My Cup Runneth Over

So much goodness the last few days...

Yesterday my sister and I were interviewed for a radio podcast, "The Karolyn Merriman Show". The daily show features licensed therapist, Karolyn Merriman and each broadcast covers a variety of different topics. From childhood abuse, to difficult relationships, from freedom from fear and anxiety to enriching your prayer life and many other life struggles and challenges, Karolyn offers biblical insights into dealing with and moving from hurt to healing through the power of God's grace.

in the recording studio with Karolyn, after a successful interview!

How did we come to land on Karolyn's show? Karolyn was my therapist many years ago and we've stayed in touch off and on. We recently reconnected on Facebook where she learned I was involved with a writing group. She was intrigued. As we chatted about what our writing group does she became more and more interested in the whole concept of a writing group designed for Christian women writers. She asked if we'd come on the show and talk about how we started the group, why, what we do in our group, how it benefits us etc. I was kind of taken back by her request originally as I couldn't fathom how our group fit in with the themes of her talk show. She assured me that because she often encourages her clients to engage in writing as therapeutic, sharing about our group would be appealing to many of her listeners. She also felt that what we've  done in establishing this group was worthy of mention as it may inspire other women (or men) in churches or communities to start their own writing groups. So.... Anita and I bravely committed to the podcast. It was so much fun!!

 ( You can listen to the podcast here)

Later that day I met up with a sweet gal who is going to host a jewelry party for me this month. I first met L. as a member of my Curves fitness center and we've stayed in touch on Facebook ever since. She is very excited to host a get together for me, not just because she loves the jewelry but she also shared she was happy to have a way for us to connect in a more tangible way than just online!

 I've had my emotional ups and downs when I look back on my time as a fitness center owner. I enjoyed the initial start up and being my own boss. I loved, loved, loved seeing Curves empower and strengthen women in all aspects of their lives. I loved feeling healthy and loved meeting so many wonderful gals and starting friendships that have continued long after the club closed. But the stress of running a business and keeping it financially strong was too much for me. The last couple of years running the club, I was depressed, angry, frustrated, stressed and exhausted most of the time. Not a very good presentation for promoting health! I've often wondered if my presence in the club was a positive one. If I made a difference in even just one persons life. I've questioned that over and over.

Until yesterday.

As we chatted L. expressed just how much she enjoyed her time at Curves and emphatically stated that it was my presence there that made the difference to her. She saw something in me that clicked with her. In addition to being friends on facebook since the club closed, she's been a faithful follower here on the blog (Hi L! Surprise!!) and shared that my posts often speak to her just what she needed to hear on that particular day. Wow.

Every writer desperately wants to be 'heard' and my deepest desire as a writer is not to attain fame and fortune (although I wouldn't turn it down, ha ha) but to know that my writing, Holy Spirit inspired, reached even  just one person and impacted them in some positive way. Yesterdays visit with L was a confirmation that yes, it has. And for that I am so very very blessed. Thank you sweet friend.

And to put the cherry on top of the day I came home with a burning desire to BLOG! And to WRITE! I whipped open my laptop and began pounding the keys. Even if it was drivel I have managed to shake loose the chains that were binding my hands and mind from creatively flowing. Hallllllllelujaaaaaaah!

meanwhile, here on the homefront...

To say I feel blessed by the people in my life is a giant understatement. And to think I have done anything to deserve it would erase the grace factor that carries me. What is happening in Honduras, with my husband and his team is a*m*a*z*i*n*g and what is happening in my own yard is blowing me away as well.

To read Bruce's latest blog post on the work of the team in Honduras, please use this link. I posted 2 entries in one day, one is full of great pictures, but the other post is a heart breaking, heart stopping, heart warming account of all they are experiencing and I don't want that to get lost in the shuffle.

Meanwhile, here on the home front, I was on the receiving end of a service project of my own. Every Saturday my husband attends and helps lead a men's breakfast/bible study and at least once a month if not more, they also do a service project of some sort, helping people in the community with whatever needs fixing. Yard clean up, trips to the dump, home repairs, you name it, these guys jump in with strong backs, willing hands and humble hearts. But this time, these men were all about giving back to their fearless leader; my husband.

And so, they came, with lawn mowers, weed eaters, rakes and excavators. They mowed and weed whacked and removed dead trees, they cut up wood and cleaned out gutters and the chimney and even fixed hubby's spark-plug missing car.

 But the Piece de resistance was 2 truckloads of gravel poured and smoothed out in our lumpy bumpy driveway. Lakes be gone!

I am tickled beyong words for the work done here today. I know how much these guys love my husband and today they showed it in action.

This is friendship. This is church. This is joy!

that small act of kindness...

a couple of weeks ago I sent a private message to a friend on facebook. her phone had been disconnected and I wasn't sure how else to reach her. I only knew she was going through a most tumultuous and painful time and she was often on my heart and mind. I didn't say much in my message, just a "checking in to see how you are doing, thinking of you" sort of note. I didn't hear anything back but that didn't surprise me as I figured she might not have access to a computer on a regular basis.

this evening my doorbell rang and I opened the door to find my funny little friend shivering in the rain. I drug her inside and hugged her tightly. She looked like-- and I know she won't mind me saying this-- hell, with all she's been going through these past weeks. She caught me up (the condensed version) on her life and then said she'd really only stopped by to say "thank you".

Thank you for what was my query. I didn't do anything. Oh, but you did. You reached out and let me know you had not forgotten me. That was huge and it came at a time when I was feeling forgotten and ignored by so many others. 

When someone goes through crisis, we show up, casseroles in one hand and comforting pats on the back in the other. We stay through the first wave of pain and try to help but when the funeral is over or the ashes have been swept up from the fire, we slip back into our comfortable lives, leaving our suffering friend to face another day of loneliness and pain. Most of us are not very good at reaching out and asking for help. We tend to crawl into the hole and lick our wounds in private yet how often do we wish someone would follow us and coax us back out and sit with us just for a little while longer?

I was reminded tonight that reaching out to a hurting friend really takes very little effort. It doesn't have to be a large act of kindness, just a small one can make a difference. And never think that the small act is insignificant. To my funny little friend, it was, in her words, HUGE.