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Hey there,
Today, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts from the heart, as I sit here sipping my protein coffee while listening to praise and worship music in my office. I find myself planning my week, but my mind drifts to thinking about a sermon I watched online yesterday.
The pastor posed the question, “What breaks your heart?” He sited various verses and parables that pointed our responsibilities as Christians to love like Christ loves us. Living a life of love, service, and compassion is what the call of God is on my life. Whether that service is in a classroom, a closing table, a ball field, a campground, holding the door for a stranger, paying for the person’s lunch behind me, or in the quiet moments praying for others, my actions matter.
It seems that too often we see service as a “What’s in it for me?” mentality. If I do this, I can get that. Then if I post about it, maybe someone will recognize me for my good works. Right? Is that the kind of service He is looking for? Should that even be considered service at all? I am as guilty of this as anyone, but I continue to come back to the verse, “…do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matthew 6:3). It is in the quiet that things happen. It is in the still quiet moments that we hear the still small voice of God. –Not the audible voice that says, “Kathy, you need to XYX!” (Don’t you wish you could hear that?)
Lately, I have witnessed so much hurt. Families who have lost their beloved child. A friend’s young granddaughter has been diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of cancer. Friends are struggling financially. I see struggling marriages. Parents are struggling to meet the needs of their children. It makes some of my prayers seem so minute. We have all struggled, and God is in all of it. From the prayer to “Help me find my keys,” to Heal my brokenness” are all important to Jesus. He loves us and wants what is best for us.
So as we are creeping towards the Easter season, I want to be more intentional about my actions. I want to seek out the quiet “What breaks my heart?” moments. And if there is a way for me to help, that is what I want.
So, as I sip my coffee and reflect on the heartbreaks of life, I encourage you to consider your answer to “What breaks your heart?” If we would all take this time to realize that we are called to “do something,” what a better world this would be!
What Breaks Your Heart?
A Single’s Take on Valentine’s Day
Hey there, fellow singles! While the world might be busy drowning in heart-shaped balloons and sappy love songs, us single folks can turn the spotlight on ourselves and celebrate the ultimate love affair – the one with our awesome selves!
In finding myself single-again 10 years ago, I have felt all the emotions of being single. Ups and downs. But finally, I have learned to be my own hero. I had searched high and low for “the one” to make me happy. I have finally learned that I see that person everyday when I look in the mirror. It was a journey to get to this point, but once I arrived, I ARRIVED.
I have started writing not only prayers in my prayer journal, but I also started writing the things I am grateful to have. That led to writing the times that God carried me through situations that seemed impossible.
Starting the morning with affirmations still feels silly to me some days. I simply look in the mirror and tell myself, “I love you.”
Celebrating the friendships that I have is paramount. I have been blessed to be a part of various friend groups that have rallied behind me during the good and bad times. They know me, and they still love me! I will celebrate with a few of those treasured friends with our own Galentines Day on Saturday-we are too old to celebrate during the week! 🙂
Struggling with your singleness? Reach out to friends! If you are in my area, let’s go get coffee! If you are far away, let’s FaceTime and become friends! I truly believe that if we look hard enough, we can find the silver lining in the dark clouds.
So there you have it, single friends. Embrace this season of being single! Cheers to the most important relationship of all – the one with ourselves!
Quiet Acts of Kindness: The Secret Sauce to a Better World
In a world that sometimes feels a bit chaotic, there’s a timeless wisdom that says, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” It’s like a subtle call to sprinkle kindness like confetti, all while keeping it hush-hush. Let’s chat about the beauty of paying it forward in small, impactful ways, without the need for fanfare.
You hold the door for someone, and they pass on the good deed. It’s like a kindness domino effect, quietly echoing through the day. The beauty lies in the unspoken connection.
Ever tried the “pay it forward” chain at your local coffee shop? It’s a simple act with a big impact. Buying a coffee for the person behind you not only brightens their day but sets off a chain of feel-good moments, all done with a subtle, secret touch.
In the hustle of life, it’s easy to overlook our neighbors. A small gesture, like sharing a homemade meal or offering a friendly hello, fosters a sense of community. It’s about creating a little haven of warmth without the need for recognition.
Sometimes, the most valuable gift is our time. Take a moment to listen to someone who needs it. A heartfelt conversation can make a world of difference, and it’s okay if it remains your little secret act of kindness.
When our friends achieve something, big or small, let’s celebrate with them quietly! The success of others adds to the collective positivity of our lives. Your genuine cheer might be the fuel someone needs to keep going, without the need for a spotlight.
Kindness has a subtle butterfly effect. Our small, secret actions, when multiplied, can create a wave of goodness. So, let’s embrace the philosophy of “give a little, get a lot” in our everyday lives, without the need for recognition. After all, the world could use a bit more quiet kindness, and it starts with us! 🌍💙🤫 #QuietKindness #SecretActsofGoodness #SilentButterflyEffect
Kathy, what is the “Teacher of the Month” program that I see posted on social media?
What is Teacher of the Month?
Welcome, dear readers, I am here today to answer this question: What IS the Teacher of the Month in Rutherford County?
