Look at the hands in this picture of my son and daughter-in-law as they watch their youngest daughter in her first dance as a new bride. The hands tell a story.
I looked at my old, wrinkled, arthritic hands as I read this lovely post- and as I walked memory lane, decided to share this thoughtfully written blog with you – via “Old” Hands Gave LIFE
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There’s nothing like a tender touch
To chase away the blues.
You need someone who really cares –
Friends and family who choose
To stick by you through thick and thin –
To be there when you’re hurting –
To hold your hand and hug your heart –
To lend a listening ear instead of skirting
Past the issues that weigh you down.
There’s nothing like a tender touch
To lift you up and bring you love
And show you that they care so much.
I used the wonderful photo below by Kristin De Soto last weekend when writing about Being Pretty on the inside… and showing it with loving actions. I love the intergenerational nature of it … and the evidence of hard working DOING. Action… not just talking about it. TOUCH that lifts and supports.
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In this month’s In Touch Magazine (Daily Readings for Devoted Living by Charles Stanley), on June 27th, the title was “The Touch That Transforms.” The devotional began with a reference to Matthew 8:1-4, the scripture that tells about Jesus’ touch healing the leper.
Charles Stanley wrote, “The need for touch from a fellow human being has not disappeared in the 2,000 years since Jesus walked the earth.”
And yet, the author continues, “Physical touch is being replaced with ‘likes’ on Facebook. And when we do think of touch, it’s often associated with scandal, impropriety, or immorality.” He asks us, “How did this wonderful word become so maligned?”
As I suggested in my Tender Touch poem above, it doesn’t have to be that way! The word “touch” does not need to bring shivers of fear or shadows of doubt. The operative word is TENDER!
As followers of God, people who know and try to live by the Golden Rule, we have the opportunity to “touch” people in a variety of ways. We can use our hands, our talents, our time through service to exhibit compassion and encouragement. Our sincere hugs and our gentle pats on the back are signs that we truly care … and the recipients can feel it!
The touch of love doesn’t need to be expensive. Give the gift of caring. Keep it simple!
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As bloggers, we can use our words to touch people’s hearts. Face-to-face is best, but sometimes that’s not possible. So, a card of sympathy, encouragement or inspiration, an e-mail to reach out, a phone call to just say “Hello, I was thinking of you. How are you?” or a text to show you’re thinking of them all are great ways to “touch” the loved ones we can’t reach physically.
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Here are some don’ts:
And here are some do’s:
There’s nothing like a tender touch
To chase away the blues.
Bee the one who lifts and supports!
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Thanks for caring and for sharing your compassion.
See ya after church with my sermon notes.
Have a Happy Sunday morning!
Do you ever fret
About outside appearance?
What worries you so?
You know it is not
Outside that really matters.
Focus on inside!
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Just bee pretty kind.
And bee funny and cheerful.
Bee smart and bee strong.
Hang on pretty tight to one another!!
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Those are the special
Beauties that matter most.
Enhance and show them!
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Thanks for reading and commenting,
dear beautiful blogging friends.
Your inner beauty shines through.
I appreciate you!!
You have ’em!!
Tell me which of those inner beauty
qualities are the greatest strengths of yours.
See ya tomorrow.
Positive Language
Recently I saw this posted on FaceBook:
One FB reader responded to this post by writing, “Hmmm. Sometimes no words are needed. If in public hold child sideways around their middle (so feet and arms can’t wack you) and calmly walk out and go home. Child quickly learns after this is done several times that this behavior means going home without the fun or the goodies. (Best advice a pediatric doctor gave me). Even if it means leaving a cart full of groceries in the store.”
Another reader said it applies to toddlers and the elderly!
I said I think some of these may apply to us ALL!
Ask Me Any Day
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Always!!
We’re never too young or too old to be treated with compassion. I ALWAYS need a hug!!
The ROCKITMAMA.COM post suggested this positive language might “tame a temper tantrum.”
I suggest it might avoid one, too. And – regardless of the age – it might help avoid hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and callous attitudes.
I will try always to use positive language in the face of agitation.
How about you?
Have a Wonderful Wednesday!
See ya tomorrow.
