I have written about my sisters and brother. I have shared devotions and prayers and just my thoughts about things, but I have not written about my mom or my dad or my husband, son or daughter (in-law if you prefer.) I do have three nieces, one nephew and a number of animal relations too. I think I will talk about each of them first and then do mom and dad and then my immediate family. I am doing the easiest first to buy time to get my thoughts in order on the hard ones.
Mom and Dad are only hard because there are many events in my growing up that deserve mentioning…and many that I really don’t want to talk about. That will take some sorting.
The people who I don’t live with are in my mind as highlights and headlines only so being interesting and concise will not be totally difficult. BUT, all those in my house are anecdotes and long, biographical tales.
If I pull out the highlights for everyone else, I may be able to discern the highlights for Duke, Chris and Sam.
That may be the way to go…
So look forward to EMILY LOUISE, JOHN DOYLE, RACHAEL ELIZABETH AND KAYLEIGH JOAN,
Disclaimer: I will be writing from my own skewed perspective and any commentary you may have or editing you desire will not be considered (comments however are welcome)
It’s MY BLOG …. MINE!! MINE!! MINE!! (ok, enough with the temper tantrum. Time to close and think about Emily.)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
SO MUCH LOVE, SO LITTLE TIME
Act 1:3 During the forty days after His crucifixion, He appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive. On these occasions He talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
Mk 16:19-20 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
I was thinking of something really interesting.
On October 27, 1985, my mother died. She was 57 years old. That alone is not too interesting.
The interesting part is that when she had been hospitalized in October, 1984, she was so near death that the doctors advised my father to leave her bedside and make her funeral arrangements. When she improved and went into remission, her oncologist said he was not responsible - that a power greater than his had been invoked. She was released right before Thanksgiving and due to her weakness, I was required to do the family holiday for the first time. With her guidance, Thanksgiving and then Christmas went off without a hitch. I spent time with her every week for the next year, talking, discussing things and just learning what she did that I would be expected to do. When she finally succumbed to cancer, I was ready to assume some of her duties in our family.
40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of Christ into heaven.
When He returned from death to His disciples, He talked to them for a mere forty days and set them straight as to their mission.
The point isn't the time span - but the way it was used. Jesus didn't come back to party with the disciples, or to parade before the government officials with a big "I told you so" banner. Instead, He met with his friends and talked to them - telling them that their job was just beginning and how.
God blessed my family with a whole year with my mother to make sure we would learn what would be expected of us and then to act on it. That time seems so important now. I look back and wonder what part of her message I didn't get because I didn't see it as the last year to listen.
God blessed the apostles with only 40 days with Jesus to make sure they knew what was expected of them and to be ready to act. Did they think it would be forever? I wonder at what point they realized they were HIS future on earth? I wonder if they looked back and wished they had asked more questions or listened a little closer?
How much time do we have with each other? Do we have years to learn and listen? or will we lose someone in a moment. I don't know, but then, none of us does. Before we find out one of us is at the end of his or her 40 days, have we revealed what we think of them? Will we have absorbed what we could learn from them? Will we see that God has given us a gift when He gave us each other and even if only for a brief period, our relationships are special and honorable?
I feel I am good for having met you, better for having known you, and blest for having remembered you.
40 days can be enough...if you use it well.
Mk 16:19-20 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
I was thinking of something really interesting.
On October 27, 1985, my mother died. She was 57 years old. That alone is not too interesting.
The interesting part is that when she had been hospitalized in October, 1984, she was so near death that the doctors advised my father to leave her bedside and make her funeral arrangements. When she improved and went into remission, her oncologist said he was not responsible - that a power greater than his had been invoked. She was released right before Thanksgiving and due to her weakness, I was required to do the family holiday for the first time. With her guidance, Thanksgiving and then Christmas went off without a hitch. I spent time with her every week for the next year, talking, discussing things and just learning what she did that I would be expected to do. When she finally succumbed to cancer, I was ready to assume some of her duties in our family.
40 days after Easter, we celebrate the Ascension of Christ into heaven.
When He returned from death to His disciples, He talked to them for a mere forty days and set them straight as to their mission.
The point isn't the time span - but the way it was used. Jesus didn't come back to party with the disciples, or to parade before the government officials with a big "I told you so" banner. Instead, He met with his friends and talked to them - telling them that their job was just beginning and how.
