Love and Kindness

I Was In Her Prayer Book

(Updated)

Back Story –

I sat there in the car, outside the hospice. This could have been the last time I would ever see her. And indeed, it was. Yet something she told me has stuck with me for lo the many years that have passed, since that visit.

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I was In Her Prayer Book – #419

I was in her Prayer book. What a surprise that was. I had gone to visit someone I used to work with. We had lost touch and I found out she was very ill, so I went to see her. That’s when I found out that all those years, I had been in her prayer book. I had benefited from the entreaties she made to God asking Him to protect and guide me. What a revelation that was!

Then a friend told me just recently, “On 9/11, when there was such chaos from the terrorist attacks, I checked on my daughter and then I checked on you.” Again I was moved. Such an important role to play in someone’s life without even being aware of it.

And so it is in YOUR life. There are people you have helped, or influenced or just spoken to, over time, who remember you; relate to what you said, have been moved by you and what you stand for. They recall their time with you. There are portions of their behavior or their way of thinking or smiling that you helped to form.

What an important role we play with each other. It’s why we have to make every word count. Make every word bring something positive to someone else. You never know what effect you may have on someone. Be sure it’s always something for the better.

P.S.

Was there ever a time when the opposite happened? Someone was hurt or wounded or demeaned by something you said? Best to fix it – sooner rather than later.

Show #419

Bring Back Yesterday

(Updated)

Backstory

This story was written after lunching with friends where the main topic of discussion seemed to be “the good ole days.” It’s not unusual to hear such conversations among those of retirement age. But this was a young group – folks in their 40s and 50s. Already they were considering previous times an improvement to current times. It got me thinking these thoughts.

Bring Back Yesterday #321

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Henry Herman is quoted as saying, back in the 1800s – “Oh God, put back the universe and give me yesterday. “

Those who have traveled half a dozen decades or more do seem to value their yesterday’s more than their tomorrows. Their yesterdays, it would seem, were better …sweeter . . . simpler . . . less demanding.

It was a time of sitting on the dock, watching the clouds go by: of walking down the lane, hand in hand; a time without troubles or concerns. Or perhaps those yesterdays are just the result of selective memory.

They also have tales of having to walk five miles to school, uphill both ways!

Of course, TODAY is the yesterday that our kids will remember. How will this time be reflected in their memory? Will they remember too many toys . . . too many demands . . . time disappearing into a texting telephone?

What can we do, to make today a joyful memory for them? They probably won’t remember who had the biggest toy or the designer book bag.

My guess is that they’ll remember who made them feel good, and why.

Make sure you are part of those happy memories for the youngsters in your life.

[Show #321]

P.S.

What happens when you apply a reality check to your yesterdays? Here’s hoping that you find laughter, lessons learned, happy memories and legitimate nostalgia. Now on to creating tomorrow’s memories, today.

Christmas Travel

Backstory

These tips were developed through personal unfortunate experiences. When they happen, you may have a juicy, gory story to tell of your hard road trip. But you’ll be a happier arrival if you just protect yourself with these tips instead. Happy holiday traveling, whatever your conveyance.

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Christmas Travel – #517

Will you have to travel over the holidays? I don’t envy you! Between never knowing what the weather will do, and the crowds descending on roads and airports and bus stations, it’s not my favorite way to get into the holiday spirit. But if you are traveling, here are a few tips:

Be sure to have some food and water stuffed away. You don’t know when a delay will keep you from eating or being able to purchase food or drink.
If you’re going to be gone for a while, ship your clothes and gifts ahead of time, rather than jostling them with you. It will be well worth the cost and save you a lot of money, if you are traveling by air.
Take a careful inventory every time you leave a restaurant, rest room or waiting area. Be sure you have every bag, purse, toy and blanket that you brought with you. Don’t leave it to chance. If you forget something, you may not be able to go back for it.
Keep your Christmas spirit alive and well. There are thousands of fellow citizens experiencing the same inconveniences as you. All of you are being served by people who are working instead of being home with their families. Have mercy on them. Smile at them and give them a holiday greeting.
Be aware of your surroundings and guard your safety. Carry a few dollars in your pocket for incidentals and security. Avoid pulling out a big roll of your travel dollars. That visual can be enticing to a traveling predator who then focuses on making your dollars, his or her dollars.

And remember the treasure at the end of the rainbow: the loved ones at the end of your trip, who will make your holiday joyous and special.

Take their feelings into consideration too. If your trip is more duty oriented than joy, well, it’s even more important to bring that Christmas spirit with you.

Don’t show up tired and grumpy. Show up tired and smiling with a “Happy Holiday” greeting for everyone.

Even better, wish them all a “Merry Christmas.”

P.S.

