Simple Joys

READY…  "We only need to open our eyes to see the gifts that abound all around us. These are the simple joys in life." ~ Genevieve Gerard

AIM… Christmas.  It brings out the “merry” in people.  It brings out the “humbug” in people.  It reminds us of the missing pieces in our lives.  It gives us a skip in our step.  It makes us feel like a child again.  It makes us long for the warmth and connection of family.  It gives us hope. 

Christmas is so many things to each one of us.  But today, I am overwhelmed with feelings that I need to share that I know, are meant just for you, this Christmas.  I need to remind you to forget about all the wrappings, and gifts, and cookies, and perfect decorations, and making sure you invited all the right people.  I need to remind you to take a moment to breathe.  Stand still.  Close your eyes.  Take a deep breath.  Breathe in the smells of Christmas.  Breathe in the peace of the season.  Breathe in the opportunity to rest and reflect.  Now, as you open your eyes, commit to finding joy in a simple moment this Christmas weekend.  Jesus was a mere babe.  A tiny wonder.  An explosion of joy wrapped in a simple package.  Look for the simple moments of joy that will explode in your heart this year.  They will become special memories for you every Christmas.  That one, simple joyful moment will allow you to recognize and treasure the true meaning of love, hope, laughter, promise and peace.  Those joys are the real gems at the heart of Christmas spirit. 

Simple Joys.  So easy.  So necessary.  So priceless.  

Merry Christmas, my friends!

FIRE!  Promise yourself you will look for and recognize your simple moment of joy this Christmas.  When you discover it, breathe in deeply so you can capture all the nuances of the senses as the joy envelopes your heart.  See, you’re smiling!  That’s real joy!!

Be Excellent!

Lori 

A Letter To My Teenage Son

READY... “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 NKJV


AIM... A Letter To My Teenage Son:

Wow!  You are growing up fast!  Wasn’t it just yesterday you were watching Blue’s Clues and playing with Thomas the Train?  So many things seem to have changed in your life, and my life, in such a short time since you turned 13.

You know, being a teenager is hard, but being the mom of a teenager is hard too.  As you continue to grow and mature into a young man, here are a few things I want to make sure you know:

1.    I love you; plain and simple.  When you are happy, I love you.  When you are sad, I love you.  When you are mad at me, I love you.  When you make mistakes, I still love you.  I will celebrate all your victories, big and small, and love you always.

2.   Be yourself.  Learn to love who God created you to be.  You are unique and different.  There’s no one else in the world like you.  When everyone wants to look the same and do the same things, do what YOU want to do and wear what YOU want to wear.  Kids may tease or make fun of you – it’s just because they are jealous of your self-confidence and it’s the only way they know how to cover up their insecurities.  Do your best to ignore them.  They aren’t worth your time and energy.

 

3.   Do your best. Always.  No matter what you do in life, make sure you always give it your best effort.  Whether you are taking a test in school, playing music for a concert, trying out for a sport, mowing the grass, cleaning your room, or babysitting your little sister – you want to be sure you’ve given everything your best shot and can feel good about the outcome or end result, whatever it may be.  No one likes receiving a bad grade or having to re-do a chore or job.  However, if it was performed with your best effort, then you’ll have no regrets.  If the results aren’t as you expected, evaluate your effort and try harder next time. 

 

4.   Be a good friend.  Everyone needs at least one good friend they can count on.  Be sure to listen when your friend needs to talk.  Stick up for him when the world attacks.  Lift him up when the chips are down.  Have a high five and fist bump ready when he’s successful.  Be supportive an encouraging when he’s scared.  Be trustworthy and learn to keep his secrets.  Be loyal and stand by him through the good and the bad times.  Have fun together.  Laugh until your stomach hurts.  Be buds for life.

