Things are starting to warm up in Middle Tennessee. It has been COLD. At least we did not have to deal with the
snow that so many areas had to deal with.
My thoughts have been with those who are cold—for WHATEVER reasons.
I am mindful of those who are working to restore basic services to
people—plumbers, electricians, road workers, mechanics…SURE, these people get
PAID to do their jobs, but it sure does NOT hurt to offer them a word of
THANKS, and so that is what I am doing!
We take so much for granted in our daily lives. We don’t notice what it takes to keep things
chugging right along UNTIL…For the LIFE of me, I don’t understand WHY we don’t
offer the forgiveness that WE demand FROM others TO OTHERS. Things in LIFE HAPPEN.
I am THANKFUL for UPS, Fed Ex and the Postal Workers. I sure can’t drive a package across the
country myself! And good grief, if I
did, there is a GOOD chance my package would be SITTING on the kitchen counter
WHEN I got across the country, so CHILL!
I do NOT hear people applauding the efforts of these shipping companies
WHEN a package arrives safely, so WHY is it so disturbing when ONE package that
you sent does NOT arrive! I understand
it is frustrating, BUT in one year, what difference will it have made in the
day-to-day functions of your life? Let
me ASSURE you, MOST people who have to listen to YOU rant, are NOT one bit
impressed—YES, include ME in that statistic!
I am aware that I create THINGS…I am trying to make a living selling THINGS…and
NO, the irony is NOT missed on me! Yes,
I can justify WHAT I do as being a mission to spread God’s love and to present
positive, happy messages to the people that I target, BUT the truth is, what I
make are THINGS!
While I make my THINGS, I also have been given a ministry that appeared quite
by accident. I have been given WORDS to
share with people. I did NOT plan this…or
seek this…or even KNOW to dream this, but for some reason, it had been placed
in my fingers that tap, tap, tap WORDS that are sent to my brain. I do my best to LISTEN to the words I am to
share…some of the words I don’t have the courage to share because they are
quite harsh, so I push them away and save them for a day when I can find a
kinder, gentler way to present them. I
don’t discount their worth, I just hopefully await the day I can share their message
in LOVE. 
I am amazed at HOW God uses people…even more fascinated at WHOM he chooses
to use. I have little tolerance for
humans who decide that God can ONLY use a certain gender or color of people…WHO
are WE to QUESTION GOD! I snicker at
those who THINK that God cannot and DOES not use women to minister!! I asked a Father one time who was telling me
that the Bible says that Women CANNOT serve in positions of leadership in a
church. I asked him his thoughts about
elders, deacons, pastors…etc… to which he replied that he respected these
positions and that he thought they were called by God. I then went on to talk to him about his
daughters, if he wanted the best for them and if he wanted them to serve God
and if he wanted to teach them to become whatever they wished to become and if
he loved them. OF COURSE he did…Then WHY
would he teach his daughters, that he loved more than life itself, that THEY
served a GOD who did NOT have a use for them in church. He basically told me I was crazy and wrong…SO,
sometimes I just can’t fight what people believe, BUT I sure can PRAY that I am
NOT wrong, and if I am wrong, that God will PLAINLY tell me so. I ALSO pray that hearts will be opened, MINE
INCLUDED, to LISTEN and to HEAR that STILL small voice of GOD…I also pray that
I will accept people for WHAT they believe and not judge them.
Sometimes THINGS lead to opportunities.
I am happy to have an opportunity to SHARE that LIFE is so much more
important than daily frustrations. I’m
GLAD to tell people that we can SERVE a GOD who cares about our frustrations,
YET urges us to discover ways to rise above these obstacles. I am thankful beyond words to be able to
suggest ways for us ALL to become better people with a better outlook on life…don’t
sweat the small stuff. IF you are safe,
then deal with those SMALL details quietly and use your VOICE for IMPORTANT
messages…Be a REFLECTION of HIS LOVE…Blessings to YOU…~charlotte♥
Good morning, Charlotte! The other day (when it was bitter cold) I read a Facebook post from one of my friends in Chicago that kind of miffed me. The air temperature was something like 20 degrees below zero, and she was complaining that she didn't get her mail for the last two days. I had talked to my son that day (who also lives in the Chicago area) and he said that they got nearly a foot of snow the day before the temperatures plummeted. He told me that it was so cold that the snow was dry and as soon as it was shoveled out of the way, it blew right back wherever. I couldn't imagine the horrid conditions that mail people had to endure. Cars didn't run (my son is a police officer and many of the squad cars didn't even start) and being out in those conditions were brutal. Yet my friend complained that her mail wasn't delivered on time.
ReplyDeleteI know it sounds harsh, but I don't look at her quite the same way. I found her remarks to be selfish and uncaring and while she was only really an acquaintance, I am certainly not interested in pursuing further friendship with her.
If I had a wish for the world, it would be that people have more empathy for each other. I know I am not perfect either, and I do get cross with others from time to time. But I usually try to look at things from their point of view as well as my own and I try to understand what they are feeling.
In any case, your blog makes a good point mentioning how we should be GRATEFUL for these everyday things. Thank you for reminding us.
Have a wonderful day! xoxo Sheila
Mail...ANGRY because her mail is LATE...ugh...
DeleteWow...your son is a policeman...THANK him for me for doing THAT job...that is awesome!!
We ALL get frustrated with life and we ALL have to vent, BUT when people KEEP venting about the SAME THINGS, it makes me LOOK at them differently...WHEN we live in a world where we basically have ONLY our words to TELL our story and WHO we are, WE MUST choose them carefully...YES and we must forgive and forget, BUT there comes a time, we we just have to MOVE On!!...
Yes, good words YOU have shared with me! xoxo