The brown paper sack of cornmeal was the most unusual Christmas present I’d ever received. Terry, a shy first grader, placed the unwrapped gift on my desk. I knew that his grandparents sold homemade cornmeal for a limited income, and I suspected giving a bag away was a sacrifice. I cringed when a saucy little girl in the class wrinkled her nose, pointed to the cornmeal, and asked, “What is THAT? That’s not a Christmas present!” Noticing Terry’s downcast eyes and slumped shoulders, I cradled the sack in my hands and responded, “It’s cornmeal that Terry’s grandpa made. Now my…
Tag: jeannie waters
When Thanksgiving’s Not the Same: Three Ways to Recover Gratitude
Ungrateful. Unsettled. Unexcited. I’m sorry to admit that was the state of my heart when I first contemplated Thanksgiving this year. My gratitude journal reflected numerous blessings, but the thought of another holiday without my mother saddened me. Mama was the heart of festivities for every holiday gathering. She created traditions that made Thanksgiving my favorite day of the year–decorations and flower arrangements, prayer in a circle with family holding hands, croquet games after lunch, Monopoly after supper. What I miss most is being loved by her and hugging her. Oh, the Thanksgiving meal– the world’s best dressing, steamed cauliflower…
You Are Enough
I am participating in the Writing Contest: You Are Enough, hosted by Positive Writer. https://www.facebook.com/PositiveWriter/ Whether you’re a writer or have other gifts to share, I hope this post opens your eyes to the treasures inside of you that the world needs. You Are Enough Look at you! Deep inside of you. You’re a book of treasures, a cache of jewels, a collection of valuables, a bank of riches. Yes, you. And the world needs your words. Looking in a mirror may not yield feelings of confidence and value, but looking into God’s Word reveals the truth about who we are…
Be Encouraged to Encourage
by Evelyn Wells I’m happy to introduce my first guest blogger! Evelyn Wells is my sweet cousin who recently won an award for her writing. I’m so proud of her and thankful she agreed to share encouragement with us. Her bio follows the post. Here’s her post: “You did a great job with your presentation.” “How beautiful your house is, all decorated for Christmas!” “Wow! Dinner is delicious. You’re a great cook.” “Thank you so much for your visit. It brightened my day.” Don’t we all love to be appreciated? Kind words encourage us, and can make our day; we…
Holiday Prep: Take a Break First!
At the beginning of each month, I post ideas for meaningful gifts to help us share joy and encouragement with other people. Guess what. This month, the gift idea is for Please nestle into a comfy chair and accept this package, beautifully wrapped and bearing a tag with your name on it. Take a deep breath first and lay aside your to-do list for a few minutes. Yes, this present is for you. Ready? Now pull off the ribbon. Lift the lid and move the tissue paper aside. Is that not the most beautiful gift you’ve seen in ages? What?…