Let's Keep in Touch

How can we keep in touch?  Might be verbally, in person —  might be written down in an email you send — might be some good stuff you write down that you post to your personal blog which is read by invisible persons.

Who are the important people in your life?  Your mom, dad, siblings — the generation that came before yours, so that includes aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins — the people your work with on your job — some neighbors — possibly friends who lived in the town where you used to live. 

Here’s a short challenge for ONE WEEK.  Try it and see what you think afterwards.

1. Compliment one person today face to face.
2. Compliment one person today in writing.

3. Say something nice about somebody when you talk to somebody else today.

4. Say something nice to one person in your family today. 

5. Order online an animated greeting card of your choice for a person in your family. Take a look here:   www.jacque lawson.com and note the membership fee of $20 for one year.  You can order up any of their cards, as often as you life, to as many people as you like. You can order them up for a year, and you’ll be notified by your email when JL has sent the card. 

      6.  When a holiday is coming real soon buy something  yummy from the grocery store 
             or  bake some of your favorite cookies and take them over to a neighbor. 

       7.  Now you’ve done all these little suggestions for the week.  How do you rate your         
            effort,  your timing, any results you can think of this week.  
            Jot down a few key words to score your own input.

          It's fun to keep in touch !

by Elaine Hardt ©2020

Another Booklet: It's # 100.

        At first I wrote books for parents and kids. You'll find some now on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/140-8384738-5505841?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Elaine+Hardt+books   that people have listed for resale.  And there's one with Kindle on that same page that you can access on line,  Your Discovery, Your Decision.
      Then I found ClickBook on line and saw how easily I could make my own small booklets.   http://www.bluesquirrel.com/products/clickbook/  So with 12 or so pages printed 4 to a piece of paper I made my own booklets to hand out when my husband and I traveled to speak.  Now retired and not traveling I mail booklets and hand them out to friends and family.  Look here at the side for Booklets Published and click to bring up the list.  My latest writing is Number 100. 
       Take a look and then email me for your copy of a booklet you'd like to receive.  The booklets are FREE.  I'd like to encourage you!  

by Elaine Hardt ©2018

Is It Nothing?

We plunge into prayer, as if it’s

nothing.

We sing in our churches, as if it’s

nothing.

We use His name, as if it’s

nothing.

We read the Bible once in awhile, as if it’s

nothing.

Our attitude,

our worship and devotion,

our concern for others,

is it nothing?

Is God a mere man we can snub

or sweet-talk,

depending upon our mood?

Is He

nothing?

By Elaine Hardt ©2004

Someone's Getting on Your Nerves ? ? ?

All of a sudden when the day was going well

Someone opened their mouth and snapped at you,

Or perhaps you heard about it second hand.

What’s a successful person like you to do? 

Maybe it was their long-standing habit

for someone to exaggerate or lie,

and you patiently ignored the problem,

So, now what strategy will you try?

Will you lose your temper like a little kid?

I’d like to encourage you to do better than that.

And maybe that is what you could tell that person,

“I’d like to encourage you to do better than that.”

by Elaine Hardt ©2017

Encouraging YOU, with Something to DO

Who are you encouraging today?  

Might it be important to them?

Is it worthwhile for you to do?

Take a minute to think this through. . . 

Would you just speak some words

that can encourage him or her?

Could you write some good words

so they can read them over again? 

And, here’s the biggie one for you:

is this something that someone could do

and send encouragement to you?

Just consider what those words would do. 

      Should?

            Could?

                 Would!!! 

Yes, of course, I WILL do! 

by Elaine Hardt ©2016

What I Want To Tell You

It was nice — or helpful

It was requested — or unexpected

It was lengthy  — or short and to the point

I’m describing those words you said to me,  

— or  you wrote down and sent to me

Thanks for thinking of me.

By Elaine Hardt ©2016

One Stranger to Another

   Clad in a thin, red-flannel shirt and well-worn jeans the stranger looked like he’d fit right in with the regulars at Mom’s Café.  Marcie, scanning his tanned face and tired blue eyes asked, “Can I seat you at the counter or would you like that booth back in the corner?”

   The man gestured towards the back and was soon sitting alone with a steaming cup of coffee.  Apparently he didn’t want to fit right in.  

   During the next hour Marcie checked on him several times, but he was a man of few words.  He nursed another cup of coffee thoughtfully.

   Against the radio’s background music and the muted conversation of customers in front the man looked up as Marcie came over again, carrying a tray.

   “The cook sends over a complimentary cup of the soup he’s making for lunch.  See if he’s got the seasoning right or not.” She added with a smile, “Back in a little bit.” 

   Soon the place had nearly cleared out, breakfast concluded and the work day begun in the small farming town. Seemingly, everyone had something to do, except for the man in the back booth. 

   Marcie glided across the floor with the ever-present coffee carafe. “How was the soup?”  She filled the empty cup.  “We’re a friendly town…”

    “Good.  Thanks.  As a matter of fact, I’m just traveling through and ….”

   “Do you have a minute?” here Marcie allowed the briefest pause before plunging ahead, “You remind me of a very nice man, and I hope you don’t mind if I chat before things get busy in here again.”

   “Why, thank you, young lady.  As a matter of fact, maybe some talk of the crops or weather will take my mind off what’s been stewing on the back burner.”

Confidence? Right? Right!

“Let me be in the right place, at the right time,

and say the right words to the right person.”

This is a personal conversation with my Maker

that removes fear, doubt, anger, confusion.