"Transformation in the world happens when people are healed and start investing in other people." Michael W. Smith Welcome to the second instalment of the Wise Investment series. If you haven't read the first instalment about investing in yourself, you can read it here. Today we are talking about the simple, yet powerful principle of investing in others. I was raised by exceptionally loving parents who made investing in others a way of life. In big and small ways, they would do their part to come alongside others in meaningful and practical ways. They developed a helping mindset and made a decision that they would help others every week affectionately naming their giving and generous lifestyle: Through the Roof Ministries. The name Through the Roof was based on the Bible story where friends lowered their crippled friend through the roof for him to access a healing from Jesus in a crowded home. They, like my parents believed firmly in doing what it took to get the job done and meet the needs of others. It is my honour to call them my parents and I seek daily to follow in their footsteps to the best of my ability. We can invest in others in several ways and these methods often overlap with each other. Here are some great options to consider when wanting to bless and invest in others. The Gift of WordsI have talked often in many blogs about the extreme power of a compliment or kind word. People are desperate for encouragement. Sometimes the word of affirmation you give could be the first that that person has heard in a very long time. It doesn't have to be an extremely deep compliment either. Consider simple statements like these: "I LOVE hanging out with you." "You are so much fun!" "You make me smile." "I am blessed to have you in my life." These small sentences when spoken at the right time, to the right person, carry BIG dividends. It does not take much to turn someone's day around. Sometimes your inspiring word, may be just the thing needed to do that. A verbal compliment, card or email can have a truly lasting impact. Little Acts of KindnessIt doesn’t take much to make someone’s day. I think we overthink it sometimes. I have struggled on occasion with whether or not I should do something for someone, at specific times, yet my mom always said “You never go wrong by being kind.” Whatever you have in your hand, you can use to bless someone else. I have a friend named Margaret who did just that. This incredible story has affectionately been deemed the pumpkin pie story and it goes like this... One October day, Margaret made one of her famous, and delicious pumpkin pies. Her family had enjoyed it immensely, but after all the dinner dishes were cleared there was still one piece left over. As she was tidying up, she considered what to do with this last piece of pie. An idea popped into her head. The idea was to deliver this piece of pie to my mom, Marilyn. Margaret was a dear friend of my mom’s and she thought she would really enjoy the pie. Margaret struggled however with this idea. Margaret is a very kind and generous person. She and I have chatted many times about the “pumpkin pie” story, and she shared she felt foolish about giving only one piece of pie to a good friend. Her desire would be to present my mom with an entire pie for the whole family to enjoy, not one little piece. Margaret felt it was insulting, yet nevertheless she could not shake this feeling that that pie slice somehow had my mom’s name on it. Margaret tells the story of how she drove up and down my mom’s street several times before she finally got the courage to go to her door with the pie. What she didn’t know was that very day my mom had been out shopping to fill a craving she had for what else, but pumpkin pie! Sadly, as it was close to Thanksgiving, there were no pumpkin pies anywhere! My dad was away on a men’s retreat and one piece was all Mom really wanted. Imagine my mom’s joy and delight when a piece of scrumptious, pumpkin pie was delivered right to her door. Margaret felt incredible too that despite her feeling a bit silly by bringing only one piece of pie, she became an agent of encouragement for a dear friend. We all agreed it was more than an idea for Margaret to deliver the pie to my mom, but instead a God-inspired prompting. What felt insignificant to her at the time, truly blessed another. Many times in life we have something we can do for others that meets their need. Nothing is insignificant when it is done with a heart of love or a desire to be a blessing. Maybe you have a trade or skill and you can offer that to help someone. Don't underestimate the power of practical help. You can be the answer to someone's prayer and that is an incredible thought to reflect upon. The Gift of TimeWhat time can you give to bless someone else? Can you find time to volunteer at a local charity? Could you coach a little league soccer team? Could you help run a local breakfast club at a local elementary school? Could you teach a Sunday school class or take someone out for coffee who needs your advice or listening ear? There are endless possibilities out there. The wonderful thing about investing your time in others is you too are incredibly blessed in the process as well. It doesn't get much better than that, does it? So what can you do to invest in others today? There are so many options. Don't hesitate. Investing in others is one of the greatest investments out there. You get such incredible returns on your investments as well. One is the blessing of knowing you truly changed someone's life in a big or small way and that my friends makes it ALL worth it! Until next time, Dana Matthew 10:42: And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Little Lesson Learned: Whatever you have to offer others, know that it can be used in powerful life-changing ways if you are open to it.
Tags: helping others, investing in others, least of these, gift of time, words of affirmation, volunteer, acts of kindness, change your worldCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana, 2nd edition, 2014 first edition
(Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved.
