"All You Need is Love"

 

HATE. I truly believe it is the ugliest word in the English Language. And, it is probably the easiest word to say. As a child, I would say, I hate spinach or I hate taking a bath. My mother would tell me, “You don’t hate spinach, you just don’t like it!” …get in the bathroom! How many of us said, many years ago, “I hate school, or I hate my teacher.”? Maybe we didn’t like them, but hate?

HATE is such a strong word.  Webster’s Dictionary lists quite a few synonyms, but I can’t imagine anyone using any of them. Can you imagine a “peaceful” protestor screaming at a policeman…. “I LOATHE you’’  Or how about, “I DETEST, ABHOR or DESPISE you”?  And, a protestor would never take the time to print out the word ABOMINATE!

HATE is powerful emotion and it is a subject written about by some very quotable people. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Let no man pull you low enough to hate him.” Very wise.  And, his widow, Coretta Scott King, said, “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.”

There is way too much hate and hate speech in our lives. The quote I like best is from the writer, Maya Angelou. “Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but has not yet solved one.”

HATE is not the answer. Hate is not one of God’s gifts and Graces. Hate is going to make you unhappy and sad. Don’t HATE anyone or anything. It won’t improve your life one iota.

 

Dear Lord. You did not hate anyone. Teach us tolerance and acceptance. We are all very different and we need to get along.

Alternate Universe

 

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

The youngest resident of our community is over 70. We have many residents who are far into their nineties and at least two that are over 100 years old.

With that knowledge, let me relate a recent conversation that I overheard between two octogenarians. One asked the other, “How old are you?” The other replied, from over her walker, “Forty.” The first lady began to correct her by saying, “You have to be older than forty. I’m ninety-four, you know.” The second lady then replied with, “Well, I look a lot older than I really am.”

End of discussion.

Dear Lord, why are we such sceptics? When will we learn to trust in You? When will we stop questioning everything that happens? When will we stop trying to blame others, for our problems? Help us to realize that Trust and Acceptance should be our goals, in times of strife.

 

 

HEY YOU GUYS

Just who was it that started calling mixed gender groups of people “GUYS”? It seems like every other person that addresses me, groups me into the phrase “YOU GUYS”. Listen up!  I am not a GUY. I have chosen not to be a GUY. I am offended, when people call me a GUY. I will never be a GUY. Stop doing it!

I am told that it’s okay to be grouped with the GUYS. Everyone uses it. Is that supposed to make it okay? Woke people are constantly altering their speech, to eliminate many of our gender related nouns and pronouns.  We all try not to say MEN, anymore. We are supposed to be using the term “persons”.  As in….”All persons are created equal.”

Don’t use the noun “actress” when referring to a female in a movie or play. All the folks playing roles are now called ACTORS. We should correctly use the terms Postal Employees or Post Persons, instead saying postman or postmen. Don’t even attempt to use the phrase “man” the desk, phones or overboard. It’s now better to substitute the word “person”. And please don’t even think about “man up”!

My mother used to tell me, “just because everyone else is doing it, that doesn’t mean you should be doing it, too”. So, please, jump in there, make me happy and buck the trend! Help stop this annoying grammar faux pas.

 

Lord. Do you know that I am really trying? I’m working on improving my Kindness and Patience factors. I am much too impatient and lots of things irritate me. Keep me humble. Guide my feet and my mouth.

Bite Me!

 Two days ago, I was stung, on my right hand, by a wasp. It hurt like the dickens, and I had to swipe the thing off, because it refused to let go. To treat the bite, I applied a baking soda paste and some topical anti-itch cream. And, thank goodness, I also took the extra precaution of removing all five of my rings.

Twenty four hours later, with my hand resembling a bright red ball, I was persuaded to seek medical treatment. I had no knuckles, and my fingers were puffy little stubs.  I couldn't make a fist, and angry redness was creeping up my arm.

