Serious Wednesdays: Life and Death

Why is it that sometimes there's someone who passes through our lives--just for a moment, a week, a month, maybe longer, who affect us profoundly? Who touches our lives in such a way that we don't--can't--forget it or them?

That's what Amanda's mother for me. Don't get me wrong; I didn't know the woman; hadn't met her yet. That's right I didn't know her, yet I did. In the last few days, I heard more about her than possibly I would have learned had we had a chance to talk. Maybe.

How did she affect me? I've thought about this and realize it's not been something I've necessarily wanted, yet the details of her life, her death, her influence on so many in the community, it's all impressed me whether I desired this touch on my life or not.

• She's made me want to be a better person. Less complaining, more generous, more loving . . .
• In spite of her physical problems, she put others first. I don't want to ever live selfishly.
• She made me aware--again--or my own mortality. And of those around me.
• She's made me want to be friendlier. She loved everyone. She never met a stranger. She remembered those she met, even if just for a moment. I want to be like that. Or at least strive for it.
• Her death reminded me what I've missed; what I'll never get a chance to experience.
• She's helped me more than ever to appreciate each day that God gives me.

There's more. Much more. But that's enough.
Thanks, dear woman I never knew, wonderful person, who in our eyes (those who knew her and those of us who didn't) should have lived much longer, but who in God's eyes was wanted in heaven. We'll miss you.

Blessings!

Sunday Sunshine: When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You hung my first painting on the refrigerator

And I wanted to paint another.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You fed a stray cat

And I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You baked a birthday cake just for me

And I knew that little things were special things.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You said a prayer

And I believed there was a God

that I could always talk to.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You kissed me goodnight

and I felt loved.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

I saw tears come from your eyes

And I learned that sometimes things hurt--

But that it's okay to cry.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You smiled

And it made me want to

look that pretty too.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

You cared

And I wanted to be everything I could be.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking

I looked...

And wanted to say thanks

For all those things you did

When you thought I wasn't looking.

--Mary Rita Schilke Korsan

Happy Mother's Day!!

Influencers

What makes one person susceptible to others' opinions and another couldn't care less?

But that's not right.

Everyone is influenced. Yeah, that' s what I said. Be it other humans or circumstances we're all influenced by something. Maybe our reading material, maybe the media. Friends, family, even enemies influence us.

Now don't stomp me down. Listen to what I'm saying. We don't have to respond negatively to that influence. Say Terri Terrible calls me up, chews me out. How will I respond? Will I "get even" by slamming the phone and proceed to tell all my friends what an awful person she is? (Okay, if I do, I've allowed her to influence my response. But then, there could be other influences bearing on me. It wouldn't have to be just her.)

But what if T.T. calls and I respond sweetly. "I'm so sorry you feel that way? How can I make it better? (Did she cause me to react that way? Probably not. The influence there could be the reactions I learned from my parents: they always reacted that way. My church and/or religion, could have a bearing on what I say, how I feel. My personality could play on how I speak to her.

Weather, my physical and mental self, food. Whatever. You name it, and it could influence how you are, think, react.

Food? Definitely, food. Ever seen children eat too much sweets? What about people who're hooked on caffeine, or other items? Junk food? Certain soft drinks?

So why are children so different? One son stands up for what he wants and feels, the other goes with the flow. No matter who he's with, that's who influences him. Is he weak?

I say, with hesitancy, yes. But, then, when I think of all the times I've been influenced by someone, who am I to point a finger at him? I wish I had more of a backbone. Wish I could block out all those influences.

But wait, wouldn't that make me a box? Empty, without thought or feeling? How sterile would life be with just my own thoughts? Would I even have any? Or would I amble about bored with me? Bored with no challenge to accept or reject what's presented to me as real, false, entertaining, boring, life. Would I end up being a robot?

Life is life. We're always going to have to deal with it. Aren't influences some of the things that make life interesting? That cause me to think, to make the judgments in my life? To decide whether to go or stay, to be or not to be? Whatever choices (good or bad, harmful or helpful) we've made--well, at least we made them. (We may hang our head in shame or glow with happiness).

I think they're here to stay. What say you?

Blessings!

Teresa

Why is it that sometimes there's someone who passes through our lives--just for a moment, a week, a month, maybe longer, who affect us profoundly? Who touches our lives in such a way that we don't--can't--forget it or them.

That's what Amanda's mother for me. Don't get me wrong; I didn't know the woman; hadn't met her yet. That's right I didn't know her, yet I did. In the last few days, I heard more about her than possibly I would have learned had we had a chance to talk. Maybe.

How did she affect me? I've thought about this and realize it's not been something I've necessarily wanted, yet the details of her life, her death, her influence on so many in the community, it's all impressed me whether I desired this touch on my life or not.

• She's made me want to be a better person. Less complaining, more generous, more loving . . .
• In spite of her physical problems, she put others first. I don't want to ever live selfishly.
• She made me aware--again--or my own mortality. And those around me.
• She made me appreciate the fact that I've had my own mother--to enjoy, to share events with, to love, and seek advice from--for a lot longer than twenty-one years. I'll lose my own mother in a few years--at the most--make the most of the time I have left.
• She's made me want to be MORE friendly. She loved everyone. She never met a stranger. She remembered those she met, even if just for a moment. I want to be like that. Or at least strive for it.
• Her death reminded me what I've missed; what I'll never get a chance to experience.
• She's helped me more than ever to appreciate each day that God gives me.

There's more. Much more. But that's enough.
Thanks, Teresa, wonderful person, who in our eyes (those who knew her and those of us who didn't) should have lived much longer, but who in God's eyes was wanted in heaven. We'll miss you.

Blessings!

Who Did You Influence Today?

It speaks in our words; impacts those who read our books.
It radiates in our doing.
It's eloquent in our silences
It's potent in our consents.
It's powerful in our refusals.

It goes in ever-widening circles like those about the stone thrown into the pool--widening circles widening, only to break on eternal shores. After all, it is an eternal thing to live and have an influence over someone who is to live somewhere forever!

Quote:
Small numbers make no difference to God. There is nothing small if God is in it. --Dwight L. Moody

Blessings