The Joy in Giving

My kids say there are two sides of me, I am 8 or 88. I’m either having a dance party and ready to play games or I’m all serious talking about things like the purpose of life. I think it’s a healthy balance yet I haven’t let you in much to the playful side of me, for no reason other than I’m in the habit of sharing what I write - which is more the 88 year old me😊

So I thought I’d share some fun and how I’ve been spending my mornings last week and this week…

I’ve been starting my mornings “flocking” seniors as they head towards graduation and I am having so much fun doing this! I get to drop off the flamingos, I say a little prayer in my head over the senior and their family wishing them all well, and I move on to the next person. I’ve been getting up earlier yet am full of energy each day. Spending the start of my day living out love by dropping off the flamingos just knowing they will make some of the seniors smile, makes my heart smile.

I love to have fun and live out love, yet often day to day life and circumstances can put a cloud over having fun. Personally I can get focused on the mundane things or challenges I forget to look up and out to live out love towards others.

The past couple of weeks have been a reminder to me that joy is accessible daily, and we will experience it more when we live aligned with our greater purpose, loving God and loving others- even in the form of flamingos.

I share this with you today in case would like to experience a little more joy within. I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.™

Let’s choose to start our day spending time with God and living out love towards someone. For example, we can leave a note for a family member to read when they wake up, drop off a card to a friend, visit an elderly neighbor, bring in pastries for our co-workers, etc. Let’s look for ways to make someone else’s heart smile, for when we do, we often find our own heart smiling as well, having received nothing ourselves except the joy from giving - like I have while flocking the seniors🦩

With love and hope,
Shawn

Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18