Tag: #lovethyneighbor

To Stay Stopped

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I had a surprise visit from a neighbor.

I was vacuuming up dog hair and didn’t hear the knock on the door at first. I opened it to find my friend and her young son standing on the porch. Her little boy was holding a giant chocolate bar. He raised it up toward me as if to say, “For Barb.”

I love that my friend is teaching her son to give females chocolate at a young age. He’ll be thankful for that later on.

I posted this on Letitgocoach Facebook page this morning and have already changed my mind about it.

getwhatyougive

We are called to love on people.

It’s good to show them everyday, but I recently started spending time with this little boy. When I see him, I lift him up in my arms and love on him. Just holding him and listening to him talk, shows him Barb loves him.

Eventually, he wiggles out of my arms and goes to his Mom because she has always been there for him. It’s not the amount of love we give someone, it’s just that we give. Similar to other things in life, once we stop, it’s easier to stay stopped.

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The Act Itself

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I’ve *challenged myself to be kind this year.

The hardest part so far is not knowing how the act of kindness was received, or if it was spotted at all.

It seems there’s more to it than the act itself.

I love my two neighbors! After Christmas, I left a note in one of their mailboxes wishing them a beautiful season. We are newly getting to know one another, and as you know, I Scare People!

Once I do these small acts, doubt sets in.

Was it the right mailbox? Will the mail lady see it has no postage and take it? Silly stuff!

I blew it big time yesterday. I left a small gift under the counter of a friends workplace who needed some kindness. I told her boss it was there, and to let her know. He was distracted at the time, so what did I do? Texted her to make sure she found it. 😦

I have to do this with zero expectation.

My neighbor got her note, and left one in my mailbox in return. The note was tied around a bar of candy. How did she know it was one of my favorites? She most likely had peace about it.

chocolate
Love, love, love!

So, even in this, I need to trust God more.

My Bible verse this morning was, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6

Coincidence? No way.

God is big into the finest of details. The note my neighbor left for me had a sticker on the back of the envelope. When I saw it, I just stopped and stared.

grow
The back of the envelope with sticker.

Yes Lord, it’s all about growth. Not the act itself.

*Credit for this challenge goes to Donna Cameron of A Year of Living Kindly.

I Still Care

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I ran out of my favorite coffee for the coffee maker, so the past few days, I’ve been making hand drips, or pour overs. It gets messy to be half asleep and do that for one cup of coffee.

My favorite has been ordered, and should arrive today. I love the fresh ground pour over method, but not first thing in the morning, when all I want is a cup of coffee. This morning I found myself feeling ungrateful over something most people have never experienced.

I have been reading a lot, and there seems to be a bigger trend than ever before of, “I don’t care what people think” syndrome. What people think of me is their own business. They have a right to think what they want. I am discovering my authentic self cares how they feel. It’s not so much their thoughts, as it is how they feel. I still care.

I belong to half a dozen social media sites, and dedicate a good chunk of time helping people feel. How do I want them to feel? Loved. They are fed love, laughter and hope.

Let me be clear. What they think, and what they feel are two different things. People are quick to judge, and the Devil’s greatest tool is offense. If he can keep us feeling offended towards one another, he wins. But God says, “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”(Matt. 7:5)

I stopped being offended. People apologize to me over the slightest thing, that I didn’t even notice. I don’t take it personally because I have learned that their thoughts belong to them. It has nothing to do with me personally because they don’t know me at that level. How many people know me on an intimate level? Three. That number includes God.

embrace

What you read, and what you see may look perfect, but my life has been a whole lot of messy. It still becomes messy, but I’m not here to show you that. That is easily accessed, and makes great headlines. My goal is to put the saying, “Life is hard,” into extinction.

Life is a gift. Each day God opens our eyes we should feel refreshed and renewed. To be full of what God gives us. Can you imagine asking God something and He responds with, “I don’t care.” I will unapologetically be me, and strive to become who God wants me to be. God is love. He has no conditions, and we create these rules we live by. He just loves.