God blessed my family with a whole year with my mother to make sure we would learn what would be expected of us and then to act on it. That time seems so important now. I look back and wonder what part of her message I didn't get because I didn't see it as the last year to listen.
God blessed the apostles with only 40 days with Jesus to make sure they knew what was expected of them and to be ready to act. Did they think it would be forever? I wonder at what point they realized they were HIS future on earth? I wonder if they looked back and wished they had asked more questions or listened a little closer?
How much time do we have with each other? Do we have years to learn and listen? or will we lose someone in a moment. I don't know, but then, none of us does. Before we find out one of us is at the end of his or her 40 days, have we revealed what we think of them? Will we have absorbed what we could learn from them? Will we see that God has given us a gift when He gave us each other and even if only for a brief period, our relationships are special and honorable?
I feel I am good for having met you, better for having known you, and blest for having remembered you.
40 days can be enough...if you use it well.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
and you are...?
It has occurred to me that of all the people I know and love, very few of them depend on me for friendship. It may be because I am not one of those who calls every day to touch base. I prefer to respond when needed.
It may be because I am not the kind who has to be at every coffee klatch, or every party, or every activity where people make friends. I prefer to only go to things I enjoy and can afford.
It may be because, with 3 sisters, I don't pursue friendships like people with no one to turn to.
I think part of it is my lack of appreciation of my own value as a friend.
Another part of my problem is my desire to not step on toes or make people uncomfortable. I am not the one to barge into another friendship, invite myself places or even drop in unannounced, because I have a standard of manners that sometimes keeps me from putting myself out there.
Plus I live vicariously through other people and that assures me an active and meaningful life. I do not envy you your trips, lunches and dinners...your picnics and shopping adventures and celebrations. In fact, if you don't do anything for me to hear about, I will not have any 2nd hand memories to cherish.
I know that many people I love forget about me the minute we stop seeing each other, and, as I have stated before, I am ok with that. I seem better at planting the seeds in the hearts of others, not gathering the flowers.
But here are some things I always do for people I know...I listen, I remember and I pray.
Even if you don't know who I am, I will remember you for a long time. Friendship may fade away but love is forever.
It may be because I am not the kind who has to be at every coffee klatch, or every party, or every activity where people make friends. I prefer to only go to things I enjoy and can afford.
It may be because, with 3 sisters, I don't pursue friendships like people with no one to turn to.
I think part of it is my lack of appreciation of my own value as a friend.
Another part of my problem is my desire to not step on toes or make people uncomfortable. I am not the one to barge into another friendship, invite myself places or even drop in unannounced, because I have a standard of manners that sometimes keeps me from putting myself out there.
Plus I live vicariously through other people and that assures me an active and meaningful life. I do not envy you your trips, lunches and dinners...your picnics and shopping adventures and celebrations. In fact, if you don't do anything for me to hear about, I will not have any 2nd hand memories to cherish.
I know that many people I love forget about me the minute we stop seeing each other, and, as I have stated before, I am ok with that. I seem better at planting the seeds in the hearts of others, not gathering the flowers.
But here are some things I always do for people I know...I listen, I remember and I pray.
Even if you don't know who I am, I will remember you for a long time. Friendship may fade away but love is forever.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
2nd poem - read to choir in lieu of first one...
I wrote this great poem - absolutely marvelous. I poured out my heart and my doubts, balanced the rhythm and made every other line rhyme. What an accomplishment of mine! And I have it here to share with you. But I'm not going to. Why? Because it is boring. Don't get me wrong. It inspires me and makes me reflect on what I have done and encourages me to do more. But I think you'd respond "why is she telling us this?" I'll share an excerpt (at which point I read verse one of previous poem posted). I read this to someone I admire and she said, so what if you didn't convert anyone. What if your honesty an openness just started a ripple effect and someone who was searching now knows where to look?
What a concept - keep it simple , say what's on your mind and let people make their own choices without thanking you...or sometimes without even knowing where the idea came from. Does that sound familiar? The bible uses words to encourage, instruct and bless, It's done simply - not a lot of fourish, doesn't always rhyme and when it does, the rhyme can be grating. But we answer the words we read by returning to God words of entreaty, happiness and praise. We do it because a window is opened and we feel the freedom of the words.
When the Bible speaks, it isn't just words. John's gospel starts "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
How understated!