 

5.   Respect girls/women.  You are just starting to recognize the external beauty of young women.  As you mature, you’ll realize that external beauty is a bonus – the real beauty of a woman comes from her heart and her character.  Treat girls with kindness.  Be polite.  Open doors for them. Offer your seat so a woman can sit down.  Be a hero and a knight in shining armor.  Be a good listener.  Buy flowers, just because.  Laugh together.  Treat her like a princess.  Smile.  Be kind to her mother and father.  Tell her she’s beautiful.  Be faithful.  Be a gentleman at all times.

 

6.   Be a young man of excellent character.  Make wise choices.  Be honest and trustworthy.  Never compromise your personal standards.  Establish boundaries.  Have integrity.  Stand by your good morals and values.  Always remember it’s important to do the right thing when everyone is watching you, but it’s more important to do the right things when no one is watching you.

 

7.   The love of money is the root of all evil.  What I mean is, it’s ok to work hard and make a good living and to save some money for a rainy day.  However, money doesn’t buy happiness; it simply gives you opportunities for more choices.  Your attitude about money can make or break you.  Don’t be greedy.  Be responsible with your money.  Save some, spend some, give some away.  God gave you the ability to earn your money, respect Him and give 10% back to God.  He will always provide for your needs as long as you are responsible.  If you can bless others, be a blessing.  Make wise choices about how you spend your money.  Just because somebody has brand new things, doesn’t mean you need to have the same brand new things too.  They may be in debt up to their eyeballs.  Be smart.  Buy what you need, when you need it and a little frivolity now and then is ok.  Having lots of money and things doesn’t make you a good person or a better person.  Period.

 

8.   Just say no to drugs and alcohol.  Seriously.  All it takes is one time and you could be dead.  Get high on having fun in life.  Don’t think a medicine is going to make you feel good about yourself or what’s going on in your world.  Learn to have fun without those outside influences.  You’ll be safe.  You’ll be responsible.  You’ll be thankful because you will see what drugs and alcohol will do to the kids around you and it’s scary, sad and will negatively affect you for the rest of your life.  Make smart choices.

 

9.   Sex is beautiful….when you are with your wife.  God created man and woman to have children and grow the world.  He wanted sex to be a symbol of love between a husband and wife who are committed to each other for life.  Unfortunately, our world has taken this beautiful connection and ruined it with all sorts of perverse media outlets and empty promises of satisfaction outside of the safety of marriage.  I can only hope and pray you will shield your eyes and ears from the negative sensations that will tempt you in school, work and life.  My prayer is for you to commit to a pure heart, mind and body that you can gift to your wife on your wedding day.  I promise, it will be truly beautiful for you both.

 

10.  Above all else, God loves you.  All these things I’ve told you are ways you can grow up to be a mature, young man.  However, life is full of difficult situations and temptations.  Should you trip up, make a poor choice or fall short of your ideals – God will still love you.  He created you, designed you for a purpose and already knows what you are or aren’t going to do.  And yet – He still loves you.  Nothing is greater than God’s love and His promise of heaven and eternal life.  So remember, you are human, you will make mistakes in life; but God will be waiting with open arms to hug you, welcome you back, give you peace and love you no matter what…forever.

 

I hope you take these words to heart.  Please know I only care about your well-being and want the very best for you while you are in my care here on earth.  I believe in you, always, and look forward to the future and watching you grow into an even more amazing young man.

 

Love you always,
Mom  xoxo

FIRE!   Teen years are trying years.  Do you know a teenager?  Make a date to spend time with him or her over ice cream this summer and talk.  Ask questions.  Listen to his responses.  Affirm her dreams and aspirations.  Be intentional about connecting.  You will be an incredible blessing.  

 

Be Excellent!

Lori

The Blessing Of A Friend

READY... “One good reason to only maintain a small circle of friends is that three out of four murders are committed by people who know the victim.” ~ George Carlin

AIM…  “You gotta have friends.”  “And friends are friends forever.”  “That’s what friends are for.”  There are so many different songs singing the praises and value of a good friendship.  It’s true.  Friends really can be friends forever.  Friends are there to cheer for you in the good times and cry with you in the not so good times.  Friends are there to laugh with you until your stomach hurts or you pee your pants.  Friends are there to pick up the pieces when life crumbles around you and help you put them back together.  Truly, what would we do without our friends? 

