Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

Learning to Travel Light

Because we had a motorcycle, we quickly learned to be conservative in our packing.

It became easier and easier for me to ask the simple question, "do I really need this?"

Need is an individual thing and we can very quickly become impatient with another's packing choices.

Tense moments can happen when another well meaning person gets into your personal space. They may feel they need to either set you straight, or help you think.

Good grief!! "Why did you pack this?" Or "that is the one thing you do not need."

"Need? You know that I need my chocolate coffee every morning, you know that sometimes there isn't a coffee maker, instant coffee, cocoa, or powdered creamer handy in a campground. I need to be prepared!"

Relationships can become very rocky when there is no coffee to drink!! Grin!!

Speaking about tact: Back when we lived in Duluth a dear friend named Edith Hanson and I set out to re-decorate the inside of our house. She used the following phrase often with me, "Would you consider doing this, or changing that?" She always affirmed me and did this while making her suggestions. She was a gracious, lovely woman.

Words can be said in so many different ways. People often "pack" a defensive attitude, when they are in the company of critical people. I hate feeling defensive. It is exhausting.

How do you talk about people. Most of our responses are learned. If we are not mindful of our mouth, it becomes very easy, when a name comes up in conversation, to pull up negative tidbits to share, tidbits of someone else's sorted past. We chop and chop and chop, keeping another persons past in the present.

How do you want to be treated? How do you want to be talked about? We have the ability to both bless or curse people. I am so thankful there is forgiveness in Christ. How far is the east from the west? Good question: Psalm 103: 11 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." This is how I want to be treated and how I want to treat others!

Yes, there needs to be consequences for bad behavior, I'm not talking about somebody breaking the law. It is vindictive behavior and gossip which I am getting at, the kind of behavior that creates a sneaky smile after vindictiveness been done. This kind of behavior is pure evil.

Ephesians 4:31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."

Blessings, Julie