The story in today’s Daily Guideposts reminded me, It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.
Just a simple “Thank you,” or “Please,” Just a moment to reach out and lend a hand, Can change someone’s entire day. And it may impact those observing the kindness, too.
So, just be kind!
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
Matthew 7:12 ESV
In her story in Guideposts today, Erika Bentsen recounted how (back when she was only 17) she was waiting on a bus in Scotland for the departure time. The bus driver was busy telling stories to the attentive passengers. Suddenly the bus driver dashed from his seat to help a woman across the road who had dropped a package. Then he returned to his seat and continued his story telling.
When her aunt interrupted him and said, “That was awfully nice of you,” he shrugged it off saying, “It costs nothin’ to be kind.”
Years later, that conversation stuck with Erika. Her prayer at the bottom of the page reads,
“Dear Lord, shower me with opportunities to share kindness until it becomes as natural as breathing.”
Like Erika, I want kindness to be as natural as breathing. I know it is an attribute worth cultivating. I pray every morning on my way down the stairs from my sanctuary. I thank God for the
love
joy, and
peace that are mine, and I ask God to help me with
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness (which brings blessings)
gentleness, and
self-control. I ask God to
help me live humbly with an attitude of gratitude, and a response of
generosity and
forgiveness,
obedience and
integrity.
Ask God to help you develop a habit of kindness so it is a natural as breathing to you. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone did that?
Kindness needs to be cultivated!
Who was the last person who was particularly kind to you? What did he or she do? I bet you remembered to say thank you!
Now, pass it on!!
I bet you do that everyday!!
Thanks for visiting JanBeek today. See you again tomorrow. Be well!!
Look carefully – I m in there, holding my grandson’s hand!
On September 10th my oldest grandson, Mike, was married to his sweetheart, Tania, in Switzerland. It was the most enjoyable wedding ceremony I ever have attended. Following the beautiful wedding, the 100+ guests drove to a lovely mountainside venue for appetizers, libations, and music. The music was eight alpenhorns, one of which was played by my grandson. Before the last song was played, the director announced that this number was dedicated to ME!! Mike knows how I love the Lord and how much their horns playing “Amazing Grace” would touch my heart. I wish you could have been there to hear it. What a special moment!
Unique instruments Alpenhorns in Switzerland Play Amazing Grace
I’m getting back into the swing of things. It’s not easy after being gone so long. The 8 hour time change took its toll. Awake at 2:30 AM feels so wrong!
Back to sleep a few hours later; Waking at dawn feeling tired. Gotta get my zip back again. Connect to the Source and get wired!
Wired to what, you may be asking… Well, my home, faith, and community – Thankful for those things and my family – Grateful for vaccines and immunity.
A COVID outbreak occurred here Exposure at a church funeral Saturday. We were still in recovery mode, so didn’t attend. Grateful we decided to stay home that day.
Daughter De and her husband, Andre’ Went on a road trip after we left. I’m missing her lots already … Knowing she’s OK, I’m not bereft.
Mike and Tania, the newlyweds, Have been so kind to stay in touch. They send us pictures from their honeymoon, Knowing we miss the two of them so much!
Today I returned to my favorite volunteering At the nursing home here in town. I helped with the residents’ fun with Bingo. Helping others picks me up if I’m feeling down.
Getting back into the swing of things – Cooking, cleaning, laundry, volunteering Catching up with the lives of dear friends – Even on a gray, cold day makes me feel like cheering!
Mike & Tania’s beautiful silhouette in Italy
I can look back at the fun we had And I can see my family from afar. I can thank the Lord for safe travels And thank them for letting us see where they are.
I can treasure the opportunities to travel And share the highlights of our trip… But it’s time to get back into the swing Of things here in Montana. Come and sit!
Come walk in the park and go for a swing with me!
Enjoy your Friday, my friends. Have a great weekend.
I’ll see if I can get back with you Saturday. Tell me what you’re up to… What are you doing that makes you cheer?
Travel is wonderful It takes us to friends It connects us with family Our little world extends
DeDe, our daughter, was a wonderful chauffeur
Visiting family is a treat Especially on special occasions Participating in events Receiving honored invitations
Our oldest grandson, Mike Married the love of his life We were blessed to be there When they became husband and wife
Mike and Tania were sweet – Sent us photos from their honeymoon Some of the scenery was Enough to make us swoon
Love is beautiful when it’s new Full of promise and creating dreams God blesses those who build hopes On His Word and what it means
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
While we were blessed To be able to go and see Our loved ones who live afar, Home is indeed a great place to be.
I loved being able to go Up into my sanctuary again To spend time with my angels And time in prayer – Amen!
(Yes, I know you can pray Anywhere you are – every day – But there’s something about a place Set aside for that in a special way)
We loved being able to have Bob’s former student and his wife Come and spend time with us – Sharing our home – sharing our life.
So glad Peter & Alice Martin came to visit!
Returning to our church family Was a treat for us as well – There is comfort and joy Being where Christian friends dwell
One of my dear Ennis buddies Took care of my plants while we were gone Another came and took care of our yard Checking the flowers and mowing the lawn
Enjoying the company of our pup Is another bonus of being home Our TazE is twelve years old now She’s loved by dear friends when we roam
Ah yes, it’s a blessing to be home We appreciate from the bottom of our heart All that our family and friends did But we miss our bed and pillow when we’re apart!
