What are YOU thankful for this week?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thankful Thursday: MAYspiration Link Up
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
MAYspiration: Casey Wiegand
Today I have a beautiful soul that ties perfectly in Mayspiration. Mrs. Casey Wiegand. She is quite popular around the blogosphere thanks to her inspiring posts. She is always willing to help! If you don't know Casey yet, you must say hello! I promise you will become quick friends!
Just a reminder: This weeks Thankful Thursday (May 31st) will be a MAYspiration link up! So, you can link up what you are thankful for, OR, you can link up any post that you feel is inspiring or motivating! I can't wait to read them. Please spread the word.
Any C-section mamas out there? Any of you look at/see/ notice your scars everytime you are getting ready/ showering, etc?
Just a reminder: This weeks Thankful Thursday (May 31st) will be a MAYspiration link up! So, you can link up what you are thankful for, OR, you can link up any post that you feel is inspiring or motivating! I can't wait to read them. Please spread the word.
***
My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama.
I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I have two little ones with the hopes of lots more and am married to the love of my life!
Well, I do.
I love my scar. I love what it represents.
I love that long after my children are grown, I will still have my scar from my 2 previous c-sections (and however many more). I love that it is a daily reminder to me of the 2 little lives I have to take care of & think about.
Scars represent beautiful things. They make us who we are.
What about our emotional scars? We all have them. Some run deeper than others...some change us for better and some create walls in us.
Our scars make us who we are, don't they?
When I started blogging it was because I found this quote:
"I find beauty in not only the beautiful things in life, but the bittersweet and sad as well. To me, there is something poignantly lovely about the human experience from its splendor to its grief. God created all our emotions, not just the happy ones, and for His good purposes. That's why a good cry can feel so good. And hitting our limits forces us to look outside ourselves for a Savior. It is in the plea, when we're at our end, that we can find that which is truly life-giving. Personally, my moments of deepest grief, deepest pain, have resulted in the most beautiful seasons in my heart. I've met God more intimately in those moments than in all the other pleasant ones combined. What isn't completely lovely about that?"
Leslie.
I was going through a hard time and something about this quote gave me hope. And peace. And then the entire blogging experience and community pulled me out. Into a better place.
Now...just months later, here I am embracing the scars... letting my hurt make me lovely.
I realized something along the way. I am better off with my hurt. My past. Embracing all that has happened and allowing it to make me a better me :)
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Mayspiration: Proverbs 31 from Mandy
***
Hello Brown Eyed Bell(e) readers! My name is Mandy and I run a blog called "She Breathes Deeply." Over a year ago, I started a project on my blog called "Project 31: Celebrate Beauty." I was overwhelmed with the response that it received. So many women can relate to the issues of beauty.
I always thought that beauty, and insecurity about beauty was only something that women struggled with as young girls. Beauty is so vast, and so much more than just physical appearance. It would seem as women, we struggle with our self image and beauty into adulthood as, well.
Proverbs 31 in the Bible has always struck a cord with me. It tells of a woman who is strong, dignified, takes care of her family, and even owns land. This woman is so inspirational to me. She is beauty personified.
"10
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13
She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14
She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15
She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16
She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17
She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18
She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19
Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20
She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21
She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
22
She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23
Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24
She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27
She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31
Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."
-Proverbs 31
It is so easy to get caught up in the world's definition of beauty; may that be inner beauty, or outer beauty. I am drawn back to these verses, particularly verse thirty: "charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised." I have found this verse to ring true so many times, over and over again.
Let's embrace our beauty as women, not hinder it. Let's use our beauty to bring light in places that are dark. A woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Thank you Heather for having me! I would love to meet each and every one of you, so please stop by my blog and say hello.
Love,
Mandy
Friday, May 25, 2012
Mayspiration: Invest Poem
Continuing Mayspiration I have the wonderful Mrs. Gina from Contemplating Beauty. Gina has such a sweet soul, love this lady! And I am still in awe over the fact that she has a daughter who is 20! If you've never stopped by Gina's blog, I hope you will take a second today to say HELLO and tell her you are visiting from the Mayspiration event. :)
Thank you Heather for the pleasure of contributing to your May Inspiration month, I am honored and humbled to share with you all today.
This is a poem I wrote in thoughts of where we put our thoughts. The mind is a powerful thing, and if we use it for good, it's incredible what can happen. It's just we usually have to be intentional. I wrote this poem in hopes to inspire that! I hope you enjoy it.
