Touching lives.....

This weekend I spent some time with my daughter and niece.  When the girls were little, we often included our niece on vacations or on day trips.  She was my daughter's "older sister" through the years.  I love her as my own.  Today, they are both adults, age 24 and 22, working hard to build careers for themselves.  My niece's expertise is costume design, set design, dressing for live performances and my daughter's expertise is with production for film, tv, etc.  Both very different skill sets but both necessary to accomplish a large event.

These two ladies are very gifted, young and in a position to dream of the future.  Work, prayer, sweat and tears will pave the way to their destinations.  It is overwhelming to think of the journey before them both. Remember when we were starting out?  Our goals, dreams and hopes were many.  Did you end up where you planned?  Or did your path vary and turn from your planned roadway?

Mine was somewhat different than I planned.  But, overall, I really just wanted to be a mom and I got to do it.  I loved kids from the day I was born.  It was my hope to work with children for the rest of my life and preferably to raise a slew of them.  My actual career today is "secretary or admin assistant".  My heart is still for children, but I'm now more focused on helping parents be the best they can for their children.

Well, I raised children - but, not a slew.  My daughter is more than I dreamed she would be.  God has created in her a woman who cares deeply, loves freely and shares openly.  She is one of the most beautiful women I know.  Yes, she is a normal person.  But in her normality, she touches lives every day.  What a tremendous gift to all of us!

My niece (whom i didn't raise, but I played a part in her life) has grown into an equally amazing woman who is strong, determined, and persevering through any struggle.  Again, this woman is one of the most beautiful I know, very normal (touching lives) and a tremendous gift to all of us!

We have had two teenage boys live with us through the past few years.  Both are moving forward in their lives - one in the army, the other will graduate from high school this year.  And, both impacting lives daily as they walk their chosen paths.

Isn't that what life is supposed to be?  We exist in our day-to-day life doing what we do, touching lives in the process.  True heroes bring joy and peace into another's life.  Most of these are "behind the scenes" heroes who are simply living their life loving others.

Am I leaving a positive imprint?  Am I lifting up or tearing up?  Am I speaking truth with love or critically beating down?  Do I value this relationship enough to speak truthfully and lovingly to this person? These are important questions we easily forget.  It is important to re-evaluate the answers often.

Every day inevitably, I hear someone treating someone poorly.  Sometimes I find myself treating someone poorly.  When will we stop believing our needs are more important than a person's feelings?  Are we self exalting?  Do we really believe we alone can do it better?  Or are we just so tired and out of sync we don't care anymore?   Or has the world truly forgotten how to speak to each other with respect and care?  Most likely it's a combination of the above questions.

Lesson for today:
People are important.  This person who is serving my need today is God's creation and He loves them.  I have no idea what this person is going through today and it may be impacting their ability to serve.  Challenge: bless those who are serving you today.  Give a larger tip than normal, offer encouraging words or BOTH.

Bottom line:   Most people want to do a good job and most want to be treated well.