TPC "lite": Living Bye-Bye the Books
Replacing Baditude
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| A “bye-bye” box…books I’m going to miss (?!?) vs. (see below) |
I wasn’t going to blog today.
Everyone is sick and tired of hearing you go on and on and on about your books!
Get over them already!
Just get the job done!
MOVE ON!
I almost cleared today’s schedule and forced myself to power through the books, regardless of damage to my body or my relationships, just to get them behind me.
But that’s not gentle.
And gentle is my goal for June.
If I weren’t deafening myself with baditude over my “stupid book issues,” what invitation might I hear from my gentle Father?
With God’s Word
On Day 19, I wrote about the “Ramon”s in my life: people with whom I have conflict. And how easily I transform such people from children of God into caricatures.
Only today, I’m doing it to myself. I’ve reduced myself to “the crazy book lady,” as if this label is somehow gentle or helpful.
Making myself feel worse so I’ll act better is one of my most often tried life improvement strategies (…with a 99.9% failure rate!)
(Can’t view image? Click here to read Luke 6:27-28)
I need to let go of my tendency to become my own worst enemy when I feel stuck, frustrated by my failure to progress according to plan.
I need to Let God’s ever-present blessings remind me that he loves me regardless of how I’m doing with “the books.”
And Gratitude
from my journal:
Today I’m praying…
- …to fully receive Your love and mercy and grace.
- …for the strength to slowly fill these empty bins with books that will be a blessing to others.
Today I’m watching for…
- …someone specific I can bless with one+ of my books.
- …one way in which I can serve Daniel (I’ve gotten too wrapped up in my “stuff” and busyness this week!)
Today I’m appreciating…
- …Your patience with me as I grow.
- …Your invitation to be still and know that You are God.
Your Turn!
- In what area(s) do you struggle with being gentle toward yourself?
- If you’ve ever used the strategy of making yourself feel worse so you’ll act better, how did it work in the short-term? long-term?
- Other thoughts / reflections / insights on today’s topic?
I’m glad that you posted! I was actually disappointed this week when you didn’t post for one day. I love that you are going slowly…it gives me hope that I will be able to conquer the “books” in my life.
I tend to put myself down when it comes to housekeeping in general. I’ve called myself a slob in my own head many times. Trying to stop that.
I too need to clean out books very seriously. thanks for the challenge this week
Just seeing that box of books you are getting rid of makes my heart beat faster. Why is it so hard to get rid of books that I know I won’t read again? Even knowing that I could always get them from the library if I wanted to? Love the thought of blessing others with them though! Vicky
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