Every childs dream

Having a family is something that most of us take for granted. You could say too that it is impossible to miss something that you have. Some of you maybe can relate to what I am going to share, but most have not been there, including myself. The picture here depicts a beautiful setting with a complete and happy family. What is it like for a child to have the mom, dad, or both taken from their picture of the good life? This picture for some is only a dream that they have almost every night as the lay in their bed. Only this dream brings pain and distorts the normal development process of a child. Just a couple of days ago this reality hit me hard as a teenage girl from a family that we have just started helping out in our children's home came to me and said, "The other children call you "Papi", can I call you that too?" I told her of course it would be an honor, and immediately she hugged me. A humbling experience that hit hard the reality that there are so many that have not had the important opportunity to have someone that they can call Dad. It's never too late to share love. Blessings to you, and be a blessing to others, especially those in your home!

Learn from a carrot!

Getting dirty makes carrots grow. Like the seed of a carrot, our lives have much contained within that is their only waiting to develop. Staying put in one place does not sound like what most would want to do. Maturity is a stage that is often shortened by our lack of patience. God will complete His plan in our lives, and He really does want to work side by side with us. It is never too late to team up with God and discover all that He has stored up with in you. A carrot can be reduced to it's very end and still sprout new life. God will do a new thing in your life, believe it and receive it. Have a wonderful day!

Do I fit it?

"If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?" I kinda grew up this way as I looked at others, seeing them as; smarter, stronger, better athletes, greater musical ability, more attractive to girls, thinner, better off financially, and the list really never ended. I learned though that when I focused on enjoying life and being thankful to God for the blessings and abilities I have, then I was able to look forward able to move in a direction trusting that the Holy Spirit would be there with me guiding and helping me along the way. 

Now with this attitude I find myself better equipped to be with others. Being at peace with God and myself I have found that God now can use me to be a blessing to others. Envy and being critical of others destroys my ability to enjoy life, and be used in the body of Christ. Being a foot may seem seem to be a lowly position, but yet it is so very important. Smile and be happy with who you are and everything around you will become more beautiful!

Happiness is all that we make it to be.

Happiness is not just for some. I think I have lived long enough and seen enough in life to know that. I have seen the poor and suffering persons with happy faces so I know it is not tied to a condition or status. Happiness is I now believe the most precious thing in life. Sure I would love to have a suitcase full of bills with multiple O's, and a cabin on a lake, but what good is that if I had not that incredible great inner feeling of being happy. Happiness is never far from us, or so hard to grab on to. Hey just give it a try and be happy. It is something that grows and can flourish in your life. Happiness does not have seasons, or up and down roller-coaster highs and lows. When you see this in your life even in hard times you have truly become a wealthy person. Just be happy because it does not get any better than that!

We are not who we may think we are.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
Ephesians 3:20
Don't limit God by who you may think or feel that you are. God does want to change this world and he does want to use you and me. The changes that God wants always starts within us and works its way out into those around us. Let's not slow down or hinder His progress. Be open to the Holy Spirit and what he might want to do through you today!

Teamwork

Blessings to you this and everyday that is before you! Working with needy children and families is rewarding and challenging. We have had children come to our doors seeking shelter. One particular story is special to us. Normally we do not accept teenage children because of the younger ones that we have with us that would be affected by an older aggressive and hurt teenager. One day a young girl came to us with her sad story. We listened to her and decided to join the fight with her, helping her regain her life. Her life is a long story but our part with her lasted a little over a year. Her strong will and longing to recuperate what she had lost motivated us. In a short time we worked with her to learn to read, enjoy a brief childhood that she never had as she many times preferred to play little simple girl things rather than some of the complexities of breaking into adulthood, she discovered her past with our help in looking for her true roots, and toward the end of her time with us bringing her into her reality of age by giving her a beautiful quinceañera celebrating her approach to adulthood. Our time ended when we helped find and reunite her with her mother in another state. We have not heard from her since but cherish the time with her and long for the day that we will see her again. Her life story could easily fill a book and even her time with us is a very long story. We have enjoyed playing an important part in many lives that God has brought to us. I pray that your day and life may be abundantly blessed.

An angry child is a situation that we have all dealt with and in my work at a children's home with abused and abandoned children it is a common thing. In a child it is a condition that can usually be worked through over a period of time depending in the circumstance. 

Over the past months I have been very saddened by an epidemic of anger in our society. I am not going to take time to talk about where this terrible problem comes from but I do want to talk about why we let it persist. Anger in most persons is a thing that can be turned off; definitely controlled. So why do so many persons refuse to do just that? Jesus came to clearly show us this very concept. Love is so heavily talked about in the bible. The issue is covered extremely well. Love one another. It even makes it clear that we are to love our enemies. We all know this and that it is for our own well being. When we are at peace with others we feel better. When we love others joy abounds within us. When we love our enemies we walk in society with a smile on our faces and our chins up not having to turn away from anyone. It's time to act like a grown up and walk in love. Be an example to those around you so that they are inspired or embarrassed by their childlike behavior. Add love to the ingredients of your day and the anger will disappear. Our world today really needs love. That starts with you and me. Have a wonderful day!