Sunday, February 27, 2011

Amen!

We all know that children can, unwittingly, make us laugh at times. From an inner chuckle to a tear-trickling good old belly-laugh, they often say the funniest things, and all because they misunderstood what they heard!

A mother was teaching her three year old daughter "The Lord's Prayer." For several evenings at bedtime, she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to solo. The mother listened with pride, as she carefully said each word right up to the end..."And lead us not into temptation," she prayed, "but deliver us some e-mail. Amen."

Yes, they listen intently and then manage to repeat it wrong, anyway.

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, a minister heard the intoning of a prayer
that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin.
Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said:
"Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goes!"

Children delight in imitating adults, they work at it with a passion. Witness little girls playing dress-up and little boys walking around in their dad's shoes. They hear adults talking and try to visualize what the words all mean.

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!"

Yes, once misconceptions occur, corrections must be made. But, still it's often funny.



Six-year-old Maggie and her four-year-old brother Johnny were sitting together during church services. Johnny giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had enough. 'You're not supposed to talk out loud in church.' 'Why? Who's going to stop me?' Johnny asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, 'See those two men standing by the door? They're HUSHERS.'

So, there you have it. Sometimes, we need a designated 'husher.' We need to be reminded that not everything we hear needs to be repeated. We need to make sure that if it is edifying enough to repeat, that we get everything straight first.

The difference between adults and children is simple: when we tell something, even exactly as we 'heard' it, real damage can be done. It's not as funny when someone's character is tarnished. It's often difficult to repair such damage. Yes, sometimes, we need a 'husher.'

Fortunately, we have One. The Holy Spirit often urges me to, "think! before you speak." Unfortunately, I do not always listen to Him in the heat of the moment. And then, I find that I may have gotten it off my chest, but in doing so, I have put a ripple in the wave of continuous fellowship with the Father. Repentance is swift, forgiveness swifter, but still the physical damage is left to repair.

I know I would be better served to, "think---before I speak, and hurt one who overheard, and make him sad."

Let's all resolve to get the facts straight before we repeat something we've heard, first and foremost. Then, let's make absolutely certain that it's even helpful to repeat it at all. Maybe, just for a laugh, we could all say nice things, and strive to be kinder than necessary.

Just remember, gossip is still like the childhood game with the same name. You remember. We all sit in a circle and, one-by-one, we whisper a word or two into the ear of the person next to us. The phrase usually changes dramatically from the first person (who wrote it down for verification) to the last one, who proudly announces it. And that, my friends, is how "door bell," turns into "we're all going to hell!"


Friday, February 25, 2011

Bel Far Niente

Alabama croons, "I'm in a hurry to get things done---I rush and rush 'til life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live...and...die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why."  Isn't it the truth?!  Every day there seems to be more and more "list" and less and less time.  What happened to us? When did we forget how to slow down and relax, enjoying life without regrets.

If this is what is expected of us as adults, then I wish to resign.  "I don't wanna grow up..."

However, there are so many wonderful things that we can do as adults, that maybe---instead of resigning, we should simply recapture the lost art of relaxing every day.

The Italians have a fabulous phrase for it: "bel far niente," which means "the beauty of doing nothing!" Now that's what I'm talking about!

I have always loved to sit outside, on the porch (life's better on the porch) and simply watch the world go by. However, sadly, most of those hours were spent alone.  But, God (wonderful, loving God) had other plans. Even though He enjoyed my company, He wanted me to have someone to share the porch with, someone who wanted to be there, too. You see, He cares for us so much that He tends to the details! So, along came my Jerry. It really is a wonderful life.

Now here's the catch. It isn't "bel far niente," unless we can do it with gusto, you know, without a trace of a guilty conscience. That can be hard for some of us. AND, we must not allow others to make us feel guilty, either.

The first time Jerry fell asleep on the couch one evening, he spent the next three days apologizing.  It was crazy. I saw that I had my work cut out for me---LOL. It has taken quite a while, but I think I have him convinced that it is just fine to simply relax a bit. Especially when we're not really doing anything! (naps, for example---doing nothing, and loving it)  I never feel like he's ignoring me because most of our time spent relaxing, we're together.  We try and spend some time on the porch or outdoors every day. These past winter months have driven us inside, though, and we find new ways of relaxing, unwinding. I have discovered this, too---even when he is working on his model cars and I am curled up on the couch with a good book, it's all good! We're relaxing in our own way AND we're still together.

Life's good and up in His heaven, God is smiling! After all, on the seventh day He invented "rest," glorious REST---bel far niente...the beauty of doing nothing!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Stay...

