Love and Kindness

Evening

Backstory – Evening

Retirement, with all its opportunities, can also lead to a life that is quieter, safer, softer. Can that lead to boredom? That was the concern of my beloved, when retirement was new to me and well experienced by him. This is the conversation we had about that.

Consider This Show – Evening

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We were sitting on the porch, watching the early evening clouds change color as sunset approached. He turned to me and asked, “Do you enjoy sitting here quietly, just taking it all in?” He referred to the mountains that rose from the other side of the road…the flowers in the swaying trees…the birds twittering happily in the evening shadows. “Sometimes I wonder if this is too staid for you,” he added.

How could I possibly express to him, all it meant to sit next to him and take in the daily miracles that so often go unnoticed in our hurried world. To hear the sounds of nature instead of the ringing of the house phone, the office phone, the cell phone. To sit there knowing this is the final destination of the day. No more need to wedge my way into the traffic and claim my share of blacktop to get me home. The most peaceful time of day when my heart sings and my hand touching his is divinely intimate. It is the essence of every love song.

“This is my favorite part,” I shared softly, tears of joy gathering in my eyes.

And I believe he understood everything expressed by those few little words.

[Show #198]

Something Bad Could Happen

Backstory – Something Bad Could Happen

Something bad could happen. There’s no denying it. Turn on the news for proof any time. How can you possibly keep from worrying in times like these? That thought inspired this story.

Consider This Show – Something Bad Could Happen

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It’s easy to get swept away by the bad news: someone is treated badly; someone is swindled out of their life savings, the life is savagely snuffed out of a good person, a young life is lost.

Knowing about the bad things that could happen can sometimes be scary. It can get us to a place where we are waiting for the next shoe to fall. When will it be OUR TURN to experience something bad? It could be around the next corner. And it COULD!

But most likely, there will be something good around the next corner. Remember that the media has to pull bad news from all around the country and the world, just to keep us informed.

It’s not news that 16 million school children arrived safety. T here’s no headline in knowing that 45 million husbands chose to come home to their families and share their lives tonight. The fact that 34 million of them were met with a hug and a smile; you’ll never hear Fox News report it.

So take the news with a grain of salt.Something bad did happen to them. It could happen to you.

And if it does, you have the strength and courage to figure out how to handle it.

In the meantime, enjoy the everyday good times. Treasure them. Don’t let them get by without celebration. They are what this good life is all about.

[Show #322]

Courtesy Close In

Backstory – Courtesy

In our adult, two-person family, kind words are natural and spoken often. I wondered how good we were about being kind to each other as the kids were growing up. I remember one request for politeness that worked. I asked one day that everyone ask, “May I be excused?” before leaving the dinner table. It stuck, and from then on, they did. Go figure!

Consider This Show – Courtesy

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I was coming around the corner in the grocery store. So was he. Whew . . . close call with our carts. “Excuse me,” he smiled. “No problem,” I replied with a smile as generous as his. We were so kind and polite to each other, we two strangers. I was proud of us both.

But sometimes we forget to be equally polite to the people we love and who mean something to us. A child approaching while you’re fixing dinner may hear, “Watch out; get out of the way.” A wife reaching for a kiss during the football game may be waved off. A teenager arriving home with the groceries may be greeted with, “It’s about time you got back” Instead of “Thanks for making that trip.”

We expect that those close to us will accept this kind of behavior. After all, we can’t go around the house muttering “Please, thank you, excuse me” – all day long. Can we? Why not?

Why treat strangers in a kinder and more polite way than those we love?
Practice thinking and saying those special words around the house. Practice courtesy towards those you love!

Please . . . thank you . . . excuse me. It will be such a joy when the new kinder gentler you takes hold.

And when you find the words being used by children and grandchildren too . . . well, that’s when you know you’ve made your corner of the world a slightly little better place.

