I am not sure where it comes from…but I have always been a strong person, a decisive person.
I am not talking about strength like body building strength, but an inner strength, which over the years I have to admit has gotten me into a bit of hot water with husband and children when I have stood my ground, so to speak.
I am the one in the crowd who sees an emergency and jumps into action while many stand around in shock.
Decisive!
I am the one standing in the waiting line at the beauty counter of Walgreens who is asked by a complete stranger…”which color of nail polish do you think would look the best?, the pink or coral?”
Decisive!
AND I am the one at Macy’s looking at men’s ties when a millennial young man holds up two ties near his face and asks…
“which one?”…..
“The blue”….. I blurted out as I looked up from the array of ties in front of me.
The sandy haired young man with the steel blue eyes tossed the gray tie back on the table and rushed off to the check-out, calling “thanks” over his shoulder.
As I picked up the gray tie he had tossed and refolded it and placed it in it’s place at the table, I began to think about why I chose the blue tie over the gray tie for this stranger.
The gray tie was very nice and I didn’t even ask the young man what color shirt or slacks or anything else that might have been pertinent to giving an informative answer.
No,…. I just knew the navy blue tie was the right tie for him with his coloring and hair. I don’t even know for what occasion the lad needed the tie…but I sensed an urgency…a need for affirmative action and right now, no long debate.
It has always been that way for me, and I have just accepted the fact that evidently, I am here to help people.
But then we all are, aren’t we? I’m certainly not an expert in any given field, but apparently I seem authoritative to some, at least enough so that I am asked my opinion, frequently. And for 10 seconds at the tie table in Macy’s…a young stranger needed a word of encouragement!
However, as I left the tie table, I came up with a different scenario….maybe, it isn’t my knowledge or expertise, but my willingness, to project an “open” feeling to those round about me. Shouldn’t we all be that way? Shouldn’t we all be “open” to give that encouraging word or affirmative support to those in need?
It is true, we all lead busy lives and we may want to shy away when asked our opinions…but I ask you what if that smile or that encouraging word is just what that person needs today?
Example:
Go for it….
You can do it….
You don’t know if you don’t try…
What is the worst that can happen….?
It is never too late…
Sometimes, our friends (or strangers) might be feeling a bit timid and need someone to speak the truth to them because they can’t see the forest for the trees.
Perhaps they are just too close to their situation …..whether it is trivial or something far deeper in their lives.
Perhaps all they need is that little nudge in the right direction….to help them choose the blue tie over the gray tie.
Each one of us has a cross to bear, and as Christopher Robin said to Pooh bear…. “always remember that you’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
You, too my friend…… “are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think”!
You are amazing! You’ve got this….whatever it is!
Be decisive.
God gives us all the tools.
Trust your instincts.
Phil 4:13
I too am a strong person who will help a stranger with a decision!
And a smile from them and from me makes it even better! Smiles make the world go round!
So true Nancy….thanks for stopping by.
I too am a strong person who will help a total stranger with a decision.
And it does help when that total stranger (them and us) share a smile. Smiles make the world go round!
yep!!!! 🙂 😉 🙂 😉
Kari, I love this post! You and I could be sisters as far as the decisiveness goes, I too am often asked to help total strangers decide things. I agree that it most likely has to do with an “openness and willing spirit.
You are so right, it doesn’t take much to speak an encouraging word, gift a smile, and make someone else’s day a little brighter! xo Lidy
Thanks Lidy we are like Anne and her friend at Green Gables….kindred spirits. 😉 thanks for stopping by
You always seem to post the right words that reach out to comfort me. Tomorrow I am scheduled to have a PET scan and a brain MRI and even though I have had these tests before, I never thought my cancer would come back after a good year of checkups. I have sort of been freaking out lately having to go through this again. But your words today reminded me that I am brave and strong and God is taking my hand, as I believe that in a way your are too. The last thing I want to do is make your blog/ postings a downer . So many thanks for your words, it’s what I needed today.
Oh my sweet Linda….you are not making my postings a downer. It is just the opposite, you are lifting them up as you show your faith and courage to endure. I am there with you, virtual though I am, I have your hand too. I am praying for you and with you. You are strong…you got this! You are amazing!
Remember that God will not allow us to go through something that we are not able to handle. See 1 Cor 10:13 below, the new living trranslation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Keep me posted with the results of your tests. I care, my friend.