Are We FIRST RESPONDERS?

My oldest grandson is a firefighter and paramedic, so he falls into that category. A First Responder are professionals who are likely to be among the first people to arrive at and assist at the scene of an emergency, such as an accident, natural disaster, or terrorist attack. THANK YOU, First Responders, for your service, commitment and dedication to others.

Perhaps your heart is so big, that, you too, could be considered a First Responder because of your willingness to run toward a need instead of running away from it. I've been around many First Responders in my lifetime. I've witnessed big-hearted people who put aside their agendas to serve and help someone in need. And, while I've seen others be the recipients of the care and love of First Responders, I, too, saw those who heard about my husband's health diagnosis and went to immediate prayer, brought over meals that said "We care", those who called us and said "What can I do to help?" There were those who offered advice to us when they heard we were facing a similar situation to what they had been through -- and they could help us through it. Then there were those who came over and mowed our lawn or cleaned our home and those who gave me a massage gift certificate and offered to stay with my sweetheart while I was away from him for a couple of hours. There were those who gave to help with our huge medical bills and those who sent cards and words of encouragement. there was a sweet nurse who gave her timely freely to help us. All of those were FIRST RESPONDERS to our needs.

No doubt, we are blessed with the professional First Responders who daily risk their lives for others and I am so grateful for them. But, in a "self-serving" and "what's-in-it-for-me?" world, how commendable and encouraging it is to see there are those out there who do put others first. They are like the Good Samaritan who stopped to help a beatened man, put him on his donkey, took him for medical care, and even paid his entire bill. (Luke 10:25-37). That was the response after Jesus said "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." And the lawyer said "Who is my neighbor?" That's the question for us today. Who are our neighbors? The folks who agree with our religious, ethical, and political persuasions or does God call us to be FIRST RESPONDERS to each and everyone regardless whether or not we think alike.

I loved it when, after my two grandsons and their two friends had face-painted each others faces, that they wanted to stand out on a round-about in their neighborhood and flag down cars to help support Chloe -- a friend of theirs that has just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. "Cups 4 Chloe, Relieve Stress with $2 Stress Balls". In just a few hours of selling lemonade and stress orbeez balls, they raised nearly $160. FIRST RESPONDERS. Kids do it -- no questions asked. Why don't we?

I Love ME!

Day 22 in this Month of Love -- I LOVE ME!

My post, today, was inspired by this photo on my Weight Watchers Magazine. (Yes, I'm a 30+ year veteran of WW!) The girl is hugging a heart full of red balloons and she's declaring "LOVE, ME!" Before I read the sub heading, I knew what it meant -- loving ourselves enough to take care of ourselves. But, if it weren't on a Weight Watchers magazine, those words "I love me" could just seem quite selfish and egotistical.

How many of us love ourselves? I mean truly, honestly love ourselves? As a teenager, I remember saying "She sure loves herself" and that was meant as a criticism. SHE was one who pranced herself around in a boastful and arrogant way, always making others feel so much less than her. But there's a difference in THAT girl or guy, and the one that Jesus talked about when He said, "Love your neighbor, as you love yourself." Mark 12:31

I hear life coaches say "Look in the mirror and say to yourself....'I love you'! I agree with that philosophy, because, how can we truly love others if we don't love ourselves. But, it’s just not that easy to love ourselves sometimes, especially, as Christians, when we're taught the importance of humility. But, the fact is, only those who feel good about who they are, can really express humility. It takes someone who truly loves him/herself to acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers, that they may be wrong about something, or that they are not the greatest or best at everything. We can love ourself, and come across as loving, sincere, authentic and real, AND be humble. Rick Warren says "Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.” It doesn't mean we don’t care for ourself, but it does mean we think of others AS MUCH as we think of ourself.

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So, if loving others as much as we love ourselves is so important, I'm recommending that we start expressing how much we love ourselves so that we can elevate the love we have for others. I love getting compliments, but maybe I shouldn't desire that from others as much as I give them to myself. What do I most want to hear? Maybe you and I can start a love fest with ourselves and start by putting up some post it notes on our mirror that helps us out with the compliments: "I love YOU"......."I trust you"......"I am so proud of you"......"You are beautiful"....."I appreciate you"....."You are so strong"......"God loves you"....."You light up my life"......"Wow! You lost weight!"....."I love that color on you!"

Oh, by the way, your hair looks AWESOME!

So let's go ahead and love ourselves. We've been been given permission.

Are YOU Always on Your Mind?

Day 20 of this Month of Love -- Are YOU always on YOUR mind?
Mark 12:31 says "Love your neighbor as you love yourself!" That's a lot to live up to, but that's what God tells us to do. But loving ourselves is one thing, and having ourselves ALWAYS on OUR mind is a whole other story.

I saw Joyce Meyer coax her husband, Dave, to come to the stage so she could sing him a love song. She sang Willie Nelson's song, with two change of words…… "Maybe I didn't love you quite as often as I could have, And maybe I didn't treat you quite as good as I should have. If I made you feel second best, I'm sorry I was blind.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  And maybe I didn't hold you all those lonely, lonely times. And I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine. Little things I should have said and done, I just never took the time. I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND.  I WAS ALWAYS ON MY MIND."

It was hilarious....but point well-taken. Joyce shared that she was so self-absorbed for a very long time. The fact is, when WE'RE always on OUR own mind…selfish and self-centered, people will know it. And, when we are self-sacrificing, and always giving love, people will know it, too. People can always determine our character by looking at the fruit of our life. We're told by St. Paul that we should bear good fruit because that’s what we are going to be known for. Everyone we come into contact with, every single day, and in every situation, will see our fruit. So, how are you known? What kind of fruit do others see in your life? Are YOU always on YOUR mind?  Maybe it's time to have others on our mind -- to encourage, support, lift up and cheer on to their finish line.