In less than two weeks the calendar will cruelly shout, "It's the fifth of March." Just like any ordinary day, I suppose, but I suddenly find myself hurdling headlong into the abyss of overwhelming sadness. Melancholy has taken root and flourishes wildly, out of control. Why? Because eleven years ago, on March the fifth, my world changed forever. My mama died, she just suddenly died. And where was I? Two states and eight hours away, that's where. There was no warning...no goodbyes. Perhaps that is the very reason it's so hard. There's an intangible something..."Stay, just a little bit longer, please, please, please..."

But, I have learned so much since then. I have learned that there are no guarantees, and death is an expected part of life, even when it comes unexpectedly. I have learned that there is an ache so vast and deep that, nothing---nothing, can ever fix it. The well-meaning folks who try to console me by saying things like this, "it gets better with time," don't really understand at all, because if they believe that...they still have their loved one, here with them. They have not experienced the depth of sadness that I have.

Other people say, "You have to let her go." I say, "No...'Stay, just a little bit longer, please, please, please.'"

Yes, of course, I know the 'stages' of grief. But, I also know that not a single day goes by that I don't miss my mama so very much. She was my very best friend. "Stay, just a little bit longer, please."

Recently, I had a dream. I believe that the Lord sent it to me. In my dream, Mama was older. (she was only 67 when she passed away---that's only eight years older than I am right now!) Yes, she was definitely older, but she was in the last stages of Alzheimer's and she did not know me at all. In fact, she was agitated all the time, because everyone was a stranger to her. She was alone and afraid, all the time.  I knew what the Lord was doing. He was showing me what might have been. I appreciate that. I do realize that there are worse things that could happen, there always are.

Let me be quick to add: this is not a morbid grief. I have lost many people I loved and cared about. This is more of a Regret-Grief. I just feel like she has missed so much in my life that I wanted her to share with me.
And I realize, now, that I always believed that there would be plenty of time to visit, eventually. "Stay...just a little bit longer, please," she would say. My response was usually, "I would, but I just have so many things to do." Now, I wonder: why is it that I can't name one single one of those 'important' things?! Yes, I should have stayed, just a little bit longer.

Life is unbelievably short. It always has been. Every opportunity must be seized. Oh, there will still be regrets, but there will be oceans of fond memories, as well. Always choose wisely and, "stay...just a little bit longer, please, please, please...let me hear you say that you will."


Life's better on the porch, come and sit, stay awhile...and..."Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you." ~Annie Dillard

Saturday, February 19, 2011

B-E-L-I-E-V-E

You know those little block-letter signs that say things like family, love, hope, faith, etc.?  Well, I have a nice one that spells B-E-L-I-E-V-E.  It hangs in the window of the living room.  It reminds me to keep believing that more things are right in this life than wrong.

Today I was thinking about the movie, "Phenomenon."

"George Malley (John Travolta) is a man whose life is transformed by a strange flash of light he observes on the evening of his 37th birthday. Over the course of the following days, George starts to experience an extraordinary form of genius-level intelligence, rapidly absorbing vast amounts of information, formulating new, revolutionary ideas, and even exhibiting telekinetic abilities." (from Wikipedia)

It's a great movie.  But the one thing that stands out to me over the years has been a single line.  Just a few words spoken by Nate, George's friend.  Forest Whitaker plays the part.  George is lamenting that even though he is trying to use his new power to help everyone, it just seems that everything is so difficult now.
Nate listens thoughtfully, and then quietly says, "...everyone's goin' through something."  And there it was!  The simple truth that is so often overlooked. 

You are not alone.  EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.

But, let's try to begin, today, to look at our difficulties a little differently.

For example, don't make it bigger and badder (excuse the grammar) than it really is.

Recently, a gentleman came in my store and became very upset when he discovered that the things he wanted would be on back-order status for 3 weeks. He actually said, "This is bad, Bad, BAD!  This is really bad."  The look on my face must have surprised him.  Instead of looking sympathetic,  I was thinking, "we're talking about light fixtures, not a kidney transplant."

When he finished raving, I spoke sternly to him.  I said, "Are you kidding me?  This is a minor inconvenience; nuclear war is BAD!"  He thought about it a minute, smiled and said, "you're right."

Then I directed him to another selection that was similar to the one he wanted and it was in-stock.  It was also less expensive, with all the same features and warranty!  It wasn't so bad after all.

My point is: things are often not nearly as bad as they seem at first.  Chill.  Don't overreact.  After all, the situation is most likely not terminal.  It's a minor inconvenience, that's all.

