“Just learning to think in another language allows you to see your own culture in a better viewpoint.”
- Gates McFadden

On Dependable Damsels

I met a long lost friend yesterday evening in Mumbai.
She has not changed.
Yes, she has grown in years, got married, and her roles at work have tripled. However, she remains the same person I first met four years ago. If I were to describe her in one word, the word would be "dependable." Her thoughts, words, and actions seem to be well coordinated and always.
For example, if she thought about helping a person, she would let the person know, and all her consecutive actions would be such that the person was indeed helped. She is humane and a blessing, but yes, she also does make a personified version of the word.

So what qualifies a person as dependable?
Well, that depends. Accountable, committed, consistent, faithful, responsible, truthful, and trustful are some of the traits that I can think of that did encourage me to depend on her.
Dependable people are honest. I am certain that if my friend was reading this post, she would let me know that some of the traits I have listed above may not apply to her.
Dependable people are warm. Although the place where we met had air conditioning, I was still sweating!
Dependable people have a wonderful sense of humor that perhaps helps them take difficult situations in their stride.
Finally, the best quality of dependable people is that they do not change. They simply get better!

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29) 

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Slow Me Down

Slow me down, Lord, I'm going too fast.

I can't see my brother when he's walking past.

I miss a lot of good things day by day;

I don't know a blessing when it comes my way.

Slow me down, Lord, I want to see

More of the things that are good for me.

A little less of me and a little more of you,

I want the heavenly atmosphere to trickle through.

Let me help a brother when the going is rough.

When folks work together life isn't so tough.

Slow me down, Lord, so I can talk

With some of your angels. Slow me down to a walk.

A Word

A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instil;
A brutal word may smite and kill.

A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." 
- Mother Teresa

Our Lady

This picture of Our Lady was drawn by a mystic in Italy. Her hand was guided by Our Lady. There is a special blessing given each day to the person who carries it, and another blessing given each time one looks at it with love. 

Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People

Thou art the Ruler of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy Name rouses the hearts
Of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat, and Maratha,
Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
Mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges
And is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for Thy blessings and sing Thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in Thy Hand,
Thou Dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to Thee.

Rabindranath Tagore