For over 7 years, Regina Brett was a columnist at The Beacon Journal in Akron , Ohio . During that time, she was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer. Regina is now a columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland , Ohio . Her column runs on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday.



Lessons in Life By Regina Brett

'To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update: '

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone, everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

45. The best is yet to come.

46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

48. If you don't ask, you don't get.

49. Yield.

50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Life is a series of "highs" and "lows". When things are going bad, it's never as bad as it seems. When things are going great, it's never as great as it seems. Reality is that life is somewhere in-between. Keeping this in mind will help you stay focused on what's important in life, what can be changed, what can't be changed and your life will be more enjoyable.

In the 8th chapter of Romans we read: "He (Christ) knows us better than we know ourselves...and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

A dear friend of mine sent me this story today, I hope it will encourage your life as it did mine. You may feel that you're ready to give up on that prayer that you've been praying for so long. Giving up is not the answer. My part and your part is to learn to look to Him for wisdom and power to get through our circumstances. LIFE ISN'T HOW TO SURVIVE THE STORM, BUT HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.


THE ROCK

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man that He had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.



Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the mind: 'You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved.' Thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. 'Why kill myself over this?' he thought. 'I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.'



And that is what he planned to do, until he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. 'Lord,' he said, 'I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?' The Lord responded compassionately, 'My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push, and now you have come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms and back are strong and muscled, your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock, but your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in Me. This you have done. Now I, My friend, will move the rock.'

FOR LOVE

FOR LOVE WE WILL:
Climb Mountains
Cross Seas
Traverse Desert Sands
Endure hardships

WITHOUT LOVE
Mountains become unclimbable
Seas uncrossable
Deserts Unbearable
Hardships our Plight in Life.

God will stand by you and be there for you when all else fails, because HE LOVES YOU. He will love you when you feel unloved, he will accept you when you don't accept yourself, and He will uphold you with His right hand. DON'T FORGET HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU. Enough to give His life for YOU.

Romans 8:38-39 "WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE, HOW CAN WE LOSE?...AND WHO WOULD TANGLE WITH GOD BY MESSING WITH ONE OF GOD'S CHOSEN?...DO YOU THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN US AND CHRIST'S LOVE FOR US?...THERE IS NO WAY!...NOT TROUBLE, NOT HARD TIMES, NOT HATRED,NOT HUNGER, NOT HOMELESSNESS, NOT BULLYING THREATS, NOT BACKSTABBING, AND EVEN THE WORST SINS LISTED IN SCRIPTURE..."

I am so thankful God is there for you and for me!