Well, Thank You...

Well, I was listening to my trusted “Talk Radio” again today, and I heard someone make a really good point about relationships and compliments. It reminded me about when my husband was in the work force, and he would come home for dinner every night. No matter what I had prepared for us to eat, he made sure to thank me for my effort... and he always told me how much he enjoyed the meal. He would compliment me for what I DID.

Now, you can also compliment someone for what they ARE. My husband tells me quite often how proud he is of me for my creativity. We COMPLIMENT each other. He is not as creative… he is more of a concrete, logical, how does this work thinker. I, as I said, am the more creative of the two. I would rather make a painting of what’s in my mind and he would rather make a chart. As corny as it sounds, we do complete each other.

We both could go through life just doing our own things (in our own ways) – without confirming we’re doing good jobs to each other – but it’s good for our souls to HEAR we are appreciated. Everyone should hear they are valued. So, sincerely tell you friends, spouse, and family members when you see them DOING or BEING something that you admire. It won’t go unnoticed… I guarantee it!

Amazing grace

He Looked Beyond My Fault
Words and Music by Dottie Rambo

Amazing grace shall always be my song of praise,
For it was grace that bought my liberty;
I do not know just why He came to love me so,
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary,
To view the cross where Jesus died for me;
How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul.
He looked beyond my fault and saw my need.

“Animal Instinct”

My dogs are laying here on my lap as I type this. Sleeping peacefully… so cute! I realize that if someone were to break into our house, right this very moment, my dogs would probably give their lives to protect me and my husband. However, two hours ago, I definitely wouldn’t have left my dinner plate sitting on the floor and walked out to the mailbox and expected them not to eat my food. I trust my dogs with my life but not my sesame chicken. I have learned through the years that canines are creatures of their “Animal Instinct”.

I’ve learned that humans are creatures of our own “instincts”, too. For instance, every election we are going to have candidates run negative campaigns against their opponents instead of explaining the importance of their own platforms. I have to admit, I felt like I was negative campaigning yesterday… you could probably tell if you read my blog.

I did a little soul searching today and reread Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” What an idea - consider others better than yourself! Even Jesus washed the feet of His disciples… who are we to think we couldn’t do the same.

In the heat of all of this campaign madness, let’s do our best to not get wrapped up in the hatred and anger. I did yesterday, but I think I’ll be ok… LOL.

The Golden Rule

I really, really, really try to follow the rules – traffic rules, game rules, the “Golden Rule”, even unwritten rules – and it really gets my goat when someone else CONTINUALLY goes through life IGNORING the rules. I ask myself constantly, “Why do you care?” The child inside me answers, “BECAUSE, IT’S NOT FAIR!”

It’s not fair that I behave and “so-and-so” can get away with doing whatever they want to do. But the thing that really gets me is this: We both are open to the same privileges in life. How can that be?

Funny thing… tonight I was doing a devotion from Psalm 23 –

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

I paused at “He leads me beside quiet waters…” I couldn’t get past that part, and it made me wonder if God was trying to tell me something. Maybe I needed to be “quieted down” and quit worrying about how other people are walking along the crooked road, and just keep myself on the straight and narrow. My “job” is to take care of ME! Unless I want others to put me under the microscope – Well, you know where I’m going with this…

All I know for sure is, I am not capable of seeing everything in anyone's life but mine, everyone has their own circumstances to deal with everyday, and it's not my place to judge anybody. Plus, after all is said and done, I believe I’ll keep my eye on the narrow road and not on “so-and-so”.

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS

Remember that pets can't do a lot of things for themselves, and that they depend on you to make their life a quality life!

A PET'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.........

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

Ride on!

I’ve not been feeling well for several days now, so today I’ve been lying around watching everything from Trading Spouses to Dancing with the Stars. I have to admit, I would never get on television and humiliate my family like some of the people do on several “reality” TV shows, but it sure would be cool to build up enough courage to be able to enter a contest like Dancing with the Stars.

One year for our anniversary, I gave my husband a plaque that has a derivative of the following saying written on it:
"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth."
— William W. Purkey

My husband and I are both in choir at church. I admire how he can totally let himself get lost when he performs a song for our congregation. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He has a great voice, and his performances show the passion he has for every song he sings. Everyone is always commenting on his abilities. I, on the other hand, love to sing – and I have to admit that I have a good voice, too – but, I don’t have all the showmanship he has when he is really “on”. However, I get up there anyway, and give it all I’ve got.

