It’s easy to find yourself desiring someone else’s life or possessions—especially on social media. Social platforms are full of rabbit holes that lead down the paths of envy and jealousy. If we spend too much time longing for what others have, it often breeds unhappiness and resentment.
There will always be someone with more, and someone with less. Contentment comes from focusing on what we already have. And often, when we look closely, we realize we have more than we thought. Count those blessings, daily.
Reminder that it’s not about having everything. True joy comes not from accumulating but from seeing our lives through a lens of gratitude, finding beauty in the ordinary, and remembering that every small gift is one to cherish.
Not too long ago, I had a realization: we don’t truly own anything. Everything we currently have is here for our enjoyment, to serve us, to bring us joy, or to help others. But we don’t actually own these things. We’re essentially borrowing them for however long we’re here, because when we pass, none of “our things” will go with us. Recognizing this has made me appreciate all that I “have” even more. These are gifts from God; yet, because they’re not really ours, we shouldn’t hold on too tightly. Let me explain.
A while back, I was on Facebook and saw a story that beautifully illustrated this. A man shared that he was at a gas station when he saw someone who was homeless and didn’t have shoes. His wife told him, “Take off your shoes and give them to that man.” And he did, without hesitation. Now, he could’ve easily thought, No, these are my favorite shoes—I paid a lot for them. But he didn’t, because he wasn’t attached.
It’s human nature to grow attached to our things, and it can be challenging to let go. But when the opportunity arises to share something that “belongs” to us, it’s a chance to pass on joy and appreciation to someone else. We can thank these things for the role they played in our lives and let them go. This doesn’t have to be a gift to a stranger—it could be to family or friends as well.
Personally, I’m learning that the more I give and let go of things, the more space I create—both in my home and in my mind. We don’t need nearly as much as we think we do. Why hold on when there are others who might need or benefit from what we no longer use? I have a few selected items that I hope can stay within my family, shared and appreciated across generations. But for everything else, I’m letting go of the idea that they belong to me.
“The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.” Be grateful for everything God is lending you right now—everything.
Have you ever spent time looking all over your home for your glasses, only to discover they’ve been on your head the whole time? Or maybe you searched everywhere for your phone, only to realize it’s been tucked in your back pocket? Sometimes, life is like that. What we’re searching for to fill a certain void isn’t out there, it’s already within us.
You might think a specific achievement, possession, or relationship will finally make you feel complete. But when you get it, that familiar emptiness still lingers, leaving you confused and wondering, Why do I still feel this way?
The truth is, the answer you’re looking for is right where you are. To find it, spend time getting to know yourself, just like you would with someone new. What makes you tick? Why do you react a certain way? What brings you peace? What made you feel alive as a child?
Keep asking yourself why, and dig deeper. “That’s just who I am” is rarely the whole truth. You are layered, complex, and beautifully unique. Discover the colors, textures, and tools that shaped you into who you are. Not every discovery will be easy—some may be painful—but that’s part of the journey. Vulnerability strengthens our connections with others, and being vulnerable with yourself does the same.
No one in this world knows you the way you do. You alone hold the knowledge of your experiences, your dreams, your fears. And you are worth knowing. You are worth your own love. Take the time to see yourself for the miracle you truly are.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Psalm 127:4-5
In this scripture we understand the significance of children. It is made clear how much of a gift that they are. Children are the arrows, they are the direction, they are the way. If we pay attention to the children they will lead us to the answers that we seek.
You’ve heard before that, “Children are the future.” Thats because they are THE FUTURE.
To have any children in your life is a blessing. Whether you have children of your own, nieces or nephews, maybe you’re a teacher, counselor, you’ve adopted, etc. “Bless is he whose quiver is full of them.”
(A quiver is a case that holds the arrows of the warrior.)
God has placed the children in your life as a blessing. See them as such.
With this awareness you can become more mindful of your influence around children. With this awareness, you understand that you are the one shaping them. Whether you have given birth to them or not, you are apart of their “maintenance and care”. So that they, like arrows, may be strong and sturdy. That they may hit their intended target.
Born doesn’t just mean to to give birth, it mean’s “to bring forth”. Any children brought to you in your life are a blessing. The scripture tells us this.
This scripture also tells us that we need children as much as they need us. How does a warrior fight without his arrows? How does an arrow fly without its warriors?
We are to be strong warriors with our bows and arrows (patience, calm, precision, is what makes a good archer) and we are to direct them. We are responsible for the accuracy and sharpness.
God has given us the best weapon to defeat the evils of this earth. To restore peace and love. We have been given the gift of children.
God also reminds us that we will struggle inevitably out there on the courts. In life.
However the more arrows that we have in our quiver the better. Which I interpret as the more children you influence in a positive way the more that they will influence others in positive way.
For every hand you touch, you touch every hand they touch as well.
