Are you the parent of a picky eater? If dinner time has turned into a daily battle, there is hope.
Amy Thompson is a pediatric occupational therapist and feeding specialist with over 20 years of experience working with children (and their families) to make mealtime something to look forward to.
A reckless person is someone who acts without thinking. Sometimes they even make excuses for being reckless, like they have no control over their actions. This is reckless thinking.
Some will say, “that’s just how I am. I tell it like it is.” Statements such as this show no regard for mankind. Words can hurt. So can actions. If we ever hurt someone else, it should be unintentional.
The tongue is a small organ. But words matter. The tongue can inflict damage that lasts for generations.
The old saying “we should think before we speak” is a good one. Let’s use our words to lift others, to make a difference…
When little kids play sports, sometimes they don’t keep score. “They” being the officials. The kids know the score. If you didn’t want them to, you shouldn’t have taught them how to do simple math!
How do adults keep score? Perhaps we do it by measuring wealth or status. Maybe fame or lack of notoriety goes on the scorecard. The truth is, those are hollow victories. You can lose your wealth so therefore it’s not sustaining.
God’s scorecard is the heart of mankind. He sees us at our purest level. Nothing is hidden from God.
If your heart is troubled, go to work on getting it right. Ask for guidance from above, then believe you will get an answer. We are all works in progress.
When you get your heart right, good things happen…
Sometimes we need a lifeline. It could come in the form of helping someone out of a mess, or just showing up for someone after they experienced a devastating loss. We are here to help others.
It’s not weak to ask for help. It doesn’t make you any more flawed. It’s best to ask rather than let something fester and grow.
As you know, I write a lot about self work. The right psychotherapist can be the lifeline you need to live a fulfilling life. Internal damage, also known as trauma, doesn’t go away on its own. We have to work through it. This resets our brains in the right way. It’s work, but it’s worth it.
Is there anything bothering you on the inside? Has it been gnawing at you for quite a while? Take the brave first step. Reach for a lifeline…
True change comes from within. We might change our behavior for a while to accommodate someone else’s demands, but it won’t last unless we want it to. We are unique individuals, not clones.
It’s true that if you have a bad habit that needs to be addressed, you should work to change it. An alcoholic doesn’t get sober until he or she decides they want sobriety. Then they commit to doing whatever is necessary to stay sober.
For believers, the Spirit of God lives within us. The Spirit is constantly talking to us, guiding us and encouraging us. But are we always listening? No, we aren’t because the demons want our attention, too. And they are really good at getting it.
The Spirit is changing us inside. We are being crafted into the character of Jesus. We won’t reach perfection on this side of eternity, but we certainly get better.
Listen to the Spirit. It cannot lead you astray because it’s God talking to you. Through the Spirit we find life, peace and contentment. And that’s a winning combination…
Have you ever confused facts with feelings? I certainly have. How I feel about something or someone can make objectivity difficult.
We have a good handful of challenges in the United States. One that is in focus right now is immigration. Here’s a fact: it is against the law to sneak into the United States. Here’s a feeling: there’s a lot of good people here illegally who want a better life. They aren’t committing crimes, so why punish them? Do you see the dilemma? It’s a hard one.
Admittedly, I have known and employed people who are in the country illegally. They worked. I fed them and paid them. Everything was fine. These were men who would make solid citizens. There is a solution, but asking Congress to figure something out that works is a tall order. I suggest putting the challenge in the hands of the faith and private sectors. They will figure it out without the fanfare and bluster the politicians give us.
I have seen instances where people use Scripture to justify illegal immigration. This is a perversion of the meaning behind the Scripture they cite. Thus, replacing facts with how you feel. Jesus himself told us to obey the law. And that’s a fact.
We must stop taking sides on the difficult issues. That solves nothing. In fact, it creates a whole new challenge. And how do you feel about that?
We live in the digital age. Just like our subconscious minds, everything is recorded and stored forever. We are able to retrieve anything from the past and replay it as often as we like.
When I hear people talk about “back in the day,” it makes me think they believe their best days are behind them. Like this was their time in the sun. But it’s not true. Our best days are ahead of us. We don’t know what’s around the next corner, but I believe it’s something good.
Now I must caution you. I view life through the lens of optimism and unlimited possibilities. It’s how I’m wired. And I realize not everyone sees the world in the same way. That’s okay. This is a big planet and there’s room for everyone.
I encourage you to live each moment fully. The past is a great lesson, but don’t spend too much time reliving it. Your best days lie ahead…
More and more I’m seeing signs reminding people to be kind to the person waiting on you. There’s even one on the highway that says “Drive safely. Our workers want to go home to their loved ones.” What has happened to manners?
My belief is that these signs are placed for the minority of the population. Most people don’t act rudely unless provoked. Also, it’s my belief that people who lash out unnecessarily are dealing with something else, and they are reacting in a way they wouldn’t normally. It’s my hope, anyway.
No matter what the sign says, people will act the way they choose to act. Signs don’t change the heart. That’s God’s specialty.
There are subliminal signs everywhere. Look people in the eye. You can see hurt, pain and struggle if you are paying attention. In those moments you can be a listening ear if you are willing.
Be willing. Look for the signs…
No one likes to be called out for being wrong, right? But the truth is, we are wrong about complex issues more often than we are right. This is a difficult truth for many to accept, so let’s explore it a little further.
Before we go there, it’s important to remember the things we do right. Things like cause-and-effect, social intuition, and skills built through repetition have been honed over time.
We are terrible at forecasting. A great example of how bad we are can be seen on the Las Vegas Strip. The massive casinos were built and remain operational because we believe we can “beat the odds.” We do, sometimes, but that’s not every time. The casinos win more than the gamblers.
Our own motives are oftentimes clouded. We believe we are being objective, but we are full of biases.
Would you like to be considered to be wise? Listen more. Talk less. Stay in the areas where you are proficient. There’s Biblical evidence to support this. James tells us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” Great advice!
God gave us a wonderful gift: our brains. Let’s use our thoughts to make this world better than it was when we entered it. We would be right in doing this. Every time…
“Objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear to be,” the warning says. It’s a gentle reminder for us to pay attention. Good advice when you’re driving a 5,000 pound vehicle.
But what about our relationship with God? Sometimes he feels close while others it seems like he’s not there. I know it’s me because God doesn’t move or change. We do.
The Israelis must have felt abandoned when God went silent for 400 years. Then he showed up in a big way through his servant Moses, parted the Red Sea, and freed the Jews from captivity. That must have been awe-inspiring to see.
All through Scripture God promises to never leave us or abandon us. He shows up when I ask him to bring me closer. Every time. Yet I sometimes return to my old ways and wander aimlessly.
In Jeremiah 29:13, God says “you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.” The heart matters to God. It’s all about the heart…
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