Welcome to my monthly mashup! These are some of the things I’ve enjoyed or pondered this month:
Book I’m reading: Boundaries, when to say yes, how to say no to take control of your life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
I buy multiple copies of this book to give away. Every page has highlights and notes I’ve made over the years. “People often focus so much on being loving and giving that they forget their own limits. Have you ever found yourself wondering: can I say no and still be a loving person? How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money? How do I stand up to hurtful behavior or abuse? Why do I feel guilty when I consider setting boundaries?” Seriously, get this book! I’m rereading it right now because I caught myself recommending it to three different people this week. As I go back through all of my highlights, I still can’t believe how much wisdom is packed into these pages.
Toy I’m enjoying: Taotronics Massage Gun
After shredding the pow at Snow Basin, our friends Jorge and Gina pulled out this massage gun for my aching quads and man I was hooked. I immediately bought one and use it almost every day for sore neck, legs, feet, even on the palms of my hands feels great. The Taotronics Massage gun is great for deep tissue massage as well as for any prep or recovery from any workout. It has a great battery life plus multiple levels of intensity. Such an easy way to feel better! There are a number of good Massage Guns out there, Taotronics happened to work for me.
Song I’m proclaiming: God Favored Me by Hezekiah Walker https://youtu.be/gb8YW64dL5c
A few years ago, my son Cooper broke his nose from a fall while mountain biking. It happened two weeks before the big waterski weekend with his youth group. I told him there was NO way he could waterski with a broken nose, but I would acquiesce to the recommendation of our pediatrician Dr. Vereschagin. That day at our appointment, Dr. V said Yes where mom had said No and a jubilant Cooper played this song, singing at the top of his lungs, “God Favored Me” as soon as we got in the car!
What I’m celebrating: Forgiveness, knowing that I am forgiven, and through Christ, I have the power to forgive others. I’ve gotten so many responses from my post last week of Real Talk at FCC about forgiveness. One young woman told me that she listens to many podcasts and sermons but was searching online for a gentle, wise, and motherly voice to help her process forgiveness when she found my interview. I will outline my process for forgiveness on next week’s blog, so stay tuned! If you want to give the interview another listen: https://youtu.be/KZhNtOhpEwA
Quote I’m pondering: “Name a single time in history when the group fighting to censor speech and ban books were the good guys.” @ksorbs
As always, please give me feedback on the blog. What do you want more or less of? Feel free to share the blog on your social! You can sign up to receive it in your email every Monday at www.MargaretAllen.org at the bottom of Monday’s With Margaret. If you are reading through my book, Gracious Living, I want to hear what resonates for you! Tag me on insta @margaretallen.gl Have a beautiful week dear friends!