I love words ... so I can be a sucker for eloquence. Sometimes I assume that there is substance behind the words. Sometimes I am right. And, sometimes I am wrong.

I want to come from love. And I want to do it all the time. I can't expect it to always look the same, though. I remember a friend saying that God loved his daughter enough to say no — something he had a hard time with. Sometimes love says, “No, this doesn't work for me.” Sometimes love walks away ... because staying would conflict with loving and being true to who we are. And, staying would make it very difficult to come from love.

When I'm tempted to do something that feels like giving up, I won't ... because love doesn't give up (I Corinthians, 13). But, lest I push love aside, I will make sure that what I'm holding on to can coexist with love.

I am sometimes disappointed, but I love my life ... and I must believe that the disappointments contribute something to what I love.

I've been getting rid of some clutter — anything that doesn't serve a positive purpose in my life — and making room for things that feel happy to me. Because I get to make my life whatever I want it to be. I get to make the room feel however I want it to feel. I get to make the closet as full or as spacious as I want it. And, if I have more clutter to get rid of after Christmas, I'm not going to wait a year, or two or three to do it.

It's easy for me to have a relationship with God. I know I can trust him ... to be there, to do the right thing, to love me. And, it's easy for me to have a relationship with me. I know I can trust me — not to be perfect, but to keep growing in that direction. And when I find somebody else I can trust, I have a strong foundation for a loving relationship.