A Little Goes a Long Way ...

Hello blogging world! I am going to start posting some stories that my mom has written ... she is actually embarking on a new journey in her life ... these are just stories from her heart ... she wanted a way to relay them to the masses ... and I figured what better way to do that than through the blogging world! Hope some of you still read! God bless!

So, have you ever thought that because you can't send a bunch of money to a organization that you would like to help that there is no point in sending anything? Come on, really, you know that you have!!! Have you ever thought that if you can't talk to someone about whatever, that there is no reason to even give that person the time of day? Really!! I know I have.

Well, let me tell you something that God really opened my eyes to a few years back. I became a real animal advocate several years ago, but felt that if I couldn't send these organization a large amount of money that, well, it just wouldn't make any difference,. WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!!! These places that I send contributions to are thrilled no matter what I send them.

And they tell me so too. This is my way to help those who cannot help themselves. When these organizations send be petitions, I sign them and send them back. I call my Senator, my Congressman and anyone else they advise me to call and let them know my opinion. Don't think it doesn't help? You can't be any more wrong. All contributions, all letters, all phone calls make a difference.

Second in point. I have a job that you meet the most off the wall people or the best of the best. The one thing I have learned about these folks, is a smile, a hello, a thank you or any gesture of kindness goes a long long way. I have seen people that would not even look at me when I open the door to my bus completely change because I give them a smile and a hello. Believe me, a gesture of appreciate to the most cold hearted person will change them, if only for a moment.

People are hungry for others to acknowledge them. Try it. It really won't hurt. It really will make you feel better too. Promise. Hey, and while your at it, give a $5'er to that organization you've been hearing about, or reading about. Honestly, it really does help.

Keep smiling and spread the news. God Bless. Roxie

Infinite

So I was thinking the other day ... I haven't written a blog in a REALLY long time. Almost a full month. That's not like me, but I'll tell you ... life has been a little crazy during the past few weeks. With work, relationships, and life ... sometimes, it gets a little hectic and you have to make the time to sit down ... take a breath, and make sure life isn't going in a whirlwind that you have no control over.

Anyway, I've also been thinking a LOT about blessings. I have so many of them and I can't even begin to express my gratitude for each of them in words. It's amazing how things come and go ... and it sure is amazing how God always provides ... even in the darkest of days ... even in the midst of uncertainty ... even when hope is only as small as a grain of sand ... it's rather remarkable knowing that even in those moments, He is carrying us ... carrying us to something greater ... carrying us through something monumental ... carrying us and making us stronger ... wiser ... and even more grateful.

While I wish sometimes I had all the answers ... there is a little comfort in knowing that I can look up into the sky, and see every star, exactly where it should be ... and ... see the universe and all it's infinity ... in those moments, I realize, everything is as it should be.

... "I Have Found My Strength In You" ...

How amazing it is that God knows us so well, He knows exactly what and who we need at exactly the right time. I’ve been recently amazed by some of the people that I’ve been fortunate enough to have encounters with. They make me realize the beauty of PEOPLE and the power of human contact.

With my job, I don’t have much of that. I miss that interaction with people, real people. It’s nice to actually have actual encounters with people and to learn more about their lives …

I’m so amazed at how strong people really are. To go through their struggles, hardships, pain … and in light of them, they find hope and comfort in knowing that it all happens for a reason. I’m astounded by their strength and perseverance.

To each of you … you know who you are … thank you for giving me a little part of yourself … and showing me what it truly means to be courageous. I am forever grateful and can only hope to be as strong some day.

So ... Why are You Here?

Have you ever thought about the reason why you’re here? I mean really, honestly, sat down and thought about what it is you were put on this earth for? And, with that … have you thought about why you’re still here? I know I talk about this a lot, but it’s something that I ALWAYS think about.

See, I’m a twin. When my sister Melissa and I were born, we were born two months premature. I was just under two pounds and my sister was 2.5 pounds when we were born. We were in an incubator for the first 6 months of our lives and I have to wonder what was so special about us that we made it? And then I realize … and remember … God knows so much more about why were here then we do. He knows what we are meant to do … He knows why He breathed life into us and He knows when we fail or succeed.

After overcoming that obstacle of existing, even after doctors saying we just might not make it, I realize that His plans are so much greater then my own. And why not use the time that He’s given me to make something and be something, even if failing first is the actual first step.

Granted … at times, I sit back and think about what could have been … but then I realize what already is … which I am certain … is exactly what should be.

