It's the thought that counts

"Mints make you cry?" my sister asked me when I sat down after the elevator descent from our mom's hospital room.

I knew my dad had gone to the "dutch" store earlier that day. I didn't think about or know why. When we got to mom's hospital room, he handed me a brown paper bag. Inside was a large container of individually wrapped peppermints. The good ones. He told me when I opened the bag, "You said you don't like the pink ones." I don't.

Peppermints have played a supporting role in my life looking back. From the peppermints we used to get from grandpa V.W. when we would visit in the nursing home to the peppermints we would use in church to pretend we (kids) were getting communion too, peppermints have been a comfort. They also freshen the breath when I am in TOO much of a hurry heading out the door. ;)

It wasn't the mints that made me cry. It was the fact that my dad went out of the way to get me something I like. Something I would not have gotten for myself. It was a day when I really needed a reminder that I was being thought of.

My point of this post is that if you have that little nudging of a feeling to do something nice for somebody else? Do it....even if it doesn't make sense to you. We get those nudgings for a reason. YOU may be the answer to somebody else's prayer....maybe one they haven't even put words to yet! The "something" does not have to cost $$. Maybe it's an encouraging note, phone call or text. Encouragement has a great ripple effect. Try it!

My "dutch girl" mints THANKS dad!

Philippians 2"1-4 (NIV)Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 (NIV)
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Necklaces

Necklaces, lovely to look at. Necklaces can be a piece of art. Necklaces can enhance our wardrobe. As long as they are put away properly, necklaces can be a great source of beauty.

BUT

Maybe one gets in a hurry. Instead of hanging the necklaces nicely in a jewelry box, the necklaces get jumbled up, knotted and, in general, causing a big problem. Especially when the ONE necklace you REALLY want to wear is right in the middle of the jumbled up knot! Of course, by the time one adds the final piece of jewelry before leaving the house, time has already flown by and the necklace is grabbed almost as an afterthought. The jumbled knot is discovered. Time continues to tick. Try to undo the knots? Pick another necklace? Go necklaceless? ;(

Emotions and thoughts, lovely to feel (sometimes), can be expressed through art, can enhance our outlook on life. As long as handled properly, emotions and thoughts can bring a great source of fulfillment.

BUT

Maybe one gets a little bit too much of life thrown at them. Instead of handling emotions and thoughts as they come up, they get pushed down or aside, making us feel knotted up inside and, in general, causing a big problem. Especially when that ONE event you REALLY DON'T want to deal with is right in the middle of the jumbled up knot! Of course, by the time one realizes the emotions and thoughts are heading downhill, time has already flown by and the skills we have learned to deal with them are remembered almost as an afterthought. The jumbled feelings are becoming overwhelming. Time continues to tick. Try to handle on our own? Get some help? Go emotionless? :(

Kind of a silly comparison, but sometimes what life feels like sometimes, doesn't it? The necklaces are just a visual of what our heads and hearts can feel like sometimes. A way to give a picture to the feelings. When thought of like this, maybe we can even feel like we can have a bit of control over what feels like will control us. When we take a bit of time hanging up necklaces (self-care), there is a much less chance of the necklaces ending up all knotted up and in a jumbled mess (feeling like our emotions and thoughts are controlling us!)

Find what works best for you. Use what works. Have a plan in place that when you feel overwhelmed, you can know what to do without having to add more stress. Phone, text or e-mail a friend. Write in a journal. Pray. Read the Bible. Talk to God. Listen for answers.

We don't have to wait for our lives to feel like a jumbled up, knotted mess. We can start using some of those things ahead of time to strengthen us for when we can't control the knots.

Wear your necklaces, thoughts and emotions. DON'T let them wear you out.They are meant to be shared. YOU have something worth sharing. Keep that jewelry box in your head and heart knot-free. Hugs, my friends.

30 Proverbs 14:30 (MSG) 
A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones.

Isaiah 55:8 (NIV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Psalm 139:2 (NIV) You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.