The After Party

The other day I was chatting with a friend about future plans and goals.  When I was in the moment I was so excited for the future and hopeful.  I may or may not have been doing internal round offs and cartwheels.  If you had asked me to I would have ran down the street giving away high fives and hugs.  You're right, I probably wouldn't have ran, but I would have definitely fast walked. ;) 

So, we parted and in the moment that my feet started to go the other direction it hit.  What I have so lovingly coined "The After Party."  The party can start moments, hours, days, months after something happens.  What is the after party you may be wondering?  Well, the after party is a collection of negative emotions that like to set up camp in my mind directly after an event or conversation takes place.  During any given after party you will find doubt, fear, envy, selfishness and if it a big shabang resentment and bitterness show up.  Woooeeee, that's some party, eh?  During these moments where my mind has taken a turn for the worse I can feel my insides heating up too.   It is just plain awful! Some days I can stop the party as soon as it starts. I can go all peace warden on myself and say break it up kids, break it up.  Other days not so much.  Um, and on those days the after party can turn into a pity party or what I like to call "take me to an island and leave me" party. It is ugly.  Trust me.  

Want to know something cool though? As I have been working to strengthen my inner peace warden, by God's grace, the later parties are becoming fewer.  Can I get an amen?  I write because I know I am not the only one who struggles with after parties.  So, we must learn,  train, learn and train some more to think on what is true.  Philippians 4:8 all the way! 

I have to share this someecard with you.... my friend sent it to me yesterday at the perfect time!  It fits so well.  Love y'all!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8