Tag: quotes

This Little Light of Mine…

I thought this verse was extremely fitting for this week as Advent is in full swing. Being one of my favorite times in the church, advent teaches so many lessons without one realizing. While the main themes contain lessons about hope, joy, faith, and peace, it is the larger message that is my absolute favorite.

First, advent teaches us how to prepare in-order to let Jesus into our hearts. It isn’t easy, but advent helps guide us to do so. Accepting Jesus isn’t just about the journey or process, but it’s about having something larger than yourself to believe and trust in. Being apart of something larger than yourself is extraordinary! Like a sports team or a club, having something to live and work for is comforting, knowing that you are surrounded by others with similar mindsets and goals. That’s what this verse is getting at.

Jesus, the light, is here to guide us along the way, never forgetting our presence or struggles. While it may feel that way sometimes, it is never happening. That light is a constant. A point to always come back to no matter how difficult life may be. Like the center of a circle, Jesus will always have a direct line to you, no matter where you may be within the circle of life (yes…I did just reference the lion king:) )

Advent is a time to rejoice and remember the light that is within our lives. God allots us time to look back on our decisions and ask ourselves “how did we spread light this year?” Well, if you’re not satisfied with your answer, take inspiration in the season and let your light shine upon others. Don’t hide or shy away from it, keep it burning, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps. Rejoice, prepare, and shine on!

And…Happy Advent!

Pillars of Life

Oh how I love Barbara Bush! With an abundance of character and a plethora of wisdom, I’m surprised that I haven’t mentioned her in this segment before. She was an icon to all and a role-model to many with her iconic pearls and love for reading, no matter the reach, she touched the hearts of Americans.

While it’s hard for me to chose a favorite Barbara Bush quote, this is a really good contender. It perfectly sums up the important things in life and what we should really value close to our hearts.

We can all agree that life is extremely messy. There are lots of ups and downs, inconsistencies as we grow older and wiser. The few things that are consistent are what Barbara says above…family, friends, and faith.

Now, in what particular order? Surprise, it’s always changing! There’s no specific indicator that your family is first this day, friends the next, and faith in between, but you’ll know in your gut which one is needed in that moment. That’s the beauty about life…you get to control it.

So, remember the 3 F’s; the pillars of life. Keep them close to you and ready for use. Besides, they’re who you’ll fall upon when the waves get a little rough.

Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! Well…one day early. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and not just because we get to eat homemade family recipes. It’s a time of reflection and gratitude, something that we don’t always think of in our day to day lives.

As we get swept away by the business of our days, we tend to forget to stop and look around, soaking in all the things that we take for granted. Time spent with our family, catching up with an old friend, someone holding the door for you, helping you carry something to your car. These are just a few examples of things that we forget to be gracious for.

While these things are all action driven, we tend to forget the most important thing to be thankful for: the Lord and his love for us. It is him that gives us the opportunity to get up in the morning. It is him that watches over us as we complete our daily tasks. It is him that makes sure we can handle everything thrown at us in life. He’s the on that makes it all possible and all without an expectation of a thank you.

Here’s my challenge for you: at night, reflect on your day. See how many things you’re grateful for, things you didn’t realize you needed or appreciated in the moment. Take all these things in and make it your challenge to thank someone who you don’t normally thank. You never know, it might just go a long way.

Plant Your Roots

This is a simple one this week. While the words may be straightforward, the meaning is much deeper.

Simply put, Lincoln states that the greater your character, the greater your reputation. Character has a greater influence on our relationships and legacies than one may think. Sure, greatness does leave a lasting effect, but good people are held to a much higher standard.

I was raised with a huge emphasis on the importance of character, so I thought that everyone had the same mindset that I did: character is everything. Boy was I wrong. The first time I encountered someone who had no regard for others or the difference between right and wrong I was appalled. How could someone care so little about something that will dictate the rest of your life?

It’s sad to think that some people care so little about how they’re perceived. Sure, there’s no way that you can please everyone in life, but when the number of people who want to actively be around you is very small? Maybe that’s a sign.

I was reading a book about Lincoln this past week-end and the one thing that kept getting mentioned was how he was perceived before he was president. He didn’t have much growing up, but he held himself to a high standard morally. The author chose to include multiple first hand accounts of Lincoln, and each time, without fail, the way Lincoln interacted with others was always mentioned. Now, his reputation that stands today is centered on his presidency, but his character helped build it. There is a reason he’s called “Honest Abe” after all. That nickname isn’t given to just everyone.

A reputation takes time to build, but takes little to nothing to ruin it. Character isn’t something that one can fix overnight. It takes lots of self-reflection and actions as actions speak louder than words.

Take some time this week to reflect on who you are and what you stand for. If you can’t say that you’re happy with your answers, then reflect. Reflect on on you can work to get to a place where you are happy. It’s not impossible.

Butterfly Effect

This quote has always been interesting to me. When you think of changing the world, you picture some big movement, breaking down barriers and/or doing a complete remodeling of what was previously there. What if that wasn’t always the case?

Almost everyone knows of the butterfly effect; one small thing could cause a chain of events that changes everything. One thing I can never wrap my mind around is the fact that often times, the butterfly effect is portrayed as a bad thing. It isn’t.

In order to create change, all you need is one thing: yourself. You don’t have to be a famous activist or carry great amount of power to create an impact. In fact, your impact doesn’t have to be large or forceful. You’d be surprised just how meaningful one word or small action can be. For example, a simple “good morning!” tot one of you peers in the hallway or a “have a great evening” to your coworkers as your leaving work could change the mood of their day. Small things don’t go unnoticed.

Here’s your challenge for the week. Push yourself to make an impact this week. It can be a simple “hello” in passing or sitting at a different lunch table in the cafeteria. Switch up your actions and you’d be surprised at the difference something so small can cause.

You don’t have to go out and move mountains…start with a grain of sand. Then another, and another, and another. Eventually, it’ll build up and you’ll have something great in-front of you.