I have a fence in Vermont that I like to decorate with flowers.  When I arrived this June, the local supermarket had some sad looking impatiens plants for sale for $1.00/plant. The plants were barely alive, scrawny, shriveled, dried out, and unloved. I bought 5 of them. 

I knew that with a little TLC, these little plants could become beautiful and lush; adding charm and color to my old gray fence. So, I brought them home and installed them into the pots hanging on the fence. I tenderly plucked the dried blossoms and leaves, trimmed away the nonproductive stems, gave them a deep drink of life-giving water, and told them that they were the most beautiful flowers in the neighborhood. (And they were.) 

Soon, they were all blooming and growing more gloriously in the summer sun as you can see from the picture below. I wish that I had a before photo to prove my point. 

My point is that our loving Creator has imbued all of us with the same power of recreation. With a little TLC, even the saddest, maddest, meanest person can begin to blossom and grow in the glow of God’s unconditional love. The lonely can find solace in a friendly hello from a stranger. The downtrodden can be uplifted with a smile and a wave. The roadside panhandler can feel love with 4 quarters in his hand. 

I know that these actions will not solve the serious problems that face many people in our world. However, kind actions and words are a wonderful start to change their attitudes about living. Kind actions and words on our part can change our own attitudes about each other and the world. It is a start. An important start to bring about the unity of all in Christ.  

I am sending each of you a big smile and a prayer for a wonderful day. One where your pains are bearable and your joys overwhelming. Remember always that God loves YOU unconditionally! Amen! 

Terri