Author: Southern Simple Blessed

It’s a choice to be Humble & Kind!

We used to have on the entrance of our church, “friendly people inside,” it may still be there, I can’t remember since the remodel. I’ve been thinking about that, a lot, with the unfriendly world we live in. We SHOULD have friendly people INSIDE ANY CHURCH, but, we need friendly people OUTSIDE the church too. That may be more important. We need people humble and kind in the store, on the streets and even on social media. It seems people get bold on social media. We need to be careful and mindful of how we treat and talk to people. You never know what someone is going through or has been through and that they may need someone to be friendly to them.

We all have opinions, and not everyone’s is the same, and that’s ok. We are to measure ourselves by the Bible, not other people.

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life…

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:15-16

A smell or fragrance leaves a lasting impression. It can bring back a memory, good or bad, make you think of someone or something.

The sense of smell is my strongest sense. I can smell the slightest thing, a lot of times, before anyone else. I also have allergies to a lot of fragrances and have to take allergy medicine if I come in contact with them. My point, smells (aromas) are potent.

Have you ever smelled something and it took you back to a different time and memory? I can smell a particular fragrance, and it reminds me of someone or someplace. I’ve heard of people holding on to something of someone’s because the smell helps them to remember that person or makes them feel with them.

I love to smell my summer clothes after I’ve used sunscreen, even after they’ve washed I can still smell it.

Aromas can be a good or bad thing.

It doesn’t take much of something that gives off an odor to affect.

Not all smells are good. For instance skunks, you can smell them, especially if they’ve sprayed. Maybe one sprayed one of your animals, or you ran over one on the road. Yuck! It’s hard to get the stinky smell off.

As the aroma of Christ, what fragrance do YOU bring with you?

Lord, please shape my thoughts and actions so people may sense that I have been with You.

Years ago there was a big thing going around WWJD…What Would Jesus Do? It’s something we should think of.  Jesus spoke, and either people believed him or not, he didn’t argue with them. We debate so many things that we can turn people away from God. We leave a bad aroma of Christ with them. Share Jesus with them, be Jesus to them.

How do we give a sweet aroma?

Be like Christ

To be like Christ means we share what people need…HIM

Be Jesus to them!

They need to know Jesus first and foremost.

Be Authentic

Be Consistent 

Palm trees have always been my favorite tree, they stand tall, secure, and are beautiful. I always take lots of photos of palm trees and have lots of palm tree decor throughout my house.  I have several palm plants, and it’s my goal to plant a palm tree in my yard one day.

     The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree… Psalm 92:12

This photo was taken by me in Nassau, Bahamas

Have you ever seen a palm tree in the midst of a storm? It may bend so much that it’s almost touching the ground, but it always comes back up.

I researched palm trees and found that it gets stronger through the storm.  Isn’t it incredible how much wind, rain, tornadoes, and hurricanes that a palm tree can handle? Palm trees have a different root system than most other trees. Instead of the roots tapering and becoming smaller as they grow farther away from the trunk, palm tree roots stay about the same size. These roots can make their way below the dry, shifting sand to find stability where other trees would not. Because they have heavy fonds and trunks, the roots act as both anchors and feeders to sustain their growth.

Unlike most trees that have a woody, dead outer layer, the entire trunk of a palm is alive, allowing it to be very flexible, bending in hurricane-force winds that would break other trees.

Spending time reading God’s Word, fasting and praying – regardless of your circumstances – will give you strong roots in your faith, ready to weather any storm, just like the palm tree. We will come through the storm with a victory.

God said to flourish like a palm tree!

Maybe he is telling us this because He knew we would go through storms in this life.  He wants our roots to go deep in him so when the storms come and try to blow us over or even break us, that we will be like the palm tree, maybe bend some but not break and always come back stronger.

Simply put, we find strength through storms when we know the Word and do not stray from its commands.

Palms tolerate high temperatures, little rainfall, and high winds. Palms can flourish where other trees would wither and die. God promises that we who serve Him will prosper where others will shrink.

The coconut palm is considered one of the ten most useful trees in the world.  It plays a vital role in the economy and food.  Think about all things coconut. Coconut oil, coconut water, etc. the list goes on and on.

I took this photo on a beach in Cozumel, Mexico.

I love the smell of anything coconut; sunscreen, candles, hair products, lotions, too many things to list, not to mention, eating and drinking anything coconut.

I find so many spiritual meanings behind the palm tree! Weathering the storm, growing stronger, producing fruit, anchoring ourselves in him.

I took this photo on a private island in Cozumel, Mexico

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” ‭‭John‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

But a far greater symbolic waving of palm branches occurred when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Not fully aware of the symbolic significance of what they were doing, the people were waving Palm branches in advance of Jesus’ victory over death, sin, and the enemy when He died on the cross and rose from the grave.

