TGIF

TGIF

T- Thankfulness
G- Giving
I- Inspiration
F- Forward

I trust most of you have seen the letters, TGIF, which usually would stand for people's elation that it is Friday... The last day of the week, the work is over from punching a time clock and the fun filled weekend is about to start.  "It's 5:00 o'clock somewhere" attitude, right?

Just in case you have forgotten about the laws that changes many moons ago where the work week was no longer just Monday through Friday, I shall brief you on it.  It became a Saturday ideal which then crept into our Sunday being fair game to serve the public for their worldly desires of convenience  instead of savoring that day for rest, family and above all, serving God.  (but this will be another topic- so stay tuned)  In doing so, those letters, TGIF may no longer be fitting for all to use on Fridays.  I know that nurses work weekends, and waitress' work weekends and so does cashiers for grocery stores, department stores and more.  So how did the acronym become such a cool thing to repeat?  Even a food chain is named this.  What about all the other days of the week?  We really need to thank God for them all.

So I came up with my own version and I hope that it allows us to think a little deeper than Friday and use it to be our daily dose of happy...each and every morning- fill your heart with TGIF.

THANKFULNESS is more than just the feeling of excitement and happiness when what we get wrapped up in a pretty box is something we have wanted.  To be truly thankful, is to see each and every step of our way in gratitude that is far deeper of an emotion than a surface smile.  Thankfulness comes from understanding that even the curves in the road of our journey in life has a purpose... Missing the bus gives us time for that extra hug we give our child before we rush to work and they have their long day of learning..  Spilling the coffee on our outfit and having to change serves an unforeseen purpose that was meant for us to be delayed..  traffic jam, accident, maybe that we forgot to turn off an appliance, or should the phone ring and we needed to hear that caller.  Thankfulness grows humility.  Humility- we all need and strive for in becoming the best we can be.  Be THANKFUL for the ups and the downs for it all has a purpose into making us what and who we are.

GIVING comes from the heart.  At least it should.  If you give from within yourself, the rewards are plenty.  Remember the rules "you give to give not to receive?...  what is funny, is the giving to others allows us to receive!  Receive that joy of highlighting someone's heart and brightening their day which in return floods our lives with the sun's rays also!  It can be a muffin, a pillow you made, a surprise visit by their office or even a special cup of latte... it is not about the amount of money spent.  It is about the amount of TIME spent.  Great things come in small packages and the gift of time comes in any size! 

INSPIRATION is like a cheerleader.  What inspires you?  What motivates you to being all that you can be?  Could it be a blog post, a billboard along the road, a message written on a chalkboard, or possibly the sermon from last Sunday?  Our inspirations come daily.  From the mouths of a friend, the service from a waitress and that of a child who innocently stares in your eyes with 100% of trust that you will love them and do them no harm.  Inspiration comes from YOUR ACTIONS as well as WORDS.  What inspires you?  What you DO can INSPIRE others.

FORWARD, meaning the future.  Live for Today, for it is our GIFT.  A gift of life given to us, for yet another day to have time to spread the good news of our purpose.  Our purpose of being the best we can be. Employee, Mom, Friend, Servant for the Lord, Spouse, etc.  Learn from Yesterday for it is our past, we can not change it, we can not fret on it and we can not live in it.  What we can do it learn from it.  Plan for the future by Paying it FORWARD.  Paying it FORWARD with love offerings to others.  Such as a visit to a nursing home to drop off flowers to a resident whom you do not know.  Giving some of your time to serving at the local soup kitchen or perhaps saying YES to the volunteer sheet at school or church.  Paying it FORWARD does not have to be with money.  In fact, I believe that you will find a greater reward by spending your TIME versus spending your money when it comes to this.  Most of us, can gratefully say, that we can toss a penny in a wishing well and not "need" that 1 cent. BUT... I ask you now...  A Penny for your thoughts, what will YOU do for another in the future?  

Today is a new day!  Rejoice - Dance - and Be HAPPY!!  TGIF lives within us all...  be sure to open these gifts and spread the news.  

TGIF= GIFT
Peace and Joy be with you, today and always
Melany~