A LOSS IN OUR DAILY LIVES

Somehow, through the years, the giving of respect and dignity for one another has dissipated. There was courtesy shared between all. Now, it seems it is only given to those within our own cast of people. A group of adults who have their children in a private school would not associate with those who receive a public education and vice versa. Criticisms are stated if one is not within a social group. Even the simple ‘hello’ shouted out to one another on the street has disappeared, keeping eyes straight ahead, as one passes by.
We have all heard about the woman collapsing in the emergency room, with no one going over to assist her, passing away right there. No one bothered to tend to her even then. Everyone seems to be lost in his or her own little worlds.
Now, not everyone is like this, but is happening more often. When I was in college, people popped by to meet one another at the table in the dining hall or calling out a greeting as all were rushing to classes. In the classroom itself, there were more friendly greetings. Within minutes, names were exchanged and new friendships formed. My daughter, in her third year of school, said this does not happen anymore. At the beginning of her freshman year, she was assigned to a suite of four bedrooms, with a common kitchen and living space. I imagined all kinds of fun going on through the school year, as they shared stories over popcorn and hot chocolate. Instead, no one would speak to one another! My daughter tried, but they were not interested. One night, at the end of school, she called excitedly, to say one of them asked her to join her and her friends for a movie and popcorn. To think it took nine months for this to happen! A friend told me a similar story of her own daughter, at another university. Tears have been shed, saying no one wants to get together to ‘hang out, all wanting to stay with friends previously known. Her daughter is a precious young woman; I would be running up to say hi, eager to have her as a friend.
The homeless are also ignored. I told my teens the story of a homeless man leaning against the wall near the entrance of our Church. He was seated, his back against the wall, on this cold evening. His head was down, as if he was asleep. He had on a dirty hat, filthy pants and hands, an orange and a dollar bill near his feet. My children were quite young, gasping to see him, eyes having a look of fear in them. I quietly told them not to stare and to say a prayer for a safety as we hurried by. During the priest’s homily that evening, this man began to walk down the aisle, using a tree branch for a walking stick. You could hear the shuffle of everyone in their seats and little gasps of surprise, as he continued to walk down the aisle, head down. Not one of us reached out to help him. He stopped in front of the priest.
Father told us this man was actually not homeless, that it was an experiment to see how the congregation would respond to him. He asked how many of us had seen him, with all hands going up in the air. He then asked how many stopped to see if he was okay. Now, the hands went down. Father said only one person had stopped, to give him his coat, taking it off his own warm body to place over him. All of us felt rightfully ashamed. How could we treat another of God’s creatures as we did? Father asked the owner of the coat to come retrieve it; a 15-year-old young man walked down the aisle! Think that a teenager did respect him with dignity, but the rest of us hurriedly walked by! Yes, I told my children not to stare and to say a prayer, but I did not open my purse to hand over a few bills!
I asked my current group of teens if they see a certain homeless man walking the streets of our town. One of them asked if I was describing the man who wore a dirty coat. I affirmed that was the one. He said all the kids call him “Smilin’ Joe,” as he was always smiling as he walked. I thought that was a great name, but his real name is George. My husband saw him standing outside the store one day, asking him if he could buy him a cup of coffee. He readily accepted. As he spoke, my husband said what a beautiful, deep voice he had. At one time, he had a terrific job with a great salary, but those days are now gone. He chose to walk everywhere and anywhere each day, no mission in mind. He was not an evil character, an alcoholic, or involved in drugs. He survived by people handing him a dollar for a burrito, sandwiches given to him or enjoying that cup of coffee. If my husband had not stopped to share a moment with him, we would have never known this special someone, practicing a life of endurance, character and hope, just as God would have each of us experience. He was more of an example of living in the image of God than many of us. We need to adopt that smile he gives everyone, not carrying a bad thought in his mind. This is what dignity is actually about.
Of course, I did have a friend who walked over to someone in a restaurant who looked homeless, handing him a cup of coffee. The man was puzzled why she would do such a thing. She responded to not worry about it, just enjoy the coffee. She continued to watch the man from her table. Soon, a cashier came over with several sacks of food, saying his phone order was ready! The man asked why that woman gave him the coffee; he was not even sure if he should drink it, unsure of its contents. The cashier smiled to say the coffee was okay, a nice customer wanted to help someone out! As she told the story to several of us, we could not stop laughing. We said maybe that he wanted to dress up a little more before he went to pick up ‘carry out!’ However, she did reach out, again not caring about one’s background!
God created each of us in His image. We carry His Spirit within our hearts; people have forgotten this. We are blessed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Yet, we do not always practice the gentleness of God as we go through our days. Our minds tend to overflow with matters in our own lives, rather than realizing everyone needs to have that human touch. It does not matter whether one is rich or poor, dirty or clean, ill or well, of one ethnicity and not another, a busybody or a quiet person. What matters is how God wants us to be in our daily lives, to do for others what you want them to do for you, God’s Golden Rule.
It is hard to get rid of old habits, but pray to God to help us make needed changes, giving everyone to have a life filled with dignity, kindness, love and respect.

