Sheltering Through Kindness (Fill A Bucket)

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. ~Mother Teresa

November 9-13 is World Kindness Week. One of character traits I was most passionate about teaching my girls was kindness. When I see young children acting in an unkind manner it makes me sad, because I know unkind children grow up to be unkind adults.

With school beginning soon, this would be a good time to discuss bullying with your children. According to a study by the National Center for Educational Statistics (2015), one out of every four students (22%) report being bullied during the school year.

 

























The best way to teach kindness is to model it. With small children it's also good to find ways to reward their kind behaviour. I recently came across this delightful book by Carold McCloud. Fill a Bucket: A daily dose to happiness for a young child. The bucket filling is a metaphor for kind behavior--both given and received. Be prepared to hear "The Bucket Song" over and over! 

Why not purchase one for a friend's child? Many times purchasing extras like books are last in line for parents raising a family. When I give a child a gift it frequently involves a book.

Fill a Bucket is for ages 4-8, although I feel a younger child would enjoy it, too. The author has written another title, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? for older children. These books are $9.99, (paperback $8.99) which seemed a bit high to me. But I can rationalize my way all around book purchases. So think of it as a learning tool, or that it's fostering a love of books. I'm gifting mine to my grandchildren, and that's the best rationalization there is!

Gift the book with a small bucket 

Print and cut out the hearts and stars from the printable below. On a tag write these instructions: When you are kind to someone, write their name on a star--because you're a star. When someone is kind to you, write their name on a heart-- kindness makes your heart smile. I added a name/Scripture verse tag, too.

A book all parents and teachers should read is Frank Peretti's "The Wounded Spirit." It will help you to be more aware of the symptoms of the bullying and unkind actions of school age children. I heard Peretti speak on this topic and what he endured at school was only tolerable because of loving parents and the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. Not all children have this strong support system.  

Willy Davis said, "If you step on people in this life, you're going to come back as a cockroach." While that's not how we would train our children to be kind, we need to to not only teach them, Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32), but how that looks in 2015. Let's train the next generation to be kind. Being proactive now will prevent wounded spirits later.  

Is Your Child a Bully?
Good Girls Bully, too 
Children's Journal Sheet for Bullying


Download here: Kindness Bucket Stars and Hearts

Finding the Holy in the Mundane

We often let the big ideas, the majestic vistas of salvation, the grand visions of God’s work in the world, and the great opportunities for making an impact in the name of Jesus distract us from taking with gospel seriousness the unglamorous ordinary. Eugene Peterson

Let’s face it, sometimes life is just mundane. The young women are in college where life is a series of sitting in class, going to meals and completing projects. The young mothers change diapers and build block towers for their toddlers to knock down. By the time their child is in middle school, their time is spent in a vehicle, aka taxi cab. When the nest empties they putsy around the house and spend extra time on a new hobby. By then the hair is white, the step slow, and doctor visits occupy a vast amount of time. Is there ever time for the holy?

Daily life is just so “daily,” yet we have a place in our soul that cries out for the holy. It’s the place where God abides – the place from where He is constantly inviting us to come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31). For many of us a prolonged rest just doesn’t work. In those times we need to find the holy in the middle of our mundane. 

Steps to Finding the Holy

1. Obey Philippians 4:11

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. When our thoughts are pure and just, the holy can be found in a sink full of dishes and an unmade bed.

2. Extend Grace

The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Exodus 34:6-7). When your husband is late for the meal you lovingly prepared – extend grace. When your child spills another glass of milk – extend grace. When your teenager’s room displays all the attributes of a tornado – extend grace. When you burn the pan of cookies – extend grace. Extending grace doesn’t negate the need for correction and guidance. It does mean responding in kindness, and in the kindness we find the holy.

3. Sneak in the Holy

The Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say (Luke 12:12). Talk about Noah’s obedience over animal cookies and milk. Tell the story of the Good Samaritan while bandaging cuts from a skate board accident. My Aunt Posie told me stories while she was ironing. Sing on the trek between the house and soccer practice. Tell the story of David and Goliath with Lego men. My friend, Anne, refused to allow me to help with the dishes after a recent meal. “Doing dishes is a time for me to pray.”

Don’t fall into the trap of mundane day after mundane day. When we strive to reach into our soul’s “God’s place,” we will hear whispered words, Take off your shoes, the ground on which you stand is holy ground (Exodus 3:5). 

