Tag Archives: #relationships

#inspiration, #spirituality

Hallmark Families

Christmas is almost here and you know what that means. People are stressed. We want everything to come together perfectly and this includes the meal, presents and family time. Any imperfection runs the risk of ruining our “Hallmark moment.”

Set your expectations correctly. We are human beings living in a broken world. Things go wrong on this side of eternity. Don’t stress over little things. Enjoy every moment.

Slow down a little. This is the time of year to do some relaxing. And remember to be kind. Not everyone has a Hallmark family…

Standard
#inspiration

Annoyances

We all have things (people) who get on our nerves. They just annoy us whether we understand why or not.

My brother had this irritating habit of chewing his food with his mouth open. Even worse, he made a loud smacking noise when eating. The more he knew that it bugged me, the more he did it. Ugh!

Yet I learned something. I learned to eat quietly so I didn’t bother someone with my eating. I was acutely aware of my behavior, and I still am.

Annoyances are there to teach us, not necessarily just to bother us…

Standard
#inspiration

Lost

Every year you and your family and friends are creating memories. Are you creating a record of them?

Legacies are handed down over generations. We must preserve them or all will be lost over time. There is no way you can remember everything, so write it down. Keep it safe for others to enjoy.

Take the time to make a record of your life. The written word is the best way…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Depression

Depression is real. There are multiple types of depression: clinical, seasonal, post-partum and more. Where someone says they are depressed, please listen to them without judgment.

The hopelessness of depression can lead to all types of irrational behavior. How many times have you heard of or experienced someone who took their own life, yet they had everything? It doesn’t make sense to those of us who aren’t depressed, but it was very real to them.

The holidays can bring on weird moods. Please raise your awareness to what your friends, family and colleagues are saying. They might need a listening ear…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Aging

Aging doesn’t suck. There are a variety of benefits to getting older. You have acquired wisdom, you approach things more methodically, your relationships gain importance, and you have learned what is important in life.

Young people would be wise to pick the brains of older people. Learn from their mistakes. See opportunities previously unseen.

And remember, you are like a fine wine. You get better with age…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Holiday Blues

The holidays bring out a variety of different emotions. I hate to admit it, but I’m always glad when the holidays are over. They were always a disappointment to me during my childhood, so memories really do have muscle.

I love to see people enjoying and celebrating the holidays. Families and friends share some happy moments and create memories. These are good things.

There are other people who are struggling, doing everything they can to hold it together. People put on a good front but they might be dying inside. For this reason, I encourage you to slow down during the holiday rush. Whatever you are in a hurry for can wait. Take the time to show a little extra kindness.

Your kindness might be someone’s last, best hope…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Hope

What do you hope for? Wealth, a spouse or a child, or maybe you hope your health is restored? Hope is all we have when we don’t have anything else.

In 2021, one study revealed that 42% of students felt hopeless. They feared the future because they didn’t believe it held any promise for them. This is both alarming and a little frightening. Young people should be the ones who bring light into the world, yet many are clouded in darkness.

Adults are struggling, too. Mental health was shredded from fear and isolation during the pandemic. So what can we do?

Reach out to others. Check on them. Maybe a quick phone call or text doesn’t mean much in the moment, but it might be exactly what someone needs in that moment. You will benefit, too.

You might be someone’s last, best hope. Make contact…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Are You Angry With God?

Bad things happen to good people. We can’t understand why nor can we explain it away. They just happen.

When we are on the receiving end of something terrible, we want to lash out and blame someone. Sometimes we take our anger out on God. We blame God for causing the injustice. We can’t understand why a loving, all powerful God would do this to us or someone we care about. Let’s examine this a little deeper.

First off, God cannot do bad things to us. His nature is good and only good. He would be going against himself if he caused evil. He allows things to happen. This occurs because He wants us to rely on Him and not ourselves.

I want you to, the reader, to know it’s okay to be angry with God. He understands. You can yell at Him, tell Him off and God will never retaliate. When His children hurt, He hurts, too. Tell God everything you are feeling. Ask Him to help you see a God-ordained outcome. It will happen. He’s still in control.

God wants to hear from us when we hurt. He can take a punch…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Balancing Act

Books have been written and speakers talk about achieving work/life balance. I believe the ones who propose this is possible are charlatans trying to make money off what people desire.

Living fully means giving your all to life. Something will be out of balance. Always. Prioritize what is most important in your life and try to limit your list to three things. Then commit yourself to making a difference in those things.

Along the way you will have to learn to say no. The first time is the hardest. Setting boundaries is a healthy habit!

Find your why and then give it your all. Balance isn’t necessary…

Standard
#inspiration, #spirituality

Street Theology

Some people have tons of Scriptures memorized. Scripture is most effective when you allow it to seep into your heart and manifest through your actions.

How do people know you are a spiritual person? At their core, religions are peace seeking. They value truth and integrity, along with worship of and believing in a God of their understanding. We know individuals are faith-filled by their actions.

Street theology is about letting your actions demonstrate the God you believe in, whether you can recite Scripture or not…

Standard