Walk A Mile in THEIR shoes

In my last post, I said that unannounced visits were something of the past that needs to be brought back.   I believe the same of the handwritten letter.  And not just because the post office is struggling!  Long before cell phones became affordable and there were nationwide plans, we had to be careful of how long we talked on long distance calls.  So growing up, we wrote a lot of letters to people.  I LOVED getting letters and writing them too.  And I'm sure if I could find some of those letters I wrote, they'd be quite entertaining to read!  Don't get me wrong, I think technology is great.  Information travels faster and you can stay in touch more often and it is more affordable.  But sometimes, it is nice to get something in the mail other than just a boring bill or piece of junk mail.  So last week's acts of kindness were what I'd call... letters of love.  I clipped magazine articles, wrote cards and even made a little craft for some people in my life that I thought could use a little dose of love :) 

On Saturday I was at a grocery store when this cute little boy was carrying his mom's groceries asked his mom for a bouncy ball.  His mom said no (of course).  So I quickly grabbed a quarter (which is actually strange for me to have... I hoard them for car washes!) and leaned down to give it to him and his face just lit up.  I walked out to the car and loaded my groceries and was on the way out when he came out of the store bouncing like that bouncy ball would have with the biggest smile on his face... which made my day!  I like these acts of kindness.................. 

Unless the act of kindness also irritates me..... like today.

Today, I was at the grocery store again... yes, I do go there a lot!!!! Anyway, I saw one of my biggest pet peeves... a lady leaving her cart in the parking space next to her car when the cart alley was just a few steps away.  Maybe I'm just OCD, but I see this all the time around here and it bothers the everliving stuffing out of me.  WALK IT TO THE DESIGNATED SPOT.  Think about those poor cart collectors who are making minimum wage to search the parking lot to find where you've hidden a cart.  Not to mention the future customers trying to find a parking space only to find that the first ten they think they've found are taken up by carts. That's a lot of the problem with this world -- people don't want to walk a mile in anyone's shoes but their own. And then, if they can get by with half a mile, they will. 

I wish I had taken my confidence pill today because I would've walked right up behind her, grabbed the cart and walked it to it's designated destination.   But I waited until she left.   Coach is teaching me to be more outspoken when I see something that bothers me... I'm learning.... little by little.  Or maybe cart by cart.....

Slow Transformation

So, the vegetarian idea was nixed.  Very lovingly, but very firmly nixed.  Coach did remind me of how far we have come in 10 months though.  He used to eat at least two burgers a week.  Big juicy burgers.  And tacos with lots of cheese and sour cream.  And pizza with lots of cheese, meat and very few veggies.  We (okay, I) have now eliminated all red meat from our diet.  So no more burgers... unless they are made of turkey.  If we go to Ruby Tuesdays, he'll get the bison burger, but it isn't as terrible.  I don't think.  But a treat once and awhile doesn't hurt.  There isn't cheese in the house anymore.  Very rarely do we have sour cream... and no pizza either.  We are down to fish, turkey and poultry for our meats.  And after last night, we are going to start trying to go to organic chicken.  We'll see how well this town is equipped for that.  So for 10 months, I think that is pretty good.  Baby steps.... but progress none the less :)

Twenty minutes after this discussion, we've "settled in for the night". I am in my pajamas... with no makeup, hair pulled up in a "it'll have to do" ponytail playing Farmville.  Coach has rearranged the living room furniture to make his PS3 playing comfortable.  So we were obviously VERY busy.  Our house is a mess in between coming home, moving in new furniture and trying to get rid of old and having a yard sale next week.

I hear a car door slam (not uncommon) and leaves crunching on our porch.  Knock Knock.  Coach swings the door open before even trying to tell me who it is.  HELLO unannounced visitor.  My bad thoughts got out before I could catch them.... "HEY, COULDN'T YOU HAVE CALLED?! GEESH."  But after gritting my teeth a few minutes, I realized, WAIT A MINUTE.  This is the whole purpose of what you are doing with your 30 day challenge!  Catching someone unexpectedly.

As the guilt set in, I began to think... maybe the unexpected visits are something that need to come back in this society.  I wasn't around in the 1900's... or even the 1950's, but I suspect long before there were telephones and long before there were cell phones, people dropped in unannounced.  Neighbors came over and you just socialized. There wasn't so much rushing off to get one kid to piano and one kid to soccer.  You just stopped what you were doing and had a conversation with a real live person, rather than just a screen in front of you.  You might have even put on a cup of coffee or tea and baked a cake.  And if the visitor caught you on a bad day, you probably talked about it.  There was no mask.  They knew you weren't perfect and they could relate.  There wasn't so much keeping up with the Jones'. 

Nowadays, we want to expect people so that we can have our house looking perfect, have a talk with the kids to be on their best behavior and put on your best outfit and makeup to impress. But we need to drop that mask.  There is no reason to look perfect.  We all have our faults.  And we are all in this together.

So come on by unannounced visitors. I can't promise I'll stay in my pajamas, but I won't think bad thoughts :)  After all, changing my thinking is a lot like changing my diet... a slow transformation!

All things new...

