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October 17, 2008

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations:  Are we not all  guilty of this?  Do you sit and plot things in your mind?  They may seem innocent at first, but if you are plotting to gain undeserved favor in some area you do not deserve, can that be right?  Then there are things that people say like "I wish I had what they have".  Usually we are wishing at the same time for whoever has the item we want, that they didn't.  We want to have or be better than others.  Believe me "to whom much is given, much is required".  Are you ready for that?

October 16,2008

Hands that shed innocent blood is the third thing God hates.  Probably if the first two things that God hates were not ignored, the shedding of innocent blood would not happen.  Ungodly people do ungodly things.  Protect our children from strangers.  Do not do anything yourself that could lead to so much anger that you would be guilty of such an act.  If you know of someone that has anger building inside that could lead to acts of violence, try to get them to go to anger management classes or speak to a pastor.  Talk about being proud or having a lying tongue.  Help is always on the way if we look for it!

October 15,2008

A lying tongue is the second thing listed in Proverbs that the Lord hates.  All parents try to teach their children not to lie.  Children have to learn the hard way.  We tell a lie and get caught and if the parent does the correct thing, then our children begin to have a guilty conscientious.  When I was young my Mother was taking a nap and I got up to her dresser and began looking at all of her makeup.  She had something in a tube, much like a solid deodorant that was white.  I have no idea what is was for till this day.  I proceeded to put it all over my face.  When Mother got up she ask me if I had been into her makeup.  I of course said no.  For all of my childhood I wondered how she knew I was lying.  It was as clear as the white on my face!  At that point I found out what a lie meant to my Mother.  I thought long and strong before I would ever lie to her again.  We must not let lying pass by as though nothing bad happened.  It is the beginning of having  a conscientious.  I was told by a social worker that lying is the first sign of mental illness.  Don't let the children get away with lying and be the example you need to be by not being guilty of the same thing!  

October14,2008

Proverbs 6, verse 16 - These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are and abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  today we are going to talk about the first thing the Lord hates.  In days following we will take them one at a time.  A proud look is listed first.  Do you ever wonder why?  Perhaps a proud look is our first sign of rebellion.  That is also when we feel superior to others.  We are unable to be of service to God if we think we are better than others.  First we need to realize what God has done for us before we begin to look to the lives of others.  When we truly understand what Jesus did for us when He went to the cross, we cannot believe we are better than anyone.  Our sins put him there - My sins put him there.  He loved me enough to take on My sin so that I could be in fellowship with His Father.  Otherwise I would have been separated forever from God. Now I must realize there are others that are separated from God because they do not know the price Jesus paid and we are the only ones to spread the news.  When I was in school, we had a club that was called the Good News Club.  That is not allowed in schools anymore, but if PRIDE does not get in our way, we can share the news of salvation with others.

October13,2008

Proverbs l, verse 7 says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  How often do we resent the advise given to us from our parents and then later, sometimes years later, understand the wisdom of what they were saying.  My Mother always told me you could not put old heads on young shoulders.  It is true.  We often are not experienced enough to begin to understand what others would have us to believe.  Loving God is the very first lesson we need to learn.  To know Him, one must get into His Word and there we will receive knowledge.  Start today.

October 12, 2008

Hurricane Ike is over, but not past.  The effects are lingering.  Many have been displaced and find it hard to return to anything close to "normal".  When we think of ourselves as victims all we have to do is look around and see others that are much worse off.  In the days following the storm, when traffic lights were out and everything was a four way stop, gas lines, nothing on the shelves at the stores, I noticed a marked difference in the attitudes of people.  Many were aggressive to the point of anger.  Then I would find someone who stood in line with no complaint and even a word of encouragement for others.  In the book of Hebrews, chapter 13, it says the following:  Let brotherly love continue.  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  How many angels touched your life during this trying time?

June 19, 2008

When you forgive someone for a mistake they have made, do you truly forgive them?  Or do you bring that mistake up to them six months from now, just to remind them you have not forgotten?  To forgive is to truly put it behind you and never relive it again.  Look into your own heart and search out the truth.  Doing this will show you insight that perhaps you did not know existed.  Be ready to face yourself as God sees you.