We certainly enjoyed Andre’s phenomenal cooking All the Swiss cheese and bread it contained… But it’s time to return to my cooking each day – While we take off the pounds we both gained!
Come visit us, dear friends. We’d love to see you here. We’ll take you to Dave’s Sushi – In Bozeman – a city that’s pretty near.
Or… just feed you here at home – It’s a blessing to be here, you know. And a blessing to travel and see family – Where is a spot that you’d like to go?
The last two days of our marvelous three week trip to Switzerland were a bustling, busy, blessed time. Our daughter, DeDe, and her hubby, André, treated us royally with a trip to Chamonix, France on Monday and then a tour of the Gruyère Cheese Factory in Gruyère, Switzerland on Tuesday.
Up, up, up and over!
That’s the Rhone River Valley below. We were headed through Switzerland to France. It was a surprise gift for us plus De’s best buddy, Laina (our daughter#2), and her daughter, Katy.
Wow! Look at this chalet next to ours. We stayed in one named “Soli.” (That’s De’s hubby’s nickname) Enjoy the views out of every window!
See the snow covered peaks up there? We took a cog train up to that glacier!!
After settling into our beautiful chalet, we walked to the place where the cog train (tram) took us up to the top of the high peaks where the glacier is. With climate change, it is melting fast!
Here are Laina, DeDe & Katy – taking the tram up to the glacier that you could see from that first window view.
Bob with Laina & Katy at the glacier.
Here’s a live view of that trip up in the tram to the glacier…
That night we were treated to a phenomenal dinner. My choice was veal with mushroom sauce. Mmmmm! Thank you, De & Andrê.
We’re so grateful for their love of us and one another … and their generosity!
Tuesday morning we drove back up and over the mountains into Switzerland to another surprise destination: the town of Gruyere. Gruyere is our favorite cheese. How fun to see the place where it is made!
Wow! Look at the gruyere cellar where the rounds are aging!
De is showing us how heavy a round of gruyere is!
Tuesday night we returned to De & Andre’s chalet in Vissoie. We packed, and prepared to go to Geneva to fly home. Wednesday was supposed to be a smooth set of flights home. However, with the Queen’s Procession, our flight to London was delayed, so we missed our connecting flight from Denver and had to spend the night there. This morning we finally made the flight to Bozeman where our kind neighbor, Gary, met us and drove us home. It’s a gray, dull, cool day … not like the warm, blue sky days of Switzerland. We’re spoiled! But our hearts are filled with the beauty and warmth of our fabulous trip.
The rolling hills and milk-producing cows of the Gruyere area.
Here’s the fun of cheese fondue and having our grandson, Nick, join us. Our 3 grandsons & their sweethearts were with us for so many fun and delicious occasions. What a joyous three weeks we had!
Goodbye, France and Switzerland… thanks for the memories!
Thanks so much for traveling with us. Back to reality in Montana now. (Not a bad place to return to – just a little smokey and cool right now)
Have you missed me? We’ve had a whirlwind four days here in Switzerland. Each day from eye opening early mornings to collapsing in bed at night has been phenomenal. If you’ve been following me, you know it was the weekend of my oldest grandson’s wedding.
Let me take you to the church and two fairytale receptions. Sit back and enjoy!
The wedding was full of music, fun, smiles, tears, promises, family & friends. A choir sang, our daughter, De, and Chrissy (our youngest grandson) sang a duet with Nick ( the middle brother) accompanying on guitar. I even had a role by reading a message ( in English, thank God) that they prepared for me – a message if forever love and devotion. Then we all headed to the outdoor reception nearby where wine, hors d’oeuvres and music flowed. Mike played in his alpenhorn group.
Look carefully! I’m holding Mike’s hand. The group just played “Amazing Grace” and dedicated it to me!!!!
The second reception was a sit-down dinner after more wine, beer, and socializing in this gorgeous outdoor setting:
We woke this morning back in Vissoie. Ready to go on another adventure. See ya later! Thanks for sharing and visiting with me.
Seeing the falls he named in honor of his queen, David Livingstone wrote in his journal, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
Waterfalls and all God’s natural beauty affect me the same way. This country of Switzerland is so full of those “scenes so lovely.”
Waterfalls and bridges in Switzerland amaze me!Chalets with lovely flowers aboundThis was on the way to Zinal yesterday But De & André’s is the best!
As we venture out, the lovely scenes are amazing in every season here.
Tania at Hotel Weisshorn – photo by Mike Solioz – taken last autumnWay back when … we climbed waaay up with DeDe.
Scenes so lovely!
Flowers are abundant in private gardens and public places. André’s croûtes au fromage (potato or bread w cheese, etc.) is a Valaisan specialty. It’s a “scene so lovely” too!
André and De are so generous as they share their chalet, meals, transportation and their love with us and with De’s best buddy (our daughter #2 Laina) and her daughter Katy. What a grand reunion we had with them here yesterday!
Katy, Laina, me, Bob & DeDe
Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
Last night Mike & Tania joined us for a fun evening of raclette & karaoke. Chris & Nick and their girlfriends came, too. Ah, we are so blessed with this wonderful Swiss family!
Thanks for joining me and sharing these “Scenes so Lovely” today. Wish you were here in person! Come back tomorrow, okay? See ya then (God willing).
