Week 4, PRABE #3

Having a sick baby can be extremely stressful and exhausting. However, I must selfishly admit, I enjoyed holding my youngest yesterday -- all day...and getting in some good reading!

My plans were altered a bit, and I picked up a book (by my very favorite author) that I read a few years ago called Traveling Light. I have a couple of friends who are in the hospital with their 22-month-old daughter as she fights for her life, and they are on an emotional roller coaster that most of us can't even begin to imagine. I wanted some encouraging words to share with them, and I knew this would be the perfect resource.

In Traveling Light, Max Lucado basically dissects the passage of Psalm 23, and the outlying message is that too often, we (being human) hang on to burdens in life that were never meant for us to carry. As a result, our "load" becomes too heavy, and until we let it all go, we are bogged down, trudging through life with more weight on our shoulders than what is necessary. Having a natural tendency to worry and be anxious, this passage has quickly become one of my favorites:

"The key is this: Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today."

Until next week,
Sarah

Week 3, PRABE #2

I began my week with some casual online reading in search of a quote to post on Facebook in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Of course, I was sidetracked and spent more time reading about him than what I should have.

I ended up using this quote: "Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude."

Think on that for a minute. I love it.

Later in the week, I finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie. Ladies and gentlemen, I have officially found a new (second) favorite author in Mitch Albom. Every book of his that I pick up, I cannot put down. The reading is so simple, and the content is applicable to every day living.

My favorite part of reading this week went right along with the topic of the quote by Dr. MLK, Jr. Forgiveness.

Albom writes, "Tears are okay. It's not just other people we need to forgive; we need to forgive oursevles. For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened." (166)

For some reason, I have always struggled with forgiving myself, and I have many regrets in life. This book really spoke to me about letting go and moving forward.

Now, I'm diving into another book by Mitch, "For One More Day."

I. can't. wait.

Forgive yourself,
Sarah

Week 2: PRABE #1

My book for pleasure reading this week has been Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Album.

Every time I read this book, I take away a new lesson that I can apply to some aspect of my life. For me, that is what makes a book come to life -- when you can read it again and again and continue to not only learn new lessons, but also apply them to daily living.

One of the classes I teach for Hutch CC is Cultural Anthropology, and I'm learning a LOT - not only about what culture is, but what culture isn't. In the book I mentioned above, I love what Morrie says: "Culture - don't buy into it. I don't mean you disregard every rule of your community. I don't go around naked. I don't run through red lights. The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value -- those you must choose yourself. You can't let anyone or any society - determine those for you." He then goes on to say, "It's the same for women not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it."

It reminds me that those personal views in life are all mine, and I don't have to agree or disagree with someone based on who they are, where they are from, how they were raised, or where they worship. Those thoughts and values are mine, and it is up to me to live accordingly.

ss

Until next Tuesday, think on these wise words...