ARE YOU A PERSON OF YOUR WORD?

By Vernalee

Are you a man or woman of your word? Do you do what you say? Is your word your bond? Does a handshake deal mean anything anymore? Don't answer me, your words and actions tell the truth every time!

Listen Up!

When you tell folks that you will do something, you create an expectation. In some cases, that expectation forms a reliance. So when you don’t execute on what you committed to do, not only were you untruthful, you disappointed and failed people who relied upon your word/commitment. Untruthfulness damages when your actions don’t coincide with your words! Once again, that small tongue caused big harm! It created an expectation that was not executed. It became a deep rooted and lingering by product that entered the memory banks of a person mind and buried its pain in their hearts. Lies have the ability to stick to a person’s heart like glue. It’s no wonder that when your words become lies that people become heartbroken! The answer to it all is really quite simple. Do what you said! Be a man/woman of your word! Photo credit: www.wordsonimages.com

ARE YOU A GOOD FRIEND?

By Vernalee

In 1984, hip hop group, Whodini had an amazing hit. It was called “Friends/How many of you have them?” The lyrics are quite deep. I invite you to listen. In this journey of friendships, we meet many people that we befriend. Some become actual friends; true stand by your side friends. Some fall by the wayside.

Time and actions never fail to identify who’s who. The statement. "the more the merrier" does not necessarily apply to friendship. It’s not the number; it's the sincerity. It is wise to be choosy. Being a good friend isn’t always easy, but taking the time to nurture a lasting friendship is worth every ounce of the effort. Of course, to have a good friend, you must be one! I believe that you often attract who you are. I am blessed to have a few true friends; many of which have been around for years. They care; I care. I love them; they love me. We have laughed together, cried together, shared secrets that can never be told, and have been there for each other. Geography may in some cases separate us, but our souls remain close. Making/keeping friends is no easy task. It’s a lot of work! We all fall short and need regular tune-ups.

Let’s take a look: Being Trustworthy: 1. Keep your promises. 2. Apologize when you’ve made a mistake. 3. Be honest. 4. Don’t use people. 5. Be loyal. 6. Be respectful. Being Supportive: 1. Be selfless. 2. Be a good listener. 3. Help your friends deal with their struggles. 4. Be there in a time of crisis. 5. Give thoughtful advice. 6. Give your friend some space when he/she needs it. Making your friendship last: 1. Learn to forgive. 2. Accept your friend for who he/she is. 3. Go beyond. 4. Stay in touch no matter what. 5. Let your friendship evolve. So that our friendships not suffer when we are busy, we can do the following: 1. Make a date. Get on their calendar. 2. Your phone is always with you. Use it to stay in touch - call, email, and text. 3. Make the most of your time. Get together. 4. Practice random acts of kindness. 5. Use Social media. Since friendships take work, add these tidbits to your list. 1. Make sure they’re okay the moment you sense something wrong. … 2. Know when to be serious and when to be goofy. … 3. Go the extra mile when they ask for help. … 4. Don’t give up on them during their darkest hours. … 5. Make them feel wanted. … 6. Tell them, “I got your back,” at least once (and mean it.) Are you a good friend? Are you there for your friends? Do you care for them and love them? Are you respectful of them and their time? Are you envious and jealous of their accomplishments or happy and delighted that they succeed? What’s the answer? Don’t ask me! Ask your friends! Photo credit: www.pininterest.com; Source: www.wikihow.com; www.selfstairway.com; www.fastcompany.com

WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE?

By Vernalee

"Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37 Some people spend too much time monitoring other folks so that they can judge their behavior. Who other than them have that type of time? In fact, some wait on folks to make mistakes so that they can be the first to bring down their verbal gavel pronouncing condemnation! Sad, but true! Allow me to make this easy and simple. First, only God can judge because he sees all actions; those that are visible as well as the hidden and disguised. Secondly, if we properly utilize our time to keep our lives on track, we won’t have time to continually watch others, lest alone judge them. In other words, mind your business! Stop looking at others to find their dirt. Do your work and let God do his! Photo credit: www.huffingtonpost.com