Do Unto Others....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaWA2GbcnJU

Do Unto Others....

Forgiveness Prayer

Guess what? I’m not perfect! Did you know that? Seriously though, this jewel shows us as imperfect people. And we are that. We do wrong people. We are selfish and don’t reach out to the needy. We are neglectful.

Now that I’ve depressed you I want to help you feel a bit better. I know I need that too.

Yes I have wronged people along the way. So what can I do about it? Ask for forgiveness. Now realize, sometimes we are truly contrite and ask someone for their forgiveness and they just downright refuse. That’s okay – that’s their right! You have done your part – if you are truly contrite. Walk away. Don’t carry the guilt anymore. Guilt is such a paralyzing emotion. You don’t need it. I don’t need it. So when you feel it, deal with ASAP and then leave it behind or it may leave you behind.

I have helped many people in my life. But I haven’t always helped them as much as I wished I could have. Be careful with that! Guilt is sneaking in again. Don’t let it. I did my best.

I have also neglected people on this journey. At the time I may have thought I had a good reason for doing so. I may have actually had a good reason too. But I am NOT perfect. Sometimes I have fallen short of the mark. Perhaps that day it was all I could give.

I have been helped by so many throughout my life. Some of those folk are no longer part of my life; many aren’t. Some have left this life. Some are still very much part of my life. Even those who have hurt me along the way have actually helped me. They have helped me to know myself better, trust more carefully, learn to forgive, be stronger. I would not be who I am today without so many people in my life.

MY TRUTH: My best today may not be as good as my best yesterday. But it’s still my best. And my best tomorrow may or may not be the same best I put forth today. But it’s still my best. And the best is all anyone can truly expect.

Forgiveness Prayer

Forgiveness Is An Attitude

Why is it all the great men of history had to die so young? Look at it for a moment: Jesus, Martin Luther King Jr, JFK and so many others. You may or may not agree with some of any of these being great but that’s okay.

Today we get our jewel of wisdom from Martin Luther King Jr. This is a man who endured much pain and misery because of his skin colour. This is a man who grew up in violence and segregation. Yet he was able to not only forgive others but to constantly live IN forgiveness.

I have used the quote many times in this blog, “Thank you FOR-GIVING-ME this experience”. This is living in the constant attitude of forgiveness.  Sometimes it does get tiresome, this constant badgering of our souls and lives. Sometimes we do find ourselves worn to the bone and feeling sorry for ourselves. That’s okay too. We all deserve the occasion down times. But when we’re done, be done! Get back up and move right back into the attitude of forgiveness.

 

Forgiveness Is An Attitude

Trust Youself To Lead

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=em-uploademail&v=dBMEe9y4T_U

Trust Youself To Lead

Time To Pay It Forward

I am always blessed by random acts of kindness. It restores my faith in people. We sometimes get so caught up in the drama and rush of our day-to-day lives that we forget that there may be a reason for the drama. And even more importantly, that you and I can actually do something about it.

I came across this blog entry on Huffington Post HERE.

It was written by a fellow blogger on her blog HERE. Her Facebook Page is HERE

You can also learn more about Andrea and her family HERE.

I do have permission from Andrea to feature her blog today – just in case you were wondering. Enjoy the read. And remember…

…Pay it forward

 icon-star-o

To the Woman Behind Me in Line at the Grocery Store

 

Posted on March 19, 2014

Dear woman behind me in line at the grocery store,

You don’t know me. You have no clue what my life has been like since October 1, 2013. You have no clue that my family has gone through the wringer. You have no clue that we have faced unbelievable hardship. You have no clue we have been humiliated, humbled, destitute.

You have no clue I have cried more days than not; that I fight against bitterness taking control of my heart. You have no clue that my husband’s pride was shattered. You have no clue my kids have had the worries of an adult on their shoulders. You have no clue their innocence was snatched from them for no good reason. You know none of this.

What you do know is I tried to buy my kids some food and that the EBT machine was down so I couldn’t buy that food. I didn’t have any cash or my debit card with me. I only had my SNAP card. All you heard was me saying “No, don’t hold it for me. My kids are hungry now and I have no other way of paying for this.” You didn’t judge me. You didn’t snarl “Maybe you should have less kids.” You didn’t say “Well, get a job and learn to support yourself.” You didn’t look away in embarrassment or shame for me. You didn’t make any assumptions at all.