This too shall pass.  I have walked through dark places in my life that seemed impossible for things to be "right" or "normal" ever again.  But, it was temporary, not terminal.  In such situations, I am learning to believe, with all my heart, that things will get better. So, for me, the first step is to get things in the proper perspective.
 Once I do that, I always get through it more quickly.

When you are going through a tough time or situation, you need to get it off your chest.  The more you stew, the angier you'll become.  Here are your choices:
1) share it with your best friend --- this is your REAL best friend --- the one who will listen carefully without criticizing or judging, hold you while you cry, and then take the whole thing to their grave with them --- THAT friend
2) tell it to Jesus --- I probably should have said that one first, but sometimes we need Jesus to "have skin on" again; that's why we need a human friend. But, you need to tell it to the object of your absolute faith, too.  After all, if that is where your faith is, that is where the answer is, too

3) write it in a journal, then read it and re-write it (three times) --- after reading it the fourth or fifth time, you'll find that it isn't nearly as devastating as you first thought

But most importantly, never assume, as George Malley did,  that you are the only one who is going through a difficult time.  Everyone is going through something.  Be sensitive and keep things in perspective. Keep believing.

As Paul Harvey used to say..."and now, the rest of the story."  So, here it is.  As this customer was ranting about what a terrible situation this whole "back-order thing" was, there was another customer at the counter.  This dear lady has been coming in the store for the past several months, and we have become acquainted---on a first name basis now.  She comes in every month or so to pick out another fixture for her home.  And this is her story:  about a year ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was fast-moving and required a radical mastectomy.  During her recovery time it was discovered that chemo and radiation were to no avail.  Her situation was terminal.  She bravely gets up every day, puts on her make-up and beautiful blonde wig and sets about trying to prepare her dear family for the time in the near future when she will no longer be here.  And then she goes shopping.  You see, at the time of her original diagnosis, she and her husband were building their dream home near a peaceful lake.  He wanted to stop everything and travel the world.  But she wanted everything to be normal, for as long as possible.  To her, that includes finishing the house with all its appointments, and so, on the days she's feeling up to it, she does a little shopping.

How stupid the other customer would have felt had he known HER situation!  She has a right to cry, "this is bad, Bad, BAD!"  so, dear ones, get a grip.  Sort out what's really bad and what's merely a minor inconvenience.  Then believe.  Keep on believing that good things will surely come to you again. 

And if you need a shoulder to cry on..."I'm your huckleberry."

Be blessed!  It really is a wonderful life.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Taking Time To Make Time

Life's better on the porch. That's our motto around here. We try to spend as much time together as we can and we prefer to be outdoors. It's as simple as that. The reasoning behind this simple philosophy is really quite elementary; life is short at best...try to avoid regrets by making wise choices.

I wish I could lay claim to the following story, but alas, it is not an original thought with me, and I do not know who the author was. But, with that said, it still bears repeating, so here it is.

The professor stood before his philosophy class with a few items spread out on a table in front of him. When the class settled in, he wordlessly picked up an empty jar. It was a very large mayonnaise jar. He then proceeded to fill the jar with golf balls, up to the rim. He asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

Then the professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. As he shook the jar lightly, the pebbles rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls. Again, he asked the students if the jar was full now. Sheepishly, they agreed that it was.

So the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up every bit of space that had been left between the golf ball and the pebbles. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous, "YES!"

However, the professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling all the empty space. The students laughed.

"Now," said the wise instructor, "I want you to realize that this jar actually represents your life! The golf balls represent all the important things---God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions---and even if EVERYTHING else was lost so that only they remained, your life would still be full."

He continued, "The pebbles are the other things that matter---your job, your house, your car; and the sand is everything else, the 'small' stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room left for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same is true in life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out on dates. Go ahead and play another eighteen holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."

"So, always take care of the golf balls first! Those are the things that REALLY matter. Choose your priorities. After all, the rest is just sand."

At this point, one of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

I used to sing to my children, "Cleaning and scrubbing can wait 'til tomorrow, for babies grow up---I've learned to my sorrow. So, quiet down, cobwebs! --- dust, go to sleep! I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep." It was a good choice. Now that they are all grown and gone, with sweet families of their own, I find that I have plenty of time to keep a nice, clean house. But, I miss the activity produced by a large family.

That thought reminds me of Red Sovine's song, "It'll Come Back." If you aren't familiar with it, find it online and listen to it. Then, call a friend, get your coffee, and go spend a few minutes on the porch.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Jeopardy Category: "What A Mother Might Say"

When it comes to standard responses, there should be a book written with a special section on things a mother might say.

For example, there is the famous, "Who did this?" The inevitable answer is, "Not me." Well, I don't know who this Notme is, but when I catch up to him, he's gonna be in time-out for about twenty-seven years!

