CARE ENOUGH TO REACH OUT

Earlier this year my husband and I purchased a small lot near the lake. We love spending time there. My husband and sons can fish all they want, my daughters and I love to just lounge in the hammocks and read, we can swim, go on walks, and the dogs love the open space. Our favorite thing is to just sit at the picnic table and do nothing but talk and enjoy the outdoors. We had hoped our phones wouldn't get signal so we could be offline, however they do. So we just turn the ringers off and leave them in the camper. We love this little escape so much!

On one of our weekend escapes, we met our neighbors. A sweet older couple who live there full time. They are as kind as can be and love Jesus. Since meeting them, we have only visited with them a handful of times. Early on they asked for our phone number and said they would keep an eye on our camper and let us know if anything was wrong. So kind!

Last month we were unable to visit our escape for a few weeks due to my husband's work schedule. We missed it so much. One day my phone rang and the caller id had our neighbor's name. I instantly thought, "Oh no! Something has happened to our camper!" That was not the case. Instead, the sweet voice simply said, "You haven't been down in three weeks and we wanted to make sure you were okay and just say hi."

Cue. The. Tears.

These people who we only met five months ago, who we have only talked to four or five times, cared enough to pick up the phone and call to check on us.

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

Proverbs 27:9 CSB

The past ten or so months have been very difficult for my husband and I. We've lost loved ones and have dealt with a rift in our extended families. Our hearts have been very heavy and we have often felt alone. To say I have been struggling is a vast understatement.

Just recently someone I am very close to said they were upset with me because I haven't talked to them in a couple months. This person never reached out to me. Never asked how I was. Never made the first move. They just got upset. It hurt knowing I upset them, but it also hurt that they didn't care enough to reach out.

What if we stopped getting upset, stopped ignoring people, stopping getting offended, and reached out? What if we told people that we've been thinking about them? What if we prayed for people?

That person you haven't seen in awhile, don't assume you know why. Pick up the phone and make a call. That person who has been on your heart today, don't think it's a random thought. Pick up the phone and check on them.

Be devoted to one another in love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10 NIV

We need to love enough to truly care. We need to care enough to check on people. I pray we all become like my precious lake neighbors.

Giving Back

My husband and I are always looking for ways we can give back. Sometimes it's paying for the person behind us at the drive through, sometimes driving someone home from church, and sometimes it's simply by praying for others or sending a card. But we know the importance of giving back and we want to be intentional about doing so.

One of the many hats I wear is that of a Thirty One Consultant. As a Thirty One Consultant, I am doing something so exciting to give back. I want to give you, my wonderful readers, a chance to join me. Check it out:

Alright friends and family! I have something really great that I'm working on! I want to sponsor 31 chemo bags to a local center next month. And I need your help! One of my many goals this year is to GIVE BACK. And this is just the first endeavor!

Each and every bag will be tagged in memory or in honor of a loved one of the specific person who donates. Check out the pictures below of the items that made it into just SOME of my friends' bags last year! Your $25 donation will provide a large zip-top tote bag that has 7 pockets and I will take care of the rest! They can use the  bags to carry their personal items (books, electronics, drinks & supplies) to/from their treatment appointments throughout their journey. I know we can pull this off together and bless some amazing people during a tim when they could sure use a blessing!

Here is how it works: You can sponsor as many bags as you would like for $25 each. I will use ALL of my commissions that are made on the bags to fill them with things like chapstick, warm socks, blankets, crossword puzzles, tissues, candy, etc. If you would like to sponsor a bag, you can comment below with "I want to sponsor ____ bags!" And leave your email address, and I will follow up with you.

The tags that will be attached
to the bags in honor of someone.

A few finished bags.

 

Some items inside the bags.

I know this seems like an odd blog post for me, but I truly believe in giving back. With my grandfather going through cancer treatments, one of my best friend going through cancer treatments, and several other friends who have experienced chemo, I truly believe in this project.

TONIGHT, I am ordering my first set of Chemo Care Bags, so if you want to get in on this blessing opportunity, be sure to comment below with how many bags you want to sponsor and your email address so that I can email you. You can either pay via paypal OR give me a credit card number.

National Kindness Day

To check out the huge party and giveaway going on right now, click here.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, 

forgiving each other, 

just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Today is "National Kindness Day." What act of kindness can you do?

Linking with:

W2W Word Filled Wednesday

Words For Me Wednesday

Winsome Wednesday

A Wise Woman

Three Word Wednesday

Heart Reflected

A Season of Giving

We are in a beautiful season.  Christmas, the season of giving.  Of course, we know that we should always have a heart of giving, but this time of year we tend to focus on giving a little more.

Nehemiah said, "go and enjoy choice good and 

sweet drinks and send some to those who have nothing 

prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve 

for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

The Word of God tells us to share with those who do not have.  As I read this verse this morning God spoke to my heart.  So often I complain that I am without this or that.  Or I struggle to pay bills.  I complain, I act like I am without, but the truth is, I am so very, very blessed.  God has greatly blessed my family.  We may not always have a three course meal, but we always have food.  My car may not be brand new, but I have a car.  My house may not be fancy, but I have a home.  God has greatly blessed me, how can I not share?

