Hugs Served Here

Tim's words: "We are a gift to the world." 

The reality: Many don't embrace his view.

Three babies are aborted every day 
due to Down syndrome. 

Of every ten women given a Down Syndrome diagnosis, nine choose to abort their babies. 

The tragic loss of such beautiful individuals not only leaves our world void of their refreshing inner qualities: 

unconditional love, 

     the desire to please, 

          pride in a job well done, 

              sincere empathy, 

selflessness, 

     the voice of truth, 

            and unlimited forgiveness, 

                    but society misses out on the 

best hugs ever! 

And, who couldn't use a hug?

Hugs are proven to . . .

     lower your blood pressure, 

          decrease your risk of heart disease,

lower stress,

     relax muscles, 

           ease depression,

Increase your sense of belonging,

     boost your immune system,

          Improve sleep. 

The result:

More hugs, less drugs

Now it's your turn to "get down."  Do you embrace Tim's view? Are you a hugger? Hugs are a powerful source of healing. Serve up hugs today. Chances are you'll feel better.

Please leave a comment.

Keep your sunny side up,
Starr

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

"What matters is not your outer appearance but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.” ―1 Peter 3:3–4, MSG 

Most of us are familiar with the quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Well, I must confess―I do. As well as canned goods, household products, smartphones, cars, appliances, and just about anything that boasts a price tag. This mindset was etched into me as an advertising design major in college. Our classroom mantra was, “Presentation. Presentation. Presentation.”

In the world of advertising, appearance does matter―big time. The successful sale of a product is dependent on its packaging. It may be a lousy product, but if it is packaged well, it sells. The opposite is also true. A product may be incredible, yet remain on the store shelves due to poor package design. Most of us can attest to this fact, having bought a product that we quickly became dissatisfied with because it simply did not measure up to its outward show.

As for mankind, Scripture is very clear on how we are to present ourselves and on how we are to receive others. Taking wholesome pride in our physical appearance is important, but nurturing our spirit must take priority. Cultivating character not only pleases God, but it shapes our perception and acceptance of others. God looks at the heart, while people judge by the outward appearance. We see this play out daily as society continues to elevate and reward those who are attractive, well educated, and talented, while others are aching for someone to invite them to participate in life.

As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I have seen the heartache of those considered “less than,” as well as their delight when someone reaches out to include them in activities. Those who are willing to invest themselves in socially challenged individuals, regardless of the cause, often discover inner qualities in them that are refreshing: unconditional love, a desire to please, pride in a job well done, sincere empathy, selflessness, the voice of truth, and unlimited forgiveness.

So don’t judge a book by its cover. Take a moment to look inside others. In doing so, you may discover an amazing story―one that God delights in.

This week, look beyond the physical appearance of someone others reject and invite him or her to participate in life. Yours will be enriched. 

Now it's your turn to "get down"! How has your life been enriched by someone who has a disability?

Please leave a comment.

Keep your sunny side up,

Starr