Be aware of your surroundings.

I am a pretty friendly outgoing person.  I could pretty much talk to anyone at any time and at least have a somewhat enjoyable conversation or at least have an entertaining story to tell all of you but last night was different.

I was with a group of people who were not the same denomination as I am.  My assumption has always been that we are pretty close in our way of thinking but after my experience I'm pretty sure I'm wrong.  I have had my eyes opened and I have learned the valuable lesson of what not to do to others.

I went to a place where I knew no one and most everyone else knew at least a few of the visitors.  I would try to make random conversations with people and it would go no where.  I've had it happen before so at first it was no big deal but then it became blatantly obvious that these people were more than happy to converse with the ones that they knew but with a stranger?  Oh by all means they would not give a stranger a moment's thought.

What a horrible feeling this was!  I felt like an outcast!  Not one smile came my way.  I would not even receive a simple response to my attempts at conversation just blank stares or eye rolls!  I kid you not!  These people were supposed to be Christians!  I have to tell you that if this is what the world sees when it comes into our churches then they have never been introduced to the love of God!

The Love of God is refreshing.  The Love of God is forgiving.  The Love of God holds no grudges.  The Love of God meets you where you are and loves you just the same!  No matter what you look like, no matter what you have done, no matter what God just Loves you!

I am thankful for my experience last night, I truly am if only for the lesson to be aware of my surroundings.  To always look for the person standing alone.  To always put myself aside and seek out those that might be hurting more than myself.

Every day that you walk around in the world you are given the opportunity to love.  It can be a smile or a hello or holding a door open for someone.  Take a second, slow down and look around.  How can you be a blessing to someone today?  It doesn't take much.

I need to tell you people something!!!

It doesn't matter really.  It isn't even of importance in the long run but it is one of those things that has just blown my mind, and I have to write about it.

Ok. So, I wasn't the type to date much.  I wasn't a real looker.  Most guys liked me as a friend and mainly wanted to meet my friends that were girls and date them...not me.  It wasn't until my sweet hubby that someone actually like me for me.  We are still trying to have him diagnosed, not sure why he would want to get on such a crazy ride that is me!

This is not my point.  My point is I had a crazy low self esteem before I met my betrothed. Anytime I would like a guy they would not like me back.  There were two cases in particular that really did a number on my ego.  Guess what!!!???  I just found out they are both GAY!!!!

Do you know how exciting this is?  Ok.  Maybe not but it is to me.  It makes me feel better in some weird way!  As if I was not a troll back then.  I was just barking up the wrong tree!

I do realize how silly this sounds but I just can't explain it.  It doesn't change anything really it just answers so long buried questions of self doubt and loathing!

I'm gonna stop now because I realize how dumb this must sound to you...All I have to say is...

YAY!  They were Gay!!

Marriage....

Since most of you don't know me and probably never will let's get real for a moment.

Marriage can be hard.  Really hard.  To stay married to one person for the rest of your life well, that's just unheard of in this day and age of disposable everything.  The thought process is if you aren't happy then by all means throw that one out and get another one.  (I would like to interject that this does not apply in all situations and I don't know your situation and if you are offended because your marriage failed because of much deeper harder issues then by all means I am not talking to you!)

I'm talking to the girl I worked with at Proffitt's department store many moons ago that was 18 and decided that she would get married.  It was crazy out of the blue and to some guy she just met and when I asked her about it she said Well, I figure I'll try out this marriage thing and if it doesn't work out we can always get divorced!  Well, no.  That's not exactly the thought process behind marriage although that is apparently what it has become to some.

Take a second.  I want you to think of all of the people in your life.  Parents, grandparents, friends and relations is there any of those people that given the opportunity to be shackled to them for life that they would not at some point get on your nerves even if it is just a smidge?

Ok.  This is my point.  Throw in hormones and you have yourself one fine mess of crazy happenin' all up in here.

You might run into an old flame and they might talk really nice to you and you might start thinking Wow, this person really appreciates me for who I am!  This person gets me!  Hold it right there.  That person no more gets you than the guy that is ringing you up at Target does!  Girls like to hear they are pretty...You're pretty.  That shouldn't make you want to leave your spouse for me.  Girls like to think they are witty and interesting.  I'm sorry but after several years of marriage you just aren't any more, but that's the thing!

Once you decide that you don't want out.  You want to stick with this person you have selected to share your life with through thick and thin and no matter what you aren't going to try to get out something beautiful happens.  I'm not saying it's always there but you can feel it.

Be it the knowledge that this person is your partner throughout your life.  Be it the comfort of knowing they will always be there.  I don't know what it is but it is an ever present orb of warm and fuzzy!

Does my husband not still make me mad from time to time?  Sure!  He is a professional at it!  He has had 22 years of practice at it!  Do I love him more today than I did 22 years ago!  Oh my heavens yes!

God will be faithful to you in your commitment.  God will bless your determination to stick with it and work it out!  It won't be easy!  The easy thing to do would be to just give up, but where is the challenge in that?  May God bless your marriage and may you find peace and comfort with your spouse!

Have a great day!

It is quite easy to misunderstand.

So, I'm new to this thing they call texting.  I like it ok, but I have never really gotten that into it.  However, I realized something.  Translating a text can be a very complicated thing and you can very easily make someone angry when you were trying to be funny without blinking an eye!

Take SOB for instance.  I typed it the other day meaning SOB as in enthusiastically crying!  However, the recipient thought that I meant SOB as in the acronym.  Not at all what I was trying to say, I'm not saying it didn't fit I'm just saying I am not typically that inappropriate.

How often do we not communicate well?  How often do we assume that we understand what another person means without actually listening to them?  You can be completely angry with someone and they be completely in the dark as to why.

Try something for me this week.  Do not automatically assume the worst in all situations.  You might not be this type of person.  You might be the type of person that is oblivious to sarcasm and is living in your own little bubble of happiness...enjoy!  I would much rather be happy than cynical!

However, if you are one of those people that thinks the world is out to get you, everyone hates you and you would be better off living alone on an island then try this.  Ignore hatefulness and celebrate kindness.  Do not even allow yourself to translate something into the negative.

Your day will be better and your world will be brighter.  Enjoy life my friends for it is short and to be cherished.