Friday, November 29, 2013

Holidays & Traditions

It's safe to say that the
Holiday Season
is officially upon us.
 
Some enter into it after
Labor Day,
on
Halloween or Thanksgiving,
and some on
Black Friday.
 
And in some cultures,
NONE of these even exist.
 
Some cultures focus on
and celebrate holidays like
Hannukah,
Ramadan,
and
Kwanzaa.
 
Some celebrate their holiday
as a mandate from God
and call all others evil.
 
But holidays are really about
human traditions.
 
Each holiday marks something
relevant and significant
to its culture.
 
So,
we can either spend our days
being offended by those who
believe and celebrate
differently than we do,
OR
we can spend our days
being kind, encouraging and uplifting
to our fellow man.
 
Because,
like it or not,
the fact of the matter is,
we are ALL children of God.
 
He loves every single one of us
regardless of which holiday
we choose to celebrate.
 
And folks,
December 25
is not Jesus' birthday.
 
But if you choose to celebrate it as such,
that's okay.
And if not,
that's okay too!
 
 
So,
Everyone!!!


Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving

 
 
Today serves as a reminder
that thankfulness is
a state of mind
~a way of life.
 
And for those who are feeling
 stressed out
and pressured
because of what society has turned this day into,
I pray for Peace to cover you,
fill you,
and seep into your very being.
 
 
 
 


Sunday, November 17, 2013

What Else My Mom Taught Me

I couldn't let my mom's birthday go by
without writing something
in her honor.
 
 
As I have been thinking much about her lately
there are a couple of recurring things that come to mind.
 
One is that my mom was an extremely forgiving person.
She literally lived out,
"Forgive them seventy times seven,"
several times over.
 
She forgave many people of many things;
rudeness, meanness, pettiness, hurtfulness,
stupidity, cruelty, abuse, slander,
judgementalism...
the list goes on.
 
And she never seemed to hold a grudge.
 
Perhaps it was because in the back of her mind
she was well aware of the many things of which
God had forgiven her.
 
If she were here right now,
she would argue that she wasn't
as forigiving as I am making her out to be.
She would say that she didn't always "feel" forgiving.
But I know what I saw,
and what I saw, repeatedly, was
 a woman who forgave.
 
Another thing about her that keeps coming to my thoughts
is how generous she was.
 
My goodness that woman was a giver!
 
I don't think anything brought her more joy than
giving to others.
Gifts on birthdays, holidays, and just because days;
a loan because you needed it
and then "forgiving" the loan
 (you didn't have to pay it back);
donations for the needy, food for the poor;
compassion for those without compassion...
 
She gave whatever was needed whether she knew you or not.
 
And never was her generosity driven by selfishness.
She didn't give because she ever
expected anything in return.
She gave, simply, because she was
generous!

And always, in her heart,
was the desire to give more.
 
It's amazing that when I think about these things,
I see how easily she lived out these qualities
 which are the very nature
of God.
 
Her example of
unconditional Love
overwhelms me.
 
And even though my mom and I
were different in many ways,
I am thankful
that we are also alike
in so many ways.
 
 
She was, truly,
 an exceptional woman.
 
Happy Birthday mom!
I love you forever.
 


Friday, November 15, 2013

The Poor Dilemma

It is interesting that Jesus said
to take care of the poor,
to offer a drink to those who are thirsty,
to feed those who are hungry,
and to give your coat to someone who is cold
(your shirt too if needed).
 
 
Yet, these days,
when people are presented with the needs of others,
they pause,
as if they've been presented with some great dilemma
and respond with words like,
"Let me pray about it and ask God if I am supposed to help".
 
But it seems pretty simple;
if we have been made aware of a need,
then we're supposed to help.
Period.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Down to Basics

If we got down to the basics,
which Jesus said are
loving God and
loving others,
we would
~ Change the World.
 

 
Loving God, truly,
(with all of our soul, mind and strength)
brings about a NATURAL compulsion toward
grace, love, empathy and compassion;
which is loving others
(truly, as God does).
 
It becomes as natural as breathing.
 
If we lived out the Basics,
the world, 
 - humanity -
would be united
and, thus,
be known for its
Love.


Friday, November 8, 2013

Wasted Compassion

Compassion without action
is meaningless waste of emotion.
 

God has implanted within us
the feeling of compassion
so we would be moved into action.
 
If someone is sad, I give them a smile;
if lonely, a hug, text message, phone call, card or visit;
if cold, a coat;
if hungry, a meal;
if broke, a dollar (or more);
if hopeless, Hope...
 
 
If a feeling of compassion fills my heart
and I do nothing to act upon it,
that compassion is
 meaningless waste of emotion.
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