I know I am SUPER, EXTRA blessed to have many, many friends.  I have friends whom I have known since my school days and friends I met when I moved to our new town.  I have friends who were at my wedding and friends I hang out with at my kids’ soccer games.  I have friends I enjoy chatting with over coffee and friends I can catch up with over a quick text or phone call.  I truly have the BEST friends a woman could ask for.  When the chips are down, my friends lift me up.  When I’m soaring sky high, I lift my friends higher.  That’s what it’s all about, right?  Besides the simple fact that we have the innate need to love and be loved; friends are there to love us so we can love them right back.

Thank you, to each one of you, for being my friend!

FIRE!   Be a blessing to a friend today.  Write her an encouraging email.  Drop off her favorite treat as a surprise.  Send a funny card in the mail.  No matter what you do, you’ll be adding more cement to your valuable relationship as friends.                                                              

Be Excellent!

Lori

To Gift Or Not To Gift

READY… “The spirit in which a thing is given determined that in which the debt is acknowledged; it’s the intention, not the face-value of the gift; that’s weighed.”  ~ Seneca (5BC – 65AD), Letters to Lucilius, 100A.D.

AIM…  Gift giving at Christmas is all about the thought and love behind the purchase, right?  Apparently that concept is wrong.  Today’s statistics show that it actually IS the gift that counts.  How sad that our society has become so wrapped up in materialism that a simple gift or a handmade creation is underappreciated, if not completely unappreciated. The pressure of giving the perfect gift has caused some folks to resort to gift cards, cash or eliminating gift exchanges altogether.  The following Christmas story is a great illustration of this concept…not to mention a funny situation.

Buy Your Own Present

 

Last Christmas, grandpa was feeling his age, and found that shopping for Christmas gifts had become too difficult. So he decided to send checks to everyone instead.

In each card he wrote, "Buy your own present!" and mailed them early.

 He enjoyed the usual flurry of family festivities, and it was only after the holiday that he noticed that he had received very few cards in return. Puzzled over this, he went into his study, intending to write a couple of his relatives and ask what had happened. It was then, as he cleared off his cluttered desk that he got his answer. Under a stack of papers, he was horrified to find the gift checks which he had forgotten to enclose with the cards.

After a horrified chuckle, Grandpa realized that many of his family members didn’t even send a card to wish him well. Was this because they didn’t receive a gift? Was Christmas really just a time to exchange “thank you” cards for the gifts his family expected?  Let’s all take away a lesson from this story; be intentional about being grateful this Christmas.  No matter what gift you receive, be thankful that someone thought enough to give you a special treat, purchased with you in mind.  And if you find yourself in a situation where you do not receive a gift you might be expecting, don’t be ungrateful, simply redirect your thoughts and enjoy spending time together and making memories.  After all, gifts come and go and eventually get donated or sold in garage sales; fond memories, however, last in our hearts and minds forever.

FIRE!   Get crazy this Christmas and give an unsuspecting person a special gift.  You can simply bake cookies or you can give a gift card for an ice cream shop.  Whatever you do, give from your heart and enjoy the happy moment shared with your recipient.

Be Excellent!

Lori

The Greedies

READY... “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” ~ Luke 12:15 NIV

AIM…  It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  I LOVE the Christmas season and everything about it.  It is such a fun time for children and adults alike to enjoy the spirit and excitement of the magic that surrounds this special holiday. 

