Nette Life

I received an email with the message on this video but I learned today that it wasn’t complete. I was informed by a friend that the complete version of the email is available on video with music to go with it. The email I had stopped at the point where the  man couldn’t go across the chasm because he had cut too much off of his cross to make a bridge across. What it didn’t show but the video does, is that a hand comes out of the heaven to lay another cross to span the chasm so that he can cross. Showing that even when we have little faith for what is in store for us, we can still be redeemed. Because a loving God will love you unconditionally even when you’ve doubted him. I though this was touching and apt so I’m sharing this with you.On the email I sent out, this sentiment was included:

Whatever your cross,
whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain….
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God’s always ready, to answer your call….
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear…
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, by dawn’s early light…
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love.

Most people who know me will know I’m not deeply religious, so don’t take this as a religious message, but merely a message of faith. Sometimes we just gotta have faith in anything, not necessarily in a God per se, but knowing that there is a higher purpose and vision for everything we do or go through. And that sometimes we will make mistakes in judgment but it doesn’t mean that we have to pay for it forever. We can go on.

One of the things I’m trying to get a handle on is my finances. I’m working on ME and finances, I’ve found out is a huge part of being me. When I was younger, I always had the mind set that money is not the most important thing in the world. I still believe that but I’ve also learned that it is how we see money and how we treat money that becomes integral in our life. We may not even realize it but money does permeate and affect every aspect of our life. My sister once told me, ‘money is not everything but it sure makes everything easier’. It is true to some extent.

When you have money, it’s easy to say it’s not important. I have been without money and I can tell you that when you don’t have money, it becomes VERY important. It’s just the nature of the society we live in. We live in a money driven world and everything runs on money. Money becomes tied to your emotions whether you know it or not. It’s like a drug. We are dependent on it and when we are cut off from it we feel lost and worthless. We need to develop a relationship with our money that will not hamper our development as a person.

One of the ways I’m doing to not make money a ‘big deal’ in my life is to live within our means. That means we only spend what we earn, taking into consideration the bills, mortgage, insurance, taxes and other expenses. We are learning to put off gratification. Whereas before when we feel like eating out or going to the movies and we don’t have the money we whip out the credit card, now we say let’s wait until next weekend. We’ll have extra money to spend out by then. And really, it doesn’t hurt. Whereas before I would start feeling sorry for myself, feeling deprived somehow, I now look at it as staying healthy. I look at it the same way I would when I deny myself a KrispyKreme glazed donut. I’m saving up the calories for something better for me like broccoli It doesn’t sound as fun, or delicious, but ultimately, that broccoli will do more for me than the donut.

It’s the same thing when we make choices about our finances. We can splurge now or we can save and be comfortable later.

Too many people hate their jobs but are afraid to leave, because they wouldn’t be able to pay their mortgage, credit card bills, car loans, or boat loans. Debt can turn a free, happy person into a bitter human being. Debt can turn you into a slave.
— Debt is Slavery, Michael Mihalik

I was angry and I wanted to do mean and evil things. But, I decided to exhale and take it easy.

Today, I feel so much better and I’m really glad that I didn’t do some of the mean, calculated and very permanent things I contemplated on doing.

Sometimes we really do have to take some time to deflate and realize that the things that we were all full of were just hot air to begin with. Not important enough to waste energy on. Yeah, I know, easy to say after the fact. No one had better say this to me when I’m in the midst of my ranting. It’s just good to keep in mind, for next time, ya know. Because there will be a next time…. School is always open for life and its lessons.

I don’t get angry often. I’m usually good at letting things slide off my back and not letting it bother me. But when I do get angry, once I get on that roll, I have a hard time putting the brakes on. It takes me a long time to cool off, and it doesn’t help that the more I think about it, the angrier I get.

That’s what happened tonight. A friend/cousin left a very irritating and throughtless comment on one of my blogs. If she had emailed me privately, I could have brushed it off as is my usual way. By her posting her comment/suggestion on a public forum, I can’t help but feel that she did it to show off and put me on the spot. I’m still simmering and I’m having a hard time focusing on writing anything for my blogs so I decided to just catch up on reading emails.

You know how old people always say that the Lord always sends you help when you need it? Sometimes all you need to do is recognize it and accept it. That thought was what was on my mind when I read this from The Simple Dollar:

Forgive the people in your life for their mistakes.
One final aggravation and mood reducer, for me, is people. There are people in my life that I have a very hard time being around, usually because I’ve witnessed them doing something foolish or wrong that’s bothered me quite a bit. If I hang onto this, every time I’m around them my stomach is full of bile.
The best solution is to try to forgive that person by realizing that everyone is human and has failings. Maybe you don’t feel comfortable around someone because they’re a loudmouth, or maybe you witnessed a person taking a truckload of stuff from the office supply closet. These people made a mistake, and quite often that mistake is a result of their human failings.
Do some honest introspection and realize that you have failings, too. Others may see these failings in you and feel uncomfortable around you. It’s no different than how you feel about this person that’s bothering you.
Once you’ve done that, it’s often easy to forgive most people. You’ll see that the person you despise is just a person, warts and all, just like you are, and it becomes much easier to not be filled with negativity when they’re around.

So right now I’m doing a lot of exhaling and letting all the negativity that I’ve allowed in me, out. I’m trying to think kind thoughts instead of the vile responses I’ve been concocting in my head.

Peace. Om.