Staying Positive

There’s a lot of heartache in the world. The terrorism in Paris and shootings that followed have reminded us all of that. And some people are definitely bent more towards pessimism to begin with. Some days it’s hard to skim our Google News page and carry on positively the remainder of the day.

There are a few things we’ve found helpful, when it comes to feeling more joy on a day-to-day basis:

Acknowledge that there is something greater than you. Now, I’m a little biased with this one, because I’m a Christian. But I think even if you don’t believe in Jesus, you can believe that you have no control over life in general. Feeling small is a good thing sometimes – it can help you accept that it’s not up to us to execute the plan, because none of us know what the plan is.

Prayer or Meditation. Spending time to think on the good things in life, the things that bring you joy or the things that have improved day to day helps you go about your day with a better attitude.

Write it down! Writing down what you are thankful for is a great exercise, this time of year and in general. Plus, you can stow it somewhere that you’ll find later as a nice reminder.

Tell someone. I have a friend who excels in this area; she’s great at shooting out an email that says “Thanks so much for your help on this project…” or a text that says “Your friendship means a lot to me, thanks for being there.” It’s that pass on the kindness mentality that really has an effect on people. You don’t know whose day you could make by doing this!

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just..pure…lovely…good report…virtuous…praiseworthy…think on these things” – Paul, Philippians 4:8

Thankfulness.

 

It’s the one week a year that you can’t get away from the thankfulness. So we’ll add ours to the internet!

 

Adrienne:

I’m thankful for God’s infinite grace. As a mom, wife, friend, co-worker, I realize every day how imperfect and flawed I am. But I’m reminded later, most days, that grace is available. Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God. And the grace from people is even more a reflection of its importance. I hope I can be as graceful as others in my life.  

 

I’m also thankful for good health this year. I’m almost done with a mercifully uneventful pregnancy. I’ve skirted most bugs in the office. And I’ve been surrounded by friends and family going through some tough health issues. So I’m also reminded that health isn’t to be taken for granted.

 

Kelly:

 

I’m thankful for the little things that got me through the big things this year – camping, my brother quoting Dumb and Dumber, my neighbor texting me when my smoke alarm goes off while I’m cooking dinner, free tea at work,  IKEA trips with good friends, $5 movie nights with mom,  celebrations, unwarranted kindness from strangers, my nephew’s curiosity, an enthusiastic church community, clothing swaps, old photos & notes my sister sporadically sends me in the mail – and the answered prayers that came to me in the form of friends.

 

 

 

And we’re thankful for our readers! Our one year blog-anniversary is in January, and we’ve had so much fun doing this thing called realgrownups. So thanks for encouraging our adventure by reading our thoughts.

 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Fifty on the Cliffs of Moher – Guest Blogger!

Check out a great post from our friend and “not a grown up” Shawn Reed!

I am still not a grown up, but this morning I woke up to two odd facts: That I was in Ireland, and that I was now fifty years old. Both were new experiences for me, and make me wonder why I haven’t experienced them before now.

Getting older is, of course, something none of us can choose or not choose. Going to Ireland, however, was a choice and a good one. It is significant because of family roots, because of the company of loved ones, and because it has to be seen on winding back roads from behind the wheel of a 9-passenger Opel Vivaro. All are metaphoric for my personal idea of being a grown up: roots, loves, and risks.

Our roots are not ours to choose, and that makes them often seem just the thing that we might not have chosen. Just the same, our very physiological fabric is the result of generational work. We look, act, think, and feel much like those farther up the family tree. And it’s worth embracing, if not at least remembering. “Do not forget the rock from which you where hewn,” says the book of Isaiah (51:1).  Another translation says “Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined.” I like that because it reminds me that as much of an original I like to believe I am, the raw materials came from somewhere else.

Our loves will, at the end of our days, define us. The people, places, ideas, and gifts we revere are the drivers in my life. They are what I seek, and with my half-century of experience, I find myself not wanting more of everything, but more of whom and what I am certain that I love. There is peace and comfort in the familiar; there is sanctuary in the chair, the book, the wine, and the precious few that you know you love.

Our risks will, I believe, define us most of all.  Where the familiar road provides us rest and comfort, the unknown path breathes life into us.   My own life has been marked by a continued series of risks and rewards, and the blessings I have found so profound have come from the willingness to put aside fears and take the odd chance.  From the earliest days, we risk life by merely taking steps. We touch hot things. We run with scissors. We break bones and get stitched. But our lives are fuller because of it.  Our skin is thickest at the scars, and our memories will always race to the times we took the chance.

“Remember that time we went to Ireland and hiked the Cliffs of Moher on your fiftieth birthday?”

-Shawn

Church

I’m a church person. Ever since I decided to be a Christian, I’ve loved Sunday mornings. Go grab a coffee, maybe a bagel, head to the building, worship, hear a message (hopefully) about trying to be more like Christ, go to lunch, and head home for a nap. Maybe one reason I enjoy the experience is the food before and after…But really, there are a few important things I think about church:

After God, it’s mostly about the people.  Remember the children’s rhyme: “Here’s the church, Here’s the steeple, Open the doors, See all the people?” Jesus is all about people too. He spent his short life forming relationships with some weird and easy to shun  people: Mary, the prostitute (Luke 7:8). Zacchaeus, the tax collector (Luke 19: 1-10).

That’s the beauty of church, wherever it is located, where there are two or more people, God is with us. Church is a place to be with.

As a rule, going there doesn’t make you a better person. But it’s helped me do that, and also made me realize that it’s not about being a better person at all.

I’ve been slowly learning that church isn’t at all about me. It’s not about the song I really like, or the message that was just okay that week. It’s about taking myself out of the picture and looking at the people around me.

And finally, at the top of the list, church is about the simple beauty of the gospel message. God loved us, so he sent his son to die and come to life again, for us, so that we could spend eternity with him. And that’s what I love the most.

Jesus’ death on the cross was the most true picture of love ever given to us. Another one though, is one of my favorite stories and the final reason I go to church, to be continually reminded of Jesus’ humility and holiness.  It’s a picture of the Creator of the universe humbly bowing to his disciples to wash their feet, as an illustration of the necessity and importance of humility for everyone who claims to follow Christ. See John 13: 1- 17, below. – A

 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.  “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Easter Week

Easter is an important time of year for me. A week of astonishment, grief, and celebration that a Holy God who created me amongst millions, sent His son to die for my sins. It’s the cornerstone of my faith, so I thought I’d share a few passages that talk about Jesus.

Palm Sunday:

Matthew 21: 6-10

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’

‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’

‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’

Holy Thursday:

Luke 21: 19-20

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Good Friday:

Romans 6:26

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Easter Sunday

Christ is Risen!

Mark 16: 1-7

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.  Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”