“There are occasions when it is undoubtedly better to incur loss than to make gain.” Plautus “Is there anything we can give?” my husband, Wayne, asked. “How about that new bedspread we never used?” A veteran from the gulf war returned to join his wife and child who had been living with her parents. They wanted to set up house and live as a family, but they had nothing. Wayne, also a veteran, heard about their situation. He wanted to help them so he shared their story with me.
In the past I usually donated to organizations that gave receipts for tax purposes. But this time, seeing the faces of the family—humbled by many family’s generosity, and truly grateful for each item—was all the benefit I needed. It showed me the truth of the maxim, ‘It’s better to give than to receive.’
Note: Titus Maccius Plautus (254BC-184BC), a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period, whose comedies are the earliest Latin literary works to have survived in their entirety. The word Plautine refers to both Plautus’ works and all similar works influenced by his body of work.
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"Presume goodwill." M.J. RyanThe woman at the next table snickered at the news program in the breakfast room of my hotel. I’m not particularly political, but I was tempted to comment on the pettiness of her response to what shoes someone wore to a major event. I practiced what I would say, getting it down to a concise sound bite that would sting at the realization of how petty her attitude was. But then I realized I was being equally as petty in my reaction. I returned to my room, thankful I had not acted on my first response.
Have you ever presumed guilt and wished later you had not? Did you ever speak before your second thoughts kicked in? What stop-gap method will you employ the next time you want to follow your first reaction? Lord, thank You for helping me not jump to conclusions at a single snicker. May I grow to presume kindness in others as my first response. Amen “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:31 What are your thoughts?
Libby Note: M. J. Ryan (unknown- ), an American bestselling author and publisher, known internationally as an expert on change. She’s the founder of Conari Press, creator of the New York Times bestselling Random Acts of Kindness series, and author of many books including her Attitude of Gratitude series and Habit Changers: 81 Game-Changing Mantras to Mindfully Realize Your Goals. “To keep your marriage brimming with love…whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up.” Ogden NashWere the cars in front of the club house those of golfers, or were they wedding guests? On the way to an out of town wedding, I was intent on following the directions from my phone’s GPS. But it kept taking us to a home on the golf course where the street address didn’t match the address on the invitation. I knew she was getting married on Country Club Road, but was it at a private home? (These homes were certainly big enough to host a wedding). My husband insisted we go back to the cub house we had passed several blocks before. In frustration, and fear that we might be late for the wedding, I agreed to back-track to the club house. We drove to the second entrance and there was a bridesmaid standing on the steps. We had arrived.
In my experience there is nothing so loud as the unspoken words, “I told you so.” So the need to say them is fruitless. I've learned the hard way, the right thing to say, which is infinitely more difficult, is, “I’m sorry.” And, hopefully, I remember my own vows which helps me muster the strength to say them when needed.
“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9
What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Frederic Ogden Nash (1902-1971), an American poet well known for his light verse, of which he wrote over 500 pieces. He had a fondness for crafting his own words whenever rhyming words did not exist. With his unconventional rhyme schemes, he was declared the country’s best-known producer of humorous poetry. “I was bitter for a long time, but I learned there was only one way to find healing. I had to turn my frustrations over to God.” Jim Ryun, when remembering his second place finish in the 1500 meters in the 1968 Olympics.I looked up and people were standing, the chairs were in stacks and men were rolling the round tables into storage. My wedding guests were mingling in the open area, but it wasn’t long before they began to leave. I was frantic that I had not yet had time to visit with all my guests, especially those out-of-town guests that came a long distance. Many of my family and friends had flown in from across the country and Canada and I barely had a chance to greet them before they would board a plane and return home. The few people who were responsible to rearrange the chairs for Sunday morning were in a hurry to leave so my wedding reception was cut short. As you might imagine, I was angry about the way this was handled. I didn’t give my feedback to the church. It was past, there was nothing that could be done about it, and I was trying to make a good impression on those people in my husband’s church who would become my new church fellowship. Yet, it ate away at me for years. It was especially aggravating since I was not able to say, “What I learned was…” and then do it differently the next time. So my only recourse was to turn it over to God and receive the His blessing of peace. The Serenity Prayer was a big part of this. I prayed it many times before I was able to be free of the bitterness. Part of the healing recovery for me was also to help others not have a similar occurrence. I would say, without bitterly telling my story, “If I had it to do all over again, I would…” This, along with my personal prayer to give the frustration to God and repeating the Serenity Prayer, has helped me release the bitterness and frustration. Is there something in your life that still eats away at you every time you think of it? Do you have a desire to tell people your story in order to prove how justified you are at holding on to your bitterness? What will your first step be toward letting go of the frustration? Lord, thank You for the inexplicable way that helping others has also helped me. Amen
“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on” Philippians 3:13-14a What are your thoughts? Libby Note: James Ryun (1947- ), an American track and field athlete who won a silver medal in the 1968 Olympics in the 1500 meter run. For eight years (1967-75) Jim held the world record for running a mile in 3:51.1 minutes. He was named Athlete of the Year in ’65, inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame in ’80, and into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame in ’03. |
WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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