Category: Friendship

Jesus was at the nail salon.

1/18/2018

For the past few months I've been indulging in getting manicures. My technician, Miss Kim, amazes me. She is so efficient at making my nails look pretty; I love watching her! At the same time, she's answering the phone and cordially greeting customers.

Whether it's in the mall, Quik Trip, or the nail salon, I enjoy watching people. It blew me away to see Jesus at the nail salon just before Christmas.

6 Comments

A seat at the table

11/23/2017

1 Comment

For the first five years or so, after we moved "up north" holidays weren't exactly fun. No yard full of laughing cousins. No kitchen bubbling over with delicious smells and mama stories.

It was sad and lonesome.

Then a couple at our church invited us to spend Thanksgiving with them. That was the beginning.

1 Comment

Are you flourishing?

11/20/2017

12 Comments

To my very young eyes, there seemed to be trees everywhere in south Georgia. Tall, frothy, seemingly pencil-thin pine trees. Much shorter, scaly-trunked palm trees.

When the fam moved to Kansas, Daddy, Buddy (my older brother), and I went rambling in our new biome every chance we got. We seemed to frequently mourn the lack of trees.

12 Comments

Happy Anniversary!

11/9/2017

5 Comments

Penpals & Stewards

11/2/2017

5 Comments

Her name was Vicki Collins, and she lived across the street. I thought we'd be friends forever.

But, Kansas was a long way from Georgia, and back in the day, staying in touch meant writing letters. Sadly, after a couple of years, too many moves and too many miles eventually took their toll.

5 Comments

Books, Letters, & Lists

7/13/2017

0 Comments

I don't like to think of myself as OCD. Organized or efficient sounds so much better. Rachael hit the nail on the head several years ago when she said, "Allie always has a reason or a plan."

One thing about having a plan, or list, is the gratification of crossing things off. It's only halfway through the summer and I can already cross off number one: read at least one fiction and non-fiction book. Woo-Hoo!

0 Comments

Agent Carter

7/3/2017

7 Comments

Our son-in-law, Brandon, and Rachael's stepson, Parker, are big Marvel Comic fans. Since Netflix is my BFF while spending time in the rehab room, checking out some of the movies seems to be a good way to learn about their interest.

I've only watched a few of the Marvel movies, but so far my favorite character is Agent Peggy Carter. Strong, positive character traits, and get a load of that terrific red lipstick! What's not to love?

7 Comments

TYFSAK

5/22/2017

8 Comments

Dear Reader, lately I've been reading more and more about the effect of our words. I know, not a new topic. But one thing has added to my thinking, and it's the effects of our words, good and not so good, on ourselves. Will you join me in digging a little deeper?

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My first real job, back in the last century, was at K-Mart. Clerks were taught the acronym, "TYSAK", during orientation. "Thank You for Shopping at KMart!" It was so important to managers that every register had it on two stickers.

Pardon me while I rant for a minute.

Also back in the last century, Tom and I met in Sunday School. (Just call us Mr. and Mrs. BORING!) Our teacher was a retired school teacher, Mrs. Bengston. As a public school teacher, Mrs. Bengston taught "Deportment".

Definition of deportment
: the manner in which one conducts (see 2 conduct 4) oneself : behavior were instructed in proper dress and deportment "His features are strong and masculine …, all his motions graceful, and his deportment majestic." — Jonathan Swift Merriam Webster

What do you think? Maybe we should add Deportment back into schools' curriculum. Don't worry, Dear Reader, I'm not advocating for a bunch of little Miss Prissy Britches, just a little more courtesy.

Growing up, we were taught to say "Yes, Mam" and "No, Mam", "Please", and "Thank you". No excuses for no manners. I thought I understood what a treasure courtesy is. These guys taught me that courtesy should be more than lip service.

Peter and Paul knew that courtesy and kindness are essential for spreading the gospel.

Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.
1 Peter 3:15 MSG

But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.
1 Timothy 6:11 MSG

The group of middle school guys had made and been affected by a lot of mistakes and misunderstandings. Courtesy and kindness had been in short supply for them. Who was I to try and teach them deportment of all things? How could I possibly reach kids like Mario?

A very wise colleague at our alternative school told me that the most important commodity for our students was relationships. She also cautioned me that their radars could detect a "poser" at fifty feet.

These guys were my students for spring semester. Some days it was hard showing up, listening to stories that broke my heart, buying school lunches for hungry kids. My colleague's words echoed in my brain, mingled with TYSAK, and Mama's lessons in good manners.

Our relationship seemed to start when I really began paying attention. Once in a while, we learned about American History, including the Boston Tea Party.

My friend, Mario, was 15 and in 6th grade. Reading and writing? Not so much. But what an artist! Another colleague suggested that Mario's assessments be illustrations. Bingo!

