Why We Must Care

Dear Friend,
I read Matthew 4 recently, which is the story of Jesus and how He was tempted by Satan. I honestly wasn't looking for any "new truths" as I am a product of Sunday school and such things to know the story well. What surprised me by this reading though was how the temptation of Jesus ended. In verse 11 it says, "Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. " I read it over a few times because though I did remember that particular part, I was so impressed by it this time. Jesus, holy and good, was comforted, was loved on, was praised from the angels after such a tiring experience such as his. What I love about it though is how this proves again how much God loves his children. Jesus, of all people, didn't need that kind of comfort but was given it without time in between because He cares for His  children, so so much.
Some circumstances are hard to deal with and it's so very hard to know what to say or do. Recently I was talking to a good friend of mine and telling her my struggles and my heart, my heart was burdened and she just listened and told me (in a way that only friends can) what I needed to do. Its humbling to be overwhelmed by the goodness of God and how He knows what you need to hear even if it is the hard stuff. I told my friend before hanging up the phone with her that she encouraged me more than she knew and that because of her taking the time to care for me I was able to see straight and keep on the track that I was desperately wanting to head towards but felt I fell short. My friend cared enough for me to give me the love and attention that I was seeking and, just like Jesus and the angels, I was thought of from God and she was used as an encouragement.
A co-worker and friend of mine alternatively had a family member become very ill and, as she confided in me, she was frustrated that others that were around her didn't seem to care. They weren't asking her how she was, she was obviously upset and the response was (generalized), "You come to work to work and then take your hurts home and deal with them at home." As she was telling me this I got upset, teary as I listened. How awful is it to feel alone, to have the world tell you that you don't matter and that your life isn't worth investing in. My co-worker ended up having to go home to Ontario as the family member died. When I heard this information, I was upset, not only for the hurting friend, but for the lack of empathy for their co-worker. I'm not blaming them for not having empathy, I was just sad that they didn't see how upsetting this was and that "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" was not going to happen. When she ended up coming back to work, we hugged, we talked,  we ignored the intercom to bring us back to work. Later she told me that by asking her how she was and being present she felt seen, noticed, acknowledged. To care is to realize that life isn't ever going to be about clocking in and out of a job. (even if your job is a passion of yours) We must care for people- if we aren't then what are we doing?! We must see that if we don't put other people's needs in front of our own then we can't say that we have anything better than the rest of them. As a Christian I hope people can see that I care, that I will be willing to stop and take the time for others. I know first hand how wonderful it is to be heard from a friend, who has no agenda  and just knows when to listen and have empathy. Jesus accepted the love and ministering in return that the angels gave him, and that too is a humbling and good reminder.

 All that to say that we can never ever underestimate why we must care for others and do it well. One of my fears is that I will notice later on in life that I should have taken the time for someone and I didn't because of my lack of caring. I know that there have been missed blessings, missed friendships, and missed learning from my own agendas, business, and lack of looking up.

Feeling convicted of trying harder, 

Your humbled Hippie

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. "

-Leo Buscaglia

From One Book Lover to Another...

Dear Friend,

This last year has gone SO. VERY. QUICKLY. 

One of my goals of this last  year was to read 53 books, one for every week of the year and I did it! I was (am) very proud of myself as I usually  fall off all the wagons I hop onto when it comes to new year resolutions.That being said, I read a lot of duds for books, but there are a select few that I would say are worth looking into.  If you know me at all, the excuse to talk about the books that I love  will come up in conversation anyway; so if you run into me and I start talking about books you can tell me to shut up and refer to this blog as me telling you books you should read. (Your welcome, btw).

Now, without further adieu, and in no particular order,

                           My Top 6 Books You Should Read According to Me 

(that I read in 2016)

1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Like many children's books I go into it with less expectation to learn, but to enjoy. This book, however, was beautifully written and had so many serious thoughts as well as endearing.

2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls- A book given to me by my brother-in-law, I had to read it right away and am so glad that I did. I ended up crying, laughing, and in shock as this woman tells her crazy life story in a memoir. Her life is a triumph because she lets herself move on and be better than what her life "could have been."

3.- Tolestoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch- A true story about a woman who reads 365 books in a year while grieving her sister who has just died. This lady writes so well and becomes your close friend as you grieve and read her words of her love for books.

4. An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowshi- Another true story about a woman who is a sales execultive who meets an 11 year old boy who lives on the streets as a panhandler. This story is so vivid and sad, but has hope and truth in the words of a woman who had no idea what it meant to be a friend to a boy who needed love. 

5. The Girls by Emma Cline- A more graphic read as it is about a girl who joins a cult primarily because she hates what her life looks like and believes that love will be found in a group of women who seem to accept her. This book is sad, but so physiologically deep as you read, it haunted me for months after I read it. Again, it is quite graphic and as it is in a cult setting, it  goes through a lot of hardships that many cults are based around.

6. North of Normal by Cea Sunrise Person- The true story of one girl's escape from the late 1960's hippy movement as her family lives off the grid in Canada. This girl almost dies multiple times and truly sees life as many of us cant even imagine. Cea lives with her unusual family until she one day desides she cant anymore and as a teen leaves to become none other than what her mother and father would hate the most- becoming a model. This also has graphic content and I would suggest picking it up only if you believe that you will benefit from the story's truths. 

And there you have it folks! My 6 books that I 

would recommend that you pick up in 2017. May your year be 

full of adventure and fun and lots of good reading.

Your Nomad, 

Summer