A little encouragement can go a long way.

School started this week at our house. I enjoy homeschooling. When my kids were younger, we did all subjects at home with me as the teacher. Now that the kids are older, they either attend classes offered by our local home school coop, have private tutors or take classes online. However, there is one subject that I decided to teach myself to one of my little ones because it is a subject that this particular child really doesn't like. I want to oversee this subject and make certain that all bases are covered no matter if we enjoy it or not.

This week has gone well. It is off to a good start. I have learned that if I write down everything that is to be covered for a particular day and leave it for my student that my student will get up each morning and get right to work on that day's assignments. The most despised part of the subject is always left until last, but it is getting done. However, there is no smile involved.

I really like smiles and I like the people living in my house to have smiles on their faces. When there aren't smiles, I like to do what I can to bring a smile to the face. Yesterday, as this little one of mine just wasn't happy with the work that needed to be done, I grabbed that little face between my hands and looked into those sweet eyes and said, "You might hate this subject and not like doing the work at all, but . . . " At this point I was interrupted and my little one said, "But I have to do it anyway." I replied, "What I was going to say is 'you are very good at this subject. It may not be your favorite, but you have what it takes to do it and you are very good at it.'" That sweet little face got the biggest of smiles and said, "Really"? "Yes, really."

I have to say, today went a little smoother. The attitude in doing that assignment for the not-so-favorite subject was much improved. It is amazing how a few words of encouragement can change everything. Is there someone in your path that could use a kind word or two?

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24          

May you have JOY today in speaking kind words of encouragement to others.

Tami

A Tribute To My Daddy

As of today, August 9, 2016, it has been a year since we said our earthly goodbyes to my daddy. In so many ways it is hard to believe that it has been a year.  I still often think, “I need to call Daddy and tell him . . . ,” and then I remind myself that I cannot do that.

My mother, as well as a few others, wanted me to speak at my dad’s funeral service. That is not something that I felt like I could do for emotional reasons. Instead, I wrote out what I would say if I were speaking and let my mother read it. She accepted that. Now, on this one-year anniversary of his death I share with you my words about my daddy.

My daddy was a man who loved to serve. He was a hard worker and good provider for his family. If someone was stopped on the side of the road and needed help, he was the one to stop and offer help. He visited those who were in the hospital and those in the nursing home not because it was an obligation but because he loved and cared. He was the one who made certain all the widow ladies were taken care of. He had a heart for the people of Mexico and traveled to Mexico numerous times over the last 35+ years to build churches, homes, an orphanage and to minister to the people.

He was a born leader. As my family and I were putting together his obituary, I came to realize that there were very few organizations of which he had not been a part. He served his church and his community well.

I truly believed – as I think many others do – that my daddy could fix just about anything from broken hearts to cars to an antique windup jumping dog. He considered it a challenge to fix something that was broken and he was always up for a good challenge.

Everything I have mentioned are things that most everyone who knew my daddy already know. What you may not know is the daddy that he was to me. He was the ever present father who never missed one of my activities. He was the one who came running if I called out in the middle of the night. That held true not only while I was living under his roof, but also after I moved into my own apartment. He was the one who taught me not to accept handouts but to work hard for what I wanted in life.

He was the man who carried me down the aisle when I accepted Jesus as my Savior at the age of seven and then walked me down that same aisle when I married my husband 20 years later. He was the one who built dollhouses and treehouses. He was the one who climbed trees to rescue me from treehouses. (He did that more than once!) He was the one who moved me more times than I can count. He was the man who supported me no matter what, loved me, cherished me, and called me “Doll”.

He was the man who didn’t want to die because he didn’t want to leave my mother. He was the man who even in his illness was still trying to take care of others. He was truly a living example of the hands and feet of Jesus. He was the man who had the use of his hands, feet and voice taken away by ALS.

He is now the man whose hands, feet, and voice have been restored all because of his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. He is now rejoicing in Heaven. I am thankful that I have the hope of joining him one day.

There was no other man like my daddy. I was blessed that God chose him for me!

As we are reminded in Psalm 30:5, “weeping may stay for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”. Even though in so many ways we still mourn Daddy's absence here on earth, we rejoice in knowing he suffers no more. In that, there is JOY!

May you too have JOY in remembering your loved ones.

Tami