Monday, March 8, 2010

I don't remember who sent me the email several months ago, and I can't even remember the lesson that went with it. Well, it wasn't about memory, so stay with me. The email was about self-worth. I think at some point each of us has wondered about our own worth. And sometimes I think we wonder what kind of impact we leave on the people around us. "Do they know we are here?" "Would they miss us if we were gone?" "Would they be happy if we were gone?" "Or sad they we've left." I had a friend, or perhaps I should call him an acquaintance. I think his lot in life was to argue with every one he met. I'm sure you've known someone like that in your life too. If you said it was raining, he would say the sun was out. If you saw blue skies, he saw clouds. And so it would go. After being around him for a while, I have to admit I was anxious to see him leave. I've been with other friends I couldn't get enough of. When they get up to leave I try to entice them with one more cup of tea, or another cookie. Just to spend a little more time together. I read just this morning I Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. My prayer is that I'm doing that. I hope I'm the one you want to spend just a little more time with, you will entice me with another cup of tea, or a cookie. I pray that I leave you feeling a little better when I leave than when I got there. Whenever I visit my children my daughter-in-law usually says to me, "Mom, please stay another day, I'll take you to the mall and I'll buy you a new outfit." I smile at her and gave her another kiss. And with tears of joy in my eyes at her outpouring of love. But what I have always said to her is, "Honey, I would love to stay another day, but I don't want you to be as happy when I leave as you were when I got here." Try to make a difference in someone's life today. Make them happy they know you. I am, and I love you.

6 comments:

Karen Lange said...

You are such a blessing! Thanks for encouraging my heart today.
Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Karen, you are a blessing in my life too. I'm so thankful we are friends. Wanna come for a cup of tea? It's pretty here today :D

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Katt -

One of my favorite movies is, "It's A Wonderful Life." The main character believes his life is meaningless. Then an angel shows him what life would have been like if he'd never been born.

This post reminded me of that movie. I want to have that kind of impact on others, pointing them to the Lord.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Susan, you'll laugh at me, but I always made my kids watch It's a Wonderful Life every Christmas. They used to roll their eyes and say, AGAIN MOM? But I hope they "got it". I loved that movie too. None of us really realizes the impact we have on other people, and I call it the "trickle down" effect. In other words the effect your actions have on the people they come in contact with.
Hugs and blessings,
Katt

Carol J. Garvin said...

I'm a little behind in my blog reading this week. We were blessed with a visit from our son and daughter-in-law and family, and I hated to see them go this morning! You can never get quite enough time together when loved ones live a long distance away.

I can certainly relate to your comment about not knowing what impact we have on others. Last spring I posted about one such situation (http://wp.me/phaYw-cs). I'm still humbled whenever I think about it.

And you, dear Katt, are becoming a regular blessing in my life, too. Thank you for your online friendship. :)

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol, I know what you mean about long distance relationships. My granddaughters, and of course son and daughter-in-law live in Colorado. When we are together the time flies and my heart breaks when we part. I always cry, now my granddaughter cries when she sees me cry. When she was smaller she didn't understand that Nana was going away, now she begs me not to go.