Forgiveness...

Good morning lovees!!! Such a beautiful day today!! Can't wait to get started!

It's been said, it's not what happens to you, it's how you handle it. I so believe this to be true. I myself am guilty at times of mishandling things. And all I can do is apologize and try to move forward. If I don't choose to move forward, I stay stuck. Stuck in sorrow, stuck in anger, stuck in bitterness and contempt. I don't want to be stuck. I want to be free from the burdens these emotions cause! I want YOU to be free.

The Bible says this about anger...Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. It says put it away from you. All of these things will literally eat you alive if you keep them in your heart. Your anger and bitterness doesn't hurt the other person. It hurts YOU!! It disturbs YOUR peace!

The Bible goes on then to say this....And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Forgive. That's what it says. FORGIVE. Forgiveness is for YOU! To bring back YOUR peace. The Bible nowhere says the other person has to apologize 70 times 7. But it does say we are to forgive that much.

Let go of whatever is hurting your peace today. Let go of the anger. Go out in the world today and be kind. Be loving. Be a blessing.

Love and hugs...

One random act of kindness...

Good morning lovees!! Rise and shine! It's going to be a beautiful day!!

What can you do today to make a difference in the world? It doesn't have to be something big or grand. Maybe all you can do today is share your smile or hold a door open. Maybe all you can do is offer to carry someone's groceries or reach something from a top shelf. Maybe all you can offer is a helping hand. Whatever you can offer, be it big or small, offer it.

In the world we live in today, even the smallest act of kindness can be huge to some people. Yours may be the only smile they receive all day. Maybe you were the only one to open the door or hold the door for someone. Just like in the movie Evan Almighty...they say how do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time. Go change the world today.

Have a blessed day friends!!

Love and hugs...

Valentine's day

Good morning lovees!!! Such a beautiful day today!! But, I love most every day, or try to! Today is a special day, it's a day for love...

Today, is Valentines day! So...Happy Valentine's Day friends!!! Yes, I know, "it's somewhat of a hallmark holiday"... or is it? History states that Valentines day was a day set aside to celebrate the life of St Valentine. A priest who was imprisoned for performing weddings, the union of two souls.

Throughout the years, Valentines day has become more commercialized. But that doesn't mean we should abolish the holiday! It doesn't mean that anyone should feel bad, or less than because they don't have a significant other to share this day with. It is simply a day. A day to celebrate love and all that it represents! Yes, we should express love to others all year long! But look at it this way...some feel it is dumb to have one day set aside for lovers, is it not just as dumb to have one entire day spent being negative about the day itself? Stop the negativity!

Go out there and be kind, be loving, be a blessing...to everyone!! Even those choosing to celebrate the day today! Have a lovingly blessed day today!! I love you all, friends!!!

LOVE and HUGS...

Compassion...again. It's my favorite subject...next to LOVE

Good morning lovees! It's a great day today have a great day! A great day to be thankful for all that you've been given! A great to show love and compassion to all those you meet!

Compassion is defined as such in the dictionary...a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Wow!! That to me also sounds like love. That being said, I CANNOT stress enough that we need to have compassion for each other!!!

Each and every day we come in contact with people. You have absolutely no idea the storms they may be going through when you meet. Some may be going through, or have recently gone through divorce. Some nay be facing or in the midst of bankruptcy. Some may be facing financial stresses that you can't even fathom. Some may be dealing with familial situations that have them heavily burdened. And you know what? There are some that are going through all of these things at the same time!!! Think about that as you meet people! Think about how you might feel if faced with one or more of the above situations. Then, think if there is anything you can do to help. Maybe you can buy them lunch. Maybe you can offer advice. Maybe you can only offer a cup of coffee and a listening ear. That's ok. Sometimes all folks need is someone to listen.

Perhaps you are on the mountain top in your life and can't understand some of the above situations. That's ok. But I beg of you, please be kind to others. Don't make light of their sad situation because yours is so good at the moment. Maybe, maybe they too were once on the mountain top and have now fallen into the valley. Put away your pride and offer them a hand!! Offer some...compassion.

Perhaps today it's you who finds yourself in that Valley. Lean friend. Lean on those around you. Leaning is hard when you're naturally a strong personality. Trust me, I know. But I want you to know it's ok to lean. It's ok to not be strong for a minute. You're human.

Have a blessed day friends!

Love and hugs...

JOY!!

Good morning lovees!!! Another beautiful day!! Thank you God.  It's raining...which makes it a great day to stay snuggled up in bed with a good book. However, duty calls and I must arise.

