I know many of you expected to read part seven of my Love is series, but today I wanted to talk about something else that’s been on my heart.
I’ve been out of town off and on throughout July and August. It’s been a busy summer. For some of that time, I was on a cruise without internet or cell service and chose not to watch the news programs streaming through the TV. I wanted to step away from the concerns of this world for the five days I was sailing the Gulf of Mexico.
I realized some things while I was away.
First, social media, namely Facebook, steals a great deal of my time. I plan to cut back.
Second, I have neglected my personal time with God recently. In my quest to do more (write more) for Him, I’ve forgotten to be WITH Him. I plan to change that.
Third, statues, flags, and the like — no matter your color, sexual orientation, or gender — do not define who you are or who your ancestors were. They may be symbols of something you disagree with, but they are only symbols. Taking them down or leaving them up will not affect who you are.
Fourth, if you are a child of God, then YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. We represent Him in our daily lives. People see. They know what you’ve said, and they watch how you live. Just as your earthly father gave you a name that represents him, so God has done the same. Christian means to be like Christ. Are you striving to be like Him or more like the world?
Finally, LOVE is the answer. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Without Him we can do nothing. (John 15:5) Love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) Without love anything we do is useless. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
Life is about more than our circumstances. It’s about loving others — one person at a time. Instead of judging the thoughts and perceived actions of others, love them.
I have strived since I was a teen (and before then) to treat all people equally. Why? Because I was not. I was looked down upon because of my upbringing, my parents, how I smelled (Both of my parents smoked. It wasn’t until I left that environment that I realized how AWFUL it made me smell.), how I reacted to situations, my reticence to step forward, etc.
I may not like the decisions you make, but unless you ask, I will likely never tell you. I may disagree with how you raise your kids, paint your house, drive your car, or dress for church, but I likely will not tell you.
What will I do? I will LOVE you because you are God’s creation, made in His likeness. I will speak with you about the weather, tell you how great your hair, makeup, or some other thing looks. I will compliment your handbag or your shoes. I will try to find SOMETHING that I can say that will encourage you.
This I have learned. Showing LOVE wins hearts.
What’s the saying? You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Sometimes all that grouchy person needs is a smile from a stranger.
And sometimes, life really is what you put into it. Are you sewing seeds of love and peace or hate and discord?
So, this break is your public service announcement. And really, it continues the Love is theme. Because LOVE IS THE ANSWER to all the hate the world tries to throw at you (us).
Since I have given you the answer to all of life’s problems (haha), I will now supply you with a chance to win a copy of one of my recently re-released novellas (well, one hasn’t made it to Amazon yet, but it will soon).
Comment on any post between now and September 11th for a chance to win in the InspyRomance Back-to-School Bash, and if you comment on THIS post before August 30th (my daughter’s 19th birthday) at midnight(PST) you will have a chance to win a copy of either Learning from Experience or Mr. Christmas and Miss Scrooge (which I hope to have on Amazon soon) (winner’s choice). Both of these have been previously released in boxed sets, but are now (or will be soon) available as stand-alone novellas.
Lexi Ross loves the life she’s created for herself as an art gallery manager. She enjoys promoting the work of up-and-coming artists. When Nathan Vanderwahl, her boss and her late friend’s older brother, steps through the door of her gallery, his appearance resurrects feelings she’s buried so deep, she’s almost forgotten, and he turns her world upside-down.
Because of his father’s death-bed request, Nathan shoves his reservations to the side and visits Lexi. When she asks him to leave her alone, he promises he will, if she’ll go see his father. Even if it breaks his heart to do it.
An old man and his will change everything for them. Can they learn from his experience or will they hold on to the hurts of the past and walk away from a promising future? (Originally released in the Falling For You set.)
Mitch Silverton has a lot on his 
schedule — caring for his dying mom, his job as assistant manager of the hardware store, and then he added decorations coordinator for the shelter fundraiser. When a break-in at the store shoves him in the path of his boss’s boss, Margaret Holberg, managing owner of the hardware store, he finds himself attracted to the blonde knockout, who’s always been way out of his league.
Margaret Holberg hates being alone, but that’s how she spends the majority of her time since her parents left her in charge of their hardware stores. Stuck in the store with the all-grown-up Mitch Silverton makes her wish for more. But he’s her employee. Nothing more.
Can Mitch and Margaret learn to work together, not just in the store, but in life? (Originally released in Love in Mistletoe Springs collection.)
