Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

My wife offered two bookcases through “Freecycle”, a yahoo web site and world-wide organization.  Someone was coming from an hour away to get them.  I was skeptical someone would travel that far for a bookcase whose top shelf was broken (the other bookcase was fine).

The two finally came in a beat up truck.  The lady did not blink when she looked at the broken bookcase.  “I came from the South and was ‘dirt poor’.  When something is broken, we just fix it,” she said.  We also gave them an end table.

I felt humbled by her comment.  I am too quick to throw away something out (???) when it is not perfect any more or needs fixing.  People often get rid of perfectly good things.

There is so much waste here.  I remember reading Mother Teresa would write a letter on any scrap of paper.  I am so quick to throw a sheet of paper away.  I am guilty too of waste.

I had a friend who made a living going through people’s junk they threw out.  Freecycle’s philosophy is they want to keep things out of landfill.  Someone’s junk is someone’s treasure.  That lady reminded me (???) that again.

Tags: bookcase, consumerism, dirt poor, fix what's broken, Freecycle, junk is treasure, landfill, Mother Teresa, so much waste, trash
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I want to add something positive to the people the Lord puts in my life.  That is how I am driven:  I want to encourage others.  That is my mission.  Sometimes I forget it but I keep returning to that.

If I can only focus on that, I will be doing God’s will.  I can not tell you what your mission is but that is mine.  No matter how much or how little time I have I will focus on that.

If the truth be told no on knows how much time he/she has been given on this earth.  If I can continue to focus on my mission, I will be fine.

Even if I only can only do small things that would be fine.  Isn’t life composed of many small things?  The big things only come along once in awhile, so I will not stop doing whatever I can to encourage and inspire others around me even if they are only small things.

Do little things with much love:  a paraphrase of Mother Teresa.  People never forget the kindnesses bestowed on them.  Others always remember how you made them feel.

Tags: add something positive, do little things with much love, do small things, encourage others, focus, God, how much time we have, inspire others, kindness, life composed of many small things, mission, Mother Teresa, people remember how you made them feel, the Lord, your mission
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We need heroes in our lives because we need to know the impossible is possible, that good can triumph.

Yes, there is evil in this world but others do overcome it.  People like Mother Teresa inspire us and drive us to greater heights.

Never forget that even in quiet moments and in secret places there are others who aspire for the stars.  Often they are ordinary human beings who do not seek the spotlight.

We need to look at our own lives and seek out the quiet ones who are in the background, who are not swayed by the consistently bad reports the media puts out.

Find your heroes who every day strive for the best in others.  They are the quiet heroes, yet just as notable.

Let them inspire you to greatness.  One person can change the world but what you do you have to do with every ounce of your courage and energy.

There are heroes always among us.  Do not be one of those who bemoan the fate of this world.  You, too, can be a hero.  You never know how your actions can inspire the next generation of heroes so go out there and be a hero.

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Less is always more.  One of the ten commandments is, ‘Thou shall not covet.’  I did not realize for awhile I was breaking that commandment all the time or even it was one of the commandments.  Things are always distributed unequally in this world.  Some people have more.  Some less.  That is reality.  The trick is to be happy with what you have.  I do not like game shows and lotteries because both pander to greed.  God gives to each of us abundantly.  He only promises food and shelter.  Everything else is given to you by serendipity.  The poor will always exist in this world.  We are commanded to help the less fortunate.  In fact, if it is in your power to perform a good deed and you don’t it is a sin.  Thank God for all your blessings all the time and help the less fortunate.  Again, I will quote Mother Teresa:  ‘Do small things with great love.’  Never forget your blessings.  And always pray to God with thanksgiving.

Tags: 'do small things with great love', balance, be happy with what you have, Bible, blessings, covet, God, God gives abundantly, God's grace, greed, help the less fortunate, less is more, Mother Teresa, pray to God with thanksgiving, serendipity, ten commandments, thank God, thank God for all your blessings, thanksgiving, thou shall not covet
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It is so easy to view the current events occurring in the world and feel completely helpless.  You really have to back down and look at your life and your personal sphere of influence.  Every day you have contact with people.  You never know for sure how your actions will impact the world.  That is beyond your scope.

To love the people God puts in your circle is no small thing.  It might send small shock waves throughout the universe.  It is true you can not predict the impact of your daily behavior but loving each person who is in your personal sphere of influence is no small thing.  The world could be transformed.  Yes, that might not happen but don’t linger there.  It will only defeat you.

Mother Teresa said do not do big things with love but small things with much love.  It is so easy to get lost in the big picture.  Look at the lives you are intertwined with:  your wife, your kids, your relatives, your friends even the strangers you pass every day.  You never know how a kind or encouraging word can just be the right medicine for some hurting person.

You can transform the world but first learn to do small things with much love.  Life is really composed of many small things.  The big things in life only come along once in a while.  So learn to reach out to each person with love, acceptance and respect.  As Jesus said, “Lose your life and you will find it.”  That does not sound like an exact quote but nevertheless reach out to others.  You will never be disappointed.

Tags: "lose your life and you will find it", a kind or encouraging word, acceptance, change the world, do small things with much love, friends, God, Jesus, kids, live is many small things, love, love people, Mother Teresa, reach out to others, relatives, respect, strangers, wife, world transformed, your sphere of influence
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