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melaniespickett@gmail.com

Encouragement

Jesus Loves You!

We hear this all the time: Jesus loves you!  It’s even a song. It’s an oft-heard phrase but have you ever really dissected that a bit and thought about how precious that really is? Sometimes we feel so small…we’re just one in a sea of billions of people on Earth. And there have been billions of people here before us and God loved them all. So what’s so special about me??  Let me tell you.

There may be billions of people but there’s none just like you or me or the guy down the street. We’re all uniquely different with our own oddities, quirks, features, characteristics, wants, needs, dreams. We often feel like the speck in “Horton Hears a Who.” Sometimes we feel so small,as if we’re a speck on the speck. But I’m telling you, He cares about everything you care about, simply because you care about it. If it’s important to you, it’s important to Him. If it hurts you, it hurts Him. He carries our burdens…willingly!

If you think of all the grains of sand on a beach, they’re too numerous to count. You couldn’t pick out a specific grain of sand. They all look the same! We’re those grains of sand–there are so many of us.  Except God can reach down and pluck out a “grain” and tell you all about that “grain”, what it looks like, feels like, what it cares about, where it’s been, where it’s going.  He can pick each one of us out of a crowd and knows everything about us at any time…because He loves us. I just wanted you to know.

Encouragement

What If We Were Kind?

Yesterday we had the privilege of voting in some pretty significant elections. Since the results came in, I’ve noticed a lot of fallout on social media. So many harsh words were being slung around. There were several mentions of folks unfriending others because they’d become aware of their opposing political stances. Strangers banded together to virtually gang up on a poster who held an unpopular viewwpoint. Personal attacks abound the internet this morning and it made me quite sad.

It’s been said never to discuss religion or politics, the theory being that any such discussions can never end well. I’d prefer to say we go ahead and participate in those discussions but do so with a clear head and respectfulness in your delivery. These discussions aren’t typically likely to lead to you swaying someone in your direction and the chances of that dive from slim to none if you’re berating them for disagreeing with you.

 

Upon reading some of these conversations, it made me wonder why many people are comfortable being so venomous towards one another. Sure, we all let a harsh word slip from time to time, but I’d like to think we’re immediately remorseful. 

Everyone knows how bad it feels when we are treated rudely and hopefully everyone also knows how much better it feels to be treated with kindness. The difference is profound. What if we all made a commitment, a sort of pact with ourselves, that any time we’re tempted to speak bitterly that we catch ourselves first and turn it around into positive thoughts or speech?

 

Instead of reprimanding that cashier who is grumpy or being a little too slow for your liking, try issuing a compliment. Notice how his or her demeanor changes, softens. I’m a firm believer that no one is chronically rude or cold simply because it’s a component of their personality. I believe (and I teach my children this) that unhappy folks have an underlying reason for their mood, a reason we may never know or see–a past hurt, a spouse who just abandoned them, an illness they’re fighting. 

Our words can be like tiny murders or they can be mighty encouragements. In the busyness of our days, let’s pause and really see others and extend some kindnesses. Watch how your compassionate actions impact the person on the receiving end. See how it impacts you. 

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each others, just as Christ also has forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32

Uncategorized

Five Favorite Websites

We all have websites we visit on the regular, our virtual go-to’s for information, entertainment, and communication. Today I’m going to share five of my favorites and what draws me to visit them.  Besides the obvious sites, www.blogher.com and my personal blog, below are my five other favorites:

1. The Pioneer Woman 

Ree Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman is a part of the BlogHer family and I’ve been a faithful follower of Ree’s for years. Back when Ree only had a few thousand followers I was “with” her. She’s always had great content and being a photographer, her images are beautiful and inviting.  Well-known for her cooking talents and her show on the Food Network, she shares wonderful recipes on her site as well as homeschooling information, entertainment, and she has a love of her family, her dogs, and photographing pretty cool hotel rooms. Check out her books as well.

 

2.  Netflix

We all know what Netflix is, a site that streams movies and past seasons of TV shows. For a low cost you can enjoy access to this. Many folks are now using it in place of cable television. I most often watch Netflix while working out at the gym. Tuning into an episode or two of a TV series I’m currently binge watching makes time running on the treadmill pass more smoothly.

 

3.  The Balanced Life

As long as we’re talking about fitness, this is a great site for Pilates info and workouts. Robin offers great encouragement and shares her knowledge.  This is really good stuff to do at home in addition to your gym workout or in place of it if you can’t get to the gym or the weather isn’t desirable for participating in outdoor physical activities.

4.  Pinterest

If you’re not already on Pinterest, I highly suggest checking it out. Whether you’re planning a wedding or looking for something to make for dinner, it’s all there. I have boards for everything from fashion to writing tips.  You can find inspiration for putting together an outfit for a special occasion and find great DIY tips for home, wedding, and crafts.

 

5.  Thrifty Decor Chick

This is a really fun site. Even if you don’t do DIY projects, there are some gorgeous photos here of finished projects. It really inspires you to repurpose some found items and spruce up your home with your personal touches.

What are some of your favorite sites to visit? What makes them your favorite?

Uncategorized

Five Things I Learned from Alexander, His Family, and His Very Bad Day

Disclaimer:  If you haven’t seen Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day, don’t read this yet! But do go see it. It’s good!

This weekend at an all-night movie lock-in for high schoolers, we got to see Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. Really, those adjectives are a bit of an understatement.  Their day was really chaotic to say the least, but overall, they survived and at the end of it, were still a good, solid, loving family. Really, that matters more than anything.

 

I learned some things from Alexander and his family and here are my top five:

1. Teamwork within a couple really matters. Alexander’s dad was suffering a job loss. Several months into his job search he was still at home being “fommy” (a new term I learned during this viewing), a “father mommy.” He was a stay-at-home dad and managing pretty brilliantly. Even though he was going through some personal difficulties sure to be a challenge, he supported his wife who’d returned to the workforce and he became her biggest cheerleader. She, in turn, appreciated how he kept the family together and running at home.

2. Sometimes you get the girl after all. Alexander liked the very pretty, popular girl who seemed sure to be out of his reach. After all, he admitted his life was a series of bad days. Even after he set her textbook ablaze, she saw through the craziness of his life and gave him a chance after realizing he really was a good guy.

3. Don’t answer the phone while driving.  Just don’t. Alexander’s brother learned this the hard way. It set into motion a series of smallish disasters and all in the name of trying to keep his girlfriend from being mad at him.

4. Show up for your siblings. Despite their insane day, the family “showed up” for each person’s event.  Big brother got to his prom dinner (that ended with a pretty surprising and wise decision made on his part), sister got to perform (so to speak!) in her star role of her 8th grade play, and Alexander…well, he got his over-the-top birthday party after all.  The whole family was together to share in the ups and downs of it every step.  (And Australian animals (Alexander’s favorite) are quite fabulous).

5. Happy endings really are the best part of the movie. I still love whimsy and neatly sewn up endings where everyone is happy.  I’ll never change. Who doesn’t want a happy journey with the promise of a happy ending?

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