Things I Don’t Do Anymore

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1: Stick my finger in the cigarette lighter to see if it’s hot.
2: Wish to be older. Or younger.
3: Call the radio host by the wrong name throughout the entire interview.
4: Say, “That’s water over the bridge,” when I mean “under.”
5: Put two spaces between sentences.
6: Pronounce Rush Limbaugh’s name wrong.
7: Get a mullet haircut.
8: Let waiting stress me out.
9: Think the lyrics for “Lead on, oh King Eternal” are “Lead on, oh kinky turtle.”
10: Try to get my way.

When we look back to yesterday or last month, it can seem that we aren’t making any progress in our spiritual walk. But just as we would never cross the street without looking both ways, as we did when we were children, there are spiritual disciplines that now come to us as easily as breathing.

Be encouraged! You are maturing in ways you don’t even know.

by Heather Gemmen Wilson

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About the Author

Heather Gemmen Wilson loves to laugh. She says, "Through all the circumstances of my life, I have gained more than I have lost ... and I'm not just talking weight." Heather is married to her best friend, Lawrence W. Wilson, a pastor, and they have a colorful blended family of...

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  4. Thanks for this encouragement! This makes me want to write a list of all of the things I don’t do anymore.;-)

  6. Wonderful! Thank you for the encouragement (though I’m confused about the 2 spaces between sentences. Are we not suppose to do this anymore, or are you just saving time?!) : )

    • Ever since we gave up the typewriter for the word processor, we gave up the extra space. Most people aren’t aware of that, though, so I’m constantly removing extra spaces whenever I edit. haha! Now you know. 🙂

        • Great link, Heather! I hadn’t realized people were still debating this issue. All the publishing houses I’ve worked for use the single space. I just love how passionate people get about spacing. haha! Thanks for opening my eyes.

      • Wow, I’m just getting back to reading this, but thanks for all the info- I hadn’t heard of this “hot topic!” : ) I’m not sure I can give up that extra space. I do notice that the Auto-Correct on my iPad seems geared for it, so some of us must still be making the mistake (or at least Steve Jobs and myself!) LOL!

  7. This will help me to see the cup half-full instead of half-empty. Sure, I have lots of room for improvement but I have made progress. Celebrate the little victories!

  8. This made me giggle. Thanks! I can think of about 13 things I could add to my own list. It’s true, growth can be slow or small but it’s still growth!

  9. This post made me smile. I wondered what I’d come up with should I make a list… hmm. 🙂 But you’re right anyhow, about us maturing in ways we don’t even know. I guess it’s only in the ‘reflection-times’ when we realize how much work God has actually done on us. And it’s heartening! 🙂

  10. Thank you, yes! Encouraging me to thank God for my own list…I haven’t gotten to 45 without holding on to some things, growing not so much in perfection as in valuing his! Praise God!

  12. i LOVE this list! you and i might be about the same age as i had a mullett hair cut in high school….with bad glasses. and i no longer sing the lyrics to hillsong’s healer as “i believe you’re my hero.” great perspective on looking at our spiritual growth. like we chart our children’s growth on that post in the laundry room, we can survey previous months and years and see how far he has brought us. great post.

  13. I was thinking along these lines just this morning. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we go around the same circles many times in life, often failing and sometimes succeeding. Through it all, we are learning to trust, lean into and rely on God. He is growing us up, and He knows the path we need to take to get there. That’s why the scriptures tell us that HE lead the Israelites into the wilderness; they didn’t wander there by mistake. I’m learning to be grateful for the path He has lead me to and the work He is accomplishing along the way.

    Blessings!!

  14. Love this! Longing for the day when I can say “I no longer worry about (fill in the blank), because I trust completely in God.”

  19. Mullet? That poor girl looks more like she had an unfortunate encounter with a weed whacker.

    I think one of the most positive changes in my life is that I no longer have to be right all the time. So freeing.

    Also, I think “Kinky Turtle” would be a great name for a praise band.

    Love, Jeanne

    • Well, she had to do. I dug through a box and found a picture of me with the hideous hair and huge glasses, but Larry wouldn’t let me post it. haha!

      Can’t wait to buy your first album… 🙂

  20. ha! loved this. appreciate your heart heather.

    1. I don’t waste time thinking “if only…”
    2. Frost my hair.
    3. Think I have to save anyone.
    4. Covet.
    5. Think Lil’ Jon is saying Snap Yo Bagels in his song Snap Yo Fingaz.
    6. Wear stretch pants.
    7. Or sweats.
    8. Judge everyone by my own standards.
    9. Waitress.
    10. Worry. (well, not as much anyway.)

  21. Thank you, i heard God speak to me in those last words. Thank you, i have been in a spiritual struggle for the past few months. My son is just getting ready to turn 10 months and being a new mom, a little sleep deprived and alot overwhelmed….well, all i can say is thank you so much.

  23. That’s funny!
    I have a pretty silly list too.

    Wondering…..how DID you pronounce Rush Limbaugh?
    {giggle}

  25. Every other week a group of us missionaries ladies meet to do all sort of things, study the word, pray, watch a movie, and i am adding this one to my list of things for us ladies to do. The girls will love the laughs it will bring as I know we all can come up with a list. I am 64 so mine may be long..ha..they are all much younger then me. I know it will encouraged their hearts a.. Thank you for the post. Betty

  26. I love this post. I liked Amy’s list too. I’m another one struggling to stop leaving two spaces after a period! Just learned this last year. Thanks for the funny, but wise message of this post!

  27. Thank you for this. And sidenote, I think it’s now become “personal preference,” much like serial commas sometimes are but I take the side of single spaces! Glad to see that mentioned.

  28. Your post is one of the many ways I know that even if God doesn’t keep us from hurting, He does give us ways to feel better and to see that He still loves us. I had a horrible evening and found your blog and read #9 of your Things I don’t do anymore…it made me laugh when I didn’t think I could anymore tonight. Thank you. God gave me my silver lining to the otherwise stormy evening.

  29. Thank you for this.
    I feel like I haven’t changed in years but I’m reminded (because of you) that I’ve changed more in these past few years than I will ever know.
    I pray God continues to mold me and that little by little I begin to look more like him and less like me.