Yesterday may not have been the day that you would have hoped it would be. You may have had problems with work,school, family or financial issues. You may have used your mouth as a hurtful weapon against a supposed friend, or someone did that to you. These things do happen.
What God calls us to do is this. Seek his forgiveness, seek his guidance and ask for his mercy and for him to bless you in your life.
We need to make amends to those we have hurt and seek help for those things that allowed us to lash out.
Each day is a new day a reset if you will where you can forgive yourself, give forgiveness to others and to heal who you are. We are all broken, we are all imperfect so it is called life. We are just called to work daily on being a better version of ourselves which in turn we then can have more harmonious daily lives being the blessing that we are called to be.
The next link is just incredible. I had never heard of this incredible singer yet I found it in a split second thanks to God and the Holy Spirit.
We are called to love because we are made from love by our CREATOR WHO IS LOVE. AMEN.
So, quiet yourself, turn up the speakers and watch Heaven open up . We are love and everything is well !! 🙂
I had a client back in the 80’s that was my first true exposure to extraordinary wealth.
My brother and I were called by an area decorator who worked with very high end clients back around 1984. The designer said I would like to meet with you. So B and I set up an appointment and we met . The designer said you guys are the go to guys that I have been hearing about. He said , I have a huge client that is extremely fussy and the products she is selecting are very delicate. I cannot have any problems he showed us the samples and asked us to come to look at the home. We scheduled the date and went off to see the home. It was one of the largest, elegant and stately homes that I had ever seen. As a decorator when you enter a large scale home it is very hard to keep it homey while designing. But this person living here was what you would call old money and was exposed to this lifestyle since birth . She was a professional as was her husband in the finance world I believe. She understood that a good designer can reign in a large space and make it warm useing various techniques so she had employed her designer who was doing a great job.
So, my brother and I went in and looked at the home. We needed to complete the prep and installation of all of the wallcoverings in this massive home it was weeks of work. The regular ceiling height through the home was 14 feet and the home had three massive floors. The second floor had a huge mezzanine with a gorgeous green house . This was winter and the house was still nice and warm despite the glass. You could almost drive a car up the stairs because the staircases were so huge. Lol
She was having raw silk wallcoverings installed in her 1st floor and second floor hallway. The drop section from the second floor ceiling to the front foyer was at least 35 feet. The raw silk wallcoverings was sold by the yard so it was unbelievably expensive. Everything in the house was extremely detailed. Her massive living room was all set up with scaffolding for the painters and the home had gorgeous wood coffered boxed ceilings with intricate moldings and her moldings had 14 different monochromatic shades of the color peach to help to give dimension to them . I was just so amazed at the detail. It’s sounds crazy but it looked so beautiful.
Her dining room again was just massive. This room was completed already. The massive trim work was almost brilliant white and the walls were a beautiful shade of Argyle Green. All silk with a slight sheen they were upholstered and padded walls that was tufted with buttons and the room was completed welted they had beautiful wall sconces. And two large crystal chandeliers The workmanship was breathtaking. To think that some one came and installed that room to that degree of perfection still just amazes me. God has given each one of us such amazing gifts. Use them ! 🙂
The client was very nice, very fussy and wanted what she wanted period. The decorator she was working with was great but I think he got phytigued from working with her and she did not like the fact that he did not say yes to her every desire. So, she said to me I am not working with him anymore, you are a decorator , right? I said yes and she became my direct client . I told the other decorator what she wanted and he said he understood. He nicely wished me luck as well.
It was very interesting to see what life without limits was like. Doing ,going, and spending non stop. They had a five car garage with beautiful cars in each bay. She announced on a Thursday to us, here is the alarm code guys and said just lock up and alarm the house please we are going to fly out and meet friends in France to ski for a few days. If anything comes up just call and leave message for me. She was not showy or braggy, it was just her life. She had a couple of nice kids and a little dog too. 🙂
During my working with her I found her very interesting. I often wonder about where her faith was at? I was not real talkative about faith in those days years back either.