How many of you like rain? I don't mind rain, but HATE thunderstorms!!! HATE them!!! But rain I enjoy. I love the sound of rain. I love the smell of rain. I wanna dance in the rain. Catch it on my tongue like I did as as child. I wanna be kissed in the rain. Rain serves as purpose, and if you change perspective, it can be fun!!! You may even find joy in the rain!

Joy, let's focus on that...the dictionary defines joy as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying. I find joy in things. I find joy in people. I find joy in places. The Bible says joy cometh in the morning. But you know what else it says? That the thief cometh in the night, to steal. What do you think he wants to steal most?? YOUR JOY!!!! How do you think he does that? LIFE!! The thief uses life situations to steal your joy!

Life is hard, and the enemy knows that. He will tell you not to be joyful. Instead, he will instill grief, sadness, worry, even depression! All of these come from the enemy. But fear not, as we have a hope. We have joy...in Him. The Bible says the joy of the Lord is my strength. It is from Him that I draw my own strength!! I share this with you not to be religious friends. But to share with you how I sustain daily. I'm a  nobody. I'm nothing more than a sinner, a sinner who is saved by grace. And through that grace am afforded joy, in abundance.

As you go about your day today, don't let the enemy steal your joy! If you're full of joy, share it with others. If you can't find your joy, lean on someone who has some to spare. If you don't know anyone, I'm here, lean on me. I'll share my joy with you.

Have a blessed day friends!!! Be joyful. Be a blessing.

Love and hugs...

Second guessing...

Good morning lovees!! Such a beautiful, beautiful day! So thankful for Mondays! It's a brand new week! Let go of the stresses of last week and start fresh today!

Ever second guess something? I'm the QUEEN of second guessing! I second guess most every word that comes out of my mouth at times! I second guess things I post on here. I second guess texts I've sent, wondering if I've said too much! I second guess a lot. You see, I'm blessed with one of those big hearts and a big mouth to match. The two don't always coordinate.

When you're blessed with a big heart, you often times love too much. Well, that's what they say anyway. I wonder tho, is that even a thing? I was brought up in a faith that teaches us to love people. But then society says, no, that's wrong. So then, I start to kinda listen. And think, ok, maybe I shouldn't be this way. I second guess myself. I second guess all that I am.

I know this much....life is short. Too short as a matter of fact. Tomorrow isn't promised to not one of us. So, let's just be who we are! Say what we feel! Well, being sure to be kind with what you say. Live life, abundantly! Let's stop second guessing who and what we are. Let's just be.

Have a blessed day friends!!!

Love and hugs...

Trust...

Good morning lovees!! Punxsutawney Phil seems to have seen his shadow again!! Listening to the radio, they said he's only right 39% of the time! So. We've got that going for us! And of course, it got me to thinking...about trust!

Trust is defined in the dictionary as a reliance on the integrity, strength, surety, ability, etc of a person or thing, confidence. Trust is an important part of ANY and all relationships! Trust is vital, period. Throughout my life I've learned the value of trust.  I've been betrayed and know that once it is broken, it can never truly be fully recovered.

On the flipside, trust is Also a beautiful thing. Once you have someone's trust, you have earned an incredible privilege! I count it as such whenever I am entrusted with someone's most intimate secrets. I know how incredibly difficult it is at times for some to open up about their life. How hard it is to tell someone something that others have judged you for your whole life. To share such things takes courage and trust. Kudos to you for having the courage to open up.

When someone trusts you, value that. Honor that. Cherish that. You have been given an amazing privilege.  Thank them for trusting you. Thank them for opening up to you.

Have a blessed day today friends!!

Love and hugs...

Communication...

Good afternoon lovees! I'm late today, kind of a theme for me today! Ever have one of those days where you just can't catch up? You're just running behind on everything? Ah well, it's still a great day to be alive!!

Communication!! How vital is it? Well, I believe to be one of the most vital components of any relationship! Without it, relationships, of ANY kind can fail. Now, traditionally speaking, women speak WAY more words than men. I myself could talk the paint off the wall, true story! But, that doesn't mean that men can't communicate effectively with fewer words. They can and do! Sometimes we women just have to be still and listen. When we do, we just might hear some amazing, heartfelt truths coming from the men in our lives.

Is all communication good? Not necessarily. I believe there are three forms, that aren't good. They're the lowest forms of communication actually! What are they? Rumor, gossip, and hearsay. These three types of communication can KILL any type of relationship, and do it quickly!!! Be cautious the type of communication you're using. And be sure not to get caught up in the three above! They provide a dangerous trap to trouble!

"Oh be careful little mouth what you say..."

Have a blessed day friends!!

Love and hugs...