Comfort

com·fort

ˈkəmfərt/

noun

1. 1.

   a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.

   
   

Each night as crawl into my bed I seem to savor the feeling of the cotton sheets, the warmth of the blankets promising seven to eight hours of restful sleep. As I routinely did this the other night, I thought of the many who have no bed, no sheets and sometimes, no blanket.  Their bed is on a park bench, in an alley, in a cardboard box, or in a  car...

Have they experienced this simple joy that I feel every single night?  

And that's just one thing.   What do they do when they are thirsty?  Need to shower?  Go to the bathroom?  Hungry? Lonely? Scared? Cold? Tired? Sick?  Lost hope?

Although my house is a small and very humble, I must remember it is my home, full of comfort, ease, and safety.

Hug

Hug

transitive verb

1

:  to press tightly especially in the arms

2

a :  congratulate

b :  to hold fast :  cherish <hugged his miseries like a sulky child — John Buchan

3

:  to stay close to <the road hugs the river>

When I was just out of high school, I volunteered in a nursing home.  I loved associating with the residents there.  However one particular lady there scared me. She looked about 200 years old .  She was in a wheelchair, and she would wheel through the halls screaming with her unkempt wiry gray hair.  I avoided her.

Until one day I decided to conquer my fear.  I approached her and took her flailing, panicky hand in mine.  She stopped screaming and clasped my hand as if I was her only lifeline.  She just wanted to feel loved.  She wanted to feel human despite what time had robbed from her.

Humanity is described as the quality of life.  I think our human interaction helps us feel human.  Touch, a kind word,  a hug, and even a smile can improve someone's humanity.

I teach a Leadership class to 6th graders and the the other day I told them that according to a study, humans need 12 hugs a day for growth.  

"We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." (Psychotherapist Virginia Satir) 

I explained physical hugs are so important, but according to Stephen Covey, states hugs can be physical, verbal, visual or environmental. 

I love one of the definitions of hug:  "to hold fast or cherish".  That's what my friend in the nursing home wanted.    She wanted to be hugged, cherished, touched, and seen as a human being.

We all want that.  We all need hugs.  I challenged my students to give 12 hugs that day, because I believe we receive "hugs" as we give hugs to others.   As for me, I am working on giving "hugs" to my family, friends, and those I come in contact with every day.  

Small

small

smôl/

adjective

1. 1.

   of a size that is less than normal or usual.

A favorite quote of mine by Mother Teresa:  

“We can do no great things; 

only small things with great love.

I have it paraphrased in my kitchen this month:

And it being the Month of Lu-uv, I thought I would talk about this quote.  What small things can we do with great love?  Here is a list I came up with:

Smile  (Hey sounds like small)

Be kind 

Wave

Send a card to someone 

Call someone

Send flowers

Compliment

Hug

Text

Pray for someone

Help with homework

Open a door for someone

Make cookies

Encourage 

Give a gift

Foot rub

Remember someone's birthday

Listen

Help others with responsibilities

And the list goes on.  

Some more ideas from a prophet of God:

"Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.”  (Howard W. Hunter)

From the scriptures:

 "...but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass;"  ( Alma 37:6)

  

Finally, a favorite video of mine that shows Love so beautifully demonstrated by many "small" things done with Great AND Christlike love.

Kindness

kind·ness

ˈkīn(d)nəs/

noun

1. the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

I thought it would be appropriate to do the word on "kindness" this week as it is Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Now I look at this week and say as you probably do,

"Shouldn't we focus on being kind all the time, and not just this week?

And then I say:  "Self, it's just a good time to refocus on how we can be a little more kinder to others"

 And then I say:  "Okay"

So how can I be just a little kinder.  Well lately, for me, it seems like I need to follow promptings.  I need to stop suppressing my generous thoughts ( quote by Camilla Kimball) There are times I get a thought in my head that I should do this, or a person pops into my head ( not the person, just the thought of the person;) to help or visit someone.  Simple, simple little things, but I'm constantly second guessing myself.

 Self:  You should say Hi this person on facebook" or or call them and so forth.  

 Self:  "I haven't talk to them forever, they'll think I'm weird...or they may not like me anymore, or I might say the wrong thing..."  And so it goes in that vicious cycle.

