Once a Week

I guess this is becoming a once-a-week-post blog. Better than to be ignored altogether!

It was a very long week. A family problem was pretty much taken care of, Bethany became very sick again and is still wiped out by it, my van underwent some major 'surgery' (and so did our bank account!), and I have been struggling with a nasty ear infection brought on by sinusitis and allergies. Even Max has been getting into the act by trying his best to eat my tennis shoes. I was going to buy some new ones this weekend anyway but it would have been nice if he would have waited UNTIL I had the new ones! He has had some physical ailment problems as well.

Friday Troy and I went over to the church in the morning and helped Pastor Jim and another older couple stock the Food Pantry. The Second Harvest truck had come a wee bit earlier and dropped A LOT of food. I noticed, though, that there was no longer any toilet paper on the shelves. Pastor Jim said that he had ordered it for the pre-school but there wasn't any left for the pantry (I guess there is a special place they get it from?) and he considered it to be a 'luxury item'. hmpf. I don't. SO...

I went to Aldi's shopping later and bought two very large bundles of TP and dropped off at the church office for the pantry. Pastor Jim wasn't there at the time so I left it with the secretary. I am sure he got a laugh out of it. He always used to seem kinda stoic before but with our family all helping out so much around the church with various things he has started to show his sense of humor. He can be quite jovial!

Pastor Brad's sermon today was something I wrote about in my blog a few weeks ago...using the talents and gifts that God gave you. AND those gifts may be just to lend an ear and some sunshine to someone that needs it. I am happy to see how far Troy has come since he became a Christian. He has really rolled up his sleeves and offered his help wherever he can...of course, sometimes I have to give him little pokes and reminders...we ALL need that from time to time. Everyone needs to know they are appreciated for all they do. It doesn't have to be in any great way. Just a pat on the back and a meaningful 'thank you...I (we) really needed your help and I (we) appreciate all you are willing and able to do'. Some ppl need a more public display of gratitude. I used to think it was becuz they only did things becuz they needed the public show becuz they were kinda false about it all. But, I have come to realize that some ppl are just made that way. They would help out anyway but their personality type craves/needs that recognition from EVERYONE. I prefer the 'thank you for helping' done on the side, without everyone knowing. If EVERYONE knows it ruins it.

I know I write about some of the stuff we do here on my blog but not too many ppl read it. And there aren't any responses so it is okay.

Part of being a Christian, of course, is showing your kindness to others. Appreciate what others do for you. There should never be animosity or nastiness or bickering. If that is what you do to others, what kind of a message are you sending out? As I have been trying to teach my kids...if you are going to let everyone know you are a Christian, then you had better portray that! Everyone will be watching. If you feel anger or hurt or meanness welling up within you then you had better get down on your knees and ask God to help you with that. It seems to take a lot more work to get others to turn to God than it does to be a stumbling block that turns them away.

And that's that for another week!