Avocado Pit Moment

I was in the kitchen preparing myself a little snack, an avocado, simply cut in half and spoon out, nothing fancy, but oh so healthy. And as I normally do, I reach for a paring knife to remove the pit...a quick jab and stab of the pit and instantly it is attached to the knife tip and I shake and toss into the sink and gleefully walk off with my whole halved avocado. But, not yesterday, no, a little glitch in my pit removal plan. As I carefully aimed at the pit and jabbed, simultaneously I received a text message being notified by my new tone by Pink...needless to say, I am still getting used to my new smart phone which is another rantful blog altogether...so, I jumped a bit, with knife and avocado in hand, jabbing my index finger. 

After one handing my phone to check the text that jostled my concentration, what I noticed was how much it hurt, my finger, not the phone...the cut was more of a prick, totally superficial, but had the pain of a paper cut and a pin stab. Instantly, I smiled because that was normal, normal to not like pain. And it brought me back to the day I once lived in the "need for pain", the desire to feel so that I would know I was alive and a hundred other emotions I needed to express through a blade on my own skin. But, no more...pain doesn't define clarity. Pain lets us know something is wrong, that something needs attention. Wow, so thankful for the avocado pit moment.

So, today when I go for my avocado, my phone will be in a time out. :-)

We become the choices we make; make good choices today...

Your WORDS have power...

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can scar for a lifetime!  What is coming out of your mouth?

• Kind, gentle words or cunning, hurtful words?

They can be powerful....positive or negative, full of with power. A comment, a sigh, a whimper or whine, that can let us know where somebody is at. Your words have power and so do mine...power to bless and power to curse.

 

• Our words have power to build someone up or to break a person down!

When somebody is down, discouraged, or depressed, there is an opportunity to say an encouraging word and possible change the tone and their outlook for day.  When you form your thoughts and open your mouth to release, think to yourself, "Are my words like bullets, will they destroy...or are my words like honey and will be sweet"?

There are times when a person may only see the negative, remind that person of the good, and be encouraging. When a person has a victory, be there to rejoice with them, no matter how small it may seem.
 

Want to DIE vs. Reasons to LIVE!

It seems that we can always think of all the "bad things" and rarely can think on anything good and by dwelling on difficult circumstances or the past, our future remains bleak and can lead to thoughts of ending your life.  I can speak from experience on the real, intense, and disturbing feelings that come with suicidal tendencies. I had 2 suicide attempts; one in May of 1993 and the other in September of 1994, where I was 'down' for 7 seconds. In 1994, when I awoke with doctors hovering, I was miserable that I hadn't succeeded. I could not imagine another day in the torment I lived in. I do understand how it is to not want to live another waking moment. Although it was not an overnight success or an instant miracle, I did get through it and now I am so glad that I didn't succeed. It is my hope for all who are struggling, to realize you do have hope and a future on this earth!

 

As far as having anyone I know take their own life, a relativeof mine committed  suicide in January of 2002 and my mother took her life (in haste) on January 5, 2007. To this day I miss my mother and reflect on all that was good; I do not miss the pain she was in.

 

There are Reasons to Live...and I have 7 reasons to live!

• You may be thinking to yourself, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end it all right now?!"
• In my opinion, here are 7 good reasons not to end your life & 7 good reasons to live:

1). If you killed yourself, your death will hurt many people, emotionally and mentally.

• Whether your realize it or not, your death will hurt friends, parents, brothers, sisters, husband, wife, teachers, pastor, neighbors, younger kids that look up to you.

2). If you are considering killing yourself because of what someone has done to you, you would be punishing yourself for the actions of another person/people.

• Whatever harm was put on you by someone else is not worth ending your life over.  You can find strength in knowing that by you getting better and healed in your mind, that in itself is 'payback' to the person who wronged you.

3). If you were to end your life, you would be creating a permanent answer to something that CAN change.

• Even if your situation has been going on for years, that can change and know that whatever you are going through can be dealt with.

4). Suicide is an extremely devastating occurrence for the people left behind to deal with.

• There are so many unanswered questions in their minds. Many people who are suicidal feel that they are worthless, that their life would be better without them in it. That is not the case, especially those who love them! The effects the loss has on those loved ones left behind is unexplainable! They are left with guilt, bewilderment, feelings of abandonment, trauma, shock, sadness, hopelessness, and probably more questions than they know what to do with.

5). Should you kill yourself, you will never experience the good things that life has to offer!

• Although you may not realize it now, there are many good things in life.

6). By overcoming, you can become an inspiration to others, helping others get through what you struggled with.

• Suicidal thoughts affect many people who cannot break free from the hopelessness.

Now, for those that are God haters or not a fan of God, number 7 isn't going to be popular...but here we go:

 

7). If you succeeded in ending your life, you would miss what God has for you. Regardless if you believe in God or not, God has a plan specifically for you in this life.

• "You have a hope and a future. I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

As long as you have breath in your body, you have hope!