And just look where that first step took us!

Dear Reader, please know this is not a criticism. I don't doubt your manners in the least. I'm preaching to myself. Not for my lack of courtesy TO others, but for not expecting courtesy FROM others for fear that they may not like me.

More and more I think perhaps the second best thing I can teach my granddaughters and students is the expectation of courtesy, given and received, in their daily lives. (The first is the saving grace of Jesus Christ.)

8 Comments

Is silence really golden?

5/15/2017

8 Comments

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Dear Readers, were you one of those kids in elementary school that got a ding for talking too much on your grade card? I sure was. Maybe it was my control freak tendencies, or curiosity about others, kick starting.

A couple of summers ago I was applying for a position on the retail side of Hallmark. There were several lengthy tests that seemed to assess integrity. It was during one of the face-to-face interviews that I learned something about myself.

I don't recall the question, but my answer was that I love to hear people's stories. It's fun to listen to how couples met. I enjoy discovering how someone got from one place to another far away.

If the comfort level is high, I like learning what motivates people, what passions drive them. I think God wants us to share our stories.

2 Leaders, listen to this message!
    Listen to me, all you people who live in the land.
Has anything like this ever happened in your life?
    Did anything like this happen during your fathers’ lifetime?
3 You will tell these things to your children,
    and your children will tell their children,
    and your grandchildren will tell the people of the next generation.
Joel 1:2-3 AMP

I also think our stories are interconnected. A colleague recently shared that another colleague of ours saw a picture of her and her best friend, who lives a thousand miles away. The two colleagues were astounded to discover they shared friendships with the woman living half way across the country.

Maybe our stories are like interlocking puzzle pieces. Maybe we're not complete without sharing our stories. I'm missing a piece in the top; do you have it? I've got this extra piece; does it fix your puzzle?

Personal experience convenienced me that there are lots of folks out there who are longing to tell their stories. But what if there's nobody to listen?

14-17 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That’s why Scripture exclaims,
A sight to take your breath away!
Grand processions of people telling all the good things of God!
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: “Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?”
Romans 10: 14-16 MSG

Dear Reader, are you waiting for an audience of one to hear your story? Does someone else's story held a missing piece for yours?

What do you think? Sometimes in our noisy world, quiet is restorative, but sometimes I wonder if silence is really golden.

8 Comments

Joining the Conversation

3/23/2017

6 Comments

Do you like to meet strangers? Are you more comfortable in some social settings than others? How do you start conversations with people you don't know?

I can talk to large groups of strangers, but smaller groups, not so much. It seems counter-intuitive, but to me, smaller rather than larger groups means putting yourself more on front street.

The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 ERV

When I began blogging, Mary told me to start doing Link-Ups. Okay, that only took two lessons and several attempts before I could do it successfully.

Then it took several months, and accidentally landing on a new link-up, before I learned there were rules to linking up. So, I was linking up and commenting on the requisite number of other blogs. Still, I wasn't really engaged.

Along the way, I noticed a couple of names that showed up frequently in my meager blog comments. And then I realized those same women and I were linking up on some of the same blogs.

They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.
Acts 2:42 AMP

Can we say "snail's pace" here, people? Gadzooks, Batman! Has there ever been anyone slower at figuring out social media?

I began to seek out my new "friends" on link-ups and visit their websites. Guess what I've discovered? One seems to be an outstanding scholar, with a spiritual depth I would like to grow into. The other is widely traveled and diversely talented. I recently discovered that she is also a reading teacher in a small, private school, like me. They are remarkable women!

God has chosen to speak through their writing to the hearts of others. Despite initial hesitancy, I now tiptoe into their worlds, sometimes feeling quite inferior. But you know what? Neither of them has ever made light, or fun, of my comments, and they continue to stop by my world.

I am writing these things to all of you, my little children, because your sins have been forgiven in the name of Jesus our Savior.
1 John 2:12 TLB

I think God delights in smiling through the eyes of His children. I think He is delighted when His children treat each other with the same grace they have received.

It makes me sad that I didn't join the conversation sooner. I'm thankful God kept nudging me into the room where His daughters are so good at being candid and caring.

She conducts her conversations with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is ever her concern.
Proverbs 31:26 VOICE

Dear Reader, is there a conversation waiting for you to join? What's holding you back? Come on, Dear Reader, you can do it! Join the conversation. There's always plenty of room among God's children!

6 Comments

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Jesus was at the nail salon.

A seat at the table

Are you flourishing?

Happy Anniversary!

Penpals & Stewards

Books, Letters, & Lists

Agent Carter

TYFSAK

Is silence really golden?

Joining the Conversation

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