Elizabeth Barret Browning penned these words:

Earth’s crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God;

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes,

The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries,

And daub their natural faces unaware...

We have to be waiting in our heart’s meditation, offering grace, and sneaking in the holy moments. And maybe, in anticipation, we can slip off our heart’s shoes, knowing that when we do our part, God sends the holy.

Linked to:
Women With Intention
A Little R & R Wednesday
Thought Provoking Thursdays
I Choose Joy!

What's In Your Cup?

I have especially learned gratitude for all those moments when the unexpected has transformed my life into an abundant cup of blessings. ~Joyce Rupp


My mother’s files and notebooks hold a wealth of spiritual lessons. The inspiration for this post was found among them.

We cup our hands around the thin china, heat seeping through to warm our hands. This daily rhythm around the world connects us in a way coffee never can. Over the amber hue of black tea, the mellow flavor of green tea, or the more expensive white tea of Asia, friendships are formed or grown. Around the world, 38 billion cups of tea are consumed every day.

  

Despite the comment above about coffee, 400 million cups of the dark liquid warm us and awaken us each day. Add to that hot cider and hot chocolate, we are a cuppa world.

We sip tea from fragile china or curl our hands around thick pottery brimming with coffee. There are Biblical cups in Scripture, too. Cups filled, not with coffee or tea, but with kindness, blessings, and even sorrow. 

1. Cup of Blessings

The Psalmist, once a lowly shepherd boy, likens the Lord to a shepherd. He writes how God supplies his needs, how He leads, restores, and anoints. By the time David compiled the blessings of the Shepherd, he was blessed beyond measure, writing, My cup runs over (Psalm 23). Someone said, “It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.” Write a list of your blessings and your cup will run over.

2. Cup of Kindness

Jesus taught, If you give a cup of cold water to the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded (Matthew 10:42). Kindness doesn’t need to be a large act, just a simple kindness, a cup of water or a gift card for the coffee shop, a smile or quick hug, an hour of childcare or a plate of cookies. Jesus tells us, When you do it to these my brothers, you are doing it to me (Matthew 25:40).

3. Cup of Sorrow and Suffering

This cup is harder to swallow. Jeremiah said, He has…given me a cup of deepest sorrow to drink (Lamentations 3:15). Jesus, too, talks about His cup of suffering: If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39).

4. The Dirty Cup

But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness” (Luke 11:39). What would our cups look like if we just cleaned the outside but left the ring of tea on the inside? Are we guilty of dressing up in our religious garb, yet leaving anger, unforgiveness, immorality, etc., in our hearts?

What’s in your cup today?

Sew in the Morning and Giveaway

A little consideration, a little thought for others makes all the difference.                                                                          ~Eeyore

Imagine putting away the steel needles we use today and using one of bone or wood splinters.  I’m sure they would ruin many of the fabrics we use today.  But -- Dorcas had a garment-making ministry and used the bone needles like a pro.  Acts 6:36 tells us she was full of good works and acts of kindness to the poor.  Dorcas focused on the widows as she sewed (by hand, remember) coats and other garments for them.  She made clothing for the children of younger widows.  Recipients of her craft and kindness were often those who could not afford to buy the material, much less with the ability, or, in the case of the older widows, had the keen eyesight necessary for sewing.

Dorcas reminds me of my mother-in-law.  RB’s mother was a first class encourager and many times used her needle (and sewing machine) to bless others.  Some garments were made for those she and her husband shepherded.  Other times she sheltered fellow pastors’ families or missionaries.  Mother Kuhn loved shopping for others in thrift shops, altering dress shirt sleeve-lengths for some, hemming suit slacks for others.  My daughters would snuggle in nighties made by Grandma Kuhn.  I don’t know how many tea towel toppers she made, many times giving them to all the ladies of her church, the evangelists to take back to their wives after a revival, to shut-ins, or to a sick or discouraged friend. 

Each generation is unique.  What one does, the next carries on in a whole new way.   DeLynda, from our church, uses her sewing skills, too, to shelter others.  Gifts from her embroidery machine are present at each baby and wedding shower, college bash, and even in our church mailboxes.  Her most recent blessing was covers for notebooks.  Each one was different, embroidered with our name, complete with a sweet note in the pocket.  DeLynda has made almost 50 of these covers.  Different from Dorcas and her hand sewn clothes, different from Mother Kuhn and her refurbished clothing — unique! I don’t know about the other ladies, but I feel sheltered every time I use my sheltering notebook.

