Just Smile!

Today is Monday. We’ve been trying to finish up some things that we started over the weekend. We’re also cleaning pet cages and doing school work.

We had a pretty good weekend. My Mom came to visit and made beef stew for my crew. It was delicious!

I truly enjoy weekends that involve getting something done and allowing me and my family to take time to just “rest.” It seems that in today’s world, rest is a treat that far too many choose to avoid.

I have found that my week tends to be more productive when I take the day of rest. Coincidence? I don’t think so!

Prayer Requests:

My family. We want to stay well!!

My cousin’s upcoming surgery.

I’m Thankful For:

The beautiful weather that we’ve had this weekend.

The hall floor that I’ve almost finished!

The scrapbook pages that I finished over the weekend.

My new closet shelves (thanks Paul!).

My new light outside my front door (thanks again, Paul!).

What I’m Learning:

There is nothing more special than to watch a child as they learn. We’ve had two children learn to ride their bikes this weekend and one who learned to tie his shoes. The sense of pride on a child’s face that comes from a new skill is priceless. I’m so glad that the Lord allows me to be home with my children to see these things. These moments pass so quickly and I don’t want to miss even one!

You can be sun burned even in March! I already knew this, but I guess I needed a refresher in the importance of sunscreen on fair complected skin! I have some pretty pink cheeks around here after a day of outside play over the weekend.

Children love the attention of their parents. In fact, they treasure it! I can make or break my child’s day in a moment by whether or not I have time when they come and say “watch me mama!”. I’m sitting in the chair of my husband’s office right now with the blinds up so that I can watch my children as they play in the yard. They are so cute. We have a fairly large front yard but they are all crammed into just this area where I can see all their new bike tricks.

It’s not likely I will own my own pair of socks again until my children are grown and have moved into their own homes.

–I don’t remember wearing my Mom’s socks…maybe I did. We now have three people (I’m one of them) who wear pretty much the same shoe size. My daughter is actually a shoe size bigger (if you’ve not experienced it yet, it’s very odd to have a child that is growing bigger than you!). Anyway, for the last couple of years, I go to the Walmart and purchase socks for myself. I wash the socks. I fold the socks. I go to wear the socks…BUT WAIT! As if, by magic, there are none to be found. No socks. Strangely enough, no one knows anything. It’s an interesting phenomena.

Our Scripture Mediation begins again with:

Titus 2:4-5

“Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” (NIV)

Today’s topic is fairly simple….kindness.

“Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

by: James Matthew Barrie

What exactly is kindness? It’s one of those things that you think you know until you actually have to define it. Just for the sake of knowing…

Dictionary.com defines:

Kindness- the act of being kind.

Kind- 1 Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.
2 Showing sympathy or understanding; charitable: a kind word.
3 Humane; considerate: kind to animals.
4 Forbearing; tolerant: Our neighbor was very kind about the window we broke.
5 Generous; liberal: kind words of praise.
6 Agreeable; beneficial: a dry climate kind to asthmatics.

Charitable, Considerate, Tolerant, Generous, Agreeable, Beneficial….

How do we stack up to these descriptions?

In the view of Titus 2, it is this woman’s actions; self control, purity, homemaking, KINDNESS and obedience that will bring glory to God.

I’ll be the first to admit that I struggle with some of these things……

We need to actively look for opportunities to be kind! Kindness takes practice but the more we work at it the easier it will become.

I’ve heard my husband teach many times that Christians are supposed to be more outwardly focused….we are supposed to share God’s love with the world. Showing kindness is a natural way to share God’s love.

The following are some ideas to help you share kindness with others around you:

Deliver a family dinner to a pregnant mom you know.
Send someone a postcard just to let them know that you are thinking about them.
Donate books to the library.
Deliver some fresh baked goodies to your local fire or police station.
Open a door for someone else.
Pay for the order for the person behind you in a drive through line.
Pick up trash you see on the ground.
Donate blood.
Be sure to compliment one person you see each day.

Just smile…it’s amazing how far this one little act of kindness can go.


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