Then, of course, there is the response that comes from seeing little red droplets on the floor in a path that leads from the back door toward the bathroom. But, be careful, this is a tricky one. At first glance, one might pose the more obvious question, "Is this blood?" If I may suggest an alternative, however, there's always, "I KNOW it's blood, but whose is it and why is it here?!"

Try to remain calm when asking, "Why are there muddy hand prints all down the side of the car?" That way you avoid altogether the ensuing search for Notme.

And always check the VCR slot for foreign matter. "Yes, I know that your cheese sandwich will fit in the VCR, but it's for playing movies, not grilling sandwiches."

Eventually, stray animals will just show up in your home. Try to remember that a puppy isn't all that bad after all. "I don't care if Kenny has a little garter snake, we're not getting a python."

Don't forget to listen when your children are asking questions. The answer might be important! "No! You may not hide your baby sister in the clothes dryer."

Speaking of babies, "Who gave the baby my lipstick?" Oops! My bad...no sense launching a search for Notme. Try instead, "How did the baby get my lipstick all over his face?"

And how about this one..."Don't make me come in there." Oh, the list just goes on and on.

But, I guess that my all-time favorite will always be, "Because I'm the Mommy, that's why!" Yep, that's definitely what a mother might say.

Speaking of mothers, I remember a little story.

A mother and her young daughter were running late and arrived at church to find all the back seats taken. As they made their way toward the front, she realized that the only seats left were on the front row. They settled in and after awhile the service came to an end.

The saintly old white-haired minister announced, "Let us pray." Almost every eye was closed. But little Janie was watching the minister intently. With outspread arms, he lifted his face to heaven and began, "Oh, Lord, Creator of heaven and earth...look on us poor sinners with mercy we beseech Thee...remember that we are but dust, frail and weak..."
"Mama," she whispered.
"Shhhh!" said her mother.
"But, Mama..." she persisted.
"Not now, Janie...we're praying."
"But, MAMA! What IS butt-dust?!"

What's a mother to sat to that?!!!!!! So, just remember that when someone is really irritating you or trying to make your life difficult, they probably can't help it...they're BUTT-DUST!

Stop Losing Yourself!

I'm going to tell you a little story. Now everyone sit down, get comfortable, and listen closely.
It goes like this:

Many years ago, two little girls were playing happily with their doll-babies. Now these two little girls were sisters, moreover they were twins. They loved playing together and rarely got into arguments. One pleasant afternoon, between nap-time and supper time, they were playing 'house,' as they often did. In their bedroom, it was much like a miniature apartment. They had child-size appliances (stove and refrigerator), sink, table with two chairs and even a little washing machine. On that particular day, the living room had been transformed into the 'park.'

One of the little girls came down the hall with her baby in a stroller, heading for the park. The other sister was working happily in the 'home.' Meanwhile, in the park, the baby is situated in a small rocking chair that has been designated a swing. The young mother instructed the baby to sit there, in the swing, while she went to get them some refreshments or something. Off she trots. Moments later, the other sister shows up at the park, finds the baby unattended and scoops her up. Off she trots.

When the first little girl returns to the park and finds that her baby is missing, she doesn't scream and shout. She simply looks around---everywhere. The baby's blanket is on the floor, but no baby! She even turns the rocking chair completely over, looking for the baby. She never says anything, she just continues her search elsewhere.

Momentarily, her sister shows up with the baby and returns it to the swing. No fanfare. Off she trots. Enter the perplexed mama, and note the joy on her face when she finds her baby---right where she left her! She picks the infant up, gives her a squeeze, and then scolds her gently, "Now, you stop losing yourself!"

Where was I when all this drama was unfolding? Why, sitting on the couch, curled up with a book, that's where. So, I am an eye-witness. Trust me when I tell you that I learned a powerful lesson that day. In fact, I have been applying it to my life, in one form or another, almost daily since that time.

Let me break it down for you. Once you have found yourself, the real you, there will be numerous opportunities to lose yourself. Busy mothers know all about this. We even become known as "Mary Alice's mother," or "Bill's wife." Somehow, we  begin to lose ourselves. We yearn for a few moments, just a few moments for ourselves---so we can regroup. It seems as though we can't even go into the bathroom without hearing a plaintive voice behind the door, "What are you doing in there?" "I'm using the bathroom." "Can I come in?" Raise your hand if you've been there-done that!

