The Prodigal Daughter Returns

While the bus was approaching from a distance, an elderly man asked this woman to go ahead in front of him, but she declined. He asked me to go ahead in front of him and I told him he could go ahead as he was carrying shopping bags. "You ladies are strange," he said. "You don't seem to like gentlemanly behaviour." "Oh, yes, I do!" I said. "I'm from the older generation who appreciates when a man gives up a seat for her." "That's good to hear," he said. He told me he was 86 years old and he looked in very good form. When the bus arrived, the gentleman insisted that I go ahead of him. I was happy to oblige. In my reality, chivalry is very much alive.  Another word for chivalry is kindness. ❤️

I was chatting to a work colleague, a fellow Christian,  about the Holy Spirit.   I said after I snapped at another colleague, I felt so bad about it. After we finished work I went up to my colleague and apologised for the way I had spoken to her. She said she was only trying to help and I acknowledged her good intention. We then exchanged hugs. My Christian colleague said I had basically grieved the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 30) by the way I had spoken to my colleague and He had inspired me to apologise. I agreed with her. My friend said she has also had a similar experience of grieving.the Holy Spirit by her behaviour and He had spoken to her about it. Thank you,  Holy Spirit, for being my constant Guide and Helper. ❤️ ----- Related Bible verse "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, ten...

When the bus arrived, we all queued up to get on. This man in front beckoned to this woman to go in front of him. The woman then beckoned to me to go ahead of her, but I insisted she get on in front of me. I believe what I had observed was Love in action. Imagine what the world would be like if we all put each others' needs first! ❤️  ---- "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7, NIV

On the way to work, I was thinking how polite city workers are.   When I got off the train, everyone walked orderly towards the escalator. There was no pushing or shoving, we all queued up and let each other on. I had to catch another train which was packed full. This man offered me his seat. I was really grateful to him. It's so good to travel with people who are kind and considerate. ❤️

When our bus arrived, I stood back to let this guy, who had been at the bus stop before me, enter first.   He said, "ladies first" and beckoned for me to enter the bus. I sad thank you. Two days ago, I was lamenting to a male work colleague about the lack of chivalry among younger men. It's good to meet a young man who believes in "ladies first." ❤️ Image courtesy of Google Images

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3: 13-14 ---- Last week while I was at a costume fitting, I chatted to a fellow supporting artist (SA) who I recognised from some previous shoot(s) that I can't even remember now. 😀 When he told me where he lived, I said I had been working at a school in that area and I didn't live that far. I asked him if he could give me a lift to the next fitting, which was out of London. We didn't finish the conversation as he got called in to de-rig (take costume off). After I got de-rig, I got on the minibus to the local train station. When I received confirmation for the fitting out of London, I decided as I've never been to that area before, I would get there early and explore the ...

So I was working at this class,  where the kids are aged between 5 and 6. There was this girl who I found rude. So I told her to say "please" next time and reminded her that in this school we are kind to each other. Later, while the kids were getting ready to go home, the same girl came over to me and said, "Miss, I have just helped X, but he hasn't used his manners!" I went to the boy she was referring to and asked him to say "thank you" to her, which he did bashfully. I do find it interesting how the girl sees manners as something that can be used. I guess she was thinking, if Miss expects her to use her manners, she expects others to use theirs too. 😀

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16: 11 ---- Usually, when I get on the bus and if it's a long journey, I like sitting upstairs right in front. If it's the New Routemaster bus (see photo), I like to sit upstairs either right in front or right at the back. When I got on the New Routemaster bus, I saw someone was already sitting at the back, but the seats in front were vacant so I sat on the window seat on the left. A man got on and sat on the opposite window seat on the right. I then heard some people getting up the stairs and sat behind me. They were chatting in a European language. That's all I need, people chatting behind me! A woman came and sat next to me. She smiled and said hello. "Hello!" I said. "You look happy!" "I'm a tourist" she smiled. "Ha, no wonder!" I chuckled. It was then I realised she was part of the g...

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5: 22-23 ---- During another bus journey, this woman sat next to me. I had to keep adjusting my arm as her arm was squashing mine and I was feeling very uncomfortable. She also couldn't control her body and kept leaning agsinst me whenever the bus changed directions. I prayed for her to get off, but she stayed put. As there were now empty seats, I asked for her to move to an empty seat. Not happening! Maybe, I can ask her how far she's travelling. If she's going all the way like me, I could ask her to move to an empty seat. Not a good idea as she might be offended. I then had the idea to swap seats. So I moved downstairs where there were now empty seats and remained there till the last stop. Thank you, God, for showing me how to be kind in an uncomfortable situation. ❤️

On the tube, I noticed everyone in the carriage looked thirty or younger. I must have been the oldest person there but no one offered me a seat. I only got a seat when passengers got off. When I changed to another line, the passengers were a mixed bag. One guy, around my age, even offered me a seat. I told him it was refreshing to have a man offer a lady a seat these days. While I was getting off the tube, he wished me a nice weekend. Thank God chivalry isn't dead!

 It was nice to see kindness on the tube this evening. I let this woman carrying a crutch get on the tube before me, but all the seats were taken. This man immediately let her have his seat. During the journey, a seat became available and this man standing next to it refused to sit down so I sat down. I was very grateful. At another stop, this man with a crutch got on. A passenger beside me offered his seat, but the man refused as he said he was only travelling one stop. I thanked the passenger for his kindness. I look forward to seeing kindness everywhere I go. ❤️

I've been meaning to get a handheld fan that a work colleague recommended,  but the store was sold out last week. I figured now thar it's slightly cooler, it wouldn't be so popular and I can get myself one. I was at the store first thing this morning. They told me they only had two remaining on the shelf, but the customer ahead of me had just grabbed them. They said it was too early to know whether any more had been delivered. The customer, who had just grabbed the last two, turned round and said to me, "I'm not greedy! You can have one." "Thank you so much!" I said to her.  "God bless you!". "Thank you! It's good to share!" she smiled. We were all happy, including the sales assistant. Thank you, God, for providing my fan! ❤️ Here's a photo of the fan, which can also be used as a desk fan.  It's brilliant! 👍 Fan bought from John Lewis.