Leslie's Little Devotional

           “Today I will focus on responding with gentleness, kindness & love rather than responding in turn to unkind or harsh words” is my current Facebook status. Even as I hit the “post” button to display my words, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Part of me posted it as a declaration to the enemy to let him know I was on to his schemes and wasn’t going to take the bait. Yet, another part of me wondered if going public with my plan was just an invitation for trouble.   Whatever the case, I put my battle cry out there for the world to see.           Evidentially, I am not alone in my struggle. Shortly after I posted my Facebook status, several of my friends “liked” my status and commented. One friend wished me well and reminded me it would be a battle because there are a lot of difficult people out there. He was absolutely right. Another friend opened her heart and shared that she...

             It’s that time of year. The Christmas trees lay at the curb, toppled to their side, awaiting pickup. The few stray strands of tinsel wave in the cold January wind. Inside homes every trace of Christmas has been boxed and neatly packed away for another year. The cookies we’ve eaten are now part of the reason for the resolution we’ve made. The mailbox once filled with greeting cards and letters is now filled with bills. The gifts that held brightly wrapped secrets have all been opened and used or returned. The events of the season have now become another Christmas Past. With a turn of the calendar the celebration has ceased.             January enters and the cold nights seem longer now that they aren’t lit by candles and Christmas lights.   The snowflakes that once added charm become a burden to remove. Friends and family gather less often.   It’s no won...