Quote of the day:
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” — Diana, Princess of Wales Reflection: I’d like to do more to improve things around me, but I don’t feel there’s a lot I can do. Changing the world seems like such a huge task even to know where to start. Have you ever thought something similar? I read this article in the Activated Magazine by Abi May that might have some answers. The good news is you don’t need to be someone powerful or famous to make a difference. Each positive change—no matter how small—is changing the world for the better. We can change the world by improving the lives of those around us, through deeds of kindness and consideration, and by showing faith in them. Here are some practical tips to help get you started. • Build up excellence. Try to think of at least one thing that you find outstanding in a person, and then make it your task to let them know. Don’t be shy; they won’t get tired of hearing it. What you’re doing is building confidence in that one area, and as they gain confidence, they will start to improve in other areas as well. • Share the responsibility. Give others responsibility in the areas in which they are strong. Make them feel trusted, needed, and appreciated. • Appreciate who they are. Appreciating others for what they do is important. People like to be thanked and acknowledged, but being appreciated for a personal trait feels a lot nicer than only being appreciated for the outcome of that trait. • Keep appreciation simple and doable. Don’t feel that you need to have wonderfully warm feelings about a person, or be their best friend and really know them deeply before you can make a difference in someone’s life. You can be a near stranger and still have a marvelous effect on someone. • Slow down. It takes time to see people in a new light. Go slower in your interactions with people. • Pause to meditate. Think of the positive ways that someone has helped you. You will have a change in how you view others, because you will have taken the time to go deeper, past the surface assumptions that are so easy to make. • Let go of the past. Everyone dislikes being labeled or put in a box. Be willing to see who the person is today or the potential of what they can be tomorrow. Don’t let your view be marred by your past experiences. Did you find any of these points helpful? If so, don’t hesitate; start putting that point into practice today and then move on to the others.
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Quote of the day:
“Courage to stand alone on an issue. Courage to give, especially when one doesn’t have much. Courage to say no to indifference. Courage to act according to what one knows is right—especially when the right choice seems so obvious that surely someone else with more time and resources will notice and do something about it.” – Author Unknown Reflection: I often write about character. Courage, honesty and kindness are all parts of character as is illustrated in the above quote as well as the story below. One sunny afternoon roughly seventy years ago, a young girl and her friends were watching through the mesh of a barbed wire fence as a group of men played football [soccer], enjoying the excitement of the game and the skill of the players. Suddenly, a kick sent the ball in an arc over the fence, and it landed near the children. “It’d be great to have a ball to play with,” one of the boys remarked. “Let’s keep it.” But a girl disagreed. “It’s not right for us to keep it,” she insisted, throwing the ball back over the fence. This simple gesture of kindness and integrity took place in the heart of Germany in the early 1940s, during World War II. The players were British prisoners of war, interned in a camp on the outskirts of town. Some of the girl’s friends grumbled. After all, the players were prisoners—why should they have a ball when the children didn’t? There is strength of character in honesty and kindness—the moral and mental strength to step out, to give, to believe, to persevere, to be true to one’s convictions, even when it means enduring challenges or paying a price. These are the kindnesses that leave a lasting impression. It’s been nearly three quarters of a century, but there may yet be survivors of that summer scene—and if so, I imagine they might remember my grandmother, the village girl who returned a football. By Olivia Bauer. Do you have the moral courage and character to do the right thing? Vitamins for the Soul
A quote a day helps you remember what’s important. Here are this week’s quotes on appreciation.