Ah, wait!  The needle blessing doesn't stop with DeLynda’s generation.  These Crabtrees shelter! She taught her daughter-in-law to sew, and I don’t think her machine has stopped since—a quilt for her daddy, made from her grandmother’s clothing, dresses for her sweet daughter, Maddy, and gifts for others, including a new updated tea towel topper.

What can you sew to shelter someone?  To get you excited about a new project, this week’s giveaway is The Simple Life Fat Quarter Bundle - Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs - 6 pieces (Total 1.5 yards). The giveaway is open for all of my readers, so leave a comment, and  I’ll let you know who wins next Wednesday. 




Here's a few easy projects to get your creative juices going.
Better Homes and Garden
Martha Stewart
Elm Street Life

Random.org chose Margie from Margie’s garden to win “Baking for Friends.”  If any of you sheltered someone with a baked treat this week, I’d love to know.

Sharing the Shelter

Do you have a recipe, craft or sewing project, an encouraging devotional, favorite book you like to gift, or other sheltering idea you’d like to share?  Link up and enjoy the ideas.  I like keeping the rules simple:

• Only two links per blog each week 
• Grab my button or leave a text link-back 
• Visit the two blogs before yours 
• Shelter someone! 

Linked to:

Life in Bloom
Thoughtful Thursday
Faith Filled Friday

Shredded Grace

Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

The number of dishonest people in the world amazes me.  RB got a call from the business office of the university last week.  "When was the last time you used your university credit card?"  It had been a while, but he was able to pinpoint it pretty fast.  "Someone in Saudi Arabia tried to purchase luggage with it."  Time to shred the card and get another one.


A few days later RB was in Walmart and used his personal bank card.  It was denied.  I'm not sure what concerned him more -- that the card wouldn't work or the fact that the money he thought was in the bank disappeared.  A few phone calls later and he found out someone in a distant state had tried to use the card at two different pharmacies.  It was just a less-than-$10.00 purchase, but the fraud department caught it and blocked his card.  Another card shredded, and a new one sent.


Some dishonesty is harder to make right.  When grace is stolen, what can you shred? We steal grace when we withhold the depths of grace God intended for us to offer. We all need grace to ground our lives.  Goodness, kindness, genuine gratitude is freely given in the offering of our hand and heart. Grace is found when both are offered.  Gifts freely given with our hands wide open only shine with the intensity of a stained glass window when our hearts are open as widely as our hands.

The attitude of some people seems to be one of disdain toward those needing grace.  And I am not entirely innocent of this crime.  How many times have I arranged colorful tissue paper in a gift bag, tied a bow and felt like I have done my duty?  Here, I've showed compassion.  Yeah me.  -- When grace in the form of a conversation was needed more than the gift.  A quick hug given instead of "Come sit by me."  How many times I have selfishly interacted with those I am comfortable with, those whom I can converse with easily.


Grace is not grace when offered reluctantly.   Nor is it grace when recompense is expected.  Grace is in its truest form when unmerited, yet offered willingly.  A grace-starved soul will spew anger, cynicism and depression.  Attitudes that do not attract our desire to share grace.  Sam Storms, when speaking of God's grace said, "Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit."  And so also our offering of grace to those we touch is not grace if we offer it only in reaction to the thought of grace returned.


When we offer grace, it is then the beauty of God's grace shines.  It doesn't matter the amount of fish or bread we are offering.  God multiplies the grace and blessings far more than our small offering.  Like manna, it can be gathered. Like joy, it can overflow.  Like peace, it can satisfy.  Ask God to fill your heart with grace that can be gathered, overflow, and satisfy those reaching hands and yearning souls.

Linked to:

Faith Filled Friday

Spiritual Sunday

On Your Heart Tuesday

Miscellany Monday

Company Girl Coffee

Peyton Manning Sheltering Style

Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. ~Saint Teresa of Avila



If you go to Peyton Manning Children's Hospital's website you can read their mission statement: "Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable."  If you visit the hospital you will experience their mission statement in practice.

This week my {great} niece had surgery.  Maddy is an amazing three-year-old.  Born with Spina Bifida, Maddy has had numerous surgeries -- pokes, prods and necessary ouchies.  When I walked into her room before surgery, she was sitting up, smiling at everyone.  Maddy's children's pastor was there to pray with her.  The nurses are incredible about visitors -- just doing what they need to around everyone -- cheerfully and gently.  