During the hallway silk selection she had two options available. Both would be beautiful , but one would be perfect. I advised her on what I thought was the best choice. She decided on option 2 instead So, my brother and I completed the hallway with her desired selection. It took forever to install and we had to use white silk gloves to install the silk wallcoverings so that our hand oils did not burnish the silk. It was a labor of love and it came out beautifully. Well, we wrapped up that project and she was very happy and we were too. We were tired of working there at her home, it was a long time . But, we were very grateful for the work.
About 1 year later , I was in my shop and the phone rang it was Cookie again she said hi Dan, I want you to come out and change the front hallway silk. I should have used what you suggested the peach colored silk. I in that moment took a deep breathe and thought that job was a monumentally huge job and installation that my brother and I had said we could and would never do that again. So, I said no.The other aspect and I may have been wrong but I was disgusted with the ease of which money was just thrown around and away.
Perhaps I was wrong in my feeling this way but I said I am sorry C, I cannot do it. She was surprised I just said that hallway was a labor of love and I don’t think that we are up to it again. She was put off and said I see and hung up. I never heard from her again.
I would like to also say this I do not know how much she did for charity. I am sure based on who nice she was , she did a lot. So, I would never judge any one on that. Most good deads are never discussed. God knows what you do that is all that matters. 🙂
I guess it boils down to this for me I made a judgement based on my standard one that I knew in my world. Perhaps it was a little judgemental against her. I just remember that back all those years ago she spent with the Boston Design Center 14,000 dollars for that hallway silk wallcovering. It was made and customer died ,every inch of it for her home. Plus all the labor charge to install it. It was crazy.
I could not get over the fact that she could just remove it and throw it away, and replace it with the same thing but different color.
They say the customer is always right, but I do not always see if that way. They are entitled to do as they wish, that I do agree with.
This experience was a great thing for me early on in my career because what I saw initially as wow! I soon learned that all that glitters is not gold. She was searching for just the right shade of anything in her life.
I am not judging her, she was lovely and I am grateful to have learned some good lessons from our dealings.
I often wondered what she had thought of that phone call that day when I kindly declined a 20,000 job. On principal.
Life is a school where we are constantly learning.
My parents raised my myself and my siblings on one major principal. To whom much is given much is expected. Meaning that what we have is a gift from God from the roof over our heads, bread on our tables,money in our accounts and most of all our families.
My mom used to say when there was a person of wealth. That’s wonderful and if we were impressed she would always say remember, they are just like us, they all have their own stuff of life.
My parents just did not like I us to be too impressed with anything. They felt that we could be inspired by others achievements and that it was fine to emulate someone that was successful. Conversely, my parents also did not look down on others who had less than what we had either.
We need to bless one another.
THAT’S THE WAY THAT THIS COOKIE CRUMBLED. 🙂 I COULD NOT HELP MYSELF.
I was thinking today of how each generation see’ s and perceive things in their own way. I believe that changing technology is a big part of the reason. During my younger years telephones we such an amazing thing. The fact that you could call someone miles or countries away was just amazing. We also had a colored tv set. It had tubes that heated up and the tv worked. We had the television repair man in my house constantly repairing it. The picture would always roll. My mom would always say boys leave the nice man alone. The poor guy could not fix it fast enough speed racer and Gilligan were on.
Families would have fights and discussions on how one person would hog the phone all the time lol.
And if we wanted another phone in the house we called the telephone company they came out with a phone, the colors were black, white, gold, avocado, and baby blue. It did not plug in, it required a Jack to be put in and extra long cords were big bucks. Lol
Our cord was stretched across the kitchen, through the hall and was jammed in the bathroom door frame so we could hatch plans with our friends on the QT. 🙂 it took us hours of whispering and we were ready to go but ahh oah it was too late mom and dad would not let us go out. Another long hot sweaty night watching Hawaii 5 O and potato chip eating.
