Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

Pay It Forward

Dr. Tammi Love participated in a local flower shop’s Petal it Forward tradition.

Last week, I participated in a local flower shop’s beautiful tradition of spreading kindness — Petal It Forward. The shop’s owner reached out to our café, which my husband and I co-own with another couple, and invited us to take part. She provided a bucket of flowers for customers to pick two — one to keep and one to share with someone else.

Throughout the day, it was heartwarming to hear how people planned to share their extra flower. Children said they would give theirs to a teacher. Others mentioned a parent, a friend, or a coworker they wanted to surprise. Listening to their intentions to pay it forward recharged my hope in humankind — a hope that, I’m learning, requires daily pursuit and a renewed mindset. Acts of kindness are made possible when someone chooses the courage to do something decent — to pay kindness forward, pay courage forward, and pay decency forward.

The rat race of our daily rituals can easily sweep us into a whirlwind of unfeeling and exhausting tasks — unproductive meetings, passive-aggressive emails, and endless chatter about who said what. But fearless acts of kindness, no matter how small, have the power to reset our perspective and remind us of what truly matters. The impact grows when someone takes the goodness they’ve received and passes it on. That goodness gives and gives until, suddenly, our homes, schools, workplaces, communities, houses of worship, businesses, and even governments are transformed by courageous, radical kindness.

While we may not always have something physical to pass along, we can still commit to the thought of paying it forward. In Scripture, a Samaritan woman shared the good news about Jesus after receiving it from Jesus Himself. He told her everything about her life and revealed that He was indeed the Messiah:

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ They came out of the town and made their way toward him… Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’
— John 4:28–30, 39

Last week, I was able to pay patience forward. On my life’s journey, I strive to pay love forward — because God saw it necessary to be both patient and loving with me. And that is what truly matters. What will you pay forward today?

Be well y’all, and much love.

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

I Don’t Mind Waiting

The evidence of an effective Christian leader or an eager follower of Christ practicing their faith is one who waits on the Lord. Waiting isn’t a nuisance for them. It isn’t a waste of their time. Waiting on God is the best strategy for a Christian to get what he or she desperately wants – an answer from God. Whatever that answer may be, a Christian doesn’t mind waiting on the Lord.

Only God delivers answers to difficult questions man usually fumbles with temporary fixes. Only God closes doors to reveal promise in open windows. And only God orchestrates seasons of tribulation to be the birthing ground for breakthroughs. God sees the bigger picture. That fact has to be a remarkable game-changer for Christians. It has to make a difference when struggling with defining moments to trust God or man. 

The lost man or woman relies on seemingly clever tactics, innovations, and networking maneuvers amidst uncertainty. However, the re-born follower of Christ counts on and respects the beauty of waiting on and trusting God. Waiting is a sacred experience of expectation that reveals God’s magnificence, His rebuke, His love, and His instruction. Most of all, our waiting on God activates a renewal in our faith walk, a revival of our calling, and restoration of our zeal to obey Him. This perpetual rebirth is enough to allow us to run on just a little while longer, trusting everything will be alright.

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:3

Posted on by Dr. Tammi Love

A Renewed Life!

Some things need to be said, again and again. “We’re not promised tomorrow.” These words can cut deep in hindsight and in pressing through. However, these words are lived, rather than mourned, when we embrace the “right now” moment God is allowing us to experience, for what will later be revealed as gathered parts of a whole that will all work together for our good (Romans 8:28).

We are inundated with reminders in our news, communities and families that indeed tomorrow is not promised. Yet, we must fight the urge to feel helpless or hopeless. We must succumb to a “a-ha” moment that illuminates a “yes”, eyes wide open, to a new perspective of our present moments. The Bible reminds in Romans 12:2 that a new perspective is a transformation, a renewing of the mind that allows us to figure out what God’s will is – what is good and pleasing and mature (Common English Bible).

Love more and despise less. Look to the sidelines rather than the spotlight. Walk in the beauty that is your story and refuse to wallow in comparisons. Run toward the weary, the mistreated and left behind. And resist the adversary in all of its forms of deception and hostility. Let’s run our race like God is watching. Let’s run our race like our tomorrow depends on it.