News

Well hello there! The good news for today is: Welcoming Words can be a delight when we make the most of opportunities that come our way. A recent example for me, was a surprise beginning to a meal, with some retired friends in my town.

Today’s Focus:  My doorbell rang at 4:30 pm on a Friday afternoon as I was in the throes of last-minute preparations. I had invited five people to join me for supper that evening at 5:30 pm. When I opened the door, the smiling faces of four friends greeted me. They cheerfully called out;  “We know we’re early, but we thought we could help out. Plus, we could also get some extra visiting time in.” Well how about that! Here I was planning to welcome them and I got a surprise welcome and encouragement from the other side of the door.

We all pitched in with the final meal activities. I asked for help. Someone stepped right in and accomplished the task. What a nice time we had, as we shared a common goal of getting the meal on the table. Working together prompted a lot of conversation. There was much variety of activities throughout each of our lives. Comments, created more springboards for more talking points. Coming alongside each other, was a special way to deepen our understanding and friendships. Soon the meal was ready and we sat down to the table.

My doorbell rang again at 5:30pm. When I opened the door, guest number five was standing there with a puzzled look on his face. He paused. “Am I late?”  I paused. The folks at the table chimed in; “You’re right on time. Come sit down at this table.” We began to smile and then a few chuckles erupted. We were ready to break bread and fellowship together as a group.

Application: When we open the door and things seem out of order in our lives, let’s be encouraged to take a brief pause and see what we can do to bring a smile to our faces. A breath of air, a change of our mouth position  and body posture, can start a physiological response in our body. We can begin a reset and get an even better plan in place for what is going on around us. When these divine interruptions and appointments, pop up in our lives, we can look forward to unexpected blessings and delights. We experience positive growth through basic interactions. Using words of welcome and encouragement strengthen relationships and build people up. 

Why it matters:  Life doesn’t always go according to plan. We can make a choice, as to how we respond to what goes on around us. If we make the best of circumstances, something good does happen. Joining together in an activity gives us a sense of meaning and that we belong. Belonging builds a sense of self-worth. In this world today, we all need to feel we belong to something greater than ourselves. When we use words and actions of welcome,  we can indeed change lives, that change lives.

Contact:  Debbie Sorensen at [email protected]