Say a little prayer.....

I was approaching the door of my coffee shop (ahem...chocolate milk shop) when I saw her approaching too. She and I are friendly towards each other although we hardly see each other anymore. We exchanged "Hello....how you doing?" as we both walked into the shop. I don't know how the conversion turned to the topic of where we live, but it did. I said, "Oh, I live just over [yada yada yada]," and she replied, "Really? I live nearby...just over [la la la la la]." Then, I looked at her ....into her face....because something clicked in my subconsciousness that something wasn't right. In my mind I was saying to myself, "Wait! I thought she lived far away over on the other side of downtown...She had a house, right? Hmmmm, what has happened to cause her to live over here?! Is she looking for a house over here?! Why would she do that!?....This is not really her kind of a place (the burbs). Is she ok?...Is everything alright?" I was having this whole internal conversation in my head...my body was moving in slow motion but my mind was racing as I tried to figure out what my heart and spirit was telling me about her. Then....I looked into her eyes. They were full of sorrow and sadness. She was trying to hide her misery behind her smile and my heart saw it all. She recently had lost a relationship and had to move out. It was her girlfriend's house.

I hated to see her in pain like that, but it wasn't an appropriate time for me to ask about it (we were in line and it was her time up at the cash register to put in her order). Oh, have you ever wanted to just hug someone who was in pain but you couldn't because the circumstances aren't right? I didn't see her as a gay or lesbian woman at that moment...all I saw was a broken heart. You know, Jesus didn't see a loose woman at the well when he looked upon the Samaritan woman. Jesus saw a soul that was lost and in pain and He spoke with kindness to her.

No matter the lifestyle of a person, there is a time for kindness and compassion for their heart and soul. There are people we come in contact with everyday whose eyes are hiding the pain in their heart. They may be confused or troubled, or they may be fearful and full of despair. You know what I've started doing? I've started to pray in my heart for people as I see them and then at night I pray for them out loud. It is my way of staying honest before God....it is important to pray for others. So many people have no one to pray for them...it is a shame. How blessed you and I are if there is but one person praying for us.

God hears the shortest of prayers. He hears long ones too. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God and prays for you. There may be someone who crossed your path today who is praying for you…you may not even know it. If you remember, say a little prayer for someone in your life today. Your prayer is like a blanket on a cold day…it covers their life with protection. Love someone today…pray for them, and know that I am praying for you. Love.

Just say NO to Oreos and Cheese Nips!

Somehow I ended up with a full bag of Oreo cookies and a box of Cheese Nips in my house. (somehow?....ha) For months now, I've been careful with my diet and am on a roll as far as losing weight. Well, over the last week I've learned something about myself...I can be trusted with neither Oreos nor Cheese Nips! I've downed practically half the bag and half the box! A little nibble here....a little nibble there and before you know it I am 3 pounds heavier! ahhhhh!!

Got me to thinking. There are other kinds of Oreos and Cheese Nips in our lives. Things in our lives that "somehow" are part of our lives, whether it be a habit or people, that we just one day wake up and realize "wow, how did I end up here?!" Negative people, complainers, whiners, those that suck your self esteem and energy from you....those are Oreos. Negative environments also are Oreos. What is a Cheese Nip? A Cheese Nip can be either a person or activity that keep you so distracted or busy with senseless and useless things that you don't have time to address important things in life. Ever meet a person who always was on the "go" and never had time to sit and have a real, meaningful conversation? Ever meet a person who went from one relationship to another without pausing to examine what really they needed or wanted out of a relationship?...a Cheese Nip.

You know, time is short. I want a quality life. Be compassionate and kind, but throw out the Oreos and Cheese Nips!! You'll only gain weight....or baggage. :)))

This is what I think I'm going to do today

I am a big post-it note user. I write my errands down all week so I can do them on the weekends. Well, today I am supposed to do 5 errands which I know will send me all around town ... all day ... only to end up exhausted at the end of the day. So, today, I am pretty sure I'm going to ditch my post-it note and instead go sit out by the pool in my big straw hat! ah ha! ... take that Mr. Post-It!

Some days you just have to say "no" to the senseless busy-ness and instead go for a walk or jog (or ice cream!!!) and just observe the good things around us. The busy-ness of life always will be there; however, nature, a sunny day, our health, family, friends ... all of these good things will not always be with us. Take the time to think about how you spend your time and use it wisely. Apply your resources (ex, your time, energy, affection, attention) toward the things that endure and that will enrich your life. Your relationship with God, your family and friends, your health and well being, ... these are the things that endure. May your heart and life prosper today.