Finding Shannon

When was the last time you hugged someone, and really meant it?

Oftentimes, we take for granted the impact of a hug.  It is a universal sign of caring – everyone can do it…it’s free, but yet we still refrain from giving hugs often enough.  The power of a hug says so much more than words ever could.  It is a feeling felt deep inside and assures the one you give it to that you genuinely care.  I think it is sad that people claim that they don’t have the time in their busy schedule to hug someone they love.  Too busy with this or that…blah…blah…blah.  In a short few minutes a hug can express so many things.  It can bring a smile, lift spirits, ease suffering, calm a person’s feelings, and make a person feel loved and special.  The list goes on and on….

And why is it that some people limit their hugs and affection only to a partner, or a wife/husband?  When was the last time you hugged a friend, or a family member?  If you cannot remember, you are in luck.  It’s never too late, you know. A hug is a powerful way of showing affection, and people always need affection (even though sometimes they’re not willing to admit it). Maybe you’re not used to hugging, or you simply don’t want to be seen as vulnerable and sentimental. I can respect that to a certain degree, but you don’t know what you are missing and I know you will be surprised at what a hug can really accomplish. I’m not talking about a superficial hug that is forced and has no emotions behind it. I’m talking about the kind of hug that can be felt not just physically, but emotionally. Not only will the recipient feel its effects, you will feel them too! And OH WOW – OH WOW!!!, it feels SOOOOOOOO good to receive a sincere hug!!   You could say I am somewhat of a hug-a-holic.  I never pass up the opportunity to give or receive one.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend there is no better time than the present.  Mothers are best at giving hugs – be sure to give her one in return if you can.

And so it is that my wish for you is that you hug a loved one today, and do it sincerely and more often.

Never underestimate the POWER of a hug.

)))SQUISH(((

One of the toughest life lessons I ever experienced was learning how to turn the other cheek.   Having gone through the pain and suffering the situation caused me, it was hard for me to even realize how I could subject myself to even more heartache.  But, I did – and though it is not always an easy thing to do, it is definitely a goal worth achieving and being proud of.   I look back on it now and truly believe it helped me to be a better person.

Recently a friend of mine was going through a difficult time and she asked for my guidance.  After hearing her out, it was clear to me that a certain someone was taking pleasure in purposefully hurting her through words and actions. My initial thought was that I felt sorry for both of them.  When someone feels the need to degrade others through anger and intimidation, it is clear to me that the person has issues within themselves and are seeking to hurt others in order to feel better about themselves which is a foolish and endless cycle.  Perhaps there were wrongs in their past that they simply could not undo. Perhaps they would be so angry that they would never forgive one another?  My words of advice to her were….. Never let anyone discourage you concerning past failures, sins and mistakes.  Likewise we should be diligent to make restitution with anyone we have wronged, and seek reconciliation. If we are in the wrong, we should be willing to go out of our way to make things right as much as possible.  Because in this attitude, we find the whole essence of forgiveness. That’s what forgiveness is all about. To let go of our resentment and forgive the other person as well as ourselves.  Those that can forgive easily most likely have experienced genuinely the gift of God’s forgiveness.  If you have some reason to be upset with someone for some injustice, rather than seek some sort of justice or reprimand for this person’s actions, pray for that person, especially for their family, spouse, children, etc. because there is obviously something wrong in their life if they feel the need to lash out.

I am not sure I will ever understand angry, hateful people who want nothing more than to see the suffering of others. I don’t get it and to be quite honest, I don’t want to get it.  When we seek to destroy another in any manner for the sake of vengeance, it makes us no better than the person who hurt us in the first place.

So, the next time you are faced with confrontation from someone seeking to demean you, consider my advice. Though it may not be easy, just remember, it will be OK because God will work it all out; He always does and you’ll feel better about who you are because you didn’t stoop to that person’s level.

))Squishes((

What is respect?  The Dictionary defines it as – A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.  To have respect is to have admiration in something or for someone. We tend to admire things that we want or desire. For example, if you want to be beautiful you will respect beauty. If you respect life, you will treat others with kindness and love. What we want tells a lot about who we are and what we respect is a clue to what we want in life.

SOMETHING

Many people that seek to attract good things into their life have one major mistake. They do not respect what they seek. As a result their own morals and intellect will most likely interfere with their efforts. You need to show respect for things that you want. Respecting good things will bring more good into your life. Society, with the help of marketing and promotion, infuses value methods into the hearts of the masses. Much of what we respect most is often taught to us through television.  We watch shows where people are living “the dream life” and have all the possessions of a wealthy lifestyle.  When in fact, much of the values people respect do not produce happiness. People strive harder than ever to achieve more and more and yet their lives become more desolate as their lives speed up to a frantic pace of uncertainty.

