Good Morning Everyone,
Sometimes it is hard to have a wide perspective
of what is going on in our lives, and the influence
we have. There is an old saying that says:
We are too close to the forest to see the trees.
Sometimes we need to step back, look around
us, reassess the way we are looking at ourselves
and do adjusting. I try to do it often. It is exciting
to be open to change and growth.
If each kind deed you did, would light a candle, and each
kind word you spoke would light a candle, how many candles
would be lit in your lifetime? Would darkness or
light be the predominant force in your life?
Are you a light to those around you? How much light, and joy do you bring to those around you daily?
Do you bring hope or despair?
Do you bring love or condemnation?
Do you bring joy or sorrow?
Do you bring a sense of peace or unrest?
What do you bring into the lives of those around you?
We can also say, what are you allowing in your own
life and spirit? Is it weighing you down, or bringing
freedom, peace, joy and strength?
It is literally a mental choice.
In this world, we tend to get impatient, and write people off
easily, and yet that person we do not have time for may
be the very one called into our lives, for this season, this
time, and may need a word or deed that only you are
capable of giving for that moment. Can you rise
to the occasion and reach out and minister to them?
Or are you too busy worrying, and being weighed down
by your own cares, unable to overcome them, but
instead being overcome by them?
What if that person was sent into your life, for
this time and this season to minister to you?
Are you open to it? Can you receive what God
has sent your way? What if it doesn't come in
a form you like, but is needful and healthy and good?
Can you receive it? Are you spiritually mature enough?
Don't dismiss people, or judge them because they are different from you. Each person you know can bring something different and special to your life. Take time to notice it. You may need it more than you know. And so may they ... need you to notice it. Everyone has one thing in common, we all need encouragement and love.
Just love them. While there is time.
But most of all, be aware you have a calling on your
life, your life is not your own if you are a child of God.
You have a purpose, your own ministry, your own calling,
and your own accountability to God to use it. Don't be
afraid of it. Be excited about it, and go forth in the
name of Jesus for His glory and His honor, endued with
His strength, His power and accomplish His will that
He opens up for you to do.
Light those candles folks! It is a needful thing.
Love always
millie
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The Sandpiper - by Robert Peterson
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach
near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three
or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on
me. She was building a sandcastle or something and
looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said.
I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother
with a small child.
"I'm building," she said.
"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.
"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.
"That's a joy," the child said.
"It's a what?"
"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring
us joy."
The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy,
I muttered to myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on.
I was depressed, my life seemed completely out of
balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.
"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy... I'm six." "Hi, Wendy." She giggled.
"You're funny," she said.
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.
Her musical giggle followed me.
"Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another
happy day."
After a few days of a group of unruly Boy Scouts,
PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was
shining one morning as I took my hands out of the
dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself,
gathering up my coat.
The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.
The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying to
recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge
of annoyance.
"I don't know, you say."
"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know
what that is."
"Then let's just walk."
Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her
face. "Where do you live?" I asked.
"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer
cottages.
Strange, I thought, in winter.
"Where do you go to school?" "I don't go to school.
Mommy says we're on vacation."
She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the
beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left
for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of
near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I
thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like
demanding she keep her child at home.
"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy
caught up with me, "I'd rather be alone today." She
seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
"Why?" she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother
died!" and thought, My God, why was I saying this to
a little child?
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."
"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before
and--oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt?" she inquired.
"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with
myself.
"When she died?"
"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding,
wrapped up in myself. I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the
beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed and
admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the
cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A
drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair
opened the door.
"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your
little girl today and wondered where she was."
"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke
of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you.
If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies."
"Not at all -- she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly
realizing that I meant what I had just said.
"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia.
Maybe she didn't tell you."
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my
breath.
"She loved this beach so when she asked to come, we
couldn't say no. She seemed so much better here and
had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last
few weeks,! she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered,
"She left something for you .. if only I can find it.
Could you wait a moment while I look?"
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say
to this lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared
envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold childish letters.
Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow
beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was
carefully printed:
A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.
Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost
forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother
in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I
muttered over and over, and we wept together. The
precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my
study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that
speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of
sand -- who taught me the gift of love.
NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson.
It happened over 20 years ago and the incident changed
his life forever. It serves as a reminder to all of us that we
need to take time to enjoy living and life and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself
less.
Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday
traumas can make us lose focus about what is truly
important or what is only a momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug,
and by all means, take a moment...even if it is only ten
seconds, to stop and smell the roses.
This comes from someone's heart, and is shared with
many and now I share it with you.
May God Bless everyone that receives this!
There are NO coincidences!
Everything that happens to us happens for a reason.
Never brush aside anyone as insignificant.
Who knows what they can teach us?
I wish for you, a sandpiper !!
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