***
Thank you Heather for the pleasure of contributing to your May Inspiration month, I am honored and humbled to share with you all today.
This is a poem I wrote in thoughts of where we put our thoughts. The mind is a powerful thing, and if we use it for good, it's incredible what can happen. It's just we usually have to be intentional. I wrote this poem in hopes to inspire that! I hope you enjoy it.
Invest
a poem by Gina L. Norman
Invest in hope
Invest in love (as a verb)
Invest in others
Invest in kindness
Invest in not gossiping
Invest in complimenting others
Invest in forgiveness
Invest in letting go
Invest in joy
Invest in treating others how you'd want to be treated
Invest in sharing
Invest in being humble
Invest in not having an opinion
Invest in telling the truth
Invest in meekness
Where is your time going to be spent with your mind, your heart? It's easy to not invest in these areas, it's more work and a challenge to do what's right, honorable, and worthy. Are you up for the challenge?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thankful Thursday V9.5
Just in case it happens to be your first time stopping by Thankful Thursday let me tell you a bit about it. It's a weekly link up that myself (and other bloggers) host every week in which we list off things we are thankful for. Now these things can be serious or completely ridiculous, BUT, something we are thankful for nonetheless. I leave my link up open for an entire week because honestly you shouldn't just be thankful on Thursday, but EVERYDAY. And you are welcome to link up with me whenever. :) I'd love to have you join in on our fun! The button is below, feel free to grab one and link on up!
♥ getting to go to my friends daughter's recital for the 2nd year in a row. She is just the cutest little thing when she is up there dancing. and so appreciative. She ran up to me and my friend and said "I AM SO HAPPY YOU GUYS CAME!" My heart melted. She truly is her momma's girl!
♥ that my car didn't get towed while I was enjoying said recital. This is also the 2nd year in a row that I parked "illegally" to avoid paying a ridiculous parking fee for a little girls recital. And yes, I am aware the parking fee would be less than the towing fee.
♥ that I am almost done with another long work week. And then onto a likely 4 day weekend. I'll take that!
♥ a new Sunday School class at my church that I attended last week. It's more of a beginners class but I am super excited because my Daddy came with me and that's what I really wanted, to get him out and about!
What are YOU thankful for this week?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Mayspiration: My Sister
Let me give you a little bit of background because our relationship really is unique.
My sister is 2 years older than me (and looks just like our momma). And we've only met a number of times. Sadly, I can count them on one had (but excitingly, she will be staying with me a week this summer!!!!). We didn't meet until we were in our twenties (our first meeting was for our biological grand mothers funeral no less). You see, my mother was kind of forced into giving her up for adoption, she was unable to care for her properly and DCF was called. At that point instead of fighting it, my mom did an amazingly selfless thing and decided to do what was in the best interested of my sister, and she found the perfect adoptive mother for her. It really is a beautiful thing. My sister and I have both been blessed. Sadly my mom passed away in 2001 and my sister was not able to meet her before she passed. I know Mom is looking down on us both now, beaming, smiling with pride. And my sister and I are very close, we communicate via text literally every day. That may seem impersonal, but honestly, it's SO much better than a phone call... We can chat hour by hour and know whats going on with each other without having to call every hour.
Anyways, back to the inspiring part. While we grew up miles apart from each other in Florida, we have so much in common. Hey, it's in the genes.
I find it funny because people often tell me I have such a huge heart.
But to me, my sister does. Our hearts are linked.
Both of our passions is helping others, bringing joy to others.
I am about to type verbatim a few texts that were exchanged between my sister and I back in March.
March 19 2012: she randomly texted me to share a part of her day. that was the best moment in awhile. I went out and asked the trash guy about the bag of leaves because it looked like they were questioning them. He said he was slow today, just him, and that he was going to swing around to get it. I hurried in to make him a hot chi with sugar and milk and buttered him two blueberry scones and took it to him. He pulled the truck to the side and sat in the cab and drank and ate it. He was very thankful. Life is good :)
March 21 2012: I had asked my sister what she was up to that day as it was a rare day off from college (she just graduated with her MASTERS in social services this month!!!) and she replied with did a lot of small town stuff. took the owner of the pharmacy with the soda fountain who is 70 years old some dinner for he and his wife and had a chocolate malt while talking with him. Took the post master a hot tea basket. was a fun day making people smile and I saw several today.
