Being Kind with Birthday Cards (#BestOf)

(the Best of) A Year of Being Kind, Saturday, June 20, 2015

I enjoy sending cards. I truly do! Good thing I do, for it’s a part of my job that I find touching and meaningful. I pray for each person who receives a card I send. And—unlike the mountains of junk mail that get slipped in the typical mailbox on a regular basis, a handwritten card is a lovely change of pace.

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, June 22, 2014

Being Kind with Birthday Cards

Each day brings new things into my life, that’s for sure.

Now that I am settling into my new position, I am acquainting myself with a whole new set of activities. New list of priorities. And getting to know a new congregation.

One way that I can come to know this group of new friends better is by sending them birthday cards. What a wonderful idea!

The office manager at the church had a list of birthdays of the members and friends of the congregation, already printed up. So, it’s a straight-forward activity. Except—I pray for each church member as I write and address the card. I hope and pray that they might have a wonderful birthday celebration, and that God might bless them and their family during the year ahead. I try to do that for each and every card I address and mail.

I just sent off two cards today. And, I needed to buy more cards already, too. That’s perfectly okay with me. I just love buying cards! I love receiving cards, and personal mail of any kind, too. I know that sending greeting cards might seem to be a habit of yesteryear for some, but almost everyone enjoys receiving mail.

I understand that people are grateful of the thought and care someone took for them, too. I know I appreciate being remembered with a card.

I know that several months ago, I wrote about my chaplain friend who has a card ministry. She sends all kinds of cards to all kinds of people. In my blog post, I also mentioned the Apostle Paul’s comment at the beginning of the letter to the Philippian church: “I thank God in all my remembrance of you.” (1:3) What a touching way to remember each other! Sending a card or a note with a few words or sentences of genuine interest, care and concern. What a way to be kind! My chaplain friend finds this ministry an opportunity to serve others and to connect with those near and far.

Paul’s words tell us how much Paul appreciated his friends and acquaintances in the city of Philippi, from a long distance away. How much more can we express our care and concern for others through cards and notes?

Noteworthy features are the words chosen to communicate, the picture(s) on the card, and the sentiment and attitude of the person sending the card. In other words, things to appeal to the ears, eyes and feelings of the recipient. Also important, the card or note helps the recipient know that you and I care. It doesn’t matter whether we are near or far, what an opportunity to be kind and tenderhearted.

God bless my new friends and fellow parishioners, and God be with each of them as they celebrate their birthdays!

Feeling Under the Weather? Being Kind Anyhow!

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, November 16, 2014

Feeling Under the Weather? Being Kind Anyhow!

I am not feeling well. When I woke up this morning, my nose was drippy. My eyes were red and I felt awful.

General, garden-variety cold was my guess.

But, today was also Sunday. Sunday morning, which means church service at ten o’clock. I was moving slowly even before leaving the house. When I finally made it to church, one of the members of Church Council met me in the office. “My goodness!” she said when she saw me. And, I told the congregation. I mentioned my garden-variety cold, and explained that that was why I wouldn’t be shaking hands after the service. Oh, and keeping my distance from people, too.

Enough talking about me feeling sick.

Suffice it to say that after this morning at work, I tried to take it easy today. And I’ll try hard tomorrow, too. Try taking it easy, I mean.

On my way to the fruit and vegetable market after church, I was stopped by an older man. I greeted him, sure enough. Lo and behold, he was looking for a place near the large shopping center about a mile and a half west. I gave him directions, and he was extremely grateful.

Like my older sister tells me, from time to time. She can be walking down a crowded sidewalk for work in Brooklyn, Queens or Manhattan, and some stranger will come up to her—that’s her, mind you! And ask for directions. Not anyone else. She’s seen it time and again. In this case, today, there weren’t lots of people around. Just a few. Still, the older man seemed to be quite grateful for the directions I gave him.

Just a small thing. Directions. Oh, and several smiles.

I suspect the older man would much prefer that I gave him directions rather than sharing my cold. Which leads me to ask: how can you help today? What stranger, or which acquaintance, can you offer to help? Great questions! I hope God leads us all to the people who might really benefit by our service. God willing, Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

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Show Kindness and Love? To My Family!

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, September 28, 2014

Show Kindness and Love? To My Family!

I love my family. My sisters and brothers. My children. My husband. My in-laws. My cousins. I love them all!

Sadly, most of them are far away. And I mean, far away. A plane ride away. Much further away than the other side of the Chicago metropolitan area. Yes, my parents were native Chicagoans, and my oldest sister and I still live in the area. But my other siblings have scattered, all over the country. One of my children is now on the east coast (because of work). It is becoming more and more difficult to gather everyone (or, even most of us) together in one place, at the same time.

Yet, I do try to communicate, from time to time. Social media is great! Several long-distance family members have Facebook accounts, and it’s great to keep in touch that way. Then, of course, I also use the older technology—like tonight, with the telephone. I used my land line, and I talked with one of my sisters, also on her land line.