Freedom in the Unknown

Life is too short to become entangled in the things you have no control over … I’ve often thought that in those moments, when you realize you have no control over a situation, there is some ‘freedom’ … freedom in knowing that no matter how hard you try, you’re not going to change the moment … the ‘thing’ that you couldn’t control … that could be reassuring to some … that could be failure to others … I'm not entirely sure ... but, somehow … I find freedom in knowing that no matter what, firstly, God won’t give me anything I can’t handle, and secondly, what doesn’t kill me, will only make me that much stronger … because after all, life is too short to worry about the unknown …

All We Really Need

I've often thought when I was growing up … that friendships would really be ‘forever’ … that my imagination could always stay ‘wild’ with limitless ideas … that life would be this adventure, that was mine to ‘run’ with …

Yet as I’ve gotten older … and time has passed with ‘force’, I’ve realized that things just aren’t what they seem when you’re younger … perhaps we get a little jaded as we begin to realize what the ‘world’ and all its cruelty has to offer …

Sure, there will always be disappointments, but couldn’t we just ‘play’ like children to make time stand still? I miss youth because time really didn’t exist … it wasn’t racing like it is now … as a child, we learned to embrace the simple things … we cherished people and friends because in those moments when we were with those people, life was good and everything else seemed miles away …

It’s a beautiful thought to think that things will always be easy and that life won’t be this constant disappointment, but I suppose, those ups and downs, those valleys of highs and lows, are what make us the people we are … they make us rely on the one thing that IS and ALWAYS will be a constant, He never disappoints, is always there, no matter how many times we fall … thank God for Him … thank God for sending His Son to pick us up when we've been beaten down ... and thank God for moments like these, when we realize that all we really need is Him ...

A 'Puff of Air' ...

“I wonder why you care, God – why do you bother with us at all? All we are is a puff of air; we’re like shadows in a campfire”… Psalm 144 (The Message)

I read this passage from The Message a few months ago … for those of you NOT familiar with The Message, it's sort of an 'alternative' Bible ... written in layman's terms, to better understand the essence of what the Bible is trying to convey ... it's written in story format, and I would encourage any of you who just don't like to read the Bible, to try this out ...

Nonetheless, I’m not entirely sure why the excerpt spoke to me so deeply, but I just thought I’d post it here for pondering …

I guess you could say it’s a ‘realization’ of sorts … that I am nothing really … and the fact that God cares about me at all, is simply a miracle … I’m really a ‘puff of air’ that could be gone tomorrow … yet God still wants me here … He wants me here for a purpose … He still needs me, perhaps? He still needs you?

Not sure what you think about this passage, but it stirred up a little something in me … I hope it does the same for you … because no matter how big, or how small you feel, God still has you here for a reason … so embrace it … take leaps of faith and don’t be fearful of what you COULD become …

Seeking ...

It’s not very often that I write poetry anymore …

Perhaps it’s the lack of inspiration …

Or, it just might be that I don’t have the ‘gift’ anymore …

But, I’d like to think those things we’re ‘good at’, we never lose …

It’s not like God gives it to you, and then takes it away …

I think it’s always there … even in dry spells … even in dark days …

Here is a poem I just wrote today … God bless each of you!

Jumping into a sea of confidence…
That is what I seek…
Flying above the vast clouds that fill a beautiful blue sky…
That is what I ask for…
Climbing atop a mountainous terrain…
That is my greatest fear…
Wishing on a star …
That is what gives me hope …
Understanding humanity …
My greatest uncertainty …
Seeking You …
My only comfort …

Leave Out All the Rest

Understanding life’s uncertainties isn’t something I pretend to do …

I guess as I’ve lived my life, understanding that I don’t know all the answers, makes life more spontaneous perhaps … I don’t know … it just seems to me, if you knew all the answers, then life just might be a little dull …

I’ve lived and learned about how people can let you down, yet in the midst of that, forgiveness is on the other end of that disappointment …

Not because I want to forgive so much, but because God interjects my thoughts and helps me realize the power of forgiveness … after all, I’ve done a few stupid things in my day, and in those moments of realization of those not so good choices, I’ve learned the power of mercy and grace …

So how would it look if in the uncertainties and disappointments of life, I choose to hold a grudge; to NOT forgive?

It’s one of those qualms that I’ll never understand … how we can just forgive and forget … yet, there is reassurance in knowing that God can be what we cannot be, and in those moments, we can certainly leave out all the rest …

Love Someone to God...

I’ve often thought that to SHOW love, we first have to BE love. Let me explain…

You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘Actions speak louder than words’; but do people really ‘act’? Do people really understand what it truly means to LOVE people first?

My friend Dave has come up with this profound revelation: ‘LOVE SOMEONE TO GOD’; a magnificent thought; perhaps absurd, but isn’t that what Jesus did? When He came to this earth, His whole purpose was to show the love of God; show the love of his Father, who choose, to send His ONLY son to this earth to die for us. He knew that his son’s fate was inevitable; He knew His ONLY son would have a dire death, but He still sent Him anyway; and Jesus accepted this destiny because He loved us that much, without even knowing us. What love? What grace and forgiveness? I’m baffled by this over and over again…

I often think that the least we can do is LOVE people without any conditions…because again, isn’t that what Jesus did all along? He didn’t even know us, but He died for us anyway…he LOVED us first…

Sometimes, words spoken from our mouths are needed; however, what a thought to LOVE SOMEONE TO GOD without saying a word…think about it…

Tied Up...

So...lately...I've been a little tied up in disappointment. Yea, I know, sounds a little weird. But the thing about disappointment is that it only brings frustration and stress, which brings doubt and questions, and quite honestly, those things just make you tired!

God's got a plan though; it's just knowing what it is that's the real pain. I'm not the patient type, which makes things even worse at moments…although, there is a reason in it all, right?

Patience is one of those virtues that I've lacked ALL my life. What can you do? Just got go with it, take leaps of faith, and hope and pray that God is in the midst of them.

Until next time...