by Sharon O | Aug 18, 2018 | Uncategorized
The discipline of writing is a very integrated part of our lives, for those of us who write on a regular schedule.
Ann Voskamp who is a very well known writer, once said, “Even an audience of one, deserves full attention. Write for God’s purposes and the rest will fall into place.”
(This is not a direct quote just sharing the concept)
I do believe the idea is wonderful.
My little writing space is not well known, is not meeting the masses with great numbers or even reaching out to those in the writing field.
I write because I love it. Not because I have a huge following, but because it’s a discipline for me just as my exercise or my food prep.
I think for me it is more a calling of my heart to leave not only a legacy of words but also encouragement for those who read it.
This last month I joined an online face book group that challenges the art of writing.
Leaving the computer and purchasing paper, notecards, a good pen and a list of those who you want to bless with a hand written note from your heart.
I love the idea and challenge.
In our world of technology we have lost the art of hand writing.
My own cursive writing has changed throughout the years, since I don’t do it often.
In church I take notes as fast as the Pastor is speaking and my words are messy and sometimes not clear to read.
I choose to slow down. I choose to purchase stationary that is pretty, with nice envelopes.
Stamps are not that expensive, and even a pretty pen doesn’t have to break a budget.
Shall we challenge ourselves to think of our friends or perhaps even family members; then send them a well thought out… note from your heart?
The lady who guides the face book group calls it, “capturing the written word.”
How we can bless someone with an unexpected note.
She said there is power in giving and receiving.
I know the art of thank you notes has gone by the wayside and it is sad.
If someone purchases a gift for you; that means they went out of their way to think of you, and then made the effort of purchasing out of their budget the gift.
That deserves a thank you note.
When we were young little girls I remember our mom making us write thank you notes to our grand parents. Sure wish I could see those little hand writings now. It would be a treasure.
So this little unknown blog writer is challenging you to join me in this new idea.
Let’s think about who we can bless, what we need in order to do it, and how we can not make this a project but rather a new lifestyle of writing.
Let’s do this.
Our thank you note from our wedding almost 44 years ago.
by Sharon O | Aug 16, 2018 | Uncategorized
We go to the beach quite often and the camp where we go to every Thursday has a place that was created for conversation and sharing.
When I walk by it I imagine the many conversations taking place in the dark while eating smores together around the fire pit full of warm crackling flames.
It is a place for friendships and challenges, and even maybe a place for prayer.
Those who created it called the spot ‘a conversation pit’.
It is in a circle in the sand with hand made benches and one can see the ocean that is barely visible if they walk upward on a sand bank.
Many who have sat in this place find it peaceful and relaxing and the invitation for conversation is a bonus as they sit there with each other.
If you were there what would you talk about? It is an invitation to be real and honest.
Sharing from one’s heart is difficult for most of us.
Most of the time when I go down to the beach I try to walk 2-2.5 miles.
It is relaxing and good for me.
But when I do go I am not just by myself. There are other people here.
My last blog writing I shared about a special friend of mine, and this kind of
goes back to my thoughts about friendships and the matters of the heart sharing.
When you have a special friend you value and then add special time spent together; it becomes a part of your favorite gift you can give yourselves.
I value all the friends I have in my life and strive to make them a very important part of my life.
A conversation pit does not have to just be at the beach, it can be in a coffee shop with someone, or church or a restaurant.
Wherever you both feel safe to share openly and honestly about matters of your heart.
Have you ever been in that kind of setting?
by Sharon O | Aug 10, 2018 | Uncategorized
The gift of friendship is one that I do not take lightly.
We just got back from a trip to central Oregon to see my good friend and her husband.
Our boys used to play together and it has been a friendship of over 30 years.
It was a wonderful time of sharing with each other and also exploring a little of the area.
We went to the high desert museum which has been on my husband’s bucket list.
It was a hot day and to be inside some of the time was nice.
My friend and I have been close for many years. She is a gift to me.
As we have aged we have changed in our physical appearances and also our health.
Both of us are dealing with potential problems that should they get worse; we will need additional help.
We pray for each other and we encourage each other.
It is a friendship of comfort. There are no games and no hidden agenda’s.
It is a friendship that challenges the best in us to come out and the not so good to leave.
I value her and her wisdom and her ability to rise above her situations.
She is a warrior who survived losing her first husband, and who waited for over 7 years for the right ‘other’ man of her dreams to come into her life. She is happy and loved now.
She is classy and smart and I am so very glad to be a part of her life.