What Do You Yearn For?
Today’s letter in the A-Z series
on Finding More Meaning
and Greater Purpose
in Life
is “Y”
The Word is “Yearning”
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When you look at this picture, what do you see?
I see more than a dog and a girl and a tall, dark tree –
I see more than a grove and a road to light –
I see something for which I pray each night.
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I see the peace for which I yearn –
the Lord, to whom I turn –
I see a road that lets me in –
And the path where I begin.
In their song, “Somewhere Only We Know,”
the Sons of Serendip sing of this place:
“Why don’t we go somewhere only we know?”
Some of the lyrics say, “I found the earth at my feet…
Walked by a river and it made me complete…
There’s a place we used to love;
Is this the place I’ve been dreaming of?”
I’m dreaming today of that place on earth
Where only peace abides;
Where folks can hear differing opinions
And find no need to take sides.
.
I pray to find at the end of the tunnel
The Love of Christ everywhere on earth,
The peace that passes understanding
That was our gift when Mary gave birth.
.
I yearn to place my feet, my soul
On the spot where only love can grow,
Where labels end and hate is gone,
Where love and compassion are all we show.
In their book, Spiritual Literacy,
Frederic & Mary Ann Brussat
wrote this about Yearning:
“Follow your heart’s boundless desire.
It takes you out of yourself
and fosters an appreciation for
the multidimensional pleasures of life.”
What do YOU yearn for?
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See you tomorrow… the Z Day of this series!
Understanding
was the first “U” word
that popped into my mind
when searching for
the quality we ALL need to
add more meaning
and
find greater purpose
in life.
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Understanding and Wisdom go Hand in Hand
What are the common roots of the two words?
I turned to scripture to find the answer to that question. This is a copy of my Bible page. As you can see, it is well marked! Look at how many times Proverbs 2 uses “wisdom” and “understanding.”
Understanding + Wisdom = Compassion
The Book of Proverbs teaches us, if we understand what is right and good, we will see what is just and fair. As a result, it will naturally follow that when we see injustice, when we witness someone being treated unfairly, we will have a heart of compassion, determined to respond.
Compassion is an Umbrella
OnahDave on HumePoets.com posted a poem today titled Drenched:
“Wrecked and broken by pain,
she drenched in the unlimited
down pour of her sorrow.”
When I read his poem, my immediate response was, “Give her your umbrella!”
When we understand another person’s pain, our compassion compels us to reach out with an umbrella of protection.
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Umbrellas Take Many Forms
Sometimes the umbrella is a song! Today I visited my friend, Carol, who (at the advanced age of 95) is struggling to hang on to life. Her son and two daughters were in the hospital room with her.
Carol was having a better day today than when I saw her yesterday. Her children could tell because she was being a bit cantankerous!
Hah! She reminded me of my mom during her last days. Her mind rallied to the point that she knew what she wanted and what she didn’t. Her ability to say, “No!” rallied – – – and she exerted her independence while bed-bound and hooked up to oxygen. Like my mom, Carol is a strong and courageous woman.
Her daughters and I sang some cheery songs to her and enjoyed her smiles and nods – and her ability to squeeze my hand in appreciation. Her son snapped a few pictures. These are moments to remember!
was our first song. You know, you can’t help but smile when you sing that song! It sent an umbrella of joy over the entire room!
Then we sang Frank Sinatra’s “Dream Your Troubles Away.” Do you know that one? You can change “Dreams” to “Prayers” … and sing “Pray Your Troubles Away.” That thought fits the hand-in-hand analogy of understanding and wisdom as described in the second chapter of Proverbs. Here are the song’s revised words:
When skies are cloudy and gray,
They’re only gray for a day,
So wrap your troubles in prayer
And pray your troubles away.Until that sunshine peeps through,
There’s only one thing to do:
Just wrap your troubles in prayer
And pray your troubles away.Your castles may tumble
That’s fate after all,
Life’s really funny that way.No need to grumble,
Smile as they fall,
Weren’t you queen for a day?Just remember that sunshine
Always follows the rain.
So wrap your troubles in prayer
And pray your troubles away!
Sometimes, We Gotta Let the Rain Fall
Max Lucado has written a book titled, Unshakable Hope.
