Nan's I Care Blog Feelings
This morning Craig left for a week of camp in Tennessee. I'm so thankful he can go! BUT I FEEL sad. I will miss him. I'm tired (after four and a half hours of sleep.) I always FEEL the burden of responsibility with mumsy when he leaves. The question is, though, not how I FEEL today, but how will I BEHAVE?
As I was growing up, one of the lessons my mother taught me, (yes, the mom I'm caring for now) is that, when you feel sad or depressed or any other negative emotion, don't live in that feeling, go and do something for someone else, and you will feel better. Try it! She was right because it is a Biblical principle. (Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.) I find it so lovely that this advice is benefiting her right now!
I don't know about you, but
some days I feel so good, I could do anything,
I can smile, I can be happy, I can pass around the pleasantness.
And some days,
I feel like going back to bed and
pulling the covers over my head.
I don't feel like smiling, I don't feel like being happy,
I just want to pass around the grouchiness.
Feelings, oh, what fickle things.
Some days up,
some days down,
some days happy,
some days sad.
God is teaching me the lesson my mom was teaching me for years, self control in the realm of emotions. Feelings don't need to be expressed! The best thing to do with a negative feeling is just say "no!" and go and do something to bless and serve others. Specifically for me this means mumsy and Craig and for the next few weeks Anne! When I feel lousy and address mumsy with sweetness and pleasantness, I bless her. It is a hard discipline for me at the moment, but in the end, I, too, have joy!
Another one of those basic life's lessons! Right? Don't express your feelings! So, you're grouchy or critical or negative. Get over it! Do the will of God! Pleasant words and pleasant deeds! In the end you will have a hard time finding your ill feeling, whatever it was! You will have joy! Real genuine joy! Ahhhhh! Thank you, Lord! I think this is a lesson I'll learn until my dying day.
I bless my mother for teaching me this! I bless God for my continuing education!
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24
Comments
Nancy, I've thought of you often these past few days as my mom recovers from surgery. Emptied, exhausted, encouraged are but a few thoughts of this journey we're on. I bless you, my sweet sister, for being my encourager as you walk with me and our moms till their path is no longer of this sod.
Yes, my dad used to say about feelings and thoughts... "you can't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair." It makes me smile just typing it. So true!
Love you!
If you would like to know more about me my blog is www.kathink.blogspot.com
Thanks for the comments! Keep pressing on!
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