So, let’s take stock! How are we doing at the end of the first month of 2024? Remember all the good wishes of New Year’s Day, the wishes for peace, prosperity, and happiness?
We are almost finished with the first month. How are you doing?
It’s been an up and down month for me. I am dealing with a sister who is “marooned,” it seems in a rehab center in upstate New York. She was hoping to go home following hospitalization around Thanksgiving time and two hospitalizations since then. She is in rehab now, but her Medicare has run out–how can that be? Dealing with this crisis 1800 miles away is stressful for us all.
On the upside, my husband and I are enjoying living in a senior living facility where our needs are more than met. We’re loving the activities, the people, the services, and the diminished worries we had in maintaining a home and property. It’s like heavy loads have been lifted from our sagging shoulders.
I have begun teaching a Memoir Writing class for residents here and am excited about the fellowship and the talents of the people who are attending the weekly classes. They are eager to share their life stories and learn new skills. Each of them has something to leave as a legacy, and they are spreading the word that this class is fun, productive, and has resulted in friendships, encouragement, and enjoyment. We have the beginnings of an anthology we’ll publish later in the year.
I use two desk calendars with scripture and blessings for each day. Susan Larson, whom I’ve quoted previously in this blog, writes for today: “May you truly believe that God is up to something good in your life. May the impossible suddenly seem possible. May you envision the lost being found, the sick made well, and the poor made truly rich in Christ Jesus. You are the object of God’s great affection and provision. You matter Him more than you can comprehend.” That’s better than shouting Happy New Year at midnight! The other quotes several verses from Proverbs 11. It has to do with blessings advice too. “It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those are are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Both these thoughts are true in my experience. We have options in this life. We have options right this minute to share the wealth of experience (not necessarily money, by the way) to bless others. It’s all so easy to sit back and watch life pass us by. However, that enriches no one, right? So, I encourage each of us to find an opportunity to bless others, to share our resources (again, not money, but resources, experiences, talents, wisdom, companionship, etc.) to brighten others’ days, to make the world a better place, and to share generosity of spirit. It doesn’t take too much effort to call a friend, encourage those around us who provide services and do their jobs well, to share a smile and a thank you, to teach a young person what caring looks like, to adopt a pet from a shelter, to take a friend to lunch, or to enjoy a performance and thank the artist who spent hours preparing to entertain you. Perhaps you could volunteer to help a senior, or send a thank you to the police or fireman or woman who protected you this month, or give a generous tip to a harried wait staff or store owner who’s in need of recognition.
Let’s start a movement to make the world a better place because we are in it! February is the month to share love. It’s right around the next corner. Plan to make yourself a blessing for others.
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