Ode to Uncle John

Hello, Friends!

Today I would like to share a story about a very interesting family member, Uncle John. A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went to visit Uncle John. Now Uncle John is in his late 90's (our best guesstimate is 96), and while we are not sure of his exact age, we do know that he has lived life to the full. I love our visits with Uncle John; he cannot hear much of what we say anymore (we don't take offense that he is ignoring us!) but his eyes still twinkle when he shares pieces of his life story with us. He tells of the days he and a buddy went hunting in a remote location in Alaska, and that the plane that dropped them off would come back in a couple of weeks for them - if they survived! His garage with an attached room - today it would be called his Man cave- is full of all sorts of heads of animals that he has hunted and captured. He handcrafted his own rifles and guns, and made his own bullets. And many an award was given to John.

He tells of his early years, when he left home, at about 14 years, and hitched a ride on a train, and his wanderlust took him many places as he pursued his life as a hobo (please do NOT call him a bum, for hobo's worked for their money, no begging, making enough to tide them over till they hitched a ride to a new and interesting place), and he laughs as he shares his many stories, and we are glued to his every word. At 90, he complained to us at Christmas that he wasn't worth a darn any more, cause when he went hunting he had to come home by noon!  When Uncle John talks about his time in World War II, his eyes cloud over with sadness, and only recently did he share with us that memories of the war still haunt him, as he fulfilled his service to his country.

And as Uncle John shares His stories, he always near the end of our time says, "I have lived a good life, the Lord has been good to me. I have no regrets," and we are enchanted with his humility and gratitude for the life he has chosen to live. But you know what he has said that buried itself so deeply in my heart and soul? He said, "It is a wonderful life, but it takes work. It doesn't just happen, ya know. You have to work at it." So Uncle John, I take your advice, and on days when I feel down or don't feel like doing much, I “do it anyway,” so that I can create another interesting and worthwhile day in the life of ME. And I am grateful to have had you in my life, as an example of the life I want to look back on at 96 years young, and with a twinkle in my eye, say, “I have lived a good life, the Lord has been good to me, and I have no regrets..."

Everyone has a story to tell

Hello, my friends!
 

I was reading a movie review the other day, and I found this quote by Mark Twain: "There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.” No truer words have ever been said. And there is a huge gift, a great story, wrapped up inside of the person right in front of us, if we take a minute to look, a moment to listen.
 
It is likely no coincidence that this quote found me. As I meet people, and listen to them, or am moved by the look in their eyes, I realize that I am not the only one with a history, a life, a story. And while mine is the one most relevant to me, as I listen, I discover that there are many fascinating stories folks have to share. And you know what? They want to share their story! What an honor, what a privilege, what a momentous occasion it is to hear what each person has to say.
 
Some of my favorite stories come from military men and women, for they have led fascinating lives!  They tell us tales of war, of human interest, or of the daily life of a soldier or sailor. Teachers have many wonderful stories of the children, who are learning and growing and becoming individuals. Proud parents love to talk about their kids as though they were the only children in the world, because in their eyes, they are! Widows tell stories of long-ago days, filled with cooking, and mending, and car rides that took days to go the distance that today would take an hour or two. And if we are so blessed, we have friends who want to share the joys and sorrows of their lives with us, because they know we love them and they are safe to share their darkest and most intimate secrets.
 
Of all of God's creation, we are his masterpiece. Just take a minute to imagine that! The God who created the universe we know and beyond, esteems us as His Highest creation! He says that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made!" Did you hear that? Did you take a minute to think about those words, to begin to let them sink in? This is too high for me to grasp, it is beyond my comprehension. And yet that is what He says. And if He says it, then it is.

So during this wonderful Thanksgiving season, take some time to listen to those around you; look for the twinkle in the old man's eyes, or see the wonder of a new mom as she experiences the miracle of the birth of her child, or even the person who seems slow, and dull, and shy, for all of these folks have wonderful stories to tell. And when you take a few minutes to listen to them, you will grow, and you will learn something, something of value, something of importance, something that may change your life forever. Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving, everyone.

A Condition of the Heart

Hello, fellow bloggers!

I pray this finds you healthy and wealthy and wise - and if not all that, then at minimum, filled with joy!

As I observe the unrest which abounds in our nation today, and hear the rhetoric that pits one person against another, I am saddened and dismayed. Those of us who have been blessed to live in such an amazing country as the United States seem to have lost so much of the very principles of our founding fathers (and if you don’t believe this is an amazing country, leave it for awhile, and likely when you return it will be with a sense of gratitude that runs deeper than you ever imagined). Our history is rich with stories of those who sacrificed to give us a “better life.” These stories included immigrants who came here via Ellis Island, who worked hard to become proud citizens of our great nation (sweet land of liberty). Men and women who gave their lives to form unions that protected young children from working in sweat factories, with long hours, no breaks and little pay. Families who stayed together through thick and thin, because they made a commitment and kept it, regardless of how they felt. (Remember, One Nation, Under God, Indivisible…) Everyday people who went to church, raised their children to be respectful, and reinforced the importance of morals and values that were the foundation of the land that I love. I can't help wonder, what those folks would say were they to revisit America today. My expectation is that they would be shocked, disheartened and dismayed.

Today, stories of corporate greed abound, and there is a lot of truth to these stories. But honestly, this type of greed has always been and always will be. But today, I see another form of greed growing in our midst, and it is every bit as ugly. That greed is the one that says, “I am entitled to ….” Really? And how is that so and how did this happen? My grandpa, whose body was riddled with arthritis, climbed down the front porch steps on his hands and knees to go to work, and he would not consider staying home because he had a family to take care of. My parents worked and paid for hospitalization and they paid for doctor’s visits. My parents, and I for that matter, worked at not very glamorous jobs to provide for our families, and we were grateful for the opportunity. We were thankful for the health to be able to work. My husband and I have been grateful for the opportunity to go to college, to earn our degrees and have a better life and we never once considered not paying our student loan money back.