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“Dance like nobody’s watching. Love like you never been hurt. Sing like nobody’s listening. Live like its heaven on earth.” Mark Twain I am not a dancer. For those who know me well, this confession clearly does not come as a shock to you. When it comes to dancing, I definitely have two left feet, but oh how I admire people who are gifted in this area. I used to love to watch Michael Jackson and the creative and unbelievable routines he would make up in his incredible music videos. Some people are just born with it, and he certainly was one of them. In my classroom I like to tease my students and do my “happy dance” when they really accomplish something special. I am sure I look foolish, but they enjoy this crazy routine. I guess I am creating a funny memory for them to recall if nothing else. Several years ago, I had a little girl in my class that I called "Little Miss Sunshine." She lit up the room every day with her infectious grin and zest for life. No matter how difficult the work may have been at times, her positive spirit and determination carried her through. I remember specifically when she found something in math challenging and then had that “a-ha” moment when it all came together, she would literally dance around my desk and room. She could not contain her excitement that she “got” it, and her reaction was priceless. Sometimes we have such a joyful experience that our happiness works its way right down to our toes. When you have those experiences, cherish them because for some of us they may be too few and far between. I remember driving along with my two kids one day when they were little, listening to Veggie Tales and Shannon saying, “Look Mom! My beet (feet) are dancing!” She was just so happy, even her tiny feet were showing it. Very cute. Sometimes I think we need to remind ourselves of all we have in life. All of us have reasons to dance, yet sometimes we forget what they are. We get so bogged down with the day-to-day pressures of life and familiar struggles, our once "dancing feet" are all too soon dragging on the floor. There is a YouTube sensational who calls himself Kid President. His goal in a nutshell is to “make the world awesome,” and he wants us to join him in that venture! I love to watch his videos. You can see what he is all about here. He also makes it his mission to give the world “a reason to dance!” This little guy can clearly get his groove on, yet I came to find out that he suffers from brittle bone disease and his great desire to dance puts him at great risk of personal injury. This touched my heart as it spoke to me about being positive and joyful even in tremendous adversity. He has dancing feet despite a severe and serious illness. Happiness is a choice. We can choose to walk through life like a sad sack with our chins on the ground, or we can choose to be joyful even if there is not much to be joyful about. This is not always easy I know. My husband and I have experienced the loss of three babies, through miscarriage. This was a very difficult thing to walk through, and my heart goes out to anyone who has experienced this type of loss. After my last miscarriage, I experienced a very powerful dream that involved dancing, square dancing as a matter of fact. In my dream, my grandpa who had passed away several years before, came to me. I had been told prior to his arrival in my dream that he was being sent specifically to cheer me up, but I had to let him come and go as he pleased. My grandpa and I were extremely close, and he was an incredible and hilarious man who could make anyone laugh. I was ecstatic at the opportunity to see him again, if even in a dream for one last time. In the dream he chatted with me about my sadness, and he said he had come to cheer me up by doing a little square dancing together. We danced. We laughed. We chatted and all too soon it was over, and he had to go. I felt better though. My feet had danced with grandpa, and I felt refreshed and hopeful. I consider this dream a gift and I will always cherish it. I found dancing feet amid extreme sorrow and great loss. It is so easy to look at what is going wrong in our lives. We can get caught up in the negativity that often surrounds us, but I encourage you not to do that. See the good in things. See the good in people. Gravitate towards people who bring you up. Look for those people who set your feet to dancing. They are the people who bring out the best in you like my grandpa did. I heard a quote that said, “Choose to be with people who celebrate you, not tolerate you!” This is a very good thought to ponder and so very true. Some people just give off positive vibes and warmth. They make you feel like you matter and are very important. Those are the people we need when we are down and in need of a good dose of encouragement. The Bible talks about that God turns our mourning to dancing. He gives us beautiful exchanges mentioned in scripture such as beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Sounds like a great trade off to me! It may be a long time since you have tried those dancing feet. They are available for you to use despite your set of hardships or challenges. They may be wobbly, and your steps may be clumsy, but choosing to be joyful not because of your circumstances, but despite them like the people I mentioned, will really carry you very far if you will consider this possibility. Oh yeah, and one more thing… Don’t worry about what you look like because I think the foolish prize went to me long ago, so you will be just fine, trust me. Until next time, Dana Psalms 30:11 ~ You turned my mourning to dancing... Little Lesson Learned: Everyone has a reason to dance. Don't forget to find yours.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana, 2nd edition, 2014 first edition (Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: dancing, dancing feet, happy dance, joy, mourning to joy, emotional healing"Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what's left of you." – Katie Reed How's it going my friend? Do you feel like your life is a little crazy these days? If so, you are certainly not alone. Life in general seems to have become far too busy for everyone. Our calendars are often plastered with so many commitments and appointments that even looking at the schedule can make us tired. Balance is something that many of us are truly lacking. Often when we get busier, we can fall into the trap of poor self-care and it can really take its toll on us. To be effective in our workplaces, families and society in general it is so important to take time for ourselves, to be the best we can be in all aspects. We truly cannot pour from an empty cup. We need to make a conscious effort to order our lives with the inclusion of activities that edify us. “Me” time looks different for everyone, and that is what makes us all unique and interesting. Here’s my thoughts on six things I do regularly to lift my spirits and keep my life in order when it gets a bit hectic. Maybe you will enjoy implementing these things into your life as well. Find a great hobby or interestTaking time for ourselves can come in many forms. Some of us need to find new hobbies or interests. What do you enjoy that excites you and is a healthy, enjoyable option? Blogging has become a real keen interest of mine and I find it so rewarding. It keeps my writing skills sharp and allows me to contact people in a way that was never possible in the past. It has also presented me with a platform that never existed before, and I have met so many incredible people through my blogging experience. It is so amazing! Is there a class you could take or a new skill you could learn? The possibilities are truly endless! Schedule a napTaking time for ourselves may mean getting more rest. Many of us are walking around sleep deprived and we may not even know it. Coffee can help, but it only gets you so far, believe me. Recently I got a diagnosis that FINALLY gave me some answers to why I was so tired all. the. time. I found out I have sleep apnea and I actually have one of the most severe cases that my doctor has ever seen. Things are getting better now that I am on a CPAP machine, but regardless I must tell you, I LOVE to nap! It is truly one of my favourite things. Funny how when I was younger, naps were something I totally dreaded. Not now! For me, it is a chance to forget about stress for a bit, and feel refreshed from the demands of a hectic day. I often take a nap right after work. I always set my alarm so I do not oversleep and then when I wake, I feel much more ready to take on the second part of my day! Get movingExercise is a fantastic way to put yourself on top of the priority list once again. Honestly, I enjoy walking, working out at the gym and recently have added Aquafit classes to my schedule. My motivation is inconsistent at times, but I have made a decision to get back to more regular exercising. When I am faithful with my exercise routine, I feel so much better physically and emotionally. The key is to find what type of exercise you most enjoy and make a commitment to it. You will be so glad you did. Candy Crush anyone?A little mindless activity can be very beneficial as well. Admittedly, I am a big Candy Crush fan and I do enjoy Facebook and seeing what everyone it up to. As mentioned balance is everything, yet games and social media can be great as long as they are used in the right amount. Bonding with bestiesSpending time with friends and family that encourages you is crucial. Make an effort to call a good friend and get together or have a nice phone conversation with a best friend. This can be just what is needed to put you back on track. Those that love us most let us be ourselves. Whether we need to vent, require a listening ear, or just need to have a good laugh, friends help us with that. True friends help us also get perspective, feel supported and get advice with problem solving. Power of prayerTaking time for myself means spending time in prayer and asking God to direct my days and help me with all my problems. I bring to him all my concerns both big and small and in return I feel refreshed, lighter and so much better. I pray that I may operate in his strength as I know that I was never made to walk this life on our own. His strength is perfect and will keep me going and moving forward even on the hardest days. You are so amazing and are meant to thrive, not just exist. All work and no play can lead to an incredibly stressful life for all of us. I want the best for you and taking time for yourself is not selfish, but extremely healthy and necessary. Make sure in your corner of the world, self-care happens on a regular basis in the ways that work for you . You will feel empowered, encouraged and become a much healthier and happier person in the end. Until next time, ~ Dana Matthew 11:28-30: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Little Lesson Learned: Take care of yourself. You are so worth it!
