I Want to be a Kind-o-holic

The other day I saw a cute woman with a t-shirt that said, "Nice-a-holic." I loved that! I'm amazed at the vile seething anger that comes out of people sometimes...in the form of a cutting word, an ugly insinuation, a put down either behind their back or to their face.

How much does it cost to just be kind? Nada, nothin', zilch! Yet, sometimes, especially when people respond to us in a less than kind way, we want to retaliate. Why is that? Their response to us isn't about us!? It's about them.

I've seen Christians - - brothers and sisters in Christ - - respond to other Christians in horrible manner. This should simply not be!!

A friend told me she had seen a young man the other day and he was still as surly and rude as he had been when she had worked with him a year ago. Not surprising. Wherever we go, there we are. I think Kermit the Frog (and Abraham Lincoln) are attributed to that great saying.

People are hurting. People are lonely. People are frightened. Sometimes I'm "people." I don't want others to respond to me in a mean spirited way. That is my prayer. I want to be gentle. I want to be kind. 1st Corinthians 13 certainly shares a lot about that. Let's join hearts and be a part of the Kindness Revolution! Check out this website and this one.

Loving you,
Lila

Sharon's 60th Birthday

My friend, Sharon is 60 today! We worked at sister facilities in Atlanta as Administrators of two senior retirement communities. Sharon is still at her facility there.

It seems only last year Sharon and I were celebrating our birthday months where she was turning 50 and I was turning 40. But, lo, it was 10 years ago! Where did the time go? I sure don't know.

This photo was taken about 10 years ago. If you are reading this, Happy Birthday, dear Sharon! I miss you.

Reminiscing,
Lila

Serendipity

I was at a garage sale last weekend (I know. You're probably shocked.) Anyway, I met the most wonderful lady giving a garage sale and someone I consider to be a new friend.

First of all, all of her "junk" at her garage sale was fabulous and my kind of "junk." Secondly, she was an artist and third, she was a transplant to Abilene, like me.

She had moved from a big city, too, and Abilene's charm had taken a bit to get accustomed to. Believe it or not, for most of us who have moved from a large metroplex, it takes us a while to gear down from the traffic, noise, fast pace and overwhelming stress that makes it hard to breathe. We had learned to not only survive, but thrive on a lack of oxygen, not seeing friends as often and a general diet of anxiety.

Anyway, my new friend had shared that she had only been in Abilene for a little while and was still getting acclimated. But then, one day she walked into the great store on 14th Street called "It's About Time", and thought to herself, "I'm going to be o.k. now!"

I had the same thought when I walked into "It's About Time". The friendly owners and the mix of old and new merchandise and the displays really stirs my creative juices.

Anyway, I'm thankful for my new friend and look forward to lunch soon. I'm also glad to be so close to "It's About Time", a store made for dreaming. I'm also thankful to live in Abilene, a place where dreams come true.

God knows us so well and knows what fills us. For me, it's family, beauty, nature, girlfriends and an ability to look at things in a quirky way. Thank you, Father, for looking out for me and for giving me the gifts that are a nourishment to my spirit.

Filled,
Lila