Quote of the day:
"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.” —Albert Einstein Reflection: A well-known German preacher of the 17th century, named August Francke, founded an orphanage and took in homeless children right off the streets in Halle, Germany. One day when he was desperately in need of funds to carry on his work, a destitute Christian widow came to his door begging for money. All she wanted was one gold duckte. Because of his own financial situation, he politely but regretfully had to refuse. He just didn't have it to give to her. Disheartened, this woman sat down and began to weep. Francke was so moved by her tears he said, "Wait a minute. Let me go in and talk to the Lord about this." He went into the orphanage, closed the door to his office and began to pray, seeking God's guidance. As he prayed, he felt that the Spirit of God wanted him to give that woman his last gold coin. Trusting the Lord to meet his own needs, he gave her the money. He had no anticipation of anything in response; he just did what was right. Two mornings later he received a very warm letter of thanks from this widow. She wrote that because of his generosity she had asked the Lord to shower the orphanage with gifts. That same day he received 12 gold coins from a rich woman, and 2 from a friend in Sweden. He thought that he had been amply rewarded for his good deed to this woman, but shortly after that he was informed that Prince Ludwig von Vertenberg had died, and in his will he had directed that 500 gold pieces be given to the orphanage. This is the attitude that God looks for among His people. He wants us to cast our bread upon the waters, to give without regard to rewards. This pearl of wisdom teaches us simply to do what is right, and let God take care of the rest. Quote of the day:
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius Reflection: This story is short, but has a powerful lesson. A story is told of an elderly woman who slipped and fell on a busy street. Several people quickly went to assist her, but she was already hoisting herself back up. “I’m all right,” she assured them. “I always fall forwards, never backwards.” When we’ve “taken a fall,” instead of dwelling on the mistake or hurt, let’s make it a fall forward by learning from it and looking to the future. Vitamins for the Soul
A quote a day helps you remember what’s important. Here are this week’s quotes on smiling.
Quote of the day:
"What goes around comes around. Keep your circle positive. Say good words, think good thoughts, do good deeds.” – Author Unknown Reflection: I’m a firm believer in the old sayings, “You reap what you sow”, and “what you give comes back to you.” This reminds me of the boomerang story told by Virginia Berg. When I was a little girl, I went to my first circus. There, before my awestruck eyes, were three rings in full action—performing animals in one, and acrobats leaping and flying through the air in another. What interested me most, though, was taking place in the third ring. A girl and a boy were flinging brightly colored missiles, which, after they had crossed the ring, turned and returned to the very hands that had flung them. No matter which direction they were thrown, the things curved and swiftly came back to the young performers, who would catch and fling them again. I watched in amazement. “They are boomerangs,” someone beside me said. It was the first time I had heard that word. Since then I have heard that word often. I’ve also seen the principle behind it play out in life. In fact, life itself is a boomerang. You either “fling” good or evil. Either way whatever you “throw out” will come back to you. Every word or action we fling out comes back to us in some way. Whether good or bad, it will return to us, and it often gains momentum along the way. When you give to others, you receive in return and surprisingly, many times over! You never lose by giving. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated. Anyone who lives unselfishly, caring for and lifting the burdens of others, easing their pain, and helping to supply their needs, will see that boomerang come back in the form of blessings some day! What sort of boomerang are you throwing out? Quote of the day:
“The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.” --Chinese proverb Reflection: A teacher took her primary school students to the assembly hall for a lesson with a difference. Standing at the foot of the steps leading up to the stage, she asked, “Is anybody good at jumping?” Quite a few young hands shot up. “Well,” she continued, “could any of you jump from the floor here up onto the stage?” No hands went up this time. “I can,” said the teacher, “and I’ll show you how.” Beginning at the foot of the steps leading up to the stage, she hopped onto the first step. From there she hopped onto the second, and so on until she reached the top. Don’t let circumstances defeat you. Many things can only be accomplished little-by-little, and step-by-step. If you find yourself facing a daunting task, and the way ahead looks too steep to climb, just take it one step at a time. Vitamins for the Soul
A quote a day helps you remember what’s important. Here are this week’s quotes on risk taking.
Quote of the day:
“You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.” — Henry Drummond Reflection: Someone sent me this story. I apologize as I don’t know where it is originally from but it reflects a wonderful lesson about gratitude and appreciation. When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!" Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. Learning to accept each other’s faults, and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences, is one of the most important keys to creating healthy, growing, and lasting relationships. |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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