My point is this… You gotta listen to William W Purkey. Life can be uncomfortable, but life can be a real good ride. Ride on!

Our Deepest Fear...

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
- Nelson Mandela, inaugural address, written by Marianne Williamson

Will You be My Friend?

I took my granddaughter to McDonald’s this morning to enjoy Ronald’s “Playplace”. She’s never there more than five minutes before she has a slew of kids hovering around her. “Hi, I’m three years old. Will you be my friend?” Do you remember when saying that was all it took to get someone to be your best friend for a lifetime? I just can’t see me walking up to someone and saying, “Hi, I’m Jane Doe. I’m forty-four years old. Will you be my friend?” I’d probably end up on the psych ward at the local hospital.

When children are little - in order to bring another child into their inner circle - all they need to know about you is if you know how to play hide and seek. Why does the “qualifications list” get so much added to it over the years? By the time kids reach high school, their group is restricted to… just the popular kids… just the jocks… maybe the band “geeks”. And it only gets worse as we get older!

The pressure doesn’t let up, in general (by my observations), until adults hit their late 30s. Maybe by then we all realize it’s not a competition after all. We CAN be friends without worrying about… did my tennis shoes costs the most... is my child in the best school… who owns the biggest house.

The saying goes – “Everything I ever needed to know, I learned in Kindergarten. “ Let’s make sure we don’t forget it!

Thought for Today

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.” - Unknown

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

I was watching "House" today - a TV show about a very unorthodox doctor, named Gregory House - and he was trying to diagnose a patient's symptoms. If you ever watch the show, you know that all of the patients on this show have extremely difficult diseases to diagnose, and most aren't figured out till the last ten minutes of the show. Well, this episode wasn't any different.

The patient that was being evaluated this time basically had a type of amnesia - but with a twist. He suffered from a disorder called "Mirroring". Mirroring is a term which describes imitating or copying another person's characteristics, behaviors or traits. So, this guy basically became whoever was in the room with him. Because of this, it made it very difficult for the doctors to find out what was wrong with him.

Anyway, long story short... I really could relate to this character. You see, when I was at the height of my illness - when I wasn't taking medication or seeing a therapist on a regular basis - I counted on the people around me to "show" me how I was suppose to act in particular situations. My emotions were so far off the mark that I knew if I said and did the things my brain was telling me to say and do... well, it wouldn't have been pretty. (Unfortunately, a lot of times, I wasn't able to control myself.)

Thankfully, after 10 years of regulated medication and "honest" counseling, I feel like I am finally free. I feel like I am in control of myself. It's an amazing thing to FEEL emotions and be able to express them. God has been good to me. I am able to be ME - not a mirror of someone else - but the creation He made me to be. Thanks be to God!

What's MY Gift?

My husband was working on my car today. It ended up taking about 5 hours to do what should have been a 15 minute job. It seemed like every time he turned around – another problem. Sometimes, when he’s working on plumbing projects or something similar, the same thing happens.

You see, my husband was blessed with the many gifts – being mechanically inclined was not one of them. However, if you want to know something about the inner workings of some business deal or how a financial structure is set up – He’s your man. Heck, he has even built a home computer from scratch. He is a prime example of the fact that we all are blessed with different kinds of gifts.

It’s written throughout the Bible (1 Corinthians, Romans, and Ephesians) that God has given each of us gifts for the common good. What type of gifts? Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miraculous Powers, Prophecy, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Contributing to the Needs of Others, Leadership, Showing Mercy and still others.

These gifts are not just offered to a select few of us… not just to the wealthy… not just to the intelligent… not just to the beautiful… not just the healthy - EVERYONE is loved by God and precious enough to Him to receive His gifts and His Grace. But, it’s up to us to nurture and cultivate these gifts, so they stay strong and vital in our lives.

How do we find out which gift is ours? Well, I went to the following website: http://www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php and took their test. My results showed that TEACHING was my Spiritual Gift. Actually, I’ve taken several tests like this before and teaching has always shown as my response… which works out pretty good, since that’s where I feel I’m drawn to serve in my church anyway.

So remember, all of us have been given a special ability from God. You may not be aware of what yours is yet. But, rest assured, He knows.

