It Doesn't Have to Be My Way

Remember Frank Sinatra singing “I did it my way”? The song was about a man fondly looking back on a life lived on his own terms. But, is that the way WE want to live?

I heard a talk where the speaker handed out empty toilet paper rolls to each of us to make her point. She asked: “Have you ever had a dispute with your husband about the RIGHT way to hang a toilet paper roll? And, if you weren’t in agreement, did you correct it each time that he’d put it in different from the way you thought it should be? Did it frustrate you because it just wasn’t right or it just wasn't YOUR WAY? She said God had been speaking to her about having to have it HER WAY, so, on purpose, she has been leaving it the way her husband put it on. She realized “It doesn’t have to be MY WAY all the time. She instructed us to write on our rolls…. “It doesn’t have to be MY WAY!”

What a powerful object lesson! The point, well taken. It's such an erroneous belief that OUR WAY is the best way of doing things and then insisting others agree with us. There are those who seem to have taken a life course called, “How to Be Absolutely Sure of Everything”! And, honestly, in the light of eternity and what matters most, does it really matter? Wanting and insisting on getting our way is a set up for unhappiness and a lot of disagreements with others. We rationalize that THEY are the one that needs to change.

It’s part of our human nature to want to have our way. We all have a touch of the need to be right. We all have areas where we believe that we know better than others. As we learn to let go of the need to have it OUR WAY, the more energy we’ll have to spend on things that REALLY ARE important.

It’s time to ask ourselves, “Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy? Do I want to get my way, or do I want to feel a closeness with others?” Who wants to be a know-it-all, when there’s only one KNOW-IT-ALL? He is Father God. Instead of singing Frank’s “I DID IT MY WAY”, why not be singing…. “I did it God’s way!” And when we do it God's way.....in humility and love.....it WILL BE His way....and the BEST WAY! But, just thought I'd add a photo of the RIGHT WAY of hanging toilet paper!

"He has shown you, oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in HIS WAYS." Psalm 128:1

It Doesn't Have to Be My Way!

Day 195 of Photo Inspirations – It Doesn't Have to Be My Way!
Remember Frank Sinatra singing “I did it my way”? The song was about a man fondly looking back on a life lived on his own terms.  But, is that the way WE want to live?

I attended a meeting on Thursday where the speaker handed out empty toilet paper rolls to each of us. She asked: “Have you ever had a dispute with your husband about the RIGHT way to hang a toilet paper roll?  And, if you weren’t in agreement, did you correct it each time that he’d put it in different from the way you thought it should be?  Did it frustrate you because it just wasn’t right or it just wasn't YOUR WAY?  She said God had been speaking to her about having to have it HER WAY, so, on purpose, she has been leaving it the way her husband put it on.  She realized “It doesn’t have to be MY WAY all the time. She instructed us to write on our rolls…. “It doesn’t have to be MY WAY!”

What a powerful object lesson! Point well taken.  It's such an erroneous belief that OUR WAY is the best way of doing things and then insisting others agree with us.  There are those who seem to have taken a life course called, “How To Be Absolutely Sure of Everything”!  And, honestly, in the light of eternity and what matters most, does it really matter?  Wanting and insisting on getting our way is a set up for unhappiness, and a lot of disagreements with others.  We rationalize that THEY just need to change.

It’s part of being human to want to have our way. We all have a touch of the need to be right. We all have areas where we believe that we know better than others. As we learn to let go of the need to have it OUR WAY, the more energy we’ll have to spend on things that REALLY ARE important.

It’s time to ask ourselves, “Do I want to be right or do I want to be happy?  Do I want to get my way, or do I want to feel closeness with others?”  Who wants to be a know-it-all, when there’s only one KNOW-IT-ALL?   He is Father God.  Instead of singing Frank’s “I DID IT MY WAY”, why not be singing…. “I did it God’s way!” And when we do it God's way.....in humility and love.....it WILL BE His way....and the BEST WAY!

"Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in HIS WAYS." Psalm 128:1
 "...be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the HUMBLE.”  1 Peter 5:5

Age is Just a Number

Day 74 of Photo Inspirations -- Age is Just a Number
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a birthday party for a 90-year old friend, Charles Wollershauser, who, in spite of the number 90, he is most certainly not defined by his age. He still works for his son's hardware company, still walks at least a mile a day, lifts weights and exercises 25-minutes a day, and his mind and memory doesn't skip a beat.  He has a devoted family and they have to work hard to keep up with him.  Yesterday, they certainly gave him a party to remember.

I'll never forget the Christmas Party I attended where he was also an attendee, too.  We had one of those "Dirty Santa" gifts exchange.  He was the final one to get to draw and all that was left was what looked to be a wrapped CD or DVD.  Rather than taking someone else's gift, he took that one.  He opened it up and to his joy, it was a Frank Sinatra CD.  It felt like it had been planned, because he went into great detail about his days as a Navy orderly for the in-charge officer-of-the-day.  This day it was the Captain.  And on this day, Frank Sinatra was coming to his base to entertain.  And because Charles was the orderly of the day, the Captain invited him to sit on the front row with him.  It was a day to remember, and Charles remembered it well to all of us.

And today was no exception for the joys for Charles.  His family will never have regrets for taking the time to celebrate their dad, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.  It was a defining moment for Charles.   I well remember giving a big birthday "This Is Your Life" 70th birthday celebration for my Mom, surprising her with friends and family from all over the U.S., and then we had a big celebration party for her again on her 90th birthday.  I, too, had no regrets for the time and effort to celebrate her precious life and thank her for being such a faithful and devoted mom

A beautiful moment for me at Charles' birthday celebration was when I saw Father Jack Gleason as one of the attendees.  Father Jack is such a dear and precious friend to me and my own family.  Who knew that going to a birthday party could provide sweet moments in a personal way for me?

As I said yesterday,"Life is About the Cycle of Life" -- When we realize the cycle of life is part of our journey of life, we'll embrace every moment we have with each other.  Treasure the sweet times, celebrate each other, and live with no regrets.