Random Acts of Loving Kindess

My Facebook musing this morning began with a focus on the importance of kindness.  With November being Kindness Month, I wanted to commit to take the time to look to be of service to others and do so that it cultivates loving kindness in our communities. 

Today at the grocery store I was walking a few feet behind my husband and the grocery cart.  Suddenly a woman I was passing tried to grab a case of canned Coke from off the shelf at the end of a row.  Without thinking I grabbed the case with her and then offered to take it to check out.  I could have kept walking but she seemed to cry out in pain as she reached for the heavy case.

Oddly, as we walked to the check-out others turned and watched as what happened had been observed by most of the people checking out.  She said she had some loss in her fingers and apologized while I just smiled and insisted it was no bother.

It was a simple innocent reaction that turned into a act of kindness that blessed the two of us. It transformed each of us (and maybe some of the bystanders!)

~ Pris

For more information of Random Acts of Kindness go to: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Commitment

In the summer of 1989 I volunteered as a chaperone for a mission trip with the youth at my church. We joined over 1000 other teenagers and leaders for a week of intense work in the mining town of Logan, W. VA. I was the leader of a group of seven teenagers.

We put our heart and soul into repairing the home of the family we were assigned too. The seven of us had secret prayer pals, but being the leader I prayed for all my kids. On the last evening, each group formed a circle and one at a time we prayed for the person in the circle. The kids had an option of laying a hand on the one being prayed for but passed until I was the one in the center. Then while each prayed silently for me, enfolded in such love, I suddenly began to rise off the floor. A staff member who had joined our group screamed at the sight and I gently floated back down to the floor.

It was at that moment that I really knew what commitment meant – it makes life worthwhile.

~ Blessings

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.

Becoming Ageless

One of the most humbling experiences for me right now is being a Girl Scout leader, at my age.  My physical body is not what it was thirty years ago when I camped with my daughter’s troop in Houston or even fifty-six years ago when I started camping out with my troop or at Camp Marydale in Louisiana.  I have to laugh at myself because I do follow the rules and wear socks over my ankles with close-toed shoes.  I don’t wear make-up, or blow my hair dry, or worry about how I look. How I look is not important; it is how I feel.  When I’m at camp with our troop, I am ageless.

 

That’s why I am able to dress up in a vintage uniform for a fashion show, play statues in the garden to help the girls kill time waiting for supper, dive into a cold mountain-top swimming pool, hike forty-five minutes through the woods on a small trial dodging horse manure, just to get to the barn to see the horses, and accidently taking the “short cut” to Shelter Rock for the Scouts Own ceremony which made us a bit late.  But doing so bonded our troop by hiking in silence and reaching the a point where we had to climb down damp and slippery boulders requiring each of us to help the next until we all made to the fire ring only to learn that the easy path was to go around the lake and come in from the back.  Another reason was standing in front of the entire camp, at dusk, closing the ceremony only to be visited upon by a flock of bats flying all around us taking center stage.  How surprised and delighted I was to see our girls see the bats in wonder and not scream or shout in fear; building memories for a life-time!

 

It’s also why I was able to dance with the girls at the Alien Ball, to hear one of our new little girls tell me she was so happy to be in our troop, and finally watching our youngest, a five year-old Daisy Scout keep up with the girls and keep us smiling with her great attitude.  It doesn’t hurt that I was surrounded by some amazing women who shared the experience with me including one who had never been camping.  Their support and love for the girls made it so much easier for me.  What better way to honor my ageless nature than by living with enthusiasm and gratitude. ~ Pris

Lake Adahi

 

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.

The Blessings are in the Journey

Yesterday, I sat on the back porch and harvested my herbs that had been drying.  It was 93 degrees but it was not unbearable.  In fact it was peaceful and comforting.  Susan Trott wrote the book “The Holy Man” when suffering from insomnia.  In it a pilgrimage of people with issues would line up each day to meet with the Holy Man in hopes that he would solve their problems.  She would fall asleep before getting to the end of the line.  And her characters discovered their answers as the days passed and as they waited.

While sitting on my porch I counted my blessings.  My husband had just washed the wall on the side of the house there on the porch; it smelled of bleach and newness.  This was while my middle son was out in the heat power-washing the driveway.  Earlier, I was comforting my granddaughter who was sick with strep throat while her mother searched around town for the prescription the doctor gave them.  A few days before I was in Atlanta helping with my grandson who also had strep throat.  Before leaving, my youngest son filled my car up with gas then took it to be washed, polished and detailed.  The week before that both grandchildren were hanging out with me when we stopped at the Mall to say hi to my oldest son who gave them both high-fives and big smiles.  And in a few days, my daughter will drive from her home in South Carolina with my two youngest granddaughters to visit for the week.
 

I realized as I sat on my back porch, surrounded by the smell of basil, peppermint, spicy oregano, and lavender, that my life is a pilgrimage.  Just like Trott figured out in her book - the blessings are in the journey. ~ Pris

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.

Joy to the World

Nehemiah said, "... joy in our inward being irresistibly calls forth joy in the outer world."

Joy increases for us through use, because when we speak, think, and act with joy, there is no room for anything else in our lives.

Acknowledging the Source of my joy, I go out and make every effort to bring joy to others which creates joy in my life.

~ Pris

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.

Living My Life as I Focus on Feeding My Soul

Here are a few posts from May 2014

May 7th ~

How does it feel to be brave? Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." I challenge you to become still enough to listen to the quiet voice within that is calling you to this grand adventure of life. I did.~ Pris

May 8th ~

I remember a game my father played with me. He would say in a deep voice, "Step by step, inch by inch, slowly I turn...." And then he would pretend to chase me around the house with me giggling, my heart pounding, and my thoughts racing. What a remarkable lesson in truth for in each step my future was revealed. Join me in letting the child within come out to play.~ Pris

May 12 ~

I love canoeing. English naval officer Frederick Marryat said, "Every man paddles his own canoe." When at the bow I power the canoe and when at the back or stern, I steer. One requires strength; the other responsibility. I find I prefer the stern although it means at times I must tell the person in front what to do. For I must guide us away from obstacles and return us safely to shore. Being assertive is not always a bad thing.~ Pris

May 14 ~

When we moved into our new house, the first thing I saw was there were no trees and that meant no shade. I was sad. Then I took a second look and I realized now is my chance to have a vegetable garden. Wayne Dyer says, "If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Step out with me and be the change.~ Pris

Blessings

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.

Welcome Back

Recently I began posting little messages on my Facebook page and it occurred to me that I should also post them on my personal blog.  But when I went to the blog, I could read them but I could not post a new blog.  After researching I found that Blogger limits the number of blogs and I had exceeded my limit.


So today, I am attempting to start a new blog which is really a continuation of my old blogs.  You can still read them at prisnasonshartle.BlogSpot.com.  If you have been following me on Facebook you will see some familiar messages.  However my blogs are more personal and spiritual.


I love to hear back from you and look forward to sharing with you my messages of hope, faith, and love.


Blessings ~ Pris

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.