The Life You Can Save

If you're looking for a way to make a difference today, check out this effort by Peter Singer, author of the book, "The Life You Can Save."

Publishers Weekly describes the book this way, "Part plea, part manifesto, part handbook, this short and surprisingly compelling book sets out to answer two difficult questions: why people in affluent countries should donate money to fight global poverty and how much each should give...Singer doesn't ask readers to choose between asceticism and self-indulgence; his solution can be found in the middle, and it is reasonable and rewarding for all."

Take the pledge to donate 1% of your income to charity at http://thelifeyoucansave.com/.

I hope you have a beautiful day ladies and gentlemen. You are in my prayers XOXOX, Cheeky

John 3:8

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Love and Laughter after 60 Years

This morning I came across this cute little story about the friendship between a couple who've been married 60 years. The husband has Alzheimer's now.

"The Gottliebs recorded their story in Los Angeles as part of the StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative." (npr.org)

To listen to their interview click on this link and then click on the Red "Listen Now" button at the top of the article. It's sweet to hear their voices and how they giggle together.

Do you find laughter useful when dealing with stressful situations? If so, please share. I'd love to hear from you today.

I pray that you have a beautiful day, ladies and gentlemen.
xox, Cheeky

Image courtesy of StoryCorps.

Friends Make Us Better

"Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another." -Eustace Budgell

Thank God for friends who light our world with peace, love, honesty, acceptance, and compassion. Friendship is a beautiful thing.

You are in my prayers today. xoxo, Cheeky

Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life

In 1994, Anne Lamott's book, "Bird by Bird...Some Instructions on Writing and Life" was published.

I have no idea how she managed to record so many of my unique thoughts and feelings about writing. Or how she made them sound way more articulate than I ever could. I mean, back then, she didn't even know me.

Actually...there's a 99.999% chance she never will (ever the optimist I just can't bring myself to type 1-0-0-%). But after reading 150 pages of "Bird by Bird," I feel like I know some pretty important things about her. And THAT (to me), is a sign of a really great book.

One of my favorite things about her writing is the compassion and humor it conveys. I also love that Lamott is a Christian. And am secretly pleased to see swear words in a book written by someone who calls herself "born-again." I know this is not good.

One of my favorite lines is from the chapter titled "Index Cards:"

"I like to think that Henry James said his classic line, 'A writer is someone on whom nothing is lost,' while looking for his glasses, and that they were on top of his head." (Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird, Anchor Books, 1994)

Isn't that great? What good books have you been recommending lately?

Thank God for books. I pray that you have a blessed Monday, ladies and gentlemen. xoxox, Cheeky

NOTE: Image from PBS.

Romans 8:38-39

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39