Being Deliberate

 

Sometimes I think of my life and I wonder to myself how did I get from point A to point B. Sometimes I know for myself, I’ve just lived life step by step. For the most part of my life, I really didn’t have a plan. You are born and you kind of watch what your elders are doing and you sometimes take their examples as to how life should go. But you know what? That isn’t necessarily so. Sometimes those examples that you rely on may not be your best example to follow. It’s so unfortunate that we don’t get this lesson early on in life. Let me explain, because we are being raised by our parents, we take them a face value that unless they teach us that we have options that are different from their way of thinking, how would you know?

I’d like to think that my parents did the best that they could, but because we shared the same household and because I’ve shared some of the things that happened in that household in my blog, there are many areas where I think they could have done better. I think they should have taught me that I had the ability to free think and that not everything that they told me was 100%. For many years, I was under their control and overprotective upbringing. They pretty much told me what my goals for life should be. I love my parents, but I found out too late in life that there were too many things they did that I didn’t agree with and that were toxic to my physical and mental health. So in my 60’s I made a decision to not allow them access to my life anymore — at least in anything that directly affected my well being. It’s sad, but true.

I guess because I learned this late in life for myself,  I always felt compelled to teach my children that my ways aren’t necessarily their ways. I told them how I had made many decisions in my life that I don’t want them to repeat for themselves and to accept the fact that I’m imperfect and they have the ability to make their lives much better than mine. I told them that they had freedom of choice and to make decisions that would benefit them in life that make them happy. I always wanted them to excel and do things differently than I did in my life, so I taught them about goal setting. When they were very young, I told them what the importance was about going to school, listening to their teacher, doing their homework and asking questions when they didn’t understand what they were being taught. I told them that if they followed my suggested directions about what their responsibility was in school that one day, by doing their best, they could advance their educations and possibly pay their own way through college using scholarships they might be rewarded because of their high GPA. I also taught them right from wrong though. I did this through giving them a foundation and belief in God and becoming a Christian. When they reached an age where they could make decisions about their own belief systems, they were free to make their own choices. I am deliberately supportive for the decisions my children have made in their lives.  I will tell you though as their Mom, I always slip in the love of Jesus stuff to them still to this day. As you know, this past Christmas I bought each of my core 10 immediately family members a talking Jesus Doll. I told them that I wanted to remind each of them what Christmas was really about and that they could learn some verses as Jesus talks and says about 10 different scriptures and sayings. I got one for myself as well. One of the things I do at night before I pull my blankets down and fluff up my pillows is press his left hand and hear what he has to say for today. I LOVE IT!!

So my topic for my post today is about being deliberate. I’m not shy about how I do bible studies and devotional time. It is important to me to stay focused on what my purpose is in this life and why I’m on this earth. Another thing I do is I will pray. There was a time where I really thought I was a prayer warrior, however, after attending Our Father’s House church in Los Banos — the congregation there and how they pray fervently and with purpose (they fast at different seasons as well), I’m prayerful and I’d like to think I’m a warrior when I pray, let’s just say I daily have conversation with God on a daily basis, sometimes all day!! Also, I had this journal where I write names and topics I want to pray for before I shut my eyes, but lately it has been becoming a little disorganized. So I decided that I needed to be deliberate in how I pray and make sure that I keep track of who and what I’m praying for. Part of my being deliberate is that I bought a wonderful prayer journal book that also includes areas where I can write to be reflective. This includes selecting scripture that I want to concentrate on and set on my heart. So I bought this wonderful set of scripture cards that include a QR Code for further reflection and devotion from 828 — they are called that because of Romans 8:28. I’m so excited to have additional resources to help me with this process of doing something deliberately and not half done.

Mahatma Gandhi is said to have quoted “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn (and plan) as if you were to live forever.” — There is a lot of wisdom in that statement. As Christians we are told not to live in our past and to not worry about tomorrow. We can live deliberately for today. However, there is nothing wrong with goal setting and planning. This is how I live my life now, but there was a time where I was taught differently by one of my elders that I shouldn’t plan for tomorrow, because I don’t know if I will live to see tomorrow  (thus my live life as you go theory — not a good way to live) — I always thought that was a pretty bleak philosophy to adopt. So I prefer Gandhi’s quote and philosophy for life. Also, if you reflect on it, it pretty much is how the Bible teaches us to live as well. In fact, we are taught to plan for eternity, because of what Jesus did for us.

I also bought a new planner that helps me set up my daily goals and priorities. I also can put all my future events and plan (that’s why it is called a planner) and Lord willing, I will live to see those future events. My purpose for the planner is because I’m older now and if I don’t have something written down somewhere, I will forget what I’m supposed to be doing for the day. I get very distracted these days.

Bottom line, be deliberate in your thinking and your planning. Set up tools to help you in the process if needed (I need!!) If you are anything like me, I know that many of you wear many hats. When I worked full time and was raising my children, it was even worse to keep track of everything. Now I’m a retired person who takes care of my companion along with myself, I’m an artist and musician, I love spending time with family and friends, and my priority is to be sure that I set aside adequate time to spend with God who makes all my life possible.