The gift of friendship is just that, a gift we unwrap carefully and then treasure.
It is something that creates in us a ‘feeling’ of value.
I believe in her and she believes in me. We pray for each other and always want the best for each other.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life but only true friends leave footprints in your heart.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
by Sharon O | Aug 3, 2018 | Uncategorized
Last Saturday we had a very different day.
Our family went out just like many others to watch a local small town parade.
There were over a hundred entries between bands playing, people marching and floats of all kinds.
Our grand daughters were on a float for the soft ball team and our grandson’s were in the parade because of their karate class.
People of all ages were there to have fun and enjoy the small town feeling.
Just before the float our grand daughter’s were on; a church float in front of us had assorted ages of children.
At one point as the float moved by us a little girl who we later found out was six years old, fell off the float and was run over by the wheels of the flat bed truck.
People were screaming, hysteria was happening.
I covered my eyes so I didn’t watch everything although I did see her completely under the tires.
The driver then moved forward and then backed up to get her out from underneath the truck.
My oldest grandson told me about it after it happened.
As soon as they were able someone picked her up and ran her to the fire department that was about a quarter of a block away. Soon after that we heard a life flight helicopter descending and then ascending up into the air taking her to a children’s hospital. It all happened so fast.
My heart was sick, my stomach weakened by the visual of that little girl.
The atmosphere changed for all of us and it was really hard for me to get into the festive spirit of parade waves after that.
I just kept praying for that sweet little one.
Later that day or maybe it was the next day the family posted pictures of her in the hospital and she survived. MIRACULOUSLY.
God protected her completely and she was released to go home about three days later.
She was very bruised and very fragile but she survived with no broken bones or head trauma.
All I can say is we witnessed a miracle.
No one can ever tell me our God is not a God of miracles; because we witnessed first hand an amazing one.
It was such a relief to me and many others to know she survived.
I have been quiet here on this page; as I have had to take care of myself.
It just proves things can change in an instant without notice.
Her family gives all glory to God. She is truly a miracle.
When I saw one of my grand daughter’s after this all happened she said to me, “grandma she will be ok when they ran her to the fire station she was crying, that means she had breath. You can’t cry without it.”
We could all breathe a little easier knowing she survived a most horrible accident.
Sunday at church I kept reframing the image of her on the ground, with angels surrounding her speaking whispering healing words to her.
It was an incredibly different day for many of us who were there at that parade and we hope we never experience it again.
(sharing this without permission of the family, it is only as I witnessed it.)
by Sharon O | Jul 28, 2018 | Uncategorized
[Kind words are like honey – they cheer you up and make you feel strong.] proverbs 16:24
I love the way this verse says, kind words cheer you and make you feel strong.
My best friend lives about three hours away from me but that doesn’t stop us from talking to each other. We will block out a two or three hour time in our day just for a phone call.
I always hang up feeling good, feeling empowered, better and I could say, stronger.
I think she does too. We are friends, and we build each other up.
When you have someone who believes in you that is a powerful gift to give yourself.
[Gracious speech is like clover honey — good taste to the soul, quick energy for the body.]
[She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.] proverbs 31:26
My friend is not only a retired school teacher she loves to teach and share the word of God and the ways it applies to our every day lives. She always brings encouragement to me, I love listening to her.
[By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,] Galatians 5:22 Oh the word faithfulness is powerful.
When you have had a long time friendship you become faithful to the meaning of friends.
You value them. You treasure them and want the best for them.
[As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.] Colossians 3:12 Just as we get up in the morning and choose what jeans to wear and what top will match; we can choose to clothe ourselves with the attributes of God too.
[Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.] proverbs 21:21
To pursue something is to go after it, to do what it takes to get it done.
I think life and honor is a pretty good trade off for pursuing righteousness.
[He has told you, O mortal man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?] Micah 6:8
Such a good question. What does the Lord require?
To do justice, have kindness and be humble in your walk with God. Pretty simple.
[Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?] Romans 2:4b
I love this question. Don’t you know? It’s his kindness that will lead you to repent and want to be with him. It draws us to him.
Kind people make it easy for me to want to be with them. It is a safety net. A comfort zone.
It’s all about having compassion and tenderness; indulgent and considerate, helpful and thinking of others. Kind words are such an easy choice in the world we live in, where harshness and hatred is often spewed against one another.
[32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.]
Ephesians 4:32
Kind words are like honey, they cheer you up and make you feel strong. Let’s continue to ‘lift each other up’ as we go about our days of work or retirement.
