CEUs

So, I just finished my 30 bi-annual CEUs to maintain my lisensure as a practicing doctor of audiology. 30 hours of work and $180 later, I remember how silly I was to think that when I earned my doctorate that I would never have to go back to school again. Bahahaha! I will be tired all day tomorrow but really needed to get it done and over with and “just do it”, as Sir Nikes-a-Lot says. Glad to be finished. Maybe I can get those Christmas cards out now.

Reminded me of an idea I once held that once I was a Christian, I could skate and not have to do the hard work anymore, just be saved and blessed forever. And while I am saved and blessed, I have wisely realized that we do not work for salvation but certainly need to work on our relationship with our Savior. That is what it is about. My son asked me about the meaning of life last night and was surprised at my fast answer:

1. Close Love Relationship with God.

2. Serve & Love Others.

3. Take Care of God’s World.

Those were our original instructions and I don’t believe they have changed. Those require some effort on our parts. Just like my continuing education unit hours, I must put in this eternally rewarded work also. Not for the blessings, although I am sure grateful for those, but for my love for my Heavenly Father. 😄❤

The Benefits of Working

When we work, we fulfill our design. It is really that simple. Our body was not designed by God to sit around all day. In fact, doing so will cause pain and circulation problems. We were designed to move and work and serve. When we do this, we are living in congruence with our design, which always brings peace, fulfillment, health, sense of purpose, meaning and energy. 😄❤

Gig Joy & Pain

We love gigging. It is how we met, is extra pocket money for us, is a shared music passion, is our only mutual hobby and really all we do together other than eat. So gigging with our band or at church is amazing to us, we live it. God gives us joy but we get our sheer happiness and bliss from music, the talent God gave us.

However, as we are not younger and younger but quite the opposite is in fact true, it is quite a pain to load and unload the equipment twice per gig, lots of gear and we carry for everyone. It is a lot, it is heavy, and it is time consuming. We try to minimize this by having our kids be our roadies (for a little pocket money). This helps but today that didn’t work because they were not here. And as my husband’s knees are needing replacement, I have the crux of the load. It is a lot of work.

But I have never been a stranger to hard work. And to be truthful (and please add dramatic pause for I am about to make a deep, poignant statement), you receive much fuller joy when you have to work for it, even if it hurts. When it costs something, it is worth more. When you work for it, it is sweeter.😄 ❤

Days of Serving

I enjoy working hard, adore serving others. I do this knowing that the majority of people kind of take for granted work done for them and pretty much think they deserve it. So why do I do it, knowing this? I figured it out, with God’s wisdom and help, that I work for and serve Him and He loves that from me. I am worshipping when I work. Sometimes whistling too, but always worshipping. Lol. And so it does not matter the state of the heart of the beneficiary of my efforts. What matters to me is my heart and that I am working for and serving God and my secret is my goal. Here is the secret… my whole big picture goal is to please God. And sometimes I please God by fasting and praying in quiet, sometimes praising through my voice and piano, sometimes painting, sometimes hard labor, sometimes spending time with a friend listening, sometimes teaching my children, whatever it may be. But when I want more than anything to please God, I have found that He is pleased and blesses me. Sometimes He blesses me in a tangible way but always He just gives me peace and joy and contentment and makes me feel so good. And now you know my secret. And feel free to adopt it and give it a test drive and you will like it. 😄❤