Guarding Your Thoughts
Today is Memorial Day and our thoughts are for those who have bravely given their lives in defending the freedoms we enjoy. We’ve been talking the last few days about leaning to build bridges for relationships with our words. If you want to be a great communicator, Jesus taught us that you should guard your thoughts. because that’s where it all begins. In the book of Matthew, chapter 12, and in Mark 7, there’s a couple of things about what we think and how that results in what we say…first, Matthew 12:34 (NIV)...”Four out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Circle the words “heart” and “mouth”. And then Mark 7:15 (TLB)...Your souls aren’t harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!” Circle the words “think” and “say”.
Do you see the vicious circle here? How what I say affects what I think and what I think affects what I say..the vicious circle? Think of this circle with me...let me picture it for you: You start with angry words and those angry words result in a wounded soul...and that wounded soul results in a bitter heart...and that bitter heart results in more angry words. And you just can’t seem to get out of this circle where you’re angry, wounded, hurt...and so you say more angry words....it goes around and around and around. It’s a vicious circle, and we’ve all been caught up in those vicious circles that happen with our words. Jesus said, “If you want to have great communication, you’ve got to guard your heart...it’s one of the keys. Jesus said that words are never a slip of the tongue, but an overflow of the heart. He’s saying you may not have wanted to say it, but you felt it or you wouldn’t have said it...that’s what Jesus is saying. And so, communication starts with what you think. And if you guard that, you’ll talk in a better way. Do you ever let your thoughts leak out into your words? You didn’t mean to and you weren’t going to say it, but you got angry or something happened and “boom!”...it just slipped out...we’ve all done that and that’s what Jesus was talking about. In fact, Jesus said it’s inevitable...eventually it’s going to happen. So part of great communication is guarding your heart....telling yourself, “If I think it, I’m eventually going to say it.” For many of us, we’ll never experience a real change in the way we communicate until we have a change of heart...because that’s where it begins…by guarding our hearts! (Tomorrow: Using Your Ears)
posted by Rix Tillman at 5:54 AM
Monday, May 30, 2005
Today's Inspirational Story -
Dear Baby
A soldier writes to her unborn child about duty to her country and the decision to serve in the military.
By Staff Sgt. Sharon McBride
Dear baby:
As you grow inside me, I have been thinking more and more of what it means to be a mommy in the U.S. Army.
Let me be the first to tell you, though, that we have a rough road ahead of us, kiddo. The life of a soldier isn't an easy one.
Already in the seven years that I've been in the Army, I've spent a lot of time away from home. It's very rare that I get to spend holidays with my family. And more and more I see my friends and comrades departing on deployments that send them far away from their families for extended lengths of time. And I have a feeling that life isn't going to get any easier, sweetie.
And, although we have been given a reprieve of sorts while you continue to make my belly expand, I have a feeling it won't be too long after you are born that I, too, will be asked to go away--again.
It seems, my dear, that there are too many nasty people in this world that feel like they need to oppress, suffocate and stamp out human pride and freedom among their fellow man.
Why, sweetie? I don't know. But these men seem to be everywhere. Every day when I turn on the news, there's a different man in a different part of the world that's making life unbearable for others.
As a soldier, I have given my word that if the call comes for me to do my part in making the world a better place to live, I'll go. No hesitation. No questions asked.
That call was a lot easier to answer when I didn't have you--when I just had myself to think about. Now, as a future parent, I can see why some single mommies choose to get out of the Army, but my resolve is true.
I know baby, this is going to be hard for you to understand. You're going to want your mommy and she'll be far, far away.
I'm going to miss a lot of important things--perhaps many of your firsts: birthdays, holidays, you know, all the good stuff. But, I am a soldier. It's a profession that few choose, but one that the many don't hesitate to call when there's trouble to be fixed. That's our job; our mission in life: to help others that can't seem to help themselves.
But, take comfort in the fact that there are going to be other children that will not only be missing their mommies but daddies too.
Many families have gone down this road before us. We won't be the first. And we certainly won't be the last. So, if they can do it, surely we can do it too.
While we are together, though, I promise to hold you a bit longer than necessary, read the story about the purple dinosaur as many times as you want, fix you favorite food for dinner, kiss you a lot, hold your hand and take as many photos of you as possible. Memories of these things will have to sustain us while we are apart.
Just take heart that being an Army baby won't be all bad. There will be sweets to go with the sour. You'll get to travel and see other cultures that other kids won't get to see. There will always be food on the table and clothes on your back. If you get sick, you will always have medicine to make you feel better.
Some children in the world don't even have shoes. I know, because I've seen them.