This could be my head.... I LOVE vegetables.  After reading a magazine today and in my question to try new, different and wonderful things......... I am wondering if I can convince the hubby to eat vegetarian for one week?  Actually it would be more like vegan since I can't have dairy or eggs.   Think I'll approach this at dinner tonight.  It's just one week. 






Something tells me he isn't going to be a big fan of this.  On second thought, maybe I'll just do it :)   With a backup stash of burgers in the freezer of course :P




And for the kindness of the day... it's a secret for this week.  :)   Secret kindnesses (is this a word???) are more fun!!!

The thoughts inside my head...

I know, it's a pretty scary thought, but surprisingly I do have some in there!!!  Actually, I am really good at KEEPING them in there.  Sometimes too good.  My parents always taught me that if I don't have anything good to say to not say anything at all.  But, no one ever really teaches that when you have something good to say, to SAY IT!

I find myself frequently admiring other peoples dresses, shoes, jewelry, nail color, etc.  But I usually just think to myself "How cute is that!"  and never say anything.  Well today, the front office lady had such a cute little dress on.  So I thought to myself about the few times someone has complimented me for something I was wearing and it made me stand a little taller and feel a little more confident in myself.  A gift far too many women need these days.   So I walked right back to her desk and told her how cute she looked.... and she smiled and thanked me.  And I smiled... and my day seemed a little brighter.

Giving Day 4

It's a beautiful day here in sunny South Carolina.  I woke up to find myself thinking about what my gift for today will be.  I can already see how this is changing my thinking from "What do I need to do today?" to "What CAN I do today (to help someone else)?" 

So this morning as I wrote out our tithe check, I did it with a little more joy and gratitude.  Sure, tithing is something that we are supposed to give, but so is love and forgiveness.  And looking at the world today, I don't believe we are giving love and forgiveness as we are supposed to. 

Anyway, today, I got the feeling that the check was a gift to God.  I've been tithing so long, it has become more of a habit than a gift that I'm glad to give.  Hopefully this little exercise is going to help me to remember that tithing is a gift.  Something to joyfully give to God.  After all, He is letting us keep 90% of HIS money!  (Deuteronomy 8:18a - But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth...)

Have a blessed Sunday! 

NEW! EXCITING! REWARDING!

Okay, so for three days now, I've been itching to blog.  Why you ask? After spending the past week off work for Spring Break, I have had some time to reflect and I started something... NEW!  EXCITING! and.... REWARDING!

So what is this new and exciting thing?  I have decided that for one month, I am going to give back something to someone around me.  Why? To quote Former First Lady Barbara Bush "giving frees us from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others." 

So often, we as humans get caught up in ourselves and forget that there is a whole world around us.  This isn't healthy.  We get so consumed in ourselves that our problems actually tend to appear worse to us because they are all that we think about.  And as Christians, this world is our mission field, so it is even more important for us to open our eyes to see the needs of others rather than just our needs.

I remember my chorus teacher giving us a lecture one time about giving back.  She said that we were all so self-absorbed and just took and took and took from her never thinking that she might need something in return.  She actually likened it to having 60 straws in her head sucking out the life from her and not having anything giving back.  She was a little upset, but it has stuck with me. 

So anyway, today marks my third day and I can already see that it is going to get harder as I get back into the daily grind. But I'm determined regardless!

Day 1 started on Thursday morning and it was SO easy.  As we were leaving Sheetz (wow, do I miss that place!), there was a man holding a very wordy sign that basically said he was homeless and in need of compassion.  So, I dug out two waters and a snack bar and had Russ run it to him at the stop light.  Easy-peesy! Day one - DONE! And the world felt like a happier place.

Day 2 was a little harder.  Friday morning we started out on our way home.  At our stop at Sheetz (yes, again!) I was determined to pay for someone's coffee.  But, as I got in line to pay for Russ', no one was behind me :(  As soon as I turned around to walk out the door, up walks a man with his coffee and donut.  But I didn't want to run and tackle him while he was paying.  I like to be unnoticed when doing these acts of kindness.  So, I went along determined to find something else. 

A few hundred miles later, we come to a toll booth.  Sweet!  One of my favorite things to do is pay for the car behind me.  BUT, once again, it wasn't meant to be.  The toll booth wasn't manned by an actual human. You had to throw your change into this bucket.  So I didn't think we could do it :(  I knew there was another toll coming up, so I didn't worry.  Guess what?  No car behind us in this one.  Alright, so apparently I wasn't meant to do any of those..... So I gave thanks to God for a beautiful day and a beautiful drive through the mountains of West Virginia and North Carolina.

BEAUTIFUL huh?  I think God deserved some thanks for some of those views!

So, Day 3.  I got up this morning and settled back into my routine of Saturday chores and grocery shopping, I wasn't sure how I was going to give back today.  But, it was easier than I thought.  I have been known to be a coupon fanatic.  As strolling through the grocery store, I gave a coupon to someone.  Only 60 cents, but hey, it was something! 

Even though it has only been three days, I am excited about what is next.  I know that I can't give a lot, but I can give a little to a lot of people in the next month.  I think it was Mother Teresa that said "If you can't feed one hundred, then just feed one".   I am really excited about the opportunities God is going to give me to give to others!