For your consideration…
Our message today is about mindset. Specifically, we are reminded of how our mindset leads to intention.
Recently, I finished a Storyworth book I had been writing for the past year…one prompt, one story, at a time. It had been a Mother’s Day gift a year ago from my daughter, Alex. One of the prompts was “Who inspires you?” Of course, I talked about my daughters but then I included this story about my husband, Bruce. We lost him yesterday so I am going to shamelessly use him in our blog message today. This is the story…
Bruce has also inspired me. Perhaps not as much as Alex and Shannon but I remember one time that was a game-changer for me.
I had taken a job assignment for work in Poland. Originally, when I accepted they were supposed to let Bruce take a leave of absence and let him go too. But they changed their policy. Instead, they would buy him airplane tickets to come to visit. Not ideal, but since the group, I worked for was being sold, I needed to take the Poland job if I wanted to keep working for Ford Motor and protect my retirement. So Alex and I went. Shannon and Bruce stayed in the states and visited as often as they could. All in all, it worked out pretty well and was a positive experience.
But when we came back home, let’s say we had a rough adjustment period. It was miserable. I had a stomach ache every time I came home from work. Finally, I said, “I want a divorce.” I started looking for places to move to. Obviously, we did not get divorced. Just like I don’t remember why things got so rough, I don’t remember how they smoothed out.
That does not sound like inspiration does it? Here is the rest of the story.
One day, just an ordinary day…no drama…nothing special about it…just normal chit chat, Burce says, “You said the “D” word.
“What “D” word? I asked.
“Divorce, you said divorce,” he tells me.
“When?” I asked.
He reminded me of the argument. A lot of time had passed by then. I had long since forgotten it. We were back on an even keel.
“I’m sorry.” was all I could say.
He accepted that but I learned a huge life lesson. We are different people raised very differently. Somewhere in the back of my mind and heart, I always knew that if things went south, I could just get a divorce. That is not at all how Bruce thought about marriage. Once he got married, the word Divorce was no longer a word in his vocabulary. It was just that plain and simple. When he got married he committed for life just like the vows say, “for better or worse.”
He inspired me to eliminate divorce from my vocabulary as well and fully commit to our marriage which I obviously should have done, to begin with.
And that brings us back to today’s message. We have the power to control our mindset…or “un”set it. We have the power to control our intentions.
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…
-Affirm…“I am loved.”
-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink lots of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Determine the “intentions” we really want and create the mindset to bring them to fruitition.
What made me smile yesterday…
-Yes, there is still things to smile about…First and foremost, Bruce passed peacefully and quickly…literally in 2 or 3 minutes.
-Well wishes from so many friends.
-My daughter, Shannon, answered her phone while I was still on the other phone with hospice. She talked and talked and talked to me. She came in right behind hospice. She helped the hospice nurse, and then went to the airport to pick up Alex who was just returning from an east coast trip. Perfect timing.
-Our hospice nurse, Meagan, was amazing as were Generation Funerals.
-Dianne, Joan, Mary, Don joined Shannon, Will, Alex, James, and me. We sat outside in a beautiful afternoon and chatted, trying to get our bearings back.
-Bruce is loved and free.
Love, Blessings, and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
Happy Birthday to our Amazing Daughter, Alex,
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