We feared the worst, as we entered the Emergency Room, of our near-by hospital, on a long holiday weekend. We are in the middle of a global pandemic. The place was bound to be overcrowded with broken arms, legs, shootings and all kinds of holiday mishaps. We were surely in for a long tedious wait.

 Well, to our surprise, we were immediately ushered in to an examining room, seen just as rapidly by a doctor and within minutes I was fitted with an IV. Two intravenous drugs and a few instructions later, we were on our way home.

Today, the swelling is down and I am able to grip the steering wheel of the car. The itch is under control, and the redness is almost gone. Thank God for great medical care.

Dear Lord. We are blessed. We thank you for your healing care and continue to watch over us.

Surprise Surprise

 Aren't surprises the best things ever? No, I don't mean Surprise Birthday Parties. I've written about those before. Seniors should never have anyone pull a surprise on them. Not even a 90th Birthday ! Because, Mama wants to have her hair done and a new pants suit for such a big event! She doesn't want anyone remembering her without make-up. And do you really want to risk a heart attack, topping off the big surprise?

I'm writing about chance encounters with an old friend, or these days, even a cheerful email exchange. They are blessings. Upon receiving a couple of unanticipated emails, this week, I have decided to instigate a little joy, myself. So, I'm setting a goal of reaching out to someone new, every week. I'm excited about the possibilities. Old friends, good memories. New friends, and new memories.

Don't be SURPRISED, if you hear from me, soon.

Good and gracious God. Help me to make a joyful noise. Teach me compassion. Guide me on my journey.

You Gotta Have Hope........

 What inspires you? What lifts you up?

In this unprecedented time, when it's hard to keep from complaining about all the things that we are missing, I find myself looking for something that will get my juices flowing and bring me up out of my valleys.

Today, while trying to perk a woman up, by telling her that we all need to "trust that everything will get better, soon", I was reminded of an old hymn. Well, I couldn't remember all of the words, so I used my trust PC and located several audio renditions, a printable copy of the lyrics and a brief bio of the writer. Now, I am a minimally qualified expert on the hymn, "Trust and Obey'.

John H. Sammis, a Presbyterian Minister, wrote the words in 1887. Throughout his lifetime, he was known for writing "songs of trust" and "songs of obedience". I'm not enough of an expert on his poetry, to judge all of his writings, but I do know that "Trust and Obey" is full of assurance and hope.

                                            "Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

                                                     But His smile quickly drives it away.

                                              Not a doubt or a fear, not a sign or a tear,

                                                     Can abide while we trust and obey.

                                            Trust and Obey, for there's no other way

                                             To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Dear Lord. Life is full of ups and down, and all of us are easily disappointed. Show us how to increase our Trust in You. Help us to live a life of Obedience and show us how to receive Your Gift of Hope.

Can I hear an AMEN???????

 Have you given any thought toward "kindness", lately? If you haven't, you're not alone. Kindness seems to have been packed away with our winter boots, and of course "out of sight, out of mind".Kindness is a Gift of the Holy Spirit and a Virtue. Hatred and anger, no matter how well you do them, are not Virtues, nor are they gifts to anyone! God wants us to be kind, to our fellow life-travelers.

Now, that does not mean that you are supposed to let folks be mean to you, walk all over you or put you down. No doubt, you have heard the phrase, "kill them with kindness". I am all over that powerful bit of philosophical wisdom! I have become an expert at listening, smiling and saying...."there you go".

Whenever I encounter a Meanie, I just listen to them rant and rave. It doesn't really matter if their anger is directed at me or at one of fellow workers, the important thing is to allow that person to "let it go". I have discovered, over my many years, that it is almost impossible to argue with someone who will not argue back. I aspire to be that passive pretender, because nine times out of ten, my protagonist will tire of ranting and raving, and move on. I'm just no fun!

I try to practice kindness, but I am not perfect. There are times, when I argue and  talk back. But, when that happens, I usually regret my actions. Saying please, thank you and I hear what you're saying, usually saves the day.

Dear Lord. We make it so hard on ourselves and others. Our trust is in You.