TAPESTRY OF SERVICE

WE ARE INSTSRUCTED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR TIME, TALENTS AND RESOURCES.

Maya Angelou is known for such wisdom in her words:

• "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
• "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
• "I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
• "I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
• "I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
• "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
• "I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
• "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
• "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
• "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
• "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

BLESS AND BE BLESSED

Take a moment to reflect. www.mayyoubeblessedmovie.com

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There are many ways you can actively become involved in making a difference in your world. Here are some ideas to get you started:

BOTTLES AND CANS

My daughter's third grade teacher collects aluminum cans and sells the cans to a recycler and donates the proceeds to the World Wildlife Federation. What a great idea!

I love to walk, and have noticed that there is trash EVERYWHERE. So I decided that while I walking I could also pick up cans and bottles. I have developed the keen eyes of a pelican diving for fish and can spot a dingy can half buried in the underbrush from paces away.

So when I walk, I slip my hands into a pair of rubber hospital gloves and gleefully fill up bag after bag and then rinse and recycle what I have collected.

MY GARAGE DEPOT

My Garage has turned into a drop off point for various charities. I make my space and time available to collect items that my friends and others wish to donate. In turn, I deliver the donations to area charities, such as our local Pregnancy Care Center, House of Hope, Women's Shelter, and Good Samaritan Mission Center. I then provide the donor with a receipt that they can use for a tax deduction. It is win-win-win all the way around.

SALVATION ARMY ADDICT

OK, I admit it. I am a Salvation Army Junkie. I LOVE shopping at ALL thrift stores and reveling over my bargain "du jour." The problem is, there is only so much stuff I can cram into my closets, and even with a layered look, only so many pieces of clothing can be worn at once.

The solution? To put my bargain happy inner personal shopper to work for others who can benefit from the purchases. It is not difficult to identify people or family with needs. If you are a parent, you usually don't need to look any farther than your child's class. Is there a family who struggles to make ends meet? You'd be amazed how many GAP and Old Navy items I come across for pennies on the dollar.

My favorite shopping day is Wednesday, because everything is half price at our local Sal Val!

SUPPORTING HONDURAS

Serving in Honduras without leaving the country, unless you want to! There are several ways you or your small group, Sunday School class or neighborhood can become involved in supporting children and families in one of the poorest countries in the world.

The MAMA Project, www.mamaproject.org, supports families in Honduraws through medical care, nutritional counseling, educational opportunities and promoting spiritual wholeness.

While service trips are scheduled several times a year, including medical and construction projects, it is possible to get involved by collecting articles to make up baby kits, health kits and school kits for the people of Honduras. For a list of component items, please visit: www.mamaproject.com and click on the "MAMA Needs" LINK.

WRITE A CARD

At our church we receive a monthly birthday and anniversary calendar. If you get one, why not pay attention to it next time instead of tossing it? I can purchase greeting cards at our local Dollar Store in packs of ten for a dollar, and jot a couple of lines and then leave it in the appropriate mailbox come Sunday. It doesn't take long, gets you outside of yourself, and lights up the life of the recipient.