What I learned in 2015

As 2015 rolls to a close, I have begun to reflect on things that God has taught me this year. Each year it gets harder to pick out these things, as much of what I experience I already know -- I just seem to have to be taught again. LOL

I learned that Faith CAN move mountains. I started out the year trusting God to not only provide for me, but to make my situation better. I needed better opportunities, and the tools it required to accept and embrace them.

In February, I bought a car after not having one for several years. Not only did I buy a car on an already tight budget, but I was able to pay for it and the upkeep without having less than I already had. As the year wound down, I found myself with better phone, which allowed me to share more with my friends, and pay less to do it. The money saved was a blessing. I was also able to switch internet providers, which now allows for unlimited access, as well as less cost to me for having it. Another blessing. Finally, I was able to pay off a monthly bill that had been shadowing me for nearly two years. This blessing was the best. I went from hand-ups to being able to hand-out more in groceries. My insurance was lowered after several months. At work, I received a raise, and was able to work a lot of overtime. I received even more pay when I changed shifts. Today I even have money in my savings account. God is GREAT!

I learned that it is not my job to reap the harvest, but to plant the seed. I learned to invest and spend wisely.

I learned to prepare for the worst, yet hope for the best.

I learned that what I give, God gives back in abundance: emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually.

I learned that willingness is the first and most important step toward success and fulfillment.

I learned that contentment is the key to being trusted more.

I learned that people who judge you by what others think or say are tyrannical cowards who are not worth emulating or following. And, that if you find yourself on a path that is forged by them, it is best to remain slow and methodical in order to stay out of the ditch until a detour can be made.

I learned that sometimes your enemy is not your enemy, but a potential loyal friend, and an opportunity to be lifted up, as well as minister.

I learned that Family can sometimes be more unforgiving and cruel than other people in your life, but that they represent the first lessons of what forgiving others is all about.

And finally, I learned that it's when you don't feel the love that you need to show it. When you don't feel the want-to, God is still there, patiently waiting and watching what you are going to do, and expecting you to remain faithful in spite of your emotions. His grace is still sufficient.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2016

1. Try to write more.
2. Do everything in my power to help change the course of America.
3. Keep my house cleaner.
4. Make more money than I did last year, working less. (So I have more to give and I won't be to exhausted to do it).
5. Witness to more people.

That's enough. Right?

Commercials

I was thinking about the time I spend on the internet or watching Netflix lately, and the time I don't spend cleaning house. Then, I remembered something from my childhood.

My mother let me stay home alone at a young age. My stepdad's aunt and uncle lived next door. My stepdad's uncle worked with him so they would carpool to work each day. My stepdad's Aunt was a home-body. So, she kept an eye on us from next door.

She never came over, but if we were outside, she knew it. If I took a stroll in the woods behind the house (which was against the rules), mom would know about it when she got home. Or, if I rode my bike to my cousin's house two miles down the road, she'd know.

I didn't know she was watching. It wasn't until I was grown that my mom let me in on the secret. LOL. I guess it's a good thing (for her) that we never got hurt. I'm sure the secret would've been out sooner.

Anyway, as all children who are privileged to be home alone while mom was at work are, I had chores to do. My "chores" was to clean the house. That included washing dishes, cleaning my room, vacuuming and picking up the living room. Cleaning the bathrooms, making mom's bed, and washing, drying and putting away the laundry. And, occasionally, having supper ready when they got home -- or at least started.

While Mom and Benny worked, I enjoyed listing to all of her LPs and 45s. (For the younger generation: those were those giant CDs with grooves in them that we'd place on a turn table with a needle that made the "grooves" make sound...) -- oh, and the 8-track tape collection (forget it, there is no describing those, unless you know what a cassette tape is...). When I wasn't listening to music (and pretending to be a star) I was watching television. We only had three channels back then (3, 6, and 12 -- ABC, NBC and CBS). My favorite show came on at noon on channel 6, "Days of our Lives." written by McDonald Carey. "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives...." LOL.

I learned, after a few times of being chastised for not getting my chores done, that time management was a must. I had to allot myself time to clean the house. But, I didn't want to miss my soaps, or Gilligan's Island, or Good Times, or Leave it to Beaver later. I learned to welcome commercials.

Commercials would last anywhere from two to five minutes, at least every ten to fifteen minutes. That's 20 minutes of cleaning time for every hour I watched TV. That's about an hour and a half of cleaning time before mom came home. As clean as our house stayed, that was plenty of time to even do extra cleaning, like taking all the dishes out of the cabinets and organizing them every so often, and cleaning the walls...I actually did that.

Mom never thanked me. She refused to thank me for doing my job. "it's what you are supposed to do. I don't get thanks for what I do for you," she would say. But, one day, I was satisfied when my step-dad noted, "Shonda is really doing a great job cleaning lately, isn't she?" and Mom was forced to agree, without actually "thanking" me. LOL

So why do I find it so hard to clean house today? I think it's because Netflix and the internet has no commercials. (Not to mention, the challenge of being appreciated isn't there). I guess I'll have to start using a time clock.

It's an idea.

I never thought I'd ever see the day when I would say that I miss commercials.