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Print Dear
Readers, When I got the invitation to participate in ninetyandnine.com’s
“Top Ten” issue, I was delighted to add my own two cents’ worth. (Of
course, back in my day, you could buy a lot for two cents!) My Top 10 covers the principles I’ve patterned my life
after for the past century. Since I’ve already written about each of these
principles in my columns over the past few years, you’ll be able to click over
to the columns and read each of the stories. With that in mind, I hope you enjoy… Gabby’s Top Ten Principles For
Life
10) What’s the rush? God promises most of us 70 years (and some of us are blessed
with much more than that!). You’ve heard the saying, “Stop and smell the
roses?” That means to live each day to its fullest—not being so concerned
about your
tomorrows. Of course it’s
important to make plans and to prepare for the future, but in the meantime,
enjoy the place you are—even if, like me, it’s in a retirement
community. 9) Authority is a “God idea” and He wants you to be in
submission to the leadership in your life. Whether it’s your parents, when you’re in their
household, or your pastor or your boss, smart people choose to submit to the God-given
authority in their life. 8) Right is always right and wrong is always wrong. It doesn’t matter what the people around us are doing.
If something is right, that’s all that matters. Right should be
done—just because it’s right. On the other hand, if something is wrong, it
doesn’t matter that every other person in the
entire world is doing it, it shouldn’t be done—because it’s wrong! 7) Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, be
thankful for what you do have. Happiness is all about where we’re focusing.
Everyone, no matter how difficult their life is, has much to be thankful
for and thankful
people tend to be happy people. 6) Dare to get involved in life! Anyone can wallow in self-pity about the sad aspects of their
life, however, young folks who really want to make a difference in this world
will move beyond the negatives and go
out there and really live each day to the fullest! 5) Choose your spouse wisely. Don’t be in a hurry to get married. If you take your time
and choose
wisely, you can have a wonderful and rewarding life—just like my dear
Harry and I had for 52½ years. 4) Old people are young people on the inside. (This isn’t really a principle, it’s just something I
wanted young people to understand.) I didn’t realize this when I used to see the decrepit old
geezers of my grandparents’ generation, but the older I’ve grown (and now I’m
really, really old!), the more I realize that on the inside, I’m the same
Gabby I’ve always been—excited about the future, afraid at times, and even
intrigued by (gasp!) the opposite sex! I
mostly wrote about honoring
your father in this column, but interspersed in that story was proof that my
heart still flutters when I’m in the presence of a handsome gentleman. 3) God always has a plan. God doesn’t usually share His plans with us, but when
we’re struggling with circumstances in our life, it’s very reassuring to
realize that He
knows what His ultimate plan is. I
wrote about this principle right after September 11th. 2) Sometimes you just have to bear the pain. When sad
things happen in our lives (and they always do, sooner or later), we only
have one real choice—to bear it. 1) It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you react to
it that really matters. The sooner we realize that we
can only control ourselves and our own reactions, and not anyone else’s,
the sooner we’ll be able to calm our anxiety about the direction our life has
taken and we’ll be able to move towards the overcoming life God has planned
for us. Sincerely Sincere, Gabby ninetyandnine.com ©
2006, ninetyandnine.com --------- Gabrigail
VanBurden has been offering advice for longer than most of you have
been alive. Email your practical Apostolic life questions to Gabby@ninetyandnine.com
and be prepared for some straight answers! |
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