Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
“Oh excuse me please” was my reply.
He said, “Please excuse me too;
I wasn’t watching for you.”
We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
“Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.
He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.
While I lay awake in bed,
God’s still small voice came to me and said,
“While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You’ll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.”
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.
I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
“Wake up, little one, wake up,” I said.
“Are these the flowers you picked for me?”
He smiled, “I found ‘em, out by the tree.
I picked ‘em because they’re pretty like you.
I knew you’d like ‘em, especially the blue.”
I said, “Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.”
He said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay.
I love you anyway.”
I said, “Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.”
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER, (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU
No More Clutter!
For the last few months I have felt a strong urge to get rid of the clutter in my life. I don’t know if this is just a stage of life that I have moved into or if God has put this on my heart for a change or move I am not yet aware of. Either way, clutter and hanging on to “stuff” I never use has really become something that I want to get rid of.
In the simplest form, I am looking through our “things” and deciding if we need it. If we don’t need it, then is it something that brings us true enjoyment? If it does neither, then it doesn’t belong in my life.
The other part of this project is keeping the “things” we do keep neat and organized. It seems so hard to stay focused theses days. We don’t need to add to the daily confusion by allowing “things” to take control of our lives.
For the most part, the focus has been on our home though I am sure that it will expand to the other parts of my life as I progress.
So far, it hasn’t always been easy, but it has been fulfilling. When you walk into a room that is free from clutter, there is just a since of peace that just makes you feel a calmnes and at ease with being.
Essayist Paul Graham says having too many possessions drags you down:
A house full of stuff can be very depressing. A cluttered room saps one’s spirits. One reason, obviously, is that there’s less room for people in a room full of stuff. But there’s more going on than that. I think humans constantly scan their environment to build a mental model of what’s around them. And the harder a scene is to parse, the less energy you have left for conscious thoughts. A cluttered room is literally exhausting.
Graham says he only buys things he absolutely needs and says that getting rid of his stuff was like taking off ankle weights.
One is happy as a result of one’s own efforts, once one knows of the necessary ingredients of happiness—simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self-denial to a point, love of work, and, above all, a clear conscience. Happiness is no vague dream, of that I now feel certain.”
When Fishermen Don't Fish
by Max Lucado
When I was in high school, our family used to fish every year during spring break. One year my brother and my mom couldn’t go, so my dad let me invite a friend.
Days before leaving, we could already anticipate the vacation. We could feel the sun warming our bodies as we floated in the boat. We could feel the yank of the rod and hear the spin of the reel as we wrestled the white bass into the boat. And we could smell the fish frying in an open skillet over an open fire.
We could hardly wait. Days passed like cold molasses. Finally spring break arrived. We loaded our camper and set out for the lake.
We arrived late at night, unfolded the camper, and went to bed – dreaming of tomorrow’s day in the sun. But during the night, an unseasonably strong norther blew in. It got cold fast! The wind was so strong that we could barely open the camper door the next morning. The sky was gray. The lake was a mountain range of white-topped waves. There was no way we could fish in that weather.
The next morning it wasn’t the wind that made the door hard to open, it was the ice!
It was a long day. It was a long, cold night.
When we awoke the next morning to the sound of sleet slapping the canvas, we didn’t even pretend to be cheerful. We were flat-out grumpy.
The next day was even colder. “We’re going home” were my father’s first words. No one objected.
I learned a hard lesson that week. Not about fishing, but about people. When those who are called to fish don’t fish, they fight.
When energy intended to be used outside is used inside, the result is explosive. Instead of casting nets, we cast stones. Instead of extending helping hands, we point accusing fingers. Instead of being fishers of the lost, we become critics of the saved. Rather than helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers.
Leave soldiers inside the barracks with no time on the front line and see what happens to their attitude. The soldiers will invent things to complain about. Bunks will be too hard. Food will be too cold. Leadership will be too tough. The company will be too stale. Yet place those same soldiers in the trench and let them duck a few bullets, and what was a boring barracks will seem like a haven. The beds will feel great. The food will be almost ideal. The leadership will be courageous. The company will be exciting.
When those who are called to fish, fish – they flourish!
Make a note of that. The next time the challenges “outside” tempt you to shut the door and stay inside, stay long enough to get warm. Then get out. When those who are called to fish don’t fish, they fight.
A friend of mine gave me a kick in the pants and told me to get back to updating my blog. She was right. I was neglecting what I had started, I think mainly from letting some things get me down, getting busy with other stuff and also really wondering if anyone was even reading it.
Anyway, I am going to give it another try. Hopefully, I will do a better job this time around.
God has blessed me in my life in many ways. One of those blessings turns 12 today. You can’t help but feel good, when your son is so close to being a teenager and each day he still lets you know that he loves you and that you are his best friend. I know he will continue to grow and become more and more independent. However, I hope and pray that friendship will remain there forever.
Happy Birthday Hunter!
Always know you are loved!
2 years ago
Apple debuts their iPhone today. This looks to be the beginning of the kind of phone I have waited for years to come out. I won’t be in the middle of the chaos today, but to a degree I understand why a lot of people are. I hope it turns out to be a great success. I love it when someone comes along and wakes up an industry, especially when it involves technology.
60 Pounds In 6 months!
I can’t take it anymore! I have decided I have to get back to my normal weight. Most of you know after I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, I gained a lot of weight. In four years, I have gone from being in the best shape of my life to the worst. I have gotten into a vicious cycle of not feeling good, so I don’t exercise and eat right. However, if I would do those things I know I would feel much better physically, mentally and emotionally.
So, my goal is to be able to wear my best suit by Christmas! That means 60 more pounds has to go (I already lost 20, but stopped). Please pray! This will take more effort than anything I have ever done, but I need to do it. It will make a huge difference in how I feel and how I feel about myself. I also want to set a better example for my children and be around for them for a very long time.
Blessings,
Chuck
2 years ago
Today I Will Make a Difference
by Max Lucado
Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.
I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.
I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble… I will get up. It’s OK to fail… I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.
I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.
Today I will make a difference.
