The Flame Within

I miss my grandmother’s sweet grin! I grew up seeing this grin every time I was around her! Everytime I called I heard joy in her voice when she heard my voice on the other end.

This is her look of “I love you! I’m so proud of you! You make my life a better place! Seeing you brings me joy!”

She always lit up around children, she LOVED kids, especially her own grandkids! I can’t see a toddler in a cart at the store, without remembering how my grandmother would always stop and say hello and play with “stranger” babies everywhere we went. Funny how it used to embarrass me as a young girl and now it’s one of my fondest memories! 🥰

To have a grandmother like her was such a gift! I’ll miss her everyday until I see her again! I am so thankful she was able to meet and know each one of my children. Every time her grandchildren came for a visit she always wanted to give us something. She had the most giving heart! The last time we visited her in the nursing home she looked around her room (where she had very few belongings) and found something to give to Caroline. She always wanted to send us away with a piece of her! I guess this is where I get my desire to give specialized gifts to the people I love!

Everyone needs someone in their life who believes in them! Loves them unconditionally! Most importantly… shows joy and excitement in their faces when they’re around! This is why I try to always greet my children with an excited and loving “Hello! How was your day! You okay? I missed you today!” I want them to know they are loved completely and they make my life a better place! I want them to see pride on my face when they’re in my presence!

It is easy to be critical, but it requires discipline to focus on the strengths and gifts of those you’re around! The ability to be an encouragement and to bring life giving words to those around you is only possible through living each day for Jesus!

These qualities come from a heart filled with God’s love! Spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, actively searching your heart and laying down our pride, and practicing opening up our hearts to those around us! The rewards reaped from actively working at uplifting those you’re around, makes life abundantly joyful! Healthy relationships fulfill us with the Heavenly fellowship and abundant joy God intended for His children!

What kind of energy do you bring to the people around you? Especially, those closest to you? Are you hypercritical, negative, always thinking pessimistic thoughts? Or are you one to bring love and encouragement to those in your presence?

I know who I want to be! I want to be one that brings God’s unconditional love to the people around me! I’m not always an encourager and it is way to easy to slip into a cycle of criticism and negativity! That’s when the Holy Spirit convicts my heart and I run back to Jesus and make things right with the people around me!

I want people to remember the “love and fondness” on my face years after I’ve left the earth!

In a world filled with grumpies, I want to be joyful! I want to bring Christ’s love to everyone I meet!

• Sometimes people won’t like your “joyful”, be joyful anyway!
  *Sometimes people will mock your Jesus, bring Jesus anyway!
  *Sometimes people will respond to your compliments with negativity! Compliment anyway!
  *Sometimes your teenagers will be disgruntled when you show love and affection. Love and hug anyway!
  *Sometimes negative people will despise you and say you’re annoying! Be annoying anyway! (Their not annoyed with you, their annoyed by the Jesus in you!)
  *Sometimes people will be intimidated by who you are in Christ! Be who Jesus called you to be anyway!

Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Blessings,
Crystal