Stuff I needed to hear

I'm not old but I'm wise. I'm not seasoned, I'm experienced. I may not always make the right decision but I make the best choices for me. I am not to be judged. I am not to be criticized. I was not put on this earth for you. Sometimes we can't always control our emotions, actions or reactions. It's not the easiest thing in the world to display kindness when you're angry or show empathy when you're content. Not all things are meant to be understood and sometimes even when things are understood they can be misinterpreted. I'm not too young or stupid to know that we certainly can't control the emotions, actions or reactions of others. If it's complicated controlling your own emotions than we can consider it an impossibility to control those of others. All we can truly do for ourselves and others is to love God. When you open yourself up to the love and light of God he displays that love and light to others through you. As easy as that sounds it's still possible to lose your light and fall into the dark side. Being polite isn't always on the menu. We don't always run to God when he is calling. In fact it's quite the opposite. In the most challenging and troubling times when we should be running toward and calling on God we instead turn away from him and shut out his love and glory. It's hard to understand why we do the things we do, say the things we say, feel the way we feel but it's a human thing. Something we all have in common with each other. Feelings. Deep rooted, grown up feelings. It's so hard to keep a steady grip on the gun, finger on the trigger, without firing off a shot. I can't speak for anyone else but I like firing a weapon. It feels good. Makes me feel powerful and in charge. In control. Control. What is it about having control that drives us to make choices that aren't beneficial for anyone? I say let go of the gun. Put it down. Run from it and run to God. God is more powerful than any piece of steel or hot, flesh piercing bullet. Think before you react. Attempt in some way to harness your emotions and slow down to logically explore your options before reacting to a situation that might not even warrant a reaction at all. Leave the gun at home. Tuck those mean and nasty thoughts and feelings away in a little lock box and toss it in the trash where it belongs. We are not to harbor those types of things because they will fester and breed. Instead use the power of prayer to get them out of your mind and heart. If you want something you have to ask. The simple principles we were taught as children are it. Treat others how you want to be treated. Be kind and polite. Help others. Care for others. Be honest and trustworthy. Reliable and responsible. Love. Love more. Love hard. Love even if means you get hurt. Life is a journey and we have to navigate it as we go. Taking wrong turns is a part of it all. Even still we can get off track, get turned around and lose our way. Life will never be a perfect display of how you envision it in your head. People will never behave according to how you think they should. We need not ask why it is we suffer but instead how we should be suffering when we do. Trust God. Love him. Endure any and everything that comes your way with grace. Life is not a race, it's not a paper chase. It isn't in your face. God will provide all we have to do is ask. And at last, God is the only one who can judge. The rest is up to us.