What’s Your Sign (on)?

If your “sign” says something about you, what does your “sign-on” say? What are you spelling (and sounding out after mistyping a time or two) to kick off your day? Suppose it’s “today is a good day.” that you type each day and begin to believe it. Who needs a horoscope?

Now imagine you control access to your company’s computer network – employees must go to you first in order to do their jobs. Arethea, an IT expert with this responsibility, doles out far more than your standard login. Each newly delivered computer comes with a yellow sticky note bearing a hand written password. Not just to start your day, but to approach life.

Asked for her top 10 logins, she provided the following. And please note the punctuation. It leaves no question. It says “Do it.” “Period.”

1. Today is a good day.
2. Love and laugh unselfishly.
3. Love generously, it is a must.
4. Focus on the facts!
5. Speak kindly and love fiercely.
6. Never pretend to be something you are not.
7. Give without wanting back.
8. Find the goodness in people, we all have some.
9. Live simply and care deeply.

Turns out she gave us nine, not ten. Can we help her finish the list?

Categories: Grow Love, like ripples on a pond | 2 Comments

Team Lift

Signs in stores proclaim the importance of a “team lift.” If the load is too heavy for one, others will help. Team Lift is all around us. Meals and other daily tasks coordinated for a family whose energy is directed elsewhere. Money collected to purchase together what cannot be obtained alone. Prayer requests amplified through prayer circles and shared intentions. Team lifts abound- just look for the signs.

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Force field

There was no announcement on the loudspeaker like you’d hear for “please stand for the playing of our national anthem.” It just was. A silent force that spread through the spectators, ushering attention away from pre-game conversations to the stillness in the center of the playing field. Gathered there in a tight circle were the competing high school football teams – each player on a knee, each physically connected with another.

Moments later, we did get an announcement. The voice on the loudspeaker noted the moment of silence for the fellow football player in a neighboring town who died that week. Asking for it wasn’t necessary. The love from that circle on the field had already enveloped us. Our job was to help it along towards its intended recipients.

Remembering Jacob

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Giving the gift of gratitude

Has anyone caught you off guard with an unexpected “thank you”? As we lead up to Thanksgiving, let’s try once a day to thank someone who least expects it! Let someone know you appreciate them – what they do and who they are. Let’s grow love with the gift of gratitude.

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What kid doesn’t like demolition?

Tara is the kind of person who comes up with ideas to help people that make you say “that’s just genius”. Here’s one of my favorites. One Christmas, she and her husband baked a giant gingerbread house and filled it with all kinds of random things boys would love- bouncy balls, etc. They gave it to a family -who didn’t have much in the way of material things- as a surprise for their boys on Christmas morning. Asked about it, she simply said “what kid doesn’t like demolition?”. The gingerbread house sat on top of a large trash bag- a special gift to mom!

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The Grow Love Project

The world can be a scary place,
Making you fear for the human race.
Bad things happen for reasons unknown,
And good people worry that they’re alone.

At times it seems evil knows no bounds,
Causing such sorrowful sights and sounds.
More often these moments invade our day,
And in times of loss, we stop and pray.

We pray for those who are suffering,
With faith in the relief that God will bring.
We hope for the best while fearing the worst,
Dreading the day our own bubble will burst.

And yet, we hesitate to join the fray,
For what can we do – other than pray?
The answer lies within our heart,
Of the solution, we must be a part.

We’ve been given gifts from God above,
As it’s been said, “the greatest… is love”.
To light one candle, instead of cursing the dark,
Is the journey on which we are called to embark.

Love is the candle that lights our way,
In making a difference every day.
When seeking first to serve and give,
Becomes a liberating way to live.

Helping others in ways big and small,
Picking up a neighbor when they stumble or fall.
The impact expands like ripples on a pond,
Reinforcing our human bond.

One act of kindness leads to another,
And we see ourselves as sister and brother.
We witness the power of love growing a bit,
So we stay the course, we do not quit.

Yes, the world can be scary place,
But there is hope for the human race.
It’s through goodness that we’ll give evil the shove-
It’s in times like this that we must Grow Love.

-KMW

Categories: Poem | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

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