Have you ever set out with good intentions, but were tempted to turn around because it was simply too hard? But you knew you had to keep on for things to become better? The runner pictured above could do a 360 and turn around, or he could keep going on his run. We have free choice to make decisions for our ease, every day.
My husband, son, and I recently attended the movie, "The Darkest Hour", about Winston Churchill. It gave a different insight into the lead-up to the transition of power of Neville Chamberlain to Churchill as Prime Minister. My father had strong opinions about Chamberlain. Negative ones, because he felt Chamberlain was taking the easy way, selling out, trying to negotiate a peace that would never come--not with Hitler. And Churchill had my father's respect because despite everything it would take, there was the willingness to do the right thing. To do things the better way. I'm not happy that in this movie, like in the recent Dunkirk movie, there is no mention of all the people praying for the fleet of fishing boats, etc., who went across to rescue the soldiers in Dunkirk. And Churchill was a real and flawed human, but aren't we all?
We get a chance every week, if not every day, to make a choice to take something the easy way or to do the better or best way. I think God uses those little, and big, chances to grow us in our faith. Still, who isn't tempted to take the easy way out? That's selfish human nature. Should I do what I want this afternoon or should I reach out to a friend in need? Should I do this extra thing for my child, or would it be easier to put her or him off? Should I do this thing for my health or would it be easier to do this thing right in front of me? See what I mean?
Next week I'm going to blog about a different side of the coin--about when people believe something "just" can be done. People believing something is an easy thing.
Giveaway: A choice of any one of my books in E-book format or a choice of one of my upcoming paperback collections from Barbour Publishing for 2018: First Love Forever (April 2018), The Backcountry Brides (May 2018) The Victorian Christmas Brides (September 2018) Great Lakes Lighthouse Romance (November 2018).
I tend to weigh everything up before I jump in. Once committed I tend to forge ahead. I would actually find giving up, opting out, the hard thing to do.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
That’s really interesting Mary! Perseverance!
DeleteThank you for sharing this message, Carrie! This is such an important issue for our time, and it doesn't get nearly enough consideration. One of my favorite people said, "May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong." I'm working on this. For example, every week I have to make the conscious effort to get up, get ready, and go to church every Sunday with my daughter. As much as I love it once I'm there, there are days like today where it would be easier to just stay home and sleep in, avoiding the -21 windchill, lol. I also have an assignment at church (we call them "callings"). I teach the women's class once a month. This is a stretch for me, and it doesn't come easily to me. I always start out by stressing about it, but then when I teach the lesson, the ladies in the class have inspired comments, being led by the Spirit, and the lesson turns out beautifully. I'm so grateful that the Lord blesses my humble efforts for the sake of the class!
ReplyDeletemylittlebirdiebooks (at) gmail (dot) com
That’s a great testimony Karen!
DeleteThanks for the post. Even if it’s difficult, doing the right thing and not always the easy thing pays off especially when my children are watching and listening.
ReplyDeletemindyhoungATmsnDOTcom
Hi Mindy! You won a book last week! Will email you! Modeling good choices for our kids is important!
DeleteDoing the right thing really isn't the easiest thing. If we are strong, we persevere even when it is difficult. Thank you for the wise words and giveaway opportunity.
ReplyDeleteperrianne.askew@me.com
Perrianne
Perseverance is often required for the hard things!
DeleteI just know that while I may not see the blessing right now, God is still smiling down at me for doing the right thing though it may not always be the easy thing :-) To me, that's the best feeling in the world! And I know somewhere, somehow He will bless me for choosing right.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway chance Carrie! Those collections look great.
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi Trixi! I imagine God smiling too sometimes! Blessings
DeleteI am supposing that if I had taken the easy way for me, I wouldn't still be married to my husband who is mentally ill. But I know that the Lord gives grace daily to meet each days needs and so I do what is right and care for a man who I would suppose most would not want to care for. It was his moms dying wish for me to take care of him. I won't ever say it is easy but I think the Lord blesses me for doing what is right in his eyes vs what is easy or the easy way out in the worlds eyes. Each day has its challenges but each day has its blessings and I have 3 of the most awesome kids in this world. Another thing is that we homeschool and this is not easy but probably the harder way, but its right for my kids and right with the Lord, each day that I see them learning something new and see the face of my son Daniel 10 when he reaches an Ah ha moment, this is such a blessing to me !
