Radiant 1

11/09/2024

"The week ahead is a big one, but instead of me talking about it, I decided to post a picture of these bananas. Here's why:
A few days ago, we were headed to our daughter's last cross-country meet. She likes to eat a banana before she runs, but forgot her banana back at her school. She asked if we could stop at the store to get one.
My husband, Scott, went to the store, ran in, and picked up a couple of bananas. He took them to the cashier, who said he owed the store exactly 53 cents.
Scott opened his wallet, but he had only a credit card and a large bill the cashier didn't want to break. Scott said he would run out to the car to get some change from me, but the cashier said, 'Nope. It's okay. I've got this.'
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out exactly 53 cents in change.
And Scott walked out with the paid-for bananas.
Here's why this story is important this week. There are kind and compassionate people everywhere. Even if they don't vote like you. Worship like you. Live like you. Behave like you.
I know 53 cents doesn't seem like that big of a deal. But she could have just rolled her eyes at my husband, clenched her jaw, and demanded he get the change.
But she didn't. She reached into her own pocket.
Maybe you think I'm a simple-minded person, or overly optimistic, but I think when it comes down to it, being good to one another is what's going to keep us all moving forward in times like these.
Every act of kindness, every smile, every kind word. There is no act too small as we share this place called Planet Earth.
There's a good chance people in our neighborhoods, our churches, our workplaces, and even our own families won't vote exactly like we do. We have a choice on how we move forward this week -- with kindness or with hatred.
I will choose kindness."
Credit: Jennifer Dukes Lee ( respect 🫡)

09/14/2024

BOY MOMS
Someone shared this with me and i knew i needed to share it with you. No truer words. Deep breath. Here we go.
You always hear about a girl’s daddy “giving his daughter away” on her wedding day. I had never thought much about the mommas and their sons. But y’all mommas give away something too. Something just as precious. Something I knew I would never get back.
I gave away being the one he hugs and kisses
I gave away being the one he looks for in a crowd
I gave away being the first person he turns to when things get tough
I gave away being the one he makes laugh in the middle of day
I gave away being his number one girl
I gave away a piece of my heart
I gave away my son
Deep down I know he will always love me but I also know he loves her more. He loves her more than his momma and that’s ok. That’s how I knew he had found the one. But isn’t that what we want? We want them to marry a girl who they will put first even if it means we become second.
Mommas,
Love him while you are still first
Kiss his sweet baby face and linger in those lanky teenage hugs
Drive him to school even when he is grumpy and doesn’t say a word to you
Listen when he needs to vent and blow off steam
Love on his friends
Bring the motrin to school for the 100 thousandth time. He may have a headache OR he may just want to get out of class and chat with you for a minute.
Sit next to his hospital bed even though he screwed up
Soak up every minute under those Friday night lights.
Love him, forgive him and forgive yourself for the things you didn’t get right
Because one day, you will give him away....
You will stand and watch him give his heart to the love of his life. You will dance and he will say the sweetest things about who he has become because of you. He will hug you tight and it will feel a little bit like a goodbye. You will become his second best girl and it will be so dang HARD.
Author: Alyssa Becnel

09/12/2024

09/07/2024

One day you will realize that happiness is not what your house looks like, but how you love the people within its walls. Happiness is not finding success by a certain time, but finding something you love so much time itself seems to disappear.
Happiness is not thinking you have earned the world's approval, but waking up each day and feeling so at peace within your own skin, quietly anticipating the day ahead, unconcerned with how you are perceived.
Happiness is not having the best of everything, but the ability to make the best of anything. Happiness is knowing you did what you could with what you were given.
Happiness is not something that comes to us when every problem is solved and all things are perfectly in place, but in the shining silver linings that remind us of the light of day is always there, if we slow down enough to notice.
Brianna Wiest...💎

09/06/2024

In December 1937, during a football match at Stamford Bridge in London between Chelsea Football Club and Chariton Athletic FC, the game was abandoned in the 60th minute due to heavy fog.
Unfortunately, Charlton FC goalkeeper Sam Bartram was unaware that the match had been stopped and continued to guard his goal for another fifteen minutes.
He did not hear the referee's whistle because of the noise from the crowd behind him. Believing that his teammates were attacking the opposing goal, he stood with outstretched arms, fully focused on protecting his goal amidst the dense fog.
It was only fifteen minutes later when the field police approached him and informed him that the match had been abandoned fifteen minutes earlier. Sam Bartram, deeply saddened by this, famously said:
"HOW SAD THAT MY FRIENDS FORGOT ME WHEN I WAS GUARDING THEIR GATE."
Life's game is much like this. We diligently and supportively guard the goals of many around us, but when the situation becomes foggy, some may abandon.
-Author & Photo’s unknown (ctto)