OK, now wait a minute – I think I may have heard a few words in this last paragraph that may hint at what has changed. Did I hear the words THANKFUL and GRATEFUL? And how about OPPORTUNITY and COMMITMENT? Hmmm, could these words, perhaps foreign to our culture today, be a huge hint as to what has changed? And where have these changes taken place? I believe what has changed is the condition of our hearts. Greed and a sense of “I deserve” whatever – fill in the blanks – have permeated and changed the face of our country, and not for the better. And each of us is missing out because of it. There is a tremendous sense of fulfillment to know that, at the end of the day, we have done our part, worked hard and earned our way. Or to dream of and plan for our heart’s desire and then see it manifested in our lives.

So if we choose to, how can we correct this unhealthy direction, this condition of the heart? I say, do not look around and try to figure out what is wrong with those around us and what they did or didn’t do for us, but rather, the best thing we can do is look to ourselves and to our own hearts; to be thankful and work hard and look for the opportunites that abound. Because if we don't, unrest will increase, and as the eloquent Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Too Blessed to Be Stressed!

Hello!
It is Sunday evening, the end of a beautiful weekend in the Cleveland area. The weekend has consisted of two magnificent fall days, when the leaves on the trees are changing to shades of red and orange and gold, and the sky is that breathtaking shade of blue that we only see in autumn. And the sun - so high in the sky and so full and golden and bright in the day, turns the evening sky into a panorama of colors that range from shades of purple and pink and orange to deep, dark shades of blue!
There are always so many things that "need to be done," and it would have been quite easy to spend precious time tending to those "important tasks." But I am so glad I chose to enjoy the beauty that surrounds me, rather than to do all of those “necessary things.” So instead of stressing to “get stuff done,” I spent my time having dinner with a dear young couple who are celebrating their newly announced engagement! I spent time with my husband, my best friend, just enjoying his company! He and I took long drives, looking at the changing colors, and embracing the beauty that surrounds us. We took time to be thankful for the amazing life we have been so blessed to share for many years. These are the lasting things, the important things, the eternal things, the "making memories" things in life.
You know I could have chosen to tend to all of those stressful, seemingly important tasks, and I would be perhaps a little better prepared for the week ahead. But you know what? This week will come and go with its many things that need to be done, but I am happy with my choice, for I now have memories that I will cherish and carry with me forever…..

La Heim!

HellHello again-

I love this "cheer," La Heim - to life! What a gift every day is - to share a moment with a friend, take a walk on a beautiful fall day, hold a child, pet a puppy, or give a smile away to someone else. It is the little things in life that can bring such joy, don't you think? I don't know about you but I so tend to complicate life - to get caught up in the stresses of daily living, the horrible news that bombards us every day, and the unimportant things. I so do not want to lose site of the joy of living every day to its fullest, because I am caught up in the mundane.

So I have a question for each of you - what do you do to keep the joy of Life in your everydayness? How do you remember to "take time to smell the roses?" I would love to hear your thoughts. In any case, my thought to you today is -La Heim- enjoy today as you celebrate life!

Choosing Life- A Tribute to Leslie

Good morning-

I woke up this morning, got my coffee, opened my computer, and discovered on Facebook that a precious young woman I know, Leslie, has gone home to be with the Lord. This was sudden, unexpected, one of those shocking moments when the fragility of life hits you square in the eyes, says how could this have happened to one so young, and so filled with joy and life and compassion for others? And our hearts break for the loss of this woman who has touched so many lives, and for the family who is now in mourning.

Every day we have the opportunity to "choose life," and that is exactly what this young woman has done. She ran marathons to raise money for charitable organizations. She poured her life out to and for others, and her joy radiated from very being. Pictures filled with friends and family, and always that smile that would light up even the darkest of days, were shared with her Facebook friends, and when you looked at them, you could not help but smile. She opened herself and her life up to others, she drew you in and made you a part. Hers was a life well lived, for it was rich and full and filled with joy.

We can learn a lot from Leslie about choosing life. One friend pretty much summed up her life: “Our dear, sweet Leslie. The world is a better place because you were in it, and you made me a better person. Thank you for coming into our lives and blessing us with your kindness, love, and gentleness.”

Thank you for blessing our lives, Leslie. May we each “choose life” as well as you have….

Kindness - what a wonderful gift!

Hello, my friends! I pray that all is well and that life for you is good.

I have been reflecting this morning on the importance of kindness. Who when they are hurting does not want to talk to a friend whom they know will respond to them kindly, listen tenderly and just be there for you? Acts of kindness can have long-ranging effects, to be sure. Take a minute and think of something that someone did for you that touched your heart at a very hurting time in your life. It may be that you received an unexpected card of encouragement at a time when you needed it, and your spirit of heaviness was lifted a bit. Or perhaps a smile from a stranger when you were down - and you are reminded that though this may be a rough spot, there is still so much beauty around, and kind folks still exist. Or how about the time you moms, who received an extra nice Mother's Day gift, or you fathers who had a nice talk with your kids and you knew the hard work of parenting had paid off.

On the other hand, what about the time YOU have been kind to someone, and the tremendous sense of peace that pervaded your very soul said, "Ah, now that was a good idea," because you know you had brought a smile to someone's face. You may never know the effect that had on the receiving end of your gift to them.

In a world so filled with fear, and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to remember the importance of kindness, be it on either the receiving or the giving end. So I would ask you today, while we are reminded of the scarified offerings that were willingly given on that horrific day, September 11, to think about a little something you can do to make someone's day a little better.

Many blessings to you and yours-
Deb