Habits. Vices. I’ve picked up a few.
Somewhere along the line they became addictions.
Today they are my afflictions.
God’s pressing me to clean up my act.
For real this time. And I want to. But.
I try and compromise. I create excuses like “I’ll try not to do such and such” or “I’ll cut down on this or that.” I end up on my knees. Again. Praying for help from a God who can’t reach me when I seek comfort from my vices rather than him.
You know what Bible verse God hit me with? You’ll like this. He’s a joker.
God says if your eye causes you trouble, pluck it out and get rid of it.
And as the living word continued it’s life in my brain I was left with this:
Sometimes you gotta say “Pluck it.”
Pluck out your eyeball. Pretty extreme huh? We HAVE to be. We have to suck it up. Yes, it’s scary and takes courage. “How will I live without my eye?”
But the bible tells us we’ll be better off – even if we feel like we’re maiming ourselves.
I’m hearing God tell us extreme measures are necessary. We must distance ourselves from whatever is screwing us up.
That means no compromise. No temptation.
Sometime we gotta say…
”Pluck it. I’m DONE.”
Throw the cigarettes away, get the trigger food out of the house, ban yourself from the gym, cut your credit card in half, defriend the person on facebook, end the relationship…etc.
We cannot waver.
What’s holding you down or tripping you up?
Stare it down and say:
That thing you do that you don’t want to do?
I’m gonna start tomorrow. Who’s with me?
What’s on your “‘pluck it” list?
“Pluck-it” list…bucket list…see what I did there?
This post left me laughing, which is good because it has such a good message behind it! just pluck it.
haha im with you missy <3
I laughed so hard. But I really do have a lot of things to pluck outta my life.
My eyebrows are on my pluck it list
I’m kind of addicted and have to be careful so that I don’t overdo it. But I think everyone has bad habits that they need to work on eliminating from their lives. Kick some bad habit booty girl!
Very true! I need to stop the shopping and the fretting about things! And get back to studying my bible daily!
Nothing on this earth satisfies.
Haha you are so right.
I just let go of a major stressor. Kind of pluck it. Kind of I’ll handle you later.
I’ve had trouble bitch slapping my hang ups out of my life. My new approach is add activities/habits/thoughts etc and to crowd out the not so adaptive things that need a pluckin and perhaps replace them? I’m hoping this strategy will be affective.
Also, I think I’m going to go make some “pluck it” post-its so I don’t forget later.
Oh yes, we HAVE to replace the neagtive behavior with positive behavior.
Wonderful point! And replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts is the first step toward positive behavior!
You are growing so much!!! I am so proud of you!
This is great- and you’re right it’s a bit harsh, but I suppose sometimes that’s what’s necessary. I hope that you pluck everything out of your life that you want out!
You have this brilliant way of expressing a message through all sorts of odd twists and turns, and it really, really works
So glad you posted this!
You’re right that we need to “just pluck it”, a habit doesn’t go away or change without considerable effort! Let’s take these steps together and help each other when one is surrouned by fear and doubt – I am with you on this one Missy!
<3
That’s how my relationship with God works. It doesn’t entirely come from me. I think that God needs to reach me where I am so he inspires these ridiculous sorts of things. One time God “said” to me — “This ain’t no Burger King, Baby. You can’t have it your way.”
Good thing he knows how to communicate with you in a way that makes you listen to him!
I think I like your God.
Hope you’re enjoying your day, sending love your way!
)
( yeah yeah, it rhymes.
So true. Although I’ve been unsuccessful at cutting my credit cards, since I have a freakishly good memory, had accidentally memorized the numbers, and could still order things online. Fail!
I definitely need to say “pluck it” with purging. Seriously. The second my plane touches down in NYC, I’m not letting myself even CONSIDER the option.
Exactly, Scarlett. That is what I keep hearing from God. Make it a non-option. God has told me to do “whatever it takes” and for me that means skipping meals if I have a feeling it will be tempting for me to purge the food. But eating regularly has all but curtailed the cycle. I recommend it.
PS- Those credit cards = major stronghold!
My self consciousness and my irritation with my constantly “unruly” hair…ugh PLUCK IT
Yup – next time your having a bad hair day you just have to say pluck that — and get your but out the house anyways. But I don’t believe you because you are gorgeous.