When it was time for Maddy's surgery, a nurse blew bubbles for her -- Maddy loved them.  She blew us kisses and left without a whimper.  Barely before we were settled in the waiting room, an aide stopped by to tell Glen and Pam that Maddy had chattered the whole way to the operating room.  These extra touches mean a lot to a mother and father.  From the aide who continued to update us to the one who delivered Maddy back to her room, they were cheerful and kind. It was amazing how many touched her life in those twelve hours -- each one as gentle as the first.

Maddy's peppermint stick casts had everyone smiling.  IVs were hooked up, temperature taken, and the only time Maddy fussed was when they took her blood pressure.  And then -- visitors.  Pilots for Kids were conducting a hospital-wide visit.  They talked to Maddy, gave her a gift bag full of fun things, and even posed for pictures.  

The people who touched Maddy's life Wednesday were indeed "rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer."  They were the hands of Jesus.  I felt as if, like Jesus, they tied a towel around their waist and gently washed Maddy's feet.  They blessed Maddy, just as Jesus blessed the little children brought to Him.  Gentle, kind and hands-on -- I want to touch others Peyton-Manning-Style.

Read Pam's post on Sheltering Families with Special Needs

Linked to:

Brag on God Friday

Playdates with God

Spiritual Sunday

On In and Around Mondays

Soli Deo Gloria

Of Fat Pies and Kind Words

A word of kindness is better than a fat pie.  ~Russian Saying

What comes to mind when you think of a fat pie?  I made an apple pie for Sunday dinner -- what a delicious aroma filled the house! But when I put the rolls in to bake, we began to smell something -- and it wasn't the yeasty smell of Sue's Sunday Dinner Rolls.  When I opened the oven, smoke billowed out.  Lesson learned: Boiled over apple pie is not the cinnamon sweetness of the pie itself.

When we open our mouths to speak, we want our words to taste like juicy apple pie, not the burnt sugary mess in the bottom of my oven.  Every conversation should be filled with kindness.

Tears filled my eyes when I read that 160,000 children miss school each day because they fear what their peers will say about them. Doesn't reading this statistic make your heart just ache?  It reminds me why I tried to instill the virtue of kindness in my daughters on a daily basis.

Solomon knew the importance of kind words.  He said, "Kind words are like honey -- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." Once we taste the sweetness, we are spoiled for life.  Because, not only can the person receiving the kind words taste the gift of bees, but we, too, can enjoy the sweetness that comes from bestowing the kindness blessing.

Blessing with kind words is not something we put on when we feel like it.  It's a way of life. With practice it becomes who we are.  

I'd like to challenge you to intentionally bless someone with kind words this week -- someone besides family and friends:

• Pastor
• Sales clerk
• Medical personnel
• Soldier
• Coffee shop server
• Policeman
• Boss
• A child
• Harried Mother

By being intentional, you will begin a habit that will change the rest of your life.  Again, it is Solomon who gives us the wisdom of kind words: "Gentle words are a tree of life." As you bless with kindness, you will be growing leaves on your own sheltering tree -- a tree of life.  And that pie?  No comparison, because kind words really are better than a fat pie.

* * * * *

Mini Pecan Pies

Pie crusts

1 lg. egg
1 1/4 cups brown sugar packed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Mold pie crusts to mini muffin tins.  Mix the eggs, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt.  Stir in the pecans.  Fill each crust 2/3 full.  Bake 17 minutes.  The shells will be light brown and the filling puffed up.  Cool and remove from pan.  Yield: 30 pies.

Sheltering Words

Remember, every time you open your mouth, your mind walks out and parades up and down the words.  ~Edwin Stuart






Recently one of my friends and her family had the occasion to hear (endure) an amateur singing group.  After a particularly way-off-pitch song, her son turned to her and said, "That makes my ears bleed."  I laughed... then my next thought was, My ears bleed when I hear unkind, unjust and unnecessary words being spoken.   

When I read that we have 800,000 words in the English language I wondered how many of them I actually use.  They claim 300,000 are technical and scientific words only a small percentage of people use.  Still, 500,000 is a lot of words. 


What breaks my heart is that by stringing fewer than ten of those words together we can wound, discourage or criticize others.  Someone once said, "The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid."


I don't think everyone who wounds with their words are intentionally hurtful.  James reminds us, "It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that."  Have you ever heard, "I just say what I think... and you'll have to deal with it"?  I think God desires for us to watch our words. Ask yourself, Would these words hurt me if I were on the receiving end? 