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana, 2nd edition, 2014 first edition entitled Me Time (Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: self-care, take care of yourself, full cup, invest in you“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow’s a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt. There are some things in life we all love to do and then there are those tasks that require much more effort. You know those tasks that you try to ignore as long as possible, as you simply do not have the time or energy for them? We all have some of THOSE TASKS that is certain. The tidying of my clothes closet was one of them. I had been avoiding organizing it for months, as let’s face it, the tidying up of a cluttered closet, can be a very daunting task. Just looking at it drained my energy, yet how liberating it felt to put it in order and send a few bags of clothes off to the local thrift store. It was a long and tedious task, but such a great feeling when it was finally done. As a teacher early in my career, I used to have a very messy, cluttered desk. I could never find anything and I felt like I was a terrible example to the students. I have since changed my ways and now pride myself in keeping a very orderly desktop. It is my belief that it is not fair to get after kids to tidy their desks, if mine is an absolute disaster, so I am glad I have improved in this area. It is quite humorous when we do desk cleanouts in my classroom I must say. I do them on a regular basis to help keep the students organized and it is funny because of what they find! The one who never has a pencil suddenly has six, or the missing notebook that couldn’t be found anywhere suddenly makes an appearance, or the permission form that they swear they never got, is there in all its glory. Certain kids dread this task more than others because their desks are more untidy, yet all of them have such grins of satisfaction on their faces when their desks are tidy. It is priceless to witness as they are so proud to show me their neat and tidy work space, and you can tell they “get it,” that the tidy desk option is so much more appealing than the messy one! I have worked with so many people in the past in my social work career who had a “when I - then I " mentality. This is explained with examples such as “when I find more time, I will start exercising,” or “when my life gets a little less stressful, I will try to make time for positive changes.” The problem is that if you wait for the perfect opportunity, it will never come. An example of this is a young mom who repeatedly kept telling me that she “really wanted to get her family out to church,” but she had every excuse under the sun. “It is our only family day, and the kids are too young for the service and we don’t have proper church clothes…” You know how it goes and I did totally understand her concerns. I explained to her however, that we had a program for every age group and that church attire is more casual these days. No matter what I said though, she just explained that when they were older, she would bring them. Well I bet you can guess what happened? Sadly that day has never come and her kids have really gone through some incredibly hard times. Her and her husband are great people and parents, but she shared with me later in life that she had so many regrets in this area. She confided that she wished she would have committed to regular church attendance when the kids were younger, as she knew it would have greatly benefited them and then they would be in the faithful routine of coming. Sometimes hindsight is 20/20 as they say, yet it is never too late to start something new. My mom always wanted to learn to play piano, but never learned as a child. She took piano lessons at age 40 and was so thrilled to be able to sit down at the piano and play church hymns and her favourite songs as she had always imagined. I always respected her so much for this. She decided one day that she was not going to put it off another day, but she was going to learn to play piano NOW. Procrastination is a problem for many people. The bigger issue is as we choose to put off things for “another” day, the dreaded tasks just pile up and before we know it, what was once a molehill, is now a mountain. In addition, the “another” day never seems to present itself. This then leaves us feeling more discouraged, so it becomes a vicious circle. Many addictions are like that and what was once a little habit, now holds people captive without them realizing. Change is a process and it begins with little steps. Hopes, dreams, recovery steps, and new pursuits can become reality when we decide not to embrace the “when I - then I,” mantra but rather the anthem of "why not today? " What’s been on the back burner in your life? Could it be Bible reading, exercising, eating better, more time for self care, looking for a good church, or spending more time with friends? There is no time like the present to start looking at it again. The Bible says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. The cool thing is when we decide to make positive changes in our lives not only is God our greatest cheerleader, but he also promises to be right beside us giving us increased strength to do so. I have had times where I have made sincere commitments to make positive change in some area of my life and then it seems life steps in and derails me. Despite my best intentions, I can feel like I am on the hamster wheel, going nowhere fast. I have made a commitment to exercise more regularly, eat better and read my Bible more often. I am happy to say I am doing much better in my eating and Bible reading, but my exercising definitely needs to improve. Reflecting on that however, I have not been feeling well, but have still gone for walks and even tried pickle ball this week with my friends for the first time. That is a huge WIN in my books. Change takes time. I am choosing to be patient with myself, and you should too. The bottom line is we all can have some big, legit reasons or excuses to put us off track, but looking at the big picture is key. I have learned that if today was not the best than all is not lost, as I know I can turn it around tomorrow or another day. All too often we can let one bad day, spiral out of control and take us away from our goals. Don’t allow that to happen as every morning, with every sunrise, we get a fresh, new start. I would love to hear what area of your life you are working on right now in the comments. It is very exciting to think of where you can end up when you make a decision that today is the day that I begin putting positive steps into action in my life. Don’t let seeds of doubt or discouragement creep in. You can do it! Why not today? Today feels like a great day for positive change don’t you agree? I am cheering for you all the way. Until next time, ~ Dana Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Little Lesson Learned: Don’t put off for tomorrow what you could do today. There is no better time than the present. One of my favourite groups, Rascal Flatts who I had the pleasure of seeing in concert, has a perfect song to encourage us in our positive changes called "Feels Like Today." Enjoy! Tags: procrastination, goal setting, self improvement, start today, growth mindset