So, as you grow stronger and bigger inside me, I can only hope and pray that you remember the lessons I will teach while we are together and that they will help you when we are apart: Always share your cookies, never call names, remember to say "I'm sorry" if you are wrong, wash behind your ears and brush your teeth, and say "I love you" every chance you get.
Lastly, don't forget to pray for Mommy and the other parents that often have to be so far away from their little ones. We don't want to leave, but sometimes duty calls.
Update: I wrote this letter to my unborn child in Oct. 2003. Prior to her birth I spent 14 months (July 2002-August 2003) in the Middle East during the kick-off and main portion of "Operation Enduring Freedom." After returning to the United States I requested to be stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska near my hometown of Eagle River. I was granted my request. Lyssa Bree McBride was born Feb. 6, 2004. She was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and over 22 inches long. She is now 7 months old. I've been home just over a year. I received a call last week from my assignment manager, who told me to prepare and to get ready to "pack my bags" that I was going to either Iraq or Afghanistan next Febuary. I was supposed to be stationed in Alaska till 2006.
A soldier writes to her unborn child about duty to her country and the decision to serve in the military.
By Staff Sgt. Sharon McBride
Dear baby:
As you grow inside me, I have been thinking more and more of what it means to be a mommy in the U.S. Army.
Let me be the first to tell you, though, that we have a rough road ahead of us, kiddo. The life of a soldier isn't an easy one.
Already in the seven years that I've been in the Army, I've spent a lot of time away from home. It's very rare that I get to spend holidays with my family. And more and more I see my friends and comrades departing on deployments that send them far away from their families for extended lengths of time. And I have a feeling that life isn't going to get any easier, sweetie.
And, although we have been given a reprieve of sorts while you continue to make my belly expand, I have a feeling it won't be too long after you are born that I, too, will be asked to go away--again.
It seems, my dear, that there are too many nasty people in this world that feel like they need to oppress, suffocate and stamp out human pride and freedom among their fellow man.
Why, sweetie? I don't know. But these men seem to be everywhere. Every day when I turn on the news, there's a different man in a different part of the world that's making life unbearable for others.
As a soldier, I have given my word that if the call comes for me to do my part in making the world a better place to live, I'll go. No hesitation. No questions asked.
That call was a lot easier to answer when I didn't have you--when I just had myself to think about. Now, as a future parent, I can see why some single mommies choose to get out of the Army, but my resolve is true.
I know baby, this is going to be hard for you to understand. You're going to want your mommy and she'll be far, far away.
I'm going to miss a lot of important things--perhaps many of your firsts: birthdays, holidays, you know, all the good stuff. But, I am a soldier. It's a profession that few choose, but one that the many don't hesitate to call when there's trouble to be fixed. That's our job; our mission in life: to help others that can't seem to help themselves.
But, take comfort in the fact that there are going to be other children that will not only be missing their mommies but daddies too.
Many families have gone down this road before us. We won't be the first. And we certainly won't be the last. So, if they can do it, surely we can do it too.
While we are together, though, I promise to hold you a bit longer than necessary, read the story about the purple dinosaur as many times as you want, fix you favorite food for dinner, kiss you a lot, hold your hand and take as many photos of you as possible. Memories of these things will have to sustain us while we are apart.
Just take heart that being an Army baby won't be all bad. There will be sweets to go with the sour. You'll get to travel and see other cultures that other kids won't get to see. There will always be food on the table and clothes on your back. If you get sick, you will always have medicine to make you feel better.
Some children in the world don't even have shoes. I know, because I've seen them.
So, as you grow stronger and bigger inside me, I can only hope and pray that you remember the lessons I will teach while we are together and that they will help you when we are apart: Always share your cookies, never call names, remember to say "I'm sorry" if you are wrong, wash behind your ears and brush your teeth, and say "I love you" every chance you get.
Lastly, don't forget to pray for Mommy and the other parents that often have to be so far away from their little ones. We don't want to leave, but sometimes duty calls.
Update: I wrote this letter to my unborn child in Oct. 2003. Prior to her birth I spent 14 months (July 2002-August 2003) in the Middle East during the kick-off and main portion of "Operation Enduring Freedom." After returning to the United States I requested to be stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska near my hometown of Eagle River. I was granted my request. Lyssa Bree McBride was born Feb. 6, 2004. She was 8 pounds, 12 ounces and over 22 inches long. She is now 7 months old. I've been home just over a year. I received a call last week from my assignment manager, who told me to prepare and to get ready to "pack my bags" that I was going to either Iraq or Afghanistan next Febuary. I was supposed to be stationed in Alaska till 2006.
Today's Quote
What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
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