Lessons Learned In The Tough Times Of Life

Let's face it.Life is tough! We live in a time of uncertainty and confusion as well as much suffering.Bad things do happen to good people and good things do happen to bad people.Those two truths must be accepted before one can ever find peace!

I have no complaints about my life. There has been ups and downs, good times and bad times,sickness and health.

The following are just a few simple truths I have learned about life.

1-bitterness is useless!

One of my favorite Don Henley songs comtains these words:"And
have you ever noticed that an angry man can only get so far.
Untill he learns to reconcile the way he thinks things ought
to be,with the way they are." ("My Thanksgiving")
How true!
Bitterness is a cancer that slowly destroys it's victim.

2-blaming others or yourself is futile!

Having spent the frist 2 years of my illness after surgery
fighting to let go of the hurt,pain,bitteness,and blame,
I know firsthand the peace that comes when you let go
and relalize it's a waste of energy being bitter and
blaming others.
First:forgive yourself (this is the foundation)
Second:forgive others (this produces freedom)

3-backing up is destructive! (this brings fear)
By this I mean always looking back and living with regret.
You can never find peace or happiness living with regret!
Sitting around wishing you had done this or hadn't done that
is like rocking in a rocking chair.
Gives you something to do, but won't get you anywhere.
Let go of the past!
A preacher once told a ture story of he and his wife
going out to dinner with another couple who were close friends.
This couples grandaughter had become pregnant at age 16 and
gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
As my preacher friend was driving to dinner,his friend
remarked that he wished all this had never happened and
that his grandaughter had never met the boy who became the
father of her baby and then deserted her.
My preacher friends reply to this remark changed my life!
He replied:"Ah, but If we could go back and undo all the
bad things in our past, we would also be doing away with
the good!"

My friend was saying that if it was possible to go
back in time and erase the young man from his grandaughter's
life, would also mean erasing a beautiful baby boy!
As I climb this mountain and sometimes stop to look back
and think of all I would have liked to be able to change.
It's then I realize that all these things in my life have brought
me to this place in my life and made me the man I am.
Please don't fear or hate the mountain before you.
I am blessed to live 15 minutes from the beautiful
Blue Ridge Parkway.To be able to look down and around and see the
beautiful views and wonders of nature, you must first get
to the top of the mountain or,if you please, parkway.
By God's grace I plan to keep climbing.
I look forward to hearing from many of you and reading your
blogs about your journey and especially those of you that
face the mountains I do each day!