This week I have had several “situations” which were not meant to be hurtful but to a more fragile person, it could have been devastating. I am always aware of how powerful words are and how they can uplift or tear down and I push always to build up. We are all creations of a loving God who we, as a creation, sometime forget and walk away form that love, sometimes because of a harsh word from another. Today I read a post that needs reposting as it affirms God’s continual love for us and how he is forever encouraging us. I saw a picture on Pinterest the other day that really speaks to me…”What ever you are praying for…hold on. I am already on it and help is on the way.” Don’t let the discouragement of this world wilt your beautiful bloom but reach to the Son who loves you. Enjoy this post by Gracespeaker and be encourage for the love all around you. And as always, remember to be Kind.
Category: Kindness
Beauty After the Storm? #1LinerWed
Usually there is a beautiful sunset and clearing sky after a storm has passed but today I captured a few sunset shots between the afternoon front and the 10pm front heading our way. Just what we need, more rain.
You cant really see both sets of storm clouds with the brightness of the sun, so once that was gone, I tried again.
Even in the ugliness of the storm, nature can also be very beautiful.
Because we do have cloudy conditions all around us, heaven forbid the internet work enough to write and post, so this is short.
As the storms of life swirl around, you can chose to be kind so I remind you to always be kind.
Monster Eats Town
Quiet Before the Storm
The quietness was eerie and deafening. The mist rolled over the glassy stillness of the sea as it waited the approach of the monster storm that had been forecasted. As the cloud approached, a gaping separation in the cloud appeared as it began to engulf the town like a huge mouth.
Twitter Tales #135 from Kat Myrman reminds me of the weather we are currently experiencing with the massive flood now ongoing. Weather can indeed be a monster in the making.
And I remind you that even in the midst of an oncoming and engulfing storm, you can still radiate kindness. Kindness can be as quiet as a mouse or the strength of a lion depending on what is needed. Always be kind.
Finding Assurance
While this post is strongly Christian inspired and maybe not really your thing, I do you will read on a little bit as we all need assurance that we are going in the right direction in our lives, that we are hoping to make a difference and last but not at all the least…that we are loved. While the word love is so vastly over used, it is still the most powerful word God created, after all God is love and he proved His love for us by giving us a part of himself, Jesus. Love is a noun and a verb. It shows up in the most unexpected places sometimes and in many unexpected ways.
It shows up in the beauty of a sunrise of the dainty fragrance or color of a flower.
I comes in the form of many works of art, from writing, to painting, to photography, to music and so many more.
In 1873, Fanny Crosby and her friend Phoebe P. Knapp combined Phoebe’s tune that she could not,get out of her head along with Fanny’s words and came up with the song Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine. Fanny was blind at a young age but never let it stop her form sharing the love she had for God and his wonderful love for us.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O, what a foretaste of glory divine! Can you feel what that says. A foretaste of glory in being assured of Jesus’ love.
Heir of salvation, purchased of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood. An heir is a person who receives items at the death of another. So we are heirs of salvation, purchased by God with Jesus’ blood. What do we need salvation of?? Think about that.
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. What an awesome thought, lost in His love. I think this pictures expresses that.
I have strong assurance of His love for me and I hope you do as well. Fill your selves with His love and let it flow from you to others with kindness reflecting God’s love for all.
Winter Didn’t Kill Them
This past winter was brutal for a large part of the US. We had a week of -30 temps with wind chills reaching -51. Crazy, right. It’s not like I live with Santa or anything. But with the temps that cold,the heating systems in the area really struggled and so did my indoor plants. I though I may loose my violets because they are so sensitive but as you can see below, they are doing well. My thumb is more brown than green.
I love the delicate flower in rich purple with the bright yellow…stamens? I think that is what they are called. See, brown thumb.
Regardless of thumb color, I am enjoying the flowers inside as well as out. Once I finish planting, I will show my outside flowers, that last week were brought inside due to threat of snow…in May!!
I am also enjoying my bird watching. I guess its a retirement thing as I never had time before to really enjoy them. Saw my first Gold Finches this week. Awesome beauties.
If you are wondering what the white stuff is all over the pole of the bird feeder…squirrel deterrent…Crisco shortening. They can’t climb the greasy pole.
As we enjoy the fun, warmth and the beauty of spring, lets remember to share the warmth, fun and beauty of kindness. Kindness is God love shining through our action, even if its just a smile. A smile is a frown turned upside down and a smile can turn your upside down mood back into a light mood of love. Always be kind.
