Encourage, lift up, and lighten up!

Living in a world where I get so tired of seeing so much emphasis on negatives and still cannot believe that a crowd will gather for a person on a ledge to encourage them to jump and "unhappy news" sells more than happy news, I look at social networking and often see something of a contagious negatory attitude, in an environment of bashing.........

But then I see some posts that encouraging, memorable for the joyous uplifting, positive, kind, goodness and life changers.  Even the cute pictures of a stray dog leading a rescue team to her babies.  So.....

Those positive ones are the posts that mean the most to me.   

Don't want to go through my long lists of medical things but I will say that God has been with me each step of the way.  And I have encouragement from many that always was perfectly said or felt.  So recently asked my Facebook friends what words they gave ore received that they thought were helpful. 

I received some real gems.   Treasures!!!   I'll quote a few and then ask if you are reading this blog, that you post things that have helped you through rough times.   

"You gotta keep on keeping on. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13"   Johanna

"Just keep swimming!"  Trina and Mary Beth

 

 "help someone else"  Jane

"encouragement to me is when one will tell me the truth, but remind me that Jesus said HE would never leave me nor forsake me. When I am on the bottom looking up, I really need to be reminded that Jesus will be there. Many times when I've been that low, my dad would take his finger and point like he wanted me to see something very far off. He would say, I want you to look way, way down there. Can't you see there is light at the end of the tunnel. He said, you may not see but just a little flicker, but there it is, see, it really is light. OH JESUS YOU REALLY ARE SO GOOD AND KIND. "  Suzette 

"If God brings you to it he will bring you through it. Jesus is the reason and I put my hope and trust in Him." Christine

  

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, " Nahum 1:7  Celeta

Practice random acts of kindness, and senseless acts of beauty. Lori

What I have found personally helpful for me....

"You know that God loves you, but I am just saying that people are looking to see if your faith will waiver under what is going on."     

I prefer "feel good" movies like Polyanna.... one of my favorites

As a younger person, I began reading biographies of people who were quite exemplary in how they handled life.... and overcame what seemed to be impossible situations.  

Music guides my thoughts and can transform my emotions.  One of the best modern songs about overcoming.   Wonderful Mandisa with Overcomer.   Just saw the vidoe for the first time! (click the blue hyperlink next to this to hear and see her)  Mandisa - Overcomer

Sometimes solitude is needed and sometimes a good cry or sometimes a laugh or even both.

When I become anxious, words of comfort like these help: 

" Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Matthew 6:26

When I feel I can do nothing anymore, just nothing and feel the start of a major pity party, I start planning something to do, a prayathon is a likely event or a surprise for someone else


My mother used to give the quietest and sweetest comfort to me.   It would go something like this "I cannot make this go away, but I'll stay with you as long as you need me to and I know you are strong and will work your way through this.      And she seemed to know innately what people needed.   She never did "tell" people what to do - other than to tell my Dad NOT to track up her very clean kitchen :)   But she was the kind of positive sounding board folks still need.   

But most of all I look for the rainbow that God will send....His promise to me and to the world.  There will be a better day....   Life is never easy but it becomes much easier when I tell myself.   God loves me.  He has a plan, a purpose, a reason for everything and everything unto its season..... Just Like Ecclesiates 3 says....

Feel free to add your thoughts about encouragement...  LITLA   

 

The Giving Table, You never know what your anonymous gift might do!

We have a lovely table at our public convenience center.  I like to call it The Giving Table. Next to the large green dumpsters is a humble table a place for public recycling center table for the community who brings trash to feed the dumpsters.   A leave and take table with no check out, no fee for returning if the item just cannot be used.   100% satisfaction guaranteed, you may bring the item back if you don't want it, no questions ask, no receipt needed.

