What If?

Sometimes it’s good to venture “what if?”

Not the “what if?” of the past  -- all the wondering in the world will never change the past.

But the “what if?” of the future… now that has possibilities!

What is it you have been thinking about lately? Who is it you have been wondering about? What phone call could you make… should you make? What opportunity is staring you in the face? What door is open, just a crack, waiting for you to push through to the other side? What adventure is waiting to be explored? What truth is waiting to be discovered?

Wisdom and the Scriptures tell us to let go of the past; and tell us to not worry about the future.

That same Wisdom teaches us to make the most of today.

The decisions of our today create the possibilities of our tomorrow, and become the memories of our yesterday.

What if this door, this person, this idea, this opportunity, is a deciding factor towards your best future?

 What if today I actually do make the most of it? What if today I seize my opportunity? What amazing difference might that make for my future?

What if?

“Carpe diem (Sieze the day!)”

~ Horace

“Live today as if it were your last. Prepare for your future as if you will live a hundred years.”

~ Author Unknown

“The past cannot be altered. Even God Himself will not change the truth of the past. The good news is this: while you may not have the ability to change the truth of your past, you do have the ability to change the truth of your future.”

~ Connie Ruth Christiansen

“As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.”

~ Antoine de Saint

““For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.””

~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Make the most of today! Take A Chance!

Connie

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Thank You for Laughter!

There are so many reasons to be thankful for laughter. It begins friendships and fortifies relationships; relieves tension and creates courage; heals broken hearts and strengthens ailing bodies; it’s contagious; it’s never a waste of time; it’s fun.

I can’t think of any reason to not like laughter. I love the sound, sight and feel of it; I love the joy, healing and strength of it; I am so glad that God invented it.

“Guffaws and giggles, chortles and snorts, rat-a-tat-tats and big loud blats, gentle and quiet, with tears or without, boisterous the kind that is almost a shout, the just passing by for a moment kind that leaves a willing smile behind, the lingers for a long time, builds up from deep within comes up from the toes and spills up and over and out contagious  kind, the makes you sit up and listen kind, the lasts so long it actually hurts and doubles you physically over kind, the forces you to respond kind, even when you are determined not to smile, you must smile. Thank You for all the many sounds and sights of laughter.”

~ Connie Ruth Christiansen

 “I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.”

~ Woody Allen

“What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.”

~ Yiddish Proverb

“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.”

~ Victor Borge

“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.”

~ Victor Hugo

“Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on.”

~Bob Newhart

“Laugher is an instant vacation.”

~ Milton Berle

“A good time to laugh is any time you can.”

~ Linda Ellerbee

 “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”

~ Proverbs 17:22

May today for you be filled with joy, and at least one good belly-laugh

Talk to you soon,
Connie

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Crossing a Finish Line is Rarely by Accident. Never Give Up!

Never Give Up!

You cannot accomplish much in this life without first failing, faltering or falling flat-on-your-face at least a few times.

Beginning a task takes courage, finishing a task takes work. Attempting to accomplish something significant will most certainly make you vulnerable to peril. Risking that danger means greater chance of falling; of failing. It is natural to falter at these possibilities of disappointment. And when you decide to move on in spite of your fears, it is likely that you will fall somewhere along the way, and that you will need to pull yourself  back up in order to finish the task -- Crossing a finish line is rarely by accident.

I am so thankful that although falling, faltering and failing are an inevitable part of the process, they need not be the end result.

Did you Know?”

·         27 publishers rejected Dr. Seuss’s first book
·         Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacks imagination and has no good ideas”
·         Macy started and failed at 7 businesses before his now famous store hit it big in New York
·         Jerry Seinfeld froze on stage during his first comedy club appearance. He was jeered and booed off the stage
·         Thomas Edison recorded 10,000 failed attempts before he invented the light bulb
·         Abraham Lincoln
Failed in business in 1831
Defeated for Legislature in 1832
Second failure in business in 1833
Suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836
Defeated for Speaker of the House in 1838
Defeated for Elector in 1840
Defeated for Congress in 1843
Defeated for Senate in 1855
Defeated for Vice President in 1856
Defeated for Senate in 1858
Elected President in 1860.”

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt

“Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

~ Winston Churchill

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on until completion.”

~ Philippians 1:16 NIV

To give up is the only failure worth mentioning –Never Give Up!

Never Give Up!
Talk to you soon,
Connie



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No Matter How Long the Winter, Spring Will Come!

It’s still winter here in the Great Northwest. But I think maybe Spring is trying to come.

It’s very cold. I can feel it in my bones. I can hear the howl of the wind as it bends the very tall trees close to the ground, and then back again. And yet the sky is blue, the sun is shining as bright as a summer’s day!

