Andy Williams, Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond crooned, “Then I’ll stay, until it’s time for you to go (Buffy Sainte-Marie).” Though I am a tenaciously loyal soul, this has been my chosen motto and mission this year.
It is one thing to commit, in marriage, for life. Quite another to commit wholeheartedly when you don’t know how long the life of a project, activity or job may be. I am learning, ever so slowly, to hold things loosely, not to base my dreams, goals, or life on any one particular outcome, event or circumstance; not to control the response of another.
I am learning that you cannot force the outcome with relationships; job, social, spiritual, even love.
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image (Thomas Merton)”
One of the ways I let those I love – including me (because how can you love your neighbor as yourself if you don’t love yourself well enough?) – be perfectly themselves; one of the ways I remember to hold jobs and opportunities loosely; is to go about humming quietly:
“Don’t ask why,
Don’t ask how
Don’t ask forever…
I’ll stay until it’s time for me to go.”
Elvis, Neil Diamond, Andy Williams; they sang so convincingly. Now, the task is to convince myself.
Hi Cherry. I have learned these lessons this year ,as well.
In the last 18 months, a few friends walked off into the sunset for reasons that make no sense. I realized, over time, that if they walk, it’s THEIR loss, not mine. Because if I give safe harbour to the fickle,moody and easily hurt, then I am allowing them to bring less than Christ-like, kind and loving attitudes into MY LIFE.
My husband listened to my hurt and confusion then simply said “if they treat you like that, they’re not worthy of you.”
Then I asked myself, why am I sweating those who think poorly of me, when the steady, stalwart life long friends are still by my side!?!?!?!
You deserve the same level of happiness you see around you. If there are toxins, walk away and remember that God doesn’t make garbage. Nor does He want us to wallow in in it.
Keep your hands open. God will place in them what He wants, and remove what has either served its purpose, or is harmful.
Merry 2013!!
Jennifer, you write, “Keep your hands open. God will place in them what He wants, and remove what has either served its purpose, or is harmful.” Yes, that is EXACTLY what I am trying to say.