Getting kinda heavy, isn't it? Sorry, I'm in one of those Seize the Day frames of mind today and I'm all about the tomorrows and where my family and I will be in them.
For starters, at this very moment, I'm sitting in my favorite coffee spot enjoying a hot cup of Earl Grey tea. It's Caribou time. The manager and her staff here are wonderful and they always have a smile and something nice to say. It's a nice spot to sit and think about what's ahead for the rest of the day, the week, etc.. I like it here. They recognize their lobby regulars and usually know what they want before they even get to the counter. On a day like today, though, I changed things up a bit. It's okay. They go with the flow and really seem to enjoy their jobs. Awesome!
Caribou, however, is not what this is all about. It's about recognizing signs in your life that are beginning to point you in different directions. Signs of the times that make you think and react.
Signs of the times, yes, and they are all affecting us in ways we haven't even thought about, good and bad.
For example, my husband is one of many thousands of employees that not only didn't get increases this year, but are now in a forced furlough plan that takes away 10 days worth of income from their checks. Insurance rates have escalated, coverages have changed, copays have gone up. And of course, there is more, more, more. If you put it all into perspective and look at the bigger picture, you then realize the magnitude of what put us here in the first place.
Unemployment and under-employment are at record highs, probably and realistically, way over 17%. Many people have simply given up and are looking at bankruptcy or homelessness. People are losing everything that they have ever owned and worked for. You drive through a neighborhood and see sign after sign of homes that are bank owned or soon to be auctioned. It's heart-wrenching. You see properties that were once worth well over a half million that are now being sold for pennies on the dollar. Our government is faced with raising the debt ceiling so that we can maintain tax cuts that need to stay in place. As a nation, we owe our financial existence to multiple foreign financial backers that have bought the bonds to cover our out of control national debt and ever growing government. For those of you that haven't figured it out yet, yes, I'm a conservative and firmly believe in supporting the Constitution of our country. But yet, all of these things mentioned above are still not what this is all about, but we are getting there.
The holidays are just around the corner. As a matter of fact, Thanksgiving is in two weeks and Christmas is a mere 45 days away and that is what I'm leading up to. What's this all about? Okay, I will tell you, but I suspect that you might be figuring things out on your own.
When you were younger and your parents were teaching you about crossing the street, you learned, look left, look right, and then look back left again before you go dashing out into the street. Well, here's my challenge to you all. Look left, look right and don't cross that street, but look for that one person whose life can be changed in such a mighty way by you simply being an earthbound angel. There are always people that need our help. This year, there are so many more. In our area, some lost everything due to the 500 year flood we had last year. They may still be homeless. Countless others are without a job or on the verge of losing one as so many people in Austell, Georgia are right now. The company that they work for is closing its doors in that tiny little town. They announced on the radio this morning that there is a company in a town an hour west of Atlanta that is immediately hiring 100 workers and wants to start them ASAP. I guarantee you, there will be thousands of applicants for those 100 jobs.
Look left, look right. Take a breath. Say a prayer and reach out and touch someone. I've already given money to one of the Christian radio stations to buy turkeys for the Thanksgiving day feed the hungry project. I look at what I have and it seems so little, but I guarantee you, it is more than many other people. My bounty may not be what it was 5 years ago, but it's more than a lot of people have.
Here are some simple things you can do that won't cut too deeply into your pocket books. When your local grocery has a buy one get one free special and it's something that you can use (or even if it isn't), put the "free" items in a box and add other things to it. When you've got enough to carry to the food bank, DO IT! For that matter, make it a regular visit to drop off what you can share from you pantry.
Clothing! I just cleaned closets. I have 4 bags of clothes in wonderful shape, some almost new, and they are going to the shelter.
Christmas morning, there are going to be a lot of wide-eyed children that will not have something special waiting on them. Fix that, even if it's only one small item. Adopt a family. Deliver a full meal to a family in need that might not have the traditional stuff on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Are you blessed? Then share those blessings in every way. Look left, look right. Take a breath and say a prayer. There are people out there that need you and me.
I hate to sound like a greeting card commercial, but honestly, if we've ever had a moment in our lives when we needed to not only count our blessings, but share them, it's now.
So, clean your closets, or go buy things if you can afford to do it. Load up a food pantry box as often as you can and take it where it is needed. Coats, shoes, blankets, gloves, toys, food. Cut it loose. Take them where they are needed and get to know some of those people that are going to be touched by your gift, your willingness to help, your love and faith. Volunteer at the soup kitchen, go serve turkey at the local feed the hungry mission, give with your heart and then be blessed even more than you already are.
What's different about this blog today? If you read through it, you will see that up until this point, I have not actually mentioned God anywhere. No, it wasn't because of a lack of faith or a change in my belief. No, it wasn't an oversight. He is there, in every word, in every plea, in every suggestion. He is here with me now as I sit at Caribou and He will be with me when I leave and head out to finish my day. He is with you, now and in ten minutes, 2 days, next year, always. No, His Holy name wasn't mentioned, but He is here. Remember, He is big enough to hold the universe and all of it's problems in the palm of His hand, yet small enough and so down to earth, that at this very moment, if I needed to climb up on His lap and seek out that mighty shoulder to lay my head on, He's there in an instant, now and always. Remember, He never promised us that there would be no pain, but He did promise salvation through His Son, Christ Jesus.
Look left, look right. There's a dirty, untouchable person on the corner. They're scruffy, unkempt, maybe they smell. Maybe they're a con artist, maybe a thief, or maybe they really do need money for food, or a job, or just your smile. Hungry, out of work, lost their home and everything in it..... There are ways you can help them. Are you looking at an Angel?
Look left, look right, take a deep breath, say a prayer and go bless someone else today.
I'm packing up and heading out to tackle the rest of my day. It's time. Right now. Be an angel. Be a blessing, make a difference, be Jesus when someone looks at you. Let them see Him through you.
Love y'all, blessed and thankful,
Katydid!
