Learning to Fly Again

You lie battered and bruised on the ground.  One would think that you have been hit by a truck and then it reversed over you just to make sure.  Every piece of your self-worth and confidence are lying shattered in a million pieces around you.  Tears roll down your cheeks as the initial shock hits.  Those words were cruel, actions uncalled for and well, it came like a bolt out of the blue with no warning.  Just when you were feeling good about yourself, just when you were starting to make progress - BAM!

So where to from here?   You can sit silently in the shadows waiting for someone to come past and pick you up, tell you it will all be okay and help you on your feet.  Is that what you want?  Is that what you need?   I remember feeling so worthless and fearful that I kept the blinds closed for weeks and was quite happy never to have to face the outside world again.  I could have easily been deemed a recluse and stayed safely tucked away from that big, bad world.  It was only there to hurt and I had experienced quite enough at that stage.

Over the next weeks I worked through those feelings, and yes I talked out loud to myself often.  God didn't miss out either.  I screamed, I shouted, I cried as this gamet of emotions poured out and all the hurt, disappointment and pain revealed itself.  Then something happened.  I made a mental note that all must change if I want to move forward.  No more sulking like a child in the corner, no more 'woe is me' attitude.  I needed to mend these broken wings and learn to fly again.

As I look back now, I can see that from pain and heartache comes growth.  It is in these times that we discover more about ourselves than we ever could from a lifetime of pure happiness and perpetual smiling.  God does this for a reason.  He knows that if our days are forever bright and sunny, we won't challenge ourselves and will 'gloss over' the areas that need improvement.  It is about learning more about what makes us tick and finding strength that we never knew we had.  For me, learning to fly has taken time and I still fall out of the nest sometimes however, God is there to pick me back up, put me back in the nest and whispers quietly, 'try again'.

Are you ready to mend your wings?  Have you had enough of hiding away in the shadows of hurt and pain?  Do you want to fly?  Reach out to the one who made you and knows every part of you, every dream, desire and deep seeded hurt.  All you have to do is ask and then take the first step of faith.

Regards,

Chaos to calm....then chaos again

One day.  That is all I ask,  just one day.

One day when...

• smelly teenage boy socks find a new home and not one that is stuffed between the cushions on the lounge
• the cat recovers from dimentia and remembers that it was only fed 1 hour ago
• the freshly clean floor can not have something spilt on it immediately after drying
• that you can walk into the room of a teenage son and not be bowled over by the lingering smell that comes from body odour, dirty clothes and lunch from 3 months ago
• the washing and ironing is up-to-date and clothes baskets empty for longer than 10 minutes
• the toilet seat is closed and the toothpaste lid on when not in use
• a kitchen bench is rediscovered and is no longer the horizontal surface dumping ground for everything as you walk in the back door
• the array of shoes by the residing centrepedes are on a relocation program back into bedrooms and not at the back door
• the lost socks return and find their life partners

Yes, I know this is all a dream.  Every day, parents across the globe face these same challenges.  Challenge that at times are frought with danger - particularly where teenagers are involved!  Those little frustrations that seem to endlessly appear, continue to cause havoc and are at plague proportion.  It is at times chaos.

Then, in a moment of sheer amazement and wonder, it stops.  Calm arrives and life is grand.  The teenagers are out doing 'their thing',  hubby is curled up with a newspaper on the lounge and there is just a fleeting moment of sanity in the house when all can be.

Don't get too excited though for this will be short lived.  The cat will meow, the pungent odour from down the hallway will waft through like agent orange and the remaining socks will hold memorial services for their lost partners.

Soldier on my friend.  Pick up that sock, close that toilet seat, file that paper, wash that floor - again.   

As Mum's we take this in our stride every day, every week, every month, every year.  Yep, there are times when we rant and rave and even take a stand by going AWOL.  Sure enough though, we return to face it all again.  Mum's (and house Dad's) - raise your glasses and make a toast to that one day where all will be!

Regards,

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Cheers,
Lynnelle

Life is tough...it's not what you had thought it would be. You are angry, you are frustrated, you are unhappy in some part or maybe all of your life. Ask yourself why? What changed?? It wasn't always this hard. There had been years of easy times, not perfect, just easier. Remember back to when you had a smile to share and laughter filled your soul. When the pressures and challenges were manageable and less often. Those days are still there you just can't see them at the moment.