BUSY, BUSY

I have not been keeping up with my writing. This is not good, as it indicates I am not growing spiritually. God has not been able to fill me with His words because I have not taken the time to listen to Him. I have put other things first. Reflecting on what I have been doing, other than my normal routine, leaves my mind blank. It indicates I have put trivial things before praying with God, so trivial I do not even remember what they were.
It is quite easy to get too involved with the mundane executions of daily life. Sleeping an extra hour, reading the two newspapers and solving the daily puzzles as I sip my tea, tending to the dogs and picking up the house are only a few activities on how I fill my day.I am embarrassed to say how long I may stay on the computer, or trying to fix a problem this laptop gives me. One daughter wants me only to text message her from my cell, wasting another bit of time. Why do I give in? Because no matter how much I try to call instead, she will not pick up the phone. I toss it back and forth, asking myself, which will take the least amount of time, to text or to keep trying to call her. Since this is her only bit of rebellion as a teenager, I go along.
Back to what I was saying, on not having my time with God. I do talk about God a lot, conducting classes five days a week, sometimes twice a day. I make my lesson plans, being well prepared. However, this still is not giving me the special time God and I need together, just the two of us. I have managed to put Him on the back burner. Prayer time while I do my routine at the pool has been eliminated. This is hurting God in two ways; I am not having my talk time with Him and I am not taking care of the body He has given me. I preach to others about obeying the Two Great Commandments of loving God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and loving my neighbor as myself. He has blessed me with a beautiful spirit, intertwined with His, yet I am not nourishing it, tending to it so I may continue to grow in my love for Him. I have managed to place many obstacles in the path, preventing His love and kindness to prosper within my soul.
I must return to practicing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, those of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. It is okay to quit rushing to meet my self-made expectations. Maybe I will be able to cross everything off on my list of things to do, but what good is it if I have made no time for God? He is part of me in everything I do, yet I do not pause to praise Him and His mighty works. A dark void will overpower me if I continue to live my life this way. Maybe this has already happened to people I pass on the street, why they are not smiling and their eyes are sad.
Prayer needs to be my focal point,forgetting about those things on my list that I want to check off. Instead, 'pray' should be written at the top, middle and end of my list! Recently, I came across a “Three Minute Prayer,” by Father Lukefahr. In the first minute,he says to think about a wonderful blessing you have received in the past 24 hours. Thank God for this blessing. In the second minute, think about a significant failing you had in the past 24 hours. Ask Jesus to forgive you. In the third minute, think about a challenge you are to meet in the next 24 hours, praying to the Holy Spirit to help and guide you as you accept the challenge. As for my challenge,I ask the Holy Spirit to help me erase the obstacles I have placed on the path to prayer. Let Him guide me, as I pray to Jesus for forgiveness, not making God my priority. May I put one foot in front of the other, taking small steps, allowing me to feel His presence as I open up the door to let Him in.