The other nice part of 70’s technology was watching your parents unwinding the cords of the kitchen phone that we kids twisted into a knot as we walked around and around in circles while we yapped! , ABOUT NOTHING LOL. 🙂
We called our friends after we got my sister off the phone The person we called often times had a busy signal. Meanwhile my siblings wanted the phone to use themselves. So, I remember frantically dialing my friends just to be able to say hi before I got elbowed by my brothers and the phone got taken away. Omg the memories.Lol
My mom would be in the kitchen cooking dinner for her wild tribe of kids and she would be stretching the phone cord off the wall mounted harvest gold colored phone. She would had the ten pound ear price wedged between her ear and shoulder as both hands managed the cooking and we the boy’s would run through the kitchen skidding with our white socks on her beautifully waxed floor trying to kill each other and someone would always manage to hit the wire and my mother’s phone got pulled from the side of her head and flew across the room smashing on the floor.
It was so funny. My poor mom. The people on the phone heard huge bangs and screaming through the phone . God knows what they thought. LOL
Well, the years went quick, technology moved along and the phones now had 4 pronged jacks so they did not get hard wired all the time. I have a confession for my siblings! They are hearing this from me for the first time SORRY.
When I was made to wait for the phone and you were talking on the phone enjoying life, I was outside in the hall pulling the wall plug out to end your call. That’s right it was me ! I confess. Lol.
Later on technology got better and they now had cordless phones , the range and clarity of the voice was not great but my siblings could now disappear with the phone and the good thing was I could still unplug the base to clear the line. I had a life too 🙂
So, to my siblings this song is for you. 🙂
For all the people that thought you hung up on them, it was me lol 🙂
Music is so very important, I think most modern music today has it place and use but it seems to always has a pounding beat like a drum. It can be fun but it is not suited for thoughtful reflection and prayer. It distracts the mind so that you cannot think. I tell my family all the time surrounding this subject that the devil loves to distract us with sights, sounds and situations in our lives. That way we get wrapped up in this world , worries etc and do not have the time and concentration to devote energy to their most important relationship. That is the dialogue with God their Father.
What is actually fantastic is this, I began this writing on Saturday morning and it was an unplanned topic that just developed through God and the Holy Spirit. You see each one of us is a very unique creation of God. God uses our life and situations and places that we go as a way to grow us and to help others. Our experiences can be used by God to paint our lives canvases to show God’s magnificent presence. For example, look at the lives of the saints like mother Teresa of Calcutta she lived in what a lot would consider to be the slums. Her canvas was painted more vividly than that. Because of her life mission and ministry she colored her canvas with the grace of God so vibrantly it was sheer love:) She colored her world and all of the impoverished that she met in Gods name. Amen.
So, I began this writing Saturday morning and I attended church on Saturday afternoon and while at church Fr. R homily was all about the devil distracting us in so many ways and wants to discourage us and destroy us.
This was not a coincidence at all. God knew I was struggling to decide whether to share this blog entry as it developed. God knew that Fr. R by just delivering his sermon that day would answer my question and God reassured me that yes this what was to be published. He is the boss.:)
When I listen to orchestral music it sweeps, flows and it becomes a Spiritual journey to me. It is said that Heaven is full of beautiful music, praise and worship etc. I would have to believe that notion because I am so effected by music here in this life.
I think our souls and Holy Spirit recognize music as a familiar connection between Heaven and Earth.
Years ago, I went with friends to see Cirque Du Soleil in Boston at the old fan pier it was wonderful and the music was incredible. Here is a sample. It is a highly stylized French circus. It is now world renound.
This is a small sampling of the acrobatics in the show and the background music makes it complete.
Just wait until you see these links. When you see just how amazing our bodies are and what they are capable of. God created a masterpiece with our bodies. And the Holy Spirit guides us to fulfill our life’s dreams. These individuals then had to go all in to strengthen themselves to bring their life’s passion and calling to fruition. They inspire us all to greatness.
