A few days ago I stopped at Fred Meyer’s, my favorite grocery store. It was so crowded some of the aisles were impenetrable. People were rushing their carts about everywhere I looked. It took an awful lot of patience to finally get the items I needed. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Feeling Alone
Be the First to Smile!
Filed under Everydayliving, Life Lessons
It’s From the Pile of Ashes that Diamond Dust Sparkles Best
Dear Sweet Girl,
There’s so much I wish someone had been there to tell you when you were a small child, and in your teens. Since no one seemed to care much what went on in your life then, I decided to write to you to tell you what I would have told you at eighteen years of age. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.
First of all, you aren’t worthless and you aren’t a failure. No. You. Are. Not.
You are lovable, you are lovely, you are loved! Continue reading
When Things Get Tough, Hang in There
Do you, like me, sometimes
wonder why God even created you?
‘…For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. Continue reading
A Spoonful of Sugar
In the movie “Mary Poppins,” Mary, the governess in charge of two children, tells them through a very catchy song that “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way.” Mary is referring to the nasty tasting medicine, probably cod-liver oil, they are about to take that has been magically sweetened.
But in my opinion, the term “a spoonful of sugar” can apply to anyone doing an act of kindness for a struggling person.
Sometimes, all it takes to make someone’s day is an effortless or generous act of kindness. For some, it can be life altering like it was for a lady named Andrea, as she wrote in her blog about a stranger, a woman who paid her grocery bill of $17.38 when she had no money to pay, and the EBT machine was not working. Andrea, mother of five, and her husband had been unemployed for months, and had at one time even been homeless.
I am especially tender towards homeless people as I am now almost finished revising my fictional memoir of a homeless man named Nick, in the book called Black Coat with a Silver Lining.
One is the Loneliest Number
“Hi, I’m at the store and want to buy this plaque really, really bad. I want you to talk me out of it,” I phoned my husband.
“What? Well, what does it say?”
“It is shaped like a dog biscuit and it says, ‘The more people I meet, the more I like my DOG.'”
He laughed. “That’s a good one. Why do you want me to talk you out of it?”
“Because that’s exactly how I feel right now, but don’t think we need the plaque. So talk me out of it. Juts say something like, Honey; we don’t need one more plaque.”
When the Church Lets You Down
“Are you withholding sex from your marriage? A man needs to have sex every 72 hours, and if you are not available that could be one of the reasons why your marriage is having such problems.”
I sat in the chair with my mouth dropped open to this pastor’s counseling words, and left the office more dismayed than when I entered it. I could not believe his preposterous statement. We had been attending the small church for over a year and it had taken me some time to get comfortable enough to go to the pastor for help. The pastor agreed to “counsel us” but after I left his office, I felt very little hope.
I had unwittingly signed up for an abusive marriage; the problems began almost immediately after the wedding. Though there was never any physical abuse, the verbal and emotional blows to me as a person were equally devastating, except unlike physical abuse; the wounding left deep scarring that seldom healed.
My expressions of feelings of despair and heartache were ignored and easily dismissed with.
“Hey, I’m perfectly happy. You’re the one with the problem.” Another time he said. “I don’t know what your problem is, I don’t beat you.” He did emotionally!
Of course he was happy. He was the one doing the lying, cheating, drinking, gambling, manipulating, controlling, criticizing, partying, ignoring, avoiding, abusing and oppressing. Continue reading
Are We So Different From the Children of Israel?
In Exodus, God has shown the children of Israel that not only He’s there with them, but that He is a Mighty God. Because of Pharaoh’s rebellion, He has steadily pummeled Egypt with unbelievably supernatural plagues. Here are a few: all water is turned into blood, their homes and land are obscenely overrun with frogs, locusts devour their crops, boils afflict them, and finally the death of their first born sons.
Throughout the ten supernatural plagues that ravage Egypt, the children of Israel go untouched. And though some of Pharaoh’s magicians duplicate the first few plagues, they cannot remove them or duplicate the rest.
If all of their water is turned to blood and the place is overrun by frogs, why on earth would the magicians cause more grief upon themselves by adding to the problem? Hmmm. Just curious. Continue reading
Not all Obesity is Due to Gluttony
It is so good to finally get a health warning that is useful!
SHAMPOO WARNING!
I don’t know why I didn’t figure this out sooner!
I use shampoo in the shower!
When I awash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body.
Printed right on the shampoo bottle label is this warning.
“FOR EXTRA BODY AND VOLUME.”
No wonder I have been gaining weight!
Well, YOU BET I got rid of that shampoo!* Continue reading
Mom Without a Red Cape
For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103: 11-14
I sat in the living room, my eyes glued on the clock, with tears streaming down my face. My fifteen year old heart had been broken by a super cute boy named Joe. I had been stood-up for the first time. Joe had not called or shown up for our date. This happened during the seventies when cell phones and text messages had not been yet dreamed up.
“What are you crying about?” my mom said.
“Joe did not show up or call. He was supposed to be here at 7:00 and it is now way past 7:30!” I said, tears gushing.
“Pshhh! “ she smirked, “You think that is heartbreak—wait till you get older and find out what heartbreak really feels like.” She walked off to her bedroom. Continue reading
Watch Out for Worm Infested Apples
I saw a most disturbing sight today while driving on a highway. A motorcyclist drove while standing up on the foot pedals of his motorcycle. Yes, I did say he drove his motorcycle standing up. I have never read any motorcycle driving manuals, but I am sure that would be a major no-no.
Wow, that guy is taking such a crazy risk! Is he trying to commit suicide? I thought. What if the car in front of him had to make a sudden stop? I saw this motorcyclist in the same area of highway that I had to come to a sudden halt about four years ago when I hit a deer. Continue reading
HIS EYE IS ON THIS SPARROW TOO Still Learning to Lean on God 