Along the way...

What have you learned along the way? 

Along the way I have learned a lot!  Along this journey of life, I have learned that I am important, what is right and what is wrong. 

When to talk and when to be quiet- that was a tough lesson too!  But what I learned was important to listening to others and being able to process what others say.  It also keeps my mouth from stepping out and putting my foot in it! 

I have learned to enjoy life and not to worry all the time. 

I have learned to love my kids no matter what they have done.  They are all adults now and their choices are theirs and because we have reared wonderful kids, we trust that they will make wise choices, even if they don't I could never imagine disowning them ever.  We may not like or agree with something, but it is their choice to do it.  Respecting your children is so important and respecting their spouses as well. 
This is what the Word of God has to say about Love.

1 Corinthians 13

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, (behave rudely)it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Patience comes through trials and tribulations.  It is learned.
Do you keep a record of wrongs?  Think about it, with your kids, with your spouse, with someone that hurt you?  Keeping those wrongs cause health problems and cause bitterness to grow which means you allow the devil to come in a steal, kill and destroy.

Another thing we have also learned is that letting go and forgiving is not easy but it is important to living a life that doesn't cause pain to others or ourself.
The freedom of letting go of past unforgiveness is the most freeing and then forgiving yourself as well.  Most of us have a tendancy to hang on to those hurts like badges and carry them around for everyone to see.  That isn't what we are suppose to do to stay healthy.  We have to let it go, ask for forgiveness for those that hurt us and for us to forgive those hurts, ask God to heal your heart. 

Why am I writing about this?  Well, because I know that when we hang on to those past hurts, we forget to love others for who they are.  We can't change anyone, we can accept them for who they are.  God can change them and they can change themselves and we can hope that they do. 

Along this journey we have met so many different people and with so many differing ways but through their ways and differences we learn love. 

So, until next time...