A Bunch of Bull, Great Concept
The sun is shining, the temps are in the mid 60’s so it is a perfect day for being outside. I am a member of P.U.N.C.H. which is a concept started by the Hilltop Churches in Davenport Iowa. It stands for People Uniting Neighborhoods and Churches. Currently there are 9 churches involved doing things like a community wide Egg Hunt at Easter; Neighborhood Trash Day; Back Pack Program; Winterizing Program; The Greenhouse program; The annual Thanksgiving Meal for the community and much much more. Today was Spring Fling which was a neighborhood wide craft and yard sale combined with activities for the kids, Elvis and Patsy Cline impersonators, which were pretty good, and the famous spokes person…or bull Pete the Purple Bull which I thought was fabulous. I was there painting faces and after Pete did his dance, everybody wanted a purple bull face. So there was a lot of bull going around combined with loads of fun, food and music. Since Pete and I kind of share the same platform of kindness I thought it a positive thing to share on my blog. One of the Hilltop churches has a building called The Center. And it has a lot of different including one for after school to teach kids dancing, one of the martial arts to give them better ways to use their energy. One of the dance programs has developed into anti-bullying program which has created Pete the Purple Bull.
The program is a fun way for kids to understand how not to bully and to treat each other with respect. Today he was there and him and his friends(kids from The Center) showed us some pretty neat dance moves. A way for them to be proud to not be a bully.
They had out horns for everyone to wear to show their support of not being a bully.
You know I had to have a set. But the picture doesn’t show the fuzzy purple feathers between the ears. I love it when others get into different ways on teaching kindness. Kindness is such a wonderful way to reflect God’s love. So remember to always be kind.
Disaster in the Making
For those who would be interested in seeing the levee break, below is the security video from a brand new restaurant that was not even open yet. Set to open next week. Watch the top of the top of the screen and you can actually see the wall collapse.
I know you may be tired of seeing my posts on this issue but more rain due starting on Sunday and this is our main concern for the area. I currently have a small amount of water water in my basement, which we use as a living space, just because the soil is so very saturated.
Even with this disaster, we are still finding ways to help each other and be kind. So I challenge you to do, the same.
Memories of Spring, Escapist Coloring Club
For Linda G Hill’s monthly challenge of the Escapist Coloring Club, I have created another idea of spring. Our winter was brutal and spring is not being very friendly either. So I color you a fun idea of spring in hopes that your spring will be kinder than mine here in Iowa.
HOP INTO SPRING!!!
As you enjoy your spring, remember the beauty of new life as plants start bringing forth their beauty. As this beauty makes you smile, remember to share that smile with others and be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love so share it often.
Perspective with a Smile, #1LinerWed
When chaos happens you have to keep perspective and trust in God above…or Shamu will get you.
Remember that during disasters, regardless of size, kindness must prevail for the sanity of all. Remember to always be mind.
As Linda G Hill helps us get through hump day with One Liner Wednesdays, come play along and join the fun.
Our 4 Legged Children Vs. Emotions
You know that look you see …or give when someone says something really…outlandish, (didn’t want to say stupid, oops, said it anyway).
The animal version…
This is the look I give people when they say animals don’t display love, kindness, naughtiness or other “thought of only as human” emotions. Below are a few of my favorite pictures that I repost from time to time as they are precious or hilarious and show a wide range of emotions.
As with all people, all animals are creations of God. God created the ability for emotions. Therefore… ‘Nuff said. But my fun post on this dreary rainy afternoon deals only with one animal in particular…Mimi. For those who may not know Mimi, she is my black and tan coonhound/black lab mix of a best friend. She was a rescue so she is very protective…and loud. When she sees the very idea of someone walking down the sidewalk, it is a high pitched reverberating noise from living room window, running through to bedroom windows then back to living room where I get this look…
I assure her I see it and all is well. You can literally hear her sigh as gives up and comes back to the sofa until someone else breaks “her” rule of walking on “her” sidewalk.
But today it is raining and while she is welcome to go out at her leisure, she looks back at me when on the stoop and comes back inside. Heaven forbid our feet getting wet unless it is absolutely necessary for business. So now we look for ways to entertain ourselves. The rope is no fun, the sick is boring, the chicken bone is not right either. Lets see, oh look, mommy left her hair clip on the end table and left me to go wash clothes downstairs.
A lot of her shenanigans come from boredom or not getting the attention when others are in the room. Jealousy, just a human emotion?? When I came back upstairs, this is what I found.
I pick it up and say nothing but show it to her. This is the look I got and of course the hiding pace where no one can see her. Dead give away that she knows she did wrong.
I had another dog that thought the dining room table was a good hiding place. Guess she knows she is too big to get under the bed. Knowing right from wrong only a human emotion??
Do they take clues from us in guessing right and wrong, yes, but I think it is already there, just like children. If you don’t keep it in check, it gets out of control. But the majority of the time they are just loves, providing that they are allowed to share their love for us. They love us, they need us, they want us to know they are always there for us. And they want the same from us.
So look at your family pets with a different perspective in knowing they need you as much as they want you to want them. Share in their love and kindness and watch them smile at you when you do.
And remember to share the kindness with others…people and critters. Kindness is a reflection of God’s love so share it often.
For the Love of 