QUESTIONS for discussion:
How many times has a stranger smiled at you when you were having a bad day, and it made you feel better?
OR
How many times have you smiled at a stranger who was having a bad day, and it made YOU feel better?
Smile for someone today!
Many blessings,
Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre. Even when she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, reading or writing are not far from her mind. She is president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.
Hi Ginger, amen and amen for a thoughtful post:) This last week has been a challenging one, and the next will be also and I pray for God’s love to shine through me as I minister to my seniors as they deal with the consequences of unwise choices.
I have been smiled at many times, and try to smile at others, and in both circumstances I feel better, it is uplifting.
Blessings:)
Lovely post, Ginger. I love to smile at strangers and say hello, especially those who look in need.
Thanks for your post and the words to think on.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Very needed right now with everything that’s happening around us.
Being around the metro NYC area, it always surprises me when a stranger smiles or says hello on any given day, not just when I’m having a bad day. These interactions remind me how callous my heart and mind have become….I need to look up more and smile more whether I’m having a good day or bad, in a group of treasured friends or strangers.
I was raised to follow the “all are equal before God,” and still try to. I wish more “Christians” would actually try to live it.
Thanks for your thought provoking blog, Ginger. LOVE IS THE ANSWER. LOVE IS A CHOICE. We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4) is special passage, because it is our wedding passage. In my daily life, I remember Jesus’s words in Matthew 22:37 -39 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Maybe it means a smile, a kind word, or action. Opening doors for strangers, letting them have a parking space, or going ahead of me in line. Recently I offered a man with only 3 items in his grocery cart to go ahead of me. He declined even though I had so many more items. Made my day.
Enjoyed reading Learning from Experience. Happy 19th Birthday to your daughter. On August 30, my oldest grandson will be 12. Kids grow up fast. Happy weekend.
Deep thoughts and timely reminders! We need to remember to always love and respect others. I try hard to smile at others for that reason – you never know what their life is dealing them and they might need it.
Thanks so much for your encouraging post! I do find that a smile from a stranger can help on bad days and try to do the same for someone else.
Thank you for sharing about love. It is really a powerful thing. (I’ve been looking forward to you Love series, but this is equally good, if not more–maybe). I used to run near home in a municipal state park trail that was basically full of locals away from the college crowd. It never ceased to surprise me how welcoming people were, always smiling at strangers walking/running along the path and saying hello. It was a great respite from being around busy people with a schedule and no time for smiling.
PS: I really enjoyed Learning from Experience. Great book. I think I’ve read it twice and I always smile at how well they come together.
Thanks for an inspiring post, Ginger. YES, I have felt uplifted from a stranger’s smile, and I hope they feel the same way when I smile!
Thank you for this beautiful, encouraging blog. It is so true. I have been uplifted by the smile of a stranger and, hopefully, others have been uplifted by mine. There are so many frowns in our world that I try to smile as much as possible.
Excellent post about love Ginger. Sometimes when I smile at people, I wonder if they know how much God truly loves them, and how their life would change if they really did.
Thanks for the post! I always try to smile at strangers when I pass them :-)
Loved this post. I find I get news overload and have to unplug as well. As far as smiling goes, I always try to offer a smile. I remember one day when I was in a funk I was out and about and I kept encountering especially kind people. The person in the car in front of me paid for my Starbucks drink and someone at the mall was especially nice to me. I had three separate encounters with kindness that morning and was so surprised and happy about it, I posted it on Facebook. Yes, FB can be a time waster, but I don’t post often. :)
Bless you as you minister to each senior you encounter.
:D
It does something inside me when I do that.
:D
You’re welcome.
It is often hard to remember in the day to day activities. We rush so much that we seem to forget the people around us (me included).
Amen, Walter.
Thanks, Renate. Kids do grown up fast.
That is so true, Susan. We never know what’s going on in others’ lives, even when we “know” them. A smile can go a long way to making someone day better.
You’re welcome.
:D
I forgot to leave you a smile.
:D
I forgot to leave you a smile.
:D
I forgot to leave you a smile.
:D
great post. and one that is good for reminding. I learned at an early age to smile at everyone. I did not have to talk to them when I was younger, just smile. over the years I have found that smiling to others, especially when they are not smiling, brings a smile to their face, usually. there are a lot of people that I think don’t know how to smile or they don’t smile at someone they do not know. I have found that when I am having a difficult day that not too many people smile at me other than those I know. I don’t know, somehow I wonder if it is being lost today.