Let's go back to the story for just a moment. Notice that the baby did not do anything wrong; circumstances just prevented her from staying 'put.' So it is with our busy, multifaceted lives. We can be doing everything that is expected of us and still manage to lose ourselves. But, just as it was in the story, there is a rescuer for us. There is someone Who will search for us until He finds us. He will turn over every mountain, if necessary, and never give up. We are created in such a way that even twins are uniquely individual. We are destined to be ourselves, as wonderfully diverse as we can be. Embrace all that is charming about YOU! Take time to refuel each day. Go ahead and meet the needs of everyone else. But, always, always, always take time for you. Stop losing yourself! Let the gentle Shepherd scoop you up and protect you. He will be faithful to return you to the exact spot you need to be, when you are ready.

I'm going to the bathroom now, and I don't want to hear anyone on the other side of the door!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

We Must Prepare!

Well, here it is less than two months after Christmas, and I'm happily beginning all over again.  To do what?  Prepare for that most glorious season of all--Christmas, of course!

After all, it's only 314 days until it arrives.  There's so much to do.  How will we ever get it all accomplished in so little time?!  Yes, I know, many of you think that such talk is silliness, but I'm serious.

At one time or another, I think just about all of us have said that things seem nicer somehow at Christmastime.  Maybe it's true---maybe we really do feel more cheerful---notice things a little more.  If it is true, then why settle for only one day a year---or even a few days or a couple of weeks a year?  Why not carry that fruit along with us as we go, day-in and day-out?  And I'm not talking about just fruitcake, either!

What fruit then?  The fruit of the Spirit of Christ:   love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control!  Yes, now you remember---it's all the things we love about Christmas---the mass of Christ, our Redeemer.  So in the coming months, as the hours tick away and I joyfully await that most glorious day of all days (the celebration of when God Himself revealed His love toward us) I shall try and remember what Ebenezer Scrooge learned:  we CAN keep Christmas in our hearts and endeavor to live in that beautiful Spirit all year long.

LOVE  --  cherish those you care about; lavish them with copious amount of affection and adoration

JOY   --  "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be," said Abraham Lincoln.  Well then, make up your mind to be happy.  And remember, NO ONE CAN STEAL YOUR JOY!  Be joyful.

PEACE  --  In as much as you can, always choose PEACE.  In this world, you cannot avoid conflict, but you can choose your battles.  Paul said that we should not be surprised when we encounter hardships.  Things will not ever be perfect for any of us, but we can remain peaceful in every situation.  Let's encourage each other to always remain calm in adverse situations.

PATIENCE  --  Here's one that we may need to work on in earnest.  Choose one area in your life where patience may be lacking...perhaps it's those minutes when you're caught in traffic with unfriendly drivers surrounding you---maybe it's when the children are too loud for your pounding headache; possibly it's the stress of having to wait for someone else to do their job before you can finish yours.  Whatever the trigger---you control the firing pin.  Practice patience until it becomes your very nature. 

GENTLENESS  --  Oh, to be sweet and gentle to all, like our gentle Savior.  Start by speaking more softly to those who annoy you.  I have noticed that aging parents, in particular, are often shouted at (and NOT because they are hard of hearing) and talked down to.  Don't do it to little children either---they're just babies!  Be gentle with everyone.

GOODNESS  --  We could all make an effort to just be good to others.  The blessings we enjoy so much may never reach others; do whatever you can, whenever you can.  People who have fallen on unfortunate times will always be among us---not just at Christmas.  Be good---all the time.

FAITH  --  Everyone has faith; it's just the way we're wired.  Some of us have reached the ultimate plateau of having a deep, abiding faith in an unseen God who orders our steps and directs our paths.  Take time to nurture your faith daily---you never know when you may need every ounce that you have to prevail.

MEEKNESS  --  That's right; now is the perfect time to tone it down a notch and with reckless abandon---FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF.  Let others tell about how great you are, for a change.  Be humble. I know it may come as a shock---but, generally speaking---it's not about YOU!  (I'm speaking to myself, first and foremost---who do you think I write these for, anyway?! LOL)

SELF-CONTROL  --  Ouch!  Can I get a band-aid over here, please.  That slices deep.  Resist the urge to get 'even.'  Refer to the previous notes (it's not about you) .  Exercise control over anger and rage, in particular.  No one can MAKE you angry---it's your own choice.  Control that urge.  Mama used to say that I should stop and count to ten before I explode on someone.  It still works.

So there you have it---my plan for living the Spirit of Christmas, all year long.  WOW!  What amazing possibilities are out there for us in the coming weeks and months.
I hope you will become as excited as I am over them.  Happy Christmas to all!  It's only months away and we simply MUST prepare!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Awesome!

