Pay It Forward: A Morning of "Ordinary" Blessings

"You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.....You will be blessed coming in and blessed going out." - Deuteronomy 28:3,5

I'm nearly certain most of you have read or heard these verses from the Bible a time or two. I know I have. And I have gratefully witnessed the blessings of God poured into my life in various ways, big and small, since I first accepted Jesus into my life as my Savior and my Lord.  But today I just have to share a little incident that reminded me in a bigger way than usual how much my God loves me and chooses to bless me in the city and in the country, coming in and going out! I am so thankful!

Today has been a rather ordinary day, the usual Monday, nothing too exciting. I had to run to the store to drop of a prescription at the pharmacy and pick up a few items while there. I ended up in line behind an elderly woman who seemed to be taking much longer than usual for dropping off a prescription. I was tired and wanted to be home more than anything, but I didn't feel impatient with her so much as I did with the pharmacy crew (there were several of them who seemed like they didn't have much to do and could have taken my prescription in a moment). So honestly, I felt a little impatient but I realized that's just the way it is sometimes, and waited for my turn.

The elderly lady turned to me after she was done and apologized, to which I of course smiled and honestly responded, "Oh, it's okay!" because I know in my heart that it's good for me to have to wait sometimes......it does build patience. And it was okay.

Fast forward about 25 or 30 minutes and I've found my small list of items, much smaller than my typical grocery run, a list including a book on sale that I'd been wanting to buy and was excited to find at a decent price at long last.  I could have checked out on one side of the store, but decided that I wanted to try the one checkout that was open on the side I had entered originally. And there she was, the elderly lady who had been before me in line at the pharmacy! I smiled at her, feeling a little sheepish as I hoped she wouldn't think I had followed her, as of course I had not even expected to see her again.

Then the unexpected happened.  I had barely begun to load my few items onto the express checkout belt when she looked at the cashier and said, "I would like to pay for her items, too!"  I was stunned. I do mean stunned.  I looked at her and quickly responded, "Oh no, you don't have to do that!" She smiled and laughingly said, "I know I don't have to but I'm going to!"  So I thanked her profusely and said I'd never had anyone offer to pay for my groceries like that before, what a pleasant surprise. The cashier was as pleasantly surprised as I was, and both of us were beyond impressed.  The cashier said, "Now that's pay it forward!" I smiled and said, "Yes, I will have to pay it forward!"

I told the elderly lady I would pray that God blessed her for her generosity and kindness. She was excited to get to treat me. And I was thrilled that someone would want to.  And humbled by the fact that I had chosen to be sweet and smile at her both times I encountered her, because it really makes it easier all around if people would just be kind and respectful to each other.

So, how do I feel this morning? Blessed.  It was not a massive grocery bill, and perhaps to some it would not seem so significant. But to me, it was a big deal. How often does the person in front of you choose to bless you, a random grocery shopper they don't know and probably never will? For me, it was the first time. I feel like God just wanted to brighten my day and remind me how much He loves me and looks after my most basic and yet critical needs......and He chose to show me through a willing, ordinary elderly lady who happened to be at the grocery and the pharmacy the exact same times as I.  And I am so thankful . . . . . and excited to pay it forward.

From Thanksgiving to Thanks Giving

Dear Friends!

Has it truly been nearly a month since I last posted on my own blog?  That is sad, I know!

As for me, I don't have too many excuses for being so slow to post except that I was first in the throes of midterms then just making sure I kept up with all of my papers and class projects and now, I'm about to be smack dab in the middle of FINALS!  Yes, it is a joy to be pursuing a Masters.  No, I'm serious about that statement! It is a joy.  It is also a trial at times, as most good things worth pursuing are!  Don't you agree?  :-)

So, I think that I will make this post a tad lighthearted if it leans that direction . . . and a little newsy in the sense that I will just catch you up a bit on me and my life right now and hope that you return the favor by commenting here!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving.  I haven't been married all that long, so the thrill of celebrating a holiday with the man I love is fresh!  Of course, I hope it always is fresh!  I am so grateful for him! He definitely is at the top of my Thanksgiving blessings list . . . . 2nd only to God of course for Whom and to Whom I find I must always be thankful and am so grateful to BE thankful!  Anyhow, we ate plenty and are still feasting off the leftovers . . . . yes, that's right, I'm actually enjoying some pumpkin pie with whipped cream as I type this!  The traditional Thanksgiving meal to me is just super scrumptious!  I made it all from scratch, except the rolls this year.  And it was a big success!  We were fortunate to celebrate with a very good friend and her parents this Thanksgiving and all enjoyed themselves to the hilt!  Just a great day to relax, chat, laugh together, say thanks for many blessings, and bask in the warm light of good friendship!  That's the spirit!

