I’m posting a picture of my desk because that’s where I read most of what you write to me. Thank you so much to all of you who left comments or sent me an encouraging e-mail.
I could sense your prayers wrapping around my heart like a wonderful, warm blanket. You brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. I wish you were here so I could hug each and every one of you!
All of your prayers helped and I’m feeling better today.
When I was a kid, my friends and I spent hours at the local pool seeing who could hold their breath the longest. I’d make it all the way to the other end of the pool, surface, and suck in air that tasted so sweet that it gave me a brand new appreciation for something I did thousands of times a day without even thinking about it. For that moment, air was the best thing God ever invented.
I feel that way emotionally. I’m coming up for air. After writing my last post, I spent about an hour thinking, journaling, and praying. I asked myself and God, “How did I get here?” (Being a counseling intern makes me feel obligated to do a little self-therapy now and then.)
So I went through every area of my life—physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual—and wrote about it. In one section, I made a list of things that renew me. Here’s part of it in no particular order…
1) Time with friends – Being one-on-one with a dear friend soothes my soul like few other things do. (My husband counts as a friend too.)
2) Life’s little pleasures in moderation – Good coffee, dark chocolate, sushi.
3) Being outside – Every time Mark and I grill out and sit on the patio I start believing the world is a good place again.
4) Exercise – When I get my body moving the rest of me feels better too.
5) Reading – I can still get lost in a good book in a way that’s like a vacation without going anywhere.
6) Educational TV – What Not to Wear, Unwrapped, Dirty Jobs, John & Kate Plus 8. I seem to only like TV when I’m learning something. Nerdy perhaps, but true.
7) Writing – There’s something about putting words on paper in any way, shape, or form that heals my heart.
8) Napping – Sometimes I just need a little sleep!
9) New experiences – Whether it’s a restaurant I’ve never tried, travel, or something else, my mind loves a challenge.
10) Time with God – Prayer, reading the Bible, Christian music, writing in my journal, anything with my Abba.
I also wrote in my journal:
I think I need to be more aware that there’s an inner bank account going on in my life. Deposits and withdrawals are being made every day. If I’m getting a lot of deposits, I need to look for more ways to share. If I’m getting a lot of withdrawals (which seems to be the case lately) then I need to intentionally make deposits to balance things out again.
Lord, help me to be wise and aware of my inner bank account. Show me how I can be intentional about making deposits so I have something to give when You ask me to contribute to the Kingdom. Amen.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23
So that’s a little glimpse of what’s been on my heart the last few days. I’m gratefully thinking of all of you, wherever you are, and asking God to fill your “inner bank account” with whatever you need right now.
Love,
Holley