FLUSTERY DAY

While Winnie the Pooh talks of a blustery day, it occurred to me that what I had yesterday was a ‘flustery’ day. In my mind, I had my day planned out, which included getting ready for my afternoon class at my church. I would create a guide sheet as part of my lesson, to go along with the video we would watch. My plan was to print up my guide sheet, get everything together for my class, then go over to the nearby pool for a swim before I left for the church. This would give me time to pray, which I do as I swim, leaving me in a very calm and relaxing mood.
My computer and printer had other ideas. A little box came onto my computer screen to tell me there was ‘incompatibility’ with the printer. No, this could not be happening! I needed this guide sheet in order for me to facilitate my class! An hour and a half went by, with me continuing to make my printer and computer friends once again. I became a bit ‘stressed,’ knowing I needed this guideline for my class, with the time now creeping up upon me. Desperate, I called my husband at work, who nicely said he would come home to help me. He never did get my computer and the printer to like one another, but he was able to take my material, transfer it to his computer, and get it printed for me. Now, there were only minutes to spare before I had to rush out the door. Being late are two words not in my vocabulary.
So much for my planned schedule. There was no time for that swim or my prayer time. I put on spiritual music in the car, to get me calmed down. I was flustered, but did not want to be so by the time I got to the church. I settled into the room my group meets, only to find out I left my workbook of notes at home. I could see in my mind exactly where it was, right beside my laptop. I was able to make do, talking to the group for part of the session, saying it was then time to put on the video. I told them how fast the people talked in the video, making it hard to take in all they were telling us; thus, the guide sheet they could easily follow as they listened. At this point, I let out an, “Oh, no! The video is still sitting in my machine at home!” The group had to start laughing, as they know how I am usually too organized, to the point of being obsessive compulsive. It is in my nature to make sure everything runs perfectly.
I said I would conduct the class from the guide sheet, elaborating on each point. As I did so, it brought out unexpected dialogues among the group, ones that would not have been expressed had there been the video. Words said were vital, emotional and quite moving. I actually saw it was good I forgot that tape. Feelings of others would have remained trapped inside of them if there had not been the opportunity to speak. It is much easier to speak out in conversation than interrupting what is occurring on the screen.
A nun once told me there is no such thing as coincidences. This was a perfect example of God being there, taking a part in all of this. He seemed to know that though I was out of my comfort zone, it provided moments for others to step in, sharing beautiful, spiritual, moments with one another. My ‘flusterly’ day ended up being a good one. However, I do hope my printer and laptop will reunite, liking one another forevermore.

UNEXPECTED LAUGHTER

As I have mentioned before, it is fun to laugh, as it is good it can be for the spirit and soul. A story of the past came forward yesterday, as we had egg salad sandwiches for our Easter picnic. We had plenty of hard-boiled eggs, decorating them the day before. I recalled the time of one our teens was baking in the kitchen, while my husband and I sat in the next room. Another sibling went out to the kitchen, noticing eggshells among the batter in the mixing bowl. Puzzled, it was asked why there was egg shells mixed in. The answer, stated seriously, was that the recipe asked for egg whites! My husband and I could barely contain ourselves as we heard the answer. Our child told the sibling what egg whites meant. Bursts of laughter erupted from the kitchen. We then knew we could let out our stifled laughter. I still laugh every time I recall the story.
Another memory takes me to the time one of our children, about age six, told me about kneeling down beside the bed each night before crawling into bed. I thought that was wonderful, asking what was said while kneeling there. The response was, “The Pledge of Allegiance.” I had to turn my head, as if I had noticed something across the room, so my grin would not be seen.
I have my own story or two of a simple situation becoming one of hysterical laughter. I had just started working as a legal secretary for the State Attorney General’s Office. There was an office luncheon held at a fancy restaurant my first week of work, to recognize accomplishments of certain employees. As I sat in my chair, I rested my feet on the horizontal bar between the two front legs. I have no idea how I did it, but somehow, my feet, inside knee-high boots, slipped behind that front bar. I could not get them out! The woman on the right side of me asked what the matter was, as she saw me wiggling as I sat. I quietly told her what I had done. Bending down, she tried to pull them out, but could not. The lady on the left side of me noticed something going on, and joined in with the other gal to help release my feet. I sat there, completely helpless. Soon, others asked what was going on. Of course, the laughter had started, as more found out about the new employee on board, the restaurant full of our staff. Finally, two assistant attorney generals, wearing their three-piece suits, had to crawl under the table on their backs, working quite some time to get my feet free once again. Forget about all those awards of recognition. I took the cake. Nothing like the most recent staff member putting on a comedy show! We all returned to work that afternoon, about 60 of us. Lawyers continued to come into my office the rest of the afternoon, unable to work, as they were still laughing, picturing me stuck in the chair.
God has blessed me with a wonderful sense of humor, one where I can share a laugh as easily as laughing at myself. Life is serious enough already. God puts in this little nuances in life to serve as a reminder that it is okay to let go and enjoy the life He has provided us.