SOMEONE

We also yearn for respect and admiration by others. Why? We need family and friends in our lives to remind us of our purpose. We need to feel desirable and loved. If you are constantly rejected by people it hurts. Do you have respect for others? Do you deliberately ignore people of poor dress and hygiene? Are you more apt to speak to a beautiful person?  Many people in this world do not get the proper respect that they deserve. Since respect is to be earned, how do you show respect to others? Respect for others has a lot to do with how you treat them. Everyone thinks that respect for good looks and money is superficial and yet it is the standard that most people follow. Showing respect for others is to make every effort to go out of your way to treat everyone the same way. To show true respect is to be kind to all people. You should be compassionate to people’s feelings and try and help people to feel happy. That is part of showing respect to others and true respect to God – for you are living in the way he intended you to follow.

May you find respect in true things, give respect to those who need it most, and receive the respect you deserve.

“Spread the love of God through your life but only use words when necessary.”  - Mother Teresa

“The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.”  – Mother Teresa

Madonna sang about it.  George Harrison shared his opinions about it.  We all were born into it.

ma·te·ri·al·is·tic / adjective

1. Excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of material things rather than spiritual, intellectual, moral, or cultural values.

Do material things make you happy?

It is a fact of life that material things do not necessarily bring you happiness. Our society tries very hard to teach us otherwise,  and it is a hard fact to understand sometimes.  So many times I hear people say, “If only I had ______, my life would be perfect and I would be so happy.”   What I would like to say in response is that you have a “need” for something in your life.  Be it a new pair of shoes, a new house, a new car, whatever. You buy it and you LOVE having it for a few days. But over time you get bored or it wears out. Eventually over time you will see this pattern repeated frequently and develop a mindset that material items will satisfy our needs.  When in fact they do not.  For example – in my childhood, my parents and family spent thousands and thousands of dollars on toys for me as I was growing up.  I did not lack for any wants in my childhood – Barbie dolls, bikes, games and on and on and on.  All of those toys eventually got boring or broken or outgrown. Yes, they brought me happiness, but over time they became worthless and my wants turned to newer things as I grew older.

And so I ask you “If material things bring only temporary and short-term happiness, then why do we seek them and what does that represent in our lives?” It may suggest that you have to buy material objects to sustain the temporary and short-term high of eventually being able to get something you truly desire. The problem is that it overtime it will be like a bad habit and eventually you will find yourself pondering – What is happiness?  What does it mean to be happy?  What do I want to do in my life? Does life have meaning?  And so on.

My point is this – We must be able to distinguish our needs of material belongings and material happiness.  To have material happiness means you have all the basic comforts necessary to live life, and obtain spiritual happiness. When we invest our time and energy in materialistic belongings, we deny ourselves of sharing the true worth of our very being.  To find true happiness look in the heart of all you seek.  Trouble is that we seldom go to the heart, but only to the surface for a temporary fix.  The more we relate to the superficial aspects of things, the more superficial we become ourselves.  Once again denying our true self of the beauty and gifts we possess.  The enemy here is not material things, but their source.

My advice to you is to invest your time in ways that have nothing to do with money or power.  Find your “NEEDS” in life by investing is riches like these…

FRIENDSHIPS—One who cultivates friendships and who is a joy to be around can have hundreds of good friends and can be rich beyond the wildest dreams of others.

HEALTH —One who spends time eating right, exercising and relaxing from stress can be extremely healthy, and this health can be far more valuable than any amount of money.

STRENGTH—One who works out every day, runs, swims, etc. can be rich in strength and will have a fit body.

FAMILY —One who devotes time to his or her spouse and children, parents, and extended family will have a strong and happy family that is rewarding throughout life.

FAITH – One who has a deep relationship and trust in God will receive an abundance of grace worth more than anything life has to offer.

KNOWLEDGE —One who reads and studies will become rich in knowledge.

SKILL —One who practices anything daily (a skill, a sport, prayer, whatever) will become excellent in that skill area. Excellence has its own rewards.

CHARACTER— One who works hard at being honest and truthful in all situations will become rich in character and will be trusted and loved by everyone.

Invest in yourself…a gift that keeps on giving.