The Honeybee's Lifestyle

Tag: memphis blogger

  • Extending GRACE

    Hello Honeybees,

    Have you ever extended grace to someone? Has someone ever extended grace to you? What does it even mean to extend grace to someone?

    Having something that you don’t deserve is God’s grace to us. He extends his grace to us every day but do we return that grace to those around us? Do we show compassion for others?

    When I was going through a rough period in my life I had a manager at work that showed me GRACE. He didn’t have to because it truly wasn’t in his job description but he did. But because he did I was able to keep it together and not only survive but thrive. Fast forward 10 years later, I am in my former manager’s position. Someone needed me to extend that same grace to them. So what did I do, I extended it.  Just like me, this person was able to keep it together and survive. No rules were broken, but just knowing that someone in a position that has the power to make your life a little harder extends you grace takes a load off of your mind and spirit.

    Sometime it’s not always easy to extend grace because you KNOW that person doesn’t deserve it. But guess what, that’s the time when YOU listen to that still small voice and do it anyway. Grace is a gift and who doesn’t like to receive gifts? Have you ever received a gift just because? That’s grace. We never know what someone is going through. You showing them grace might be the thing that they need to keep pushing forward. So the next time someone pisses up off, extend a little grace.

    Be humble to others. You may be experiencing your mountain top moment but don’t forget that valley experience for it shall surely come again. Extend a hand to help those around you. Extend a hand to help lift someone else. You never know when that very hand will reach back to help you.

    While you are extending GRACE to others remember to extend some grace to yourself. Free yourself from always having it together, from always trying to be perfect. We are not perfect people.  When you fail at something, give yourself some grace. The world did not end because you failed. Give yourself the freedom to learn from the failure and to keep it moving. If you can’t forgive YOU how can you forgive others?

    I encourage you extend grace to someone, especially to you.

     

    Beewisdom- I give grace because I so desperately need it. – Lysa Terkeurst

  • My Sacrifice

    Hello Honeybees,

    The party is over, Madri Gras (Fat Tuesday) is done.

    Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the start of the Lenten season where we begin the process of sacrifice for 40 days. I grew up in the Catholic Church and attended Catholic school until college, so the Lenten season has always held a special place in my spiritual journey.

    Most of the time during Lent I focused on sacrificing something edible. As a kid I would give up candy or sweets which wasn’t a sacrifice because I didn’t really eat candy (that habit started later in life). As I got older I would switch to something that was a little harder like pork or soft drinks. These two things wouldn’t be a sacrifice today. Maturity happens!

    At some point I stopped “giving up” things for Lent and I started adding things. I started adding more prayer time in those 40 days, I started making a very conscious effort to be more giving, more loving and to be a better person.

    They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. The first year that I added these things during Lent they did become habits. I still try to find more ways to add to my prayer time. I still make a conscious effort to be more giving and to be a better person.

    For the 2019 Lenten season I’m going to add and subtract for these 40 days. I’m going to sacrifice a food, bread. Pray my strength.  I’m going to re read two books, Purpose Driven Life & When God Winks. Both books make me feel like I’m strengthen my spiritual relationship with God.

    I pray that at the end of these 40 days I come out a healthier and more purposeful woman.

    What are you sacrificing or adding during this Lenten season?

    Beewisdom- “Prayer does not change the purpose of God. But prayer does change the action of God.” — Chuck Smith

  • I’m So Inspired

    Hello Honeybees,

    Inspire was one of my words for 2019 and when I tell you that these first two months of the year have truly been inspiring…believe me they have. And not in the way that you might think. My initial thought for the word inspire was for ME to inspire others. There have been numerous occasions where that has happened. It hasn’t all been big moments but it’s the little moments that have truly opened my eyes and heart. It’s been everything from encouraging someone to take a leap of faith to sending a thinking about you text.

    But the biggest surprise to me has been how other people are inspiring me. When someone takes the time to reach out to me for help that inspires me. It means that I’m on the right track. It means that I have something of value to add to their life and that they trust me. When I see someone succeeding at something it inspires me to keep pushing. Watching people find happiness or fall in love or watching people mend a broken relationship. Their success and happiness means we get to celebrate and who doesn’t like a celebration.

    If being inspired and inspiring others keeps up this pace, 2019 is on track to be one of the best and happiest years of my life.

    Who are you inspiring? Who is inspiring you?

    Beewisdom- Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.