 I want to dance, to sing, to go for a very long hike across a meadow of flowers. But there are no meadows of flowers just yet. And a gust of wind about knocked me over when I ventured out for a walk. I put on my sunglasses and pulled my coat tight against me; lifted my head to the sun and shielded my ears from the sharp cold; noted a thin layer of ice on the pond, and listened to little birds singing from the branches of trees – branches with little bitty buds of life threatening to blossom. I found myself smiling and saying “Thank You for Spring!”

I am wishing Spring. I can see signs of Spring. I am living in the anticipation of Spring. But Spring is not here yet… but it still makes me happy!

In weather, we know Spring is coming. Our spirit is uplifted just because we know it is coming.

In the harsh winter times of our soul, of our circumstances, we grow weary fighting against the winds of adversity, we live in the grey, our hearts grow cold.  It is easy to doubt that Spring will ever come again.

But Spring will come again!

Look for signs of Spring in your circumstances – it may be just a glimpse. Listen for sounds of Spring within your soul – it may be just a single note. As you shield yourself from the pain of your winter, don’t forget to lift your head to the Light – it may seem just a glimmer for now, but the Sun is shining!

Allow yourself to hope! Allow yourself to believe Spring is coming again! Allow yourself to say “Thank You for Spring!” …It’s not here yet, but let the anticipation of it give you joy!

If anticipation of Spring seems impossible, look for a spark of hope, a bit of good in your now. Winter is not only about death and cold and grey -- winter has a beauty of its own.

“The pain and the sorrow are part of the joy; the loss is part of the gain. The dying is part of the living. Beauty will both break and heal the heart.”

~ Connie Ruth Christiansen

“It is said that in some countries trees grow but will bear no fruit, because there is no winter there.”

~ John Bunyon

“In the winter of my sorrow, I remember the summer of my joy. In the nighttime of my loneliness, I breathe the day of my thanksgiving.”

~ Ancient Navajo Proverb

“No matter how long the winter, Spring is sure to follow.”

~ Author Unknown  

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.”

~ Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

 “He makes everything beautiful in its time.”

~ Ecclesiastes 3:11 paraphrased


Peace be yours!
Talk to you tomorrow,
Connie


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Finding Thankful When Children Suffer

The most precious of this life are the innocent; the children. They make us smile, they make us better. It is easy to be thankful for them.

 But what do we do with the suffering of a child who is ill, abused, hungry, abandoned? How can we find thanks in that? 

And what do we do with the past suffering of our self as a child? How can we find thanks in that?

We could hide from the suffering, pretend it doesn’t exist, but that does not make it go away. And so we do our best… We do our best to forgive, to move on, to help the child move on. We reach out to help, we reach out to offer hope, we encourage, we give, we love, we pray… But can we actually find a reason to be thankful?

I hate the evil that causes children to suffer. I get angry! My heart breaks! And I do not pretend to understand why. But I am so very thankful that within every child God has planted some amazing survival resources. Within these tiny people there is a strength to endure, and yes, even to thrive in spite of unbearable circumstances. 

And I am thankful for God’s promise that He can and He will turn everything evil around for good! 

And I am thankful for all of the many children who have survived and are thriving, shining examples of the incredible beauty that grows up from the ugly.

A new friend of mine sent me a poem that moved me to tears.

It so beautifully depicts the precious of children, the suffering of children, and the God given resources within each child:

Child.

Hush now… listen.
              You are enchanted like the sunrise. You are one, a precious and miraculous creation.

Your life should be love and light and caring and goodness and learning and growing and happiness and faith and knowing.

This is what you deserve, because you were born, because you are here. You hold every truth. You know all that will someday be forgotten. You were to be kept safe and sound.

But it isn’t always so.

There may be cruelty and hurt, sickness and pain, danger and darkness, hunger, loneliness, fear. But they do not speak your name. They cannot know your courage. They will never see your light. They must not touch your heart. Do not let them inside.

A parent or a relative or a friend or a teacher or a policeman or a president or a god may not be able to heal the sadness. Sometimes nothing and no one else can. And it is not fair.  And it is not your fault.  And it will never be okay.

But you, child, have a great wind beneath you. You will leave the cave of nightmares and monsters. Imagination will be your rocket ship. Hope will be your armor. Treasure them as you would a best friend. 

A warm glow will bathe you. Tender arms will rock you. Kind eyes will guide you. A gentle hand will find yours and it will not let go.

You are strong. Feel it. Believe that you can, and you can. Know that you can, and you will. 

You will change. Change what you will be in this world. And you will change this world. This is your surprise. You are the gift.

