The Power of "Little Kindnesses"

The Power of Little Kindnesses…

Little kindnesses have such power…like little packages of sweetness wrapped up in love’s special ribbon.

Ian and I have a smallish tradition (he says to make up for the past 31 years).  Every time we take a trip, he gets me a little “giftie”…it could be a piece of candy from a favorite candy store or a card from a local card shop.  I have received a single flower from our garden and  poem he wrote “just because”. 

On a recent trip, Ian made special effort to buy me a handmade pair of earrings from a local business in Florida where we were vacationing with my brother and his wife.  We went to several stores, taking in the art of local artisans and in one, The Cedar Chest in Sanibel Island, Florida, found a lovely set of earrings….delicate silver overlaid on gold.

I loved them.

I lost one.

While walking on the beach, hand in hand, as the sun set, somehow one of the earrings must have lost its backing and fallen to the sandy shore.

I was hurt because he had put such effort into selecting them for me…

I don’t consider myself to be a “material girl” for I know we are just passing through, but I did have special affection for this particular set of earrings…

They were a gift freely given from one whose love is fully felt.

But, lost one I did.  Ian, as he is known to do, did not accept the loss without seeking a replacement.  He went to the local business where we purchased the earrings to see if they could find a mate for it.  And, while they did not give us much hope for doing so, they did say they would contact the artist and tell him our story.

And, they did.

And, not only did they find a mate for my lone earring, they did not charge us for it.

They shared this with us….the artist felt for us and our loss on the beach and did not want to charge us for the missing gift.  The store owner kindly agreed to the artist’s request we not be charged.

And so, a few weeks ago, my lost earring was replaced and I am grateful.

For the gift….

For the replacement for the gift.

And, for the generosity of an artist and a business whose hearts were in the giving.

And, for a husband who understands the value of life’s little kindnesses.

Blessed,

Lesa

Nothing "Looks" the Same Now...

Nothing “looks” the same now….

There are times in my life where God has pulled me especially close to him…praying for a sister, losing a best friend because of a drunk driver, father surviving a wreck, mother being healthy, brother safely tucked in bed, PKU, miscarriage, infertility, cancer, divorce, job change, move, and the list goes on and on….and will until my final rest and I meet.

Sometimes, you are pulled into sharing a season of the Lord’s drawing you close with others because of events in their lives….mentally ill child, divorce, abortion, cancer of a sweet baby girl, counting the 100 days of life of a son, attending the funeral of two of a friends precious children, the baptism of a loved one for whom you prayed for 25 years, church growth, children’s ministry, oversees travel, healing from a stroke of a beloved friend, and the list could and does go on and on…and, it too, will until these precious souls meet their final rest.

Nothing looks the same during these seasons in our lives…

Nothing feels the same…

Nothing is the same..

It is then that the rawness of our lives is poured out in the form of our broken hearts and bruised praying knees…when God is especially real and personal and up close with us…

Real.

We are in such a season…

We have a dear friend who is battling for her life here on earth…wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. 

And, nothing in my life and in your life looks the same.

I know this because I, too, wait anxiously each morning, afternoon and evening for an update on our sweet Jana….and, I read your comments, and pray with you your prayers..

And, it is all sweetness..

Reading how so many have been touched by such a tender heart....

Hundreds…thousands of hands being lifted up many, many, many times each day in prayer…and in faith that those prayers are heard by the only ONE who can heal her…

The belief in God’s ability to heal Jana can be felt through the keystrokes of those who so love her and pour out that love in their writing.

The “likes” and comments, photos and Facebook written prayers…they are sweetness.

The love shared commonly among family, friends and even strangers…

It is sweetness…

 So, as I took my nightly walk around my neighborhood, I could feel it….

Nothing looks the same since that Friday when Jana began her battle….

At first, things looked darker, and I confess, even now when the news is not good, it still looks dark.  But, those times come less and less…and, in darkness’ place, is simply a new view of the little things I used to take for granted each time my feet walked the path around my neighborhood…

Not now…

I see things now that I didn’t before because when God drops you to your knees, you are drawn down closer to His creation in a way which only this certain surrendering can provide..

I saw things differently as I walked….things I had looked past previously…

And, I am grateful…

Not for the journey our friend is on…but, that even as she journeys, she has lived such a life that even in the darkness of our fears and anxieties, we are able to see the light of hope…of faith…of  love…

Who Jana loves most is obvious…and it is that love which calls us to prayer…to love…

to believe.

Blessings,

Lesa

Chick Fil A

Chick Fil A

My daughter and I went to run errands this morning and our discussion wrapped itself around the season of grief which has over taken Chick Fil A.

I was proud that she understood that CFA should be allowed it’s right to keep its faith intact, even within its business doors.

I was proud that she understood that no one should have the right to impede the faith walk of another individual or business.

I was proud that she understood that being a Christian was not called to be easy but that it was worthy.

I told her a hard and sad truth….I will never be able to own a Chick Fil A business.

I am divorced.

Because I am divorced, I do not meet the Biblical standards of CFA.

That saddens me because my husband and I have discussed owing a CFA and did not know this truth until recently.  They have very rigid standards, such as no debt, etc. and we meet them all, except for this one.

Now, I could rant and rave and cry discrimination…and, it is.

But, that would be wrong.

The Bible is clear on God’s stand against divorce.

And, even though I have Biblical reasons for my divorce (as does my ex-husband), I still chose divorce and in so doing, forever removed myself from the ability to own a Chick fil A because their faith standard does not accept my life's choices.

humbly, oh so humbly,

I accept and understand and respect their beliefs.

Because, I believe this truth…

I believe God's ways are the only ways....

And, I believe that...

No one should impede on the faith belief of another.  That is God’s job.

My daughter asks, “but what if they are sacrificing children for their faith?”  A good question.

I would hope to do all I could to save the children.

I hope I would have opportunity to share God’s Word with them.

But, ultimately, at the end of the day, that is all we can do..

And, pray.

I admire Chick Fil A’s stand for Christ….

It is their right to have their faith in God.

And, I admire that they will stand strong for their belief in His Word.

I have consequences in my life for not doing so, and it has forever changed me and my family….I praise them for realizing what I did not.

Our God is who we should follow….not just when it is easy.

But, always and in every way and in bold ways.

Blessings,

Lesa