A Little Kindness

Mike became part of the family on Holy Saturday (in forefront).  Sarah Leigh was so saddened  by the death of Porterhouse who died Monday of Holy Week that we brought Mike into our family.  The two of them have been inseparable since.  We have had to deal with his trash picking (lovingly known as the trash recycle person. He also table surfs (but is getting much better).  Mike also has an uncanny way of opening the front door (or any door for that matter).  Each task we take in stride and teach him the pros and cons to his behavior.

Then, tonight he surprised us:  he was in the back yard barking fiercely.  Gus thought it might be a snake; however, Mike took Gus to the exact problem.  Somehow a plastic bag surrounded the air conditioning unit, and it was making a strange noise.  Mike starred at it until Gus recognized what could have been a disaster. No one ever educated Mike to locate problems; yet, Mike is ready to help.  Since my physical mobility has declined, it is very difficult to get up from the floor or get out of the swimming pool.  Mike comes to the edge of the pool, stiffens his body and leans toward me, so that I may take his collar and get out of the pool.  Also after a fall to the floor in the bedroom, Mike manages to get his body beneath mine, again stiffening his little body until I am able to reach higher and regain a standing position.  Mike does this behavior himself and he continues to amaze both of us.

Reminds me of the Samaritan who stopped to take care of someone beaten and robbed.  It was not part of his character, yet he came to an other's aid.  That is where our Good Samaritan Laws come from (to render aid without fear of litigation).  We might have to change Mike's name to the Samaritan.  Oh!  Mike just barked in protest. . . so his name will remain Mike.  He is our little blessing and Sarah Leigh's inseparable friend.

Just How Does This Fit In???

Grief is such a stubborn thing.... there all the time, even when happy.  The photo above is of Sarah Leigh on the evening that we lost Porterhouse.  Her sadness was overwhelming, which only compounded ours.  That evening our little neighbor told her parents that she wanted to give Sarah Leigh her teddy because she didn't want her to be alone.  We delighted in how Sarah tossed the bear into the air and caught it. All of us stood there crying, except for Sarah and little Josephine.  Sarah Leigh stood ever so still as her little neighbor touched her golden furry coat.  There were no words exchanged, but Sarah knew of Josephine's sincere thoughts.  Sarah still sleeps with the bear today, despite the new addition to the family of another Golden named Mike.

Tonight my computer turned to the local obituary page, as I was looking for a particular announcement.  Yet, suddenly there was a NETFLIX pop up.  In disgust, the ad was removed, but it made me wonder:  "just how many grieving people need NETFLIX  at that moment;  or, have we really become such a throw away society that we bury ourselves in entertainment?"    Perhaps I am too harsh in this respect.  I am sure that NETFLIX can be the remedy for busy parents who are trying to get to a viewing service and a special movie could entertain the children while the baby sitter watches them.  It's just the joy grief issue that I find difficult.

When Jesus was confronted by death, He wept.  Then, He consoled the others by reminding them of how long they have been with Him, and did they not remember that Jesus was the Resurrection and the Life. Two opposites were present:  one of death, the other of life.  So just as NETFLIX appears on the obituary page to serve a purpose, I am sure that the same unspoken happiness and joy existed with little Josephine and Sarah Leigh.  Opposites?  Yes.  Common denominator???  Love....

My Best

Weather is so changeable, especially here in Florida.  The tale is "if you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes and it will change."   Life can be the same with its' challenges, and each challenge has opportunities that are uniquely its' own.  Just when you prepare for the rain, the sun will brilliantly shine against a background of dark clouds (as in the picture).   Recently, I have discovered that challenge accompanies change within my life as well.

Challenge is difficult to deal with, especially if there is anxiety surrounding the change.  How I wonder: did Jesus have anxiety as He approached the challenge of reuniting humanity with God by the scourging, carrying of the cross, and His crucifixion?  He did pray fervently in the garden prior to being arrested on false charges, but did He continue to pray just as fervently with each blow to His body, with each smash of the hammer's blow, with the movement of the cross into a hanging position prior to His death?  I personally think that prayer was His constant companion  as well as the angels at each of these moments.

My life has some brief periods that allows me to have prayer as my companion during my work day.  It is when I am scanning material into the computer that I can remember the faces, the stories that were shared by those I have registered.  It briefly allows me to pray for them, until a phone calls interrupts my thoughts. Then, I try again to remember these people who have come into my life briefly, with the hope that each of them will experience some consolation, some tenderness, some answers at this time or before the end of their day to give comfort.

