Responsible for my own attitudes

This picture is of Marty, Lilac Crown Amazon baby born here in 2008. This is when he was about 10 weeks old and just discovering the wonder of toys.

Anyway, today was another indoors day. The weather was beautiful outside but I didn't go out. Instead I had a nice phone conversation with a friend who went hiking all weekend on Catalina Island here in Southern California. At least I can live vicariously through her. I am grateful she had a great time....because then I can share her joy.

Seriously, when my loved ones have a victory or blessing then it is a blessing to me. That is how community works. Sharing the good and the bad. Being happy for someone else's blessings even if I don't see those same blessings in my life. If I do not decide in advance that I will rejoice rather than envy the good things I see in someone else's book of blessings...I have the potential to become bitter, resentful, sarcastic, and a boat-load of other ugly things.

It's a choice...it's the "walk"...it's the attitude that makes community work in such a way that we can love each other even when things are not "fair" and even or ideal for everyone. The one thing my parents forgot to teach their brood of children is to rejoice with one an other's successes. How that teaching could have missed us is a puzzle. Mom and Dad were lovely people, honest and hard working. Though in my middle age I am still teaching myself the art of contentment and that "rejoice in someone else's blessing" thing.

There is an empty space that cries for family. However, the idea of family is much nicer than being thrown into the real thing sometimes. One of the gospels...I'd have to look up where...says: "Be at peace with all men, so long as it depends upon you."
I can only do what depends upon me. I am not responsible for the choices or attitudes of others.

Sound like a cop out? Hardly! I also take to heart the time that Jesus was teaching some very difficult things to a crowd around him...and most of them didn't want to hear it and walked away. Jesus turned to Peter and asked "Are you also going to leave me Peter?"
Peter's reply was: "Where else can I go, Lord? You hold the words to eternal life."
Peter was with Jesus for the whole ride.

The other scripture that helps guide me is the one where Jesus tells Peter that he is going to die a martyr's death. Peter then pointed to a couple of the other disciples and said: "What about them? What's going to happen to them?"

Jesus replied: "Even if they live until I come again...what's that to you? YOU, follow me."

Those are hard words. I walk my walk even when someone else seems to get a bigger piece of pie. I am responsible for me and answer to God for me alone. If someone else gets an easier ride...that's between them and God.

I suppose this is long and tedious if you are a reader of mine. Sorry. The point of this whole blog thing for me is to stay my course. It's to be joyful through gratitude. That can only come when I choose a frame of mind that will lead me to what is good. I'm not trying to preach to anyone but myself.

(By the way, I also apologize for typos and grammer errors. I am particularly poor with proper use of the English language.)

That said, I am grateful that I am responsible for my own walk. I am grateful for a little community of friends with whom I can rejoice, or cry, or laugh, or anything else real and honest. I am grateful for the good and the difficult.

GratefulJoy