30 Days of Thanks Nov 19

Thanksgiving is this week!  This year has gone by so fast and so many things have happened  that has changed my normal, comfortable routine. I honestly thought that when I quit my corporate job that seemed to hinder me from accomplishing the many things I wanted to do, that I would have so much free time on my hands. I didn't realize that the very mundane routine of my daily corporate job was actually what allowed me to accomplish what I did in the short hours I actually had at home.  Now that I don't have a true routine, I find myself working all kinds of hours and I seem to be incapable of accomplishing the projects and normal social tasks, like sending cards on birthdays, thank you cards and sympathy cards, with any type of expediency. 

There have been so many times where I have failed to show someone that I am thinking of them on the day of their occasion. Then so much time passes that it feels silly to send something so late, so, I don't send anything at all. Now, here it is about seven months home and my track record is worse then when "I didn't have time". I beat myself up because of my inability to accomplish what should be an easy thing to do.  

Paul in the bible struggled too with not accomplishing his goals, struggling to obtain his dream. But he had a good positive outlook and decided to keep on, pressin' on.  In Philippians 3, Paul says " ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Now granted, he wasn't referring to making cards or refinishing furniture, but he had goals that he didn't reach either.  He was saying, I'm walking this walk, trying to grasp what God wants of me. I'm pressing on to really take hold of that which Jesus took hold of me.  I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I am letting go of the past, and moving forward. I'll screw up again, but I'm going to keep trying until I win that prize!

That so inspires me. Paul had some serious setbacks, but he didn't let those get him down. He had goals and he intended to reach them. He didn't wallow in his failures, he just picked himself up and kept going after what he wanted, forgetting what was behind him and straining toward what was ahead.   I'm trying to do that too. This new way of life has me all discombobulated (there isn't really a spell check for that word). But I am happier now than I've been in a long time. I feel like I made the right decision to quit and start my own business, but I keep messing up and slowing down getting to that goal of a balanced life.  

So, I'm going to be like Paul and forget about what is behind me (all the birthday's that have past, phone calls not made, etc) and I'm going to strain toward what is ahead. I can become more organized ( and will with Bab's help), I will find a new routine and I will reach out to family and friends eventually and on time for those occasions that I want to let them know they are on my heart and in my prayers.  In the mean time, I press on toward the goal.....   Don't give up on me yet, I'll get there.

I am thankful that the bible addresses our everyday issues like setting goals and achieving them and when we fall behind, to get over it and keep on pressing on.