kindness

Just be kind

I had something else planned to share today, but God has changed things up a bit. I like when that happens.

I’ve been struggling the past week. Nobody knows that though because I’ve kept it to myself. I didn’t want to bring anyone else down.

Grief is a punk.

Timehop is killing me. Each morning brings snapshots of back to school cuteness from years past. Each morning is one day closer to Maverick’s senior year. Each morning is a reminder that my mom isn’t here to experience it with me. Y’all, she loved that boy so much.

Yesterday was hard. His kindergarten graduation picture did me in. Rough stuff.

However, I pulled myself together, told myself to fake it till I make it, and drove to work. When I rounded the corner to my office I literally stopped in my tracks. My door was covered with post it notes.

If you know you know.

Beautiful, uplifting, kind, loving, words. Just what my little heart needed. It felt like the biggest, tightest hug sent straight from God – and my momma.

I said all of that to say this – you really don’t know what people are going through. That’s not just some trite saying plastered on a coffee cup in the Walmart. It’s for real.

If God places it on your heart to share a kind word or a text or an email or a post it note –

Do it. There’s a reason. Your words are God’s

Words. We mirror Him. We are working for Him, and people are His business.

I don’t ever want to be the one that tears someone down.

I want to be a builder upper.

A promise keeper.

A hope giver.

A kind word sayer.

A negative attitude slayer.

And that’s exactly what my work family was for me yesterday. This morning I’m crying again. But happy tears. This is going to be a great year full of happy memories for my sweet boy, and I know my momma (like my sweet friend said) has the best seat in the house for it.

Just be kind 💛

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

He’s Clapping

“Pay attention to who is clapping for you.”

Nope. Just no.

I have two questions to ask regarding the above statement:

1. If God is clapping for you then what does it matter if anyone else is?

2. Are you not going to clap for someone else because they didn’t clap for you?

Ladies, this isn’t the mentality I want to teach my daughter or my nieces or my students. The time and energy spent on seeing who liked what and who followed whom can be spent in the Word. It can be spent serving. It can be spent truly resting in His arms.

I want my girls to clap for others regardless if those same people clapped for them or not.

Because it’s kind.

Because they have a good heart.

Because they are genuinely happy for others.

Because they are confident enough to not need a clap back.

Ladies, clap for someone today.

Or hug them.

Or text them.

Not because they did it first but because lifting others up is the evidence of God living within you.

Because joy is contagious.

And Momma, that thing you are too scared to do because you’re too worried about what others will think or if they will clap – no ma’am. If God wants you to do it – if He told you to do it – you go right on ahead.

He’s clapping for you.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Do Better

I have a dear friend that always says, “God doesn’t like ugly.”

While I wholeheartedly agree because sin is ugly, I also have to believe that it deeply hurts God when He sees His children roaming around just being plumb – well – ugly.

The other day I went to the post office to mail Maggie’s hair off that she is donating. In true Daisy fashion I had built this moment up in my mind to be one of remembrance and nostalgia. It was going to be a feel good moment for sure.

But.

While I was standing in line two grown ladies threw what I could only describe as a toddler temper tantrum because they had to wait in line. It made me sad for the lady working behind the counter, and it made me sad for the ladies throwing the fit.

Something Frank and I repeat on the weekly to our children is “Do Better”. It’s a family term of endearment that’s kind of a joke but kind of not.

In that moment – a few days before Thanksgiving – I had this thought: Man, we all need to do better.

So that’s my challenge for myself and for you this holiday season. Y’all, it’s 2020. We already know things are gonna be crazy. Let’s get that in our minds now. Let’s know we will have to wait. Traffic is gonna be congested. Packages will be lost.

But let’s do better. Let’s be kinder. Let’s be Jesus for the ones that need to catch a glimpse of hope this holiday season.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Because We Can

That mean girl mentality needs to be squashed.

And mommas – it starts with us.

What do our daughters hear us say about other women – even in the privacy of our own home? What type of words are we using? They understand them.

Be careful, momma.

When another woman walks into the room what vibe do we give off? Our daughter feels it.

Texting another woman about another woman across the room – our daughters see that, and they absolutely “get” it.

When we are on the phone with our best friend what words are we using? They hear them.

And that social media mean girl is a whole other type of monster.

What are we typing? What are we reposting? They see it. They read it.

We are their first role model. That’s a lot of pressure, and it should be.

Let’s strive to be better for them.

Let’s break out of the mold for them.

Let’s celebrate others for them.

Let’s love with our whole hearts – for them.

Let’s raise up a generation of young women that encourage and empower other young women because we can. Because they can.

“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” Proverbs 17:27

No Matter What

It’s never wrong to be kind. And it’s never wrong to be hopeful.

I’m gonna say it one more time – no matter what you’re going through, no matter what’s going on around you – you can still choose kindness. You can still choose hope. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

🎶Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior

And life more abundant and free🎶

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,” Colossians 3:12