Who Could Ask For Anything More

Who Could Ask For Anything More

THEM: “I can’t”. “I don’t know how.” “It’s too hard.” “I don’t know where to start.” “It’s just not in me!” “I’m not good enough.” “I don’t have money.” “I’m the wrong sex.” “It’s tough, I’m a single parent.” “My car is older than my great grandmother.” “I can’t afford to buy a house.” “I don’t come from a family with money like he does.” “I want to have a diamond ring that big too.” “I want designer clothes but I can’t afford them.” “She says one thing and does another.” “He only thinks of himself.” “I’m not their only child.” “She’s supposed to do things for me, she’s my wife.” “Why do they always look to me?” “I have my own problems.” “I have better things to do with my time.”

YOU: Those people! They make excuses, criticize, grumble, gripe, whine, complain and find fault with everything! Truly, is this the way they want to spend their time and life? Ugghhh, they need to stop already! I know == I know == it’s not you,

ME: It never is.

YOU: but . . . . you just might know one of these people. I know you already know what to do. But for their sake, let’s go out on a limb and put some ideas out there that they can work with. Let’s try and help out a brother or a sister, shall we?

THEM: Why do you complain? (Because I can!) Does it feel good? (Yeah, sometimes!) What is it that you are protesting? (The unfairness of it all!) Does it improve anything? (My ulcer!) Does anything positive come from it? (uuuhhhhmmm . . .)

Who are you fooling? Life feels lousy when you let it get you down. Don’t waste your time sulking, brooding, or being stuck in a funk. Take affirmative action that will change your life forever.

YOU: They really do want to change. Don’t listen to them. Do you hear me?!!

THEM: Take the negative focus off of life and replace it with optimistic, encouraging, upbeat, and positive thoughts. “That’s all.”

ME: I feel like Meryl Streep in the Devil Wears Prada, “That’s all”.

THEM: Greet hard times with a smile. Replace a gripe with a plan. Don’t pine for things beyond your reach. Help someone even if they seem to not want to help themselves. If life throws you a wild curve, duck for goodness sake!

You have the gift of this new day and a marvelous chance to change it up. Not only that, you possess God given gifts that can change not only your life but the lives of those you touch. You have a competent mind that will keep you on the right track. You possess a heart designed for giving and compassion. You have a conscience that deciphers between right and wrong. Truly your future is bright. Just decide to be happy. Yes, it’s as easy as that!

YOU: Now that we have that out of the way, do you think we can move on and make some progress here? I know it’s hard sometimes to pump someone up, isn’t it? But what are friends for, right?

THEM: You don’t need an elaborate plan and it doesn’t matter where you start or who you start with. Just get moving in the right direction.

Jump start your new self by spawning a holy attitude, “I am a part of the great family of God. He has given me the grace of special gifts.”

Look at the people around you. You can probably point out many of their gifts. (I said gifts, not faults, stay with me here people!) There are great teachers, listeners, helpers, nurturers, designers, organizers, planners, doers, leaders, motivators, and speakers. There are great watch and wine makers, sculptures, cooks, housekeepers, readers, athletes, representatives, musicians, artists, and comedians. Others are good with children, handicapped, animals, or the terminally ill. Still others have great faith, extreme patience, positive outlooks, and warm and welcoming smiles. The list goes on and on. There is no trait or attribute too small or ridiculous worth mentioning. God has given gifts to all. AND HE’S BLESSED YOU WITH GIFTS TOO!

So what about you? (not YOU, THEM, you people are easily tripped up – why is that?) Take some time away from your routine and do a little soul searching. Stand in front of the mirror and find out who you are. Examine yourself good and long.

Look into your eyes. Find the compassion, the years of experience, the warmth, the knowledge you possess. Know that they have encouraged, cheered, and supported. They may have even comforted in times of misunderstandings, disappointment, distress and mourning.

Look closely at your lips. Realize they are tender and offer much reassurance. Smile at yourself, frown, pout and then smile again. Realize what makes you come to life. Take pride in knowing that from your lips you have consoled, laughed, and offered life lessons. They have tangled with and spoken of disenchantment, frustration, regrets and set backs, but have recovered again and again offering words of reasoning, negotiation and healing.

Appreciate your strong back and shoulders. Note how they have carried you and others through many trials, triumphs and celebrations.

Examine your hands, legs and feet. They have created, hugged, caressed, walked, and ran to the aid of many. You have done things for others that you are not even aware of. YoU ArE sPeCiAl.

I know we have some family and friends that think a good productive time is being alone or sitting behind the television with the remote rooted to their hand like a bad wart. There is no way they will find out anything about themselves or anyone else for that matter by remaining there. Call a family meeting (dinner) often, designate a game night, host a once a month just because family and friends potluck party, something, anything!

Hmmmm, need ideas for the gu – person with the remote stuck in his hand. You could hide the remote? Unplug the television? Stop paying the cable (too harsh?) Make a rule that the TV should not be turned on until 9pm? You’ll think of something.

Listen to what others say about you. We compliment each other all the time. However, many of us do not r-e-a-l-l-y listen.

You: Some of THOSE OTHER PEOPLE will not like what they hear. That’s okay. We can all use a little slap in the face == I mean eye opener == now and then. Little by little they will change. Others will notice and so will you. We can do our part and take time out to praise and reward people for their growth in mind and spirit.

THEM: Go a step further and do more of what you already enjoy doing now. Pay attention to
You, how your gifts shine, and how they can help someone else.

Enhance the qualities or peculiarities that makes you – well you! If you make a mistake, blunder, slip-up or oversight, so what! God will forgive you when you misstep. Need a model, look to Jesus. You have saints who have paved the way. You have others who live among you who are inspirational – use them. You have the bible that gives all the guidance you need. Live by it!

Wow, things happen fast. I see you smiling now. Your eyes look bright and cheery. Happiness is contagious, isn’t it? Who could ask for anything more! Go get ‘em tiger!

YOU: Well, we finally got through that! Do you think we got through to them? If not, there’s always tomorrow, right? Now, now . . . there’s no giving up on anybody. Some people will take longer than others to come around. Be patient.

ME: Patience, isn’t that a gift God gives everyone? Maybe not. Well, it’s something that they are all just going to have to work on. I thought we were so past this . . . Huuuuuuuuhhhhh . . .

YOU: By the way, don’t forget to put away that mirror. You look great by the way. I like your smile and your outlook . . . I don’t know . . . somehow you seem different. Well, whatever it is, I like it!

ME: Hhhhhmmm, where is my mirror?

P.S. YOU: By the way, people look up to you because of your fine values and morals and they seek your superior advice. No pressure! You’ll know what to say and do when the situation presents itself. You have God, Jesus, the litany of saints, the bible, the choir of angels, church, priests, your guardian angel and a host of other valuable resources to help you. I have faith in you!

ME: What is my gift? I’ll just keep writing for now. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing. I love it! “That’s all.”


Inspired by: Romans 12:5-7

“We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”