JULINES: you never know

Welcome to July 2024 and to JULINES …as in “July Lines.“

Going to take some time this month and sort through some lines in my stash. Some have been in my notebooks. Some have been hidden on napkins and torn scraps and were only recently unearthed in domestic and office archeological digs in my backpacks or briefcases or WorkBags or coat pockets. Some have been saved online. Some come with images. I hope all will be helpful. Not every day will bring one.

July. Lines. This month. These lines. JULINES. Look, here’s one now, with gratitude to Fire Wife Chronicles by Lizzy Christian —

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

If someone is battling postpartum depression,

Battling suicidal thoughts,

Or is fighting those hazardous thoughts that no one cares about them.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

When someone is at the end of their rope,

Just lost a child,

Was just served divorce papers,

Or is just begging for something to go right.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

Who feels haunted by their past,

Scared for their future,

Alone in their current state of mind,

Or whose world just came crashing down.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

If a first responder just recovered a rape victim’s body,

Tried to resuscitate an infant,

Saw a horrific accident,

Or their own life was threatened.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

what is going on in the mind of a smiling person.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

what someone who appears to be so strong has endured.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

who is praying for a sign, a lifeline, or a miracle.

Be kind.

Spread light.

Show up.

Send a little sparkle of hope their way.

Say a prayer.

Offer help.

Let them know they matter.