You have a great evening, too. I’m hoping the rain won’t amount to much. I just discovered that another web site has a forecast that’s totally opposite the one I checked out this afternoon. I think I’ll believe the one that’s calling for sun on Monday and Tuesday of next week instead of 8 days in a row with a chance of rain. I want to see the sun! I hope your days are filled with plenty of sunshine!

Margie

That is a beautiful verse…I can see where you could gain strength from those simple words.

Thanks..and you have a great evening..
Deb

Thanks for sharing your 2 cents! I agree with you that there are a lot of hurting people in the world. I can’t remember who sang it, but there’s a song with the line “looking for love in all the wrong places” and I think that describes the problem with people. They look for happiness in things and other people and those things will let them down every time. (I’m trying not to get preachy here.) When people hurt me, I turn to my faith. That’s what gives me the hope that there is something so much better than what we have here and now. I’m not perfect and I do get mad at God at times, but that’s a part of any relationship. When I do feel hurt and upset I turn to prayer and reading my Bible and that helps me to focus on the important things. I have one last thing to share and I hope you don’t mind. It’s just one verse from one of the psalms in the Bible that is very comforting. It says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” That’s what gets me through the hard times.

Thanks for letting me share.

Margie

You are so right..and you have a beautiful way with words..I know I have defense walls from past pains..but I still strive everyday to show kindess and respect..because I think they both go along way… even in my healing process..

I liked your 2 cents..it is worth a million!!!

Deb

Mind if I add my .02 to the negativity/bitterness thoughts?? And why I think kindness is a good and even necessary thing…

Im a big believe that we live in a society that has a lot of walking wounded…emotionally speaking…

There is a lot of pain, anger, fear, bitterness for whatever reason…and that all comes out as negative and mean and nasty….I think its a form of emotional protection/defense mechanism….

Sometimes people cant really thrive yet because they are still just trying to survive the best way they can…

Enter kindness and gentleness…I dont think they have the power to heal but I do think they have power to help sooth and maybe encourage and prepare the soul (like soil) to heal and have joy and happiness grow….(like the soil can grow vegetation)

The challenge is when being kind and gentle not to leave your own soul so vulnerable that someone else can injure us and cause us our own wounds and scars…

That can be a hard balance to find….Being kind and gentle yet keep healthy boundries so that we arent abused by that bitterness and nastiness of others…

Hope that makes sense…

Im just someone who knows what its like to have one’s soul hurt and pained and yet finding a way to heal and move on and even thrive….

And I hope I can touch others lives with kindness and gentleness where they find themselves on the path of healing…

I agree…There is too much bitterness and hatred..and I lived by the Golden Rule too..to do unto to others as you would want them to do unto you..I care about people and their feelings..it is just who I am..and that is what attracted me to Janice’s Blog..she is so sweet and nice and down to earth… and so are all of her bloggers and I really love the positive energy coming from this blog.

So Margie keep being who you are..the world is a better place because you are in it..!!

I have your sunshine now..the rain has stopped..at least for now..so I guess the mudpies will have to wait.

Deb

Thank you for your kind words. I think you’re a great person, too! I got all teary-eyed when I read what you wrote. I want to share something with you that may not be politically correct, but I’m going to share it anyway. I do care about people. I believe we were put on this earth to care for one another and that is what I try to do. I am a Christian and I try to live by Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you.” I know I’m far from perfect, but that is the way I try to live my life. There are plenty of Christians who give Christianity a bad name—I know many of them—so I try to treat others the way I want to be treated and the way God commands. That means loving, respecting, and being patient with everyone—even the unlovable. Some people, like Janice and this great group of bloggers, make that easy. Others, who shall remain nameless, make that very difficult. This world is filled with so much hate, so I try to do my part to shine God’s light in a dark, dark world.

So that’s my story. Thank you again, Deb, for your beautiful words. That shows me I’m doing something right, which is a great encouragement to me. One more thing—I did enjoy my sunshine while it lasted. It’s gone now and the rain is heading this way. Let me know if you made a mudpie! I might be able to make some soon.

Take care,
Margie

Good to hear you have sunshine after all that rain over the weekend..It is still drizzling here a little..but we really need the rain after that drought last year..

Thank you about my brother..and yes it was difficult to say the least..it was a tragedy and it took a toll on all of us in one way or another,especially my mother.. He was a very healthy 31 year old hard working young man..when his life was cut short by an anoxic brain injury. We watched him deteriorate and suffer for those 8 long years..until he passed away in Jan.2004.

I agree with you on too much information out there..sometimes you just have to follow your heart and hope for the best..

Margie..has any one ever told you that you are a great person? Because you are..I can tell you care about people..That is a great quality..

Enjoy your sunshine..while I enjoy my rain..who knows I might even make a mudpie!!LOL..

Deb