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11/18/2012

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California had a proposition on the latest ballot that would have required products containing genetically modified foods to be labeled as such.  I thought it was a good idea and 47% of the voters agreed.  However, 53% did not and labels in our state won't change unless the manufacturer desires to change.

This whole idea of labeling got me thinking.  What would my label say if I were required to wear one?

The teachings of Confucius include the concept that a baby is born pure and that a child learns "corruption" from those who influence thought and development.  In other words, any wrongdoings a child does is the result of the child's parents, teachers, friends, etc.  Learned behavior results in poor choices (sin).  This is very similar to the teachings of Judaism and Islam.

Christianity teaches that a baby is born a sinner (wrongdoer, with original sin) and that restitution (sacrifice) must be made for atonement (perfection).  The core of Christian belief is that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice and that salvation is through his death and resurrection.

What would my label say?  First and foremost, I hope it would not list a serving size!  I have no desire for my weight to be known to the world!  :)

All kidding aside, though, I would hope that my label would headline:

Child of God, forgiven by grace.  100%

After that?  Hard to say.  Given that I'm 100% a child of God, is there any room for other percentages?  There shouldn't be, but unfortunately, my life reflects otherwise.

Flawed.
Critical.
Unforgiving.
Selfish.

And those are only the ones I want to admit to at this moment in time!   I long to be able to say 100% trusting, 100% loving, 100% forgiving, 100% believing.  I desire to be filled 100% with great fruit: 


Love
Joy
Peace
Patience

Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

There's no law against these things!

My life has been genetically modified by a disease and I'm going to have to monitor that modification for the rest of my life.   My radiation treatments are going well, but the fatigue as set in and I go through each day now in an exhausted fog.  However, I do not want to be labeled by my disease.  I want to be identified by who lives within me.

My life has been eternally modified by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new."  (Contemporary English Version)

What does your label say?



label graphic from:  http://0.tqn.com/d/pediatrics/1/0/K/2/nutrition_label.jpg
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It's just a little thing . . . 

11/2/2012

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There's an adage that says, "It's the little things that count."  We tend to notice them in the details of a beautifully wrapped gift package, or the way a meal is presented on a plate and most of the time, we appreciate the little touches of personality.

However, do we appreciate them so much when the shoe is on the other foot?  The other day, I was talking to Michael about the speed limit.  He's very curious about cars and driving and the like (Heaven, help me, he's only five years away from that learner's permit!) and we were talking about how his dad likes to drive ten miles under the speed limit.  I said, "If the speed limit is 65 mph, your dad likes to go 55 mph.  I like to go 69 mph."

Michael asked, "Is it wrong to go 55 mph?"

I replied, "Not if you are in the far right lane.  However, if going slowly is blocking traffic, then you can get a ticket for that as well."

Michael's next question, "But isn't it wrong to go above the speed limit?  Why do you go 69 mph?"

Good question and one that put me in my place right away!  I wanted to excuse my behavior, saying that I wasn't hurting anyone and that the law "kinda sorta" allowed going over the limit as long as it wasn't by too much.  However, I decided to not make excuses for myself and I said, "You're right, Michael.  It's against the law to go above the speed limit and I'm wrong to do so."

But, it's just a little thing . . . does it really matter?  That's what bounces around in my head.  I've discussed this conversation with friends and many people mention how important it is to go with the flow of traffic.  As I peruse that idea, the countering thought of "Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean it's the right thing to do."  (That's a mantra that my children have heard me say all their lives.)

I don't want Michael (or Rachel . . . or me . . . or Art) to think that he can pick and choose what laws/rules to follow.  I don't want him to think that a "little sin" doesn't make a difference.  Little things do matter.

In fact, little things can cause a lot of damage.

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I've been working on my "Chemo to 5K" plan with the hopes of running a 5K around the first anniversary of my first chemo treatment (Feb 14).  I lost a lot of muscle mass, but gained a lot of weight during my chemotherapy so it's a long journey back to where I was.  However, I've been slowly, but surely, seeing progress.

Last Friday, I actually ran a full mile, then walked a half mile, ran a half mile and walked a half mile.  I then decided I was going to walk another mile, just for the fun of it.

I was happily powering along, feeling good, when WHAM!  I found myself on the ground!  I stepped on the stick in the photo above, twisted my ankle as it went one way and my body went the other.  I got road rash on my arm, scraped my knee and ground pebbles into my palms as I hit the sidewalk.

That stick is such a little thing when compared to the size of my foot and even smaller, when compared to the size of my whole body.  However, it put a screaming halt to my running program.  It still hurts to walk, much less run.  Fortunately, I'm able to bicycle without pain, so at least I'm still getting exercise in.

A little thing . . . controlling my exercise . . . having an impact much longer than the instant it took to step on it.  It's interesting to note that I *missed* that stick on the first two miles, but it tripped me up on the third.  It "caught" me.

Little things DO matter, regardless of whether their impact is positive or negative.  What "little" thing will you do today that will make a difference in your world?

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    God's Story

    _I believe we all have a story. This blog records my story and how I've lived with breast cancer both as a primary disease and a terminal disease.  I believe this is all a part of God's story for my life. This blog unapologetically includes all areas of my life: my faith, my family and my advocacy for change in the metastatic breast cancer world.

      

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