In the gentlest way possible, I submit a question (The only way I feel I have a right to ask it of you is because I have asked it of myself in the past).  Are the words coming from your lips an indication of what is in your heart?  


Winston Churchill reminds us, "By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach."  It may be hard for you -- perhaps you'll need to break the habit of verbalizing every thought that pops into your mind, thus taking time to pause before opening mouth .  But this one thing I know, God has grace.  There is grace when you've been hurt and you'd like to hurt back.  There's grace -- abundant grace -- to keep the words kind, encouraging, genuine and generous -- or at times: silent!

Orbit's slogan seemed to fit the topic.

We know for sure is that there is joy in store for those who speak kind words. "Well spoken words bring satisfaction" (Proverbs 12:14).  I want to bless, encourage, to shelter with my words.  And I believe in you, dear readers; I believe your desire is the same.


In the last 24 hours, I have been blessed by a comment on my blog, a Facebook message, a phone text message and face-to-face comment from a special new friend.  These positive, encouraging words made me feel applauded.  They left joyprints all over my heart.  


We have a choice.  We can speak words of compassion, kindness, empathy and love.  We can applaud, rejoice and bless.  Our words can be life-giving.  Let's leave some joyprints this week -- whether spoken, written, or typed. Let's hang a prism of our words so those we bless will see "bits of dancing red and green, violet and orange, gold and blue...(everything) aflame with shimmering bits of color" (Pollyanna).

This post is linked to:

Spiritual Sundays

Welcome to the Weekend

Weekend Gathering

More Shelter Sightings

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. ~George Washington Carver

In my wandering through the blogs of friends, both old and new, I find people all over the world who shelter.  They may not call it sheltering -- but I do.  Life can be hard.  The aging wonder if their social security checks will cover all their expenses , and parents try to keep all their obligations to their jobs while trying to raise kids with character.  Children worry about things we didn't even dream of  at their age -- gunmen shooting at random, bullying and the pressure to conform.  Teens feel like nobody cares and most of us can't see past the piercings and black trench coats. 

I've been asking the Lord lately to help me see each person as an individual.  Not an economic class, a race, behavior or physical appearance, but someone loved by God with hurts buried in their heart and a mask on their countenance. If I can bring beauty or joy to their lives for a few minutes, I would be thrilled.  

These are people who touch lives...

Monica from the The Homespun Heart is a beautiful, creative mother of three.  A very busy mother who homeschools, plans the sweetest parties and picnics, entertains creatively and decorates her home with joy.  

In the years I have read Monica's blog I have been challenged by the sweetness of her giving to others. Whether it's her time, her finances or the delightful hand crafted gifts, she gives out of the fullness of her heart.  

The post, "Waiting Gracefully," shows the gift of friendship, prayers and time.  The greatest gifts don't always cost money -- they are a giving of oneself.

* * * * *

Wendy from My Heart is Always Home is a stay-at-home mom to Megan.  Megan joined their family at nine months when they adopted her from China.  She's a cheerful, list-maker organized, garden grower Christian who cares deeply about the tragedies not only at home but in other countries, including earthquake victims in Haiti.  

Wendy shares her gardening abundance with elderly neighbors, drops off extra supplies at their favorite charity, and shares extra coupons with others.  In this post on hospitality, Wendy shares how to offer hospitality away from home. 

* * * * *

My last Shelterer is Amber from Making a Home.  She is a home-school mom to her three children.  In her words, she feels "incredibly blessed" to to be called to be a stay-at-home mom.  Amber journals her prayers and desires her blog to glorify God.

In sheltering, I believe it must begin at home.  God gave us our families and intends us to bless them with love, devotion and gentleness.  Amber wrote this great post on 50 Practical Ways to Affirm our Husbands and Make Them Feel Love and Respected.  

Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."  I hope this post will help you to understand that giving does not need to be expensive.  Each of these young mothers are busy.  Yet each of them takes time to share of themselves, and from the abundance God has given them.  

Giving by Shirley Hughes
I know a Shirley Hughes who not only
gives extravagantly, but taught her
daughter to shelter, too.

Giving does not have to cost a cent.  You can give hugs, attention, smiles.   I promise that if you give to others you will find a contentment deep in your heart.  A generous man will himself be blessed (Proverbs 22:9).