Jesus said: I AM the Son of Man. I AM the Bread of Life. I AM the Light of the World. I am the Good Shepherd. I AM the Resurrection and the Life. I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. I AM the Vine...
He left no room for doubt as to who he was. He didn't say, "you can call me..." or "you can think of me as..." or "some people say..." He didn't think of himself at all, he didn't second guess himself - he said who he was and that was that.
So in thanks for THE WORD and all the words we use to praise God, I offer a second poem and prayer. It is based on the work of one of the most beloved American poets, known for his ability to share a moral, upbeat and instructional message using few, simple words.
And God Said...
I AM GOD. GOD I AM.
THAT GOD, I AM. THAT GOD, I AM. HOW WELL I KNOW THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB?
OF COURSE I KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB. I KNOW HIM THROUGH THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIM IN YOUR HOUSE? DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SPOUSE?
I KNOW AND PRAISE HIM IN MY HOUSE. I PRAISE AND KNOW HIM WITH MY SPOUSE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU TOIL? DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU BOIL?
I NEED TO KNOW HIM WHEN I TOIL. I SEEM TO LOSE HIM WHEN I BOIL.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU SMILE? HAVE YOU KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE?
I KNOW HIM STRONGEST WHEN I SMILE AND MY FOREVER'S HIS SHORT WHILE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SON? DOES HE LIVE IN EVERYONE?
I KNOW I SEE HIM IN MY SON. HE'S MOST ALIVE IN EVERYONE.
I SEE HIS LOVE IN CHRIST THE LAMB, WHO CAME TO EARTH AS JUST A MAN.
I DO, I DO KNOW WHY, AS MAN, HE TELLS US SIMPLY, GOD, I AM.
Father, bless us and thank you for the words we use to praise you. Thank you for the music we use to express our praise. Thank you for all the people you have given us to make our lives more like yours. Amen.
What a concept - keep it simple , say what's on your mind and let people make their own choices without thanking you...or sometimes without even knowing where the idea came from. Does that sound familiar? The bible uses words to encourage, instruct and bless, It's done simply - not a lot of fourish, doesn't always rhyme and when it does, the rhyme can be grating. But we answer the words we read by returning to God words of entreaty, happiness and praise. We do it because a window is opened and we feel the freedom of the words.
When the Bible speaks, it isn't just words. John's gospel starts "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
How understated!
Jesus said: I AM the Son of Man. I AM the Bread of Life. I AM the Light of the World. I am the Good Shepherd. I AM the Resurrection and the Life. I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. I AM the Vine...
He left no room for doubt as to who he was. He didn't say, "you can call me..." or "you can think of me as..." or "some people say..." He didn't think of himself at all, he didn't second guess himself - he said who he was and that was that.
So in thanks for THE WORD and all the words we use to praise God, I offer a second poem and prayer. It is based on the work of one of the most beloved American poets, known for his ability to share a moral, upbeat and instructional message using few, simple words.
And God Said...
I AM GOD. GOD I AM.
THAT GOD, I AM. THAT GOD, I AM. HOW WELL I KNOW THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB?
OF COURSE I KNOW HIS SON, THE LAMB. I KNOW HIM THROUGH THAT GOD, I AM.
DO YOU KNOW HIM IN YOUR HOUSE? DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SPOUSE?
I KNOW AND PRAISE HIM IN MY HOUSE. I PRAISE AND KNOW HIM WITH MY SPOUSE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU TOIL? DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU BOIL?
I NEED TO KNOW HIM WHEN I TOIL. I SEEM TO LOSE HIM WHEN I BOIL.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WHEN YOU SMILE? HAVE YOU KNOWN HIM FOR A WHILE?
I KNOW HIM STRONGEST WHEN I SMILE AND MY FOREVER'S HIS SHORT WHILE.
DO YOU KNOW HIM WITH YOUR SON? DOES HE LIVE IN EVERYONE?
I KNOW I SEE HIM IN MY SON. HE'S MOST ALIVE IN EVERYONE.
I SEE HIS LOVE IN CHRIST THE LAMB, WHO CAME TO EARTH AS JUST A MAN.
I DO, I DO KNOW WHY, AS MAN, HE TELLS US SIMPLY, GOD, I AM.
Father, bless us and thank you for the words we use to praise you. Thank you for the music we use to express our praise. Thank you for all the people you have given us to make our lives more like yours. Amen.
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