"I've found no matter what life throws at me; music softens the blow." Bryce W. Anderson Music has always been a HUGE part of my life. Whether it was years of piano lessons, singing in various choirs, performing on stage as a soloist or with a group, or directing school musicals, if it involved music or singing of some sort, count. me. in. I even sang to my husband Phil at our wedding and to our kids, Tyler and Shannon, at their dedication services. It is just so much the fabric of who I am, and it truly made the ceremonies that much more special and memorable. That being said, I don't know if the hills are alive with the sound of music in my corner of the world, but I can certainly verify that my classroom is alive with the sound of music. As a musical person, I love to incorporate songs into our everyday routines. As a primary teacher, I see the value of subject specific songs as part of our focus on the topics of study. The kids really enjoy them and it helps them commit important concepts to memory easily. This year as mentioned in a previous blog we even have a class theme song called Chosen Family. The kids love it and sing it with their hands on their hearts with such enthusiasm. I have them sing it for every supply teacher and all my supply teachers have commented on how much they enjoyed hearing it. For more info about that and the topic of chosen family click here. When I worked as a substance abuse counsellor, I took an addictions course as part of my certification. I recall one activity that we had to do was a real eye-opener as to just how much music was ingrained in me. We were instructed to select a neutral habit that we had that was part of our normal and healthy daily routine. It was was not to be a negative habit or addiction. We then were told to make a conscious decision to exclude that activity from our routine for a week and journal our feelings about the experience. Coffee is my g0-to in the morning and the thought of giving up my warm cup of morning inspiration was simply just too much to bear. For that reason, I picked something else that I thought would be easier. At the time, I had an hour commute, so immediately when I got in the car my routine every day was I would put on the radio. I LOVED listening to music to pass the time and make the drive more pleasant. For this experiment, I decided that I would refrain from doing that and would instead drive in SILENCE. What was I thinking? By the end, I decided that forgoing my morning coffee, just might have been the easier, less painful option. I felt like I was going crazy. I would sing, hum and even talk to to myself on my commute. The drive seemed like an eternity and definitely silence was NOT golden in this case! When the week was over, I was so incredibly happy and relieved to have music, my constant companion back. During Language Arts at school, we had a discussion about our favourite music genres. On the chart paper, I quickly wrote their many answers like rock, pop, country, hip hop and many more. I couldn't contain my excitement though, when one little guy said, "worship music." I work in the public system so that response was a very pleasant surprise. I echoed his enthusiasm. Worship music is indeed my favourite too. My favourite artists at present are Maverick City Music, Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake and Rend Collective. I have tickets for an upcoming Phil Wickham/ Brandon Lake concert in our area and I tell you I cannot wait. On so many occasions worship music songs have brought such peace and comfort to my soul. I LOVE to put on my headphones and just let the music and God's presence soothe my soul and wash my cares away. Worship songs speak to me in such powerful ways and have become such a HUGE blessing in my life. Even though the beat and music is enjoyable, it is the message of the lyrics that speaks the loudest to me. Hard times have been plenty lately and the message of these songs has brought such healing to my brokenness. When my mom died unexpectedly, I cried out to God and asked him to give me something to stand on. I basically gave him a directive that he MUST speak to me in a worship song when I put on the radio. I needed to make sense of what the profound loss of my precious mother was all about. Bold I know, but I was heartbroken and desperate and I knew God understood. Of course, as soon as I put on our local Christian radio station, UCB Radio, the song God is in this Story by Katy Nichole was playing. I knew it was God speaking directly to me and I was so grateful. Time and time again in my trials and heartache, the perfect song would play for me that I needed to hear at the EXACT time I needed it. I know that God faithfully speaks to me through music if I keep my heart and ears open. He can do the same for you too. God has been so good to me. I can't help but sing praises to him. The gift of music is something I will always cherish. If you have not listened to worship music, I encourage you to give it a try. It is very different than church music of the past. It is not old hymns, but upbeat, modern tunes with very relatable up-to-date lyrics. Christian radio stations, YouTube or Spotify have so many great options. I encourage you to listen in today. I know if you are open, God can speak to you as well and bring hope and healing to your heart through the compelling lyrics of these beautiful songs. Well that's it for now. I hope I gave you something to at least think about in regards to how worship music can bring real encouragement to your days. I wish you a wonderful, and blessed week! Until next time, Dana Psalms 89:1 ~ I will sing of your love forever. Little Lesson Learned: Music is like medicine to a hurting soul.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: music, worship music, Maverick City, Phil Wickham, Brandon Lake, Rend Collective, elementary music, classroom music, music teacher, power of music, message of music“To the outside world, we grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the space of time. ~ Clara Ortega Siblings. They see the best and worst of us. They ride the rollercoaster of crazy family life with us from the beginning to the end, yet if we are fortunate enough somewhere along the way they become our best friends. I am one of three children, the middle child. I have an older sister Judy, and a younger brother Matt. When it comes to siblings, I know it may sound a bit biased but I truly hit the jackpot. I am so pleased to introduce you to my siblings. Let’s start with Judy. My Sister JudyMy sister Judy is two years older than me and from the moment I was born, I have felt that Jude and I were destined to be besties. She is fiercey protective, extremely compassionate and has always been wise beyond her years. She is married to Jeff, and has three wonderful sons: Ben, Adam and Seth. Judy is a registered nurse and currently holds the title of Operations Manager of Addictions Services at a large hospital. Each day she makes an incredibly positive impact on both her staff and patients there. I recall job shadowing her once when she was working as an RN. My amount of respect for Judy positively skyrocketed when I saw her in her element and observed her level of medical expertise. I tell you it was unreal, next level stuff. Judy is brilliant, hilariously funny, extremely organized and the person you want in your corner during any crisis. Shortly ago, Judy went through a lengthy breast cancer battle. It was extremely difficult for her, yet she continued to work full-time, share God's light and love people with intensity as she always has. I accompanied her on one of her chemotherapy days and I can still see it. There she was, no hair, big grin, armed with her daytimer, pens and highlighters, happily planning her week and encouraging others even while attached to an IV. She did not miss a beat and inspired so many during this very difficult time. Judy is one of the most exceptional people I have ever known. She has been a godsend on so many occasions to so many and is truly the rock of our family. Now, let's hear about Matt. My Brother MattMatt