Tag Archive | Giving

Don’t Envy Her…

Nov27

While standing in line at a checkout counter in a department store, I am reminded of times when people would have their shopping carts overflowing with merchandise and I would think to myself,  “Wow, I wish I had that kind of money”…”Some people have all the luck”… or even “it is just not fair”.

Black Friday has come and gone and I am reminded of those who are less fortunate and are not able to express their affections by giving gifts. While Christmas is not just about gifts it is important to remember Gifts is one of The Five Love Languages as is Words of Affirmation, Acts of Kindness, Touch, or Quality Time.

So receiving gifts is very important to those whose love language is Gifts; even when we don’t have the finances to make purchases. But should the desire to make those purchases push us to the point of being envious of what someone else has? I think not…

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:30

So rather than be envyous…You should get creative by thinking outside the box for that one of a kind gift that will forever remain a memory in the heart and mind of the person receiving the gift. The gift you put yourself into for that special someone. 

When Richard and I were first married we had very little if any extra money. Any extra we did have, we used it to ensure our girls had a good Christmas. I however also felt it was necessary to give gifts to all the family members so I had to get really creative.

Necessity, who is the mother of invention. Plato

With that in mind, I remember the year I took a tuna fish can, washed it, painted it with a decorative motif , filled it with pillow stuffing, then covered it with a cross stitch design held in place by a pretty ribbon, and placed dress pins in it. That year…a pin cushion was all I had to give.

While Richard was attending seminary we were especially stretched financially.  I remember gathering all the fabric remnants left over from the outfits I had made for the girls when they were little and used them to make a quilt for Brandi. It was the talk of the campus and each day the neighbor boys would come by to check on its progress. A lot of wonderful conversations took place during the making of that quilt. To this day she has that quilt displayed in her home.

As I have gotten older, I no longer feel an obligation to gift  family and friends; now it is a choice. If I see something which reminds me of someone I will gift them with it or if we know of someone in need we pray about how we can help meet that need.

For years now our Christmas gift to our family and friends has been to open up our home; providing a place for everyone to come together to make memories that will last a lifetime.

For the 32 years Richard and I have been married we have never exchanged a Christmas gift. We couldn’t afford gifts when we were first married and today we choose not to gift each other because gifts are not our love language. He gives me a hug (touch is my love language) and I tell him what a wonderful man and husband he is (words of affirmation is his love language) and we are set!

So, this Christmas I encourage you to think about the following:

  1. Jesus is the Reason for the Season
  2. Purchased Gifts are not Always the Best Gifts
  3. Know your loved one’s Love Language
  4. Memories will last a lifetime so make some great ones

And, when you see people’s shopping carts full…

Protect your bones…Don’t Not Envy Them

Love Lee ♥ 

 

She is Wonderfully and Marvelously Made

Nov21

It was a normal day for me…nothing out of the ordinary going on when the phone rang. It was my dear friend Jennifer Cannan and she was crying. Through her sobs I heard, “Can John and I come over? We’ve been at the doctor’s office today and we need to talk to someone.”

Within 15 minutes John and Jennifer were walking through the door. Both looked like they had been hit by a mac truck! Before she spoke, I grabbed her and held her while she sobbed on my shoulder.  After a minute she was able to speak, “The doctor says Alisha is autistic.”

Because Alisha’s speech was delayed, we knew something was wrong…but Autism???? How do you wrap your head around that diagnosis???

Jennifer, being the take charge kind of person she is, immediately began to read everything she could get her hands on about Autism. She reached out to anyone with knowledge of Autism or anyone who knew of available resources for Autistic children. It wasn’t long after Alisha was diagnosed, she was enrolled in school and immediately the work began.

Within a very short period of time Alisha began to interact verbally with others. In fact her vocabulary grew to the point she was utilizing “big” words typically used only by adults. She began to laugh and interact with others on an emotional level as well.

Alisha was at my home for Halloween this year. She did not come for candy…She came to visit me and to give my candy away because in addition to Autism, Alisha has been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. So, since she couldn’t have the candy she was elated to stand in my doorway and pass out candy to the trick or treaters who could. Then when my brother reached for a piece of candy,  she provided him with a lecture on the perils of eating candy causing him to sneak his bites of candy when she was not looking.

Alisha is an adorable little girl who loves deeply everyone she encounters. She finds great pleasures in the most simple things. She is funny and witty making those around her laugh even when they aren’t in the mood to laugh. She says the cutest things and her mother is good to share them with us on Facebook. A couple posts by Jennifer I especially love…

  • “Mama, Can you come rub my back? I think there is a bone in it and it is really starting to hurt me.” How does she come up with these things?!?!?! Going to put on my masseuse hat….brb…a mother’s job is never done! LOL
  • “Alisha just informed me that she was “filthy, stinkin’ rich.” She then proceeded to show me that her change purse was full of coins plus she had 6 dollar bills. LOL”
  • “Alisha just told me that I needed to get bigger, uglier glasses since I am getting older. Nice! ROFL”

Today I was reminded of Alisha and her struggles and challenges in life when I read a post on Facebook by Alisha’s mom, Jennifer Cannan. It read…

“Kids with special needs aren’t sick or gross or stupid, and their handicaps not contagious. They only want what we all want: to be accepted and loved. Can I make a request: is anyone willing to post this and leave it as your status for at least an hour to spread the awareness? It is Special Education Week, and this is …in honor of ALL the children who were wonderfully and marvelously made.”

Do you know a child that is wonderfully and marvelously made? If so please honor them today!

I would like to take this opportunity honor my precious little friend Alisha Cannan…Alisha, your Aunt Lee Lee loves you Doll ♥

Love Lee ♥

Do You Have Something To Give?

Nov16

I love Extreme Make Over Home Edition…To see someone who is down on their luck receive a hand up from a community is so touching! I am sure it is such a rush for the people involved too. Not only do they get to participate in the outpouring of love on a good and deserving person but they also get to be in the spotlight surrounded by the cameras and glam of TV. It is such a great cause and some very giving people are highlighted.

But…what happens when the lights go out, the cameras go off, and everyone goes home?

Unfortunately, it is human nature to do for others only when people are watching but it takes a special and obedient person to give when no one is watching. In Matthew we are taught we will be blessed when we give in private. 

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4

One of mine and Richard’s favorite ways to give is to go out to eat and pick up the tab for total strangers and to do it anonymously. Or to lean over and whisper to the grocery clerk “put it on my tab” for a person standing in the grocery line having to put food items back because they don’t have the money to pay.

Do you know someone in need and if so what are you doing about it? As Thanksgiving approaches, I encourage you to open your eyes and heart and give to those who are less fortunate than you. Share your hearts and homes with them or have food delivered to them anonymously. If you do not know anyone in need then ask God to place that person in your path so you can bless them. You can also contact your local church as they have knowledge of people in need.  

Do you have something to give?

Love Lee ♥

Recently I was the recipient of a gift given in private. I have no idea where it came from or who gave it but I am very grateful to the giver and appreciated the gift very much! I pray God will bless that special person richly for giving as instructed in His word.