One more tip – Be careful if you depend on a GPS to get you to your destination. Accurate a huge percentage of the time, this machine can also take you dangerously off track or going around in circles. Doesn’t hurt to keep an atlas or road map with you as back-up. Double check any directions that don’t sound right or don’t make sense.

[Show #517]

The Spirit of Christmas

Backstory

How do you convey the spirit of Christmas in your world? Are we doing a good job of projecting the essence of peace on earth, good will toward man? Is that hard to do, in a secular world where the presence of angels and miracles is challenged? Here’s what I see, when I look around.

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The Spirit of Christmas – #514

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in the U.S.A. Look around you. People are giving to the causes that provide Christmas to kids whose stockings would otherwise be empty. From the Marines, to neighborhoods, to the local Rotary Club, coats, toys, books and food are going out with love. The Salvation Army bell is being heeded generously. It’s the time of year to remember others with visits and special considerations.

If your home is decorated in the colors of the Christmas season, invite someone over to enjoy it – someone whose own home may lack holiday sparkle. If you’ve baked those special cookies of yours, take some over to the neighbor who is housebound.

Send cards, make phone calls, send emails, and light up Facebook with Christmas cheer.

We’re all so busy. Yet this is the time of year when we make time for those we love and the friends we treasure. It’s when we’re especially polite to strangers. Don’t let the Christmas rush delete your Christmas spirit.

Remember, the true meaning of Christmas is sharing love and laughter and showing how much we care about each other. Keep the concept alive by what you say and do this season.

If the Christmas spirit is in your heart, it will show. Peace on earth, good will to men – and women too!

P.S.

You know what could happen? You could start to feel so good, carrying the Christmas spirit around with you, that you just might pour it over into 2019. Now wouldn’t THAT be a hoot?

[Show #514]

The Sunshine Poem

Backstory

Some of the stories you hear on Consider This are written by someone else. Mason Jars by Amy was featured recently and had a tremendous response from listeners and readers. This week, we feature another piece by a listener. I wonder if Suzanne will remember this poem, written decades ago. Listen in.

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The Sunshine Poem- #455

Suzanne sent in a little poem that she wrote on May 10, 1991. For whom was it written? See what you think. It goes like this –

Grant me a little bit of sunshine,
Promise me a little bit of hope.
Have faith in me,
Even though you might feel that I’m wrong.
For if you stand behind me,
I know I can be strong.
And if you stand beside me,
I know I can succeed.

A beautiful intercession showing someone how important they are to the writer. A cry for understanding and acceptance. The words seem to echo what we all desire from someone we care for.

Listen again and let the words sink in.

I don’t know for whom the poem was written. But I can tell the person must be special to be called on to play such an important role In the life of the writer.

It was written more than 20 years ago. I hope Suzanne went on to write out more such thoughts. They are well worth considering

P.S.

Musing on Suzanne’s poem, I hope that the person she addressed did indeed stand behind her and beside her. It sounds like that person gave her strength and confidence. What a blessing to have someone like that in your life. I hope Suzanne was so blessed.

[Show #455]

Incorrect

Backstory

I had just concluded another shouting match with my computer, one sided though it was, over whether my password was correct. Surely my steel-trap mind was more accurate than this arrogant pile of desktop technology.

Well, I guess not. So I forgot that dot in the middle, or the exclamation point looked like a capital I. Surely there could be a little forgiveness.

Not in my digital world – or yours. Out of this frustration came today’s story of abject disillusion with the complexities of our modern world.

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Incorrect- #453

It was a cartoon that circulated on the Internet. One elderly lady is saying to the other, “Mildred, my memory sucks these days. So when I’m on the internet and it asks me to choose a password, I choose the word – INCORRECT. Then when I can’t remember my password, the computer will tell me, ‘Your password is INCORRECT.’ “

Well, I’m not too sure that will work. But it sure is a challenge to remember all those user names and passwords. I would use the same one so I could remember them all, But of course the gurus are horrified at that concept for security reasons.

Even if I wanted to, it seems that each website has a different set of rules. So many letters, so many numbers.

I have a list of passwords an arm long – but of course I dare not tell you where I keep it. That’s such a good secret that I sometimes I forget its location myself.

And how about those codes you have to type in to prove you are a human. Most of the time, I can’t make them out, let alone type them in.

Remember back when you communicated by dialing numbers on a phone? Today, they give classes – beginner and advanced – to teach you how to use your smart phone. How smart can it be if I need hours of instructions just to figure it out?

Will things EVER be simple again?

P.S.

I wonder if Mildred’s friend ever got to use “INCORRECT” as her password. Going on to another of our digital world’s miracles, I saw a reminder of how we defriended fellow classmates when we were in high school. You scratched their face out of your class yearbook. That was back when things were – SIMPLE.

[Show #453]

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