Spiritual Thought for the Week- I Believe I Believe Written By: Judith Bell I was born opinionated. I spent most of my childhood pushing the boundaries and making sure what I had to say was heard. I stayed in trouble with my dad because I always had to have the last word. I can’t tell you how many nights my mother kicked my shins under the table trying to get me to keep my mouth shut. I am willing to say what needs to be said; sometimes it works out and then there are those times I end up with my foot in my mouth. I have strong opinions about many issues. Believe it or not, there are opinions I keep to myself, but there are others that I willingly share. One of my strongest and deeply held beliefs is that we have a choice in how we live the life we’ve been given. We can choose to live in the light and presence of God, manifesting His love for us and through us wherever we go and whatever we do and take the risks the journey presents; or we can choose to hide in the shadow of doubt and fear and never risk venturing into the journeys life has to offer. So, at the risk of being opinionated, the following statements represent some of the beliefs I’ve come to value over the years: I Believe… • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
everyone has a purpose, true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love, you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life, it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be, you should always leave loved ones with loving words; it may be the last time you see them, you can keep going long after you think you can’t, we are responsible for what we do; no matter how we feel, chocolate is a food group, every choice has a consequence, there is no reason to doubt who you are when God is with you, sometime you have to let go and dance, rudeness is the weak person’s imitation of strength, either you control your attitude or it controls you, heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of
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the consequences, my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and still have the best time, sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up, sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel, maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated, it isn’t always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself, no matter how bad your heart is broken; the world doesn’t stop for your grief, our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become, you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret; it could change your life forever, two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different, your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you, even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help, credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being, the happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have and the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:14)
Source: Compilation of thoughts, words of wisdom &inspirational emails I believe you should find a friend and begin a series of thoughtful conversations around the “I Believe” statements. I have and though I have enjoyed the quality and depth of the conversations. I have also realized what I believe not only ads value to who I am, but why I am.