"I Just Called to Say - I LOVE YOU!" (Come on, Sing it with Me!)

Hi!!!! How are YOU? Long Time No See... Been Thinkin' 'Aboutcha...

It's Friday and I'm in between meetings... Time to blog. I got some sad news this week - that a friend I cared a great deal about passed away unexpectedly.  I hadn't talked to him in a couple of months - life happened, it got busy.  He was so young... He was so full of life.  Once again I realized how none of us is promised tomorrow. I've been filled with such sorrow at his loss and mad at myself that I let so much time go by without checking on him... It seems all so surreal that he is gone. How is it that life goes on? The sun rises, it sets, life just continues going on as if it hasn't lost a beat... But it has - it has lost one really sweet, super fantastic human being. By no means perfect - for who of us is?  I can't pretend Patric (Sean) didn't exist - but I guess what I can do is celebrate his life.  Remember him.... And also remember to check on people I haven't spoken with in a while - pick up the phone and say - "Hey! You were on my mind, you okay? How's life?"

It is so easy to get caught up in our own situations. The Bible tells us that "We are many members but we are ONE in the body of Christ."  I think we forget that. I know I do. I think because I type 95 wpm I must be a "finger" and what good is a finger without the palm? Or the palm without the wrist? We need each other.  We can act like we don't - but we DO.

I'm not ashamed to say that it is easy to feel alone in a room crowded with people. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I remember having problems with my cell phone and having to go to Sprint and the nearest one was in a mall, and it felt like everyone was going in super fast motion - like in a movie, everyone except me. And I thought - here I've just been diagnosed with this God awful disease and feel like my life has halted and everyone else is "getting ready for their weekend" it was (and is) an awful feeling. To feel like you are in a "sub-category" kinda like all of a sudden you've developed leprosy and your on the "outskirts" of society.... (Thank God for the Pink Society, which made me feel as though I wasn't alone).

How many people that we associate feel the same way? In an inner-agony that no one sees because they "think that individual is soooooo strong." That person isn't strong - they just *hide it better then most.*  Thank God for a God who is compassionate. Who is slow at anger. I think the crowds followed Jesus because of the love He showed.  He LISTENED. He CARED. He HEALED.  He LOVED.  He loved societies most unlovable people. And if He is the same today as He was yesterday as He will be tomorrow - why is it that it is so hard for US who know our Word to walk in it. To show it.  To believe it  - first for ourselves and then for others.  Hmmmmmm makes you think doesn't it?  It sure is making ME think.

Maybe after you read this blog - you will think of one person you haven't spoken to in a while and will reach out and contact that them. Let them know you care.  Smiles ARE contagious and you never really know how much your doing so will effect and maybe change the course of that individuals day... It could be a difference in any decisions they make about their own lives... Just by showing you care....  Not one of us is promised tomorrow, so how 'bout showing someone TODAY that they're important? That they are NOT alone? That God loves them....A song we use to sing in church went like this: "Give and He'll give it back to you press down, shaken together running over back in good measure... He'll give it back to YOU."  If you're in a slump yourself, maybe the person you reach out too - will actually make it BETTER for YOU! Think about it...