• An expression of anonymous love to one another in our community.....   All kinds of treasures have been left there over time....    I've left books and also picked up books.   I left clothing that I hadn't been using in a while or perhaps never worn.  I smiled inside when I thought I saw a pretty shirt I once had in the closet getting dusty on a lovely lady.   One of the unposted but understood social rules is that THE GIVER never tells. I happily said "Beautiful shirt" and walked on.
• The Table has generated smiles, chats and friendships and elevated the Status of the workers.  I cannot imagine working at a Convenience Center.  Day in & out picking up trash, broken glass, carelessly left out side the containers, being around the smell. Working for low pay. I have never appreciated these folks enough until we decided no garbage service for us at the farm, we will take our own trash.  What started as a money saving effort has indeed been an eye opener for me.
• It is a spot of joy in an otherwise sometimes dreaded task! Instead of folks just dumping trash and leaving, Many walk over to look, leave, browse and Wave at the staff.   My favorite line is of course "You sure I don't need a receipt to refund"?   Toting garbage and being around garbage is not easy,.
• What I like about this table is that it allows and encourages year round Sharing.  That one crockpot with the broken liner might match a liner outthere. It did for me!
• It shows that our community is a Thrifty one.   The items on the table may not be a perfect, but it might be a treasure to the person who picks it up or receives it.  It might be a surprise gift to another person.   I have a dear friend who drops by recycled items.   And I love that surprise!  She knows me and our Farm well & has an eye for helpful things, plastic crates for toting vegetables, etc. 

Sometimes it is as if there was a giving Angel who knew that someone was coming by with a Special need...

A few months ago, I was wearing socks that were becoming thread bare in the heels and toes. Tried mending and doubling up socks, but painful to the feet.  I had had particularly challenging health days and was just not up to shopping for good socks.  Farmers wear out socks just walking for miles a day.  As hubby hoisted the trash into the green monsters.  I left a few surprises and open a particularly clean bag that had wonderfully clean socks carefully paired together and folded as neatly as if for a drawer.  The smell of Cashmere Bouquet wafted from the Bag, bringing back memories of my Granny.  As I picked up some of the socks and no, I did NOT take all of them, I was filled with so much gratitude as now I could enjoy some foot comfort without having to drive an hour and spend several hours shopping for those that fit well. 

Thank you Sock Angel whoever you were.   You really lifted my spirits, energy and feet that day!

  "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).

To all those who live out their Love!

I love it when folks live their lives in love...They have a perpetual smile decorating their face. Love is their motivator, their reward, their life guide. They demonstrate it in their attitudes, their spirit/soul, in their actions. They are those that rejoice with us, mourn with us, listen when no one else wants to hear anymore "about it". They know effortlessly what we need and don't ask, they just do!!! They want to credit, no applause, no medals. They love because they know and show God's love. They are spontaneous and they joy in life - in butterflies, in birds, horses and a lovely sunset. They need no fancy, they have the whole world on their plate and all the glorious world to see.

If we've hurt our hands and cannot move them, they show up with meal, flowers and a broad smile and a gentle hug.

If we're confused, they stand by to pray with us, to listen while we "work at the confusion".

They help us weed the garden. They take out the garbage, drive us around and to much more to list.

They are great handholders and shoulders when we need one. They make sacrifices for us but they simply do not ever complain. It is their joy to be our earthly angels.

They inspire us, move us to tears of joy and compassion, they show the way to live and love. Plainly and simply they may not be rich in wealthy but they are wealthy in their Love and know that Love shared multiplies. Thanks to all of those who are among the richest of us all. That love and care at all times and this is the joy of their life. Nothing is ever too much because they fly like eagles with the Lord uplifting them and giving them strength....They make one of my favorite Books - Love by Leo Buscaglia seem somehow shallow. After a day of working at a local food pantry, emergency center, they change a shirt and they're off to visit a nursing home, drop by a hospital, go to a funeral home and still back in time for evening church and choir. The givers are of all ages, sizes and colors from all walks and runs of life.

There's a song with a Line that goes, "People, people who love people are the Luckiest people in the world" Barbara Streisand was the singer.... The song intended mainly for romantic love applies to agape love too.

Thanks to the lovers, the givers, the doers of this world. May you never grow weary and may you live a long life of loving.....