My best is what I offer with each task at work.  My best is in each prayer.  Tonight, before my eyes close in sleep, I will again offer my best, my prayers.  Perhaps, one day prayer will become my constant companion no matter by what task I am confronted.  "...as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.  Amen."

Defeat?

Marriage was created by God, established for procreation of the human race. For those who fail to recognize this fact and want to leave God completely out of the picture, let's look to the cavemen who knew they needed females to reproduce.  Quickly advance to 2010, and despite all the advances in science, to reproduce it still requires a female ovum and a male spermatozoa.  Two spermatozoa or two ovum cannot and are never able to create a human being.  So, Prop 8 in California has been overturned by a judge who did not recluse himself from hearing the case due to his established behavior of homosexuality.  This is so unbelievable that a person of the court believes the will of the people can be negated and cast to the wayside.

Now, regroup.  In the Books of the Old Testament, the Laws of God specifically state that no man shall lie with another man and no woman shall lie with another women as in the marriage bed.  Also, due to the horrid obscene sexual behavior displayed in Sodom and Gomorrah, God sent a pillar of fire to destroy them.  In the time of Noah, God found favor with him as he follow and kept God's laws. Noah and his family were spared the entire destruction of the Earth because God rewarded Noah with instructions to build the Ark, and to place in it pairs of animals (one male and one female) as well as to take his sons with their wives. One male and one female were needed to reproduce or procreate.  Those outside the Ark drowned, as it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, extinguishing all life from the planet (except the life that was safe upon the Ark).

In the New Testament, Christ Jesus had His first miracle at the Wedding at Cana.  This was a place of celebration of the Bride and the Bridegroom.  Jesus Himself was the Bridegroom with the Church as His Bride.  Male with female.... not male lying with male or female lying with female. Jesus also spoke of a parable saying, "the kingdom of heaven is like a king who made a marriage feast for his son" (not his sons). Jesus continued with the parable noting how the servants were murdered when they extended the king's invitation to come to the marriage feast. The murderers were killed. Others were invited to the feast, but a person who was not wearing a wedding garment was bound and cast outside in the dark, where there would be " weeping an gnashing of teeth  For many are called but few are chosen".

A scientist published findings that the homosexual brain has physical changes than that of a heterosexual brain.  However, no other scientist has been able to duplicate these findings. Odd, isn't it?  Odd that we are being force fed homosexual behavior and that we must be tolerant of it.  Odd that what the people hold to be sacred to them is trivialized.  Odd?  Not really.  God has been tossed out of our schools, our sporting arenas, our meetings, and even God's Ten Commandments have been removed from our judicial places.  By this poor example, people think nothing of tossing out God from our lives, our behaviors, and our homes because we are expected to conform politically to propaganda which is without God's laws or God's blessings.

So, back to Proposition 8:   we know the truth.  Read  "Sent To Earth, God and the Return of Ancient Disasters" by Michael H Brown.  It was written years prior to the five hurricanes that cross Florida (which did happened as he described).  We know how the story will end, even if the rest of humanity is corrupt and wants to behave badly.

Try Again

There are times in life when defeat circumvents each attempt you make to find answers to your questions, leaving you feeling that your problems are imaginary.  Over the last two years it felt like that to me.  My car accident in January 2006 left me vulnerable with physical discomfort that continues to this day.  When the falls began, the doctors I sought treatment from provided little to resolving my problems, even differed on the diagnosis.  However, I needed to prevent falling and started to walk with a cane.  Two years after the falls began I was finally headed to my third physician, and I was determined to get some type of answers.

After an intensive exam, another EMG, another MRI, and finally a three day EEG, a diagnosis was made. Not only do I have ataxia and need the cane at all times, but also seizures were discovered.  A new medication was introduced, and the dosage has been adjusted.  Do I still fall?  Yes, even with the cane. However, I have restarted physical therapy (which has intensified my back pain) to strengthen my pelvic muscles.  Also, I feel more attentive and focused on each and every task at hand.  The third physician, Dr.Richard Newman,  has been a blessing to me.  His persistence in making a diagnosis with involved testing as well as his medical knowledge is what made the difference in my life and my lifestyle.

All this makes me remember back to being a child.  My parents told me to never give up, and just keep trying.   Then, God has me trying each day to be a better person, to let Him shine through my life, and when I fail, to seek reconciliation, and try again.   This lesson from my childhood has revisited me at sixty-two. It is a good lesson to remember always.