May Your Personal Space Reflect Christian Love

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “May Your Personal Space Reflect Christian Love”

 

 

 

Copyright 2017. Linda Martin Andersen

 

Three feet is often stated as the distance most people prefer to stand from someone else.  This distance is called “personal space.” Name ways you reflect Christian love while standing at a distance and talking to someone.  One example:  smile.

I try to reflect Christian love when I speak with someone.  I know I’m not perfect, so I’m sure my posture and mannerisms do not always seem as warm and friendly as they should.  I will strive to do better.

Another example of a personal space that can reflect Christian love could be your bedroom, your car, etc.  One personal space in my home is the sunporch where I often read and study God’s word.  After this room was remodeled, I had two blank walls to decorate.  I selected a Christian theme for this personal space.  Photos below reveals that one wall is decorated with bird items and the other with flowers. Why? Jesus teaches that God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and he also cares for us.  Scripture:  Matthew 6: 25-34. By choosing to decorate my sunporch with this theme, my personal space reflects Christian love. I enjoy spending time in this space.

Discuss personal space and Christian love with your parents!  Perhaps you can work on a Christian themed decorating project as a family.

Copyright 2017. Linda Martin Andersen

Copyright 2017. Linda Martin Andersen

Writing Prompts: 

1. How does your personal space reflect Christian love? (your posture and mannerisms)
2. How does a personal space in your home or car reflect Christian love?
3. What could you write or draw to display to reflect your Christian love?
4. What scripture passage(s) would you like to use to reflect a Christian theme?
5. Name a family project that could reflect a Christian theme in your home.

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Your Thankfulness Rubs Off on Others

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “Your Thoughtfulness Rubs Off on Others” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

 

 

Linda Martin Andersen. Copyright 2017.

I saw four turkeys in my backyard last week.  Oops, it’s turkey season.  I hope no hunters are reading this.  Turkeys, Thanksgiving, and giving thanks go together, but I’d like to encourage you to think of thankfulness all year long.  I’m convinced your thankfulness rubs off on others. 

What does the expression “rubs off on others” mean? Check here for clarification:  http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/rub-off

An example:  A bad mood can rub off on you, but so can a good one, especially when the person shares their thankfulness.

Recently, I spoke to an employee at the gym I attend.  When I asked her how she was doing she said, “I am thankful.” When I asked her to say more, she said she was thankful for every day.  Just hearing her thankfulness made me feel a little more joyful.  In other words, her thankfulness was rubbing off on me.  The next thing I know I was writing a blog post about thankfulness.

Another place I’ve observed thankfulness was on Facebook.  Yes, Facebook.   Someone who was sick posted pictures and updates about kind deeds received.  Two examples:  There was photo of a meal brought to the home and words of thanks.  There were also post updates giving thanks for errands run, a chore completed anonymously, and other acts of kindnesses.  These posts and photos could be seen by friends other than the person responsible.  Posting such thoughts on social media could cause thankfulness to rub off on even more people.  That’s pretty amazing!  I wonder if Facebook predicted this positive influence?   It’s another version of a thank you note and it’s one that many can read and comment on.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic of thankfulness.  If you’re a parent with children at home, I hope you’ll use this post as a springboard for family discussions.  If you’re an educator, brainstorm writing prompts or teach lessons on friendship and courtesy.

Here are a few sample writing prompts:

1.  Name a time when someone’s actions or attitude rubbed off on you.
2.  What examples of thankfulness have you seen today or within the last week?
3.  Name a special way you show your thankfulness.  Give a specific example of when you’ve done this.

I look forward to your comments!

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

 

 

This week, I posted on Facebook that I intended to reduce my online presence.  I felt I was spending too much time there.  Shortly after that, I noticed a sticker on the front page of my day old newspaper.  A photo of the sticker is below.  This sticker is another  reminder of “getting our priorities straight.”  Saying that and doing that are two different things.

Sticker created by Army Community Services (ACS)

 

Create your own Writing Prompts or ideas for Family Discussions based on this subject:

Samples:

1. What does it mean to get your priorities straight?
2. What makes this poster/sticker an example of getting your priorities straight?
3. Who do you trust to help you get your priorities straight?  How can this person help?
4. How do you go about getting and keeping your priorities straight?
5.  Saying that you are going to get your priorities straight and actually so are two different things.  What does this statement mean?
6. What priorities do you need to evaluate or re-evaluate in your life?  Who can help you with this?
7. What are good ways to keep communication open in families or with friends?
8. What are some ways to practice safe communication?
9. Does your family have rules about texting, talking on the phone, etc?
10. What do you imagine the child in this photo might be thinking or feeling?  Do you think she will tell anyone?  Why or why not?

