Tag: love

Built To Be People Centered

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

The Clues Are in Our Instincts

Watch what happens when you connect with someone.

You don’t calculate a smile when you meet someone new—you just smile. You don’t plan laughter when a friend tells a great joke—it spills out. You don’t need instructions to hug your family—you lean in. These gestures aren’t taught. They’re instinctive.

And instincts reveal design.

They point to something profound about how we’re wired: we were built to be people-centered. Connection isn’t optional or learned later—it’s embedded. While modern culture nudges us toward self-focus and accumulation, the satisfaction it promises fades quickly. Compare that to the lasting lift you feel when you encourage someone or make another person’s day better. One disappears. The other compounds.

Zig Ziglar said it best: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” That’s not hype—it’s how life actually works.

Blessing Others Changes Us

Humans thrive when we lift others. Our mood improves. Our stress decreases. Our sense of purpose expands. Even our physical health responds positively to acts of kindness.

Service realigns us. Anxiety loosens. Gratitude grows. Joy shows up—not because we chased it, but because we stopped staring at ourselves long enough to serve someone else. Trust and opportunity tend to follow the same pattern, finding people who consistently add value.

Self-Care Fuels Other-Care

Being people-centered doesn’t mean neglecting yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Taking care of your body, finances, mental health, and spiritual life increases your capacity to bless others with consistency and generosity. Self-care isn’t the destination—it’s the fuel.

We were built to give, and Scripture reminds us why:

“Do not neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”
— Hebrews 13:16 (CSB)

Care for yourself wisely.
Bless others generously.
Joy tends to follow.

Life Is…

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

Finish this sentence: Life is…

Before I reveal how I completed that sentence, let’s take a moment to reflect. Bob Marley once said, “Life without music, I can’t cope.” For him, life was musical—something to be felt deeply, rhythmically, and soulfully.

Maybe you’ve heard or even lived by some of these perspectives:

  • Life is a pain.
  • Life is an adventure.
  • Life is a test.
  • Life is a game.
  • Life is worthwhile.
  • Life is a blessing.
  • Life is not worth living.
  • Life is worth living.
  • Life is worthless.

Each of these reflects the heart and the mindset of the one speaking. They speak to where someone is mentally, emotionally, or spiritually at a given moment. And let’s be honest—sometimes we’ve felt all of them in the same week!

But here’s my definition:

Life is a blessing.

Yes, it can feel like a test on Monday, a game on Tuesday, and a rollercoaster by Wednesday. But even in the chaos, I’ve learned that life is either preparing me, teaching me, or rewarding me. Every challenge becomes a classroom. Every joy, a celebration. Every detour, a divine rerouting. And every silence, a setup for something greater.

Seeing life as a blessing doesn’t mean we ignore pain or pretend trials don’t exist. It means we choose to believe that something good can come out of everything—even the mess.

So when life feels like a test, I remember it’s a blessing in disguise.
When it feels like a game, I’m learning strategy, patience, and how to bounce back.
When it feels like an adventure, I lean in and trust the Guide.

Life is a blessing because it constantly invites us to grow, reflect, and give thanks. Not because it’s easy—but because it’s meaningful.

📖 “Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Christian Standard Bible – CSB)

The Power of a Gift

On By Jon ONeilLeave a comment

Today, I want to talk about giving. Christmas is a season filled with lights, laughter, and gifts, but the greatest gift of all came over 2,000 years ago when God gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, we receive salvation, grace, and eternal hope—a gift beyond anything we could imagine or deserve.

Let me share a story that echoes this theme of giving. In 1939, a man named Robert L. May—Bob—was going through a tough time. He was a widower, raising his little daughter, Barbara, who was grieving her mother’s loss. Bob didn’t have much to give that Christmas, but he had a gift inside him—a story.

To lift Barbara’s spirits, Bob created Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. What started as a simple, heartfelt gift to his child became something far greater. Rudolph’s story of an outcast finding his place resonated with millions. That small act of love not only blessed his daughter but brought Bob unexpected wealth and joy.

Bob’s story reminds us that giving—whether it’s a story, a prayer, or simply our time—can transform lives. This Christmas, let’s remember the ultimate gift God gave: His Son, who came into this world to redeem us.

John 3:16 sums it up perfectly:

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (CSB)

As we celebrate, let’s reflect His love by giving of ourselves—our kindness, our resources, and our faith. A simple act of giving, rooted in love, can change the world.

Merry Christmas, and may you carry the joy of Christ in your hearts all year long!