GOD IS SO GOOD TO US

It is not life and its difficulties you have to conquer, only the self in you. -- "God Calling," January 14

Amazingly, I first noted that line in 1991...meaning, I underlined it because I "got" it. I noted it again in 2005...meaning, I highlighted it in yellow because I really "got" it. I just noted it again in 2016...meaning, I underlined it again and drew a smiley face out to the side.

The great and glorious news is I knew the smiley face for "thank you, God." Because today I am doing that...poorly, half-way most times, but by golly I have hit it out of the park on more than one or two occasions since 1991. And, from my toenails up, I am happily aware that I could and would never have been able to do that all on my own.

Here's the joy: Remembering when I gave over, let it slide, agreed with my adversary without trying to curry his or her favor...did not win. Conquered self!

The rest of the story: It took single-minded focus, prayer and effort for me each time to even consider heading in that direction...while knowing, knowing, knowing better. Not to mention that none, not a single one, of the times that I gave over were anything but bumps in my mental road, each of which I could have made my own personal "stand" for me. For my rights, for taking my own part, for not letting him/her run over me...willing to drop friends like used Kleenex.

The secret for how, when and why God is so good to us revealed: When we align our will with God's will and drop our own will by the wayside. That's it. Our heart, soul, body and brains can and will get happy, sing, turn cartwheels, dance...all because we don't get our own way anymore.

Thank you.