[Show #336]

Twas the Night

Backstory – ‘Twas the Night

Surely you know the traditional Christmas poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, written by Clement Clarke Moore in 1822. My version acknowledges the tens of thousands of grandparents who find themselves raising grandchildren. Safe to say that few expected to spend retirement years caring for young’uns. This poem is a loving Christmas salute to them all.

Consider This Show – ‘Twas the Night

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‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The sound of kids laughing reached the wife and her spouse.

These folks, in their sixties, that is apparent,
Did not expect filling their days as a parent.

But fate somehow chose them, to do it again,
One child or more, badly needing a friend.

They didn’t expect, at retirement age,
To be moms and dads, and not turning the page.

But children need love and attention galore,
And there they were standing, right at their front door.

So, here’s to the grandmas still braiding young hair,
And learning of Sponge Bob with pants that are square.

And grandpas at soccer and football and such,
Your love and devotion are meaning so much.

The kids keep you whirling around and about,
By day’s end, you’re sometimes completely worn out.

You’ve learned about iPods and lap tops and cell phones,
American Idol, the GaGa and ring tones.

You’ve put in your time at the pool and the park,
And soothed little people afraid of the dark.

Here’s wishing you strength in these rushed, busy days,
When hours rush by in a holiday haze.

Santa may bring you some sleep as your gift,
Along with the toys that you sort, wrap and lift.

He’s seen all your efforts through these many days,
He said God has seen too and sends you His praise.

And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
Granny and Papa, now have a good night.

[Show #255]

Country Life

Backstory – Country Life

This story was written after my last shopping trip to our small town in the Shenandoah Valley. I was really impressed by what I saw and heard. Thought I’d write about it to share the benefits of shopping locally.

Consider This Show – Country Life

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Out here in the country, we can certainly enjoy life. We’re insulated from all the traffic furies of the cities. We have lovely landscapes, the mountains and the rivers. Used to be the one thing we bemoaned was the lack of interesting shopping. Our streets are not lined with boutiques and shoe stores like the cities are.

When we’re looking for some special item, we may turn to the Internet, rather than try to find it in a local shop. It’s fast and easy.

But if you have not tried to shop locally lately, you may be pleasantly surprised. Local stores can access that international market too. And there is a big advantage to actually seeing and feeling the merchandise before you buy, rather than just looking at a picture. You may find interesting clothing and giftware – from the next state or from across the globe.

Markets often have ethnic sections now. You can find wonderfully aromatic Indian and Asian foods, even out here in the country. Spice up in the Mexican aisle or go kosher in the Jewish aisle.

Another local source is the home business. People are designing jewelry, creating wardrobes, making furniture from real wood, providing decorating service. Of course, you have to know someone who knows someone to find these home businesses, but hey, that’s part of the mystique. And if nothing else works, there’s always the week-end yard sale, where one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

[Show #498]

Time to Hide?

Backstory – A Time to Hide

This story came from concern about the daily news in our country. While we await progress and decision making and leadership, what we receive is foot dragging, finger pointing and blame. We would not put up with it in our own life, why do we allow it in our government? Hear where we might look for guidance.

Consider This Show – A Time to Hide

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Americans are worried. You can see it in our words and hear it in the emails we exchange with each other. The questionable practices that brought us to this state of the economy have long been in place. It’s impossible to revise things over night. Our good days have suddenly become the good old days.

There will be no easy out or fast cure. So what do we do? Shall we hide until it all goes away? Shall we ignore it all or turn the other cheek, or just hope for the best?

But this is not the first time that America has faced economic challenges. It’s not the first time that others have stolen away what is rightfully ours. Whether it be our savings, our home, or a loved one. Life isn’t fair, but we sometimes lose what out to have been ours to keep.

It’s time for families to turn inward. Discuss what the hard times mean for you and for others. Acknowledge the stress created by not knowing what can happen next. Ask your parents and grand-parents how they survived previous downturns. Just talking out in the open can really help.

Remember that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain. Something to consider.

[Show #601]

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