My physical therapist is a body builder who routinely medals in competition and he is extremely smart. He has a lovely wife and 2 cute kids. He works at a high level in his life because he is GOD Strong. He just came to my mind so there it is 🙂 Yet, he accomplishes work and family goals and he also makes the time to maintain himself in that process.
What all of the acrobats and my physical therapist have in common is decipline.
If I could say one thing that I regret it would be this.
I was disciplined in my life on providing for my family and building my career with my brothers which also built security for all of the people in our employ who had families. I was a provider for everyone in my life except for me. I did not take time to exercise outside of work, I ran to kids games and never walked the track, I helped everyone out but never jogged down the block. I did what I did out of love but it was not done with love of self as a consideration. I am not a victim , I am not a martyr. I bought my own lie over the years. When I saw people working out I thought I do not have time. I know now that I did not have time because I did not make the time I did not understand or value myself the way that I should have. I have always felt indestructible like I would be healthy forever.
The old expression The body is your temple is true. We need to value our personal beings.
Cirque du Soliel
James Last compilation of songs from the 70’s. 🙂
Just beautiful this will make your Holy Spirit take flight.
I was in communication with a very dear friend recently. I will be writing about S and her family soon. But for the moment I wanted to share what a truely beautiful thing it is that we as friends can be that extra ear and extra shoulder to talk too or to lean on.
What a gift that is. Friends come in many forms , through a countless number of ways. Some of my dearest friends are those I served in my business as clients over the many years. These relationships were due to the nature of my work. Our relationship left the client level and proceeded to a long term friendship.In my business projects took a while from consultation, to scheme development and implementation of the design and construction phase if applicable. I took clients shopping for every detail or item needed to accessorize their homes. So we spent a lot of time together forging a long term relationship. I love them.
A good many of clients as I written in the past are very special to me we share our different faiths with one another. That is probably the most important aspect of my business was sharing God with them sometimes without talking about him. Just living the life.
I was reminded while emailing one of my dear friends what a true honor it is to just be there. Life has so much purpose even when we feel that it doesn’t. As I am writing I was reminded of another client named Ethel. I will write about her account and let you see just how powerful the Spirit of God is.
ETHEL D.
Back about 12 years ago, I was called back to my client Ethels home for a window treatment quote . I had been there once before years before so I vaguely remembered her.
I went to the consultation for her and showed her different samples based on her needs and the proper decorating style for her taste and budget. It was a go and I received the 1/2 deposit and off I went.
The next day I translated the order from my notebook into My order sheet and got the order called in.
Two weeks later the product was delivered and I scheduled the installation immediately. Off I went to Ethels home and when I arrived I brought in her new widow treatments unpacked them and was kneeling on the floor getting my drill set up for the install . As I knelt there, facing the Windows ETHEL came in the room and was sitting behind me on the chair. I said hey Ethel , I was just thinking how is your husband and she said he died. I felt so bad, I had no I idea. I gave my condolences to her and began working once again. She began to talk as I worked and I said Ethel you need to trust in God. She said there is no God.
I knelt there for a moment frozen with what I had just heard. A few seconds passed and the Holy Spirit gave me the words. I got up turned around and said Ethel your my client , you can tell me to be quiet and I will. But, I cannot allow you to say that there is no God, he is here and loves you. She sat there and began to weep.
She stopped and looked up at me. I was now installing her treatments. She said how did you get like this? Your faith? I explained to her that I feel his presence in my life in so many ways. I told her about the Cursillo and what an amazing retreat house St. Basils in Methuen was. I said if she ever wanted to go just call my shop and I will call back right away. I finished the installation and off I went.
The next week the phone rang and it was Ethel, she said Dan you mentioned the retreat I asked my sister who is a nun and she said I should go.
I was really surprised. We spoke and then I got a little nervous. I did not know Ethel well and during our talk she seemed so fragile. She had been severely abused as a child and had one very bad marriage. Her second marriage was better but far from perfect. Ethel also was house bound and afraid to go out, she had iron deadbolted doors to protect herself. You see my business was very personal , it’s the nature of my work which is also a ministry. And, it has been a two way street my life is shared with them too.
