Thursday, July 26, 2012

Birthday Questions, 2012

Last month was my birthday—it was one of those bigger ones. Loving excuses to celebrate, I invited my family and a few friends to a cyberspace (the next best thing to being there) celebration. I asked them to share their wisdom by responding to five questions. Several helpful themes emerged; I want to share the repeated ones and some of their other words with you.

          What has become more important to you as you have grown older?
          Family; friends; honest, vulnerable relationships.
          Time was mentioned twice.
          What has become less important?
          Being overly concerned about what others think.
          Two other responses that I connected with:
     Worrying about who I am going to be (not do) when I grow up.
     Trying to fix myself—I’ve learned, it doesn’t work.
What book do you suggest? (I am only listing those   
            mentioned more than once.) Several others are on my read list now.
                  Choosing Rest, by Sally Breedlove
                  1000 Gifts, by Ann Voskamp
           What qualities or virtues do you suggest cultivating?
            Quiet confidence; inner calm; contentment.
            Thankfulness; gratefulness; appreciation.
            Three others I personally responded to:
                  Developing a heart of wonder.
                  Living in anticipation.
                  Letting my words be gifts to others.
           What questions should I be pondering or reflecting on?
Do I know the nature of my heart?
Where did I see God today?
Is what is important to me, important to God?
What have I given away today?

These answers are so helpful; already they are transforming me. Thank you to all who responded. In my next post I will list a few more of the suggested questions—to be continued …  Please add your comments and questions as well, I—and everyone else who reads these words—will appreciate your wisdom.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
Proverbs 31:26

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