By the way, through no fault of my husband - my car still isn't running... LOL!

And it was good...

I went to a retreat this past weekend. Unfortunately, I had to leave early (for a wedding), and didn’t get to hear, what turned out to be, a fantastic keynote speech on Saturday night. However, a great friend of mine called me today and told me a little bit about it. I was so excited about the material that I'm using some of her ideas here with you!

If you are anything like most people in today’s society, your day is filled from the time your feet hit the floor in the morning until you get back in bed at night. It’s just how the world has evolved. In fact, I facilitated a workshop a couple of years ago - called “Hyper Culture” – where I listed comparison statistics, from 1950 to 2005, showing that the number of hours worked in the week has increased, while vacations and time spent with the family have significantly decreased .

Why do we feel like we need to go, go, go? It’s the EXPECTATION placed on us! But the expectation is coming from man NOT God. What does God expect from us? God wants us to live our lives in His image. In order to determine God’s character (image), we need to go directly to the source… the Bible.

In Genesis, God created the entire world in one week. That’s a lot of stuff in a short period of time. I’m sure He could have rushed and completed everything in – oh, I don’t know – three days. But God didn’t do that. He worked on one masterpiece at a time, and then He stepped back and admired He creations... “And God saw that it was good”. And then He rested… ”And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day”.

We could learn a lot from God's example: Sit back and admire our accomplishments, Rest before we take on another task, Take the time we need to clear our minds and organize for the upcoming job, Acknowledge to ourselves... "and it was good".

A Moment with God

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. 30 The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light."

Beat of a Different Drum

My dogs have a plastic tub full of “toys”, but each one has their favorite items. Unfortunately, for me and my husband, one of my baby’s most precious possessions is a stuffed bunny rabbit. This bunny has big floppy ears that hang over its sad, little blue eyes, and every time my dog bites down on this rabbit’s tummy, it says – “Peek-a-Boo, I see you” – as its ears rise over its eyes. Now, the first 375 times this happened (in the middle of the night), it was cute… not anymore.

But, here’s the thing: My dog refuses to live by human standards. He has evidently read Loretta LaRoche’s book - Life is Short, Wear Your Party Pants - and he decided that life is indeed short and he will not only wear his party pants – he is taking his bunny to the party with him!

Babies and Toddlers carry blankets or binkies with them to give them security. Kids pack along some of their favorite items… DS games, IPods, etc. What if we ALL lived life to the fullest? What if we took our favorite “toys” with us everywhere we went? What if we didn’t have to worry about what someone else was going to think about us or our actions? Well, we don’t!

This weekend, I went away with some friends, and I had the wonderful opportunity to take my “toy” along with me – my camera. I was out taking pictures of the changing leaves, etc and I happened upon a Magnolia cone. I have seen a million Pine cones in my lifetime, but I have never seen a Magnolia cone, so I was very curious.

Anyway, the cone was in the parking lot of the hotel where we were staying, and I got down and begin taking pictures of what looked like a close-up of a parking space but what really was the Magnolia cone. When I got back to our room, one of my friends said that everyone outside was staring at me. She even wanted to know why I was taking a picture of the parking lot! At one time that would have made me feel a little weird, but now I know I'm an odd duck of sorts... lol.

I’ve always admired people that dance to the beat of a different drum. Ironically, because of my history of Manic Depression, you could say that I’ve been on a bit of a different beat most of my life. I hear those Bongos in the distance… Tango anyone?

Thought for the Day

God may not always fulfill your wants, but He will always supply your needs.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

A Hero

When I was younger, I loved to watch my mom when she applied her make-up. I would sit there (on the toilet seat), and stare in amazement, as she applied all the colors from her compact, and used all the brushes and tools in her bag, and she transformed from “my mom” into a woman of stunning beauty. I dreamed of the day that I would become old enough to use those items. Heck, I was even excited the day she sat me down and told me that she was going to teach me how to pluck me eyebrows. (However, that excitement did not last long. Ladies, you know what I’m talking about!) Anyway, throughout my childhood, I can’t remember a day that my mom didn’t get up - and first thing - head to the bathroom to “make herself up”.

