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DAY 30!!! It truly is amazing that Lee and I both have run a mile a day, sometimes more, for 30 consecutive days!! Bravo! Some may chuckle and think it’s rather peculiar that we would celebrate this small success, but for us it’s much more! What’s small for some is big for others, and vice-versa!! And of course you know the ol’ saying “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” The bottom line here is …it’s all about PERCEPTION, but not necessarily the perception of others, but your very own perception! I think we get it backward sometimes wherein we care more about how others see us and what they think about us, when in reality it’s more important how we see and feel about ourselves.
I’d like to share a little personal story with you on the topic of “Perception.” There was a time in my life when my children and I worked with homeless people. We participated with a small group of others to cook and feed the homeless once a month and provide them with things such as clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries and so on. You can imagine how the homeless looked forward to this, but what I bet you can’t fathom is how much I looked forward to it. They got fed physically, I got fed spiritually.
So on with the story! While feeding the homeless, my family and I were fortunate to meet many wonderful people! They all had their own stories; it was quite fascinating to say the least. There was this one homeless man named Michael who I became very close friends with. I invited him into our home numerous times to shower, sleep, and have meals. My children welcomed him like a family member. Michael was fun and had a lot to say! He told interesting stories, and many times he would bring gifts with him, mostly books. We always LOVED the books he would bring! I do not lie when I say I learned many things from Michael! His heart was overflowing with love and kindness.
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Baby hummingbirds waiting for their mom to get home with food.
This is a picture I took of a nest that was in our backyard lemon tree!
They ask for nothing and are simply happy with what they are fed! |
Michael would always pray before meals, and also before leaving for God’s blessings over me and my family. He was a very sweet man. One evening when Michael was over for dinner, while he was saying Grace, he said with tears in his eyes “Thank you Lord for letting me sit at the table with KINGS.”
This really choked me up. He perceived me and my family as ‘KINGS.’ Michael was a homeless man who basically had no worldly goods other than a bicycle, some blankets, a handful of clothes, and a few miscellaneous items. No wonder he saw us as kings.
When we compare ourselves to people greater than ourselves, we may not see ourselves as KINGS, but if we open our eyes to just how big and great we really are, without comparison, then we too can perceive ourselves as KINGS! We all need to look at ourselves the way Michael looked at my family, he saw our many blessings and perhaps the things we take for granted on a daily basis! No matter how big or how small your accomplishments are in life, they are BIG and GREAT when you perceive them that way! Don’t cheat yourself! We ALL are kings and must remember to thank GOD each and every day for all that we have.
Believe it or not, eating gluten free vegan is humbling. You learn to eat to live instead of living to eat! Michael’s words were a humbling experience to me, and I must say that we could all use an ounce or two of humility! Would you agree?