Thanks, Priscila. I’m glad you enjoyed the book.
:D
I really enjoyed your post. It made me feel good.
It feels so good to receive a smile. I also like it when I smile and the person’s face brightens because of it.
I keep forgetting my smiles.
:D
We definitely have enough frowns floating around, and you’re welcome.
:D
Oh, that’s a great thought, Tammy. Maybe as we smile, we can pray that they feel God’s love in a way they never have before.
And here’s your smile.
:D
That’s awesome. Margaret.
:D
It’s so great to be the recipient of kindness.
:D
I think I agree with you, Lori. I think some people just do not know how to smile, and a lot of them are Christians. :(
And now that I’ve frowned… Here’s a smiley face. :D
I’m glad, Mary.
:D
And here’s your smile. :D
And here’s your smile.
:D
I really enjoyed reading this! I like to look at the bright side of things, and pray to see things through God’s eyes. So I often wonder what’s behind and causing someone’s grouchiness. I like to remind myself to give them more mercy. But I still like to smile at someone and try to encourage them. And I love it when someone smiles at me, especially when I’m having a bad day. It’s like a “ray of sunshine”.
Exactly like a ray of sunshine, Becky.
:D
it’s happened
I smile at people a lot and they look at me as if to say, “What are you, some kind of nut?” Needless to say, that doesn’t make me feel better.
Hi Ginger. I truly enjoyed your inspiring words. I have been on the receiving line of a smile and appreciated getting them but I do believe that smiling at others and seeing their reactions is so much more uplifting! I go out with the attitude that my smile may be the only one they will see that day.
Blessings!
I so agree with your post. And God’s greatest gift is Love. For balance reasons, I now have to walk with a cane. I try to smile and say Thank you to all those who open doors for me. In this day and age, I just don’t expect it, so it’s like a nice little surprise each time someone does. There’s a lot of power in the words Thank you also.
God’s gift is for us to share love with others. I try to smile at people all the time. I think it makes them feel better as I know a smile does that for me. Like others, I have to use a cane now to get about and it’s so nice when people smile and open doors for you. I even try to do that for others. Using a cane doesn’t mean I can’t be helpful too. God has blessed me. Thanks. And here’s you smile. :D
I really appreciate your post. You can never hear enough about showing God’s love to others. I have heard many comments about how I’m always smiling. And why not? You show what you feel!! With God’s love in my life, why wouldn’t I be smiling!! Judy F
I’m not sure what “it” is, but I hope it was good.
:D
It’s amazing how sometimes a stranger will say something to you that is just what you needed to hear on just the right day! I hope I do the same for others.
There are a few of those, but don’t give up. You never know when you might make a difference in one person’s life.
:D
What a great attitude to have, Connie.
:D
Absolutely, Nancy. Showing appreciation is always worthwhile.
:D
Thanks for the smile, Donna.
:D
Absolutely, Judy. We have so many things to be thankful for. We just have to look for them.
:D
I’ve had that happen too. It does feel amazing.
:D
I’m usually the one giving smiles or compliments to strangers. It not only makes the other person feel good, but me as well. I saw something on Facebook just today that I have to really agree with “Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold.” I think if we try to find the best of people, God can open up the doors for us to show them His love :-) Wise words!
Thanks for sharing this post, Ginger. You brought up some great points. I definitely need to make more of a point to smile at people.
Trixi, I love that quote you shared. What an awesome way to approach a someone or a situation.
Thanks for your post. It’s something we need to be reminded of. I try to smile at strangers, but it’s not something easy to do, people don’t look to each other anymore, but to those who look, I try to smile..
Great attitude. Thanks for the reminder.
:D
Most of my posts are God’s way of reminding ME to do these things.
:D
You’re right, Laura. People do not look at each other much anymore. It’s a sad state we’ve fallen in to. But I’m looking at you and smiling. :D
A cashier at our local pharmacy is always so sweet to my two children. Even when they are getting into everything, she just smiles & says they are fine. It’s nice to have people go out of their way to include children, when it seems so many people ignore them or are annoyed by them.
Smiles are contagious usually, it makes me feel better and I hope it makes others feel better.
I try to remind myself, “what is going on in their lives” and hope a smile can bring a bit of sunshine
into their day.
Sometimes it only takes a smile & a kind word to make a beautiful day !!
HI Ginger!
I love to smile at others and hope I uplift them. I know many times strangers have smiled at me and made my day…especially small children! they are the best at this. :)