ODDS & ENDS

How are you this morning? I'm hoping when you got out of bed you said to yourself,  "It's going to be a great day." Why do I hope that?
Because #1, we believe what we tell ourselves. And  # 2, What we believe determines, to a large degree, how our day will flow.

It's not always easy to do the right thing,  to keep being polite to rude people, to accept responsibility for our words and actions. But choosing to do these things will make a difference in our family, in our relationships, in our community, in our churches, and in the world.

It's always bothered me to hear somebody say (and believe too), that one person can't make a difference. A lot of the time, when this is said, those saying it are thinking in terms of money. They've told me. "I'd love to help, Barb, but I live on a very small budget." I understand that because I do too, many people do. The thing is, there are so many things one can do, if only they would.  If you've read this far, please leave a comment giving suggestions on what one person could do. Imagine if we all read the suggestions and did the majority of them, or better yet..ALL of them.

A few suggestions:

1- Type in USO on your toolbar and when the page comes up, choose
something to do. I send messages of encouragement and am writing some of the soldiers who seldom, if ever, get mail

2- Check on  your neighbor. If you don't know them, introduce yourself. Every one of us will be in need at some time. Wouldn't it be nice if when your neighbor was in need, YOU were the first one there?

3- If you have kids, fill up a large, pretty bottle with slips of paper in it, each slip of paper telling that child a reason why you love them or are proud of them, or offering words of encouragement. I  did this for each of my children, two when preteens, the others when they were teens, around sixteen. That gift was largely responsible for keeping the lines of communication open. Sometimes, my kids were not receptive, were so angry at my NO, that they were not talking to me. I'd write them a letter. They might not talk to me but would, most of the time read a letter or note I'd written to them.

4- When you go shopping, pick up a few extra cans of food, then began filling
a box at home. When it's full, take it to somebody you know who is having a really hard time.

5- Okay. Let's hear some of yours. I want to add to mine, really want to
make somebody's life a little better. I'm sure you want to do this too.
Thanks ahead of time for helping me out with this.


The three P's:

1- The Past, appropriately named because things once experienced belong
     there, especially those things that have hurt us, disappointed us, caused 
     us to fill up with resentment; things that we either wish we'd not done, or
     that somebody hadn't done to us. Dragging them up and throwing them 
     back into the face of somebody we said we'd forgiven puts our life on hold
     and robs us of the happiness we could have.

2- The Present-
     Teaching ourselves how to remain in the present, to truly focus on the
     good things happening around us and in our lives, keep us from
     making our burdens weigh more than they actually do.

3- The future-
     Nothing to worry about. The God who was with us yesterday, is with us
    today, will be with us tomorrow- and forever.

Have an awesome day. Be good to yourselves- good to others too.

Love you much,

Barb