It has been a while since I have written. Every day I think of something I would like to say, but then something else happens to throw me in another direction.
In these crazy days we are in, I think the most important thing that we can do is to show others that they are thought of and that we care. While we are social distancing and staying away from each other, I have been moved by the caring phone calls, texts, cards, and emails that I have received. Staying in touch is so important for both the recipient and the one who initiates the communication.
I know when I have checked on family and friends, it makes me focus on caring for someone. I feel like I am doing something positive, and that is good for me!
When someone reaches out to me, it touches my heart to know someone is thinking of me. Thank you to many of you who have done just that.
Kindness is a most honorable trait. I love kind people. Emotions are all over the board, and when we can encourage one another it goes a long way in making it through these long days of being alone.
Do you find yourself becoming a bit down? Then, please, reach out to someone. Everyone reacts differently to our situations. Some days I feel I am so anxious about everything. Everyone seems to be on edge, and just the little things turn into big things so quickly. Other days I feel isolated and long for the life we had before of enjoying people and hugging friends.
Today, let’s commit to reach out to one person a day just to say hello and that they are missed. It will change their outlook on the day. I have one friend who will call and say, “I just need to vent!” and I listen to the things that concern her. Most of time people just need to share a burden or something that is troubling them. Other friends call to say how bad their hair looks or how they don’t put on makeup like usual! I can relate to that, too.
Look up and pray. Look around and love. Look to the future with hope.
Now abideth faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)
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What a wonderful words with those lovely flowers.
Dear Phyllis,
Thank you for your thoughtful, encouraging words. It is hard to believe it has been almost a month that you sent this and just now I have time to comment. The days may seem slow, but the weeks are speeding by like a train out of control. That aside, this is a time we can take time to be quiet with God instead of slogging home in traffic.
It is also a time we can get creative about keeping in touch with friends and family. I like to send handmade cards and little surprise packages. And we have a lot of fun catching up with online meetings (there are a lot of different programs for that now), phone calls and texts, and also social media. So while we are physically apart, we are not socially apart. Whomever came up with that phrase “social distancing” misnamed it.
Praying for all those whose loved ones are isolated from them due to illness, age or distance. May you be comforted by God’s love for you.
Bless you for those insightful and constructive thoughts, Phyllis dear. You always seem to find the perfect phrase. I trust that we will return to “normalcy” more wise, more kind and more understanding as we emerge from this pandemic. It has taught us of our
need for one another and that the great solution to the solitude is to make a positive difference in the life of another.. Our Lord taught this by His life example as a gift to
us all.
Hi, just discovered you in my issue of Cottage Home Style. Was more than delighted to see your bible reference. Our leaning in on the Lord is most important for strength on these abnormal days. Not sure how to subscribe to the ribbons journal!?
Hi Eileen,
If you haven’t already, just scroll up on this page. On the upper right there is a place for you to enter your email and subscribe to the Ribbons blog.
I was delighted to see your latest post — and encouraged to read your thoughts and those of our Ribbon Friends about remaining connected even amid the chaos.
May God keep each of you and yours safe and well…
Phyllis, Opened your e-mail and my feel good moment was seeing that beautiful floral arrangement next to your beautiful smiling face, that made my day! Like an ole friend,
if your OK then I’m OK…..along with all of your other followers…and guess what we are all self distancing from each other! Let our fingers do the talking…God Bless you made my day!
California Carmel
Hello Everyone,
Thank you Phyllis for encouraging us all to reach out to someone, it’s a gift that repays with loving kindnesses. I would like tDoo share with you all something you may choose to look into. It’s a way to reach out and also be a part. Please take a look at Jonahan Cahn, THE RETURN, at TheReturn.org . May we all continue to pray and see the love in each movement. May God Bless all of you and our great County, The USA.
Thank You Phyllis for this lovely and uplifting post. You always are so inspiring with your posts. We always do our best to be kind and supportive to others. God Bless you and yours.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
It was so nice to read another one of your Ribbon In My Journal posts.
I’ve missed them a lot.
In these uncertain times we are in I often see what needs doing or who needs help and then spend some time just making somebody’s life a little easier.
My Mother used to say Be The Sunshine in Someone’s Else’s Cloud.
Or do a simple act of kindness everyday. This works for me.
Some days are rougher than others, but, most days are good.
I don’t think we’ll ever get back to the way all of our lives were. We’ll just have to adjust ourselves to a new normal.
I have a roof over my head, food to eat, money to pay bills and a belief that at some point better days are ahead. It just might take awhile to get there.