Lately , I have tried to do small little things that I think of, no matter what.    

Simple Simple example:  I was in the Target parking lot, walking in to the store, when I see some lady unloading her cart, and kiddos into the car.  The cart starts going AWOL.   Should I stop it?  I 'd have to go a little out of my way, and she might think I'm a weirdo (No, not that!).  Well, I put on my flimsy make-believe cape and stopped the cart and then put the cart away.  Guess what?  She was grateful AND how easy was it for me?  Why do I question?

Another example:  Last Saturday, Marc and I went up to Salt Lake with a group called Legacy Initiative, and handed out burritos, hygiene items and other items to the homeless population.  It was in the middle of the day, unlike our previous outreach (see "Outreach" post).  Although some people were obviously  in need and homeless,  others it was hard to know whether they needed help or not. 

 We asked.  We did not ask if they were homeless, but if they were hungry.   Perhaps some of the people we asked didn't need it, perhaps some were even a little offended.  However, to many of the ones we asked, we were able to help.

Self:  "Brenda, be kind"  
Self:  "But what if...."  
Self:  "Stop suppressing a generous thought!"  
Self:  "Okay". 

 I'm learning.

Outreach

Verb:

Reach further than

Last Saturday my alarm went off at 3 a.m.  Although I have been up at that time, it was never with the goal of being totally awake.  And if you know me at all, mornings and I are not on the best of terms.  We tolerate each other ( I mean do I have a choice?) But neither of us have made an attempt to strengthen the relationship.

So why 3 in the morning?  Marc, Alyssa and I did a homeless outreach.  Each year in January, groups are asked to go out and count the homeless population and conduct a survey.  It is federally mandated 3 days in January and at 4 in the manana.

We were part of that effort.

We found some homeless spots.  Places where the homeless were obviously living, and in one case, one was hiding and clearly did not want anything to do with us.  We did find one lady who was homeless and was very kind.

The experience left me philosophical.  Do those homeless persons not want help or is it they don't trust humankind?  I could not answer that question, but why would they trust us?  Strangers invading their space in the wee hours of the morning offering our "help".

Who knows how many times they have been harassed, kicked out and/or treated without the dignity and respect EVERY human deserves.  

Now I know this Outreach is done each year with intentions of helping and understanding the needs of the homeless community, and I am sure it does provide helpful information. 

 The experience just left me with a lot of questions of how we can help them and to reach further (outreach) in order to break through the barriers created between them and society.

prodigal

adjective

1.

wastefully or recklessly extravagant

Call me a slow learner, but I think I finally got the story of the Prodigal Son.  This parable always bothered me a little bit.  I get that the father was super excited when the Prodigal came home and all, but I always felt the other son was very justified in feeling shafted.  I would be.  I mean  if I had been here working my tail off while he ( the Prodigal) is out being reckless, rude and dare I say, having fun! No fair!  That calf I've been taking care of you are going to kill so we can have a party for him? Where's the justice?  

The Prodigal Son is about a father's love for all of His Children.  All of them.  Even the ones that don't deserve it.  But guess what?  None of us deserve His love.  Even the so called "good son".  His sin of jealousy, and yes pride is just as reckless as the Prodigal. 

Are not we all reckless somehow with  the Father's love he bestows so freely on all of us?  Do we not all sin and come short of the glory of God? (see Romans 3:23)  The Father's love is shown through His Only Begotten's Atonement and Sacrifice.  And yes all of us are undeserving, reckless, AND in desperate need of our Father's love which He has given so abundantly.  When we come unto Him,  no matter where we have been, done, felt, it is ours. Unearned.  

So what does that have to with humanity and service?  Everything.  

As followers of Christ, we are instruments in His hands to tell the "good news' of His love.  How?  Through serving all of God's children, letting His unconditional love shine through us. 

Homeless

home·less

ˈhōmləs/

adjective

1. (of a person) without a home, and therefore typically living on the streets.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in 

swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there 

was no room for in the inn.  (Luke 2:7)

And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the

birds of the air have nest; but the Son of man hath not where 

to lay his head.  (Matthew 8:20)

For in His love there is a home.