Inspiration Shared By Lady Braids

Inspiration On 2/2/12

The only accurate label, is the one that identifies a dangerous substance.

I am, for the most part, an introvert. I enjoy the setting of my quiet country
life, I keep my own counsel and enjoy my own company. But, if you labeled
me an introvert, your assessment of me would be incorrect.

I love to laugh and converse at social gatherings, and I'm perfectly comfortable
standing at a podium and addressing a room full of people. If you stopped by
the local high school on a Wednesday evening, you'd find me dancing up a storm,
with microphone in hand, and calling out steps to my clogging class. You'd hear
a lot of loud laughter too. (Especially when the dancers are following my lead
and I flub a step.)

The 'quiet' me, is the person I am at my core, but my outgoing characteristics
are an integral part of my makeup.

So... how would you label me? An introvert with extroverted tendencies?

You can't slot me into one specific category.

Labels are inappropriate and misleading when they're place on people.
Often times, they're hurtful or have negative connotations. Vague labels,
used to differentiate the 'us' group from the 'them' group, are one of
the biggest blockades on the road to world harmony.

Save your labels for poison. Don't poison your perceptions with them.

 -- Living in love and loving life,
     Terri McPherson

Inspiration On 1/23/12

Do you love to be loved, or do you love giving love?

Those who want love, seek love and crave love, will
find themselves in times of great darkness and despair
when that love is absent or they feel it has wronged them.

Those who give love freely, without strings or expectations,
in all they do, live in the sunshine of that love for all their
days.

Life is an adventure when you bring your love to the world.
You are unburdened and free. Like minded people are
attracted by your tenderness and reverence for life. Bias
and bigotry are foreign and unfathomable. Dignity and
respect are your currency, and the more you give away,
the richer you become.

You will never have to look for that kind of love.

It will surround you.

 -- Living in love and loving life,
     Terri McPherson

Inspiration On 1/5/12

Often in life we make no time to listen. Really
listening to our partners or our children requires
us to move away from the human nature of
"what about me".

Listening and understanding other people helps
in our inner journey of self understanding. I have
found that the time spent making other peoples'
dreams spring to life has been the most rewarding
experience for my own personal growth.

Too often we get locked away in the I syndrome.
I did this, I done that, I am important,
I ... ,
I ... ,
I ... ,

We all need to feel important and loved - that is one
our strongest human passions. I find true importance
in listening and helping others. Try some today, you
will be pleasantly rewarded.

 -- © John Ahern

Inspiration On 11/11/11

Dear Lord,
Today we honor our veterans,
worthy men and women
who gave their best
when they were called upon
to serve and protect their country.

We pray that you will bless them, Lord,
for their unselfish service
in the continual struggle
to preserve our freedoms, our safety,
and our country’s heritage, for all of us.

Bless them abundantly
for the hardships they faced,
for the sacrifices they made
for their many different contributions
to America’s victories
over tyranny and oppression.

We respect them, we thank them,
we honor them, we are proud of them,
and we pray that you will watch over
these special people
and bless them with peace and happiness.

In Jesus’ name we pray; Amen.

 -- Joanna Fuchs

Inspiration On 09/01/11

New Collegiate Dictionary defines a polite person as someone
who is "marked by an appearance of consideration, tact,
deference, or courtesy."

The quality of politeness is one which seems to be disappearing
in our society. As I grew up, I was taught to say, "Yes, ma'am"
and "Yes, sir", terms not often heard by young people today.
Even the words "please" and "thank you" are not used as often
as they should be.

Some might say that politeness is a "small" thing, and it is, but
that doesn't mean it is insignificant. Politeness is a lot like salt --
you don't always pay attention to it when it is present, but it is
very obvious that something is lacking when it is absent.

Of all people, Christians should be most polite because politeness
is a characteristic of agape love.

"Remind the believers to....be ready to do good, to speak no evil
about anyone, to live in peace, and to be gentle and polite to all
people." (Titus 3:1-2, NCV)

"[Love] does not behave rudely." (I Cor. 13:5a)

Make an effort today to see that the love you show to others
around you includes the quality of politeness.

Have a great day!

 -- Alan Smith
     Helen Street Church of Christ, Fayetteville, NC

Inspiration On 08/29/11

It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the
church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car
that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as
they walked to the church.

As I got closer, I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside
the church. He was almost lying down as if he was asleep.
He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat
topped his head that was pulled down so you could not see his
face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his
feet with holes all over them and his toes stuck out.

I assumed this man was homeless and asleep, so I walked on by
through the doors of the church. We all gathered for fellowship
for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man lying
outside. People snickered and gossiped, but no one bothered to
ask him to come in, including me.

A few moments later church began. We all waited for the
preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the
doors to the church opened.

In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head
down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his
way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit and he took off his
hat and coat.

My heart sank.

There stood our preacher. He was the "homeless man."

No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on
the stand.

"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching
about today."

Then he started singing the words to this song:
If I can help somebody as I pass along.
If I can cheer somebody with word or song.
If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.

 -- Author Unknown

Inspiration On 08/03/11

Honesty is not a mask for cruel insecurity. You can try to justify
a hurtful remark by saying, "I'm 'only' being honest," but you're
'only' fooling yourself. There is no justification for making fun
of someone's dreams, insulting their appearance or belittling
them in any way. Self-satisfaction at someone's expensive, is
not honest. It's cruel.

Honesty relies on integrity for support. You endeavor to do the
right things for the right reasons. You seek a rightness for
yourself without judging others. You strive to silence your
internal critic.

Insecurity, blind to its own faults, points them out in others.
Honesty sees them in itself and keeps its pointing finger in its
pocket.

There's a line between telling the truth and purposely hurting
someone. Honesty and integrity walk one side of the line.
Cruel insecurity, 'masked' as honesty, walks the other.

Which side of the line do you walk?

 -- Living in love and loving life,
     Terri McPherson

Inspiration On 05/30/11

 

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA!

 -- Lee Greenwood

 

Inspiration on 05/24/11

I know a teenage boy who was born without one
leg. If there's a trace of self pity in him, I've never
seen it. The artificial limb is made of lightweight
titanium. "It's bullet proof. Cool eh?"

Conversations about his missing limb are rare.
People tend to forget about his pronounced limp
when they're in his presence. The smile he
flashes when he greets a person makes them
feel good. He's genuinely happy to see you, and
you know it - the minute he lays eyes on you.

His zest for living is contagious. I find myself
wanting to do more - be more - after listening to
him talk about the plans he's made to achieve his
goals and dreams. Any problems I thought I had,
seem petty and dissolve.

There was a time when I was impressed by fame,
a very shallow and narrow minded way of thinking.
Thank goodness my eyes, my heart and my mind
unfolded and opened up. I'm much harder to
impress, yet, without limiting myself to that select
group society makes into celebrities, I find myself
in genuine admiration of people all the time. A
person who inspires me, impresses me.

I don't find inspiration in the faces on the big
screen or the covers of magazines. I find it in the
faces of people who grace the common minutes
of ordinary days. They are everywhere.

 -- Living in love and loving life,
     Terri McPherson

Inspiration On 05/18/11

You will never be sorry...

...for thinking before acting....for hearing before judging.

...for forgiving your enemies....for being candid and frank.

...for helping a fallen brother....for being honest in business.

...for thinking before speaking....for being loyal to your church.

...for standing by your principles....for closing your ears to gossip.

...for bridling a slanderous tongue....for harboring pure thoughts.

...for sympathizing with the afflicted....for being courteous and kind to all.

 -- Author Unknown