I just re-gained contact with an old friend after 5 years of silence. It occurred to me rather quickly that I’ve done and changed a lot in that period of time, spent in the States. Here is an exhaustive list…short of writing a novel.

I left my home, friends and family, got a degree in three years, did a youth ministry internship for a summer, became more competent in spoken and written English (as opposed to French), learned to be comfortable talking in front of large groups of people, sang on a praise team at church, held a friends hand while he was getting a tattoo, got my ears pierced in multiple places, took pictures in front of the Parthenon in Greece, saw the Pyramids and the Sphinx, marveled at the Turkish Mosques, went to my first pro baseball game, bought a membership at the YMCA, became addicted to step classes, rented my first apartment, taught French classes, became financially independent, bought a car, started my first “real” job, chopped off the long hair, met my best friends on this side of the ocean, struggled with homesickness, suffered a broken heart, really enjoyed a college hockey game, became more of a morning person, opened up to my parents, started paying back loans, went on two cruises in Europe, rode a camel, lost someone I loved dearly, became addicted to coffee (ok maybe its not all that new of a problem), stopped watching TV everyday, talked a cop out of giving a friend a ticket – in Spanish, built a second storey to a church in Mexico, learned how to make life-size beaded roses, was given my first real diamond jewelry, went to Universal Studios in California, saw time square in New York, helped at a Boys Ranch, taught VBS classes, cut a check for over $8000, learned to become more forgiving, experienced God’s peace, quit listening to pop radio stations, learned how to drive confidently, drove for more than 5 hours straight, experienced my first road-kill and nearly cried, successfully adopted a diet plan, learned how to interior decorate, became un-afraid of that dreaded racquetball back wall, became addicted and fairly talented at playing spades, bought a condominium, was the maid of honor at my precious Mysti’s wedding, learned how to go under water without holding my nose, built up the courage to leave home without crying for hours on the plane (that’s fairly recent), became able to run 3 miles without dying, did a presentation at a Family Life Education conference, became the aunt of two beautiful babies from China, decided I am not fond of wine, learned to cook big meals, got a cell phone…and obviously lost contact and valuable time with some precious people.

Thank you Lord (and Julie) for some of the most beautiful words I've read in a while. We're all working on being better people...this translates my efforts of the moment...

Each Day...

It's quiet, it's early, my coffee is hot, the sky is still black, the world is still asleep. The day is coming....the stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day...The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next 12 hours I will be exposed to the days' demands, it is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose:

I CHOOSE LOVE...No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...I will live forgiven. I will forgive to that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE...I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the ones who take my place, I'll invite them to do so. Rather then complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULLNESS...Today I will keep my promise. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. And my family will not question my love.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...I am a spiritual being...After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To theses I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

~Max Lucado