So, I proceeded by taking the situation and putting into God’s hand and got the application to her and we sent it in. About 2 months later I got a call from her and she said Dan I got the call to go what do I do? I said give them a call and tell them okay if the date works for you. I then said Ethel ask them any questions you might have she replied okay.
A couple of weeks went by and her retreat weekend was coming so I called to say hello and told her I could take her up to St. Basils , Ethel did not drive. I told her I would also come to pick her up on Sunday evening and bring her home when the retreat weekend ended.
You see, God had a plan we did not meet solely because I was to earn a living. The picture that God paints is much richer and much more vibrant then that.
Ethel was being called to meet God. Ethel despite her many fears was compelled to go on this retreat. So anyways, Thursday evening came and I picked her up at her home. We were off to St. Basils in Methuen Ma.
On our way up she talked a blue streak and had one million questions. She was very tense. She said I do not like to be touched they aren’t all huggy are they? I said Don’t worry Ethel if you do not like to hug just don’t. She then said I don’t have to share a room do I OR a bathroom do I ? I just can’t . At this point the ravine and its drop into the abyss along 93 looked aweful good! Lol
I just said Ethel do not worry God will take care of you. I then silently prayed God your calling Ethel by name to go to Holy Hill St. Basils please remove all obstacles to her weekend.
Psalm 61 1-4 HEAR MY CRY OH LORD.
We arrived to the retreat center and the large crowd was there dropping of their friends as I was dropping off Ethel. EVERYONE WAS HUGGING LOL.
We went outside so she could have a cigarette.
We went in and Ethel signed in and we found her room assignment up we went to her room along the way I saw the other people going into there rooms. There is generally 2 to 4 sharing a room. Ethel and I walked down the hall to the very end and there was her room. I took a breathe and opened the door and my heart leaped as did Ethels it was a private room with a desk and its own shower. There is only one in the building. That’s a Miracle, God answered my silent prayer not for me but so that Ethel would be at peace and open to meeting him. God is magnificent. That was it I gave her the nickel tour of the beautiful center and its store and the retreat began and all the sponsors were off to go home.
I prayed during the weekend for Ethel and all the ladies there that they would get what they needed.
Sunday afternoon rolled around and my wife and I were off to the center to get Ethel .
We arrived for the small closing ceremony and the place again was packed with people. When the ceremony ended my wife and I went to see Ethel she was standing there. As we walked forward she stepped out to meet us and she had tears in her eyes. She gave us big hugs and said it was an incredible weekend. She said that she had spoken to the religious there including a nun and she felt God in a away that she never had.She was talking about all of the nice ladies there her new friends.
God met her where she was at and Ethel reached out her hand and took Jesus hand.
Ethel went home and I called her the next day just for a moment and she was in such peace.
Two weeks or so later my phone rang and it was Ethel she sounded so well. She wanted to share with me that she is no longer a shut in. That she goes out all the time now as a matter of fact she was a daily communicant at The Shrine in Boston. So this women who was in fear with metal caged doors on her pretty house was now walking to the bus and going to Boston pretty amazing huh! 🙂
Ethel was in her late 70’s at that time around 10 years ago. With life , work etc we lost touch after the retreat. About 6 years ago I happened to be in her neighborhood and thought maybe I will pop in to say hello but as I approached the house I saw that the big steel safety gates on the doors we gone and new curtain adorned her Windows. Either Ethel moved or she passed on. Either way I remember her warmly and I know that God healed her. She was ready to meet her maker with arms wide open. Amen.
I as you all know love music. I love orchestral music as well. The group on the music links below I loved as a kid. And, I still appreciate them now.
Certain music stands out in each generation. They had a very unique sound.
The first song, “Nights in white satin” has different possible meanings. That is what good writing of lyrics can do. It allows the listener to climb into the message and emotion of the song. Our life’s events and circumstances attach to the music and it forever brings that event back to life in our minds and allows our emotions to be moved when the first note plays. It is a beautiful gift from God.