We have great power to influence children and this awareness helps us to be more observant and patient with them. WE are what shape those arrows, WE are the ones that pull the arrows back and release.
Arrows that are shot with no intention can hurt and destroy. It’s important and vital that we understand who we are, that when the time comes to launch our children out into this world, they too will be warriors.
At one point or another we’ve all done it.Wehave avoided responsibility and placed the blame on something. Our parents, our childhood, our lack of not knowing better, our friends, God, that door for being in the way that just stubbed our toe, etc.
It alleviates the guilt or negative feelings that we fill inside….but deep down we all know that choices, decisions, and reactions are our own.
Many of us prefer to play the victim rather than scatter the broken pieces and discover a new creation.
What good does blaming do? Truthfully, is there a positive outcome to making that choice?
Before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean
Bob Marley
He who has not sinned can cast the first stone
Jesus
I love these quotes, both of these shout LOOK AT YOURSELF. And reminds us that we are flawed just like the rest.
You’re not alone.
My kids are at that delightful age where there’s a fair amount of tattling and a great deal of blaming one another.
“Mom, she made me do it!”
“It’s not my fault, it’s theirs.”
“I only did it because she told me to do that.”
*something doesn’t go their way* – “This is YOUR fault!”
And so forth.
This kind of stuff is expected right now. They are kids!
Although,
I do believe there is importance in teaching children accountability, acknowledgement, and acceptance. As we know, you can’t point the finger forever.
There comes a time when each of us have to look at ourselves, reflect on our own choices and decisions and take accountability for our part. Whatever that may be.
I would say a majority of people don’t enjoy doing this. It isn’t a pleasant process. It’s like holding hands with guilt and shame while walking down an empty road. You don’t want to hold their hands but they know where they are going and you don’t.
This is necessary for our own personal growth. Especially if we have a goal to be our very best selves and want to move forward and make improvements in our life.
There are many grown ups out there who still behave like children and are saying exactly what my kids are saying.
“This is all YOUR Fault!”
And guess what the other grown up is saying,
“No, this is your fault!”
Neither grown up wants to take accountability for their part. How will the issue get resolved if someone doesn’t step up?
Again, because it’s hard. Who wants to admit when they are wrong? Be honest.
Let me share something,
when you begin to take accountability for the directions and outcomes in your life, your life changes. Someone may argue, “but I got dealt a bad hand of cards.”
Maybe that person did. There are many lives out there who have truly been dealt a shitty hand of cards. But there are also lives out there that even with their bad cards they played a heck of a game.
Even in poker you can win a game with a bad hand.
Learning to take accountability and learning to acknowledge what is changes your life, and it changes for the better. In doing so you learn to give yourself grace which leads to giving others grace. You learn to forgive yourself which leads to you forgiving others.
Everyone needs grace and forgiveness. If you can learn to give it to yourself, you can learn to give it to others.
We cling to too many pains and aches from the past. They are like anchors that hold us down from exploring.
And then we blame those pains and aches for the outcome of our lives. When all we have to do is release the anchor so we may set sail. We get frustrated at the knot that we tied.
Living a life of pointing the finger will do nothing but poison you. It poisons you to the core.
And if you keep letting your pointer finger poison you, eventually it paralyzes you.
That is not how you want to live your life. Beautiful things await when we acknowledge ourselves, our situations, our reactions, and recognize that we hold in ourselves more power than we know.
You are powerful. You are strong. You have strength inside of you to get you through what you are going through. It’s nobody’s fault.
Pain in our hearts can lead to bad choices. Think about that, and ponder it.
I don’t need to know you or see you to know that you reading this, dear reader, are beautiful.
Sometimes we need to be reminded how special and unique we are. Allow me to remind you.
You are a once in a lifetime. Shaped and molded in a way that cannot be duplicated. A rare commodity.
You aren’t perfect my friend, and guess what, nobody is. Each of us is flawed in our own way. But isn’t is wonderful?
How boring it would be if we were all the same and shared all the same experiences. It’s our differences that bring color and vibrancy to this world and universe. It’s the differences that help us to grow and grant us permission to see through the many different filters of life.
Celebrate those “imperfections”. Learn to love yourself. Learn to see yourself. You are worthy of your own love. Love yourself. You are loved.
There is no need to seek approval from the outside. When unkindness greets in those unexpected moments you shake it off immediately and most definitely don’t take it personally.
But again, I don’t need to know you or see to know that you are beautiful. You are. You are a miracle. You are here, you are alive. You’re doing it.
You’re a gift, you know that right? You truly are. You have purpose. You have value. You have magic flowing in you. There is so much light in you, even if right now the clouds are blocking the view. It’s there glowing brightly.
Have you ever spent time looking for your sunglasses or glasses all over your home only to discover that they have been on your head this whole time?! Or maybe you searched everywhere for your phone only to realize it’s been snug in your back pocket?
