Pushed to Pray

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Written by Jen

On a recent rainy Monday evening, I had the honor of "visiting" a book club meeting. Not being a regular member, I didn't read the book--nor did I even remember the title I was given when invited--but the ladies who invited me are former neighbors and I relished the opportunity to gather with friends. What a lovely evening it was.

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A Job Well Done

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Last Updated (Tuesday, 24 January 2012 13:21) Written by Jen

I lost another friend. That makes it sound so generic. Another friend. Like she was one of many, a faceless woman in the crowd, another tired figure with a scarf covering her head. Another 15-line obituary in the paper.

No, she was not just a person. She was a soul. She had a family, a life, a story. She had a purpose.

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Finding Fashion After Forty

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Written by Jen

I recently had an occasion to care how I looked. Yeah, I know this shouldn't involve an "occasion" but I gotta admit, my vanity is waning and I often need a trip somewhere other than the orthodontist to put on lipstick and ditch the sensible shoes.

The promise of two hours out with friends inspired me to don something wild and crazy...a print blouse, one of those long sweater thingies so in fashion today, jeans and--now here's the real crazy part--black heels. Livin' on the edge, I know!

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Everyday Angel Changes Lives

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Written by Jen

Sometimes, all it takes is one person, who asks a person, who asks another person…and then a good deed takes on a life of its own. And someone’s life is better because just one person stepped up.

It happens all the time, really. Most of us just don’t pay attention. But today, I noticed it in a big way. A friend of mine read an article in the local paper about a father in need. This dad goes through amazing difficulty and danger to find and then transport fresh produce to his children because he knows it is healthier than the processed foods he can purchase near his home. “What a shame,” I thought, as I read the story.

My friend didn’t just feel pity. She acted.

She invited friends to share her enthusiasm via email. Let’s get fresh food delivered to this man’s doorstep! Let’s make someone’s life better because we can!

And it happened. Nobody told her to do it. This man didn’t ask for help. Nobody protested and wailed about the unfairness of it all. One good person simply reacted unselfishly to someone else’s pain, invited others to join her in making a difference, and many did. This father will be able to give fresh fruits and vegetables to his children for a year, maybe longer.

What a lovely day. What a wonderful lesson. We aren’t helpless pieces of cotton floating around the universe. What we do matters, and when we stop saying “what a shame” and act with love and kindness, good follows.