I believe this song when compared to my life and all the years that I have lived could best be interpreted this way for me…
This song to me is about relationships on so many levels. Who has not written a letter or at least went through the cerebral thought process of what would be said to a person who deeply upsets us and we wanted them to know.
I have written one such letter in my life. It depleted me and I found it exhausting to write by hand I might add and it went into a stamped envelope. Fortunately just before I mailed it out by the grace of God I heard in my head one word. No.
I brought that word No to prayer and realized that my writing of that letter with such detail and raw specificity was a cathartic measure to help me to empty the hurt out fully. So, I felt peace and tore the letter to shreds.
The letter was blatantly true, what I found at the end of this writing which was heavy with vitriol was the fact that I forgave them and loved them. I actually cried when I finished that letter. I gave forgiveness in my heart to them. This is another case once again where holding your emotions in check is vital.
Had I just thrown that letter into the mail. I would have devastated the recipient of the letter. She was not equipped to deal with the truth. She knew the truth , but most likely would never have owned it or admitted it to me. By this time in my life and faith walk with God he had shown me my own short comings so how could I judge her personal falter? Like the bible says, take the log out of your own eye before you try and take a splinter out of some one else’s. Amen to that.
Remember, some letters never should be sent. I do not believe that we always have to have the last word or so called closure. We are suppose to be Jesus to oneanother and we are expected to show a measured mercy to our offenders.
Let me state that to me forgiveness is paramount . After that if a relationship is unhealthy It is important to protect and distance yourself from that person or situation. You do not need to talk about them , just let them be. God is working in their lives too.
We just need to look at the cross to our teacher Jesus Christ and his words as he was brutally murdered on the cross because of our sins. FORGIVE THEM FATHER FOR THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DO.
So, if Jesus could forgive us. I sure the heck could forgive her.
We do not always need to be right , because we are not always right.
I strongly feel that my tearing that letter up and not continuing the unhealthy cycle of hurt that she perpetrated was the right thing to do. My actions must truely have given her pause over the years. Her conscience I am sure has been very much in touch with the truth. I also think that she is aware of what honest humble faith is now.
Nights in white satin the moody blues
This song below , in her eyes was written when the lead singers daughter was born and he looked into the beautiful eyes of his child. What parent has not looked at their God given gift of their child and not worried about the direction that the world and society were going in.
It seems as I get older that I have come into the realization that every generation worries about the direction of which society is going . And , I think that it is worthy of our consideration.
But we have something that is more useful than the act of worrying and stressing out about our children’s futures. We have Jesus Christ the author of life watching over us.We need to give our children and families this hopeful and life giving message.
Whatever we as a people do with our earthly pens, laws whatever decisions we make to alter our lives and societies structure can very easily be corrected by the author of life. God can always set the story of our lives straight once again. Amen.
I love my siblings, thankyou for all that you have always done for me. You are bricks in my foundation. .:)
I was blessed in this life with 3 brothers, 2 are older than me and 1 have one that is younger. My parents had 5 children the eldest being my sister and then us four guys. I was 3rd out of 4 boys.
My second brother and I are Irish twins and are separated by only 9 months.
We as younger brothers had our typical stuff we rumbled, wrestled and whacked each other. We took the house apart as we raced the hallway skidding and tackling one another. It was liked the wild west early on. My mom and dad did what they needed to and got the reigns on all of us very early on.. My mom was not a shrinking violet. She was as smart as a whip and had a true second sense. She knew and felt anything regarding her entire family. She would often say, I don’t know, I have a funny feeling. One night my brother went out and when he returned early in the am around 2 ish my brother no sooner quietly came in the rear door but my mom said S. Are you okay what happened? She had woken up and knew he had an accident with her car. She just always knew stuff.
At times it was difficult to be her kid because she was so darn intuitive. 🙂 thank God for my mom .
