Perfect Harmony

I grew up in a house where music was part of our daily lives. My father played the trumpet and banjo; my mother, along with being an amazing pianist, can play tons of different instruments; my sisters and I used to get dressed up in matching outfits (some of which have scarred me for life) and would travel to different churches and events and sing three part harmony (Forrester Sisters didn't have nothing on us!); Carla was the violinist, I was the piano player and Kelly's instrument has always been her voice. Mom was patient with us and allowed us to try different things until we found our talent.

I never took to reading music. I just liked to hear it and then play it or sing it. I still do that. It's just easier for me that way. When I was very young, mom would stand beside me and sing the alto part to a song in my ear and that's how I learned to sing alto and that's when the beast was created! I harmonized with anything I heard from TV commercial jingles to opera, you name it and I was going to find that harmony.

But nothing has changed to this day. I love to put my earphones in, especially at the gym, and jam out to anything and everything. I just can't help myself...I will sing out loud, not thinking about who else is around me. Now, getting the words right to any song has always been a challenge for me-sometimes my lyrics are better than the original ;) but you can bet that whatever I'm listening to, I'm loud and proud...and singing just the harmony. Now for those people around me that can hear what I'm singing, they are hearing only the alto line (loudly). Yesterday...I got looks. Looks that said "Girl...not only are you being too loud but you can't sing" or "Honey...you need to give that mess up before you hurt yourself" Well, ya know what?! You don't know what's playing on the other end of my earphones so you don't know that right now, you're hearing a masterpiece! You're hearing a beautiful blend of harmony between me and Bruno Mars and me and Pink! I mean, I'm one alto line away from getting that call from Adele, asking me to go on the road with her...I just know it!

Ok, back to reality-you all just busted my daydream bubble! I actually got something out of that. Everyone sing/dances/lives to their own beat. We don't know what's causing people around us to act like they do sometimes because we can't hear what they're listening to. They may actually be making beautiful music and we judge them without having any idea what's on the other end of their life 'ipod'. (I almost typed walkman...geesh, I'm getting old!)

Don't judge-don't hate-just try to harmonize with them. (But try to be on key...nobody likes listening to flat harmony, OKAY?!!

"I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony. A song of peace that echos on, and never goes away."

Random Acts of Amy

 

“The willingness to share does not make one charitable; it makes one free.” 

Let me preface this blog by saying that in NO way do I mean this to be about me or do I mean it to sound boastful or prideful! I just simply set out to do things for others and to help put a smile on people's faces. I share this with you just to pass on one of the most wonderful experiences I've had in life and to maybe inspire someone else to pass on some kindness each day.

I met my friend Dollie, who graciously gave up her whole day just to help me, and we set off! Here's a list of some things that we accomplished:

• Cooked dinner for a friend
• Sent a care package to a military person
• Delivered groceries to some friends in need
• Delivered groceries to several homes. We just drove around and picked some places that we felt looked like they could benefit from some extra help.
• Bought donuts for a stranger
• Delivered donuts to Fox Ridge
• Coffee bought for a lady in line at Starbucks (and for me and Dollie!! DUH!)
• Helped an elderly man find his car in the Target parking lot. This man was so sweet and it was evident that he was confused about where he parked his car. I offered him a ride around until we found it for him. Made me think of my pappy and how much I loved that man.
• Handed out a sucker to a little boy who was walking around with his dad
• Passed out suckers to children in Wal-Mart
• Passed out quarters to children in Wal-Mart to use for gumball machines
• Left quarters at vending machines for children
• Passed out suckers and water bottles to the cart pushers at Wal-Mart
• Returned shopping carts into the store from the parking lot
• Passed out water to some workers on the road
• Passed out water bottles to construction workers at Benton Complex
• Left water bottles on car of someone walking the track
• Left a bag of food on the hood of a car for a random person in a parking lot. This one got me. Dollie suggested that particular car. I was trying to be gentle while laying the bag on the hood, when I saw someone out of the corner of my eye move. There was someone sleeping in the front, covered up with blankets. You could see clothes and belongings piled in the back seat. Broke my heart.
• Handed out water to a delivery truck man
• Gave a roll of quarters to a lady in need at the laundry mat
• Dropped off a bag of clothes at the Goodwill store
• Drove through the bank and sent suckers to the tellers through the machine
• Left notes on some cars with suckers
• Delivered water and suckers to the Bryant fire station. They were so grateful that they sang happy birthday to me! It was quite comical!
• Donated money to the Humane Society
• Handed out suckers to strangers and even got to give some suckers to Santa!! He assured me that because of this, I would get on the good list
• Delivered donuts to a young man in a trailer park
• Handed out water to some lawn workers
• Bought a gift for someone and delivered it to their house
• Volunteered at Fox Ridge and helped decorate for Christmas
• Left a note and some chocolate for the mailman

 

 

 

So humbled and so blessed to be able to do little things for people. The smiles I received were worth it. I try to give something of myself everyday but yesterday was a day I will never forget. This will be something that I will do every year now and just want to encourage others to do the same. Not just for one day but each and everyday you can.

“Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water -it will make ripples throughout the entire pond...”

I'm not listening!

Tyler and I were having a conversation this morning and I didn’t hear something he said to me:

Me: “What?”

Tyler: “Clean your ears out”

M: “I can’t help it…you mutter too much”

T: “No, you just didn’t hear me and you get on to me all the time about not hearing you”

M: “No, I get on to you because you don’t LISTEN! For instance, I tell you to CLEAN. YOUR. ROOM. Very plain and clear. You just don’t LISTEN although I know you HEAR me”

T: “Oh, see, I thought you said ‘Lay on your bed for a little bit longer and clean it when you feel like it’”

Funny, Tyler, funny LOL! It did make me laugh when he said that but then I started thinking. How often am I guilty of that with God? How many times does He speak to me and I hear what He’s telling me but I don’t LISTEN because I feel that I can just do what I want THEN I’ll make time for what He is asking. See, when Tyler does that, I get frustrated and I end up repeating those instructions a few more times before I end up really getting on to him and have to punish him for not obeying. That’s when he knows I mean business and he gets his room clean. When it gets to that point, we both feel awful for what transpired and then he comes and apologizes for not listening.

I wonder if God feels like that with us sometimes. He patiently and calmly asks us to “go.” Or to “do.’ And we wait. We hear His instructions but it’s not “convenient” for us so we put it off…and put it off. And at times, it takes something drastic to happen before we finally obey. But at that point, we’ve had to go through something or experience something just to see that He means business with us; then we are on our knees asking for forgiveness. It would be so much easier if we just LISTEN the first time and follow His instructions right when He gives them.

Don’t ignore God! Hear His voice and listen to His calling. Our lives will be so much more blessed by LISTENING to Him!

Proverbs 16:20-Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Proverbs 8:33-Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.