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Thoughts on Loving
Loving. It seems like such a simple concept. But those who have mastered the act of loving are close to non existent. I'm not so much talking about the love between a husband and a wife, a father and a son, or the love between two friends?I'm talking about love in a more general sense. The love that isn't concerned with what it will get in return, for there can be no expectations with this type of love. I'm talking about the love of mankind, the love of people?merely because they are God's, and they deserve to be acknowledged in such a way. The love that I believe Jesus possessed as he walked from town to town, meeting strangers, touching lepers, noticing the unnoticed. I knew a guy once who possessed this type of love. Our friendship was brief, but it opened my eyes to a new way of loving. This guy worked a regular job, 8-5, 6 days a week. The only way he seemed to break free from his routine, mundane patterned life, was through his ability to love. As he would describe his day to me, it was filled with images of people who had touched his life that day. The tattooed fellow he worked with, or the teeny bopper high schooler that always had some drama in her life?these were the very things that filled his day with beauty. He found beauty in the lives of those around him. He took so much interest in the people that he came in contact with?and in return, their lives and stories blessed him beyond measure. He learned to love people, to consider them greater than himself, to show genuine interest, and to act upon it?and by loving people his life was filled to overflowing. I'm learning to love in this kind of way. I'm learning to take interest in the people God brings my way. Most of us are likely to walk into a room focused on finding someone to take interest in us. I don't believe Jesus lived with such a mindset. He was the type of man who walked into a room searching for someone to love, someone to take interest in. Today, as I spent my evening with a crowd of inner city middle school kids, I took some time to practice this way of loving. I found a girl named Amanda who I couldn't help but notice. Only eleven years old, she stood about 5 feet 10 inches tall. She seemed to be trying to hide, for I noted her fluffy blonde hair hanging in her eyes as she walked around head looking to the ground. I stood beside her as she leaned against the wall?and I made the choice to love her as much as I knew how. It's amazing how practical love can be. I had to concentrate hard in order to block out all the other noises and children that were running all around, until all I saw was her. She had my full concentration, and she deserved it. We started talking small and stuck to the basics- about school, friends, pets?aaaaaah, I had hit a spark. Pets. She had 8 dogs, and she loved those dogs so much. And because she loved those dogs, I wanted to know all about them. That started our 15 minute conversation about her 7 Chihuahuas and one miniature terrier. She magically lit up as she told about her beloved animals, and I lit up at the opportunity of getting to know Amanda, and learning to make her feel that she was the most important person to me at that moment. Here was this intricate, unique girl- with likes and dislikes unique to her alone?passions and dreams, favorite ice cream flavors and most embarrassing moments?she was one and only. People deserve to feel special, because they are. God looks down at each precious and unique child that he has made, and he desires for them to feel loved in such a way. I'm learning that it is my job to show that kind of love, through genuine interest in the people I come in contact with. It is my job to look around and see beautiful people, with their unique quirks, looks, hobbies, and stories. Not only do they deserve to be loved, they were made for it. Let us reevaluate... have we learned to love? Debra Rashid is employed as a counselor at a local hospital, working with at risk youth. She has a passion for the urban community and volunteers much of her time working with inner city youth and families. She hopes her writings will be a source of encouragement and motivation to those who read them.
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Love Thy Neighbor I would like to take a moment to write about our neighbors. We all have them. Entrepreneur and Mom When I was 12 years old, I had surgery with complications. I was told there was a chance I would not be able to have children. Maintaining Honesty and Integrity (Excerpted From Cultivating An Unshakable Character)For a leader, honesty and integrity are absolutely essential to survival. A lot of business people don't realize how closely they're being watched by their subordinates. The Procrastinating Perfectionist Are you a procrastinating perfectionist? I once read an article dealing with the fear of failure and success. The author described it as the following: "The curse of the procrastinating perfectionist". Thoughts on Loving Loving. It seems like such a simple concept. Everyday is a Gift, Open and Enjoy It There is a bottle of perfume sitting on my dresser that I was given when I was ten years old! As you can tell I have pack rat tendencies! For me that pattern started as a young child. I could never bear to throw things away. Van Morrison, Spiritual Rock Star Here I am gazing on the Web for extraordinary witnesses of enlightenment yet very popular in the entertainment realm, so that at least everybody that read newagenotebook.com could say "hey, I've seen or heard that person!" As my research focuses randomly on any performer from our time, some pages choose to cite the art of singer Van Morrison. Do You Feel Headed For Shipwreck? The ocean liner Achille Lauro sailed perpetually under a dark cloud. In 1953 it collided with another ship. The Thief of Fulfillment Why does this happen?It's all to do with the way the subconscious perceives survival. It knows that you are in a safe position and that survival is more or less guaranteed if you carry on in the same way. Lisas Christmas Lisa was born into a loving Christian family and went through life knowing of The Lord and his supreme sacrifice. She was accustomed to Amazing Grace each Sunday and saying grace before meals. Forgiveness "If unresolved anger is a toxin to the spirit, forgiveness is the antidote." - Brian L. The Best Gift to Give Yourself and Others I'm often asked the question, "How can I best help my children, spouse, family member, staff member, friend etc. improve/change?" In fact that might be the most frequently asked question I receive, "How can I help change someone else?"My answer often comes as a surprise and here it is. Listening to Your Heart! Trying to predict stock price movements is necessary, of course. After all, when stock prices fall, the cost of borrowing and of issuing new equity can rise, and falling stock prices can both undercut the confidence of employees and customers and handicap mergers. Perception My friend Donald said to me one evening, "this is what I admire about you, whenever you say you're gonna to do something, YOU DO IT"! People always ask me how do I stay motivated? How do I stay encouraged? Whenever I am asked this question my answer is always the same. I tell them that I stay focused and motivated by remaining in an autopilot mode. I Believe in You! Ally Becker came home from school after Varsity basketball practice and was extremely gleeful. She looked frantically for her Father and walked into the kitchen, the laundry room and finally the living room. Abundance Is A Life Style Abundance is a life style, a way of living your life. Itisn't something you buy now and then or pull down from thecupboard, dust off and use once or twice, and then return tothe cupboard. What is My Life Purpose? Why am I here?If you haven't already asked this question, I'm sure you will. Sooner or later most of us do. The Tiniest of Gladiators I stared into those biggest of navy blue eyes and felt the power of his fighting spirit, despite the pain and week long raging fever. Most of the time my heart was in my throat and my mind was awash with counter-productive thoughts like, "why him?" and "this isn't fair!"This wasn't helping him to be sure (my daughter was much stronger than I), but in spite, he not only survived the arduous ordeal, but he emerged the victor!I am talking about my infant grandson, Corbin Nicolas, clobbered with a serious infection of the lymph glands. Moral Obligation & Responsibility Chances are you have seen some type of disturbance in your lifetime. Whether it was a bully picking on someone or a piece of trash on the ground, disturbances happen daily on several different levels. Blessings and Art of Living My perception is that universe infinitely blesses us every moment. Why we do not acknowledge is that we are not consciously aware of it.
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