The Power of Kindness by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Many of us underestimate the power of kindness.

Recently, I underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue from my eye, and I rediscovered just how powerful kindness can be.

From my incredibly attentive husband who waited on me hand and foot for the three days I kept my eyes closed to the texts sent by caring friends before and after the procedure.

Do you know someone who may benefit from a simple act of kindness today?

Someone who has a chronic physical condition?

Someone who is lonely?

Someone who is depressed or even "in a funk"?

A friend and I were discussing how we would like to do more for those who often "suffer in silence."

You may not have large pockets of time in your schedule, but you are a writer.

You may never know how much it could mean to someone to receive a card in the mail, an I'm-thinking-of-you-text, or even a humorous meme to brighten their day.

At our monthly prayer meeting, I've discovered that attendees rarely, if ever, share personal prayer requests. 

This got me to thinking, "Why is this?"

Are we too proud?

Do we think others' situations are more serious than our own?

Do we not want to draw attention to ourselves?

As Christians, we are called to pray for one another.

If you are struggling physically, are lonely, or are dealing with emotional challenges, I encourage you to reach out to at least a few trusted family members and/or friends.

You just might be surprised at how their small acts of kindness can lift you up.

And if you know of someone who could use an encouraging word today, don't underestimate the power of kindness that's at your fingertips.

Hibernate to or Hibernate from - Connie Inglis

To Hibernate (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary):

1. to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state
2. to be or become inactive or dormant 

Do you ever feel the need or desire to hibernate from your writing--to become inactive and dormant?  With all the Christmas and New Year's activities this past month, I feel like the opposite has been true. While I love the holidays, I also do like returning to routine and writing calls me back like a long-lost friend.  However, it is also true that even in routine I get pulled in different directions and writing gets put on the back burner more often than I care to admit. And thus I must fight to be able to hibernate "to" writing rather than hibernate "from" writing. Is there anyone else out there that has this same dilemma?

Julia Cameron's book, The Right to Write, has some excellent thoughts and exercises for writers. I recently read the chapter entitled, "Loneliness" and felt it spoke to this "hibernation" subject. Here's a quote from the beginning of the chapter:

"So much has been written about the loneliness of the writer's lot that it feels like heresy to report the truth as I know it: in my experience, not writing is a lonely business. The minute I let myself write, everything else falls into balance. If I get a dose of writing in my day, then I can actually socialize with a clear conscience." 

Her words got me thinking--maybe my issue is that I'm NOT writing and thus easily pulled into other things, things that sometimes are of no value. Part of my problem is that I feel like I need a big chunk of time in order to write, which isn't true. Half an hour here, 15 minutes there. Even if it's just a quick writing exercise, it's still writing. When I've done this is the past, it rejuvenates and refreshes me and yet I seem to easily forget that. Needless to say, I am still working through all this. 

Cameron also goes on to say that writing is a "balm for loneliness"--that it connects us to ourselves and then to others. I would agree but I would also like to add to that. As a follower of Jesus, I also believe it connects us to God. He is our Creator and He created us to write. He put in us this desire, this need, this "gift" (If I may say) to write. So when we write, we are glorifying God and praising Him for the way He made us. 

THAT'S the right perspective--and THAT'S the way I need to view writing.