My mom had cancer years ago – for the second time – and I worried about her terribly. You see, the first time she had cancer, I was just a child and I barely remembered it. I was too small to really understand what was going on with her… too young to worry. But the second time – yes, I was plenty old enough to know what was happening, and I was plenty worried. The first time I went to my mom’s house to stay with her after a chemo treatment, I was amazed… she had on her make up! Even though she felt like – I’ll say it – CRAP, she was putting on a “face” for herself and her family. I don’t know why I was surprised.

My mom (Moma) is a strong woman. She has been through a lot of things that would make some women doubt their faith, or have a negative outlook on life. She has faced a deadly disease (twice) and came out stronger because of it. The Christmas after she finished her chemo, I wrote down the lyrics to the song below for her. The way I look at it, if you're lucky enough to meet a “Hero” in your lifetime, you should make sure to let them know they're a special person... even if they are your mother.

Hero – Mariah Carey*
There's a hero if you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid of what you are
There's an answer if you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know will melt away
And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you
It's a long road and you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
You can find love if you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt will disappear

*1st verse and chorus

Photo - http://makeup.lovetoknow.com/Eye_Makeup_Pictures

Burnt Biscuits

The following is an email I received the other day -

"When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults - and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone elses pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.!”

Author Unknown.

A Little Peace and Quiet

I’m sitting here on the bank of the Green River, by a Ferry that is currently “out of order” because the water in the river is too low for it to properly operate, waiting for my husband to appear somewhere in the horizon in his bright orange kayak. His birthday is tomorrow, and his gift from me was a zip line/kayak trip package down in the Mammoth Cave area. He completed the zip line portion this morning – “It was a BLAST”, he told me – and this afternoon, he’s enjoying (I hope) a lazy time down the river – stopping off for lunch in a cozy cove along the way.

My husband is a people person, and I’m wondering how he’s doing on this 3 hour trip all by himself. I can easily imagine him paddling through the beautiful scenery, singing at the top of his lungs some song from the 50s or 60s, or perhaps he’s making conversation with a fish that jumped a little too close to his kayak. One thing I know for sure… he is not puttering along this peaceful, quiet, tranquil river in silence. That is not his style. Funny thing is – he was a loner growing up… always quiet.

Me, on the other hand… I don’t think I’ve said two words since I dropped him off this morning. (Not even when the 2 inch spider almost climbed over my bare foot a couple of minutes ago!) I’ve not always been that way, though... When I was younger, I was never quiet - ask my mom. LOL. (I would recite the appropriate commercials in each aisle at the grocery store for her.) Anyway, I’ve enjoyed just sitting here on this bank today… thinking.

Several years ago, I attended a Silent Retreat with a woman from my church. We spent the weekend with 13 other women, and from Friday night until Sunday morning, we didn’t speak to anyone. We had no televisions, no radios, no cell phones, etc. I was very apprehensive going into that retreat - and I have to be honest, it was kinda weird eating a meal with a group of people and not saying a word… you could hear everything; like your knife going across your bread when you’re buttering it or your lips smacking every time your mouth opens and closes - but when Sunday morning came, I didn’t want to go home! It was an amazing experience. Since then, I really have been able to enjoy days like today.

But, I know my husband isn’t wired like me… so, here I sit, looking around the bend of Green River, nervously waiting for that orange kayak. Realistically, I know I shouldn’t worry. Plus, I know I'll hear him long before I ever see him… lol!

Presents for Everyone!

Wouldn’t it be great if every day was your Birthday? My husband’s big day is coming up and my son and granddaughter surprised him today with a little “party” of sorts. Now, it wasn’t enough for her to bring gifts for Peppaw, she wanted everyone in the house to have presents! She gave my husband several gifts, and wrapped up the following for the rest of us:

For me… She took pictures of her and Chuck E Cheese - that had been on my refrigerator for months - and wrapped them up in Dora Christmas paper. For our dogs… She got some of their dog treats out of the container on the kitchen counter and wrapped them, individually, in the same gift wrap. For herself… She wrapped movies that she saw at the store when she was shopping for Peppaw. For Daddy… She gave him –evidently, no gift wrapping required - a movie that came in her combo movie pack.

The really funny thing was that she had to unwrap everything for everybody. Plus, when my husband would innocently asked her, “Well, what did you get for Peppaw?” or “I wonder what’s in here?” - She would blurt out exactly what was in each package! It was hilarious! But it was also precious. It melted my heart to see the love in my 3 year old granddaughter’s face. She was so happy to bring such happiness to all of us.

