I don't know what I have ever done to deserve the goodness God places in my days. I'm so awed by His greatness for little "wild child" me.

Today, a sweet woman I met in Leadership Plainview (EG) messaged me and told me she had me a sample of a coffee we had discussed and needed my address to bring it by. She let me know that she had dropped it off. When I went out to get it, this is what I found.

Then she said the most encouraging words to me in her FB message, "I love your spirit and how you are just you, no apologies... my kinda friend." You'll we need more EG's in the world. I need to be an EG. We need to take the time to encourage.

When someone does something for me like this, I see it as affirmation that I'm going to be okay, better than okay, because I'm a willing servant.

You all have a great weekend and do something nice for someone who would least expect it. Be an encourager!!!

I sit here without a thought connection as to what I might write about. It has been a busy week and my brain has gone into disconnect mode. On a good day, I would have a really cool picture to share, but I did not make time today to take pictures. I did go out and take this one this evening because the sky was odd colored.

The sky was strange, a brown, orange, and white sky. The camera I typically use had a dead battery was dead so, this is all I got.

It's almost Mother's Day. I could write about that. On that note ... write a little mom-jingle and share it with me.

I can share this page from my great-great-grandmother, Ellen Wilson's journal...

Wasn't my brother a cutie!!! I miss him. We were never close but we had a tight bond. I think we would have grown much closer now because we both would have had time to sit and share stories. One day.

I took this photo in 2013. I can't believe it has been eight years!

Well, that's all folks, as Porky pig used to say!

At our last Leadership Plainview day, Sharon Wright, a longtime educator turned real estate agent and leader in all she does, shared with our group some thoughts on leadership. She shared some words that I found important to share here. Some from her talk and some from my thoughts.

When you think you have arrived and stop learning, that you know it all, you begin to micromanage. Always be a learner!

What one does when no one is looking is what matters. It isn't about what you know but who you are and who you are always proceeds what you do.

Live the Golden Rule, "Treat others how you want to be treated."

"Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he already were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be." Goethe

Trust is built on two things, confidence, and character. Sharon suggests reflecting, follow-through, walk your talk and keep confidences. If you say you are going to do it, do it.

People don't care how much you know until they know you care! 

It's not about the leader but the team. There will always be those who are smarter. Take advantage of the team's ability to contribute.

A leader has the ability to connect followers to tasks that enhance the team.

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

Lead with integrity and inclusivity.

There are many opportunities to serve, church, civic groups, the Chamber of Commerce, Historic Downtown, in our jobs, etc. There are leaders and there are followers and their are leaders who follow and followers who lead. There is teamwork at every turn. I love to watch people do what they do with passion!

These ladies inspire me as do so many others. They encourage & build others up. They are fun-folks!!!

Do you have leadership tips to share? 

Kindness is trending. What would the world look like if it was obvious, we are not walking on our own accord or ability? We do "kindness" when we can share it across social media platforms.  We wear shirts that let everyone know we believe in kindness. Kindness is forgoing our schedule to do for someone else. Do we walk in the same kindness that our Father extends to us? 

We need to understand the world's definition of kindness. Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. This sounds easy enough. It is easy to be kind to those who "fit" into our understanding of acceptable. It's when we are faced with giving to one(s) that we may feel undeserving, getting nothing in return, no thank you note or text, no acknowledgment at all, that we begin to understand kindness through sacrificial giving.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)

You don't need wealth to be kind. 

God's amazing grace-giving. He calls us to be willing. Willingness grows joy, joy delivers love, and love is woven with kindness according to the Father in Heaven's directive. We find Jesus speaking the love of kindness by spending time with untouchables. He healed, showed compassion, included, and offered Salvation. When we follow His example of how to walk the walk we quickly understand the magnitude of the gift of kindness as God teaches.

(Ephesians 1:6-8) ...to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.

God is certainly kind to us. He came to earth to show us love and how to love fully. Kindness may be trending in the world today, but living out kindness as Jesus taught is way bigger and better than anything the world can give.

Kindness is walking in faith with our hands extended to meet needs. I wonder what our daily tapestry of kindness looks like to God?