Wait so do you smoke?
I’ll never tell!
Yes, I do. Sigh.
I will never write about it — as I do not like to talk about it and advertise my stupidity or promote it.
I won’t lecture, but…You know what I am thinking.
You’re thinking “What the Pluck is wrong with her?”
Your puns are always insightful (and good and fun – which I appreciate amongst the serious nature of being/living).
There are plenty of things I want and wish to “pluck”. Yet, for me; I feel as if I’m supposed to go through the process of being with and understanding why something is or isn’t right for me. (Not black or white thinking here; just a process of acceptance for me.)
I hope for you Missy that you truly find an ability to challenge the “auto-response” that you (and that we all have) towards certain aspects in our existences.
I know I have plenty of things I want to “pluck” and I hope that I will allow myself that opportunity to say “You are gone.” even though I have this rule that I have to just go through something even if it’s going to be a tumultuous ride. (I hope I can ease up on myself.)
The kitteh and goldfish image are teh cute by the way.
Addictions become afflictions.
Trust me….you eventually hit rock bottom and that is when you truly understand why something is not right for you. Oh, yeah. You get it then.
Pluck it! I was just reading that in church the other day!!!!
Allowing myself to be a home body on Friday nights… pluck it. I need to perk up after work and get out tonight!
Beer!
“tonight I’m giong to bed earlier.” I say that practically every day, stay up to late, and then am tired in the morning.
Pluck that! toNIGHT is the night. Well, except is Friday. I’m full of excuses
You can stop procrastinating tomorrow.
I see what you did there. You’re so pluckin cute.
My pluck it list is too long to, well, list. I’m glad you posted this, Missy. That’s one of the bible verses that I tend to skim past really quickly sometimes because it hits a little too close to home.
Love the pic of the kitty lusting over the goldfish, btw. My kitty sits in the window and stares at the sparrows outside with that same look on his squishy little face.
pluck away, sweet heart!
(:
Again, you with the gift for words. This is a keeper and can be used in public…I thank you!
I’m usually not one for doling out unsolicited advice, but I’m older than you and through the gift of experience, I have learned that whenever I’m the most overwhelmed, I’m also the most self-focused.
That’s not to say self-centered by any means, just too focused on myself and not focused enough on others.
The “others” don’t even have to be anyone I know. I’ve just learned that reaching out through whatever means–volunteering, keeping company, just listening–makes me realize that there are those who would give anything to have my problems or to have someone take their mind of theirs, which also breaks that super-strong cycle of keeping my mind on mine. Know what I mean?
There’s always someone out there whose needs trump our own, and it never doesn’t feel good to forget ourselves, even if just for a little while, and remember them.
Feels really good. I should take my own unsolicited advice and do it more often.
Thanks so much Shels. Your words of wisdom are very much appreciated because I respect you so much because you’re so pluckin cool.
I’ve often visited the idea of volunteering and shifting the focus becasue my self-centered thoughts are a source of deep shame.
I am THE most selfish person I know — it is the nature of the addiction disease in all its forms. The worst part about it is you begin to hate yourself and yet we isolate. So we are spending a ton of time with someone we hate.
Thanks for the reminder to “pluck that” and get back into the world.
Pluck it! You have to teach me to be positive about recovery.
Melissa! Please don’t misunderstand me, love! In no way could you ever be considered selfish and that’s not at all what I mean. For sure you have nothing to feel shame about, rather you should feel proud for fighting your fight, and being brave and open about it.
I know you’re precious!
I just mean that sometimes, when things begin to overwhelm us, all of us can get so wrapped up in how crappy that feels that we aren’t able to step outside ourselves for perspective. It’s not self-centered, it’s just self-focused.
We get stuck in that cycle and that’s nothing to be ashamed of because we’re all just folks, right?
The trick for me is to do something that forces me to pay attention to something/someone else and that distracts me from myself. I gotta break the loop, you know? So I figured, maybe this trick can work for other people too and then not only do they benefit but their recipient benefits as well. Even if it’s just for a minute or two…it helps. Win-win!
If you truly were the most selfish person you know, you wouldn’t be here writing with such grace and encouragement for those who travel the same road you do, so please don’t ever sell yourself short. I’ve followed you for a long while and I see the effect you have on others. Please give yourself credit for that, for it is special. As are you.