Isn’t that what love is?... 1 Corinthians 13 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

All of us have tried to show that precious little girl the type of love written about in Corinthians, and I believe that because of that she, in return, now shows it to others. Teaching her the love and grace of Jesus is the most important thing I feel I can do for her in her life. That way she will know that she is never alone, and that she always has someone in her corner. That’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?

Technology

My husband was “channel surfing” today and we happened to come across a story, on the news, about cars that have the capability to drive themselves! When I was little, I remember hearing that someday we would have the technology for that to happen, but I never really believed it. I mean, come on, we still had phones with party lines back then. But, sure enough, this car – which had this huge metal contraption sticking off the top of it – literally had the means of operating without the help of the driver.

I remember, when I was a child, my grandparents didn’t have a television in their house. I couldn’t understand how they could live without one. But, of course, they explained to me that they didn’t even HAVE televisions when they were growing up. Same type of thing happened when my son was small. Nintendo! “Mom, how could you not have a Nintendo when you were little?” And the circle continues with his daughter… Wii and Netflix Instant movies and Digital Cameras.

However, with all the hi-tech, fancy toys at her disposal, my granddaughter has the most fun doing the same things her father did – the same things I did – enjoying the great outdoors!

“Man” will continue to create things that right now we can’t even believe possible. Years from now, my great-great grandchildren could feel sorry for me because I didn’t have the really COOL things they have. That’s why I feel it’s important to continue to show the NATURAL beauty of God’s world to my family. If they carry the love of God’s creations in their hearts, they’ll pass it on for generations to come.

Take a moment right now and think about what God has blessed us with in Nature… the sun on your face, the wind blowing through your hair, snowflakes falling on your eyelashes, shade trees to have picnics under, stars to wish upon, flowers blooming in the spring, leaves changing colors in the fall, squirrels and chipmunks running through the grass, frogs hopping into your hands, birds singing happy songs, clouds with imaginary identities – all of these and I haven’t even left my own backyard.

None of these experiences can be simulated on a video game or a movie. They must be lived. Take some time to get away from technology and enjoy God’s gifts to us!

Photo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driverless_car

Thought for the Day

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Confucius

I Think I’m Car Sick

I went to a church outing tonight – a potluck dinner. And because I didn’t know the exact directions to where we were going, I asked a couple of friends if I could hitch a ride with them to the “party”. Now, normally I would not even think about putting myself in a position that would have me sitting in the backseat of a car that’s traveling through long, curvy, country back roads. You see, I get terribly car sick! But, I really wanted to be included at this event. Because when I’m with my church family, we always have a great time. So, I took a chance, and on the way there, I was fine. But, unfortunately, on the way home, I got car sick.

I’ve suffered from motion sickness my whole life. When I was a little girl, nearly every Sunday, my parents would gather us in the car, and we would travel across the curviest and hilliest roads my dad could find. After what seemed like 3 days, we would finally make it to my maternal grandmother’s house for dinner. By the time we got there, I was so car sick that I’m not sure how I was able to eat, but I did. (If nothing else, at least Spice cake.) Even though I knew I was going to get motion sickness with every trip, I couldn’t wait for Sunday to come. I loved those visits! I loved spending time with my family.

Sometimes, we may need to suffer some unpleasant things in life in order to get the results we want. For Instance…
I wanted to spend time with family/friends – get a little car sick
I wanted to be healthier – eat more nutritional food (I love fried food)
I wanted to make good grades in college – study harder
I wanted to make more money at work – offer loyalty and dedication to employer

We are the only ones that can make a decision if something is worth the sacrifice or not. I hope you find something in your life that makes you happy enough to suffer a little inconvenience.

I Can Be Your Friend

The cover of PEOPLE magazine this week says “Teen Suicide Tragedies – Deadly Bullying”. The story inside the magazine covers how at least three teens were tormented by their classmates and took their own lives within the last month. Unfortunately, about a year and a half ago, we had the same thing happen here in our community. Bullying is a REAL and powerful thing!