Those type of things inspire me to be a better person. I mean really, how many of us can say that we seriously take the time to make not only someone else's day, BUT, a STRANGERS day, better?
My challenge to YOU today is to do something that makes someone else smile, preferably a stranger :)
It's a day late but I am linking up with We Encourage Tuesday over at Call Me Blessed as well as Whatever Wednesday over at Rolled Up Pretty.
Monday, May 21, 2012
05-21-02 - High School Graduation
10 years ago I graduated from high school.
Can I be the first to say that statement above blows my mind?
Where oh where did time go?
I honestly don't know, but, I do know, in those 10 years I've traveled to Europe, the Caribbean Islands, and throughout the United States. I got to know my Savior Jesus Christ. I've loved and I've lost. I've served on the board of directors for my local SPCA. I've done numerous charity events. I've laughed. I've cried. I've watched close friends have children, get married, get divorced, and I myself tied the knot last year! I've purchased my 1st home with my handsome husband. And I wouldn't change a thing. I realize that while I CAN close my eyes to the things I don't want to see, I can not close my heart to the things I don't want to feel. I know that God has me exactly where I am at for a reason. HIS reason.
But for now, I reflect. And here's a few pictures to bring back that time in my life.
My high school best friend and I. We were so close we even took senior pictures together. :)
Fun fact about the picture above. It's one of the few photo's I have holding my actual high school diploma. Apparently once we beat the crowd outside, and were taking photo's outside, I must have laid my diploma on the hood of my car or something and drove off because just a few short hours later at my friends house when they asked us to get our diploma's and pose with them, mine was no where to be found. Oopsie. SO, the one I have now is not my original, and, I will always wonder exactly what DID happen TO my original!
I am proud to call these two ladies best friends to this day.
My Daddy and I ♥
Ford Probe was my very 1st car of my own.
And, a few pics from prom....
And various other "Senior" activities...
Fun Fact from Grad Night: I remember when we got home Emily came over to my house to go to sleep after being out ALLLLL night for Grad night, and the AC at my house had went out while we were going. HORRIBLE I tell you! You have two grouchy teenagers coming in after a night of no sleep trying to go to sleep in the heat of the day. I still remember my joy when I heard the air kick on a few hours later!
Yearbook awards
Senior Breakfast
Last day of school!
The shirt I chose to wear on the last day of school definitely shows my maturity level back then. It says:
Just because I flirt, doesn't mean I am interested.
Ah, high school.... good times. Good times, indeed.
But, like I said above, I am completely content with where I am now. And I honestly wouldn't go back to high school and change a thing because you know what? It all got me to right where I am today. It all happened for a reason, and shaped my life in some way. It's just another chapter in the story of my life. Thanks for reminiscing with me today!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Mayspiration: Awake & Alive
Today I have one of my good friends, Jen, from Daisies in November. Jen is working real hard to travel to Ethiopia in September to help build a school. She's such a sweetheart with a HUGE heart. I adore her and I know you will to if you end up swinging over to her blog. She has an adorable dog, Daisy, who you can't help to fall in love with as well.
***
Hi Brown Eyed Bell(e) Readers!
I'm Jen from Daisies in November
I'm Jen from Daisies in November
and I'm so happy to be taking part in Heather's Mayspiration series!
Some of my favorite things in life are my dogs, laughter, and the ocean. I also strive to make a positive difference in people's lives whenever I can.
A while back I was going through a rough time and I asked God to show me what I could do to make myself feel like I had a purpose, and to be able to change others' lives at the same time.
Shortly after, I came across Awake & Alive, and now so much of my inspiration comes from some very special kids.
After reading about their mission, I contacted Jolene (one of the co-founders along with Danielle) and told her I wanted to become involved!
Danielle and Jolene are not much older than me and they started Awake & Alive by themselves (along with God, of course) and because of all their hard work Awake & Alive has raised nearly $44,000 to start a school in Kechene, Ethiopia.
Kechene is a slum of Ethiopia made up largely of widows who are considered "cursed and forgotten." They have to leave their children home alone all day (from as early as 4 in the morning until after sunset) so that they can go to work carrying sticks or other hard labor to try to earn some money to feed their children. In turn, the small children are left home alone.. in danger of becoming trafficked or worse, and they are left with no one to love on them throughout their days.