What you did was you paid that $17.38 grocery bill for us. You gave my kids bananas, yogurt, apple juice, cheese sticks, and a peach ice tea for me; a rare treat and splurge. You let me hug you and promise through my tears that I WILL pay this forward. I WILL pay someone’s grocery bill for them. That $17.38 may not have been a lot for you, but it was priceless to us. In the car my kids couldn’t stop gushing about you; our “angel in disguise.” They prayed for you. They prayed you would be blessed. You restored some of our lost faith. One simple and small action changed our lives. You probably have forgotten about us by now, but we haven’t forgotten about you. You will forever be a part of us even though we don’t even know your name.

You have no clue how grateful and embarrassed I am that we pay for all our food with SNAP. We eat well thanks to the government. I love that. I love that the government makes sure my kids are cared for. It is one less worry for us. I also struggle with pride and embarrassment. I defiantly tell people we are on SNAP. Daring them to judge us.

Only those closest to us know why we are on SNAP. They know my husband is a hard worker who was laid off after 17 years in a management position with his former company. They know we were moved from our home to a new state only to be left homeless since the house we had came with the job he lost. Only those closest to us know my husband works part-time while looking tirelessly for more; that he has submitted more applications than he has received interviews for. Too many jobs are only offering part-time work anymore. It is not easy for a 40-something year old to find a job that will support his family of 5 kids.

You know none of this but you didn’t let that stop you from being compassionate and generous to someone you have never met.

To the woman behind me at the grocery store, you have no idea how much we appreciate you. You have no idea the impact you had on my kids. You have no idea how incredibly thankful I am for you. Your action may have been small, but to us it was monumental. Thank you.

Thank you for not judging us. Thank you for giving my kids a snack when they were quite hungry. Thank you. Just thank you.

Forever,

Andrea, the woman in front of you at the grocery store with the cart full of kids who are no longer hungry

***UPDATE***

The outpouring of kind words and generosity has been, shall we say, overwhelming. It is in my nature to want to deflect the gifts and offers of support to other deserving people and organizations. Perhaps it can be called pride, but I honestly feel uncomfortable accepting what others seem too willingly to want to give.  I have spoken to those closest to me in my life and they have counseled me greatly.  Each and every one of them asked me to put my “pride” aside and accept the blessings that are being offered.  Each of them have sited the too frequent sleepless and prayerful nights I have had over the challenges my family faces. I have always found peace in the love of my family, the gratitude for the things and people in my life, and the knowledge that God will show me the plan as I need to know.  My confidants have shone the light on the fact that THIS could very well be the answer to those prayers. How beautifully perfect it presents itself by sharing that blessing with thousands of people all across the world! The singular act of that kind woman in the grocery store has created a ripple effect that I am certain no one could have ever predicted. As a result, my own personal prayers are being addressed as well. Giving me (and countless others!) the opportunity to continue paying it forward.

I have set up a PayPal donation site. It is not in the spirit of assumption but of pure gratitude that I do this. I, and my family, thank you from the very bottom of our hearts. We will pay it forward many times over and never forget the generosity you have shown.

Lend a Hand

PS for those inquiring about where to send items we have a PO Box set up

Andrea and her family. Photo: True Stories of a Midwest Yankee

PO Box 101

Oakland City, IN 47660–

~Andrea AKA A Midwest YankeeCHALLENGE: Over the next few days make a commitment to reach out and help someone. Don’t do if for accolades. Don’t do it because I challenged you. Do it…just because. I promise your selflessness will be worth it, not only to that person, but to yourself.

Time To Pay It Forward

Healing Damage

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Healing Damage

Change Your Beliefs, Change Your Life

It’s not easy in our day and age to create what Dr. Northrup is talking about. We get so wound up in the drama that surrounds us. We even think it’s the right thing to do. We think we are helping others if we get as upset as they. We believe that without us that loved one would fall flat on their face. This is actually referred to as codependence. And codependence is actually a form of narcissism.  We hold this belief that “they need me” or “they will be so hurt if I walk away.” But in reality it’s really all about me when I say that. Look at it again. “They need ME,” and “They will be so hurt if I walk away. It really is about ME. Can you see it now?

Because we choose to live like Jesus we then develop, not only the Saviour Complex, we also become martyrs, miserable, hard done by, resentful and even contributing to the abusive cycle we may be in with someone. This again is called codependence. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there and done that and have MANY t-shirts to show for it. I am a recovering codependent. I admit it. I hope and pray that I have learned to let go of drama and change my beliefs and behaviours. And guess what? I’m starting to see the clouds clear. It has taken three years. But then again it took a lifetime of being a codependent to cause the sadness in my life.

What about you? Do you chose drama? Being a Saviour? Being a codependent? If you see yourself in this, and even if you don’t I highly recommend a book by Melody Beattie called Codependent No More! It literally saved my life.

Change Your Beliefs, Change Your Life