R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Thoughts for R.A.D.I.C.A.L. Women

Well, I'm, off to work on my first Habitat for Humanity! I'm excited about it. I've wanted to do this for a long time and our church is providing workers every Friday in September. It's a great way to shine God's light and a great way to have some fellowship with others who have a heart to help. Maybe we'll even meet some fun, energetic, new friends. I'll write when I get back. Instead of feeling depressed about your divorce, find a good group who is doing something for the good of others and join in. It's great therapy!

Well, I'm back and it was a fantastic, tiring, satisfying day! We met a wonderful lady this morning who's son had recently died of cancer and the man she was help caring for had died as well. We painted the outside of her whole house in three hours. There were 12 of us, and we worked steadily and had it done before noon. We had a break for lunch, and we had lunch at my son's apartment which wasn't far away and then on to another house to help with framing and mainly just clean-up work before some of the other workers could get in. We loaded lumber and supplies in a truck. We unloaded old lumber scraps to a pile in the back. We swept out and cleaned up where another crew had been working. Some did calking around the windows etc. Piper and her family is going to move into that house and she wanted everyone to sign somewhere on the walls their name and a message. She was so thankful for the help. Helping someone else is really good for our hearts. It's good for our bodies, too. But I am so looking forward to a nice, hot bath. A beautiful, young elementary school teacher and librarian said, "I needed to get away from all the standards and tests and requirements of a school day and just do something totally different, totally physical, that really helps someone else. I reminded her that she did that every single day at school, too. She said, "I know that." But both of us will go back to our normal work refreshed and rejuvenated ... even if we are a little sore.

The whole time I worked today, I got to know the people working side by side with me, and not once did I feel disappointed or discouraged or defeated by anything. It was a great, exhausting, day. Try a Habitat for the Heart yourself. It will do you good!