Why do people bully? Well, according to one popular website: http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/why-do-people-bully.html
Here are just a few reasons -
*Children who experience social rejection themselves are more likely to "pass it on" to others.
*Families that are not warm and loving and in which feelings are not shared are more likely to have children who bully, either within the family home or in other locations in which the children meet others. Another home environment that is prone to producing bullies is one in which discipline and monitoring are inconsistent and/or a punitive atmosphere exists.
*The fact that one gets more social recognition for negative behaviors than for positive ones can also contribute to bullying.

We’ve all probably heard the saying, “Everything I needed to know I learned in Kindergarten.” Well, today my son and I took my granddaughter to a Veggie Tales Silly Songs concert. One of the songs – “I Can Be Your Friend” - is so simple, but it’s so true. Maybe if kids learned it and lived it, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about bullying. I’ve included the words below.

I Can Be Your Friend – Veggie Tales
Have you ever seen a boy with funny clothes?
A girl with braces on her teeth or freckles on her nose?
Some kids call them odd balls; some kids call them weird
Is it my imagination or does aunt Ruth have a beard?

God makes lots of people in all colors, shapes and sizes
He loves them very much and what we need to realize is
That calling people names because they're different is wrong
Instead we need to look on them in love and sing this song

[chorus]
I can be your friend
I can be your friend
Any day in any weather
We can be friends and play together

Yeah we’re all pretty different; some are skinny some are stout
But the inside is the part were supposed to care about
Aye that’s why we have feelings that are very much the same
So instead of saying weirdo, I think friend’s a better name

[chours]
I can be your friend
I can be your friend
If your hair is red or yellow
We can have lunch; I'll share my Jell-O

I can be your friend
I can be you friend

Moma was right?

Did you ever notice that the older you get, the smarter you get? It’s true! Just ask my son. Now, I’m not just saying this… I have proof. Last week he actually called me – from his cell phone – to tell me I was right about something. Believe me, that has never happened in all his 24 years of life! I really wish that I hadn’t answered the phone when he called. That way he would’ve been forced to leave a message. Then, I could have saved the answering machine tape for years to come and play it back every time he questions my senility. (Ironically, my mom had a jump in her IQ about 10 years ago, too. I don’t know if she started taking a correspondence course or what, but something happened… LOL. )

Seriously, when we become older, we begin to understand the importance of the things that are written in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Embodied with these principals in our core - we are wiser. It is easier for us to travel the road to maturity when we have a firm grasp on the tools that God has graciously placed in our path. But it takes time to develop these traits and that may be why we can’t see the truth in our parent's wisdom until we begin to feel these fruits in our soul.

Every time I sit back and think about the complexities of God’s world, I’m so in awe of His design. Just this topic alone is amazing if you really think about it. Because it really is important for kids to question things on their own for a time, but there comes a point when they do need to grow up and realize that they have a wonderful resource in their parents. And, there’s so much more to consider when it comes to the relationship of parent and child… the miracle of conception and birth… a mother’s ability to nourish her child… the way our minds connect and make that unmistakable bond between family members.

God has blessed us all. Regardless if you have your own child or if you have been blessed to have any child in your life – someday you may be lucky enough to have someone - that’s grown into their own maturity - realize that you were “finally” right about something. Here’s hoping you get it on tape!

A Routine That Works

I went to lunch today with my sister. We visited a great Mexican restaurant – the same one we went to the last time we went to lunch. Afterwards, we went to our favorite fudge shop. We’ve only been to this little store twice (the first time was when we went to the Mexican restaurant last time - lol), but I like to think of it as our little secret. And on both occasions, after we made our purchases, we headed to my mom’s place of employment and dropped her off a sample of the chocolaty goodness we found. We’ve only made this little afternoon excursion twice, and yet it feels like a comfortable routine to me.

I like routines. I didn’t so much when I was younger. I always wanted to get up and go “on the fly”. If I saw something advertised on the television or heard something interesting on the radio, I’d grab my purse and be out the door on my way to an adventure in a heartbeat. But, now I enjoy the comfort of knowing that I can depend on my calendar to tell me when I’m expected to be somewhere – or not expected to be somewhere.

What has made the difference in my lifestyle? Well, a couple of things: 1) up until about twelve years ago my brain didn’t know how to survive without a constant rush of chaos and 2) numerous surgeries on my back and neck have forced me to limit my activities.

Now, unless you have lived your life in “fast forward”, you have no idea have nice “slow motion” can be to a person. Just the ability to take a deep breath is a privilege. Bi Polar – or Manic Depression – is living your life on a roller coaster that’s been set on full throttle.