There is also no education available for them. Awake and Alive is changing all of that! The school is being opened this September and 30 students will be able to start their education, receive 2 meals a day, and books and uniforms. Their mothers will be able to go to work knowing that their children are in a safe place all day!
And I am so excited and blessed because I will be going along with Awake & Alive to Kechene from September 6-16 to meet these amazing women and children and to be there for the opening of the school on September 12th! What a glorious day that will be! It's amazing to see how much God has moved in my life in such a short amount of time.
I am so thankful that I was led to this cause and I know it is one that I will continue working with throughout my life. I know after I go and meet the children and see the way they live, my life will be forever changed and I will advocate for these kids as much as I possibly can.
To watch a short video, or if you are interested in helping me fundraise so that I am able to go in September, you can visit my Razoo page here which also describes everything we will be doing while on this trip!
Also be sure to check out Awake and Alive, they have a facebook (here)... there are so many ways you can get involved, even spreading awareness is very helpful!
Thank you Heather for letting me share about such a big part of my heart!
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Mayspiration: A Caregivers Story
Today Elena is here to share her story of when her mom was diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago. This story touches my heart in more ways than one as in 2007 one of MY very best friends was also diagnosed with Leukemia. So thankful to say my friend is also in remission, and I hope to be sharing her story by the end of the month as well.
Happy MAYspiration!
***
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| That's Mom on the left and me on the right! This photo was recently taken at an art gala! Another fun adventure we had since Mom has been home! |
Happy MAYspiration!
Let me introduce myself!
About one year ago this May, my Mom was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
It was a shock to say the least...it was surreal, and it changed our lives forever.
Her treatment included all the fun things that come with Cancer.
Chemotherapy, Radiation, and eventually a Bone Marrow Transplant.
All of which she was blessed to receive. Fast forward to about 3 days post transplant.
Mom was diagnosed with a life threatening skin infection that nearly killed her.
5 surgeries later, and a month long stay in the ICU, she was slowly but surely beginning to recover.
Of course since the day of her diagnosis, we knew the ending to her story could have been tragic, but we never in a million years dreamed it could have ended in such a devastating way.
Now 9 months later, my Mom is finally home and facing what will be a long and wonderful new life! We had a very interesting conversation recently about her thoughts on why exactly she was
"saved." Why in fact she was given this second chance to live.
She wondered what exactly was the message she was supposed to take out of her situation.
What was her purpose now? What is her new path? Is she supposed to go back to life pre-Cancer? Is she supposed to find something new? She still doesn't know, but she knows in her heart that there is a purpose.
What I took away from the conversation was this:
My life before pre-Cancer was great. I was newly married, just bought a house, got a dog...life was good. But I never had my "path" figured out. I was in love and knew my life would be amazing with my husband, but like my Mom now, I had never really found my calling.
What is my plan in the world? What am I supposed to do with my skills, my ideas, my love, my heart so full of care and the want to give to others?
I do believe we all have a plan. Before Cancer, I don't think I was looking hard enough. I don't think I had the inspiration to look hard enough.
Like my Mom, I am now on a journey trying to find the answers. I have a faith in myself I never had before to find my path.
I think we all struggle with these questions in some way. I also think the majority of us feel alone and don't know where to turn when searching for our answers to life.
I don't have the answers, but I know that I am supposed to inspire others and myself to do what's right for me.
I truly do believe that not only do we walk on this earth for ourselves, but also for each other and maybe, just maybe when we question each others plans, do we find our own.
So take the leap with me. Let's challenge each other, question each other, support each other,
and maybe...we just may find what we are all looking for!
Follow me on my journey! www.soaringwithfaith.blogspot.com
Of course since the day of her diagnosis, we knew the ending to her story could have been tragic, but we never in a million years dreamed it could have ended in such a devastating way.
Now 9 months later, my Mom is finally home and facing what will be a long and wonderful new life! We had a very interesting conversation recently about her thoughts on why exactly she was
"saved." Why in fact she was given this second chance to live.
She wondered what exactly was the message she was supposed to take out of her situation.
What was her purpose now? What is her new path? Is she supposed to go back to life pre-Cancer? Is she supposed to find something new? She still doesn't know, but she knows in her heart that there is a purpose.