THE SHACK

I just finished reading the novel, The Shack, by Wm. Paul Young. It is a spiritual book, one I will be recommending to many. The story starts with one family’s sadness. Because of it, there is a learning how God is with us at all times, not against us, when something terrible happens. The father in the story is in anger, which anyone of us would be, if we experienced a similar tragedy. Taking on human images, God, His Son and the Holy Spirit go through the process of talking to the father, all taking place at a mountain shack, close to the place where the sadness began.

This is a beautifully written book. I read it in two days, not wanting to stop. One feels as if God is actually speaking.  In a way He is, using the author to have His words expressed. It makes sense in all that is said, in this 248 page book. I was surprised to see it had this many pages when I put the book down, as it seemed less than 100, with one page flowing to the next. I sound as if I am writing a review for the author. It is more I am writing a review of how wonderful God is, even in times of terror and agony. It helps me understand what those who have passed away unexpectedly are saying to us, and gives the reason for forgiveness so one may continue a wondrous life with God.  It is written in ‘down to earth’ terminology  on what we are to do and how it can help those left behind.

I just finished it, but I would not mind picking it up and reading it again, right at this very moment.  There are endless words of wisdom told to the father of the story, ones we can easily and readily apply in our own lives.

It is a book apropos to this very day, Good Friday. Here is an innocent person, Jesus Christ, going through agony, ridicule, betrayal, torture and death. Jesus prays for forgiveness of those who tormented Him.  We wonder how He could do this. Yet, it is explained with such tenderness, love and beauty in this book. It makes me love Christ more than I already do. For those who know me, you are aware how much I love our God. What a huge impact this simple book can leave on the soul.

As I read the book, I could feel my cheeks begin to feel a bit sensitive; it was because I was smiling all the while because of the words written.  I feel myself still smiling at this very moment! You will think of those you love, having much more acceptance of all of God’s children, no matter where they are in their lives, whether good or evil.

The Shack has a website, http://www.theshack.com, where you can read a few excerpts from the book. This is a different kind of blog I have written today.  But, oh, what a difference this read can make in your life.  You will not forget it. You will look at life, nature and everything in between in a whole new way.

God Bless all of you, as we feel the passion of Christ today, praising his love, acceptance and forgiveness for all.  We thank our Lord for His abundance of caring, ever-so bountiful kindness and gentleness. We proclaim our love for Him, as He fulfills our spirit and souls with his Spirit, making us face whatever is given to us, no matter how hard it is. We understand that being divine, He is with us wherever we are. We cannot shield ourselves from Him.  He will find us, because of His love for us, never wanting us to face anything alone. We are part of His grace. How joyous it is!

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!!

