With the autumn days settling in after making its debut a few weeks ago... I am really looking forward to the fellowship and table talks that our family will share in the coming months. We celebrate the birthdays of our loved ones and the milestones of certain ages with great joy. We give thanks for our blessings with a feast at Thanksgiving and we rejoice in our freedom and eternal life gift through God at Christmas. I am so blessed to be around many people that believe in the simply pleasures of life.
If you want to bring inner peace to yourself, try purging the clutter that our mind often hangs onto. Box up those extra "things" in your home that are no longer needed, used or enjoyed and consider donating them to a homeless shelter or a community agency that can help those in need in your area. It is an amazing feeling to see the smile of a stranger that receives a gift "just because". When we sprinkle these little dustings of joy to others, we get so much more in return. The heartfelt love inside is nearly indescribable and I challenge you to take a small step and pay it forward at least once this season.
My husband was taught to never walk by the little red bucket and the chiming bell that you will often see and hear at Christmas in the front of some stores. We have passed along that tradition and instilled it in our children as well. Our youngest son scrambles to find the coins to place in that little slot and is so thrilled to know that such a small gift can make such big changes. And trust me...I find the biggest change is in me. The reality that one quarter, one dollar or even the time for volunteering to ring that bell, poses no sacrifice on my life yet the opportunity to actually a more managed way of my time. You may ask...HOW? God allows us to make choices and He sees in our hearts. When we are stressed with work, cleaning, parenting and the added activities of the season, we feel the least thing we have time for is volunteering on top of all that.. But... we do! One 30 minute session at school, at the soup kitchen, at the church or even at a fellowship group can be found. When we look for it and do it, we will be richly inspired by those we are placed with at that same time! It is a ripple effect. Life has a way of doing that. Now that doesn't mean you HAVE to find 30 min. to volunteer. You don't HAVE to drop in a coin, and you do not HAVE to join any circles. We can do only what we put our minds to doing. Make baby steps to a plan of action and work towards goals.
I encourage you to sit and relax each day, unwind after the children go off to bed and take time for YOU. Everyone needs a good 15 minutes to regroup and reflect and re-energize yourself. By doing so you can bring so much more to your life, your family and beyond.
May you see all the positives that happen today and take a lesson from any negatives and learn it, release and let it go.
Be... Simply You, with a dash of fall colors for your added glowing exterior.
Melany~
