Tool Box

What is in a tool box? I think to answer that question we must first look at the tools inside to determine the answer. Okay stay with me. If there is a screw driver, a hammer, and a wrench then the answer to the type of tool box would be one a handyman's tool box.
What about a life tool box? Some of us need tools for our tool box just to get through the day. Some people have a journal to write in, others have a diet to eat right, and others have devotions or inspirational readings to think on good things. Next, there might be a few pictures in their tool box to remind them of who they use to be and not who they are now.
Some of us have gone to church, support groups, have mentors, or therapist to help us gain tools. These tools look like inventory list, writings of their many blessings, or even some attitude adjustments that they have made.
Recently I had my tool box filled with some marriage tools. I went to a marriage conference even though I am single. The reason I wanted to go was to find out what my role as a wife looks like to God. What I can do to be a better life partner to someone one day and it was great. These are tools I can use in a marriage and in other outside relationships. I look at marriage as a oneness, a joint effort. I understand now when I see a ring that has no beginning and no end.  It is God who created and he has no beginning and no end either. This is a tool for my tool box of life.
God alone has given us tools for our life tool box, it's the Bible.
Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth. 
Psalm 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.(KJ)

I think the life lessons we go through are also tools for our life tool box. We all make mistakes and when we learn from them; the lesson appears. Isn't that a tool?  We know that when we write in a journal our daily actions we can see how we react to other peoples actions. If we responded in anger, we can see how that may have lead to an action of violence or hurt. When the next time the situation arises we may see it coming and react in a more subtle and gentle way that wouldn't cause violence or hurt. BUT we have to be willing to change out those tools. We have to be willing to learn new ways to communicate. Have you heard the saying hurt people ~ hurt people? The reason we hurt other people is because we don't know how to handle our own hurt. We may not even take the time to examine our hurt and we don't recognize when we hurt others. The tool here is to take  the time to look at what is hurting you, deal with the hurt with help and learn ways to release that hurt. Then when a time arises, you won't hurt nor hurt other people in your path. Remember the more you invest into something or someone, the more you are going to receive an investment from it. It might not come as you want it to, but it will show up right on time.  Invest some time into yourself, put new tools into your toolbox of life, change the things you want to change, equip yourself with goodness, gentleness, love, kindness, and learn long suffering.
Your life will be better and can get better when you choose to change out your tool box.
Any tool unused just gets rusty.

Go in Peace and Love,
~ Marjorie