THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Engaging Life Fully

It's been a crazy month, and with the Thanksgiving holiday - last week got overlooked for our wonderful Thursday Thoughts by Kathy Christensen.  So, here is her thought for last week:

The date was November 1st, 2012, the morning after the warmest Halloween on record. The hour was early, a little after 5AM. The air was brisk, not cold, and there were a few wispy clouds overhead. My mind was jumping happily from one subject to another and my heart was peaceful and content. This would be one of the last good mornings to walk outside before winter set in, and I didn’t want to waste it inside a gym. I filled my lungs with that invigorating cool air and started on my way.        Today was also my 15th wedding anniversary (the longest I have been married to anyone.) How grateful I was to be happy. From my past experiences I knew that marriage could be Heaven or Hell. I have experienced both and Heaven is better. Eighteen years ago my life was in the toilet and I honestly didn’t know where I was headed. I was in the healing period after a second divorce and my emotions were ground to the nubbins. I could not have imagined then that I would land in the peaceful place I am now.

We were gathered to see our new granddaughter, Tamsin’s first Halloween. I was almost giddy. She was a cowgirl, complete with cowboy hat, bandana and stick horse. At the proud age of 2 ½ months she of course stole the show. Both of my sons were there with their wives. Nick and Kimberly, Tamsins’s parents, were handing out hot cider from the crock pot along with treats for the trick or treaters while the rest of us were seeing to the needs of the baby. My middle son, Matt, and his wife Kacee were practicing their parenting skills for their new baby boy due in May.  I chuckled as I remembered how excited Tamsin was to have discovered her voice for the first time. She was screeching up a storm. My mind then wandered to my oldest son, Ryan, who lives in New York City. Although Hurricane Sandy hit hard on the East coast, he is safe and sound while over 100 people lost their lives. I was grateful to be able to talk to him every day during the ordeal.

My heart was full as I continued my walk and watched the sun rise over the Wasatch Mountains that I love so much. I thought to myself that if my life had been in perfect order 18 years ago, I probably would not have met my husband, Ron, who has brought such a sense of contentment into my life. And having Cancer, that unwelcome guest, make its way in to my life helped me to appreciate my health at an entirely new level. Had it not been discovered early as it was, I might never have met Tamsin at all, an awful thought indeed.

One of my favorite authors, Rachel Naomi Remen MD, expressed a thought that resonated deeply with me. She said, “Perhaps true wisdom lies in engaging the life you have been given as fully and courageously as possible and not letting go until you find the unknown blessing that is in everything.” As I pondered those words while heading home to get ready for work, I realized that none of us knows what lies ahead. However, we need not fear. Many times the most wonderful blessings find us after times of trial and difficulty. God is at the helm and He never lets us down.

Kathy Christensen

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Contentment

Guest Post (this is being posted a little late on Thursday night. Sorry.)

While pondering about this week’s post, I came across some well expressed thoughts on the topic of contentment. Don Piper, author of “90 Minutes in Heaven” writes the following:

“As we begin to view the positive factors in life, eventually we start to grasp the meaning of contentment. Paul (the apostle) provides a wonderful example. Some of his best writings came out of his times in prison. Contentment means standing firm and saying, "I probably wouldn’t have chosen to be here, but I am at peace where I am.” Part of contentment is to accept life as it is. We can even learn to say, “This where I need to be right now and I am contented to be here.”

As I thought about this in relation to my own life, I discovered that I am basically a contented person. Let me explain. I love my home. As with most homes, parts of it are in need of repair. We could use new cabinets in the kitchen as well as a new kitchen floor, not to mention the carpets in the living room. BUT… I am contented to live in it as it is until we can make these changes. We, like countless others, are looking forward to and planning for retirement. It will be quite a while for us but we are contented to move forward steadily until we reach that goal. Although we are contented, I don’t consider us to be complacent. We just move ahead at a pace that is balanced and good for us. Most worthy goals take time and effort to achieve, like paying off a mortgage or beating Cancer.

Those fighting Cancer many times learn to be contented with progress that is much slower that they would like. My mother was in pain for the last several years of her life, as she dealt with Cancer and its many faces. As you know, she died on January 15, 2012. I miss her so much but I am contented to know that she is in a better place now and out of pain. I see others fighting this disease bravely as she did and I learn much about contentment and patience as they do what they can when they can and learn to appreciate the progress they make. And so it goes. Life goes on.

To me it seems that contentment goes hand in hand with gratitude and patience. I have come to think of this as my PGC quotient. (Patience Gratitude Contentment)

By perfecting these qualities, we make life much more enjoyable and fulfilling. My dad once told me that wealth doesn’t always mean those who have the most. Often it refers to those who need the least. I think he is right.

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts