A ROUGH DAY

Making a moral decision does not always come with a sigh of relief. It may make others unhappy, even cause the loss of a friendship. Obstacles can temporarily get in the way of accomplishing the selected choice, but staying fast and true to the self is what counts. It is something that will become teachable to the children and grandchildren in the years to come, showing how one did make it over the tough times, never losing a sense of dignity. It is a time to hold the head up high, always having God’s faith to carry His loving child through another rough day. ~Marie T. Morrison~

HAPPINESS-with typos corrected!

Happiness is having God in our hearts.
Happiness is feeling God's happiness in our hearts.

Happiness is finding the soul-mate God planned for us.
Happiness is making a life-long commitment with this soul-mate.

Happiness is having soul-mates create an extension of themselves.
Happiness is watching these little beings develop their own gifts from God.

Happiness is having a toddler, not talking yet, taking my hand, to show me a ladybug.
Happiness is that though this tiny child cannot talk yet, can speak volumes within the silence.

Happiness is seeing the glistening dew as the sun rises.
Happiness is looking at the oranges and yellows cast upon the land as the sun sets.

Happiness is running into an old friend.
Happiness is having long conversations with this old friend, reminiscing about the past,
While also talking about what has happened since then.

Happiness is making a new friend.
Happiness is laughing, talking, and crying, with the new friend.

Happiness is stepping outside to get the morning newspaper, hearing the singing of birds,
After a long, long winter.
Happiness is watching the birds come to bird feeders, arriving in-mass,
To enjoy a meal.

Happiness is having a beautiful garden, filled with flowers of every kind and color.
Happiness is knowing my spouse will be the one to pull the weeds in the garden,
along with tending to every care and need.

Happiness is having my first words uttered each morning be,
“Good morning, God!”
Happiness is having my last words uttered each night be,
 “Good night, God!  Thank you for another day!”

Happiness is listening to the music I love.
Happiness is feeling how the music reaches deep into my soul.

Happiness is seeing my child smiling on stage,
Performing in front of an audience.
Happiness is having the emotions flow
As I watch my child.

Happiness is seeing the silhouettes of distant mountains,
Admiring in awe their massiveness.
Happiness is reaching the base of the mountains,
Feeling the earth under my feet.

Happiness is hearing the crickets chirp,
A sound of summer.
Happiness is that hearing how many chirps there are in 30 seconds, and adding 15 to it,
I will know what the temperature is at that moment.

Happiness is loving the beautiful shade trees of summer.
Happiness is sitting under those trees, having a delicious picnic.

Happiness is reading a good book.
Happiness is remembering what made the book special many years later.

Happiness is lending out a good book to a friend.
Happiness is hearing the friend share the same excitement as I had while reading it.

Happiness is being with the grandparents.
Happiness is listening to their stories of their younger years.

Happiness is a blue, blue sky.
Happiness is admiring the majestic clouds,
Sitting magnificently in the sky.

Happiness is having a good work-out.
Happiness is being glad when the work-out time is over.

Happiness is winning a competition.
Happiness is seeing how all those practices paid off.

Happiness is viewing the vast ocean and the beauty of it,
Casting off rays of greens and blues.
Happiness is sitting on the soft beach sand,
Hearing the waves splash, the cold water reaching my feet as I daydream.

Happiness is having a delightful conversation with God.
Happiness is hearing what God has to say to me during our dialogue.

Happiness is knowing God never leaves me alone,
Happiness is knowing God always helps me carry my burdens.

Happiness is being given a challenge to stretch my mind, body and soul.
Happiness is accomplishing the challenges I was given,
Recognizing God had a hand in it.

Happiness is playing a board game with family.
Happiness is enjoying the laughter and conversation
As the game is played, bringing everyone close together.

Happiness is seeing the golden leaves of fall.
Happiness is hearing the giggle of children,
As they are covered with fallen leaves.

Happiness is noticing a flowing mountain river.
Happiness is sitting on a rock in the middle of the river,
Writing a letter to a loved one.

Happiness is watching the snow fall.
Happiness is loving the wintry scene only God could give us.

Happiness is knowing all that makes me happy are gifts from God.
Happiness is praising God, thanking Him for the wonderful life He provides for all.

ONE MORE

I do get phone calls, asking if I will help another child or teen to get up to speed, concerning what is behind our faith.  I never tire of these calls. Rather, I get excited, willingly ready to bring one more to the faith. I have found that I really do not bring only that one closer to God, I bring in the family. This has not my intention, yet I find what I say is then shared with others.  What a bonus from God!

Teaching about my faith is my passion. We all have passions. It may be the art of cooking, an art of helping another understand algebra, or an art of getting others involved in community service. I am blessed with the art of rhetoric, in the subject matter of how important God is in every moment of our lives. The more I understand about God, the more I want to share my knowledge with others. I go beyond the miracles of God, saying how we can have Him actively in our everyday lives.

I have been awed in how He has helped me; now I must awe others, through the Word  of God. It is fascinating to see how He is there, though we do not t expect Him to be. As I share my thoughts with others, it can bring an ‘aha!’ moment, or a smile on the face. All of us need a tap on the shoulder, telling us how God is there, even though we are not thinking about it at that specific moment.

All of us need to go beyond ourselves, seeing how we can help our brethren. Feel the touch of God, and reach out to others, through our words and through our actions. After all, we are to live our lives in the image of God. Take these words seriously.  Think about each thought, word or action taken. Is this how God wants us to deliver the message? Sometimes, we might catch ourselves, realizing what we are doing is really is not the way God wants us to be.  At these moments, we can only smile, asking God for forgiveness. If He sees our sincerity, we will be absolved, but we must continue on, living in the way God prefers.

I may be giving words of kindness to a nine year old, a 16 year old or someone who is 60. I never look at what I share as my words. They are what God has asked me to say. He continually talks to me, communicating His thoughts through me.  It is a privilege to share His Words. He has given me a gift, to make what He has to say to be of interest to others, to brighten their eyes, wanting them to spark an interest, excited to learn more.

I am not the only one with this gift.  Each person reading this has the same present. We have to do what God wants, not being timid to share His love for everyone. It is not always easy.  But, feel the strength of God, who is with us, no matter the second, minute, or hour of the day!!

ONLY A CHILD

While walking around a bitterly cold and muddy playground one day during recess duty, a little girl about seven came up to me.  She showed me how her thin bare pants had beens splashed by other kids, jumping into a mud puddle to get her wet. My heart was broken twice at that moment; first by her having on such thin, summer pants in the midst of winter, and second by the bullies who did this to her. As the recess bell rang, I told her classmates to tell the teacher I was getting her changed into warm clothes, stashed in my closet for days like these.

I had a classroom of all boys that year. Though they filled they typical wild life of a boy that age, I had also taught them to have respect for anyone and anything. They did not laugh when they saw the soaking wet and muddy child, seeing me reach into the cupboard for a change of clothes.  I handed them to her, saying to bring me the dirty ones back to me after she changed in the restroom, saying I would wash them. She nodded her head no, asking me to make the change her clothes.  I turned to the boys, telling them to put their forehead on the forearm and not look up until I gave the cue to do so. How wonderful they were, turning into silence, not making a peep, never even attempting a peek as we stood as well as we could behind the partially open cupboard door. As I took off her pants, she had on no underwear. Her soaking wet boots had no socks underneath. Her shirt was sleeveless under her threadbare coat. Though I had no underwear to give, I did have socks, a warm pair of pants that fit and a smug turtleneck to get her warm. She returned to class in her new attire, feeling much cozier. My sweet group of boys were allowed to raise their heads, not once talking about what just happened.

 At lunch, I asked the school counselor if she had underwear stored in her room.  She said no, she never bothered to buy any, though had been given funds for such a thing. I proceeded to buy her several pairs of underwear and socks, rushing to a store close by during that lunch period. I found her on the playground and took her into the restroom so she could put on the underwear. We visited a little at this time, telling me she has a brother in sister and the same school, who also don't have socks, underwear or warm clothes. As it was Friday, I told her I would return on Monday with bags of warm clothes for her and the siblings. My idea was to comb our neighborhood, filled with children, asking for donations.  She told me no, none of them would be there on Monday.  I asked her why.  She said her mom was running away from her abusive dad and they had just gotten warning he found out where they were hiding. They had to leave that night for the next women's shelter, found through a hotline the shelters have, telling where there is space.

I was awakened into a whole new world that day. While my children had a safe and sound home, these little things had nothing to call home.  They didn't eveb have anything to properly wear for the season. Likely, they had run out of the house with what clothes they could grab the first, perhaps in the middle of the night. There was a woman's battered women's shelter across the street from our school, no signs indicating it was there among the neighborhood. Just as they had registered they had hoped would be a stay at the school didn't even last 24 hours.

Leaving a life of fright during their plight is a situation none of us want to experience. But, we must help those who do live a miserable life on the road, often in the middle of the night while you and I are sleeping. I have added a few cleaned,stuffed animals to my collection of coats,hats and gloves I carry in the car, to give to those children we seeing standing at intersections or standing helplessly in front of stores. This can give them something which is theres to keep, to cuddle and to love, no matter where they go. They now have a friend which can give them unconditional love. Fixing up backpacks to have their own school paper, ruler, a pen and a pencil,  and a granola bare are also nice to leave at shelters. As with the stuffed animal to hug, they will have a pack of their own, not being teased by others why they don't have one.

May they feel the unconditional love we can give them, through small gestures. Many more of those we may be quick to judge as bums may only have story behind them, such as this little girl. Let us feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be there for God's children, no matter who or what they are. Let us also pray that those who think it is funny to taunt the helpless may feel the love of God, turning their lives around, becoming inspired by His Spirit to help the many in need.

JOY!

Joy!  The sounds of laughter early Christmas morning, as children see what Santa has left.  Joy! Presents being opened, surrounded by loved ones.  Joy! Traditional holiday breakfasts.  Traditional dinners.  Joy! Friends and family stopping by to visit on this happy day.  Joy! Gathering after the big meal to play board games, enjoying one another, sounds of merriment surrounding the room. Joy! Christ the Savior is born!