WHAT IS REAL?

In the book Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams the Rabbit ask the Skin Horse “What is REAL?” And the Skin Horse tells the Rabbit “It’s a thing that happens to you. “ And later during that conversation the Rabbit asks the Skin Horse “does it hurt?” And the Skin Horse replies “Sometimes, but when you are REAL you don’t mind being hurt.” And the Rabbit goes on to ask “Does it happen all at once, like being wound up, or bit by bit?” And the Skin Horse replies “It doesn’t happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are REAL, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are REAL you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand….and once you are REAL you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.” And the Rabbit then longed to become REAL, yet the idea of growing shabby and losing his eyes and whiskers was rather sad. He wished that he could become it without these uncomfortable things happening to him.

As a counselor I have read this book to some of my clients or played the CD and inevitably it brings tears to the person, and it brought tears to me when I saw the Play in San Francisco a few years ago. There is something about this story that touches our soul. We all long to be REAL; to be noticed, to be appreciated, to be loved. And yet, in order for that to happen, we have to be willing to take risks. Risks that at times means we will get hurt. Like the Rabbit who had to let the little boy love him until he was all worn out in order to become REAL, we have to allow others to love us. And yes, sometimes it hurts. If we live long enough we know life will bring us heartaches, disappointments and losses. But the good news is we can live with the certainty that God is with us through it all ♥

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”   (Deut. 31:8 NLT)

Written by Patty B. ♥

Take Time To Dance

We can get caught up in the day to day grind of life and forget along the way what is important to us or forget to enjoy the moment. Our responsibilities overwhelm us and take over our lives. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to look back on my life and have regrets for not doing the things that matter the most to me, or regret I did not spend time with the ones I love, or did not take that dance class I always wanted to take. Everyday we need to weigh in on what and how we will spend that day, as it will never be given back to us. It’s important to examine our life and see if we are filling it up with clutter that is only taking us away from what we want in life and who we want to be. Are you going to stand on the side line and wait for life to just happen and allow others to decide how your life will play out? Or are you going to take that first step out onto the dance floor and dance and watch your life come alive?

“Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.”
                                                                                                                    Oprah

Written by Patty B. ♥

Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness,

and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different.

                                                                                        Author Unknown

Golden Rules for Living

If you open it, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it up.
If you break it, admit it.
If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you value it, take care of it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If you move it, put it back.
If it belongs to someone else and you want to use it, get permission.
If you don't know how to operate it, leave it alone.
If it's none of your business, don't ask questions.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If it will brighten someone's day, say it.
If it will tarnish someone's reputation, keep it to yourself.

Author Unknown

He Simply Wants Our Love

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)

God has given us His Scriptures as a way to know Him. It is His way of revealing Himself to us. It is His way of engaging in an intimate relationship with us. If we seek Him out, we will find His love for us. More then anything else, God wants our heart, our whole being. He wants us to be in communion with Him. He simply wants our love. And when you love someone you spend time with them, you walk with them, you talk with them, and you listen to them.

So take some time right now and simply be with God and His Word. He will show you His love. You will always be amazed and never disappointed.♥

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
(Deut. 6:5 NIV)

Written by Patty B.