This was actually written about a year ago, but so many of you have asked for it again, so..."back, by popular demand," here it is. (It was originally called, "I Wish I Had Thought Of That.") Enjoy!

You can learn a lot from a third-grader...IF you're paying attention.  And on that particular day, I was!  Here's what happened:

Most of you know that I work at a lighting gallery.  The finest lighting gallery in the midwest.  The only lighting gallery in the state contracted to display and sell the beautiful Schonbek crystal chandeliers that you will see in the White House, the Smithsonian, Buckingham palace AND the latest James Bond movie!  OK, okay---that was a crummy commercial, but not really because I never mentioned the name of the store--haha.  But, I digress.

In my position, I am expected to take care of any sales-related business that comes through the door, but my favorite job is assisting people who are building a custom home.  We work closely with the builder and the customer to help them choose the right fixtures for the right space, everywhere that lighting is needed throughout the house.  As Lighting Consultants, the customer relies on our knowledge and often follows our recommendations completely.  Therefore, it is crucial that we are knowledgeable in every area of the lighting process.  We must stay up-to-date with product information as well as electrical code.  It may not be rocket science, but it can be a precise science!  So, it can take from a couple of hours in one visit to many accumulated hours over several visits to complete the task.  Customers find that they must make appointments and actually arrange for some time to get it all done.  Often, they must come late in the day, after they finish working.  They are tired and hungry and just want to go home.  On top of that, they've picked up the kids and have them in tow.

No worries, though.  I learned a long time ago that frazzled parents can relax a little bit, if their children are not too cranky and have something "fun" to do.  That idea came to life when I went to work at the lighting gallery.  I keep little boxes of crayons in my desk, markers and stickers---good stuff!  It keeps the little ones occupied and happy for quite awhile most of the time.  They often color pictures and give them to me, which I dutifully display.  But, one of the best ones I have received came just a few weeks ago.

They were tired and over-budget on everything from tile and carpet to the granite counter-tops.  To add insult to injury, their builder had not given them an adequate allowance for their lighting fixtures.  They could easily go over-budget by a thousand dollars or more---IF they wanted their dream home to look custom, rather than mass-merchandised.  In situations like this, it is crucial that we are well educated on the products available.  When we are, we can show you items that you may not know about, and help you get the most for your money---poor budget and all!

So there we were, the lighting consultant, the bedraggled couple and their eight year old son.  I put him to work immediately, drawing.  He was happy.  The parents were relieved.  Now we could get some work done.  We walked around the gallery together and I made recommendations, based on the information they were providing regarding style, finish, etc.  I pointed out fixtures that suited their descriptions and were size-appropriate and on SALE!  We may not be able to stay in budget, but we were going to be very close.

Two hours later, at six p.m., we were winding things up, and it was time to close the store.  When it was all said and done, we had beautiful fixtures, light bulbs for everything, and with tax included, the final total was less than two hundred dollars over.  They were delighted.  They told me that they fully expected to be hundreds over and were dreading it (any overages to builder designated budgets must be paid before the product is delivered to the job-site. )  As they were preparing to leave, we shook hands all around, proud of our work.  The little guy wanted to shake my hand too, and when I obliged, he pressed a small scrap of paper into my palm.  They scurried out the door and as I headed back to my desk I glanced at the little note.  Four little words...that's all...but, you can learn a lot from a third-grader if you're paying attention.

Here's what he had written..."this place is AWESOME"

Wow!  What a realization.  This place IS awesome.  I looked around and remembered how much I enjoy my job.  I remembered to be grateful that I still have a job---so many don't right now.  And I thought about the hundred ways I could apply that little message to every area of my life.

My Husband and our relationship:  yep, awesome!  growing greater every day, too

Our children and their children:  no doubt---AWESOME!  just ask me about any one of our 26 grandkids

my country:  for sure---with all her troubles, still the greatest place on earth

my faith:  my God is an AWESOME God; of course He is---He's the only true God, and THAT my soul knoweth right well!

my extended family:  we make up a very interesting group, but isn't it variety that is the spice of life?!  oh yeah, we're awesome all right, and SPICY!!

my friends:  the best of the best---absolutely awesome in their devotion

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  John Travolta, as the lead character in "Michael," said basically the same thing, "I'm gonna miss this place so much."  Why? Because it's awesome! 

Let's face it: THIS PLACE IS AWESOME.  It might be a physical place, like the earth itself, as Michael pointed out, or "this place" might be the place you are in a relationship.  It could certainly be any number of things.  Begin to ponder on this, as I did.  You will discover that things are better than you thought in many areas.  And stop waiting for everything to be "perfect."  That's not going to happen because we live in a very imperfect world, that is nevertheless, AWESOME, if we choose excellence.