If you’re not Bi Polar, you won't have a clue what I’m talking about. So, let me just define the two terms in the title of the disease:
MANIC: frenzy, state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, uncontrolled by reason, craziness, to exhibit great energy… EXTREME FAST FORWARD

DEPRESSION: sense of inadequacy, symptoms that interferes with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities, and feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness… EXTREME SLOW MOTION

Thankfully, I have: 1) a great doctor that regulates my medication 2) a wonderful therapist that has helped me learn new and exciting ways to deal with stress and anxiety 3) a fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ that has taught me to accept me for the person I am and 4) friends and family that are supportive and loving. With all of these things working together, I can chug along at a speed that is comfortable for me… in a routine that works for me. I hope you have a routine you can manage, too!

In Black and White and Gray

A friend called me and told me I needed to take a look on www.wave3.com. There was a video on there she wanted me to see. You see, there’s a woman that had a recent MRI with astounding results… right there next to her malignant salivary gland was Jesus’ image! The woman had been extremely nervous throughout her testing process and had called on God for comfort. She said she definitely felt His presence during the remainder of the MRI. So, it was no surprise to her when she got the films and saw His face there in black and white and gray.

Then, tonight on GLEE (a show my husband watches), a young man was making a grilled cheese sandwich and the sandwich came out with…. You guessed it: an image of Jesus in the crust. Now, some would say that the show was not written in the seriousness that most of us would consider “spiritual”. But, the script included some kids that really believed in God, others that didn’t believe at all, and some that were just plain confused. So, if nothing else, I thought the show at least tried to keep close to the real world! But, anyway, because both of these thing happened on the same day, I got to thinking. Why? Because, I don’t think anything happens by coincidence.

In a time when “we” (a country) are forced to fight in an appellate court for the right to continue to say prayers during our Presidential Inaugurations… for the right to display The Ten Commandments… for the right to continue to have our monetary system remain “in the trust of our God”… and all the other rights that we continue to fight for, it is refreshing to see two different television channels air these types of stories.

I’m not asking you to believe that the image on the MRI is, in fact, Jesus. That is a personal decision that you will have to make on your own. And, I’m not asking you to take a stand one way or the other regarding prayer in school or anything else like that – that’s a political choice and I really don’t wanna go there. All I know is that when I see stories like the two I’ve mentioned; it fills me with hope. Hope that the world can be a better a place… and I want to be a part of that place.

By the way... Thanks V

Don’t make me laugh…

I was reading my devotion today – Genesis 18. The story was about when Abraham was nearly 100 years old and God told him that he still would be given a son by his wife, Sarah. What did Abraham do when he heard this information? He laughed. Then, not too much later, Sarah (about 90 yrs old) overheard the Lord explaining to Abraham exactly when the child would come. What did she do? She laughed! Both Abraham and Sarah laughed because they believed they were too old to conceive a child. But by their innocent laughing they basically were limiting their faith in God’s ability to work through them.

Have you ever had someone asked you to work in some sort of ministry for God and you felt you weren’t qualified? Have you ever had a calling in your heart from God to move into a certain ministry? What has held you back? If it was your insecurities of your abilities – remember that God works through us. When we say that we can’t do something, we are limiting God! We are limiting the Holy Spirit!

There have been times in my teachings with children, as a Sunday school teacher, that I have had no idea where the answers to their questions have come from – they have not come from me… they were supplied to me from God. For instance, a child would ask me where something was in the Bible and the answer would just flow out of my mouth. I had not memorized the verse before that day. God had supplied that answer for that child. That is what I mean when I say God works through us!

I hope we will all offer ourselves to God and His plan for us. I think we can find true happiness if we follow what we are destine to be. .. And surround each other for support!

Compelled to Respond

I don’t understand – with commercials on television about every 10 minutes and billboards posted all the place and pamphlets available at every doctor’s office, etc – why people still don’t understand that depression is a mental illness. It’s been scientifically proven that depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance, yet so many people still have a hard time believing that a person doesn’t have control over their emotions… that a person can't choose whether they are happy or not.