Mother's Teresa  gave love extravagantly.  She said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."  I challenge you to find just one person to shelter this week.  Make it a gift with little or no expense.  Use Monica, Wendy or Amber's ideas or come up with one of your own.  Give consciously by asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.

Someone is hurting, overwhelmed or experiencing health issues. Shelter. Shelter the unemployed, your depressed friend and the tech who takes your blood at the lab. Shelter your husband, those kids who call you mother and your great aunt who lives alone. Reach out those leafy arms, bend your branches protectively, and give joy as the wind rustles your leaves.  

This post is linked to
Pay it Forward

Thank Goodness it's Friday

That Friday Blog Hop

Home is Where My Story Begins

Shelter Sightings

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale 



I've been pondering the above words of Hale.  Deep inside of all of us is the desire to do something large, something that would change someone's life.  Most of us don't have the resources to build a home for a homeless family, to save a life by donating a kidney, or to sponsor a family adopting a  child from overseas.  Somehow we feel like our gift is rated by the largeness--or smallness--of its size.

E. E. Hale seemed to think otherwise. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.  In my journeys around the web I've found so many kindred spirits who are intent  on doing their "something."  It warms my heart every time I find God's loving people shelter those in their pathway. 


Precious people like Kathyrn at Expectant Hearts.  Several years ago, Kathryn's son, Seth, was born with half a heart and went to Heaven when he was six and a half months old.  Losing a child is heartbreaking--it stays with you forever.  But what was Kathyrn and her husband, Leland, doing over Thanksgiving?  Stocking the Kleenex in the PICU at the hospital who cared for Seth.  Why?  In Kathyrn's words,
"Personally, any family in PICU over Thanksgiving deserves soft Kleenex, in my opinion."  They were sheltering other grieving parents though their own grief is still raw.

* * * * *

Chrissy is another one offering shelter.  When Chrissy was depressed, her pastor's wife gave her some advice (the same advice my Mother gives to me), "Call someone in the church and see how they are doing."  I don't want to spoil Chrissy's story, so you'll have to read it over at Enriched Living.  She's issuing a challenge for us to contact one person a day for the month of January and I hope some of my readers will take her challenge.

* * * * *

And then I met the Frans Clan. Momma Frans is a youth pastor's wife with  two young children.  She says, "I love being a youth pastor's wife and the opportunities I'm given to love on teenagers with the love of Jesus."  Besides the teenagers, one of the ways this family chooses to shelter is through Homeless Bags.  Momma Frans explained:

The first time we did it, we took gallon bags and filled them with things like peanut butter crackers, a pair of socks, granola bars, a bottle of water, a bar of soap, toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, etc. The ones my kids put together the other day were 2 gallon bags, and they added a hand sanitizer and a warm hat and gloves since it's cold outside.  We keep them in our car so we have them on hand when we see a homeless person.  We have some areas of town where they stand on the corner with their signs, so we usually hit those spots.

Don't these ideas touch your heart?  They did mine and I'm hoping you will try these or let them spark an idea of your own.  I will leave you with the story of a sweet shelter that touched someone dear to me.

My  niece (and namesake), Pam, is an amazing young woman.  She has three beautiful daughters, the youngest with special needs.  Pam homeschools her oldest and keeps up with all Maddy's therapists, sings in the church choir and so much more.  She's bubbly, joyful and loves being a Mama.  But this week, sweet Maddy was sick.  Actually all three girls had been sick off and on for three weeks and Maddy was going to have to see a doctor.  Pam's post on facebook immediately brought a response from Diana: So sorry....how may we help you? Perhaps some warm muffins or a loaf of cottage cheese bread? We will be out your way this evening.  Later that evening I read, I feel guilty and oh so happy that Diana brought us homemade cottage cheese bread and chocolate cake squares! 

I don't know why I am always surprised when I find God's people sheltering others.  I thought my readers would be encouraged by others around the world who are reaching out their sheltering branches --  Others saying, I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. 

* * * * *

 Bread Maker Cottage Cheese Dill Bread

Make a loaf to take to someone who's a bit under the weather.

2/3 cup warm water 

2/3 cup cottage cheese
2 tablespoons margarine
3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon dry milk powder
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 tablespoon dill seed

1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

Measure ingredients into the machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. 
Use the dough setting.  After the first rising, take out of machine and put it in a bread pan.
Allow to rise again, then bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

(If you prefer, it's fine to bake the loaf in your machine.)

This post is linked to A Few of My Favorite Things.