Thank you Phyllis for those wonderful words. I was quite worried when I didn’t see any posts from you on the Ribbon but I understand. I too try to stay connected with friends via phone calls, emails, texts, and video chats to see how all my friends and family are doing. There has never been a time like this before and we must truly be kind not to just to others ,but ourselves as well. We are all doing the best we can under extraordinary circumstances. The other day I saw a sign in front of one of our local churches that said:Look only at the step in front of you and not the whole staircase. I am trying to live by those words and appreciate fully every day as it comes, for not every day may be good but there is some good in every day.
Dear Phyllis, I have missed your uplifting blog posts! Thank you for today’s message. You are so right; we are up and down and sometimes even inside out right now! My husband is having a heart procedure soon and I won’t even be allowed to be with him in his hospital room. Whoever would have thought this was even possible? But we will get through this eventually. I try to count every blessing, and am comforted every time I receive one of your magazines. Southern Home and Southern Lady are my favorites. I especially enjoyed seeing pictures of your home in Southern Home. Have a lovely weekend.
Hi Barbara,
Sanity Savers, ICU and ReHab:
Will be praying for you as a daughter just was in the hospital for about two weeks due to a combination of heart and other problems that created a need for rehab for another almost two weeks.l
She was sent to the hospital for an asthma attack, and since I am close to 80 years old and risk of a virus, my other daughter took her to emergency only to have her admitted and I could not see her.
The next morning, due to her critical state we were allowed to visit with her for the rest of her care, but when she was transferred to rehab, we could not. This was extremely distressful, but having a computer tablet really helped as the nurses were very helpful and my daughter and we were delighted to see and talk to each other.
If you do decide to use a “computer tablet” do suggest, use very simple ones as it takes time to focus after surgery
God bless,
Thank you, Edna. I appreciate your suggestion and prayers. I will say a prayer for your daughter, too. Blessings.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Phyllis, and also for closing with a verse of scripture. Even though things look gloomy at times, God is still in control and will work out all things to our good and His glory.
It’s good to see you here again. Thank you, Phyllis, for your timely post with that gorgeous floral photo — my eyes feast on such a lovely colour combination. Over the months, I’ve being doing my best to stay in touch with family and friends, and I have also had the joy of being at the receiving end of lovely people, including my online friends, reaching out to me. Our world truly is more beautiful when we do that for each other, especially in this troubled times.
I love this line you shared: ‘Look up and pray. Look around and love. Look to the future with hope.’
Wishing you a beautiful August. Stay safe and well.
Brenda from Canada
You have such a wonderful way with words, and I especially appreciate how well you stated all the emotions I have been feeling during these uncertain times. Thank you. Also I want you to know I have nearly every Victoria magazine from its beginning. My mom introduced me to Victoria and I have her copies too. It is such a get away and time of peace to take time each day to look at the beautiful pages, travels, and remember better days while we look to the future with hope. Thank you
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reaching out to us. Your words were a gentle reminder that I need to reach out to a friend. We were to have lunch in late March, but of course, that was postponed. This has been a mentally and emotionally trying time for so many of us. We need to keep in touch now more than ever.
Dear Phyllis,
Since the pandemic I feel that I need an attitude adjustment.Your words were so appropriate and the compassion I need.
Thank you.
Diane
Dear Phyllis
As I have entered the purging stage of my life, I realize that I have saved every issue of Victoria from the very first up to and including the current issue. I have loved and reread them, but it is time to pass them on to someone else to treasure. I live in the Midwest near St Louis and do not wish to sell them but would love to give them a new home. Any ideas?
Thank you!
Betty
Think of women who are Special to you, like mother, sisters, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, ladies at church, store clerks, etc. Loosely roll one of your magazines and tie a pretty ribbon around it. Perhaps attach a brief note of encouragement for the recipient. Call ahead, then deliver the magazine to the recipient and place it at her front door. (Or ask the clerk if she would like a magazine.) You will be blessed.
Absolutely perfect for our trying time.
I seem to listen, often, to an old hippie song from the seventies., Get Together
by The Youngbloods. 50 years later and the lyrics are still wonderful.
Excellent! Thank you. Please stay safe. It’s ALL in the Lord’s hands.
Thank you, Phyllis, for taking time to share your heart with us. I miss “hearing” from you; I really needed your words of encouragement today. Daily, I seem to be riding waves of sadness or disappointment, mostly due to the pandemic changing what we knew as normal. Years ago, a dear friend told me that every disappointment is an appointment with GOD. So I press in to GOD. Then I think, if I’m feeling down about something, maybe someone else is, too. So I call or text someone to encourage her. Friends do the same for me. We need each other now more than ever. I hope you and your family are staying well and experiencing the LORD’s mercies every day.