is four years younger than me. I regret to admit that I did give Matt a bit of a hard time growing up, as I loved to tease him as my little brother, but that is all behind us now. We are extremely close. Matt is exceptionally creative, very musical, (Is there any instrument he can't play?) passionate about his goals, an innovative risk taker, a successful businessman and actor and someone that just “makes things happen.” When Matt has a goal, he pursues it with intensity and goes after it unwaveringly. He is a skilled problem solver and I greatly admire him. Matt is married to Michelle and has three incredible kids: Caden, Kyra and Luke. Matt is a go-getter and always has some cool creative project on the go. His family recently built a gorgeous cottage in an extremely picturesque location. We rented it last summer and it was indeed a piece of paradise. Everywhere we looked it had his family's creative and heartwarming touches and just spoke to the standard of excellence that Matt applies to all of his endeavours. His most recent project is he and his wife Michelle are renovating a van into an RV, so they can travel on their own terms in style. I am always amazed to hear of his latest adventure or project and am truly in awe of him as not only my brother, but as a person in general. Matt too has a heart for ministry and has been involved in many capacities in our church or other ministries. I am incredibly proud of him and so proud to say that he is my brother. Sibling Love or Rivalry?I realize that my situation with my siblings is not necessarily typical. I hope and pray that you have a similar situation, but if you don’t, know that healing is still possible. My family has gone through some very hard times lately, especially with our mom’s illness and death. It has only brought us closer. With our dad at the helm and God in the center of all we do there is truly NOTHING we can't handle together and I say that with all my heart. If you have strained relationships with your siblings, I encourage you to seek reconciliation. You do not have to be best friends, but forgiveness is so healing. It is truly a gift you give yourself. For more information on how to do that click here. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:24: there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. For me, as I have amazing siblings it speaks to me of the magnitude of love that Jesus has for us. Judy and Matt would drop everything and come running for me, whatever I need, yet God's love is SO much deeper than that. If your sibling relationships are not what you have hoped for or desire, know that Jesus can fill that void as your friend and heavenly father. He wants to be close to you, closer than any brother could possibly be and heal your wounded heart. It is never too late to make a fresh start with God or your family members. Pray for reconciliation and then let God do the work. Please also know that when we are members of God's family, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ as well. This is a beautiful set of siblings that everyone needs in their lives. I am here for you as your sister in Christ if you need me. You know where to find me! Until next time, Dana Psalms 133:1 ~ Look how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one. Little Lesson Learned: Friends will come and go, but family is forever.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: Jesus is closer than a brother, siblings, sibling relationships, childhood memories, reconciliation, healing
“God has a plan for each of our lives. As hard as it is to understand and as painful as it might be, sometimes that even means Him allowing bad things to happen in order for His purpose to be fulfilled.” ~ Cherlisa Starks Richardson
Easter is upon us once again, and it has got me reminiscing of Easters gone by. I couldn’t help but smile when I recall a very cute and humorous Easter story from my past.
So let me set the scene for you. I was teaching an energetic group of three-year-olds at church and I was bound and determined, no matter what it took, to enlighten these kiddos about the true meaning of Easter. As the lesson unfolded I was trying my best to explain to them that Easter is so much more than chocolate bunnies and Easter baskets. One little guy interrupted me and said “You’re so right! Easter is not about the chocolate bunnies. (Wait for it…) It’s really about the chocolate eggs!” Oh no! I guess he didn’t really get it after all, much to my dismay. After some other activities and riveting discussion, I thought I was actually making some real headway in the area of the true meaning of Easter. With gusto, I began the grand finale of my Easter lesson, the holy grail for all Sunday school teachers everywhere: the flannel board story. Oh, how I loved those when I was a kid. The story of the day was about Mary and Martha at the tomb of Jesus. They had come with broken hearts expecting to mourn and find his body there. I explained they were very surprised and saddened because Jesus wasn’t there. The same little boy interrupted me again as I was explaining their sadness and said “No, I don't think they were sad about THAT, I think they were sad because they lost their chocolate bunnies.” I thought to myself, That's it! I give up! As an aside, I had to chuckle though about a story shared when my cousin had that same little guy in Sunday school the next week. She too thought she was really getting somewhere with the lesson, especially when he asked if he could lead in prayer. Wow! Quite impressed she immediately responded “Yes, of course!” He was so excited and started praying with great enthusiasm “Oh Lord, for the dinosaurs. Help them! Keep them safe, just be with them Lord.” My cousin could barely keep a straight face, but admitted it was very sweet to hear him pray with such fervency.
Sometimes the best laid plans do not turn out the way we would like them to like my "life changing" Sunday School lesson, but that is just life sometimes. It does seem though, that in our busy society there truly are so many like my little friend who do not grasp what Easter is truly all about. In church each year at Easter we examine the great sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross and celebrate communion together. It is something that is always an extremely powerful experience for me, as we truly meditate upon the selfless act of love that Christ did for us.
I cannot even imagine how the disciples felt to see their beloved friend crucified or Mary, his mother to witness the torture of her precious son. Even though Jesus had attempted to prepare them for this upcoming event, how can anyone ever really be prepared for THAT? I am sure they were so confused, desperately wondering what is the point of all this? Fixating on the present, they were not even considering the miracle that was soon to take place. Ironically as they honestly thought everything was falling apart, it was clearly and miraculously falling into place for not just them, but all of us as God’s children. Many times in life things in general happen to us that just do not make ANY sense. Plans fail, relationships break down, death takes a loved one, tragedy strikes, jobs are lost or disaster comes our way. Our corner of the world is rocked TO THE CORE and we shake our heads thinking... WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?? The group Casting Crowns has a beautiful song called Just Be Held. The lyrics and message of the song really resonate with me, as they explain what often happens during the most confusing and painful times in our lives. The song says “Your world’s not falling apart. It’s falling into place.” To check out that beautiful song click here.