Something I have learned is that whatever you are searching for to fill a specific void is not out there. The answer is within. You may think a specific thing is going to fulfill you…. And then when you actually do get it you’re going to still have that void. And then you’re going to be left very confused and concerned. You’re going to think, I really thought this was going to fulfill me and answer all my questions. Why do I still feel this emptiness? This void? This feeling?
The answer is right where you are. And the way you discover your answer is by spending time with yourself. Getting to know yourself. Learning to love yourself.
The way we spend time getting to know others we should be spending time getting to know who we are. Why do we act a specific way? Why do we respond the way that we do? Why are we afraid of this and that? Ask why about yourself, and keeping asking it. Discover what you enjoyed doing as a kid, discover what brought peace to you and bring it back.
Saying, “this is just the way I am” is not your full truth. You have shape and definition. Why would you not want to discover the tools and colors that were used to create who you are as an individual. Give yourself time to discover yourself. Not all your discoveries will be pleasant. Some will be painful. Vulnerability forms deeper connections with others. Being vulnerable with yourself does the same.
Nobody is this entire world knows you the way that you know yourself. Nobody knows what you have seen or experienced. You’re worth getting to know, and you’re worth your love. See yourself for the miracle that you truly are.
There’s a book I just began reading called, “A Child Of The Native Race.” A story of woman who was born to an Indian family but taken away at 18 months old and raised by a white family. It’s a story of returning to her roots.
In her dedication the author Sandy White Hawk says this,
“
Even if we came into this world in the worst of circumstances.
We are not that circumstance; we were sacred when we were born
separate from the hardship that surrounded us.
Our life is good and has a purpose.”
“
This quote above really resonated with me in such a way. I don’t know that I can fully put into words.
It resonated with me because of my own adoption story and discovering my roots and finding my biological family. And it resonated because of my daughter, and her adoption story.
And currently, we are fostering my nephew, who we plan on adopting.
It is sad? The circumstance? In a way, yes, yes it is. And that should be acknowledged. But it is also a gift as well in it’s own way. And the gift may not be recognized until many years later (I can testify to that). This quote above affirms what I already know. That each of us are sacred, no matter how we entered this world. No matter the circumstance in which we are born into.
When we enter into this world we couldn’t be anymore pure. Each of us, first born, are so full of life, curiousity, adventure. It is the world, the pressures, the fears, the power and greed that work to steal us away from who we are. We become confused, afraid, and we feed ourselves lies.
Listen to me….
We are sacred gifts. We are miracles. We are love. You must never forget that. Never forget how significant you are. Never doubt your capabilities. You are chosen. That is the truth.
Forgive others. Forgive yourself.
Many of us DO enter this world through challenging circumstances. But how we come into this place does not define who we are. We are still chosen to be here, despite the troubles that may surround us. And we will find our way.
Lean not on your own understanding.
Live your days recognizing the gifts that surround you. Remind others that they are treasure. Help others to see how remarkable they are. We are never alone on our journey.
Discussing and sharing is healing and it’s connecting.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
The payment to live and be with God is death. We know that we are alive, and that one day, we, and everyone else will die. Death is the gateway to be with THE ONE.
Death can be thought of like taking a shower. Our earthly lives are covered in mud. We are head to toe covered in mud and gunk. And no matter what we do we can’t really get clean in this life.
Jesus let’s us know that when we die the mud will be removed. We gain peace knowing that one day, we will actually be clean and free.
This awareness brings joy. We don’t have to waste anymore time scrubbing away “this mud.” We CAN’T scrub it away anyway no matter how hard we try!
There are others who live who are still convinced that they can get clean and wipe this mud away themselves. They spend almost their whole lives scrubbing and wiping this mud, convinced that they can become clean without anyone’s help.
To die, is to truly remove the mud that is clung to each of us like wet clothes. Death is the ONLY way.
Death is a gift. Death is removing the chains of sin to be with God.
I know the talk of death is scary. It is. It’s scary because there is still much unknown what’s on the other side. It’s scary to think of the separation from the ones we love on this earthly life. But it will okay.
We have been gifted with faith and assurance that it will be okay. That we are loved. And whether we know it or not, this is something we all actually really want.
We have been given a great gift. Many want to point and blame God for the suffering in this world. However it is the suffering that will actually strengthen our bond with God, it’s the suffering that will provide understanding. To recognize the sin in this world is to cry out to God.
You are loved, always and forever. And you are never alone. May peace be with you.
You’ve probably heard someone say once or twice before, God is good. And how would you define that phrase?
I feel like I’ve had some type of revelation and I’m excited to share it. God is good.
In the past whenever I would hear that phrase I would repeat to myself, God is good. But then think, what does that even really mean?