ReplyDeleteLinda Marie Finn
Faithful Acres Books
Faithful Acres Body Soul Spirit
Thank you Carrie for a chance to win one of your wonderful books ! It would be a blessing
to me Dear Friend !
Praying for you Linda and your family. May God bless you!
DeleteI am blessed everyday. Sometimes life is easy and sometimes it is not but always doing the right thing is the best.
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
We sure try to do the right thing even when it is hard!
DeleteHi Melanie Backus, per random.org you're the winner of your choice of ANY one of my 2018 upcoming collections! Congrats! And thanks for sharing!
DeleteI believe that doing things the right way isn't always easy but in the long run you will be glad that you did it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm agreeing with you, Janet, that in the long run you'll be glad you didn't cave in to the easy way! Blessings!
DeleteI'm currently in circumstances that are not easy. I'm believing the Lord to bring me through to a deeper walk with Him.
ReplyDeleteCARRIE, thank you for this encouraging post!
BLESSINGS and ((((HUGS)))))
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
I will keep on praying, Caryl! It has to be so hard not being back in your home yet. Blessings and hugs back my friend!
DeleteYour words are so true, Carrie, that we get a chance every week, if not every day, to make a choice to take something the easy way or to do the better or best way. Right now I am in the thick of it with care-giving for my husband who just had emergency open heart surgery. There are so many unknowns right now and sometimes when I am tired and feeling over-whelmed, it is easy to give in to the temptation to worry and be anxious. Yet, God has been so faithful, sparing my husband's life, providing for us in so many ways and showing He is right here with us....always! At times when things get especially hard, I am striving to not worry, but to give thanks and focus on all the amazing things God has done and is doing for us in this season of our lives. In doing this, I find God's peace that passes all understanding and strength to go on. It is not easy to rise above worry, but it is in my weakness that God is strong.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carrie, for your encouraging words! It is wonderful that as member's of God's family, we can share with each other and 'encourage each other to love and good deeds.' (Hebrews 10:24)
Thank you as well for the opportunity of this giveaway! I am looking forward to reading the upcoming book 'The Victorian Christmas Brides'! It sounds wonderful!!!
God's richest blessings to you!
~Alison Boss
nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Alison! Praying for your husband's full recovery and for continuing strength for you as you go through this journey to his recovery. Blessings!
DeleteHi Carrie. My husband and I were farmers for many years. This is a very rewarding way of life but it can also be a very hard way to earn a living. I've always said that I don't gamble but farmers actually gamble each time they plant a seed of corn,soybeans or peppers Too much sun and not enough rain; no sun and too much rain; rain at the wrong time....they all influence the outcome. But through it all, we were determined to be honest because we are God-fearing and God-loving people. There were others who seemed more prosperous but some of their actions were not pleasing to our beliefs. We ended up selling our farm and both began careers that we never even dreamed of. I like to think that we were rewarded on earth ane I believe we will be rewarded again!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words. Blessings to you!
Connie
cps1950 at gmail dot com
we have been at this one church for 25 years. for the last six years we have been having problems. we have prayed and prayed. at the first of those six years it was tempting to just go find another church. but we waited on God. in those six years God has used both my husband and myself. And now he has shown us a church that we can call home. Easy? no way. we have built up some fabulous friendships. strangely we are taking two other couples with us.
ReplyDeletequilting dash lady at Comcast dot net
I have always worked in a small country school until two years ago. My boss came to me one day and said that she had a chance of a lifetime to start a school from scratch and wanted me to go with her. This was going to put me in an inner city school. I prayed about and something said to take a leap of faith. The first year was hard just with the adjustments of a new school and different kids, but I was determined to make it work. The beginning of the second year I had a student destroy my office and the distract had their hands tied. Then I got a coworker who is very negative. I'm usually an upbeat happy person so this through me for a loop. I even started writing my resignation letter after driving home for a month in tears. I kept praying and wasn't getting an answer. I got really down about the situation. Then all of sudden I had a student come and ask to eat lunch with me. I'm the school secretary and that normally doesn't happen so I was happy to oblige. Now every day I have students turn my office into a joyful place to be and I can't imagine being anywhere else.
ReplyDelete