Anam Nostos House Blog

Blessing Bags

Today's 3 Minute Retreat is more of an ACTION STATEMENT for you as the weather begins to change and its importance grows urgently.

There are no two journeys that are identical, no two stories that are alike. We can all be walking side by side down the same road, but our stories will always be unique in nature, circumstance and existence.

I watch the world in all its rawness. It can be a harsh, judgmental, and critical world when you find yourself on the other side of another’s opinion. We see it daily in so many different positions.
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One of the largest problems our world faces today is poverty, hunger and homelessness. The opinions to how individuals get to this point can be often exaggerated and wildly incorrect. I don’t know one person who finds themselves in this situation stating in their childhood that ‘when I grow up, I want to be homeless.’ It is not often a choice.

We must stop looking to the person on the side of the road and scoff, turn our noses up and then spew misinformation about their journey. The bottom line is that they are human, like you and me. They are humbly asking for help. It may not be the way you or I ask for help, but they are asking nonetheless, and I refuse to judge them for that which takes courage or for where their journey has brought them. They are human for it.

My faith community’s youth group created what are called ‘blessings bags’ recently. In these bags one will find small amounts of food and basic needs such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and so on. I have given out two such bags as of late and I will tell you they were received with immense gratitude and a smile. This is something you can do without words or judgement.  So, do a little internet search and make a few bags to keep in your car. Someone’s life will be changed for the better for it.
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When we begin with love, everyone we encounter ends with love.

Check out more 3 Minute Retreats here!

We need to learn to celebrate the stumbles.

They are what are teaching us the greatest lessons and then fulfilling our journey even more by embracing them.

​What stumble do you need to embrace today? ​

​I put this on my kid's bathroom mirror right in eyeshot of their face.
They are forced to ask themselves every day.
I am forced to ask myself every day. Imagine if we all asked ourselves every day…
Who are you choosing to be?’

It has been an ongoing conversation in our house for some time surrounding the world, politics and friends.
Young minds watching the world around them and wondering how are we not asking ourselves that question every day before we speak, act or make choices.
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Something to think about…