Coffee with Candy

Inspire and be inspired
Encourage and be encouraged
Teach and be taught
Bless and be blessed

See how that works? We get what we give!

It's a bit nippy out. 32° in my neck of the woods. But, hey, we'll take it. Its FriYAY!!!! No snow to block our flow in the DMV!! What's the weather like where you are? Wishing you all good energy near and far!

Are you content? Are you favored? Have you been blessed? Has God covered you when you couldn't cover yourself? Has He ever made a way when there was no way? Without delay, let's thank The Giver of all things today!

Do you know when to chill? How to be still? My Aunt Sarah used to remind me all the time. She'd say even a car has to stop for fuel. A car needs maintenance for optimal performance. We make time for oil changes, tune ups, and tire rotations for a reason. Liken yourself to a car. Are you taking care of you? Are you taking time to rest when you're tired? Are you going for your check ups? When you need a quick reset what do you do? What simple thing works for you?

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~ Psalm 46:10 {NIV}

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!!

Listen, there are some things we can't control. Like when a Medicare Advantage Health Plan decides not to service your area any more. Like when your copay goes from zero for a P*P visit (that was wonderful) to $15 (okay that's not too bad) and when an ER visit goes from $50 to $115 (that's a big jump). Not sure what my copay is to visit a specialist now, but in 2025 it was $15 (no complaints there). I'm sure that has gone up too. And when premiums have gone up from $185 to $202.90. Those of us of a certain age know well. Lol! Then when we consider that everything else has gone up too? We have to make the best choices out of the options we have. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying ~ some things are out of our control!

For sure, some things are out of our hands, but remember who's hands you're in. Enjoy your coffee!

For most of us things could be better, but they could also be worse. A whole lot worse. Be thankful for what is. We have today. We woke up. We're in reasonable health. We have shelter and in our right minds. There's beauty all around us. And within.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Phillippians 4:6-7 {NIV}

When Jessie Jackson gave his Keep Hope Alive Speech in 1988 I was fully grown at 31. I thought the saying was simplistic and catchy. It sure sounded good. But as I have matured I realize how profound the saying really is. Hope is a powerful thing. To live without hope is to be defeated. To be conquered. It's throwing the towel in. It's telling yourself that you'll never win. What kind of life is that? Listen, life has given all of us some low blows. Sometimes the journey is dark and long. Can we imagine what life must have been like to a slave? I imagine as horrible as the times were, they had a glimmer of hope that change would come one day. Even in present times, life is not without challenges and pressure. These are some trying times. Personally, socially, and globally. And guess what? We need hope to cope! Hope, I think, is closely related to faith. Hope helps us to keep going even when things seem to be hopeless. Hope helps us to survive. To strive and to thrive. Hope helps us to keep getting up daily and doing the best that we can. No matter what!

Rest in peace, Reverend Jessie Jackson! Thank you for reminding us to keep hope alive!

I read a very interesting article yesterday about aging and friendship. I don't remember who wrote it or what site I saw it on, but it was a good read. The gist was as we age, particularly after retirement, we have to be intentional about investing in friendship. We have to make time to keep up with face-to-face interactions. Often in our younger years our friendships revolve around the people we see at work, at school, or in our neighborhoods. Sometimes those friendships are not emotionally tied, but conveniently tied. Sometimes we may not have things in common with the people we see everyday, but the relationship is formed because we see them regularly, sometimes daily. That's why when we change jobs, move away, etc., those old friendships tend to wane away. The article went on to say that when people retire from jobs they had some 20 or more years working with the same company or group of people they have the hardest time. They miss the "structure" of friendship. In other words the "work tie" was the bond of the relationship. Now that they aren't at work they have all this time but now they feel left out, isolated, forgotten. Here's my 2 cents about it. I've always felt that friendships are important and to be cherished. I've always felt that friends are people who I invite into my personal space and vice versa. My home is an open door for friends. My table is always ready for coffee or tea. Heart-to-hearts are special to me. Talking on the phone and through social media is ok, but a face-to-face is the best way to relate and conversate. Yes I agree, we must be intentional about keeping our friends as we age. Take time to do some inventory. How often do you make time for friends who you genuinely like, who you have things and values in common with and not just because you're conveniently tied? Because truly there is a difference.

Ever reflect on some of the "untruths" you've heard as a child? Like the saying "What you don't know can't hurt you?" Even as a young child I knew that was a big lie. My mom had a child that would always ask questions. I was inquisitive about sayings and the reasons why things were the way they were. The truth is what we don't know can harm us. Even worse, kill us. The problem is sometimes we don't know what we don't know. That's why it's so important to read. Reading truly is fundamental. It would behoove us to even read on things we may not be interested in. We live in the information age. Everything is at our fingertips now. It's also important to talk to people and hear their stories. Everybody you know knows something you don't know about. Life's journey is so different for each of us. We can learn from other people's mountain top experiences and well as the valley lows. Good, bad or indifferent, everybody's got a story. Yeah, they said ignorance is bliss. Remember that one? The truth is knowlege is power. The bible has it put another way. It says in all that we're getting, be sure to get some understanding! Capisce?

Cups up!! Let's rise to the occasion of a brand new day y'all. Clap your hands and stomp your feet cause life is certainly sweet!

But beware! Stay clear of the joy snatchers because they're out there, everywhere. They love to stir up negativity in the atmosphere. Don't let them take you there!