We only see a small part of the picture, but God sees the big picture. Many times in my life I have wondered why I have had heartaches and struggles. I have been angry and questioned why did I have to go through these challenges when I could have learned the same lesson another, less painful way? The beautiful thing is with God’s help and the passage of time, we can take all that pain and channel it in a positive way to help others. We have a powerful connection with others when we too have walked that same road. Our family has experienced immense grief, miscarriages, serious illness, unemployment, financial setbacks, and other personal struggles. I can say with assurance that there is not one difficult thing that we have gone through that we have not been able to speak about to help others.
When going through a hard time and you find yourself asking what the point of it all is, remember God opens doors and closes them in our lives. Remember too in the Easter story, things looked so dark on Friday, but by Sunday the situation had been miraculously changed! You do not know when your breakthrough is coming and it could be much sooner than you ever dreamed. Consider the fact that maybe, just maybe if you are open to the possibility, your world’s not falling apart but instead it's falling perfectly into place. Sending you so much love, Dana Isaiah 55: 8-9 ~ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Little Lesson Learned: When we question a chapter of our story, remember we don't know how our story ends, but God does. Learn to practice patience and trust Him.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (revised edition) 2016 original, first edition entitled "What's the Point?"
(Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: What is God's plan for me? God's plan, Jeremiah 29:11, faith in hard times, trust in God, Easter, when God doesn't make sense"No one is you and that is your superpower." ~ Unknown It is something I will always remember. In she came proud as a peacock, in clunky high heeled shoes way too big for her tiny little feet clickety clacking across the tiled classroom floor. Grinning from ear to ear, she eagerly announced “Mrs. R. I have brought you a birthday present today, and I want everyone here to know I spent TONS of money on it!” I couldn’t help but smile as the first thing that caught my eye was the beat-up Christmas bag was filled with a purple balloon already blown up. Underneath were other interesting treasures that included a McDonald’s Happy Meal toy, a plastic flower, and some shiny bracelets of various sizes. She could hardly contain her excitement, and it was clearly evident. Her kind gesture really touched me. She was beaming as I thanked her repeatedly for her thoughtfulness, and her classmates watched with interest. Later, that morning as others scurried off to recess, she curiously lingered behind looking quite sheepish. She then proceeded to ask if she could speak to me “privately.” As we chatted, a confession poured out like water overflowing from a tiny cup. Teary eyed she shared, “I must be honest with you. I didn’t spend a ton of money on your gift I, well I…. found all this stuff in my room and I am so sorry. I just wanted so badly to give you something.” Our eyes met and hearts connected. I really felt for her. Her generosity reflected truly the best she had. I thanked her for her honesty and assured her that I found her gift very meaningful. It was truly the best she had and was given with such love. It was so obvious she gave her best, and had even dressed up for the occasion to show up as her best self for someone she dearly loved. Next I recall another little boy I had in Room 21 one year. Whenever he was faced with a challenge in class, he was known to always say “I will try my best.” He clearly lived up to that motto, as no matter what came his way at school, following that premise, day after day he consistently gave his all. In doing that, he was very successful. He clearly gave his best day after day, and the results came. Giving our best and being our best means different things for different people. The smallest gesture can have the greatest impact, especially when we know that there has been a sacrifice involved. Recently we celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day. There is a great book by Emily Pearson called Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed that I love to read to my class. In the book the "extraordinary deed" that Mary did was placing a bowl of fresh blueberries on her neighbour's porch. Not very extraordinary, but it was the best Mary had and she wanted to bless her neighbour. The extraordinary part of the story is this loving gesture then launched a chain of events where her neighbour made blueberry muffins for her friends and then they did kind deeds for their friends. It went on and on. The little deed launched a momentous chain of kindness that created a very positive impact on so many in the end. It truly showed how the smallest deed can have a very big impact at times. Sometimes it is more than we could even imagine. Being our best selves can start by simply being kind to others. People may wonder: how do we keep striving for personal growth day after day when life is just plain hard at times? I have some helpful suggestions to share with you. Limit screen timeWe need to make a commitment to strive to give our best to each other. One way we can do this is by limiting our screen time. Almost everyone has cell phones these days, but life goes on beyond the tiny screen. I am trying to be more mindful of this and more emotionally present for my family and friends. Facebook and Instagram can’t hold a candle to honest and meaningful conversation with those you love, trust me. Giving others our undivided attention and quality time is certainly indicative of being our best selves. Accept your limitationsAs we strive to be the best we can be, it means accepting our limitations and learning to be content with what life brings our way. It is easy to get discouraged when things aren’t going according to schedule, or things are not going as we planned. During those times, we must remind ourselves that doing our best each day, and striving to be our best self is all anyone can ask of us. It is our responsibility to keep pressing on, knowing that life brings ups and downs, but we can overcome them one day at a time. Share encouragementTo work towards being our best, involves offering others hope and encouragement and sharing our insights on the life lessons we have learned. Helping others brings out the best in all of us, as it helps us shift our focus to someone else. We grow and change in a positive way, when we help others. Learn from mistakesHaving a goal of being the best versions of ourselves means we must learn from our mistakes. I once had a boss who would always say “You made a mistake. Great! Let’s celebrate it! There is so much to be learned here!” I have never forgotten that perspective and do believe it does make sense and has helped me through some tough times. Becoming our best self is a process and does not happen overnight. Take care of yourselfBeing our best means taking time for proper self-care. We are useless if we are used up. Working ourselves to the point of exhaustion will never get us to where we want to go. Rest, book a massage or pedicure. Read, watch movies, exercise or catch up with friends. Do what feeds your soul. It feels great to indulge a bit and recharge our batteries. We have people depending on us which includes family, and friends and in my case, even a sweet group of little people at work. Offering others our best self is impossible if we are empty. So fill your cup, whatever that looks for you. Invite God’s strength into your lifeFinally, striving to be our best self each day means realizing that we do not have to do it alone. We can choose to have God empower us to reach our true potentials each day. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The Bible also talks about that when we are weak, He is strong. That is so reassuring to know that we can choose to include God in our daily lives, and He will work to truly bring out the best in us for others. Giving our best, striving to be the best we can be daily is not always easy, but one day at a time it truly can be done. We are only human, and we will all have ups and downs, but knowing that each new day that comes brings us a fresh start is very reassuring. Keep on doing your best each day. As they say, life is a marathon, not a sprint. We are all works in progress. I believe in you! Until next time, Dana Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Little Lesson Learned: Becoming our best self is a process. You are allowed to be a masterpiece and work in progress simultaneously. Remember that.
