A slap in the face...

I was watching TV this afternoon and I watched 'Extreme Makeover - Home Edition'...I love this show - how they re-build a families home, but it also gives them that fresh start in life.

Today it was about the Hawkin Family...Husband is a fire fighter and was at work, Mum and two boys were at home, when a tornado hit their home full force. Mum, Amy lay her body over her two sons to protect them on the basement floor - the tornado was too strong and destroyed the whole house, and damaging Amy for life too. She protected her boys, but she ended up being wheelchair bound for life.

This story made me cry. Amy and how she handles her situation, her new way of life made me cry.  She made me stop and think about my life - and how I am handling things....SLAP IN THE FACE!!

I am still frustrated, upset that I am not in Brazil....and yes I would love to be there!
But this thought pattern is not getting me anywhere - and I don't want to continue this way, yes I am grieving as I am no longer there, and would like to be...

but I need to change my perspective on it big time...I had the privilege to go to Brazil!

I was able to impact the lives of children living in a massive slum. I had the chance to live out a dream of mine. I learnt new things. I found freedom and joy in my life. I developed my relationship with God. I met amazing people. I did things I never thought I would be able to...

These are the things I should be focusing on - and I should be sharing this with others .... How serving God in Brazil changed me, and living for God is amazing (and yes hard at times too).

Not focusing on that my time was cut short - I am lucky that my health is not completely terrible and I have access to good health care, and that I got to even go to Brazil in the first place!

So from today onwards...I am going to try and focus on the good and my amazing time in Brazil, I don't think this will always be easy as I continue to adjust - but I have every reason to praise God - because even though I don't understand everything about what happens in my life - God does, and His Word continually reminds me...so I am going to hold onto Him, and walk with happy memories of my time in Brazil, being grateful for everything, and looking forward to the next step, my life is not over just because I am not longer working and living in Brazil...

"The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way" Proverbs 20:24

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