In a message promoting his book, he wrote,“I’ve discovered that nothing lifts the weary soul like the promises of God. This book contains some of my favorite [promises]. Picture God’s words falling like rain from heaven on you. Imagine these promises as gentle spring showers. Receive them. Allow them to land on you, to soak you. I’m trusting that God’s words will prosper in your life.”
Understand God is in the Storms of Life
Rick Hamlin in today’s Guideposts prayed,
“God, don’t let my cynical heart
prevent me from seeing
You in unexpected places.”
Sometimes our vision is blurred by the storms that smack us in the face. The unexpected difficulties can put us in dark places where vision is limited. We wonder, “God, where are You?”
Even Jesus had such moments. “My God, my God, why hast Thou Forsaken me?” From the cross, He cried to His Father. It’s understandable that we sometimes have similar thoughts.
Sometimes we need to set aside the umbrella, lift our eyes to the sky, and dance in the rain – in spite of the trauma.
Wrap your troubles in prayer – and pray your troubles away –
or not!
Sometimes the clouds are meant to stay – more than a day –
But sunshine follows the rain.
Even if that sunshine is our promise of Life Eternal.
Relish the Beauty of God’s Promises.
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Try to understand!
And be ready to put away your umbrella –
or pass it along –
use it to protect and encourage a friend.
Keep a song alive in your heart!
God bless you.
See you tomorrow.
D = Decode
Thank you for exploring with me A to Z ways
of adding more meaning to our daily lives,
ways to decode the world around us,
ways to live more intentionally
to fulfill our purpose.
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D = Decode
Today we are on the letter D. I could have used the word DEVOTION, because it is so important that we express our praise and devotion to our Maker and offer thanks to Him every day. But, instead, I decided to use the word DECODE – – – with an emphasis on devotion.
Decode the World Around Us
D ecide
E veryday to
C ompassionately love
O thers and
D eal with
E verything fairly
Decide to
Look for
and fight for
Justice
Equality
and Balance
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Decode with Devotion
In their book, Spiritual Literacy,
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
wrote the following,
“Express your feelings of …
adoration through devotional practices.
Pray with words and pray through your actions.”
Decode through Prayer and Bible Study
In a world filled with hate, cruelty, and divisiveness, we can find ways through prayer and Bible study to decode the world around us and live more lovingly, more purposefully, and more intentionally as Brothers and Sisters. Our adoration must be directed heavenward and to one another… not on things that are temporary. Pray fervently for our leaders, for world peace, and for the understanding of friends and family, allies and foes.
Pray for the wisdom to see and understand and act on God’s purposes for you today.
Yesterday was the 25th of April. Each day I read a chapter in Proverbs to correspond with the day of the month (Proverbs has 31 chapters). Chapter 25’s subheading in my Eugene H. Peterson’s translation, The Message, is “The Right Word at the Right Time.”
Find wisdom in the Book of Wisdom, Proverbs, which contains the wise sayings of Solomon:
Proverbs 25: 8
“Don’t jump to conclusions –
There may be
a perfectly good explanation
for what you saw.”
So, we reserve judgement – and as we seek to decode what we see and hear, we look for ways to be affirmative or compassionately corrective.
Verses 11 and 12 say,
“The right word at the right time
is like a custom-made piece of jewelry,
And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
is like a gold ring slipped on your finger.”
Decoding the World through Friendships
Proverbs 25:13
“Reliable friends who do what they say
are like cool drinks in sweltering heat –
Refreshing!”
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Be a reliable friend.
See and fulfill your purpose through the gift of reliability!
Be a cool drink in the sweltering heat of friends’ lives!
Decode the World though Giving
Give generosity instead of animosity. You get what you give!
Give goodness instead of rudeness. You get what you give!
But, don’t give to get! Let your motives be pure love.
Give without expecting anything in return.
Just Do it!
Step out in Faith!!
Your world will clear up,
detangle, be kinder,
and you will live in greater inner peace –
if you decode with devotion,
prayer, Bible study,
friendship,
and selfless giving.
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Yes, as Nike says,
“Just do it!”
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
Written
on July 27, 2019