Traditionally, Christmas is a time for giving of gifts and sharing time with loved ones.  However, for some, Christmas has become a time for making lists and checking them twice, shopping frenzies, baking and kitchen chaos, making party plans, organizing for Santa Claus and his flying reindeer, oh, and, remembering the baby Jesus’ birth.  I laugh, because sadly the whole reason for celebrating Christmas is to rejoice in the birthday of the Savior of the world. Those who came to honor him brought a few modest gifts to bestow gratitude and joy for the occasion.  Today, celebrating Christmas seems to be all about the gifts.  Children are encouraged to write a letter to Santa with a list of things they want him to bring to them on Christmas day.  We are encouraging our kids to think about what they WANT for Christmas.  As a parent who loves the spirit of Santa myself, I recognize this is somewhat of a backwards thought process.  We are sort of teaching our kids to be greedy; however, we have help.  Advertisers have joined the greed fest.  We have gone from non-stop political ads to non-stop ads for toys.  Our stores are packed with all kinds of fun things for our kids and society just injects the air with the desire for more.  You just can’t help but get “the greedies” at Christmas. 

What you can do, however, is be aware that those desires are going to surface and make a plan to help counteract some of the effects that greed may have on your children and your family.  The best suggestion I can offer in order to stay grounded during this time of year is to be generous to others.  One of the most effective ways to show your family the true spirit of giving is to find a way to be generous to someone who may be less fortunate than yourselves.  You can take your children to serve in a soup kitchen, have them purchase and wrap gifts for an adopted family in the community, drop your change into the Salvation Army red buckets, give supplies to the animal shelter, offer to bake cookies with a neighbor who is alone; invite him/her over for a night of games.  The ways to be generous are endless.  Best of all, you should ultimately make an effort to spend less money and instead spend more time together this Christmas.  Let’s face it, we all have enough stuff!

You control the focus and temperature of the holiday attitude in your realm.  Is it about all the gifts, or is it about loving each other and sharing your love and kindness with others?  This Christmas, you decide if you want the greedies in your home or if you want to start teaching a lesson of love.  I’ll leave the decision up to you.

FIRE!   Take time out from the busyness of Christmas to enjoy the true gift of the season!

Be Excellent!

Lori

Too Blessed

READY… "Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received.  Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling.  Thanksgiving is the following of that impluse."  ~ Henry Van Dyke 

AIM…  Ahhh, Thanksgiving week.  The one day a year when everyone looks forward to an amazing meal cooked to perfection.  The one day a year folks take time to be thankful for life and all their comforts.  The one day…wait a minute!  Why in the world do we wait all year for this ONE DAY to gather, cook and be grateful?  Earlier this month, many of my friends on Facebook started a daily thanks post about things they were thankful for leading up to Thanksgiving.  All their posts have been lovely, valid reasons to be grateful.  However, I also realized that initially, many of the things they were all mentioning, I was thankful for EVERY DAY of the year.  Granted, it’s difficult to gather the extended family every day (nor do some of you want to be gathered with your relatives every day.)  With working and family responsibilities, it can be difficult to prepare and cook the perfect meal for several people every day.  However, it doesn’t take any real effort to be thankful every day for the blessings in your life.  Just a brief moment while you’re sipping your coffee or during your morning commute is all it takes to recognize and utter words of gratefulness to the one who gives us our comforts, provides for our needs and loves us unconditionally every day.  Psalm 147:7 says to “Sing to the Lord with grateful praise.”  This Thanksgiving, let us sing to God our thanks for all He has blessed us with, be it your loving family, good health, financial provision or food on your table. Take time to feel blessed; not stressed.

FIRE!   We all know the typical things most folks are thankful for: God, family, friends, jobs, money, food, warm house, clothes, etc.  I’d like to know what quirky or unusual thing you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving.  It can be the one thing we all take for granted or something completely profound. Whatever it may be, give thanks, for all things!