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana, revised edition, First edition, © 2015 entitled: Giving Our Best (Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Tags: self improvement, growth mindset, work in progress, best self, self improvement tips“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom In we came, dressed in our Sunday best, rocking it out and singing to the very best of our ability the hit song of the day, I’m Forgiven by Christian recording artists, The Imperials. Our group, a youth choir, was called The Soul Survivors and to say that we thought we were “all that” was certainly an understatement. Were we the best singers? Certainly not, but what our group lacked in talent, we sure made up for in confidence and enthusiasm! We even had a “back-up tape” which was a true novelty back then of this latest Christian hit, and we were ready to share the good news! I actually saw the Imperials twice in concert and it was truly memorable and meaningful. I have included I’m Forgiven at the end of this blog for your listening pleasure. Perhaps it will take some of you down memory lane like it did for me. So, I’m Forgiven! What a powerful song title. What a powerful concept. This week in our class Morning Meeting, we discussed the topic of forgiveness. I love these teachable moments, when I can impart some nugget of wisdom to my students on ways to improve their lives using practical tools that will empower them. As our discussion progressed, members of the class were divided on how forgiveness should and should not work. One friend thought in a mutually hurtful situation, that if you forgive someone who has hurt you, then he or she MUST forgive you too because that just wouldn’t be “fair.” As I was gearing up to respond, another very wise little friend said “Guys, you don’t GIVE forgiveness to GET forgiveness, you give forgiveness for your own PEACE. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, and had me thinking, "Are you eight years old or twenty-eight years old, because your mature response just blew me away!" Key Number One: Forgiving OthersPiggybacking on what he said, I shared with them an effective illustration that I have used in my addictions therapy groups I used to lead as a clinicial social worker. I called it the handcuffs illustration and it is a powerful little skit I would act out to explain what happens to you when you refuse to forgive someone. I explained with the help of a sweet volunteer that if I refused to forgive her it was like her, and I were handcuffed together 24/7. In the past, I had a pair of Dollar store handcuffs from the Halloween display to improve this illustration, but the kids seemed to get what I was trying to say regardless. I explained that she may not even know I am upset with her, yet we go everywhere together because my bitterness and refusal to forgive keeps me chained to her. The only way to separate us is to use the key called forgiveness and break that toxic bond between us. Whether that person deserves it or not, by doing that, we are liberated, and we have given ourselves the gift of freedom. The fact that forgiving someone is extremely difficult or seemingly impossible at times is certainly not lost on me. Some of us have experienced heart-breaking scenarios and severe mistreatment at the hands of others and I am in no way minimizing your pain. Forgiveness takes time and readiness and can be a very complicated process. I recall watching an episode of the Dr. Phil show where the featured guest was detailing years of terrible abuse at the hands of her parents and emphasized how she could not and would not ever forgive them. Dr. Phil then asked “So where are your parents now?" “She quickly replied “They are both deceased.” Dr. Phil, then said something I will never forget. He said “So they are both gone, and you are STILL refusing to forgive them? Truth be told, you are not hurting them; you are only hurting YOURSELF 100%. You gave them your past. How much more of your present life are you going to allow them to have?” Wow! It was like an "Ah-ha" moment for her, yet she still said amongst her tears, “But Dr. Phil, You don't understand! They don’t deserve my forgiveness!” Dr. Phil replied “You are right. They don’t. I agree, but YOU need to do this to move forward.” So true. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV : Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.) Key Number Two: Forgiving YourselfSometimes the one we need to forgive is ourselves. We can be so hard on ourselves when we make a mistake. We can truly be our worst enemy. I remember a client sharing with me that if I really knew all she had done, there would be no way I would even spend another minute with her. She was in her words “despicable, unforgiveable, and beyond hope.” She even said "I know that God could forgive you, but He could never forgive me. I am too far gone.” Her self description broke my heart. There is NOONE who is despicable, unforgiveable and beyond hope, but she couldn't see it. As I probed a bit further and encouraged her to tell her story, her tears freely flowed as she shared about years of abuse, addiction and a criminal past. She kept looking at the door, expecting me to open it and send her off, but instead I stayed glued to her every word. She was literally stunned! I shared that there is nothing that she could do that is unforgiveable in God’s eyes. He offers His forgiveness to all. It was a lot for her to process, and things took time, but a beautiful journey of self-forgiveness and eventually God’s forgiveness was set in motion that day. Key Number Three: Experiencing God's ForgivenessMy Grampa Sudds (my Mom's dad), used to say there are only two kinds of people in this world: sinners and sinners saved by grace. I couldn’t agree more. In the beginning we are the same. We are all born in sin, and we are ALL sinners. We all also have free will. The only thing that truly sets us apart from one another in the end, is that some of us have accepted God’s free gift of salvation which gives us complete forgiveness. Due to this, we are now enjoying a life free of guilt and shame and we can live free from condemnation every day. It is not about being a good person, trying to do enough good things on earth while we are here, or memorizing Bible verses that will get you on the receiving end of God’s grace. It is instead simply by asking for forgiveness and having a desire to make Him the Lord of your life. The Bible says that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, not when we had tried to clean ourselves up, or committed enough good deeds. His love for us is unconditional. He welcomes us as-is, and that is such a refreshing concept to embrace. (Romans 5: 8-9) Accepting and giving forgiveness can be easy or extremely difficult and complicated for us, depending on the unique circumstances of each scenario. I understand that. I trust that this blog has at least given you something to think about. I know it has given me reminders for sure about this important topic of forgiveness. As always, I welcome an opportunity to continue this conversation with you if you are interested in learning more about embracing forgiveness in your life. I can be reached at dana.romualdi@gmail.com. Until next time, Dana 1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Little Lesson Learned: Refusing to forgive ourselves, others or accept God's forgiveness keeps us in chains. You deserve and need your freedom. Please remember that. To learn more about God's forgiveness and what He thinks about you click here. Tags: spirtual guidance, God's forgiveness, 3 keys to the freedom of forgiveness, Christian blog, Christian blogger, life advice, walking in freedom, forgive yourself, forgive others
