"Signed, sealed, delivered..."

I turn forty in a little over five months. While I am not dwelling on this fact, I do feel the need to make sure I enter this new decade with a little less baggage--especially in the form of regret.

Last night I committed to sending at least one handwritten note or letter to someone every week for the next year. That means at least 52 notes, and hopefully, 52 smiles. Mother Teresa said There are no great acts of love, only small acts done with great love. She's right. I used to think I had to do something big to leave a legacy. I thought that was the only way my life would really matter. But I'm pretty sure I had it all wrong. I may never have the gifts, money, or influence to do the things I would like to do to bring the Kingdom of God on Earth, but I have everything I need to be faithful in the small things. I'm beginning to think that is all God really wants of any of us. And honestly, I'm tired of making excuses for myself. Bob Goff says love does. I agree.

So today I ask you: What is your own small act of love?

Excuse Me

I went running this morning. I just couldn't help it. I mean, if you are going to go out and do something you haven't done in over four months, you might as well do it on a beautiful morning. So I did. And let me tell you, as far as runs go, this was a good one. It was slow because, well, to be quite honest, one would expect it to be after so much time off. And by off, I mean working incredibly hard doing something I love: working with youth. And of course, I ate the food youth eat. Which made me a little squishy around the middle. Which added to the slowness with which I ran.

But hear me say, these are not excuses. Well, maybe they are. I know I could have worked harder to maintain my fitness this summer, but the truth is, I didn't.  And I could have eaten better. But I didn't. And when I ended the busy summer with a seriously ill husband, I wanted nothing more than to run for some reason. That is what made sense to me. I've run through almost all of the hard parts of my adult life, so I wanted nothing more than to lace up my Asics and hit the road. So while my husband began a regimen to lower his heartrate and bring him back to balance, I began one to raise mine and bring myself back to center.

Here's the thing about the excuses we make: We have a choice to stop making them. But when we stop making them, we better be prepared to do something. There's a saying, "Put up or shut up." Today I chose to lace up and shut up. Life's just better without excuses getting in the way.