Things I Don't Do Part 2

Now that I have comprised a small list of 'Things I Don't Do', I must combat that list with a list of 'Things I Do.'  

 

Things I do:
1) Sing.  Although I can't.  I was not gifted in this area. But I still do it, even when I can see out of the corner of my eye, Caleb smirking because of all the wrong notes I'm hitting.
2) Dance. I love teaching and choreographing dance. I wish I could take a Zumba class everyday. This is my passion that makes me feel alive.
3) Almost always have my nails painted.  Chipped paint counts.
4) Clean out our closet multiple times a year which results in multiple trips to Goodwill.
5) Take vacations. Grew up with vacations and it's a must to continue this trend.
6) Watch sports with my husband.  I know he appreciates it. I even became a dedicated Blackhawks fan last year.  Being an apathetic female when it comes to sports, I consider knowing 8+ players on the team and going crazy as they won the Stanley Cup being dedicated. Although I will admit that I'm a fairweather fan as they most definitely aren't doing so hot this year.  Impressed that I know that?  You should be.
7) Eat at Chipotle and Panera almost exclusively. About twice a month as that it what our current budget allows. Neither gets old.
8)  Look in the mirror about 20 times before I leave the house if I'm having a particularly good hair day.  I need to be sure it still looks as good as it did 5 minutes ago.  Bad hair days - I try to minimize how many times I glance in the ever-so-honest mirror.
9) Watch TV shows on DVD over and over and over. I practically have all of Friends memorized. 
10) Fluff the couch cushions and pillows multiple times a week.  They just don't look inviting when they're all smushed.

Things we do and the things we don't do.  I would venture to say that the list of things we don't do, are things we actually wish we could do.  Skills we were not born with but wish we were blessed with.  Fetishes we can't help but are embarrassed to admit.  The things we do and don't do don't necessarily define who we are but sometimes we find ourselves comparing each others list of dos and don't dos regardless of the silliness in the lists.

That person is the master organizer.  I'm not.

That person is academic.  I'm not.

That person is artistic.  I'm not.

That person always seems to have the perfect Scripture ready to encourage you with.  I don't.

I listen to K-Love radio and they gave listeners a challenge for 2011.  The challenge is to think of a word and make it your word for the year.  

Ever since I got married 1 year 8 months ago, I have discovered a part of myself that is detrimental to who I am, which affects my marriage and other relationships.  I mentioned this in my first blog, but it's a massive struggle I face that I simply cannot ignore.  I view things black and white.  If it's not perfect, it's no good.  If the things I don't do, are things I suddenly wish I could do, I begin to pick myself apart.  "It is unacceptable to not be able to do these things Ashley... it can't be that hard!"  But when I try, and fail, I beat myself up.  

My word that I have chosen for 2011 is grace.  Boy, do I need a big dose of grace for myself.  I want to look at my list of dos and don't dos and smile.  I want to laugh at myself for choosing to eat Cheerios over running.  I want to be lighthearted and giggle at myself when I sing even though I sound like a "coyote in a trash compactor."  

Romans 3:23-24

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..."

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I weak, then I am strong.

I am a daughter of the Most High King.  And I am weak. Fact. But in that weakness, the Lord's grace is all I need, and He is glorified in that as His power is made perfect through my weakness.  As I let His grace seep through my heart and into my soul, the power of Christ rests in me, and through that, I am strong.

I am challenging myself to let go of the things I was not born to do, to let go of the things I was not gifted in, to let go of my weakness, and rest in grace.  His grace.