MONDAY MOTIVATION/THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Only One Purpose

I haven't shared Kathy's Thursday Thoughts for a few weeks, so I thought I'd post one here today.  I thank her SO much for these words.  There are days when I just need to hear that what we are doing is helping and making a difference - exactly what we set out to do. Kathy's next post will be on Thursday...

I love my job at the bank because I meet such fascinating people and they teach me so much. Randy is one of those people. He is probably in his mid forties. He is severely handicapped and mentally challenged. He is deaf and therefore has difficulty speaking, but he holds down a job and brings his deposits into the bank on a regular basis. Karen is a woman who has taken Randy under her wing. She told me one day, “I loved him the minute I met him.”  She has learned sign language and she (along with her husband) brings him in to help him with his finances. I love to see them when they come in. There is no fanfare and no public recognition…just love and charity being displayed in its purest form.

Seeing them makes me think of the many people who have touched my life. Most are not public figures and they probably don’t have huge bank accounts or drive the biggest and best cars. But their hearts are full of genuine concern and love. Among these are the women in our organization Lifting Hearts. They are organized for only one purpose…to lend support and love to those who are suffering from the rigors of Breast Cancer. They are among the most  noble women I know.

I was drawn to a song written by Alan Jackson about his father. The entire song was worth listening to, but the chorus catches the spirit I am trying to create in this week’s blog. It goes like this:

And he Bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
Was always proud of what he had
He said his finest contribution
Was the ones he left behind
Raised on the ways and gentle kindness
Of a small town southern man

Although I was not raised in the south, the chorus of this song resonated with me deeply even the first time I heard it, because I know so many unsung heroes like the one Jackson sang about. While our society seems to be fascinated with the lives of the rich and famous, I feel that perhaps equal or even more attention should be given to those who are noble and unknown, for they are the backbone of this nation. We also need to recognize that all of us have a circle of influence that is greater than we realize, and if we each invest ourselves in doing all we can to lighten the load for the people in our circle, the world becomes a more pleasant place for all of us. Although most of our lives do not play out on a public stage, we can add a great measure of joy to those we serve, just like Karen does for Randy, and the women of Lifting Hearts do for those who are progressing through their Breast Cancer journeys. There are endless opportunities to do this and I for one, plan to be more aware and a little less self absorbed so that I can bring at least a few more smiles to those within my circle.

Kathy Christensen

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - All Peachy in Some Way

A long time ago (36 years to be exact) I heard a talk in [church] that I wrote down and immediately committed to memory. I suspect that I must hold the record on this because I many times cannot remember from week to week the subjects that are spoken about. The young girl who gave the talk was obviously scared to death. She was nervous, squirming, her voice cracked and I am sure she was greatly relieved when the talk was over. I wonder how pleased she would be now to know what a profound affect her words have had on me over these many years. She quoted a poem that reads as follows:

"You cannot change your nature, it's far beyond your reach;
If you were born a lemon, you'll never be a peach;
There's the law of compensation and that's the law I preach;
You can always squeeze a lemon, but can only squash a peach!

Now why did that little poem resonate with me so much on that day so long ago? As I analyzed this situation, I think it is because as a young girl I felt like a lemon a good deal of the time. Like many of us, I at times felt that I didn't fit in or that I did not have much to offer. This poem helped me to realize that each of us has something to offer if we look hard enough. Thankfully we are all unique and we give in different ways.

For instance, I have never been good at sewing or decorating, BUT I was raised in a very musical family so I can direct music and sing in choirs with no problem and I enjoy doing so. I was also quite shy by nature, but over the years have tried to be more outgoing. As a result, I have many friends who have been a wonderful support to me in my life. In school, I usually did fairly well, but I really had to hit the books, while I knew others who seemed to breeze through with very little effort. I also became involved in a variety of activities that helped me develop in various ways. As a result of these and other experiences I learned that each of us can give and help in ways that are unique to us and the gifts that we have been given. Even in Sister Survivors, I felt badly that I cannot attend more of the meetings. I work full time and have found since my Cancer experience that I must rest in the evenings because my energy level is not what it used to be. Sooooo, when Kara said she needed help with the Thursday Thoughts on the blog, I thought to myself, "I love to write and this is a way that I can contribute."

This is my 26th entry and I love doing it because it keeps me on the alert for something positive to share each week.

So, my fellow Sister Survivors, NONE of you are lemons! You each have gifts to share in your own special way. Truth be told, I think we are ALL on a journey of discovery so don't sell yourselves short.....I think as we look closely we can see that we're all "peachy" in some way or other!

Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
Sister Survivor