The next time you see a Palm tree learn to appreciate the season you are in, even if it’s a stormy one! God is using that storm for your good and the benefit of others, all for His glory! When you go through storms of life, remember the palm tree and how it may bend, but it doesn’t break.

I took this picture sitting on the balcony of my hotel in Galveston, as I watched the wind blow and the storms come. I watched the palms blow and how beautiful and stout they were. It peaked my interest to research the tree, and that sparked this article. I hope you have enjoyed it and will see palm trees differently and know that you will get through your storms in life, stronger.

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts on this.

Enjoying The Simple Life,

💜 Davilyn

We are celebrating 31 years of marriage this month. We got married young, I was 17 and my husband was 20. We had already been together for almost 2 years. There were many that thought we wouldn’t make it because we were so young. We knew we were in love and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

We get asked how do you make it work? This is what has worked for us.

MARRIAGE IS 100/100

You hear so many say 50/50. That’s not it. You ALWAYS have to give it 100%.

DIVORCE IS NOT AN OPTION

We have never used the “D” word, EVER!! I realize that in the heat of the moment, you may want to throw it out there, but don’t give the devil a footstool. Don’t ever make it an option.

MAKE TIME FOR ONE ANOTHER

I know sometimes it’s hard with kids but there are ways to do it. You may have to stay up late or hire a babysitter for a day. So many, after their kids are grown, get divorced because their kids were their marriage and they don’t really know each other. Don’t just be roommates, be soulmates.

YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT

There will always be arguments and disagreements in marriage. Some fights aren’t worth winning or even fighting over. When disagreements do come, stay calm, don’t yell, express yourself and if you have to, walk into another room for a while until you calm down. You may realize it wasn’t anything important after all. A lot of little things can be ignored and really not even an issue after all. Let go of the small stuff. Forgive quickly and don’t keep bringing up things from the past.

COMMUNICATE/COMPROMISE

You are different people and won’t always see eye to eye on everything. You have to compromise and communicate. Tell each other your feelings because you can’t read each other’s mind. Try having them repeat what you have said so that you know how they heard it and if different than what you meant, resolve it. Be sensitive to each other. Listen to each other. Seek to understand each other’s intentions and try to compromise on the issue at hand. Sometimes marriage is giving over your way to what your spouse wants. Selfless not selfish!

DONT TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED

Always recognize what your spouse does and don’t take it for granted. Thank them for all they do.  Let them know that you appreciate what they do for you and your family.

NEVER TALK BAD ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE TO OTHERS

This is so important. Never talk bad about your spouse or put them down.  No one likes to be put down especially in public, to friends, family or anyone. That is so wrong and can be so damaging to a relationship. If you can’t say something good, don’t say anything at all.

LEARN EACH OTHER’S LOVE LANGUAGE

There is a book by Gary Chapman

The Five Love Languages

Everyone needs to read this. It helps so much in any relationship. This is how they feel loved and more than likely how they give love. I encourage you to read the book if you haven’t. Here are the love languages but you really should read the book. There is also a quiz online you can take. You can have more than one but normally one is more dominant.

1. Words of Affirmation

This language uses words to affirm other people

2. Acts of service

For these people, actions speak louder than words.

3.Receiving Gifts

For some people, what makes them feel most loved is to receive and give a gift.

4. Quality Time

This language is all about giving the other person your undivided attention.

5. Physical Touch

To this person, nothing speaks more deeply than appropriate touch.

Rarely will you and your spouse have the same love language but you need to learn each other’s because that is how you fill their love tank.

It’s rare, but it just so happens that my husband and I have the same dominate love language. Quality time! We both have others as well, but that’s our strongest. We love our quality time together, alone. Some may not understand why we like our “alone” time but it’s so important to us. Kind of weird but both of our least love language is gifts. We had rather our “gift” to each other be alone time.

REMEMBER WHY YOU FELL IN LOVE

What attracted you to that person. Think about those qualities. Date each other. Dress up for each other, don’t let yourself go.

MAKE YOUR SPOUSE A PRIORITY

PRAY FOR YOUR SPOUSE

LOVE IS NOT ALWAYS A FEELING

BE FRIENDS

A successful marriage is falling in love many times with the same person.

A man wants to know he is respected and a woman wants to know that she’s loved.

Be those parents who gross your kids out. Show affection for one another in front of your children. Let them know that you love each other.

I want others to see our marriage and KNOW that we love each other!

31 years ago we said, “I do,” and 31 years ago, I THOUGHT I LOVE YOU THEN. As you grow and mature, your marriage grows and matures, and your love grows and matures. I loved him so much when we got married but now it’s so much deeper. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there.

So 31 years, 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law and 6 grandchildren later here we are...Living Our Love Song

I pray that we have many many more blessed years of marriage.

No marriage is perfect, no love story is perfect, but I sure do love ours.

Enjoying the Simple Life,

💜 Davilyn

Disclaimer: I am not a marriage counselor this is my advice only. May contain affiliate links.