SMILE

"Candid Camera" was a wonderful show, because it made people smile, laugh and forget about their problems for the moment. Every show ended with "Somewhere, when you least expect it, someone might walk up to and say, Smile! You're on Candid Camera."

Sometimes I smile for no apparent reason as I walk through the mall and people look at me with a quizzical "do I know you?" look and usually they smile back.
At the restaurant table next to me, one day, was a group of "special" people communicating with strange odd sounds. I admired how patient and kind their caregivers were with them. As they left, I said "Hi" to one of them and was rewarded with a very loud laugh right next to my face. She was so pleased and excited that someone smiled at her and noticed her as a person.

Elementary school joke. What's the longest word in the dictionary? Answer - SMILES
'Cause there's a mile between the two SS.

Harmony

The story is... that when I was just a little girl, my mom and dad set me on a chair between them as we sang as a trio in the little country church. Mom sang alto and dad sang tenor and I was taught to sing the melody, so I learned to harmonize at an early age. I have been blessed to be part of a heritage that can sing four part harmony easily.
As teenagers, my sister & I and two of our friends formed a ladies quartet. Every week we got together to practice. However these "practices" were often filled with so much giggling, laughing & talking, that we often got a reminder from our parents to get back to singing. We learned a lot of songs and were often asked to sing at evening services. I was reminded of one of those songs a few days ago when I read Psalm 103.
I can still hear the rich 4-part harmony as we sang....
"From everlasting, to everlasting.
God's mercy falls where'er we be.
Oh soul forget not, His boundless blessings
Our father e'er remembers thee."

HARMONY....what a beautiful word! It can be a blend of colors, a family living together in unity, a delicious mix of herbs and spices, sights and sounds of nature, a marriage of minds, the restoration of broken relationships, an orchestra in symphony, or the blended voices of a chorus.
Harmony only happens with togetherness... No Solo acts. One single person, one voice, one color, one note, one thing, cannot produce harmony unless it joins with another.
I miss the choirs, octets, and trios. It takes much more time and effort to pull together a group than sing a solo, but the rewards and blessings are much greater as we work and practice together. I hope and pray that the next generation would see its tremendous value.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers and sisters, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because you were called to this, so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8&9

What a wonderful world it would be if harmony reigned!

Giving..a Blessing

I was paying for my groceries when a rather distraught young lady approached the clerk saying, "I was just here and I lost a ten dollar bill. Did you find it or did someone turn it in?" She got a short reply, "No".
As I was unloading my groceries, I noticed this same lady rummaging through her trunk, frantically searching for the money. As I drove out of the parking lot, a voice said to me, "Go give her ten bucks."
I turned around and pulled over while saying to the Lord, "If there's a ten in my wallet, I'll give it to her." But there were just two twenties and a five. "Oh well... Too bad. She'll probably be gone anyway by now." But I drove there and she was still searching her car. I pulled in the spot beside her and said, "Are you OK?" She answered, "No. I just lost ten dollars." You should have seen her face when I handed her a twenty. Tearfully, she said, "You just made my day!"

It sure is more blessed to give than to receive. I was blessed more than she was!

Celebrate Life

My last week consisted of a bridal shower, a wedding, a 60th birthday party and two funerals.
At each event, I met wonderful friends & relatives. (like a reunion) Each celebration was very different with a wide gamut of emotions.
The bride-to-be was showered with gifts and blessings...eagerly awaiting her big day.
The bride was gorgeous in all her finery...nervously awaiting the walk down the aisle.
My cousin enjoyed her birthday party immensely with lots of laughter & fun.

Then there were the funerals.....
I must say, I enjoyed them too. There were many tears but there was also celebration for two very different persons, because we knew that they are in the presence of their Saviour and at rest & peace. No more sickness, no more struggles.

My friend, Carol (I feel) was too young to die. She was a most open, honest person with no pretentiousness. She was real. Her love for God was so evident.
This was reflected in her choice of simple songs when she sang solos with that beautiful clear soprano voice. What a blessing she was to so many people!

My Uncle John, at 93, had a long good life. He was spared physical suffering and died peacefully. He was quiet, had a sly sense of humor, and had a sure, steady faith in God.
He openly loved his wife of 60 years and patiently spent hours with her in the care home.

When we reflect on memories shared, after all the anecdotes and funny stories, in the end all that really matters and is of eternal value is our relationships with people and God. After each funeral, I renew my resolve to remember this.