My brothers and I are All different and yet we are all the same. God’s design for families is perfect despite our imperfections. You know, It is said that you can pick your friends but you cannot pick your family.
I do not think that this is a sentiment that applies to my brothers and sister or for yours either. Sure there were times in my younger days that I may of felt that way to a certain degree. They are as imperfect as I am so why should there not be a little conflict?
As we get older and hopefully wiser we grow and get more comfortable in our own skin at that point sibling rivalry can find a back seat to the true sibling relationship.
You know young guys so often wear masks. We cover up our feelings and act cool even though inside we are filled with fear, doubts and insecurity. As 1 out of 4 boys in my home in that day, we were all different with different likes and abilities. So at times one boy out shined the others. In time each one of us boys had our own moments in the sun as we learned what it was that we excelled at.
All the while my mom and dads support and guidance would keep us in check. They demanded for us to respect and not to degrade one another. They had zero tolerance for that nonsense.
My parents complimented us when it was justified but did not give false praise. My mom and dad knew that we could not all get the same awards and trophy. Some made the honor roll some did not. My mom and dad did not apologize for celebrating one siblings award if we too did not receive it. That’s was life. We had to deal with that.
You know that type of upbringing was very healthy. As we got older the true green monster of jealousy and competition between us stayed in a very healthy place. My brothers and I were all involved at one point in a family business that the four of us purchased and we had many good years together in. The best part of that business though not perfect was creating a start up with my brothers. my parents hard work paid off as they watched their boys work in unison to make a dream come true. It was in that moment that each one of used our different strengths and combined them to make 1 very beautiful,professional , and consumer satisfaction based family business.
Each one shined with their own gifts. We all lined up and ego and competition did not rule the day. These are moments that I will always cherish.
Over the years my younger brother decided that he had realized another dream for himself and he moved on from the business, we had grown substantially and he frankly was tired of doing his daily job.
The bottom line is this, families need to support one another. I know its hard when your younger to see and appreciate this fact but if you can it will make the adult years together all the better. And, as you then have the next generation of family members they too can learn lessons from watching how you relate to your siblings.
When I became ill with cancer it was a true shocker here in this house and all of my families home too. I was absolutely a massive doer.My feet and hands never stopped. I was everywhere doing stuff for everybody. I would hit the bed and fall asleep and would awake in the morning with no alarm and get out of bed with a song in my heart to start the day.
When, I could no longer be me 3 years ago, my song and life lost its beat and my family and friends became my new song.
My brothers and my sister who I will write about soon just started a new song for me one of love, compassion and understanding. They knew Danny the sibling well because they had been part of my personal psalm #139 . They are part of the fabric of my life.
There has been nothing that they have not done here at my home from huge amounts of yard work, painting, repairs, cleaning etc. They know how I lived and how things bother me. My dad’s very fussy even at the age of 87 . I am the same as my dad in that regard.
My family has driven me hundreds if not thousands of miles for treatments, mystery rides to get me/us out. If I looked kind of ratty or they thought it would perk me up they shopped with their coupons and got me things that they thought would make things nice. My sister was doing shopping at stores for all natural foods for me to have to build my immune system up.
My sister in law called and she showed up to remove my hair that was falling out from the treatment. I never asked, I was just cleaning the hair strainer in the shower and cleaning the hair up off of the bathroom floor . But, she thought it would be better and N was right. By us removing the hair it took the power of that side effect away. It became my choice.
Well the snow is gone for the moment. I really enjoyed having the kids around during the storm unable to go anywhere. It was fun. Moments that are few and far between these days with my wife and kids schedules being what they are. I was happy that we could all just be here together. And, I know many of your families enjoyed this time as well.
Fortunately my wife and kids got milk and bread and we did not lose power so it was not bad at all. 🙂
It’s funny, there is so little on television that my family will watch these days. I keep saying to my wife lets get rid of the cable. My wife keeps saying let’s get rid of the phone. We just get junk calls. Our friends and family have our cell #
It seems like life has gotten so much more expensive. When I was a kid we had free tv ,we did not have cell phones, or personal computers. These days, everything costs us monthly. And yes, some technology is good. But not all.