I titled this post "From Thanksgiving to Thanks Giving" because as we move from the holiday at the end of November and into the Christmas season, this is the heart attitude we should truly have . . . we aren't moving from a holiday centered around giving thanks into a holiday centered around giving gifts . . . . instead, we are moving from Thanksgiving into Thanks Giving for the One, Jesus Christ, Who gave the ultimate gift of His life, His all for every single one of us!  This is the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of the Savior of Man and as for me, I want to keep this truth fresh and in the forefront of my mind and heart as I greet this cheerful season!

I realize that the Christmas season is actually a very difficult time of year for many folks, as well.  For some, it is not overflowing with obvious love from others or gifts, good food, bright and colorful decorations.  It is instead riddled with the pain of grief, loss, lack.  My heart goes out to all of those who are suffering this season and I pray that every one of them is touched somehow by the love of Christ in a very special way.  Because without Jesus, there is no true joy in life for any person on this earth.  I love the scriptures below, as they speak to these very needs, these very griefs and burdens that so many face in a magnified fashion at Christmas! May they offer the hope and peace to you all that they never fail to do for me every time I read them!  They also set me to humming Handel's Messiah as these verses comprise some of my favorite sections of that beautiful music!

May you find you move from Thanksgiving to Thanks Giving this year!  Blessings!

 For to us a child is born, 

     to us a son is given, 

   and the government will be on his shoulders. 

And he will be called 

   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

 Of the greatness of his government and peace 

   there will be no end. 

-- Isaiah 9:6-7

A Place Called Blessing by John Trent, PhD with Annette Smith

A wounded boy grows up to become a distrusting, self-critical, despondent young man.  A boy facing unfortunate life events grows up to become a model of character, selflessness, hope and real friendship.  A girl, sweet and kind but burdened with a past she manages to carry into her future. What do these three have in common? A place called blessing.

I recently read a short book entitled "A Place Called Blessing." Within the pages we follow the life of a young man who is haunted by the solitary event in his broken childhood that led him to believe things about himself and his future that were not true.  He encounters others along this journey who press him, over time, to re-evaluate all that he had held onto for so long -- both true and untrue -- through the ways they choose to treat him and pour themselves into his life.

I would say, honestly, that the novel wasn't a difficult read by any means.  It took me very little time to finish it.  And I probably would have liked it more if it had been a little more interesting; it was realistic but not entirely "meaty" or always thoroughly "engaging" in my opinion.  Just the same, I enjoyed it and appreciated what it was meant to get across! It presented some very strong points.

This novel, though fiction, is very realistic.  It is that type of novel that will leave you feeling your heartstrings tugged, your eyes tearing and your hope rising. It just might leave you wanting to make "A Place Called Blessing" a place you can also call your home!

Please note:  I received a free and complimentary copy of this book to read and review from BookSneeze. All opinions expressed are honest and are my own.

It's only been FOREVER :-)

Hello friends!

You probably thought I just up and disappeared from the blogging world. Well, I have news for you that I hope you consider GOOD news . . . WRONG!  I did disappear for a little while, but I am BACK!  I may not be able to blog as often as I'd like to, but hey, better late and little than never and nothing! :-)

So, we are in the dead-heat of summer. And I don't like it. I admit. About the only things I like about summer are these I can count on one hand: swimming, Independence Day, and (usually) a break from school!  But, I'm hoping that summer will not be too treacherous and that autumn will roll around before we know it . . . .because autumn is my favorite time of year followed by spring!

I have been busy with "life" in general.  So many changes, so little time.  Some good, some bad. But overall, I still try to maintain a positive attitude and count my blessings.  I am going to the gym. That's a positive.  I am testing new recipes (I like to cook and bake, I don't love the cleaning-up part, but it's ok, it's life!) and mostly all of them are super yummy.  That's a positive.  I am reading good books.  That's definitely a positive. (maybe I should post a couple informal but fun reviews of the books I've read on here sometime?)  I'm enriching friendships and relationships with those people I can get to know better, and with whom I can share this journey called life. That's a major positive!

What have you been up to?  Are you counting the positives in your life?  I know sometimes, it's hard to do.  I've been there a lot.  Especially recently.  But I've found that counting the little blessings, and the bigger ones, helps me to keep a proper perspective.  It helps me face each day and end each day with a little song of hope in my heart.  To keep on keeping on.  And I think we could all use that hope and endurance at one point or another!

Hoping you find your life FULL of positives!!!!!   :-)  Talk to you later!