CHANGES

There are different ways to respond to change. If it is a change of the seasons, there can be excitement, looking forward to what that particular season will bring. A change in careers might also bring excitement, or it may set the nerves stirring, unsure of if the new work environment will be a happy one .
If a member of a family passes away, there is another form of change. A void is there, one that is irreplaceable. Learning how to carry on without the loved one can cause considerable change in someone’s life. With the passing of an individual, there may also be changes for friends, classmates and coworkers. It can mean new seating arrangements, a change in the work distribution, and the possibility of a newly assigned workspace. Most importantly, emotions are strong, with changes happening in the lives of those left behind. My own daughter changed her college goals after the death of a friend this past summer, because of a drunk driver hitting her car, killing three other friends with her. Instead of going into her passion of singing, wanting to become involved in opera, she changed her major to social work, wanting to help any teen going through a struggle after losing a friend.
This leads into another change. Because of a change in her college major, she could change the lives of future teens after the death of a dear friend. God intervened here, we do believe, to have her reach out to others in a different way than previously planned. As parents, we have also changed, excited before about a career in opera, now emotional and proud of her, turning to a life of service.
Changes continue. However, at times, the change is not accepted very well. How many times do we enter a meeting, commuter train or bus, always taking the same placement at the table or the same chair in a specific row of seats, only to find someone new there, sitting in OUR SPOT! We are not happy about this. Just who do they think they are? After the meeting, there is still talk. How can someone take precedence when it is MY seat! It can throw off the whole day! I will just have to give a GLARE to this person…as if the person could understand the purpose of this look of anger!
One of the places where the blood pressure rises if ‘our seat’ is taken is at church. How funny it is, to think this is where we can we get quite emotional. Instead of welcoming the newcomer, we look at them with disdain. Here we are, in the house of God, being angry with our brethren, all over a seat! I would love to see the look on God’s face as we make our own faces and react through our words of demise, of not getting to sit where we always do. It can ruin the whole service. Everything looks different, including the people surrounding us. How can we make it through the hour? A shifting of the legs, arms folded across our chests, shows how unacceptable it is to have to make a move.
Rather, we should be glad to meet the people surrounding our new seats, enjoying the different ‘scenery.’ We might be surprised how the change can be good for us. In change, we can be refreshed, looking at something new. It is not the ‘same ol,’ ‘same ol,’ where we can almost forget where we are. With the change, we can observe things we had not noticed before, possibly something that could change our lives. Meeting a new ‘seatmate’ could lead to a new friendship. Instead of looking at it with such negativity, it is good to see the positive side of this change. It might even mean one would like to return once again to the new seat. Let the newcomers keep the previous, permanent spot. Enjoy the new surroundings. Of course, this may mean we have taken the spot of other ‘permanent residents!’ We can look at the other with a smile, reaching out our hands in greeting, or acknowledging with a nod as we show happiness on our faces. Another change is now occurring, as they find a new place to sit. Change can be good. It keeps the body going, giving a dose of refreshment, visiting God in a completely new light!
At the next meeting, class or church service you attend, think about taking a new seat. It is not good to get stuck in a rut. How can we grow if we stay in this rut? Take a different route to work this week! Sit at a different place at the table. Seriously think about sitting at a different place while at a church service! You can start just by moving a seat forward from where you usually are. Do not worry about what others will think. Think about yourself, how you want to be renewed! Others will be renewed, as you make the change to sit elsewhere and so must they. Imagine God’s smile as you decide to get to know Him through a different view! There is nothing like envisaging a smile from God!

TEA

I love to sip a cup of tea. It is most relaxing. I start my day with a cup of Irish Breakfast tea, using loose tea placed in a small , empty tea bag, made for such a purpose. Mid-morning, I might go for the Earl Grey tea, finding it soothing as I work on a hobby, read or plan a lesson. It can raise my spirits, leaving me calm and good -natured, getting my creative juices flowing.
Remaining in high spirits, it is time to tackle the laundry, clean up the kitchen and perform other mundane household duties. I usually have the house in silence as I work, taking this time to say prayers for those going through rough times and to have my conversations with God. My conversations are as if I was talking to my best friend, which in a way, I am! I may be expressing gratitude for the previous day’s activities, or telling Him how I will need to come up with the right words to use while teaching a class for my Church.
Time goes quickly by. After my lunch, I may finish it off with a cup of red bush tea. This gives me energy to start my afternoon plans. I will likely be venturing out to the Church, to facilitate an adult group of students, sharing what I have learned with them. Often, I bring my thermos cup of brown rice tea with me, to keep my voice from getting hoarse, while at the same time, giving me a bit of nourishment to remain at my high level of excitement as I teach.
The rest of the day zooms by. It may consist of working with one more religious ed. student out of my home, a child unable to make it to Church classes. I offer a cup of peppermint tea to my young lady, while I have apple cinnamon tea. We wrap our hands around our mugs, sipping them as we discuss together different Bible stories, curled up on the couch, facing one another as we converse.
Tea is something I would offer to all my groups of students while I was still teaching full time. They loved it, sipping green tea with honey as I taught. Some had never seen a teabag before, ripping it open to pour into their cups. They quickly learned from their peers how to use the teabag properly. These same young people came to visit me, years after they were in my class, asking for a cup of tea while we visited. What a nice way to reconnect, making a pause in a busy life, to sit and enjoy the company of another.
We tend to forget about the simple things in life, such as enjoying that cup of tea. God wants us to nourish our bodies and our souls, rather than rushing around so. It does not take long to enjoy a cup, but it can bring a long-lasting effect upon one. Others feel the calmness, responding in the same way, letting the tenseness leave the shoulders and neck. This calmness can be passed on to the next individual, and so forth. It is the way God’s world should be, rather than getting angry because of the slow driver in front of us, or the person who takes forever to write a check and post it in the ledger before allowing us to reach the clerk at the counter. Even picturing that cup of tea in a time of tenseness can let the anxiety dissipate.
Spoil yourself. It is actually okay! Go find a favorite mug and purchase some fun flavors of tea. Grab a relaxing book, take off the shoes, cozy up on the couch, sip your tea and enjoy the moment! It is just what God has ordered!