I have spent a whole lot of time alone here over the last almost 3 years.
I would look to find something to watch and kill a little time. I could not read and pray 24 hours a day. :).
My son has Netflix so I watched a few things there too. I sought out things from my childhood, movies etc. It was interesting seeing what was on tv back in the day. Often things were much different to see as an adult then with a child’s perspective. I was like God no wonder my parents would not watch them with me. They were very corny. I remember watching bat man and thinking gosh I could see things now that as a child I does not notice. Like the jokers mustache that is under all the caked on makeup.
Although corny,these old shows did have a positive message. It created role models for the kids, the hero’s . 🙂
So many of the shows today are not like that. The subject matter today for the kids is pretty terrible. Everything is heavy duty I think for kids. Kids cannot be just kids anymore.
Netflix was good with older series. It also had good Christian movies when you searched that term and they popped right up.
My brother and I were talking one evening probably 6 months ago and he told me about the station’s up tv, cozy tv and ME tv which has classic tv shows. So, I found them and have found some good shows and some that I had never actually watched before.
Yes, some of these shows are a little corny but they were well intentioned and humorous without the vulgarity, sleeze and they Don’t insult you like so many of the programs do today.
I just recently found the Carol Brunette show. I heard of it years back but never had watched it. I think my grand parents use to watch her.
Like I say, we need healthy diversions in our lives. So keep laughing.
I have become accustomed to seeking God out daily particularly since my cancer diagnosis. I had searched for him prior to cancer. But that diagnosis made my personal relationship so much more authentic and more substantial.
I think life can be very confusing, when we know God our personal decisions become easier but we still battle with our own thoughts on a given matter, or we are swayed by our upbringing of how we were thought and finally we have emotions that do not want us to do the right thing. I have learned that we are best when we die to self and do as Jesus would do and show love even in a unlovable situation.
I had the opportunity to speak to a friend yesterday, I would ask you to please pray for A.K. Anne too suffers from the same diagnosis that I was diagnosed with. She has currently out lived the doctors diagnosis. But, she is apparently now unable to speak and is basically laying in bed.
I told her family friend C yesterday as we spoke. That God’s got Anne and he know where she is at. I also told C. That Anne is not a victim she is a beautiful teacher as she lies there she is showing her loved ones the way of the cross, she is allowing others to serve and learn.
Now, does anyone want to see our loved ones in Anne’s situation ? No.
But, the bottom line is this, God users all situations to help us all.
The final thing I would say is this through personal experience.
Anne could rally and turn around if that is God’s will. I was very ill and God has pulled me out from my illness for the moment. God has his reason for this. Its not because I am a Saint either.
So, where there is life there is hope and if Anne is called by God, guess what .Anne’s hope is not dashed. God’s got her and she will be reunited with all of her loved ones.
Having lost my mom a year and 1/2 ago, I understand every moment of the vigil and emotions that go when we are loving our dear ones until they take the Lord’s hand.
So, I do not take lightly the difficult process for the family members.
It would be great to just have days of beauty, of joy of moments filled with endless possibilities but that is not life here. We have situations that are out of our control that can dictate where our lives, emotions and hopes will go.
That’s why seeing through the eyes of faith makes all the difference in the world. We can see the hope regardless of the situation.
So again, Please keep Anne in your prayers. I will perhaps someday give you more information on the person that she is. She has brought much joy to many of the year’s. A gift from God him self. This song suits Anne well, she her….
In our lives we need to laugh I know that this is a common theme on my blog but the reason is because it is so true. We as a society are very much challenged by our days and all of the sadness that is around us. News, regular life stuff.
We need the balance of laughter to make life joyous. So my attempt to bring humor to my blog here is to show the different types out there. They may not be your style so look for what is and laugh. It makes a big difference in your day. It chemically changes your mood too naturally. God made us wonderfully. Amen.
Just Danny Speaks 