus out of the tomb is in us. That same spirit allows us to have that amazing relationship with our Heavenly Father.

In the past year I have  often reminded myself that the same God who brought 3 men out of a furnace without even the smell of smoke, who stopped time, who brought dead people back to life, that same God is still the God I serve.

I still struggle. There are still situations when I look at them I think how is this ever going to change. Then I remember it's not up to me to change others. To make others do things differently. I'm powerless over the actions and decisions of others. I am learning to let go and let God. I am also learning that sometimes it just takes time. For the girl who always wanted everything yesterday I'm learning that some things just can't be rushed. God's time table is completely different then ours. When I try and force solutions it rarely ever works but when I let go of it I am often pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

"I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." Martin Luther