Well, today I ran across a post on a friend’s “facebook” page, and after I read everything that she (and everyone else) wrote about depression, I couldn’t help but make a comment. Anyway, she wrote: 300 million prescriptions are written for antidepressants in the US each year. In the land of opportunity and wealth and prosperity, why are so many people depressed!!!!!....just watched the true story "Prozac Nation" and it just irritates me how EASY it is to get drugs from a doctor!!!!

Some of the responses to her post were as follows:
*People focus on the negative instead of the positive and wonder why they're depressed. This IS the land of opportunity, if you work hard and try to look on the bright side of things you can get through the rough parts. And I have been through of few rough parts myself but know things will always get better.
*I agree totally. I get so sick of hearing how stressed people are. Everyone's lives are busy that is what makes life fun. Consider yourself lucky that you have things to do. That is what makes life fun and exciting!!
*I don't go around moping how horrible things in my life are and do not believe the hype that they try to sell us that a pill will make you happier. As you both said, focus on the positive and get out and live. We all will be put to the test at some point or another in our lives but there are lessons to be learned. I, myself want to feel and not be numbed by medications. That does not help you heal but does make someone a lot of money!!!
*Even though I've had feelings of being depressed, I'll never have and I never will take any medications!

Well, after reading all of the above comments, I felt compelled to make my own comment:

Sorry to disagree with you folks, but I do live life to the fullest and I must take medication for depression. I ended up in a hospital on suicide watch when I didn't take my medication. Clinical depression is not a choice that people make and it cannot be turned off by focusing on the positive... it is a chemical imbalance in the brain. I would be the first one to say that mediation is not always the first answer to everything but I also think it is irresponsible to say that people like myself can just snap out of it and choose to get on with life. We can't.

Now, I do agree that some people do like to dwell in the misery of life… and some patients are over-medicated. But it worries me when generalized statements - like the ones that my facebook bud and her friends posted - show up somewhere that a huge population can see, because that could cause someone to not seek their doctor's advice about medication. Just another taboo, I guess. It’s bad enough that people are sometimes made to feel ashamed for suffering from a mental illness – they're also made to feel ashamed for seeking relief from that same illness.

I know it can be embarrassing to discuss the fact that you are on medication for a mental disease or that you need therapy. But, my outlook is this: The taboo will only go away if we talk about it. It only takes one person to talk about. WE can change the way people look at this subject… one person at a time; one day at a time. Education is a powerful tool!

Can animals get depressed?

My husband was reading “The Local Weekly” yesterday. He shared some interesting facts that somehow in my forty-four years of life had escaped me. For instance, Scientists have proven that cows that have been named by their owners produce more milk. And, how about this little piece of information? Chickens can suffer from depression.

Now, I have to admit, I kinda chuckled as I heard the latter of these two tidbits of scientific data. Don’t get me wrong. I believe animals have feelings. I see it in my dog’s eyes when I’m leaving the house and they want to go with me. I see it when they are scared of a stranger or thunderstorms or the vet and they look to me for comfort. I’m a huge activist for animals in shelters, etc. But, I guess I was caught off guard when my husband read about chickens being depressed. I don’t even know what kind of test they would do to determine those results. I would assume it would be similar to any other animal.

Then, today a really funny thing happened. We were watching a special on television about dairy farms. Sure enough, the farmers were reinforcing what the magazine stated (about the cows, not the chickens). If cows are “happy”, they will produce more milk. As a result, a lot of dairy farms have switched the way they manage their day to day activities. The animals are allowed to be milked when they want and they can roam the farm instead of being kept in stalls. The farmers are happier and the cows are happier.

Well, I know that depression can affect many aspects of a person’s life. And, I have seen a pet after an owner or a member of their “pack” has passed away. The affect is basically the same. Plus, I know that I am more productive when I am happy. Evidently, cows are too! So, is it too far a stretch to think that maybe we (people and animals) may be wired somewhat the same emotionally?

And then I started thinking... Why is it so easy for me to think that my dogs have feelings, yet I chuckled when I heard that chickens may suffer from depression? Is it because I don't have any chickens living with me day after day? Is it because I eat chicken for dinner? I eat beef, though not that often,(I just don't care for it that much), but I totally believed the story about happy cows. I don't know why I feel the way I do. I just thought the whole thing was pretty interesting. I hope you did, too.

The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer is the common name for an originally untitled prayer by the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

The best-known form is:

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

The extended version:

God, grant us the...
Serenity to accept things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference
Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.