Last week, I had a haircut. The new stylist cut my hair short. Very short. Much shorter than usual. So short I almost don’t recognize myself when I look in the mirror.
In looking at childhood pictures, I saw how curly my hair was and wondered if it would curl that much now if not dried with a hairdryer. To my surprise, the curl is still there!
When I was a child, the beehive hair-do was in style. A woman, who worked at the highway department, had a ridiculously tall beehive “do.” Her hair was so tall it resembled the bride of Frankenstein. My dad once commented, regarding the woman with the beehive, “That’s not a hair-do, that’s a hair-don’t.”
I haven’t decided yet if my new “do” is a hair-do or a hair-don’t, but many things in life are obvious “do’s” while others are major “don’ts.”
Following are a few thoughts on life’s do’s and don’ts:
DON’T:
Envy others – Envying others is a waste of valuable time. You were created for this time and for God’s unique purposes, designed totally for you. Embrace who you are and what God has for you.
Idolize anyone or anything – Idolizing a person is a dangerous endeavor because humans are flawed. Eventually, the one you idolize will let you down. Idolizing things focuses attention where it doesn’t belong.
Wish your life away – Many spend so much time wishing for a different life in a different place with different people they forget to enjoy now.
Criticize and fault-find – Looking for faults in yourself and others sets a negative tone for everything you do and say. Train yourself to look for positives and refrain from voicing criticism.
Lie – My grandfather was a wise man. He said, “When you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember what you said. If you lie, you have to remember your exact words.” Truth is always a better choice.
Use profanity – Profanity is pointless. It doesn’t make you cool, or wise, or knowledgeable, or effectively emphasize your point. Profanity is a waste of language and often blasphemes your Creator.
Forget what you’ve learned – Learning life lessons from mistakes enhances forward motion. Learning is a process that builds. Like bricks stacked one upon the other, knowledge and wisdom multiply and strengthen for life’s journey.
DO:
Spend time in nature – God created the beauty of nature for our enjoyment. Spending time in nature soothes and brings peace.
Practice patience – We live in an impatient world. We grow accustomed to instant everything, and when something takes longer than expected, we grow impatient and angry. In practicing patience, you slow down life’s pace, learn to accept delays, and wait peacefully for what is next.
Delay self-gratification – On the heels of patience comes the admonition to delay or deny wants. Delaying self-gratification teaches discipline and helps make a distinction between wants and needs.
Be kind – Recently, I heard a man verbally abuse a server who failed to please him. His response was unkind and much too severe for a delay over which the server had no control. Kindness is a gift, one that should be applied liberally to those around you. Your words, or actions, may be the only kindness a person receives that day, so be kind.
Honor God – We honor God with our bodies by prioritizing sleep and exercise and practicing self-discipline. We also honor God when we give of our time and talents.
Grow spiritually – Spiritual growth is a discipline many overlook. Yet, spiritual growth feeds all areas of life. Growing spiritually requires time, but so does any other worthwhile pursuit. Decide to make scripture reading and memorization and prayer priorities and you will reap the benefits.
Acknowledge blessings – We are blessed in many ways. From the freedoms our country affords to God-given blessings, we have much for which to be grateful. Allow gratitude for blessings to shape and transform your thinking and your life.
“You were taught not to live the way you used to. You must get rid of your old way of life. That’s because it has been made impure by the desire for things that lead you astray. You were taught to be made new in your thinking. You were taught to start living a new life. It is created to be truly good and holy, just as God is” (Ephesians 4:22-24 NIRV).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
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