As we grow older, the challenges appear to be more frequent and stronger. We look back to years of youth thinking how wonderful they were and wishing that life was that simple once again. However, we can't live in the past what we have to deal with is the now. The now may be hard, it may hurt but you have the power to rise to the challenge and fight for what you want in this life. Perhaps a relationship is breaking down, perhaps the job is coming to an end, perhaps the kids are screaming and you wonder how on earth you ever ended up in this mess. These times just seem to happen and can come from what appears to be nowhere. It could be a sudden, unexpected change or it could be a series of little niggles that has turned into a festering, ugly situation where there appears to be no hope.

You are worth the fight. Your relationship is worth the fight. Your children are worth the fight. Stand up and claim the goodness that God has for you. The happiness that awaits you once again. Grab hold of what brings joy to your heart or a smile to your face. One moment, every day - remember it, claim it. Fight.

Fight against the mindset that we are fed continually or that negativity that has crept in over the years. No more will you let heartache, anger, sorrow, worry or frustration rule your life. Perhaps you and your attitude needs to change to find that peace again. Our mind can control our hearts and we have to ensure that we are being reasonable in our expectations, accept that we are not always right, we are human, we have faults and that it takes compromise and compassion.

No matter what you are facing today, there is hope. God has the power and the strength to see this one through, even when you don't. God doesn't want you to live a miserable life - he wants only the best for you however it is up to us to accept this, embrace it and run with that belief in our hearts.

Another Cup of Life Please

Every morning I enjoy a cup of coffee. The first one of the day is always the best and with my ever faithful Nespresso machine, I select the level of caffeine hit required, heat up some milk, then sit back and enjoy the end result.

In life, it isn't quite as simple. We cannot select our life, we have opportunties but not always choices. We do not choose to have cancer, heart attacks, forced transfers or even disabilities. We can however choose how we deal with the events as they unfold.

I remember when my husband had a heart attack (he was only 43) - it certainly wasn't what he chose nor was it my choice, we had no control over the situation. It was one that we had to deal with, face the fear, trust the doctors, trust God more and wait. In that situation we could have chosen to crumble or rise to the challenge. As I waited during his surgery, I prayed and I cried. It was a time that I will never forget and there were many beautiful and emotional moments with my God as I relied on him like never before.

If we could just brew up the perfect life, I believe it would be one of weakness. How many of us would actually welcome adversity. Not many I suspect. Yes, life can be tough but from adversity comes growth and from challenge comes strength. Be they life changing moments or coping with changes in life - it all has purpose. The challenges and adversity are our 'caffeine hit' that bring the deepest parts of our being to life.

As another year comes to a close and new one starts, lets remember that in life we need strength. So instead of another half strength flat white, let's make it full strength. My prayer for you is that you embrace the challenge, discover new strengths and become resilient and confident no matter what comes your way in 2012.

Cheers,

Taking off the apron

Last night I had the joy of watching my eldest son strutt his stuff along the red carpet. After 12 years of schooling he has graduated! There was much celebration last night as the gorgeous girls and dashing young men took to the red carpet, received certificates, attempted to waltz and then kicked the shoes off for the after party!

As parents watching on it was a celebration with a huge sigh of relief. The journey over the past two years in particular has not been easy. Many tense moments, lost sleep, last minute madness to have the assessments in on time and the inevitable passing of exams.

Today, I am emotional as the reality of what lies ahead starts to take hold. This morning the tears have flowed somewhat unexpectedly - all I was doing was looking at the formal photos. After 18 years of nurturing, protecting, loving and at times pulling hair out, it is time to let go of the apron strings. It is time to take off the apron of action and let him find his own way.

Yes, we will continue to be here to guide and support him however, he is now at a point where he can make his own decisions and will have to live by those decisions be they good or bad. Like any parent those feelings of 'not just yet' are there and I am at times struggling to undo those apron strings.

I know that his future will be whatever he sets his mind to. He is capable and has so many options at his feet now. 2012 is going to be a year of excitement, change and opportunity and I will be encouraging him to grap hold and hang on for the ride of his life!