God may be calling us to give a meal to the family down the street.  Pay for gas for the car next to us at the station.  Pay for the car behind us in the drive thru.  Last year our church did random acts of kindness and one group went to a gas station to pay for someone's gas and the lady said through tears that she was putting her very last twenty dollars into her tank and had no idea when more money was coming in.  After the random act of kindness, she was able to use her twenty dollars for food.  A couple of years ago, I paid for the car behind me in the drive thru and I always try to drive off before I am 'caught' but this time the restaurant was a little slow and I caught a glimpse of the confused woman as she laid her head in her hands and cried.  I do not know her circumstances but I do know that God touched her that day.

What can you do to bless someone?  Can you send a card or meal to the widow or single mom?  Can you buy blankets for a family you know is in need?  Are you in the position to pay the utility bill for a family struggling to keep the utilities on?  Can you invite the lonely widower from down the block over for a family dinner in your home?

There are so many things we can do to share and bless others.  What will you do?

Sweet Blessings~

Linking with:

Into The Beautiful 

Titus Tuesday  

On Your Heart Tuesday 

Soli Deo Gloria

Teach Me Tuesday

Hear it on Sunday, Use it On Monday

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Legacy of Kindness

Yesterday I heard something on the radio that has had me thinking ever since.  The DJ said something to the effect of, "Kindness is so rare these days that when someone really is kind, it shocks everyone."  I stopped to think about it and it's true.  When I am going into a store and a man is coming out and actually holds the door open, I am shocked.  When I am going through McDonald's  (I love their sweet tea) drive thru double lanes -which by the way is a crazy idea, one lane is fine- and watch as two lanes fight to see who is going to merge over to the one lane first, I am not shocked.  

I have come to expect rudeness and I am shocked at kindness.  That is backwards thinking.

It hasn't always been like this.  I have seen enough older shows (Andy Griffith, etc) and heard enough true life stories that years ago rudeness was not accepted.  If a child was disrespectful it was taken care of as soon as possible.  Now we just assume kids will be disrespectful and ignore it.  Over the years kindness has been lost.  I am not saying everyone in the world is rude.  But we all are at some point I am sure.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23

"Be kind and compassionate to one another..."

Ephesians 4:32

God tells us in His Word to be kind.  We need to bring kindness back.  We need to teach our kids to be kind.  How can we do this?

• When driving, let a car in front if the have their blinker on.
• Wave to say 'thank you' when someone lets you in front as you drive.
• Don't be afraid to give up a good parking spot if you see a pregnant mom or someone who could use the closer spot.
• Hold doors for others.  Though it is chivalrousness when a man does it, women can hold doors too.
• Say 'please' often.
• Say 'thank you' often.
• Say 'I'm sorry' often.
• Share and teach our children to share.
• Don't fight to be first in line at a store, drive thru or gas pump.  My husband loves the story about the 'head table' and we refer to it often in our home.  The first shall be last and the last shall be first.
• If you are getting up to go to the kitchen, ask if anyone needs anything while you are in there.
• Serve without expectations.
• Do at least one extra big kind deed a day.  For example, take the trash cans from the house to the curb for a neighbor, pay for the order behind you in line at the drive thru, or buy coffee for someone.

These are just a few ideas to be kind and to teach our children how to be kind.  I want my kids to be kind and to teach their children kindness, so it must start with me.  I am going to strive to be kind and leave my kids with a legacy of kindness.  Are you with me?

What are other ways you will show kindness?

Sweet Blessings~

Linking with:

Legacy Leaver Thursday

Life In Bloom

Thought Provoking Thursday  

Grace Café 

 Take a moment to visit one of our fabulous sponsors today!  Thirty-One gifts offers beautiful, high quality bags that you can personalize and much more!  Want to earn free product?  Ask Jamie about having an online party!

Hurt Feelings and Gentle Words

I am blessed with four amazing children.  I also have two precious nieces and five sweet nephews that are like my own children.  I love all them dearly.  I may have given life to four children, but I love and claim eleven and would lay my life down for each of them.

This week I had my feelings hurt.  Someone did something that I did not think was right and hurt not only me, but other members of my family as well.  I don't like it when someone comes between me and one of my eleven kids.  Or hurts one of my eleven.

I was angry.  I was hurt.  I desperately wanted to lash out.  I felt I had every right to be harsh.  Someone hurt my family.

That's when God reminded me:

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1

My mom always told us that it was not wrong to be angry.  She even told me as a little girl that I could be angry at her.  It's what I did with the anger that matter.  Had I used my anger this week to lash out and hurt others, the problem would have escalated into something far worse.  Instead, by giving it to God, filling up with His joy and using gentle words, I was able to obey Him and not add to the problem.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

When someone does us wrong, it is hard to remain calm, forgive and be gentle towards them.  But that is exactly what God wants.  Lean on Him and fill up with His joy and compassion.  When your feelings are hurt, be gentle.

Sweet Blessings~