You are a shooting star, a wish upon that star, a prayer answered, a dream come true. A wild bird with a broken wing who will someday soar, a frog who will be prince, a delicate flower waiting to open, a raindrop glistening on a leaf, a flawless snowflake swirling in a flawless breeze, a brilliant flash in a stormy sky.

You are the only one of you.  

You are soft color and sweet lullaby, peaceful warmth and long deep breath. You are bursting spirit, beating heart, pulse, spark, fire.

You are the power of the waves, the man on the moon, the fairy in the forest, the “poof “in the spell, the tinkle in the bell. You are supernova.

Feel your strength, your truth, your calm and your sureness. They belong to you, no one else. Nobody can crush, deny, take away or destroy them.

Trust your mighty spirit. Raise it to the heavens. Whisper its secrets. Smile its wonders.

Cherish it as you were meant to be cherished.  Love it as you were meant to be loved. Know it as only you can know. Show it as only you can show. Become. Be.

Child, you are a miracle. You are a whole undiscovered universe. You are Jane, Pedro, Pierre, Mohammed, Jamar, Tanisha, Yusef, Tomas, Lars, Tao, Kumar, Ivan, Paolo, Ailani, Ichiro, Marie, Jules. Be proud.

You are pure magic.

I believe in you. Believe in you.

Things will become real because you will see them. See beauty. See peace. See love. See joy.

See your greatness.

Dream your dream. Write your story. Paint your rainbow. Close your eyes. Open your heart. Lift your chin. Dance your dance. Sing your song.

Sing it home.

You will be heard.  And you will be loved.

~ Pamela Bitterman

Pamela Bitterman is the Award Winning Author of  When This Is Over, I Will Go To School, And I Will Learn To Read; A Story of Hope and Friendship for One Young Kenyan Orphan.

Pamela’s other books include:

Sailing To the Far Horizon -- the author’s own story of life, loss, and survival at sea 

Muzungu -- Pamela’s escapades throughout Kenya

Child, You Are Miracle -- A homily published by World Vision.

To learn more about Pamela, her fascinating life, and her books, visit www.pamelasismanbitterman.com

Thanks everyone for tuning in.

Thank you Pamela for blessing us with your heart!

Talk to you soon,

Connie

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Thank You For Friendship!

I am thinking today of my friends

I am thankful for childhood friends, some I have no idea where to find them now, some I see on occasion; they have left a lasting mark in me, and it is somehow comforting that they know things about me that would be lost, without their memory of them.

I am thankful for my warrior friends; those who at some point in time helped me to fight and win a battle in my life

I am thankful for forever friends, it may have been yesterday or even years ago that we were together, but no matter; each time we meet it is as if no time has passed

I am thankful for work friends. Within the confines of our work-space we speak a language understood and appreciated by an elite few

I am thankful for neighborhood friends. We talk of the weather, and who has planted what, and of our pets and parents, and of the children and how they have grown; or simply wave to each other now and then

I am thankful for church friends. Be our relationship close or casual, we share the unquestionable connection of a common faith

I am thankful for internet-only friends; we don’t really know each other but somehow we form a bond

I am thankful for friends old and new, casual and intimate, long term and short term; those who accept me as I am, and those who constantly challenge me to be better; who laugh at my jokes, and who make me laugh; who are friendly for a particular reason or season, or who stay for life; friendship of any size and shape, for any length of time, is a precious gift

I am thankful that God is a friend. He understands me even when no one else seems to. He is always near even when I feel abandoned by all others. He listens. He hears. He has the answers to my questions -- He is the answer to my questions. His friendship is forever. His love never fails.

Have you lost a friend? Are you feeling alone? My prayer is for a new friend to fill that void in your life. And I pray that you will understand how much God loves you, and that He is indeed a friend you can count on.

Until next time,

“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.”
~ Irish Proverb

Connie

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Gratitude Transforms The Ordinary

A very long day!
Thankful for a time to rest.
Too tired to think.
Thankful for a warm bed and a roof over my head.
Too tired to write.
Thankful for inspiring thoughts already on paper, to cut and paste for you:

“It is a delicious moment, certainly, that of being well-nestled in bed and feeling that you shall drop gently to sleep. The good is to come, not past; the limbs are tired enough to render the remaining in one posture delightful; the labor of the day is gone.”

~ R. Leigh Hunt

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
~ William Arthur Ward

“Thankfulness removes the rust from the mind, lubricates our inward machinery, and enables us to do our work with fewer creaks and groans. It has the power to change a community, to promote health and morality, change attitudes, change situations, and change us! Thankful people live longest here on earth, and afterward in our hearts.”
~ Author Unknown
        

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”

~Thornton Wilder

Sweet Dreams

Talk to you tomorrow,
Connie

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