MY LIST

Several years ago, a friend shared with me what her son does when he says he will pray for another. He writes down the name of the person. What a splendid idea, I told her. Since then, I have done the same. I write the names in my prayer journal, not allowing me to lose my list. Someone I know may pass me on the sidewalk, asking me to pray for a daughter, son, parent or friend. I immediately ask the name of this loved one, writing it down. Later, as I run into the individual making the request, I can ask how this person is doing, addressing the individual by name. I usually get a look of surprise, that not only am I remembering the request, but also that I recall the person’s name within the request.
My prayer list grows continually. At times, I may add the name of the same person twice. One month, it may be for a particular reason, while several months later, it is for something completely different. I never let go of the previous names on the list; I figure the more prayers someone has, the more one may be blessed!
All of us say to another, “You’ll be in my prayers.” We go home, having a distant vision in our memory, of someone asking us for an extra prayer. It is easy to say, “God, pray for all of those people asking for an extra prayer.” Imagine how nice it is, to address these people by name! It allows me extra time to contemplate how special each of God’s creations is. At times, it is especially sad, knowing I am praying for a deceased member of the said family, such as a young teenager after having an unexpected illness, for a parent, or for someone going through the wraths of cancer.
Other times, I add names on my own. I will write individuals on my list, hearing of a trip they are about to take, an illness or the passing of someone dear to the family. Little do they know I have written down their names, thinking about them and asking God to help them carry their burdens, sadness and joys. Recently, I ran into someone whom I knew had been going through a hard time. I asked how she was doing, truly interested in the heavy loads she is carrying. In today’s busy world, it is easy to put everyone under one umbrella, rather than thinking of them as individuals with single concerns. Though she was rushed, she stopped to talk, as she was not used to someone showing interest in her sorrows.
It enlightened me, seeing how much it means to others, to show a personal interest in the concerns of another. My writing of the names is not for me; it is for those who are calling out extra prayers to God, in times of need. Think about writing down those names. You will see how much you grow in your words to God! You may be helping those in need more than you will ever know!

BJ

I continue to write about what a young person has said to me. My only wish is that I had kept a journal through all my years of teaching, on what they taught me through their innocent words. This time, I am telling you about BJ.
BJ was my quiet fifth grader. It was my third year to have him, in a low-level class I instructed. He was like a teddy bear, with a sweet face, a bit overweight, a child who never got excited about anything. His temperament was gentle, always speaking in the same, rather monotonous, voice.
He was in a class of eight boys. If you know boys, you are aware of them not being able to sit still for too long. They like to be active, releasing their never-ending energy. But not BJ. He was content, observing his classmates, as they participated with excitement in my planned activities. Because I had had the same eight boys for three years, we were like family, not hesitant to say anything in a dialogue. Sweet BJ would take it all in, but rarely wanted to join us in our discourses. During our fun and stimulating discussions, with the boys calling out answers to my questions, BJ would not say a word. Once, I went over to him, going through some motions as if I was playing charades, and asked him if he could figure out what I was attempting to say. He could not. I had pretended to light a match, placing it under his desk. I said I was trying to light a fire under him to make him become alive. Knowing my sense of humor, he and the other boys gave me a big grin. The fire quickly went out. That was okay, as BJ made me have a grin, being just himself.
To see if my students have retained what I have taught, I throw a beanbag to one of them, asking a question as I toss it. They are to answer the question once they have the beanbag in their hands. This is what I was doing one afternoon, after having an extensive unit on the journey of Lewis and Clark. We had spent weeks learning about their two-year expedition, with many exciting activities completed. The boys had great retention of their travels between 1804 and 1806.
Throwing the beanbag to BJ, I asked him to tell me when Lewis and Clark returned from their journey. For several seconds, he was pondering upon the question, his eyes telling me he was searching for the answer in his mind. Ah, a reply suddenly came to him. He announced, “About eight o’clock!”
Once again, BJ made me grin! What could I say? Maybe they did return at that time. What a precious answer! I did tell him that they might have returned around eight, but it was not quite the answer I was looking for.
What is great is that BJ never tried to be anything else but himself. It is the way God wanted him to be. So often, people try to be like another being, hoping they will fit in better to the norm of society. However, this is not what God wants. He gave each of us a special gift, placing it in our souls at the moment of conception. It is up to us to open this gift and share it with all. BJ did a beautiful job of sharing his gift. He brought smiles to many, using his spirit in the way God planned.

