"Animals Are Wise."

Animals are loyal, they Love unconditionally but most importantly, understand the true meaning, do not take any of it for granted and remain consistent. Animals seem to know what is going on more than we know, especially with illness. I feel they live on a much higher and deeper spiritual level.

When an animal's human companion passes away, it makes me very sad for the pet because they feel the deepest sense of loss. Animals hurt more because they invest more in the relationship than anyone else and without it being requested or demanded. They give their whole heart to us.

My Daughter, Billie's Yorkie pups, Blue, Ridge, Fox, and Page have such different personalities. Blue is the protector and Ridge wants to be protected. Fox is an athlete, and Page is a princess.Ridge greets everyone with a cute howl. Animals are beautiful, precious treasures sent from God.

Do you have adoration for the wisdom of animals?

Psalm 36:5-7 NIV
Your Love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing Love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Don't allow people into your world close enough to where they become so comfortable that it makes you uncomfortable.”

Many times, we feel compelled to open our hearts so wide that it gets trampled.

It is truly a good idea to maintain a healthy distance from everyone, especially, friends and relatives so you do not lose sight of yourself.

An element of mystery is a necessary ingredient for all relationships. This approach keeps people interested in you as a person. It also helps prevent people from knowing so much about your personal and business life that they start offering unwanted advice at any moment.

Are you allowing others to invade your personal life too deeply?

Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Helping others does not require hurting yourself.”

There are so many ways to help yourself and others. It is vital to remain as spiritually, physically, mentally and financially strong as possible. Give all you can while keeping in mind that helping others does not require hurting yourself.

It is not possible to out give God! When we share our God given blessings with others it is the same as recycling goodness. It is very important to remember that you have to remain intact so that you can continue to do God’s work. If you drain yourself then you are of no help to anyone, especially yourself.

Is there someone in your life that you are making weaker by not ever telling them the answer of “no”?

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Stop smoking, because I care about you.”

If you or someone you know smokes, stop now, because I care about you!

Nicotine addiction is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. There used to be many people in our family that smoked cigarettes but we helped them stop with a smoking cessation program.

My daughter, Billie, and I are a lot alike, in the fact that we do not tend to become addicted to anything. We can basically "take or leave" anything without worrying about developing an addiction.

My husband, Philip F. Minton Jr. (P.F.), was quite the opposite. He began smoking cigarettes when he joined the United States Navy at seventeen years old. He smoked for fifty-two years and developed lung cancer. He suffered for fifteen months and we suffered along with him. He  passed away September 17, 1997 from lung cancer, at the young age of sixty-nine years old. The last thing he said to our daughter was "Billie, I Love you, and take care of your mother." She replied, "I will, and Daddy, I Love you with all my heart!"

It is still hard to believe that he died all those years ago. There are so many things that I have missed sharing with my husband since he passed away. Billie was only thirty-one years old when he died. She and all of our other daughters truly felt cheated, and as if they did not have enough years as an adult, with their father. Our five daughters all had such a strong bond with their Dad and me. 

I can only imagine how much deeper those family relationships would have developed further, with their Dad. 

Billie had dreams of having her Dad beside of her throughout her career, asking him for guidance and feeling his strong Love. Her Dad and I did get to go to her graduation at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia before he became ill. 

Every time you would see Philip, he would ask you to sit down, and tell him about your day. He really wanted to know about my every day and how it was going because he truly cared. We all felt the same way about him, and still do now.

Would you or someone you know benefit from making a commitment to a smoking cessation program?

Psalm 18:2 
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

Is there someone toxic in your life that needs to treat you better or leave?

Proverbs 22:24-25 
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“You can get anyone to help you with the right approach.”

Are there areas in your life where a better approach may prove to be more successful?

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Put your heart into every footstep ... and you will travel somewhere meaningful.”

When you live your life with passion, it feels “right” to put your heart into everything you do!

There should not ever be a time in life when you make a decision without consulting with God through prayer.

When we are young, we ask our parents for guidance, direction and permission to do something or go somewhere. When you become an adult, you are expected to make these decisions primarily on your own and without asking for your parent’s consent.

God, our Father in Heaven, wants us to remain His children eternally and become God dependent.

Whenever someone in my life offers me advice without praying about the situation and/or praying with me, I do not accept it. Advice from others must be blessed by God. This practice will help ensure that you remain in God’s will and not your own or someone else’s.

Each time you take a walk by the river, the beach, in the mountains or even outside in your yard; remember that each step you take was granted by God. Thank Him for giving you such a glorious day to enjoy!

Will you remember to put your heart into everything you do and every place you go?

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“You can take Home with you no matter where you are ... as long as Jesus Lives inside your heart.”

It may be difficult for your family to watch you take off on your trip. All of our lives, most of us have heard the saying “home is where the heart is.” For some people, that phrase really does not sink deep into their thought processes the way that it probably should.

We go so many places such as to church, work, school, shopping, vacation and the gym. Sometimes our minds wander and travel without us even having to physically leave our current location.

I pray and ask God to help me feel better inside when I am away from my family. Praying is the only thing that makes me feel better. 

When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, home becomes anywhere you are at the moment; physically, in your heart, soul, and mind.

In my heart and mind, home is a “feeling” rather than a place. This is a truth that should prove to help people at any age when they understand this concept. When Jesus Lives in your heart, home is everywhere!

Do you remember ever being homesick as a child or an adult?

Have you asked Jesus to live inside of your heart?

Do you take “home” with you, in your heart, every place you go?

Matthew 28:20 
“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“Be careful not to confuse kindness with weakness.”

Kindness and weakness are two concepts that have been misconstrued too many times in our lives.

It takes a very strong person to be filled with kindness in their heart, whereas weakness, is often but not always, found in mean spirited individuals. Have you ever noticed that it appears that kind people seem to get taken advantage of?

In most cases, kind people know exactly when someone is attempting to take advantage of them. They are just so kind, strong and intelligent that they do not feel the need to be defensive.

Weak people tend to be defensive, controlling, demanding and argumentative. They feel insecure and want to make sure that everything goes according to their demands.

Being weak causes people to expend much more energy than choosing to be kind. The thought of being a weak person seems exhausting.

Kindness attracts people in so many ways. Kind people are interesting too! They know who they are and are comfortable in their own skin.

Do you feel others are confusing your kindness with weakness?

Genesis 20:13 NIV
And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, “This is how you can show your Love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.

“When I say that I care about you, it means I care about you spiritually, mentally, physically and financially, always.”

When we say that we Love or care about something, it can mean two different things. For example, you may say that you Love chocolate but you would not necessarily say that you “care about chocolate.”

Caring about someone should mean that you care about them spiritually, mentally, physically and financially. That you actually care about the well-being of those facets of their life.

Another example, is the way we care about our pets. They are our family and we care about them immensely.

The next time you talk to someone, tell them that you care about them and notice their response.

Philippians 2:3-5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Evelyn Minton and her daughter, Dr. Billie J. Minton are the authors of the Blue Ridge Tenderpup children's series. These books may be found at the author's website BlueRidgeMoments.com and Amazon.com/Author/drbillieminton.