“Thank you for reminding me that I am not laying a new foundation but building on the one you already laid out which is Jesus.” Written April 19, 2019. 

I love how God gives us what we need when we need it, reminding me to not be self-centered in spite of how I feel. It’s Christmas of 2021 and we enjoyed a wonderful day. Sadly, around 8:00 pm I began to feel short tempered and irritated. After watching a movie with the family, I said my good nights and went to bed. Unfortunately, hot flashes kicked in. It was so uncomfortable and unpleasant. If my hot flashes had feelings, I would say they were beyond angry, they were reckless. Between feeling irritated and having hot flashes, it took a while to fall asleep. When I woke up my body was back to normal. A feeling I look forward to when I have these evening episodes. It is a beautiful feeling when my mind, body and soul are connected. My first thought after this experience passes is, “my body is back”. Sometimes I even give myself a kiss on my arm out of gratitude that the cloud that was over me has passed. At times like this is best I chose to step away until my mood passes instead of sticking around and causing everyone to feel uncomfortable. 

The excerpt at the beginning is what I read to prepare to write this keepsake, which is exactly what I needed to focus on. Matthew 4:24-29 gives me some insights and how to choose wisely.  

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.” Matthew 7:24-29 MSG.  

When I choose to build on Jesus' foundation, how I feel is not my focus. Jesus laid the foundation for me and helped me to keep building on it. Regardless of how I feel, I can choose to imitate Jesus. I can choose to surrender and let go and let God.