THE MESSAGE BEHIND THE STORY

This is the time of year where we hear the story of the prodigal son. It is a well-known parable, giving us a powerful message. There are family involved, actions of the family, and reactions to actions taken. It was only within the last five years that I looked up the word ‘prodigal’ in the dictionary. All along, I have to admit, I thought the word had meant something along the line of a wandering person, wanting to spread one’s wings. I was surprised to see it meant someone who spent lavishly and extravagantly. I have shared this definition with both the young and old. Many are surprised to find out the true definition, all thinking as I did in terminology. Learning the meaning adds to the dimension of the story.
We have one brother who stays home, doing all of the duties formerly shared by both siblings. He does just what his father asks, obeying him in every sense of the word. In the meantime, we have the other brother who could not care less about helping his father, out having a good time, spending the money, which was to be his after his father passed away.
However, the money runs out and suddenly it is not fun anymore. The only path to take now is the one that will take him home. He likely does a great deal of thinking during his journey, being ashamed for his actions. He has hurt his father, made his brother do all the tremendous work involved in keeping a property in good shape, and spent money that actually was not rightfully his until after the death of his dad. Oh, how his head must be hanging low!
To top it off, the father can only stare out at the vast land, hoping that someday his son will return. He cannot help the other son work the land, as he is too forlorn at the loss of his child, wondering if he will ever come back home. Granted, he did give the inheritance to him early. Maybe he thought he would spend the money wisely, making him proud, trusting him to do so.
Alas! He is there in the horizon, only a tiny figure, slowly walking, almost home to make amends with his father and brother. “Dad” gets excited, telling his staff to get ready for a big celebration for this lost soul. Wait a minute! What about the son at home, serving him all this time? As one student said to me, “What a rip off!”
After prayer and conversing with God, I began to understand more fully what was going on here. While one son did all the motions of being a good son, never pausing to question all of his assigned duties in honoring his father, the other son returned going through the Emotions to care rightfully for his parent. He was willing to become a servant, if that is what it would take.
His father was ready to forgive, wanting him to wear the shoes and robe of a family member, not be barefooted as the servants were. He was welcomed back into the family, forgiven for his past actions.
One message here is that all of us need to take a step back and think if we are going through just the motions when we are there for another, or are we putting our emotions into what we do, nourishing our actions with love and care. What a difference it can make! The recipient can feel the love, rather than feeling only a void, duties taking on mechanical movements.
Another message also comes forth, that of forgiving instead of holding a grudge. No matter how awful another has been, we need to let go of the anger the loved one has caused us. This is what God wants us to do, accepting the apology on one another. Someday, we may be the ones asking for forgiveness. Imagine your remorse, yet the other party only continuing to turn his back on you.
God would never turn His back on any of us, nor should we do so to others. No matter how bad it is, God will forgive. He does want us to repent. He knows when we are sorry. His love will grow stronger within one. There is a lightness upon the shoulders as forgiveness is given and accepted. In its place is character, wisdom, love and a new strength within our spiritual souls to live our lives in the image of God.