This morning, waking up, I was just pulling myself out that dream state, visions of dark chocolate were just leaving my mind, (I don’t have a clue why I was dreaming about dark chocolate) and from what seemed like far away, someone was yelling “You have no idea what strength you have until you give yourself a chance!” Whaaa? Then I realized I forgot to set the sleep timer and it was Jillian Michaels yelling from an infomercial.
As I grabbed for the remote to switch the channel to the news, her words kept ringing in my mind. I sat up and looked at the sun rising out over the ocean and suddenly the whole world looked clearer, more alive. Even the chimney top visible on my roof gave me boost. Normally, this wouldn’t have been such an epiphany if yesterday hadn’t been a turning point in my journey. God is always right there, just when I need Him most, speaking through Jillian Michaels and my chimney top.
Yesterday a close friend forgave me for something I had done months ago. Our relationship is still very broken and my never be able to be fixed, but the power of giving and receiving forgiveness is immense. Yesterday I spoke of God not giving us the spirit of fear and timidity, but one of power, love, and self-discipline. I admit I had trouble processing the power part. To me, power always represented control over something or someone. Today, waking up to “You have no idea the strength you have until you give yourself a chance” brought it home for me. Yesterday I spent in a saddened state, thinking I’d have to begin grieving the end of this relationship. Today, even though the problems in it aren’t fixed and may never be, the power in the form of forgiveness allowed me to see things I couldn’t see yesterday. If I give myself a chance to put aside the sadness and focus on the new found freedom to move forward, I now realize the strength I posses, even when things didn’t go in the direction I hoped they would. The power of forgiveness washed away pain and guilt, making even my chimney top glisten in the morning sun like never before. As the day wore on, life changed for the better. On my beach walk I stayed close to the pounding surf, despite the stiff breeze it created. I caught life-changing energy from the crashing waves as I walked. Again, the power God gives us is felt, this time in the waves. Today I learned to look for power in new places. It’s not in controlling someone or something. Instead it’s me being infused with energy to make positive life changes. Where are the power sources in your life? Look around. What you see may surprise and inspire you.
And so, as another day goes by, wisdom is bestowed on us in the most unconventional ways, and…I have written.
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