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana
(Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. Photo by cottonbro studio “Friends who become family create a sense of home wherever we go. They are the constants in our ever- changing lives. (Unknown) What would we do without friends? Some friends in our lives we consider to be acquaintances. They could be neighbours, colleagues, school friends or perhaps friends from your past. These people are important to us, but we do not often know them on a deeper level. Then there are those very special, exceptional people in our lives who go way beyond our definition of friendship. They change our lives in such profound ways that they have become our “chosen family.” These chosen few are the brothers from another mother, sisters from another mister, kindred spirit type of friends. Do you have some of those? I hope so. If you have some of those friends, consider yourself very lucky. These fine people are there for us through it all. When times get tough, they don’t walk out. Instead, they walk in, grab the Kleenex, hug us tightly, put the coffee on, and settle in for a good, long visit. These friends make an imprint on our hearts, and in our hearts is forever where they will stay. Last year, I had a grade change at work. Normally, I teach second or third grade, but that year I was asked to take a 4/5 split class. It was a very rewarding experience for me and a great chance to grow as a teacher, teaching in the junior division. Every day we do Poetry Book time in Language Arts. Sometimes we have seasonal or funny poems and sometimes we have songs that we learn and study. At the beginning of the year, I introduced a song called Chosen Family sung by The One Voice Children’s Choir. I am totally obsessed with this group and love all their material but, this song is on a whole new level. My class quickly fell in love with this song, as did I and it just naturally became affectionately known as our class theme song. The song helped us bond as a class and reminded us that at school we are a class family, and we should always strive to act like one. This year, I thought I would introduce the song once again and much to my delight it was once again a HUGE hit! The kids ask to sing it constantly and every time I am away, and a supply teacher comes in, I have them sing it for the supply teacher. It is very touching and hard to keep a dry eye I tell you when they put their hands on their hearts and sing about being “chosen family.” Witnessing the sincere and heartfelt performance of this song is and will continue to be one of my most powerful moments as an elementary teacher. Our family is blessed to have several people who fall into the “chosen family” category. One such person for me is my dear friend, Joni. Joni and I had been acquaintances for quite a while, but God brought us together to be so much more to each other through a special project. I had written my first book called Magic Kisses. It is a book about a young girl named Molly who finds hope and healing after dealing with the loss of her father. The manuscript sat on my computer for many years, as I was confused about how to bring it to life with pictures. I had long been an admirer of Joni’s beautiful photography skills, so I approached Joni to ask if she might consider taking photographs of a beautiful family who agreed to act as the characters in the book. Joni accepted with enthusiasm, and immediately became as passionate about my book as I was. Since the publishing of Magic Kisses, Joni has become my confidant, prayer partner, and dear friend that I can call on day or night for support. She knows me so well that she can tell by the mere sound of my voice, from the first greeting, how I am feeling. With open arms, she invites me into safe conversations where I can be myself and truly share my heart. I will be forever grateful that our initial collaboration blossomed into such an amazing and lasting friendship. Joni is just one example of chosen family I have been blessed with. I am very involved in my incredible church, LakePoint Family Church and many church members there are my "chosen family" as well. No matter what I am dealing with, I can request to get the prayer chain going and know that they are sending support and prayers up for me immediately. They truly have my best interests at heart, and I am so extremely blessed to be a part of such a loving and compassionate church. I feel so happy and proud to have them in my corner. Often, I reflect on how amazing it is to have not only a wonderful family of my own, but so many dear friends as well. My heart is truly so full. But what about those who don’t have that? What about those who don’t have ANY friends and feel they are alone? One such person like that, we will call “Jim.” Jim was in a 12-step therapy group I was running in my role as a clinical social worker before I was a teacher. Jim would often share his extreme loneliness and hurt from his past and share how much our group had come to mean to him. One especially painful memory he shared was he had never had a birthday party growing up. Not because his parents couldn’t afford one, but because he was told from day one, he was a “mistake and not worth celebrating.” For this reason, he was dreading his upcoming birthday because of all the past hurts that went along with so many unacknowledged birthdays. It still brings a tear to my eye just recalling this story. One day, when Jim was unable to come to the group, we discussed what he shared. As he had said, his birthday was coming up soon, we decided that we would throw him a little surprise party complete with gifts and cake. We were giddy with excitement knowing what this little gesture would mean to him. Imagine his shock when he walked in and realized HE was being celebrated and this party was for HIM! Jim was speechless, emotional and thrilled with his first birthday party ever at 35 years of age. What an honour to be at that party and to be a small part of bringing healing to Jim’s broken heart. One of my favourite worship choruses is Jireh by Maverick City Music. I love the line that says, “I’m already loved, I’m already chosen.” If you did not realize, we are all invited to be a part of God’s chosen family! Why He cared enough to call us His "chosen family" astounds me every day, but I am so glad He does. God is our heavenly father and trusted friend. He can be the BFF you never had. He can fill a void and provide a level of friendship that no earthly friend could ever fulfill. I appreciate you all so much and I am so grateful to have a chance to remind you of how incredible you are! I trust that my thoughts resonate with you, and you come away knowing that you are truly an incredibly loved and valued person. As always, I welcome an opportunity to continue this conversation, or pray with you! You know where to find me! Until next time, Dana Ephesians 1:4 ~ I am chosen. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. Little Lessons Learned: If you find a great friend, you have hit the jackpot! Tags: chosen family, family, friend, friendship, Christian blog, Christian blogger, definition of chosen family, spiritual guidance
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana
(Dana Romualdi) Dana Romualdi, the copyright holder reserves all rights to the content on the blog and website Little Lessons Learned by Dana, including the right to reproduce, distribute, and display the content. No content or photographs may be reproduced or modified. Blogs may be shared on social media platforms in their entirety only with full credit given to the owner. Any photographs used by other photographers are used with permission and are also protected. All Rights Reserved. |
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