They don't know...

Has anyone ever given you a compliment and an insult at the same time?

Oh....

That's never happened to you? It's happened to me more times than I care to admit. When someone does this,  it is being what the Bible calls double minded. A compliment does not need to be wrapped in a thinly veiled insult. Someone recently gave me a compliment and then completely negated the compliment with a generous salt shake of negativity. 

That's what is known in slang as "low key shade"

I listened and pondered whether to curtly say thank you or rise above this present situation because it was abstract. 

Not Black.

Not White. 

It was a dingy shade of gray.

 Cloudy with a chance of rain. That is until I smiled. I carry the sunshine with me ya know:-)

God says I carry his spirit, so there will be no dark, dismal gray in my presence.

People are quick to put others in boxes and tie it up with a  bow.  More often than not, people are more comfortable looking at who you were, rather than who you are in this present time and space. When someone looks at you and only sees what you were and not who you are, they are handcuffing you to your past. If your present is not your past, no one has the right to try to take you back to a land God delivered you from. Do you know anything about that? I could have come up with something snarky to say, but I didn't.

So how did I handle it?

I used two little words that shut down any further communication.

Thank You.

Action Speaks

Words are beautiful and they have power.  I have learned through life experience to pay close attention to if a persons actions line up with their words. Here is a little secret beween me and you...

A person can either speak positive words with negative actions, speak positive words and secretly have negative feelings in their heart towards you or both at the same time.

That's ice cold. Brrrrrrrrrrr

 

 It's not the sugar in someones words, but the razor blade underneath what they are saying. The words, deeds and actions should consistently line up. If they don't, you have a classic case of deception on your hands. If you want to know a persons heart towards you, just watch and their actions will tell on them. The key to dealing with this type of challenge is to rise above it and continue to walk in love and kindness.

 

The greatest book ever written says this:  The words of their mouth were smoother than butter, but WAR was in their heart: their words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords-Psalm 55:21

This is a great illustration of the fact that everyone around you is not necessarily for you.

Despite what might be around you, reflect love and light because your love and light is contagious. I hope they catch it:-)

Pay Attention...

I have a heart for people. I give people a lot of passes, even the ones that don't deserve it. Sometimes I see a clear visual of who someone is and I try to paint a new picture. The reality is that even when people aren't talking they are saying something. Sometimes the loudest message comes from what is not spoken.

And then there are those times when what is not spoken parallels with what is spoken and the pain of what you see is like a jagged javelin going straight into your heart. And the pain of your discovery has you in an Anacondas grip.

Swift.

Unmerciful.

And if you are not careful, it will choke the life out of you. I believe that every problem has a solution and sometimes its simple. No matter how subtle, when someone shows you who they are...you better believe it. Deception is subtle and never obvious, otherwise it wouldn't be deception.

Have you ever discovered something about someone that you wish you didn't know?

 

Your Beautiful

You are beautiful. God creates amazing things and you are one of them. When you need a pick me up, just remember who God says you are and not people.

Motherhood

It is an awesome responsibility to be a mother and I am so blessed that my mother is still among the living and blesses me in ways that no words could ever describe. Seven years ago I became a mother and my life was forever changed for the better.

There is nothing more amazing than being my sons guardian angel I realize that I am the first person my son will ever love, his first hug, his first kiss. Love at first is what happens when a child sees there mother for the first time. My son has been loving me ever since he opened his eyes. I thank God everyday for blessing me to be the mother of such an amazing little boy.

Happy Mothers Day to you and may it be full of blessings:-)

Experience

Someone once told me that experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. I recently reflected on that statement and came across this quote. No relationship is ever a waste of time. There is always a lesson if you are willing to learn.

Knowing what you don't want brings you closer to what will bring you happiness and joy.

Faith

L:ife is uncertain and full of curve balls. Things happen that are beyond are control and sometimes the only thing that gets you through is faith. It is hard to believe in things you can't see, but if you could see it then it wouldn't be faith. A close friend of mine has been in the hospital and it has been hard to accept her health problems, but sickness is a part of life. She is now recovering at home and doing better, so I know my prayers for her are reaching heaven.

Whatever you are going through. Have faith. All it takes is a mustard seed of faith. Have you seen how small a mustard seed is? It is so tiny that you can barely see it. If you can just muster up a tiny bit, it can move mountains.

If I Cut You Off...

A smart person puts distance between people and situations that cause them pain. Most of the time when we cut people off, we have a good reason. The sad part is when they fail to realize that they gave us the scissors. It takes a very mature person to do the hard work of examining their actions and an even bigger person to admit when they did or said something they shouldn't have, but most people go for the path of least resistance and don't right their wrong. This is what often makes it necessary to cut with surgical precision.  It is never easy, but sometimes it is very necessary to cut cut cut certain people out of your life. Have you ever had to do that?

Make Someone Happy

I really take delight in making people happy. I have always been that way. I give a lot even when I have little, but that is a part of my DNA. I never  expect anything in return because the joy is in doing something to make someone smile:-) We all have the power to make others happy and sometimes it is the smallest things that put a smile on someones face. When we think of others before we think of ourselves we have the power to change how someone feels by the generosity or thoughtfulness we extend towards them.

You have the power to make someone happy. Do it!

Seek those that inspire you

Everyone needs a cheerleader in their life. A champion for you and the dreams you have. There is something quite remarkable about people that see  greatness in you even when it is lying dormant. It is absolutely vital to surround yourself with people that bring out the best in you. There are those special people that speak light and life into dark situations, cry with you when things are dark and rejoice with you when the sun shines upon you. Those are the kinds of people you need in your life.

What a lot of us don't realize is that you become like the people you spend the most time with, so spend time around those that lift you up, encourage you to pursue your dreams, those that believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself and those who inspire you to be all the things you dream about.  Four wonderful traits to look for are those that are inspiring, compassionate, authentic and genuine. Those traits are the tent poles of amazing people. Someone that can inspire you, is compassionate about the plights of others, authentic in who they are and genuine is a great recipe for friendship.

What kinds of people do you let into your circle?

Dear God: Thank You

Happy Thursday loves. I am feeling a little sad and uninspired today, so I thought I would post a word of encouragement to myself and to you.  Sometimes in the pursuit of my dreams, I get a little down if they are not happening fast enough, but one thing I know about God is that his timing is not my timing and his ways are not my ways. Each day that I take a breath is a gift and sometimes I take that for granted. So today, instead of complaining, I choose to say thank you to the one that never leaves or forsakes me. Thank you God for being so amazing:-) Thank you for the power of dreams and visions.

 Are your dreams so big that sometimes they scare you?