If you are unhappy with your employment, seek another job--find the one, no matter how menial it may be, that makes you shout, "this place is awesome!"  Come home every day and say, "this place is awesome."  Examine your relationships, work on them until you can say, "this place in my life is awesome."  If it's too late for that (and sometimes it is) recognize that too, and pray for a second-chance.  There is a relationship that will convince you that you have finally found the one true love of your life.  Whatever you do with your life and your choices, make sure you can say at the end of the day, "this place is awesome."

Should I File A Report?

HELP! Police! I've been robbed. What should I do?! Should I file a report?

There is something missing in my house. I'm sure that someone has been in here. HELP!

Okay, take deep breaths. Walk through the house slowly and purposefully. Pay attention, take note. Yes, I am certain. Things are missing. The culprit has gone through my closet and taken my clothes! No, not all of them, only the ones that fit me! What is going on here? There isn't one single thing here that fits me! Who would do such a thing?!

And that's not all. Someone has messed with my bathroom scale. It's stuck on this awful number that is 30 or 40 pounds more than I weigh! This is just crazy. It's some kind of conspiracy...to make me think I'm going nuts! I can't sleep for thinking about it. I'll make an appointment with my doctor to get something to help me sleep.

A FEW DAYS LATER

So, I went to see my doctor. You won't believe this...there's something wrong with her scale, too! She says my anxiety may be hormonal. After all, I am going to be sixty next year. She couldn't explain what happened to my clothes, but she did think that maybe if I were to lose a few pounds, it would take my mind off the whole matter. She advised that I not involve the authorities just yet. Well, she's the professional, so I agreed to try really hard to lose just a pound or two...you know, so I can sleep better.

She gave me all kinds of little charts to figure out the whole process. For example, did you know that to 'lose' a pound of fat, you must burn an additional 500 calories a week. Okay, that sounds easy enough. Then there is a little chart to show which activities you can choose from to burn your extra calories. The most popular choice is walking. I walk around all day; that should be easy! Oh...it has to be 'extra' walking. Well, maybe I'll choose something else. Anyway, I'm afraid of the big dogs that chase people who are doing nothing but walking past.

So, what's next on the list? Ride a bicycle. OK. Now, that's what I'm talking about! I'll ride a bike to burn up those mean little fat cells. I'm mad at them anyway. They probably know who has my clothes! Okay, let's see what the little chart has to say about bicycling. I can feel the wind on my face already. And I could most likely pedal faster than the mean dogs. This may be the ticket!

Hmm, must be outdoor bicycling, but not racing...uh-huh...traveling about eight miles per hour...that sounds reasonable...it will only take twelve hours to burn one pound of solid fat. TWELVE HOURS?!  What?!!!
So, let me get this straight. If I jump on the bicycle and pedal at a speed of eight miles per hour, and ride for twelve hours, I'll lose one pound...that's it?!

That means that if I want to lose ten pounds, I'll need to pedal for 120 hours...hold on a second...let me do the math...WHAT?! that's 5 days...24/7. So, in order to lose ten pounds in one week, I would need to pedal continuously for five days, a total of one hundred twenty hours! Maybe I'm not doing this right. Let's look at the mileage instead. Okay, let's see here...just a moment...more math...eight miles per hour times twelve hours...that equals ninety-six miles to burn one pound. NINETY-SIX miles?!!!! That's nine hundred sixty miles to lose ten pounds. That's insane!

I think I'll have the doctor write me a referral. There must be another way. All this math is just causing me more anxiety.

Hold on just a minute...it's my doctor, returning my call...oh, good...she's going to write a referral.
I'll be right back...I hear the fax machine. Let's see...yep! It's from my doctor. What's this?!
"Alterations Are Us" ... a referral to her seamstress?!!!! 

Hello, Police? I want to file a report...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

B-L-O-G!

In about three months, Jerry and I will celebrate our second anniversary; that's right, we're newlyweds!

In the early days of our courtship, Jerry and I spent hours 'talking.' We emailed, did instant-messaging, and sent text messages. You would have thought we were teenagers, and it was so much fun!

We both had accounts on MySpace (still do) and so I blogged there. Whenever I was working on a serious entry, Jerry would distract me with little notes and messages, and somehow it turned into a round-robin on the possible meaning of what we believed was an acronym: b-l-o-g.  I would write, in some form of 'conversation' my version of the meaning. Brown-Lacy-Old-Gown. That's all---just the four words. He might respond immediately, or it might be hours later. Baked-Lasagna-On-Grass! Out of the blue, four words would appear: Bats-Landing-On-Gates.