**For me, well, I am thankful for coffee.  Coffee wakes me up in the morning.  It warms my body when I am cold.  It provides a great excuse to get together with friends to catch up and chat.  I enjoy it in all varieties of flavors and creative beverage and food concoctions.  Coffee is one silly little thing I am grateful for in my world this Thanksgiving.**

Be Excellent!
Lori

The Dark Knight Rises

READY… “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10 NIV

AIM… I was mortified when I heard the news about the massacre in Colorado over the weekend.  Innocent people who were excited to see the new Batman movie were met with a twist in the plot of their own fates.  Sadly, Satan, the real dark knight, arose in the form of a shooter and lives were lost, bodies were injured and souls were emotionally shaken all over the world.  Yes, friends, Satan is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to ruin our lives; to prevent us from following God’s path of success and love. We all have free will to choose our lot in life, however, look at the ways we are constantly diverted, misdirected and just plain halted from successful progress.  It’s not karma; it’s the dark forces working against us.  Scary, but true.

As we recover from the shock of such a devastating event, we must remember this scripture from Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” That’s a lot to digest so soon after such a tragic event, but there will be justice served on earth and eternity.  Perhaps this incident will spark a movement to provide better security measures in public locations.  In the meantime, we must not live in fear and trust that our Maker is the one who is ultimately in control as our shield and safe haven.

FIRE!   Take a moment this week to pray for the victims and their families of the Colorado shooting.  Never underestimate the power of prayer, whether it be individual or as a collective group.  It is one of our strongest weapons and most powerful means to affect the world around us in a positive way.

Be Excellent!
Lori

Every Day Heroes

READY… “Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys.” ~ Unknown

AIM… I was having a conversation with my neighbor the other day and she was talking about the behavior of some of the kids in the neighborhood being less than stellar.  Thankfully, my children are well-behaved (most of the time) and she used them as an example of good behavior.  My comment back to her was that kids today have too much time alone because both parents are working to support the family.  However, the sad truth is that many of those families don’t have both parents living together at home. The absence of a father-figure in the lives of impressionable children, both young men and young women, is impacting so many behavior choices and relationship issues that it’s frightening.  How often do you see a man open the door to a store for a woman to enter first?  That gesture is a simple example of common courtesy or, as we used to say, an example of chivalry. It seems that people are so absorbed with themselves that they don’t give those tasks a second thought, but it is more than possible they were never taught those types of courtesies.  What tool is available to teach young boys how to be caring fathers and faithful husbands if their own dads aren’t around or don’t care to be involved?  Thankfully, several grandfathers have taken up the charge to set a good example for their grandchildren and have developed impressionable relationships where the boys (and girls) have a role model they can emulate.  And thankfully, there are still dads out there, who have made commitments to be a loyal husband and to be an involved father and to break the cycle to take back their responsibility as men to be there for their families.  These men have recognized the calling that was placed in their hearts to be the man God created them to be.  They understand the great responsibility that comes with providing for their families financially by working hard and doing a good job for their employers.  They understand they are providing a level of security for their families by protecting their wives and children and making sure they are safe.  They understand the ultimate goal is to demonstrate unconditional love in the midst of all of life’s challenges.  Some days, the pay is only in hugs and kisses, but the reward is knowing they have made lasting impressions on the lives of future men and women who will hopefully, in turn, do the same.  What an awesome responsibility and a super-hero type of job that only a man of valor could fulfill.

FIRE! Give a compliment to dad (or granddad) you know who is walking the walk and talking the talk as an everyday hero with his family.  And for the gentleman who chooses to open the door for you when walking into a store, be sure to enthusiastically say thank you so he knows his efforts are recognized and appreciated.  We need to acknowledge the ordinary super-heroes in our world today.

Be Excellent!
Lori

Please God...

READY… “LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” Psalm 88 NIV

AIM… In times of crisis, we cry out, “Please God, help me.” When others are struggling, we cry out, “Please God, help them.” If we are scared, we cry out, “Please God, protect me.” When there’s more month left than money in our bank account, we cry out. “Please God, provide for me.” On the occasions when our child is sick, we cry out, “Please God, heal him.” We want God to do so much for us and we want His grace, peace, and deliverance immediately.

