Ugly-Beautiful Graces = Real Life
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” ~ Chuck Swindoll
Today, I was thinking about a small, but loaded two-word phrase – “REAL LIFE”. What does real life mean to me? Well, I discovered that looking each word up in the dictionary made it difficult to describe, since both had more than 15-28 different definitions.(Wow!) So, I just kind of meditated for a few minutes on the phrase and considered what real life means to me. A few words that came to mind
- Imperfect
- Transparent
- Difficult
- Harsh
- “A daily joy struggle . . . a battle between grudgery & gratitude.” (words from Ann Voskamp)
- . . .it’s not really what we make of it. . .but what we make of God (our relationship with Him)
- An endless cycle of mistakes and graces
- Living forgiven
- Ugly-beautiful
I stressed the last one because that really does describe it to a “T”. Real life can be pretty ugly most days. If it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy, life would stay pretty ugly. But because He chose to die for each of us, life is beautiful! Yes, it is! Even when it’s not good, I can find the beauty through Him. When my focus is on my Lord and Savior, “I can do all things through Him, who gives me strength.”(Philippians 4:13)
A lot of people would like to have everyone believe that their life is perfect. When we talk to different people we come in contact with throughout the day (in person, on the phone, or on the internet), we usually don’t talk about the REAL things they are struggling with or see their “real life” hurts. Sometimes we tend to think we are the only ones that have it rough, but in reality (real life), we all have hardships and live the consequences from bad decisions in our lives. Nobody’s life is perfect. I think that’s the biggest thing I want everyone to know from my blog. . . we all hurt. We all have ugly parts of our lives. But I hope that those who need encouragement can feel they are accepted and understood here; that there is hope for a better day; that through Christ there is a beautiful side of ugly.
linking on over to;
Made to Crave at "A Journey of Love"
Fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Denise!
DeleteLove the Swindoll quote. This is such a good way of looking at life. God does give us a beautiful side of ugly and I'm so thankful I was led to this post.
ReplyDeleteI think the quote is pretty great, too, I'm glad your were encouraged by it. Pamela. Thanks for stopping by. My God go with you today and every day!
Deletehow true..and what a great quote.. we cannot control most things..but we can control our reaction to those things!
ReplyDeleteThe struggle often is not letting our feelings and circumstances control us! It's a daily choice to seek God's strength! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
DeleteI love how you said much of what is in my heart. We all hurt. It is an ugly-beautiful thing. It is in those things that God's love and grace shine the brightest! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is SO true, Katie! So glad you could join us here!
DeleteAnn:
ReplyDeleteYes, "life happens" and it's not always pretty. Love the quote by Swindoll.
Blesings,
Joan
Thanks for joining us here, Joan! I love linking up with all my bloggy friends! Blessing to you!
DeleteLots of good food for thought, Ann. Thanks for sharing your heart. It's true that we all have "mistakes and graces." I'm praying for your blog and for you as you use your blog for ministry.
ReplyDeletethanks for linking up with Bless a Blogger on Bible Love Notes.
Gail
Thank you, Gail. Your prayers are so appreciated! God is So good!
DeleteThanks so much for the heartfelt words of wisdom. Thanks for allowing God to use you to bless others. So glad I visited your blog today from the Bless a Blogger Friday Bible Love Notes Blog. Praying God will continue to bless your blog and continue to use you to touch the hearts of others.
ReplyDeleteThank you,Amanda! You all are as much a blessing to me, as you find encouragement and respond with your comments.
DeleteHi Ann - wow, what a great way to look at things. Thanks for linking up again, I love seeing you there.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comment, Tracy! I also enjoy linking up on your blog. You are a blessing, as well!
DeleteVery true. I enjoyed reading this. One of the reasons I started blogging was to encourage those who are hurting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hopping over to my blog, Laura. I believe encouragement is a gift from the Lord that He gives. I'm praying that this blog may be a source of encouragement as well. May your blog also be an encouragement to others. God Bless you!
DeleteOh this is so true! Real life for me is filled with diapers and infant giggles....tantrums and toddler kisses. The ugly and the beautiful and I would trade a bit of it for anything! Because to appreciate the beautiful we have to experience the ugly. I am popping over from Bless a Blogger Friday (it's still Friday, right? Although on my side of the Great Pond it's already Saturday morning ). I pray that God showers you with wonderful blessings this weekend. Blessings to you from Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteI believe a mother's job is one of the most difficult, yet one of the most rewarding there is! Bless you, Rosilind! I had to look up where Zabreb was (I'm not good with geography). Saw it was in Croatia. Wow! We are on opposite sides of the world! This is what I absolutely LOVE about having a blog. . . I meet so many wonderful people from all over!
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