Dear CCPC Family,

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
-James Matthew Barrie

Some days I don't feel like smiling. And when someone asks me how I'm doing, I really want to let it all out. I try not to do that though because I try to remember we all have challenges to face each day. Some are minor and others are catastrophic. I try to remember that a smile and an encouraging word don't take much effort but the gesture can mean so much to a person. Not only that, it can also make a difference in how I feel emotionally and physically.

A couple of years ago at Christmas time, I was listening to National Public Radio and a guest speaker was talking about everyone being immersed in the holiday rush. He talked about observing people at the mall and seeing their intense and harried looks, their fevered pace, and he described the feelings that a person experiences while in that state. We've all felt it. He suggested that by simply reminding yourself that you are not in a hurry and that you have plenty of time (whether you do or not) can change the way you physically feel. So I tried it, and the results were amazing. The beauty of that helpful tip is that it works all year round!

We need to remember that kindness is contagious, just like pessimism can be. We must make a commitment to "Always be a little kinder than necessary," as the author of Peter Pan, James Matthew Barrie, wrote. If we do these things, then we will find "life and honor," as the writer of the Book of Proverbs put it (Proverbs 21:21).

Dear God, help us to pursue righteousness and kindness in all we do,
so that we may find life and honor, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Kristin Eichenberger
Director of Children's Ministry