Radio Transcript

Susan:
Hello, I'm Susan Diamond, they call me Chief of Pray and I'm one of the women of Prayables.com, an online prayer community for women of all faiths. I'm here with my girlfriend, Debbie Winton. And Debbie, we're going to be talking about getting around to it, doing acts of love and kindness is likely on all of our to-do lists, but what happens if we don't do it?

Debbie:
I completely understand. I actually love doing kind deeds, it's something that's part of my being. But I have to tell you that I have extreme guilt if I don't do it and I'll tell you a little bit about it later on.

Susan:
Okay, that sounds good, and I'd like everyone to get in on the conversation. If you're listening live, log in to blog talk radio and join us in the chatroom. When you're listening on the Prayables.com website, please comment, we'll respond, we want to hear from you, we've been having some great conversations in the comment section all throughout Prayables.com. To read today's blog, prayer and transcript from the show, visit us at prayables.com and type in thought that counts in the search box on the upper right side of the page. So Debbie what I'm going to do is I'm going to share my blog about good intentions and it's called "It's not the thought that counts" then I'm going to finish up with a beautiful prayer by Heidi Haller called "Immesaurable Grace."

Debbie:
Okay, so why don't we, instead of just thinking about it, get into action and have you talk us through your blog and then we'll chat about it.

Susan:



Debbie:
Well Susan I can so relate to this. I have to tell you, I do a lot, I'm a person that keeps in touch with lots of people, I reach out to people, but as soon as I read this I kind of had that 'ouch' feeling that you were talking about and there was more than one thing that popped in to my mind, probaby one of the things that I actually talked about with you was I had a boss a few years back, maybe 5 or 6 years ago, but somebody who I had a friendship with also, but in a strange way he kind of scared me. He just had that kind of personality, although we were friends, and I cannot tell you how he was on my mind the last few months, that I should stop in, that I should call him, that I should email him. And he was a fairly young guy and I say was because I got a phone call of course that he passed away. And I kep talking about it and I didn't do it; I didn't take action, it was not the thought that counted.

Susan:
In all fairness you can't be too hard on yourself because you didn't know that he would die. That's kind of extreme.

Debbie:
It is extreme but it's the extreme that should prompt you into action. I have a great niece, through my former husband's side of the family, and I still keep in touch with them. They had a baby 3 months ago, I ordered a baby gift right away, it's sitting on the counter in my office and I haven't made the phone call. And I have to tell you when I knew we were going to be talking about this, I did try to call her this morning to cross that one off my list. But I really do think it's the action, not the thought, and I have grown up thinking "it's the thought that counts," what a lovely thing to say.

Susan:
So does my little test work for you? So asking yourself this question "could I make another person just a bit happier if I did this?"

Debbie:
I absolutely think so. And I think just beyond that it feels good to you. It's a little bit selfish. It does feel very good to reach out to somebody, to do the right thing, to take action, to check it off of your list and it does feel good to you. And by doing that, it does make somebody a little happier.

Susan:
See but I don't always agree with that. When I do what I'm supposed to do - I had an uncle who was chronicly ill and I brought so much joy to him when I would go visit him or take him out for a hotdog or something. And I did it and I would come home exhausted, it was draining, even if it was just visiting for an hour, and I didn't feel better after I did it.

Debbie:
Really?

Susan:
I can't say that I did. I just was exhausted.

Debbie:
Oh, I find that fascinating because as you know I've had many people in my life that I've been caretaker of and I always felt that it was a priviledge. I always felt I was getting more out of this than the other person is. So it's once again potato - potato with you and I Susan.

Susan:
Well here's the thing is that I end up feeling guilty because I'm such a whiner about it; that you know I come home, that I gotta take a name, then I gotta complain to you that you know "I did this and I did that" then I feel bad because I don't feel like I'm doing it with the graciousness that I should and I just don't know how to change that.

Debbie:
Well it is something to think about. But I do think the bottom line, getting back to your "it's not the thought that counts" is that you're doing it and you are a person that does do the right thing, and where is the motivation that it comes from? You are taking the action and doing the right thing.

Susan:
Well a thing like that is not potato and potato and you do the same and I know you're going to get that gift over to your niece and next time just pay the $6 and ship it or something.

Debbie:
Oh please they live 3 blocks away from me.

Susan:
Oh yeah that would be a little lame.

Debbie:
Oh yeah, this is a bad one.

Susan:
Not as bad as that client of mine who didn't return a call to this woman who called her from the hospital bed after she had a new baby.

Debbie:
So this one isn't as bad then.

Susan:
Yeah she trumped you. So why don't we finish up with a prayer from Prayables.com called "Immeasurable Grace."



Debbie:
Amen. Another beautiful Prayables, I love hearing this every week, I love reading them too but that was particularly beautiful.

Susan:
And hopefully it's that kick in the pants we all need

Debbie:
Absolutely, and just as a quick note on that. I have created a new philosophy for myself when I see somebody in need you know, whether it's a quarter or 50 cents and somebody is asking they're before the grace, go I, and I don't make a judgement I just help wherever I can. So taking action, and not the thought.

Susan:
Very very lovely, just don't go walking downtown Chicago, you'll go broke.

Debbie:
I do know that. I just want to thank you again for sharing your blog and the beautiful prayer and once again, week by week, I love spending this time on air with you. 

Susan:
And I enjoy it too, Debbie. It's fast and fun on Prayables Radio and doing it with you is extra special and for our listener's who want to find more faith-filled women's conversation, blogs & prayers, please discover Prayables.com. There's lots going on there and good conversation, please comment on the prayers, comment on the blogs, comment on this Prayables Radio show. There is another Prayables Radio show coming up as well, and Debbie why don't you tell us about it.

Debbie:
Well next week we will be here at the same time, which is 12:00 central and we are going to talk about three ways to end family fighting. It should be an interesting topic.

Susan:
Very good. I do like that and I thank everybody for joining us and thanking you once again, Debbie. And check out  we have other women of prayables doing radio shows and we would love for you to join us all. Thank you so much.

Debbie:
Bye Sue.