What about God’s cry to us? Truthfully, God’s cry is a simple whisper. He only asks for two things: “My child, please love Me” and “My beloved, please love others.” That’s it. God only asks us to do two things, yet we ask Him to do SO many more things for us. It hardly seems fair that the scales are greatly tipped in our favor. However, that’s just how He wants it. God wants to bless us abundantly. He wants us to cry out to Him when we need Him. Most of all, He wants us to know there is someone who loves us and will love us right back no matter how often we need His help or need to cry to Him. Are you crying out to God today or are you loving Him and those around you?

FIRE! Find time to be still and bask in the presence of silence today. Listen to God’s quiet whispers. Pray for wisdom and follow your heart. God will be waiting to hear from you.

Be Excellent!
Lori

You Are Amazing!

READY… “Happiness and satisfaction are found when you love the real you and embrace who you are.” ~ Anonymous

AIM… Did you know that you matter in this world? You have a divine purpose. You, my dear friend, were created to accomplish amazing things. Each and every day, you make a difference in the life of another person. Beyond all else, you are unique, special and absolutely incredible. You were designed in God’s own image to be a beautiful lady or handsome man. You are intelligent and clever. You make wise decisions with thoughtful discernment. Blessings surround you and good fortune follows you wherever you go. You are successful and can accomplish anything you set out to do. Kindness comes automatically for you and others feel refreshed spending time in your presence. More than anything, you are loved by many…including me. Thanks for being YOU!

FIRE!   Talk positively to yourself and take time to do something special this week just because it’s for you. Get pampered, treat yourself to a special dessert or just take a walk outside and enjoy feeling the sunshine warm your face. Enjoy a moment just for you and remind yourself that you are loved.

Be Excellent!
Lori

Happy Valentine's Day!

READY… "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

AIM… Happy Valentine’s Day to all my Arrows of Integrity sweethearts and friends! Are you prepared for a day full of mushy, gushy, lovey-dovey, ooey-gooey, happy hearts with singing birds and romance? After all, that IS what Valentine’s Day is all about, right? I was thinking about the commercialism of this holiday and the fact that it often takes a special day like today for people to remember to tell each other they love one another. Our society has taught us that love is: heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, a dozen red roses perfectly arranged in a vase, lacy lingerie, candlelit dinners, cards with beautifully written sentiments and crunchy candy hearts that say “Text Me” or “U R GR8.” Superficially, those are all things we can use to express our love to our significant other. However, on this Valentine’s Day, what does love mean to you?

As I was thinking about all my readers, friends, family members and people I come in contact with on a daily basis, these are some things I think best describe love.

Love is…a homemade Valentine card displayed on the refrigerator…eye contact and a smile from across a crowded room…a hug from your teenager in front of his friends…a warm, home-cooked meal enjoyed with your family…sitting on the same side of the booth in a restaurant after years of marriage…a husband or wife who crawls in bed to snuggle with YOU every night…a five minute phone call home from a military father who is stationed in Afghanistan…silent prayers from your closest friends…holding hands with your honey while walking around in the shopping mall…sitting at the bedside of a loved one after a surgical procedure waiting patiently for the doctor’s results…turning down an event on your social calendar to spend quality time with your family…a real hug using both arms, body contact and a sincere heart.

Love is SO many more things than those examples I listed above. How are you going to express your love this Valentine’s Day? Don’t fall prey to all the superficial, commercialized gifts and gadgets. If you dare to get creative, I guarantee you’ll experience some real love.


FIRE!   Be someone’s Valentine today! If you already have the obligatory sentimental card, chocolates and/or flowers, that’s fine, just figure out a creative way to use those tools to express your heartfelt feelings in a memorable way. You’ll be sure to have a love-filled day!

