:. food for thought .:

The other night Benny picked up dinner for us at our favorite taco stand. It wasn't until the next day that I took a close look at the receipt he'd left on the kitchen counter: I've always loved that their motto is "Nothing is Impossible", but it was a jolt to read those next words. What a reminder! What a succinct summation of the gospel message!

"The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,

and to give his life as a ransom for many."

~ Matthew 20:28

:. top ten inventions of all time .:

1. grandchildren


2. autumn


3. humor


4. canaries


5. coffee


6. family dinner


7. hoodies


8. books


9. "air" quotes


10. the telegraph

[Technically, only #10 is an actual "invention". But if I was telling you this in person, I'd definitely be using "air" quotes.]

:. lessons & questions .:

Such a busy few weeks. So many jumbled thoughts. So many huge life-lessons.
Without going into any detail, here are a few things I've learned lately, along with new questions that have cropped up:

• Just when you think you have a bit of free time ahead, God can step in and remind you that your 'free-time' isn't 'me-time'. Your days belong to Him. And He probably has a very good idea of how that time should be used.
• It is sometimes easier to serve complete strangers than those closest to you.
• My patience definitely has limits. Does it count for anything if you are loving on the outside . . . but CRANK-EEEE on the inside?
• I had no idea just how selfishly I live my life. Putting others first is easy to talk about, but much harder to DO, day after day after day after day after day after day after day.
• I'm definitely not a fan of pity-parties. But how often am I guilty of that very thing? (Pity, party of one?)
• Little children are a joy, a delight, a sweet aroma. They easily fill up an emotional tank that has been drained dry. What would I do without my grands?
• How do Jesus' words that we are to become like little children mesh with the above statement? How do you recapture the guileless ease with which little ones live life?
• How do you show Jesus to a dying world . . . when you're busy with your own to-do list?
• How do you come to the place where you want what God wants, more than your own agenda?

And finally:

• What would I do without my children? Yes, my grands are a delight, but my kids are a blessing that cannot be measured. Thanks for all the love, you guys!

:. smiley waving black guy .:

I saw Smiley Waving Black Guy this morning. Perhaps you've seen him around; if you live anywhere near this side of town, you can't miss him. He walks most places, always has a HUGE smile on his face, and waves at every passing car.

I don't know if he's crazy . . . or just really, really happy.

I hadn't seen him in awhile, but I caught sight of him from a few blocks away. And I realized how happy I was to see him. I love that guy. His smile is contagious; his happy, wild waving never fails to put a smile on my face. Of course I always wave back, and that makes him smile even more.

There's just something wonderful about seeing all that joy and friendliness emanating from another human being. (And yes, the thought has crossed my mind that perhaps Jesus has decided to walk these streets.)

Thanks for the day-brightener, Smiley Waving Black Guy. I'm going to do my best to carry a bit of your attitude today.

:. live it .:

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.

BE KIND ANYWAY.

If you are honest, people may cheat you.

BE HONEST ANYWAY.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous.

BE HAPPY ANYWAY.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough.

GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.

IT NEVER WAS BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

~ Mother Theresa ~