To Think About

 

It's the small habits,

how you spend your mornings,

how you talk to yourself,

what you read, 

what you watch,

who you share your energy with,

who has access to you,

that will change your life.

~ Michael Tonge

 

 

“The highest form of knowledge

is empathy, for it requires us

to suspend our egos and live

in another’s world.”

~ Plato

 

 

 

A COACH’S

WORTH ISN’T

FOUND IN THEIR

WIN/LOSS

RECORD OR ON

THEIR RESUME,

BUT IN THE

IMPACT MADE ON

THE GAME

AND IN THEIR

PLAYERS’ LIVES.

~ Coach Lisle

 

 

“It doesn’t matter

how old you are

or where you

come from,

manners,

kindness, respect

and compassion

will always be the

signs of a good

human being.”

~ James Hilton

 

 

You never know how long

words will stay in someone’s

mind, even long after you’ve

forgotten you spoke them.

Be kind.

 

 

“The best portion of a good man’s life is

his little, nameless, unremembered

acts of kindness and love.”

~ William Wordsworth

 

 

DIFFICULT

TIMES WILL

CONSISTENTLY

BE THERE,

BUT SO

WILL CHRIST.

~ TobyMac

 

 

Be kind to one another,

even if you disagree on stuff.

 

 

“Children’s books

remind us in

uncertain times that there

is still much we do know.

Kindness matters.

Laughter is essential.

Caring for each other

is everything.”

~ Eric Carle

 

 

“People do not decide their futures,

they decide their habits and their

habits decide their futures.”

~ F. Matthias Alexander

 

 

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hoped.”

~ Tim Keller

 

 

“Stop being afraid of

what could go wrong,

and start getting excited

about what could go right.”

~ Tony Robbins

 

 

“Gratitude leads us to our source of life, both physically and spiritually.  It shifts our focus from the provision to the provider.”

~ Leslie Schonfeld

 

 

EVERY PERSON YOU SEE IS

SOMEONE JESUS THOUGHT

ENOUGH TO DIE FOR.

REMEMBER THAT IN HOW

YOU TREAT OTHERS.

 

 

When a flashlight

grows dim or quits

working, do you just

throw it away?

Of course not.  You

change the batteries.

 

When a person messes up or

finds themselves in a dark

place, do you cast them aside?

Of course not!  You help them

change their batteries.

 

Some need AA…attention and affection;

some need AAA…attention, affection, and

acceptance; some need C…compassion;

some need D…direction.  And if they still don’t

seem to shine…simply sit with them quietly

and share your light.

~ Sherry Carnahan

 

 

Much to think about…then put into action.

 

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

 

Doing the Extra

 

A Houston Police Department officer reported that his 87-year-old neighbor recently came to his house and knocked on his door.  Since his wife was in poor health, the officer was concerned that the man had come to tell him that his wife had died.  He soon found out that his elderly neighbor was concerned for his safety.  Since there had been recent reports of officers being wounded or shot, he asked if he could pray for him.  The man placed his hand on the officer’s head and asked God for peace and protection for his friend.  He also prayed for his neighbor to remain healthy and not be stressed.  After praying, the older man, who suffers from Parkinson’s, slowly walked back to his home.

Caren and Dustin were at a hospital in Colorado when the little girl they were adopting was born.  Eight days later, they somewhat nervously boarded a plane to fly home to California.  Jenny, a flight attendant, learned of their adoption story and tried to make the flight as easy as possible for the new family of three.  During the flight, another attendant, Bobby, came on the intercom and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, there’s a very special guest on the flight today.  She’s only 8 days old and she’s traveling home with her mom and dad.” The people on the plane broke out in applause.  Then Bobby said they would be passing out napkins and pens for the passengers to write down advice and well wishes for the new parents.  The couple received 60 napkins as well as a set of pilot wings.  One note read, “I was adopted 64 years ago.  Thank you for giving this child a loving family to be part of.  Us adopted kids need a little extra love.  Congratulations.”  Dustin wrote, “What all of those perfect strangers and attendants did not know was the emotionally tender state of two brand-new parents.  Parents who after 9 years of trying had been blessed with their first child.  Parents who felt scared, but determined in their new role.”

 

Teresa Headley witnessed a sanitation worker return a trash can to the side of her elderly neighbor’s house.  After speaking with her friend, she told Teresa that since her mobility is limited, the employee does this for her every week.  Headley responded, “It may seem so insignificant to you or me, but to her it’s greatly appreciated!  Small acts of kindness, such as this, will not change the world, but it changes her world.  I didn’t get your name sir, but you are awesome!”  And what a blessing to know that our 12-year-old grandson does this every week for his elderly neighbor.

 

Our little extra can make a BIG difference for someone else.

 

 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Looking Out for Others

 

Makenzie and Steven Shultz went to a sushi eatery, in Iowa, to celebrate their anniversary.  The service was less than desirable.  It took 20 minutes to get their water, 40 minutes for the appetizer, and over an hour for the entrée to arrive.  Since they were not necessarily in a hurry, they continued to converse and observe.  There were rude comments about the lack of service, but the waiter tried his best to keep up and remain polite.  Having both been servers in their younger years, Makenzie and Steven were both aware of the situation.  The eatery was way understaffed for the busy evening shift.  As they watched the waiter run back and forth, they remembered their busy times working and how they relied on the tips.  Realizing that the waiter would probably receive few or minimal tips that evening, the Shultzes decided to make his night.  They paid the $66.65 bill and left a $100 tip and a note on the receipt which read, “We’ve both been in your shoes.  Paying it forward.”  Makenzie concluded her post: “I’m just sharing this as a friendly reminder to think of the entire situation, before you judge.  And always, always remember where you came from.”

Kelvin Greer’s elderly neighbor lives alone.  After reading about an idea, he gave her three colored pieces of paper to place in her front window, which faces their kitchen window.  Green is for I’m OK, yellow represents I need help with an errand or another task, and red is for an emergency.  Kelvin reminds us that its important to look out for each other

 

Erika Warren’s mother passed away last week.  Even though it had been a busy and exhausting week, Bea Garner stopped by on Thursday evening to spend time with her friend and her dad, Mike Kelley.  She knew her friends needed to feel loved and encouraged.  Mike had unexpectedly lost his dear wife of 58 years.  The three sat in the rocking chairs on the front porch and talked.  The big trees in the front yard provided shade and the fan kept them cool.  While rocking, Bea listened to Mr. Kelley talk about being in the Navy.  He answered questions of what it was like to live on a submarine.  In the course of the conversation, Mike asked Erika and Bea to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song he heard while serving in the Navy.  As they continued to visit, neighbors would stop by and speak.  The beautiful flowers from the memorial service were in the front yard.  Mr. Kelley shared that his wife, Gwen, loved flowers.  He told the neighbors that their kids could have any of the flowers from the displays.  Bea had left her cellphone in the car so she could be fully present.  She commented, “I left Erika and her dad feeling refreshed.  Friends, it doesn’t cost us anything to slow down, be present, and open up the myriad of ways God can use us to encourage others.  Be intentional, be present, and love people.”

 

And may we, too, remember where we came from, look out for each other, be intentional, be present, and love people.

 

 

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12