When I speak, I often get questions that essentially ask, “What do I do, Joy, when life isn’t quite turning out how I planned?”
But, I know what they’re really asking.
Join my friend, Kristin, and I for Part 3 of our 3-part series, where we unpack what it looks like to live in a season of being a Cat Lady (or Cat Man) and what that can really mean for all of us, regardless of what season we find ourselves in.
From my heart,
Joy
What are the things for which you’re most thankful in your season of life right now?
Love and Respect (Now) is a division of Love and Respect. Please be considerate.
From My Heart
All of the Love and Respect Now Posts…In One Place!
Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs on Marriage, Parenting, Family of Origin, Work & Death
Fighting for Love (and Other Potentially Hazardous Cliches)
Great 2 cents Dave! I think it’s important for unmarried and married people to remember that our marriages will be so much stronger when we are two humans joining together than a person who is waiting to or expects to “be completed”.
Thanks for sharing!
Regarding cat advice, your friend may have set you up for that scratch attack. Direct eye contact is a sign of dominance and aggression for cats. This is why cats always go to the non-cat person – they aren’t interested, so they don’t stare!
I think there is a world of difference between being thankful IN all the things and being thankful FOR all things. There are many things in life that are genuinely not good, that we shouldn’t be thankful for (read the news lately?). But we can be thankful that God is able to redeem the bad things, or that God is with us through the bad things. In fact, we are called to gratitude in spite of our circumstances, since gratitude is much more natural when we like what’s going on in our lives.
Anyway, I know it’s just a change of preposition, but it makes a big difference. It’s what Kristin was talking about, being bummed yet thankful. It’s both, it’s authentic, and it’s powerful.
Bethany, I love your distinction between being thankful in all things and thankful for all things. I think what you guys were saying in this clip so echoes the Psalms where David is telling God all of the hurt and feelings of abandonment and disappointment he’s feeling, but then reminds himself at the end how great God is even though he’s not really feeling the warm fuzzies toward Him at that moment.
Also this series may have pushed me closer to the inevitable cat adoption …
haha!! Get those cats!! Just try to keep the number in the single digits.
Haha! I know- and I knew that about dogs and most animals but for some reason believed that lunacy….for a moment.
And yes- semantics is huge. I think when we are generally looking at the mystery of seasons we don’t understand it’s easier to say we want to be thankful FOR them, but I agree giving thanks IN them not FOR them is the correct language I meant to use. Thanks for clearing that up!
Bethany, I love your distinction between being thankful in all things and thankful for all things. I think what you guys were saying in this clip so echoes the Psalms where David is telling God all of the hurt and feelings of abandonment and disappointment he’s feeling, but then reminds himself at the end how great God is even though he’s not really feeling the warm fuzzies toward Him at that moment.
Also this series may have pushed me closer to the inevitable cat adoption …
I really like that at the beginning you addressed a question we may ask ourselves if we are single and want to be married: Is God cursing me? I think THE lie that all people, not just lonely women, believe at some point or the other is that God is holding out on them. It’s the lie that led Eve to first sin. As soon as we believe God is holding out on us, we take action that is not out of trust, but out of fear, that is not out of peace, but out of worry. Waiting on the Lord knowing that He will give every gift that He knows is best (because He already gave all of himself!) is a sweet place to be in.
Tried to post this on the first clip, but I don’t think it worked!
http://www.pcpc.org/ministries/singles/singledout.php
Dave Hughes (@DaveEvanHughes) thinks...
Wow, loving these videos! So, a few things kinda jumped out at me here:
1. It’s a mark of maturity when we can honestly say that God is good even when our circumstances aren’t
2. There is a difference between being content in who we are and happy about our situation. When we form our identity around who the Bible tells us we are rather than on what isn’t there or what we don’t have, then our circumstances no longer have to define us.
3. I’m sure that this goes both ways but as a single Christian guy (or a single guy at all for that matter), I’m more likely to want to engage a woman, get to know her, and possibly pursue her if she’s out enjoying her life. Whatever outlook you take on your life, people on the outside looking in will probably believe. If you’re constantly thankful, I’m going to assume you have a good life and am more likely to want to be a part of it. If you constantly mourn your impending fate as “cat lady”, I’m probably going to figure there’s a reason for said fate. We can just be friends.
Just my 2 cents
Dave
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