What I took away from the conversation was this:
My life before pre-Cancer was great. I was newly married, just bought a house, got a dog...life was good. But I never had my "path" figured out. I was in love and knew my life would be amazing with my husband, but like my Mom now, I had never really found my calling.
What is my plan in the world? What am I supposed to do with my skills, my ideas, my love, my heart so full of care and the want to give to others?
I do believe we all have a plan. Before Cancer, I don't think I was looking hard enough. I don't think I had the inspiration to look hard enough.
Like my Mom, I am now on a journey trying to find the answers. I have a faith in myself I never had before to find my path.
I think we all struggle with these questions in some way. I also think the majority of us feel alone and don't know where to turn when searching for our answers to life.
I don't have the answers, but I know that I am supposed to inspire others and myself to do what's right for me.
I truly do believe that not only do we walk on this earth for ourselves, but also for each other and maybe, just maybe when we question each others plans, do we find our own.
So take the leap with me. Let's challenge each other, question each other, support each other,
and maybe...we just may find what we are all looking for!
Follow me on my journey! www.soaringwithfaith.blogspot.com
Friday, May 18, 2012
Friday's Letters
Dear Procrastination you are not my friend. Leave me alone. I have stuff I need to get up and just do. Dear Blackberry I am sorry that I drop you multiple times pretty much on a daily basis. I understand this is likely why you don't work right. Dear Indian Summer Farms I am deeply saddened that you are closing. Dear leaves that cover our 2 acre yard can you please rake yourself? That would be just great. Dear furbabies you all provide me with endless joy. You never get tired of your squeaky toys. Dear participants of Mayspiration thank you for sharing your hearts with us. If you haven't read the various guest posts over the month, take a moment to scroll back from May 1st on. Dear gift cards in my wallet please remind me to actually use you when I am out. Dear pay day I LOVE YOU! Every other Friday is awesome. Dear dog nail clippers where are you? I've looked everywhere. Pups need their nails trimmed. Dear black thumb can you become a green thumb? I'd really like to plant a successful garden. Dear readers thank you for loving me, even though I am a weirdo. :)
Happy Weekend Friends!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thankful Thursday V9.3
Just in case it happens to be your first time stopping by Thankful Thursday let me tell you a bit about it. It's a weekly link up that myself (and other bloggers) host every week in which we list off things we are thankful for. Now these things can be serious or completely ridiculous, BUT, something we are thankful for nonetheless. I leave my link up open for an entire week because honestly you shouldn't just be thankful on Thursday, but EVERYDAY. And you are welcome to link up with me whenever. :) I'd love to have you join in on our fun! The button is below, feel free to grab one and link on up!
This week I am thankful for:
♥ Starbucks Green Tea Frappe's.
♥ finding a local chinese buffet that is cheap AND delicious. We went for my Dad's birthday last Thursday and it was delish. I am ready to go back.
♥ seeing The Avengers with my Daddy last weekend. It was the first time he'd been to the movies in years and his 1st 3D movie.
♥ walks by the lake, day or night, always peaceful.
♥ doing simple things to make a difference like setting out food for the mail carrier food drive.
♥ the fact that I am able to get up and walk each day. I've been in a lot of pain this past week. I'm sure it's a combo of the extra days I worked last week as well as our rainy weather combined with my horrible spinal issues, but, the fact of the matter is, so many people have it worse. The fact that I am able to walk on my own two feet, regardless of pain, is a blessing itself. Thank you Jesus.
♥ My sister graduating with her masters last weekend. I just wish I could have been there.
♥ Clients decided not to work on Mother's day. This meant I got to enjoy church + sermon, a lunch with wonderful friends, and I cooked enchiladas and spanish rice for Ryan's parents as well as one of my best friends and her boyfriend.
♥ a fresh bright and springy blog look thanks to Laura over at Between the Lines
♥ I made it through the two weeks of training a director for another center we have opening soon. A friend and I had to train the new director on what exactly we do.
♥ finding out Buddy... er, Butterbean is a pet. I am still over the moon about that.
I am linking up with some other Thankful Thursday's this week: The Fontenot Four, Kate Says Stuff, A Punk, A Pumpkin, and a Peanut, Black Tag Diaries, & First Day Of My Life.
What are YOU thankful for this week?
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| PW Recipe |
♥ rain, sweet rain. Jesus bring the rain! Florida has been in much need.