I love talking with my sister Sue. She is such an interesting person, in her own right. Fascinating. Sue and I talked about my upcoming breakfast with Leslie (my oldest sister), tomorrow morning. Two days, and two experiences with family. (Besides my son and husband, of course. They live with me. Or, I live with them.) Leslie always has something going on, including travel, in the near future.

Hmm. I wonder whether my relationship with my earthly family (my family of origin) is at all similar to my relationship with those in my congregation. I love my congregation. I really and truly do. And I love hearing about various members going out of town. It doesn’t matter whether they were traveling or just staying at home. Wonderful experiences. I hope I will be able to show love, caring, encouragement and support to my friends, the flock. And those beyond the church, too!

That’s what this experience of being kind has taught me. Since I have been concentrating so hard on being kind or helpful, or showing too much stress, or worrying about circumstances, I can miss prayer, and meditation. Sometimes. Thank God I have a great church! And, a great family, to boot. God bless me, and bless everyone else in my extended family, too.

@chaplaineliza

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Being Kind with Birthday Cards

A Year of Being Kind blog – Sunday, June 22, 2014

Being Kind with Birthday Cards

Each day brings new things into my life, that’s for sure.

Now that I am settling into my new position, I am acquainting myself with a whole new set of activities. New list of priorities. And getting to know a new congregation.

One way that I can come to know this group of new friends better is by sending them birthday cards. What a wonderful idea! The office manager at the church had a list of birthdays of the members and friends of the congregation, already printed up. So, it’s a straight-forward activity. Except—I pray for each church member as I write and address the card. I hope and pray that they might have a wonderful birthday celebration, and that God might bless them and their family during the year ahead. I try to do that for each and every card I address and mail.

I just sent off two cards today. And, I needed to buy more cards already, too. That’s perfectly okay with me. I just love buying cards! I love receiving cards, and personal mail of any kind, too. I know that sending greeting cards might seem to be a habit of yesteryear for some, but almost everyone enjoys receiving mail. I understand that people are grateful of the thought and care someone took for them, too. I know I appreciate being remembered with a card.

I know that several months ago, I wrote about my chaplain friend who has a card ministry. She sends all kinds of cards to all kinds of people. In my blog post, I also mentioned the Apostle Paul’s comment at the beginning of the letter to the Philippian church: “I thank God in all my remembrance of you.” (1:3) What a touching way to remember each other! Sending a card or a note with a few words or sentences of genuine interest, care and concern. What a way to be kind! My chaplain friend finds this ministry an opportunity to serve others and to connect with those near and far.

Paul’s words tell us how much Paul appreciated his friends and acquaintances in the city of Philippi, from a long distance away. How much more can we express our care and concern for others through cards and notes? Noteworthy features are the words chosen to communicate, the picture(s) on the card, and the sentiment and attitude of the person sending the card. In other words, things to appeal to the ears, eyes and feelings of the recipient. Also important, the card or note helps the recipient know that you and I care. It doesn’t matter whether we are near or far, what an opportunity to be kind and tenderhearted. God bless my new friends and fellow parishioners, and God be with each of them as they celebrate their birthdays!

@chaplaineliza

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In Which I was Kind at a Family Reunion

A Year of Being Kind blog – Tuesday, May 27, 2014

In Which I was Kind at a Family Reunion

I love my family! I love seeing them, which does not happen very often. Many of my family members are scattered to the four winds. However, all six of us siblings and all four of my children were in town for a family reunion today. Plus cousins, and other friends. Wonderful day of conversation, memories, hugs, and food!

So many things to think about from today. So many memories. Talking with my sisters and brothers. Talking with other family members there at the reunion. Looking at the pictures, drawings, and other family papers my sister had collected upstairs at her home. (And of course, just visiting my sister’s huge Victorian almost-mansion is always a treat! Just about all of the rooms are restored to the 1890’s, so she could legitimately have electricity in the vintage lighting fixtures. Other than the refrigerator in the kitchen, even the solid-as-a-brick-house gas stove is from 1900.)

The dining room table fairly groaned with the amount of food that was packed onto it! My sister was generous with her home, her hospitality and the food everyone had an opportunity to share.

I was kind in several ways today, but the most significant I remember occurred later this afternoon. While some family members were poring over the collected papers in the front and middle parlors (connected by large, segmented twelve-foot high doors—the parlors had fourteen-foot high ceilings) at my sister’s house, I played the piano. I was playing some of the music my father used to play. Old standards. Jazz arrangements of said standards.)

I’ve done this before. Done this in a number of situations. Praise God, I’m able to offer my abilities to others. God helps me be aware and awake now, as God has many times in the past. Thanks for the encouragement and assistance, God! I hope and pray the same joy for you and your congregation, as I thank God for these things. People. Family. Wonderful.

@chaplaineliza

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