Thursday, November 2, 2017

Season of Thanks

I know we are all thankful ever day for our families and friends and our fur babies.  We are also thankful for health and home.  We have so much to be grateful for, because no matter what situation we are in, there is always someone in a worse one.
I thank my Savior every morning for the dawning of another day and I thank Him every night for another day on this earth.  Some are not so fortunate.

I have been reading so many FB posts lately that seem to portray people as so ungrateful.  So many people seem put upon, when they have received a FREE bounty - as it isn't what they 'wanted'!  Others have been talking about how awful and rude people have become, and they feel so dejected by them. 
YES, there are some bad people and rude people in this world - but I think our reaction is MORE important than the rudeness!! 
Lay on the kindness - no matter how hard that is to do.  It surely will change you and your outlook of the day - and perhaps the other person as well.


It seems that so many people seem to forget about those in need until the holiday season is upon them.  People tend to put the hungry, the homeless, the 'less desirable', children - "out of sight, out of mind" for most of the year.
People need food every day, folks need bedding, socks, undies, etc. every day, they need health and beauty items, they NEED KINDNESS every day.
Children need to be able to go to school in a decent outfit (bullying is horrible), a meal to start the day, the security of knowing they have a safe place to return to, something to hug!

I recently read a post on a FB page of our park area neighborhood (this is a few blocks up the road).  They were 'warning' residents that people were sleeping beneath the bridges and in the park shelters.  They had called the police and reported it as well.  I, for the life of me, don't know how they knew this unless they are purposely looking - as all bridges and shelters are secluded from public/road view.
I totally understand their dismay, but then again most of them NEVER do anything to HELP - they just complain.  My response was 'please pray for them' - that was met with much criticism!!!!!!
I say "only by the grace of God" for most of us.

I try to do my part by providing food and funds for the area soup kitchen (right by the park) and we gift socks and blankets often.  I have made up 'survival' bags in the past to be handed out to the area homeless.  Those bags included small size toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, wash cloth, hand towels, hand wipes, razor, etc.   The area church (by the park) has clothing give-aways, and we donate to those.
Any act of kindness is appreciated.


I just hope that each of us can do something to help those less fortunate.  Cold weather seems to make things more prominent in our eyes.
Let all of us be God's angels here on earth.

PLEASE consider donating to a food pantry, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, local school, or children's gifting trees this year. 
Ask your area school if you can donate funds to feed kids who may not have lunch money - many schools have pantries that send food home for the weekends, some schools have a clothing closet, many need donations of school supplies.

We are ALL truly blessed.  We may have hard times - but there is always someone having a harder time.  In my view, money is not what I consider "riches" - it is merely having someone that cares and does.  There are so many blessings far more valuable than money.
           
This is not something everyone has.  Hope and Peace are treasures.


I challenge everyone to do something kind for another human being.
If you are in dire straights financially - give a kind word, a helping hand, a smile - that is FREE.  You have no idea what it could mean to someone.
God bless you all.

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PS - I was late with this post today because of one of our blessings!  Our elderly neighbor stopped by for a visit.  He lost his wife of nearly 50 years this spring, and he was lonely today.  I feel truly blessed that he feels comfortable visiting with us and conversing for several hours.  There is so much to learn from our elders - compassion being the most important.

15 comments:

  1. You're so right, Cheryl, about being grateful for what we have as there is always someone who is in a worse situation. Helping others is one of the best things we can do for our fellow man. Even a kind word can help ease a stressful situation. How sweet that your elderly neighbor came to visit you today. Bless his heart and yours as well. :)

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    1. Belinda I believe we are put here to help each other. Kindness doesn't have to cost a cent.
      We can do much with our funds - even though we don't have to spend a lot. If we all do something, the world would be a better place.

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  2. Thank you for your kind and caring heart. You are His hands and feet. Bless you!
    We have been sponsoring a Compassion child in Ecuador for the past 5 years. I hope that our sponsorship has been a blessing to him

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    1. God bless you and your family. That child is being blessed and will never forget your kindness.
      We have no idea what a tiny act of kindness can do for another life.

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  3. A beautiful post Cheryl. I'm so glad to hear that you help so many people out. If we all looked for ways to help like that the world would be a better place.

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    1. Thanks you. Yes mam, we can all make a difference.

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  4. i am so grateful for your post, your wisdom and your friendship. I gave a talk in church once about kindness and my pathos was that no matter how much service and kindness we bestow it is a drop in the bucket to what the world needs. You can never over serve. Well you can over serve alcohol:) snort*

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    1. There will always be those in need, so no we can never help too much.
      A disaster or misfortune could make us ALL someone in need.
      Thanks for the chuckle!

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  5. Thank you for the reminder. I try to pay my wonderful life forward every chance I get but even I sometimes get caught up in life. I love this time of year because of the giving, but there is also a nastiness out there too. Spread the Love!!!

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    1. It is so easy for all of us to get caught up in life. I think that is normal.
      Yes there is meanness and nasty folks out there - we need to work at over shadowing them with kind hearts and acts.

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  6. Kindness is so underrated by so many. Some even seem to equate it with weakness. It's not weakness. In fact, I have often found it one of the best sources of strength, regardless of whether it's my own or someone else's.

    My daughter has moved away to college, studying to be a veterinary nurse. You'd kinda think that these young women, wanting to dedicate their lives to looking after creatures that depend on humans for their welfare, would probably be among the kindest of their peers. And some are. Yet my daughter, being "different" (she has autism), has met with so much unkindness
    and downright meanness that I find it hard to wrap my head around it.

    And it worries me, because for someone so young, and inclined to be helpful to less fortunate (as someone choosing to train for an underpaid job with no status is likely to be), to be so unthinkingly mean towards someone slightly different to them, they must have been taught to behave that way. Or at least not taught not to.

    I mean, why? What possible disadvantage is there to anyone in looking out for the person next to them? I'll never understand it. Kindness isn't a non-renewable resource. It does not have to be rationed.

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    1. Allegra thank you for posting. My heart aches for your daughter, that she is having to deal with such meanness. Bless her and her future.

      It does seem to me as well, that many people were not taught as we were growing up. My parents taught by the 'golden rule' and that is how I still try to live. Things have gotten so out of whack in society. It seems to be all about "ME" and not about others.

      You are so right - that kindness is the one gift that all can give - and I agree that it makes a person stronger.
      We all need kindness each and every day. Whether it is family, friends or strangers giving it.
      Blessings to you and yours.

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    2. I agree, Allegra! Never ration Kindness! If an opportunity is there to be kind, then Be Kind! Sorry to hear of your daughter's interactions with her peers, would make me very sad, too.

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  7. God bless you my friend. YOu have such a beautiful and caring heart. :) You are right, we all have something that we can give.

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    1. Debbie I feel it is just what we should do.
      We all do what we can.
      Blessings

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