♥ Click here for a special Valentine Message from me ♥ http://ecards.dayspring.com/ecards/card.asp?id=13457286-49EF7


Be Excellent!
Lori

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

READY… Cousin Eddie: “You surprised to see us, Clark?” Clark Griswold: “Oh, Eddie... If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.” ~ National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

AIM… Relatives…you can’t live with ‘em, you can’t live without ‘em. The holidays seem to bring out the best in all of us, including our families, making it truly the most wonderful time of the year. (Yes, sarcasm is detected in that sentence.) Could it be the lack of sunshine? Or is it the stress of shopping for the perfect gift? Nope. I believe it’s simply personality genetics and the fact that most people become a product of their environment. Therefore, when you attempt to gather a variety of different people, especially those who don’t normally spend time together, in the same room for any length of time, there’s bound to be drama, activities, and conversations that will leave you scratching your head for days. Why not? It’s the holidays!

I know my family has always gotten along pretty well during the holidays. Yes, we have our share of interesting characters, just like every other family does. However, I’ve heard lots of horror stories in recent weeks about the complete and utter dysfunction that rears its ugly head when families gather for the holidays. I think the best depiction of holidays gone wild is the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Even if you don’t have a cousin Eddie or an Aunt Bethany in the family, you KNOW you can relate to a hilarious and often uncomfortable situation you’ve encountered with another relative during the holidays one year or another.

This year, despite the dysfunction we will all experience celebrating our holidays, make an attempt to see through the outer shell of your cousin Eddie. Perhaps, he or she just needs to feel loved! If you want to give the best gifts of all this year, be generous with the gifts of patience, tolerance, acceptance and unconditional love. Perfect holidays really don’t happen, but imperfect holidays often times make some of the most wonderful memories.

FIRE! In order to prepare your heart and mind to accept the dysfunction of family gatherings this holiday season, watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with your family. You’ll all enjoy some great laughs, realize that your family might actually be somewhat normal compared to the Griswolds and soon those uncomfortable moments will be forgotten.

Be Excellent!
Lori

Dirty Laundry

READY… “Sometimes you have to help a person change the sheets on the bed they made for themselves.” ~ Bob Bodkin

AIM… For those of you who know my husband Bob, you know that he’s a funny guy, very sarcastic and can easily be the life of the party. He doesn’t pull any punches; he doesn’t mince words and is very straightforward; sometimes to my dismay. Most folks don’t get to see or hear the very insightful and often perceptive observations Bob makes about life situations. When he’s not joking around, Bob truly has lots of practical wisdom and great advice to share.

Like many of you, we have encountered many situations in life where people have let us down or our expectations of situations just didn’t turn out as we planned. When those disappointments come along, how do you handle the outcome? It’s very easy to get upset, angry, frustrated and have a temper tantrum of epic proportions that results in grudge-holding, bitterness, resentment and relationship turmoil. However, do any of those reactions make a difference to the other party? Usually not! Normally, those negative emotions simply make things more complicated and difficult for you. It’s at times like these when Bob would say,“You simply have to help a person change the sheets on the bed they made for themselves.” While we may not agree with or approve of the decisions other people make in life, that doesn’t mean we have to shut them out or ignore them completely. Perhaps the kindness of reaching out to them with caring words and actions will demonstrate God’s love in such a practical way that even if you want to stay mad and upset, you cannot. The bonus will be that they will feel more relaxed and perhaps will feel peace about your relationship rather than tension and nervousness. After all, we are supposed to follow the Golden Rule and “treat others as we would want to be treated.”

FIRE! Have you been disappointed or let down by the people in your life? This week, re-evaluate your relationship with them and reach out with a few kind words or a small act of generosity, just because you want to demonstrate God’s great love to them. Maybe your step of maturity will be the first step toward healing and restoration in your relationships.

Be Excellent!