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

My Christian Walk

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “My Christian Walk” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

 

 

Copyright 2017. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster template from Quozio.com

Create your own Writing Prompts inspired by the poster above:

Sample prompts:

1. Name a person or situation that made a positive influence on your life.
2. Tell about your Christian Walk.
3. Name three or more people you admire.  Tell why.

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Life with Beauty

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “Life with Beauty” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2017. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster template from Quozio.com

 

Create your own Writing Prompts using words from the poster above:  believe, hang, and through.

Sample prompts:

1. I believe in…
2. Hang on to faith.  Hanging in there…
3. Ways to go through life

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Look for Joy

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart  “Look for Joy” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

Poster created at http://quozio.com/index.aspx

Last week, I shared a blog post about joy.  Check it out:  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/nothing-says-joy-in-the-morning-like/

I write lists, mostly To Do Lists.  Whether you do or not, I have a different list suggestion.  Record your joys.  List them throughout the day.  A To Do List helps keep you organized.  A list of joys helps keep you positive. 

Yes, I’m suggesting keeping a Joy Journal.  Suggestions on how to begin:

• Divide your day into segments such as Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. 
• Name a joy from one or more of these time periods.  Small things count, such as seeing a hummingbird or getting a call from a friend.  Before long, your Joy Journal list may outgrow your To Do List. 
• Give thanks for joy in your life. 

Do you have a joy you’d like to share here?  I’ll start:

Joy Journal List from a recent morning:  1.  Created and shared this blog post and poster about looking for joy.  2.  Spoke with my son on the phone.  3….

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

Inspired to Create a Poster

 

A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart

“Inspired to Create a Poster,” by Linda Martin Andersen

Today, I read a note that inspired me to create a poster.  What has inspired you today?

 

 

 

Copyright 2016. Linda Martin Andersen

 

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

I Love You, Blog Followers

  “I Love You, Blog Followers,” by Linda Martin Andersen

Trying new things is fun.  In January, I accepted a blog challenge to jot something down each day and post it.  This was organized by Linda G. Hill.

http://lindaghill.com/category/just-jot-it-january-2016/

I don’t know how people create blog posts every day of the year, but evidently a good many do.  The first one I remember meeting was Joy Acey at “Poetry for Kids Joy”who posts an original poem a day.  See here:

http://poetryforkidsjoy.blogspot.com/2016_02_01_archive.html

Thanks to reading blog posts I had never visited before,  I recently added additional blog followers.  I wanted to show my appreciation to them,  to my loyal followers for several years, and all those inbetween.  This is for you:

Just Jot It January #18–Writer’s Humor

 

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.”

Just Jot It January #18–Writer’s Humor

I accepted a challenge for January: Just jot a note and submit.  I can’t participate every remaining day this month, but I will join in when I can.

I decided to create a theme to write about:

Today, I celebrate a writer’s humor.  Enjoy.

Linda Martin Andersen. Copyright 2016.

Writing Prompts:

1. Write a riddle about writing.
2. Write a riddle about the alphabet.
3. Write a riddle about writing and the alphabet.

Visit http://lindaghill.com/2015/12/31/just-jot-it-january-2016-rules/ for details about Just Jot It January and to comment on other participants’ posts.

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment.  I’d love to hear what you’re celebrating today.  Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!

A Gift for You–To be Encouraged…

  “A Writer’s Playground” –A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.”

“A Gift for You–To Be Encouraged…” by Linda Martin Andersen

Love quotes?  Try writing your own!

Here’s my latest–

Copyright 2015. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster made at Quozio.com

 

Other posters I created in 2015:

Copyright 2015. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster at Quozio.com

Copyright 2015. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster at Quozio.com

 

 

Copyright 2015. Linda Martin Andersen. Poster at Quozio.com

 

Suggested Activity:  Do you have favorite family quotes you’d like to record for all time?  Why not design a poster in honor or memory of that person?  See:  http://quozio.com/

Or you can weave a family quote into a story.  What a great family treasure that would make and a terrific gift too!  Have fun!  And perhaps it will become a legacy.  See “legacy” here:  http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/legacy

Need some inspiration before writing your own quotes?  Check the internet for quotes.  Here’s one suggested site:  http://www.brainyquote.com/

Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.”  I look forward to your comments.  Please remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them.  For more fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thank you!