It was so much fun to think like a kid, just be silly for a minute. How we laughed! It must have been quite amusing to others, too. Here was a reasonably sane-looking, sixty-ish adult, reading something on their phone and then laughing hysterically! Who wouldn't? Boisterous-Laughing-Orange-Giraffes.

I was so happy to find someone with such a wonderful sense of humor. There's nothing wrong with being young-at-heart. Growing 'up' is entirely over-rated as far as I am concerned. Of course, we need to command the social graces, when the occasion demands it, but there's absolutely no reason to give up humor. Laughing is so contagious! And it has definite therapeutic advantages, as well. Bottled-Lime-Onion-Gravy.

Bonnets-Left-On-Grills. One thing happened, about the time that all this hilarity was going around, that truly blessed my heart. One of my daughters had come to visit, and when she got back home, she sent me a note thanking us for the great visit. Bunnies-Letting-Off-Gas. One of the things she said was this, "I had forgotten what a beautiful smile my mama has!" It was so good to be smiling again, to be happy, to be silly if I wanted to...and to realize that everyone knew I was happy. Brazen-Llamas-Ordering-Grapes.

Chili Davis is credited with the saying, "Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."  I agree.
Come to our porch. Sit a-spell. We'll drink coffee if it's cold outside, iced tea if it's hot. Bald-Looking-Ornery-Goats. We'll visit. Bucking-Lopsided-Oily-Gerbils. And...

We'll laugh. Biscuit-Licking-Oven-Glove!

Setting the Record Straight

Do you consider yourself to be a good listener? I used to think that I was, but these days I'm not so sure anymore.

Here's what's bothering me...

Anyone who has known me very long knows that I love to talk to people. I'm just interested in so many different things, I suppose. But, even though I truly am concentrating on both listening and hearing, (not always the same thing) I find that my mind often wanders. Those meandering side trips in the mind often cause me to interrupt what the speaker is saying to me. And sometimes the comment I make at that inappropriate time isn't even totally related to what they were saying. I know it must be exasperating, but please be patient. I really am listening.

When I was in college, I took extra assignments regarding the new research on the ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) epidemic. If you don't understand the struggle with ADD, please read, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."
The first thing that the instructor did was hand out a checklist arranged specifically for adults, rather than children. I recall very well that there were 100 items on the list, and I was able (honestly) to mark 99. I was stunned and relieved at the same time. I had spent most of my own public school years wondering what in the world was wrong with me. It seemed like I just could not stay focused on anything for very long. You can't imagine my extreme and absolute joy to discover that there was nothing wrong or lacking with my intelligence. It was just that my mind wanders faster than I can keep up! Boy, did that explain a lot!

Since that time, I have taken the techniques that I learned from that study and applied them to my own life. I used them in the classroom, as well, and was able to work with students with ADD quite successfully. It was liberating to find out that what had plagued me for years could be addressed earlier for them and help them learn how to handle it better.

So, if I am handling it, why am I here today, writing about it? Well, I said I was handling it, not that I had mastered it.
And there is something that is bothering me lately.

I can't count all the times that I have been told that prayer is the act of talking to God, while meditation is the act of listening to God. I believe this to be true. I have discovered that I can talk to Him quite easily, sometimes chatting amiably for an hour or more, but then when He is ready to answer or speak, I only stay focused for a minute or two. Chatty-Cathy bumps it up a notch and just dives right in! Thank goodness, His loving kindness is better than life! He shows patience, mercy and grace when I don't deserve it at all. I know that sometimes He must want to shout, "Will you please shut your mouth and pay attention."

I don't 'do' New Year's resolutions. I know the meaning of the word (resolution) and I know that those promises are going to get me in trouble, so I just don't do it. But, I do take inventory, and choose some areas (not too many---that's a recipe for disaster to someone with ADD---lol) that I will earnestly try to improve.

This year I am working on paying attention when I listen. I don't want to miss the still, small voice of a loving Father-God Who loves me more than I can imagine and wants only the very best for me, everyday that I have air to breathe.  I don't want to miss the slightest detail that a loved one is sharing with me. I don't want to miss anything when my friends are telling me what's new with them.  In short, I don't want to miss a thing!

Yes, I wonder as I wander...my mind takes a lot of rabbit trails...I wonder if you will be patient with me, as God has been.  It's okay to look me in the eye and ask, "Did you hear what I just said?" I promise I won't be offended.

And, by the way, it's okay to ask, "Where in the world did THAT come from?!" when I interrupt you with some off-the-wall comment. I'll just bet that I can connect the dots for you!

Maybe you don't have a problem with it, but I know that I'm not the only one...