Lori

Be Generous

READY… “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” ~ Matthew 25:40 NIV

AIM… I was given an opportunity to serve in an incredible way last week. My friend is the assistant program director for the United Way in our area. One of its most successful and meaningful programs is called Lace Up For Kids. It’s possible because the United Way receives donations from Wendy’s, a local TV station, and other private donors; in turn, they use the money to purchase new shoes for children who need them and whose families cannot afford them. What better way to give children a positive self-image than to start them off with brand new, fancy shoes?

I must admit, I had never been to the Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center, where they were doing the shoe fitting and distribution. As I approached the center, wearing my clean clothes and fresh deodorant, I started sensing the defensive posture of the people hanging around outside the door. I simply smiled and said “Good Morning” to a few of them who probably wondered why I was even speaking to them. My motive…to be positive and make one of them feel better about herself that day.

Once inside, I realized I came while folks were finishing up breakfast. It was a sight I was not prepared for. I didn’t know that this location offered a hot breakfast to anyone everyday; no questions asked. As I looked around the dining room, I saw a few elderly men cleaning up plates and heading toward the dish return; I saw a young, single man eating the rest of his breakfast alone; I saw a mother feeding her baby in a highchair. It saddened my heart to see the reality of our world in so many generations at one location. However, I was quickly overjoyed with the realization that these people DO have a place to come where they can get a hot meal twice a day and are given the other necessities they need to get by day to day. The assistant director at Catholic Charities Center gave my friend and me a tour of their facility and I was overwhelmed by the wonderful way they continue to serve our brothers and sisters in need.

After I composed myself, I was able to assist several families with fitting their children with new shoes. What joy and smiles I got to see on the faces of the little girls who tried on the sparkly new pink Sketchers or the confidence in the boys’ attitudes as they felt cool in their new Nike high tops. We were able to empathize with the grateful parents who have a hard time keeping their growing children in shoes that fit properly. No matter our economic situation, we can all relate to our kids growing feet.

I walked away feeling so good about helping my brothers and sisters. I was able to be the hands and heart of Jesus that day. I know I was moved and changed in ways that will benefit my life for years to come. I am truly blessed beyond measure and am eternally grateful for the favor I have been granted. Yes, even the small things, such as sparkly new shoes and fresh deoderant make me thankful.

FIRE! Do something to help others in need this week. Maybe you can purchase extra school supplies while they are on sale to help a family get their kids started off on the right track, or anonymously leave a bag of groceries on the front step of a family who needs an extra meal. As Jesus told us, helping those in need is indeed helping Him.

Be Excellent!
Lori

In Sickness and In Health

READY… “Love is a medicine for the sickness of the world; a prescription often given, too rarely taken.” ~ Anonymous

AIM… When you got married and were taking your vows at the altar, most people repeated and agreed to watch over their betrothed “in sickness and in health.” However, I seriously doubt any of us ever considered that we might actually be wiping vomit from the mouths of our soul mates. True? Those moments of true love come when you really aren’t planning for them. So often we are blessed with good health that we take our health for granted; not only do we need to consider our physical health, but also the health of our relationships. However, when sickness strikes, in whatever its form, we are catapulted to a new level of love. It’s in those critical hours of waiting for a fever to break, or for those lab results to return, or for the doctor to walk out of the operating room when you truly realize how deeply you care for your loved one. It’s a moment when we freely sacrifice our priorities and make our spouses the center of our attention because they need us and can’t do everything for themselves. Sometimes it’s temporary, or sadly, sometimes it’s permanent. These moments remind us that marriage is a partnership.

I encourage you to evaluate your physical health and the health of your relationship. Are you in a state of sickness that needs some attention or healing advice? Perhaps a simple appointment with your loved one will allow you to address any potential issues you may be dealing with, physical or emotional, and allow each of you the opportunity to take care of each other whether you are “in sickness, or in health.”

FIRE! Make a decision to do something nice for your spouse or a loved one, just because you care about him or her. Your kindness investment will be worth every penny of effort, guaranteed!

Be Excellent!
Lori