Acts of Kindness

And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor,

and if I should deliver my body to be burned,

and have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing.

~1 Corinthians 13:3

It's amazing what comes to mind while on the treadmill. Since we got home I've been trying to work off the pounds I gained eating all that yummy Israeli food....and the pounds I needed to lose before we left. :)

With the laptop setup on the treadmill I find I can walk forever.

Anyhow, this morning I've been thinking about acts of kindness, and the plan was to do a really long post about why we should be inspired to always be thinking of this.

But...

I went on google to look for images and I decided that's all I needed for this topic. I hope you find the following pictures inspiring in some way.

I know...

"The souls of men are tried less by work than by the frustration that comes from too much attention to the trivial." ~Bishop Fulton Sheen

This quote is in a frame on my husband's desk, and since I'm using his computer it's staring me right in the face. I did not even get on the computer with the intention of posting something today, I just planned on taking some time to goof-off, and maybe do a little online window shopping. :)

But now I feel a bit guilty and I'm thinking I should force myself to get up and do something that needs to be done, but that I really don't want to do, like workout, laundry, clean the office, etc. I wish that when I read quotes such as this one, that it would stick with me for a long period of time, but they are often forgotten too quickly, and I end up right back where I started. I know I could write my favorite quotes down and stick them where I'll see them, but I've noticed that eventually that piece of paper just becomes another fixture in the house & I stop noticing it.

Is that normal? Am I the only one that does that? Any new tips?

Honoring the Sabbath

This morning Paul says to me "we shouldn't be doing anymore shopping or eating out on Sunday", and I regret to say I gave him that look, you know, the look that says "ARE YOU KIDDING ME???".

I often make trips to the grocery store, buy last minute birthday gifts, stop for lunch after Mass, or go to breakfast before, etc.............

Needless to say, the idea of not doing any of these things ever on a Sunday did not sit well with me when first mentioned. I just kept thinking about every situation that may come up, whether it be with family, friends, or if we're on vacation, etc...

I've been thinking about this all day, and I decided to do some searching online for thoughts and opinions of others who feel the way Paul does, and I have to say (painful as it is, j/k!!) that my husband is right. I know it will not be an easy change, but the more I think on it I believe that God truly wants for us to live this way.

This is one comment I read that really stood out for me:

"Sanctifying Sunday and holy days requires a common effort," "Christians should see recognition of Sundays and the Church's holy days as legal holidays." Even without such legal recognition, however, "Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day."

Something Nice

I've been thinking a lot about letters, notes, and thank you cards, and what a shame it is that so few people send any of them. I went through some old letters and notes with my mom a few weeks ago after I got started on Ancestry.com, and even though we couldn't read most of them (they were in Norwegian), it was still nice to see.

Think about how nice it would be to find a note card in your mailbox for no real reason, just because, and from someone totally unexpected too!

My challenge to you is to mail a letter or note (NO ecards) to someone you care about that you don't connect often, or someone who did something nice for you no matter how small the deed. Think of the smile you'll bring to the one who receives your thoughtfulness. Priceless!!