101 Ways to Praise a Child!

WOW • WAY TO GO • SUPER • YOU'RE SPECIAL • OUTSTANDING • EXCELLENT •
GREAT• GOOD • NEAT • WELL DONE • REMARKABLE • I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT • I'M PROUD OF YOU • FANTASTIC • SUPER STAR • NICE WORK • LOOKING GOOD • YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT • BEAUTIFUL • NOW YOU'RE FLYING • YOU'RE CATCHING ON • NOW YOU'VE GOT IT • YOU'RE INCREDIBLE • BRAVO • YOU'RE FANTASTIC • HURRAY FOR YOU • YOU'RE ON TARGET • YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY • HOW NICE • HOW SMART • GOOD JOB • THAT'S INCREDIBLE • HOT DOG • DYNAMITE • YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL • YOU'RE UNIQUE • NOTHING CAN STOP YOU NOW • GOOD FOR YOU • I LIKE YOU YOU'RE A WINNER • REMARKABLE JOB • BEAUTIFUL WORK • SPECTACULAR • YOU'RE SPECTACULAR • YOU'RE DARLING • YOU'RE PRECIOUS • GREAT DISCOVERY • YOU'VE DISCOVERED THE SECRET • YOU FIGURED IT OUT • FANTASTIC JOB • HIP, HIP, HURRAY • BINGO • MAGNIFICENT • MARVELOUS • TERRIFIC • YOU'RE IMPORTANT • PHENOMENAL • YOU'RE SENSATIONAL • SUPER WORK • CREATIVE JOB • SUPER JOB • FANTASTIC JOB • EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE • YOU'RE A REAL TROOPER • YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE • YOU ARE EXCITING • YOU LEARNED IT RIGHT • WHAT AN IMAGINATION •WHAT A GOOD LISTENER • YOU ARE FUN • YOU'RE GROWING UP • YOU TRIED HARD • YOU CARE • BEAUTIFUL SHARING • OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE • YOU'RE A GOOD FRIEND • I TRUST YOU • YOU'RE IMPORTANT • YOU MEAN A LOT TO ME • YOU MAKE ME HAPPY • YOU BELONG • YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND • YOU MAKE ME LAUGH • YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY • I RESPECT YOU • YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME • THAT'S CORRECT • YOU'RE A JOY • YOU'RE A TREASURE • YOU'RE WONDERFUL • YOU'RE PERFECT • AWESOME • A+ JOB • YOU'RE A-OK MY BUDDY • YOU MADE MY DAY • THAT'S THE BEST • A BIG HUG • A BIG KISS • SAY I LOVE YOU!

Author Unknown

Nothing New Under the Sun

We all know the book of Ecclesiastes where Solomon preaches sadly about his own folly in looking for satisfaction in the things of the world, which in the end he finds more bitter than death.

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” (Eccles 1:9 TNIV)

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Eccles 2:11 NKJV)

“This is not meant in a general sense; but that there is no new source of happiness which can be devised; the same round of petty pleasures, cares, business, study, wars, etc..” (Holden)

As Americans we enjoy the abundance of what the world has to offer materialistically. And often we place our value on what we have acquired and our identity is found in our jobs. Sadly we have allowed the world to define who we are and where we get our self-worth from. If we don’t have…, if we are not… , if we loss…,we judge ourselves and see ourselves as a failure by the world’s standards. How unfortunate. God has so much more for us. We are so much more to Him. Success is not measured by the things we have, the jobs we hold, or who we know. Success is really about the significance of the life we lead. It’s about how we treat one another, how we comfort one another. It’s about what we do with the people God brings to us, it’s about our character. It’s what we do when no one is looking. It’s what we do, because it is the right thing to do. It’s not about what we are going to get out of it, or to gain another’s approval.

So when you feel like your not measuring up, like you are not where our world says you should be; I would stop and reflect, because maybe you are far more successful in God’s eyes. He took notice when you went at 10:00 at night to check on a sick friend. He saw you give a friend a ride to work. And he heard you make the phone call to your grandma, who lives alone, just to say hi. God knows your heart and you have significant value in Him. And that is where our happiness and joy is found ♥

“We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the
size of our automobiles rather than by the quality of our service
and the relationship to mankind.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am beginning to see that the things that really matter take place not
in the boardrooms but in the kitchens of the world.”
Gary Sledge

Written by Patty B.

The Ups and Downs of Life

We have all been there, you know, the days you feel like you are drowning and no matter how hard you paddle you seem to get further and further in deep waters and depression and anxiety sets in. And you sometimes wonder where God is in all of this. We women want to make it all better for everyone – and now! It’s how we are made up. But I often find it is a matter of letting go. Letting go of expectations, letting go of the controls, letting go of trying to fix it all. It is a matter of giving it up to God. Trusting he is in control and he is working on the matters of your heart. Is it easy? No. Do I need to give it to God often? Yes, sometimes moment to moment. It means to “cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). It’s about “casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Does God hear us? Yes. And yes, He responds; sometimes it takes time, a long time. But His timing is always best. Just two days ago I found out one of my prayers was recently answered. I have been praying this prayer for 19 years, yes 19 years! And God answered it, in His timing, and it was better than I could have imagined. So let’s work hard on giving it up to God. Let go of the controls and watch Him work! Trust that He loves you and knows what is best for you and your loved ones.

Right now go to Him in prayer and tell Him you surrender the matters of your heart to Him to do a good work ♥

Written by Patty B.

Give It Away to Get It Back

"There is a wonderful, almost mystical, law of nature that says three of the things we want most - happiness, freedom, and peace of mind - are always attained when we give them to others."
Book: Wooden
By: Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison