Sunday Reflections
Happy Sunday, friends. Welcome to the weekly lifestyle post called Sunday Reflections.
Today on Sunday Reflections, I actually want to reflect on our reflections!
I know people in the second half of life who struggle with mirrors…and when they look at themselves, they see nothing but flaws.
So, I want to ask you today if you are looking at yourself through a broken mirror or a beautiful one.
Let’s begin with that…and then I will show you where my grandson was this past week.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: THE MIRROR
I have spent the last 15 years, building a daily website that requires me to look at myself in mirrors…often.
In the beginning, I really struggled with it…I had avoided long gazes in the mirror most of my life.
That was because all I saw were what I considered to be flaws.
With age, hopefully comes wisdom, and I no longer see flaws…just me.
It is important to note that my relationship with the mirror completely changed when I began to smile.
No matter what I was looking at…the outfit or me…I made myself smile before walking away.
Pretty soon, the smile became a part of me and grew to be my best accessory.
Now this message is one I talk of often because I feel it is so important.
If you make sure to smile before leaving the mirror each day, you will also face that day with more joy and positivity.
It does take practice. If I start to focus on an area in a negative way, I honestly say out loud….STOP!
We are the ones who choose to stop the negative focus…and we are the ones who choose if we will embrace aging or not.
Are there days that are harder than others to look in the mirror…Of course there are…I am human too.
On those days, I try to remember that my God created me…and He does not make mistakes.
So, I begin to thank him for what I see.
I often need to do this on days when I have not slept well or do not feel well…but once I begin to thank Him, I do feel better and it is easier to smile.
I encourage you to not give mirrors the power to rob you of your joy…we are all beautiful in God’s sight.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Last week in Sunday Reflections, I shared with you how my 12 year old grandson has been taking me on a selfie tour of his vacation.
This week, he is in front of the gazebo from The Sound of Music, in Austria.
They took the four hour tour about the movie, and now we have a date to watch the movie together when he returns.
It is one movie in my life that I can quote every line and sing every song…and I loved sharing his pictures with him.
SUNDAY REFLECTIONS: VERSE OF THE WEEK
How we think matters…and it also matters how we think of ourselves.
This is a good verse for Sunday Reflections to remind us to choose to think this way.
I hope you will join me tomorrow for something fun!
And I hope you have a glorious Sunday…thank you for being here…now enjoy looking in the mirror…
BE THANKFUL & KEEP SMILING!
By Pamela Lutrell
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Happy Sunday, Pam. How special to have a movie date with your grandson! What are we going to do about Maria, haha. There are days when it’s hard to smile in the mirror, but we always feel better when we do. God made us beautiful. We can’t argue with God. We need to embrace his beauty.
How wonderful! What a magical
vaca your family is and including you (Gigi) on return with a movie date? Fabulous!
My experience with mirrors is much like yours- on again ( happy to see) then off again (dreaded wrinkles and crinkles)…Smiling will help I hope.
Absolutely, Marcia. We must embrace it and all the gifts He has blessed us with.
It will, Paulette. Focus on the smile and not the wrinkles…the wrinkles show signs of wisdom and strength. That is worth smiling about.
I love your positivity! I know I am too critical of myself. I will try the smiles more often.
Thanks for another positive message. What a tremendous travel experience they are having! Several summers ago we took my folks on a small vacation to revisit an old favorite spot of theirs, to a ‘Bavarian’ styled town up in Leavenworth, Washington. It is a picturesque town nestled in a valley between gorgeous Cascadian mountains, filled with half-timbered buildings and more flowering pots, window boxes and hanging displays than I’ve seen anywhere else. We stayed at an inn called Pension Anna, just lovely, and there was a daily Alpenhorn call. The real reason for our trip, though, was to enjoy a night-time performance of The Sound of Music, which is run all summer, every summer, interspersed with other selections. It was a glorious and most memorable time. I would love to tour the actual location. đź’–
Please do, Dorothy. You will not regret it.
So would I…but this place you went with your parents sounds wonderful as well. I do follow Angela Cartwright on Instagram and I know she and a few cast members are planning a trip to Austria for the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Sound of Music. That would be fun…wouldn’t it?
Your family is having such a fabulous vacation & its lovely that your grandson is sharing it with you. The Sound of Music is a wonderful family film and now it will even mean more to your grandsons. Thanks again this week for posting the scripture verse for focus.
You are welcome, Kathie. Thank you for being here.
Pam,
Thank you for the reminder to smile when we leave our mirror. Somedays in my life as a caregiver for my husband it is easy to forget the easy things, but it is too important to ignore.
I read all of your posts without the week, but somedays it is late at night or late afternoon. I do so enjoy and appreciate the posts you bring each day. Blessings always,
Most of us here have experienced the roller coaster of life. Smiling and even laughing out loud keeps joy rolling right along with life. I love your grandson’s selfie vacation pictures. He is taking you along with him on his adventures! What a brilliant idea! You have that film to enjoy again with him when he returns. What fun. They are a huge joy in your life. Keep on smiling Pamela. Your smile is beautiful and I always smile back at your pictures when I read your blog.
Blessings to you Audrey…caregiving it hard and I know rewards lay ahead for what you are doing.
So sweet…thank you Sydney
What an inspiring post, Pamela. Thank you for sharing your experience. I now have be on oxygen 24/7, so the first thing I saw when looking in a mirror was the cannula and hose. Recently a friend told me she doesn’t even notice these anymore when she looks at me, and I realized that I can just look past them too. What a difference that has made for me.
The Bible quote you shared is so inspiring as well.
Each one of us is made in the image of God, & when we speak negatively about ourselves, we are speaking negatively about God. This reminder has helped to change the way I look at & speak to myself. That movie date with your grandsons is something to which to look forward during these hot summer days. Paul’s short letter to the Philippians is one of favorite books in the Bible. Chapter 4 is filled with wisdom.
What a wonderful friend, Cynthia. Thank goodness you have the oxygen… so you can continue to smile and bless others.