How do we interpret that? Well for one, we can look around at nature and be astonished.
Like, are you aware of what an octopus can do! It’s pretty spectacular. That in itself points to an incredible creator.
But God also reveals his work and skills in tribals and in times of distraught.
Let me share a little story that just took place a couple of days ago. A story of my daughter getting some deep splinters and what unraveled into a spiritual lesson.
At our house we have a little wood deck that my husband actually made. Picture a yard of turf, then you can two steps onto this wood deck that bridges to a giant sand pit.
Our daughters have so much fun in our backyard. Tons of laughing and imagination. My husband and myself always say how much we love just watching our children play. It’s truly a blessing.
Well one late afternoon the girls and I had just got back from picking up a half pepperoni and half cheese pizza. The girls raced to the trampoline to play with the puppies that we just recently got (2 border collie pups, too cute. But they chew on everything!) I shouted to come inside to eat and then………
Then, I hear screaming. I look out the window and my 3 year old is sitting on the wood deck, head down, crying hysterically. Echoing through out the neighborhood. My other daughter is shouting, “‘mom! She has a splinter!” I knew it was bad. This wasn’t the first time that this type of situation has happened.
I had just sat down too and taken two bites out of my pizza. I thought of course, this is parent life. I walk over to the deck nonchalantly (I’ve learned it’s best to not react too much when they’re in distress. Makes it way worse) and look at her foot. I see it and think, shit.
There’s 2 splinters that are deep in her foot. These won’t be easy to pull out with just tweezers, she’s going to need “surgery”. I call my husband and tell him what happened. Luckily he was already on his way home from work. He tells me to soak her foot in water. I take her to the bathtub.
That was a struggle as you can imagine with a 3 year old. Although it quickly became a party in the bathroom. Her sisters were there fully supporting her. One is feeding her pizza while the other is making her laugh with silly gestures. Her foot is soaking in the water, she’s got a lollipop in her hand, a “bravery” light up watch/bracelet, and her unicorn baby doll. At this point she’s calmed down a little.
Then dad gets home.
She begins to cry hysterically all over again which I totally understand. It’s like when someone asks, “are you okay?” when you’re totally not and you begin to uncontrollably cry. We’ve all been there right?
My husband looks at her foot and with no hesitation but complete confidence says, “I can get those out.” In my head I’m thinking, ummm are you sure, did ya see her foot, and I even suggest urgent care. I reiterate that they are deep and I don’t know if he can do it. My confidence in him is slim.
He says, we’ll wait till she’s asleep. Or we can leave it and let her body reject it. I wasn’t for the latter, I wanted those wood pieces out of her tiny little foot. Splinters can be painful! We all know this.
She quickly falls asleep, I’m sure to the exhaustion of crying. My husband gets all prepped up for “surgery”. I say that with a sense of humor. Our daughter rests on our bed. I give him his space while checking periodically on the both of them.
In this inconvenient moment I think about how amazing my husband is and I think about what a great dad he is too. This is when God comes to mind and the spiritual message enters.
In this moment my husband revealed to me once again what he’s capable of. I saw him in a different light caring for our daughter, coming to her rescue, and even our other daughters took notice watching their daddy take care of their baby sister. As one of my daughters watches from afar she says, “Daddy’s my hero”.
I believe God works and reveals Himself in similar ways. How would we know how great God was if it wasn’t for the hard times. How could God show us what He’s actually capable of doing if it weren’t for those muddy waters that we get caught in? It’s in these times of fear and pain and discomfort that God steps in and says, “I got you, wait till you see how I’m going to heal you and make this better again.”
Do we trust God? Let’s be honest, not always. Like my 3 year old daughter with splinters in her foot, instead of surrendering her foot and letting us help her she held her foot close to her and kept it restricted. We had to wait till she was asleep before we could even touch it!
It’s these moments, which can be unbearable moments that actually bring us closer to God. He reveals different sides that we never knew. We learn more of Gods capabilities, powers, and healing through these moments.
My daughter getting those splinters sucked. But because of those stubborn/painful splinters I got to witness my husband caring for our daughter. So gently he took those out of her foot without her barley even noticing. My daughters watching from afar developed a new level of trust in their Daddy.
I do believe God works like this. And you know what? Yeah, God IS good. He takes unfortunate events and uses them to bring us closer to Him. God reveals that He can remove “splinters” and more. He can make those pains better. And sometimes like my 3 year old, we don’t surrender to Him. But it doesn’t even matter. He’s going to take care of us anyway.
If you want to recognize how God has been good in your life think for a moment of some difficult times. And think about the good that came from those times.
Read between the lines of your life and you’ll see and you’ll know how present God is.
Would love to hear how God has worked in your life or would love to hear a simple moment turned spiritual.
The splintersThe culprits.When he pulled the first one out.
The Wild Gems 