Pay it Forward

I’m looking for hope these days and imagine you may be as well. I need a solid rock to stand on and an anchor to afix to my turbulent mind. I’m desperate for truth and wisdom in a time that seems devoid of both. I need encouragement as well as courage and I need to feel loved as well as to give love away. I sorely miss what used to be called “activities of everyday life” and am beyond saddened as I watch these painfully disappear in the freefall of the virus: restaurants, yoga classes, travel, small groups, movies, family get togethers – the list is endless.

These are the days in which we live, dear friends, but we cannot let these difficult days take us down! We must be respectful, understanding, gracious and loving and sometimes it takes real effort. Conversations have become tricky as so many formerly agreeable friends are now at odds with one another. But it is imperative that we make the effort to love one another!

I hope these words encourage you✨

Wonderful prayer of Saint Francis

Make me an instrument of thy peace, Lord. Where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness. joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

So~ I am challenged to text someone who may just need to hear a word, to smile all the way to my eyes (over that awful mask) and into my voice (that is so muffled and hard to hear) that the cashier or bagger would feel valued, to call someone who might be feeling lonely. Better yet – LORD, give me an opportunity to PAY IT FORWARD this week! Help me to bless someone unexpectedly. (This brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.) I could buy someone’s groceries, pay for someone’s lunch, participate in a worthy GOFUNDME or ministry support project – whatever opportunity might present itself. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear from you that we might find JOY in the GIVING.