Really, you don't want to put it behind you. 

Really, where is kindness?

Really, you want to bring it up every time you talk to someone who will listen.

Really, there are two sides to every story; maybe you should listen.

Really, you are a pot-stirrer.

Really, you want people to dislike someone else.

Really, not gonna go there.

Really, life is short.

Really, you were forgiven a long time ago.

Really, I'm going to love you beyond the drama.

Really, I may have boundaries.

Really, God loves.

Really, Jesus saves.

Really, Jesus loves me (and you).

Really, I choose joy.

Really, I hope you will, too.

Really, let it go.

Really, do unto others as you want to be done to you.

Really, I can do all things.

Really, Christ DOES give me strength.

Really, it's all good.

Really!

Have you ever found yourself in a drama funnel? Don't let it pick you up. Seek protection in the Word. Pray. Let God do his work. We often react instead of being still and listening.

Really, it's okay to take time to listen to the Holy Spirit. This path always works out best, REALLY!!!

James 1:21-25

(my notes from the worship time with First Baptist Plainview intern Bryce Hughes)

Hear.

In the earliest of churches, they listened. They learned through hearing. The Word of God was not available in its modern written form. They went to the temple to hear it read.

Our enemy is working against the team of Christianity.

To gain victory, we must hear.

In the earliest days, there was special revelation directly from God to a few select who were called to share the manuscripts of Holy words. The priests had ritualistic cleansing to enter the Holy of Holies.

Then the general revelation appeared through Jesus Christ that allows the veil to be removed for all who accept. Jesus cleans. We are washed white through the intercession power of Jesus Christ.

God speaks. When we listen, we hear. When we spend time with God, he reveals. When he reveals, we are prompted to action. Be ye doers of the Word. The word is alive...alive is action, moving forward.

Take care of those with needs or fulfill a need outside of self. Faith without works is dead. 

Imagine the peace of a flowing river. Ever slowly, one stone after another is thrown or placed, and soon, the river stills and becomes stagnant. We find ourselves there. How do we make it clean in the dirty stillness? You break free and let Him flow. Over us, in us, through us.

Hear.

Create a strong foundation. Prepare for trials, stones thrown by the evil one. Through our preparedness, we are free to bless others.

Well done, good and faithful servant. Matthew 25

If you find yourself here, I love you.

In God's creation, even the weeds bloom perfectly. How much more beautiful you are!!!

The 2019 Leadership Plainview graduating class (except we graduated in 2021 because of Covid) at their graduation dinner. What an amazing group! A little rough around the edges funny, dry wit, sometimes outright hilarious, studious, and a "wild child." They are intelligent, passionate, and visionaries! They made the program a blessing to me. There are so many industries and businesses that give their energy to this Plainview Chamber of Commerce program, and I thank you. Thank you to Shane Harrell, the organizer and leader, chamber manager, Tonya Keesee, and assistant Reba Bailey. What a great time we had. Not trying to sound cliche, but friends are friends forever.

I grew up in the fashion world of fine garments found in retail sales. I am a "fashion designer" at heart, but not a seamstress, so this makes for vision without results! I sew, but I cannot mentally tolerate hoarding fabrics, having strings everywhere, or pieces under construction laying about. I'm okay with this and use my creativity in other ways. I enjoy fabrics, textures, and observing haute couture. Living in rural West Texas, there is not a great demand for high fashion. Today I was in a local business, and this caught my eye. I wanted to buy it and create the design moving through my mind. 

Sketch me your haute couture design. Let's talk about this.

Today, the 2019 Class of the Plainview Chamber of Commerce Leadership Plainview graduated. We started in 2019 and took a long Covid break and were able to finish in person today. What a wonderful group of graduates. It was not by chance we were together. Each one blessed me in some way every time we gathered. Today was no different. I hope to see them as I'm out and about.

Thank you to Shane Harrell for fifteen years of programs organization for Leadership Plainview.

After sixty-five years, I can say that I finally took the course (and passed)!!!

I enjoyed listening to this vintage vinyl this afternoon. Better than Calgon to take you away...these vintage tunes!