Kenzi Keene of Farmers’ Insurance in Murfreesboro saw an opportunity to support the teachers in her daughters’ schools. As an active member of the local school’s PTO (Parent Teacher Organization), she knew how hard teachers work. It saddened her at how little recognition teachers received for a job that is often overlooked. As a community leader, she began to brainstorm how to recognize teachers on a consistent basis. She discussed this with other business and community leaders. As the program developed and grew, she has been happy to support educators for over 4 years!
How It Works: Nominations and Prizes
Each month, the community is invited to nominate a teacher within Rutherford County – county, city, or private schools. Anyone can nominate a teacher easily on a FaceBook post. Then, on the second Wednesday of the month, the team does a FaceBook Live drawing for all to see in real-time or at their convenience.
The selected “Teacher of the Month” receives a bundle of prizes worth $400, including a pizza party for her students.
Community Impact: Beyond the Classroom
Our goal extends beyond rewarding individual teachers. We hope to create a ripple effect of positivity throughout the community. By highlighting the contributions of educators, we hope to inspire an appreciation for education. Recognizing the role teachers play in the lives of children has provided excitement for everyone involved.
The team enjoys traveling to the school to dote on the teacher and students. From kindergartners to high schoolers, the kids enjoy the pizza and drinks delivered right to their desk. They all cheer for their teacher and share memories and hugs. It is always a good day to share in the celebration.
Getting Involved
Do you know an outstanding teacher who deserves to be celebrated? Nominate them today! Visit our FaceBook pages or reach out to share your stories and tell us why your nominee deserves to be the next “Teacher of the Month.”
February 2024
To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected.
“To whom much is given, much is expected” is something I tried to instill in my children. I wanted to teach them the ways of kindness. It would’ve been easy to have focused only on our own family. By allowing my children the opportunities to extend love and kindness to others helped them grow into better human beings.
From exposing children to the greater needs of others teaches compassion and empathy. I loved reading to children. Children at home, children at school, or even nieces have heard me read again and again. My favorite book to read was Where the Red Fern Grows. Yes, I cried every time I read this to class after class. This book is one of the best books to teach empathy.
Empathy is trying to understand what another person is feeling; it is seeing the world through another’s eyes. It helps people to get along better and to feel better. Hearing the story of a little boy’s adventures with his beloved dogs and experiencing the loss with the boy brought many tears from everyone in my classroom. Empathy. They felt what the main character was feeling. They saw his experiences. They felt what he felt.
Being able to understand how others feel is paramount to having peace in this world. “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
I watched my parents become involved with various needs in our community. Mom volunteered to drive patients to chemo treatments, worked to make the $35 donations stretch into enough food to serve needy families for days, or fight for the rites of the often overlooked population. Dad would donate pints that lead to gallons of blood, deliver meals, and donate platelets that were just perfect for a fellow church member. Together they decided to open our home for foster children when my brother and I were in elementary school.
This doesn’t include the hours they each spent in the PTO, girl scouts, ball fields, or driving teenagers from park to park in a rented van for safety.
My parents were not only dedicated to our family, but also to the family we built outside of the walls of our house. This taught me to always think of others. Being community minded, working with and for others, or looking at others with the attitude of love and kindness can lead to bigger and better things for everyone involved. It embodies “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Knowing that I have been blessed beyond measure, I hope to always remember that “We are all in this together. Each and everyone of us can make a difference by giving back.” (Beyonce).
Happy New Year!
After I retired, I found myself stepping back into a classroom or two for temporary positions; it is easy to see that teaching is a part of who I am. For 32 years, I walked the halls of school buildings as I chatted with children of varying ages while building relationships to better help their experiences in the walls of our classroom. Once we walked into that classroom, we were family.
For 180 days, the state of Tennessee and the parents of each child, trusted me to make bazillions of decisions each and every day for each and every child in that room. From teaching a 13-year-old student to write her name to reading A Christmas Carol to 7th graders, each class was as unique as each child and family that entered my life. I have many, many memories that flood my mind as I write this. I have been reconnected with many students that are now parents, teachers, realtors, or lawyers. They will always be a part of my story, and I hope that they remember a bit of our journey together.
Retirement wasn’t an end for me; it became a new chapter. Moving from molding young minds to diving into the real estate game has been a new and exciting experience, and resolutions became my roadmap through the uncharted territories.
One big resolution? Embracing the learning curve. Every day brings something new – from market trends to the art of negotiation. It’s a reminder that growth happens when we step out of our comfort zones. It’s why one of my hashtags has been #alwayslearning
Then there’s the resolution to foster genuine connections. In education, it was about building relationships, and in real estate, it’s no different. It’s about understanding people’s stories and being a part of their next chapter. Its about drawing on past relationships to forge forward with reconnections and rebuilding. When former students have called to inquire about buying a home, my heart has jumped for joy! Their parents trusted me then, and they put their trust in me now to help them once again.
Balancing work and leisure is another resolution I carry into my retirement days. Taking a breather to enjoy time my grandsons, hiking with my three-legged dog, and visiting with my parents work together to keep my metaphorical cup full. A well-balanced life makes for a better life.
As I look ahead, I’m pumped for the adventures the year holds. Resolutions aren’t just about checking boxes; they’re about savoring the journey. So here’s to new beginnings, genuine connections (and reconnections), and soaking up the life of a Middle Tennessee realtor.
Wishing you all a year filled with growth, joy, and the thrill of chasing your resolutions! Let’s continue to learn and vow to leave no house behind! #alwayslearning #nohouseleftbehind