♥ a fresh bright and springy blog look thanks to Laura over at Between the Lines
I am linking up with some other Thankful Thursday's this week: The Fontenot Four, Kate Says Stuff, A Punk, A Pumpkin, and a Peanut, Black Tag Diaries, & First Day Of My Life.
What are YOU thankful for this week?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What makes someone ugly?
I don't share often on here about work because since I am not self employed, I don't feel that my blog is the place to go into depth about what I do as I fully realize that once something is published online, it is what it is. Public knowledge and there is no taking it back.
Anyways, I have shared a bit about what I do: I work in a call center that conducts surveys. I work more behind the scenes, in management and I deal with sample and quotas.
I wanted to share with you a conversation I had tonight with one of the employees that works on the floor (conducting surveys). A minor was dialing in the same room that my station is set up in. The room was full, however by the end of the night, she was the only one left in that particular room. I had already established that she was 17 as she volunteered her age earlier in the night during a conversation with someone else.
As I was sitting their minding my own business, doing my job, I heard her loudly say (to herself might I add) "ew, she is UGLY and I HOPE she knows it."
This really struck a cord with me.
SO, I turned around and very straight forwardly said "SO, I have to ask. What makes someone ugly in the eyes of a 17 year old?"
She looked at me shocked for a minute... and then said "like ugly in the face?" and I said "in general, what makes someone ugly?" and again she looked at me funny and said their face.
I said "Okay, I just had to ask, because you see, I find everyone beautiful" to which her jaw dropped and she gave an exhasberated "really?" to which I said "yes, I am a Christian woman, and I see beauty in all things"
I told her we shouldn't judge from the outside, but instead within. She then made the remark that she knew really pretty people that are ugly on the inside because of the way they act.
And I said "and I know people that YOU might not think are pretty, but they have a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it"
She agreed. And that was that.
I don't know if this conversation made a difference to her or not, but, I can only hope, because the comment she made was really ugly.
It makes you take a minute to think. How often do we judge others without even thinking twice about it? Yes, all too often. And you don't have to lie. We are all (myself included) guilty of it at some point or another in our lives.
But, you know what? It's NEVER too late to change. If you still judge others, take a moment and really think about it. What right do we have? NONE. We haven't walked in their shoes. We don't know what it's like to be them. Remember, EVERYONE you meet is going through their own battles. Just because they put on a smile doesn't mean they are truly happy.
Treat other's as you yourself would want to be treated.
Anyways, I have shared a bit about what I do: I work in a call center that conducts surveys. I work more behind the scenes, in management and I deal with sample and quotas.
I wanted to share with you a conversation I had tonight with one of the employees that works on the floor (conducting surveys). A minor was dialing in the same room that my station is set up in. The room was full, however by the end of the night, she was the only one left in that particular room. I had already established that she was 17 as she volunteered her age earlier in the night during a conversation with someone else.
As I was sitting their minding my own business, doing my job, I heard her loudly say (to herself might I add) "ew, she is UGLY and I HOPE she knows it."
This really struck a cord with me.
SO, I turned around and very straight forwardly said "SO, I have to ask. What makes someone ugly in the eyes of a 17 year old?"
She looked at me shocked for a minute... and then said "like ugly in the face?" and I said "in general, what makes someone ugly?" and again she looked at me funny and said their face.
I said "Okay, I just had to ask, because you see, I find everyone beautiful" to which her jaw dropped and she gave an exhasberated "really?" to which I said "yes, I am a Christian woman, and I see beauty in all things"
I told her we shouldn't judge from the outside, but instead within. She then made the remark that she knew really pretty people that are ugly on the inside because of the way they act.
And I said "and I know people that YOU might not think are pretty, but they have a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it"
She agreed. And that was that.
I don't know if this conversation made a difference to her or not, but, I can only hope, because the comment she made was really ugly.
It makes you take a minute to think. How often do we judge others without even thinking twice about it? Yes, all too often. And you don't have to lie. We are all (myself included) guilty of it at some point or another in our lives.
But, you know what? It's NEVER too late to change. If you still judge others, take a moment and really think about it. What right do we have? NONE. We haven't walked in their shoes. We don't know what it's like to be them. Remember, EVERYONE you meet is going through their own battles. Just because they put on a smile doesn't mean they are truly happy.
Treat other's as you yourself would want to be treated.
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