This morning I read my daughter's blog. She told of a powerful sermon she heard yesterday about fulfilling your calling on earth. This encouraged her to continue to wait for the daughter they have applied to adopt from China. I am encouraged as a grandmother to fervently pray for this to come about and to pray for other children who will be adopted into our family. I will pray about the timing, the expense, the red tape, the birth parents, and the health and well-being of the babies. God will give us what we need to fulfill His purposes in our lives.
I am also encouraged to continue in what He has called me to do. I know my primary calling is to be the wife, mother, grandmother, and friend He wants me to be, but I also believe I am to write--really just to share what the Lord ministers to me. In addition to writing devotionals and maybe a few articles, I would like to help older people write their life stories and prepare ethical wills to leave to their children. I know how precious the handwritten life story my grandmother left is to me. An ethical will or spiritual legacy bequeaths values instead of valuables. It is a chance to say, "this is what mattered to me." I was getting a little discouraged and questioning my own calling, but Jennifer's blog this morning encouraged me.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Innie or Outie?
Are you an innie or an outie?
Did you know that 75% of the world's population are extroverts? I'm reading a really good book about introverts called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney. I have learned that the primary difference between introverts and extroverts is in the way they create their energy. Extroverts get their energy from outside sources. They are energized by talking to people and by lots of activities. Introverts draw energy from being alone with their ideas, emotions and impressions. They feel overstimulated by being around a lot of people.
Introverts live in a world biased in favor of extroverts. Contrary to popular belief they may not be shy and really do like people--just not too many people for too long a time! They need a less stimulating environment to recharge their energy. I'm beginning to see how my extrovert daughter might have felt a little misunderstood by introvert parents! And now she's raising at least one introvert herself!
Another difference is that introverts use long-term memory when talking to people while extroverts use short-term memory. Extroverts are quicker and think on their feet. Introverts often miss the opportunity to get into a conversation because their mind goes blank--it takes longer to retrieve their thoughts out of long-term memory. They also don't like to interrupt. Extroverts just charge into conversations, interrupting each other and leaving the introverts standing their feeling a little stupid.
The world is certainly a more interesting place because we are not all alike. Innies and Outies married to each other face special challenges. It does help to understand that both ends of the spectrum are okay--just different. I know it helped this introvert to see some reasons I am like I am.
Did you know that 75% of the world's population are extroverts? I'm reading a really good book about introverts called The Introvert Advantage by Marti Laney. I have learned that the primary difference between introverts and extroverts is in the way they create their energy. Extroverts get their energy from outside sources. They are energized by talking to people and by lots of activities. Introverts draw energy from being alone with their ideas, emotions and impressions. They feel overstimulated by being around a lot of people.
Introverts live in a world biased in favor of extroverts. Contrary to popular belief they may not be shy and really do like people--just not too many people for too long a time! They need a less stimulating environment to recharge their energy. I'm beginning to see how my extrovert daughter might have felt a little misunderstood by introvert parents! And now she's raising at least one introvert herself!
Another difference is that introverts use long-term memory when talking to people while extroverts use short-term memory. Extroverts are quicker and think on their feet. Introverts often miss the opportunity to get into a conversation because their mind goes blank--it takes longer to retrieve their thoughts out of long-term memory. They also don't like to interrupt. Extroverts just charge into conversations, interrupting each other and leaving the introverts standing their feeling a little stupid.
The world is certainly a more interesting place because we are not all alike. Innies and Outies married to each other face special challenges. It does help to understand that both ends of the spectrum are okay--just different. I know it helped this introvert to see some reasons I am like I am.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Squeezed In
We just moved into an apartment--a step along the way to moving across town and closer to our kids and grandkids. We are buying my daughter's house and will move in October or November when her new house is finished. The new place is more country, on three acres. It feels like a whole new life to us for many reasons. Not only will we be closer to family but also to church and friends. Ralph will retire there. We hope to be even more involved as grandparents. The timing coincides with me finishing my Christian Writers Guild course--this is the time I determined I would get serious about submitting articles and devotionals.
As I got rid of things and packed boxes, I pictured the 900 square foot apartment acting like a filter--squeezing my life into it and then out into our new place--our "new life." I determined not to put "stuff" into the new place that does not fit our new life. A neat thought, but this week I'm feeling the squeeze! I don't know how to act in this place! It's in a different part of town, so every errand is an adventure. Every task takes longer because I have to find everything. I had projects planned for this time: catch up on scrapbookking; catch up on reading; start a blog; send out a few articles I've written. I'm accomplishing a few of these, but, mostly, I'm drowning in clutter--which I thought I got rid of during the move. I don't know where to put anything!
My devotional in God Calling this morning says that God leads us out of darkness to light and out of disorder to order. Okay, Lord, I'm ready for some of that order. This give new meaning the to scripture "He brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me." Psalm 18:19
As I got rid of things and packed boxes, I pictured the 900 square foot apartment acting like a filter--squeezing my life into it and then out into our new place--our "new life." I determined not to put "stuff" into the new place that does not fit our new life. A neat thought, but this week I'm feeling the squeeze! I don't know how to act in this place! It's in a different part of town, so every errand is an adventure. Every task takes longer because I have to find everything. I had projects planned for this time: catch up on scrapbookking; catch up on reading; start a blog; send out a few articles I've written. I'm accomplishing a few of these, but, mostly, I'm drowning in clutter--which I thought I got rid of during the move. I don't know where to put anything!
My devotional in God Calling this morning says that God leads us out of darkness to light and out of disorder to order. Okay, Lord, I'm ready for some of that order. This give new meaning the to scripture "He brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me." Psalm 18:19
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