June 18, 2008

Are you as good as your word?  We now have to have contracts for everything.  What happened to the day when we could stand by our word, and your word?  When we make promises to God it becomes even more important.  When we are in great need we are likely to promise God that if he will deliver us from whatever situation we are in, we will in return do something specific.  After He has delivered us, often we promptly forget our promise to Him.  It is better to ask for Gods blessings freely and make no promises unless you truly keep them.  God does not ask us for promises.  He attaches no strings to the blessings he pours out on us.  What we do for Him must come from conviction in our hearts.  What conviction do you have today?

June 17, 2008

With all the flooding happening in our nation, have you considered that it could be happening to you?  If you have ever been flooded, then you would be putting yourself in all of those peoples place.  What will they do next?  It will take months, maybe even years for them to recover.  Perhaps they will never fully recover.  One of the things that it says in the Bible is that all rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.  That is the assurance we have.  Have you considered what you could do to help the people who have had their lives turned upside down in these areas?  None of us can give relief to an entire nation.  Perhaps there is someone you know that you could help.  Encourage your church to step up at this time and offer help.  Make an effort to make a difference!

June 16, 2008

When you look into the mirror, what reflection do you see?  Can you remember when you bent over a pool of water and saw yourself gazing back?  What we see is important.  Not the beauty, or physical strength, but through the eyes we can see our own soul.  When you meet another person and you feel an instant attraction, have you found someone with a heart that beats to the same tune as yours?  We need to look for friends that share the same values we have.  We need to spend time learning to know others better.  Do not be afraid of getting to know the heart of other people.  We grow ourselves when we venture out to share the secret places of our hearts.  Life will be happier when you share.

June 15, 2008

Today is Fathers day and I am sure everyone has heard a sermon about how to be a good father.  Many children do not have an active father in their lives.  Can you look around and find someone who need a male influence in their life and then provide that care?  Not for just a day, but for their future.  Our crime would drop if we could take on more responsibility toward our children.  It truly does take a village to raise a child.  Step up and make a difference in the future of some young boy or girl in need.  Do it today!

June 14, 2008

It is easy to believe in the things we see, even sometimes in things we do not see.  Examples of things we see are the birds singing, our children playing and growing, all the things around us like the house we live in - things.  We also believe in some things we cannot see, such as the wind.  We see the effects of the wind, the leaves moving gently or the strong force it can produce in a storm.  We even feel it on our skin.  We make the wind move with our invention of our fans.  Do you see the effects of God in your life?  God works for our good even when we are not aware it is happening.  Something in our future may have God's hand directing a path that will appear before us in the future.  Faith comes by believing.  Believe each day that whatever happens will ultimately be directed by God and in our best interest.

June 13, 2008

I know you have heard the rule about everything coming in three's.  Did you know that for about anything you want to think about you can find something in the Bible referring to that subject?  This morning I opened my Bible to Hosea, chapter 6 and began reading the following: After two days will he revive us; in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.  Things seem to happen in three's to me - I bet they do to you also.

June 12, 2008

I am always sharing poems of my Grandmothers with you, because they mean so much to me.  I hope you will receive a blessing from this one and that you have a friend as she had.

I am thinking of you dear friend of mine

You in your corner, I in mine

You with your typewriter clicking away,

I in my garden most all the day.

With a bond between us that knows no space,

Or time or season, creed or race.

For the loan of the books I want to thank you,

They have given me pleasure the whole week thru,

Each of us value their thoughts sublime

You in your corner, I in mine.

June 11, 2008

Imagination is almost a thing of the past.  We fail to teach our children to exercise their imagination.  When I was young, especially when we took a trip, my parents would play games in the car with us and have us look at the clouds to see what figures we could see.  When I would find something really good, I would be sad when it disappeared.  What fun it was though as I showed my brothers what I had found.  They also would share with me the things they found.  You would be surprised how long you can enjoy peace in the car by suggesting a few games.

June 10, 2008

When times begin to get hard and it is difficult to pay all the bills, we need to find a way to generate extra money.   We all get stressed and it is understandable.  What we need are some answers.  Many young adults have never lived through times that were hard.  You have never known a time when you were not able to drive down and pick up a meal for yourself and/or your family.  When times are really hard, prepared food will happen in your kitchen.  There was a time when we did not have a quick food place on every corner.  Eating out was, at one time, a luxury.  Think of how to save money instead of spending.  Then think of how you can generate extra money.  There are ways if you just think.  Maybe not the things you want to do for the rest of your life, but for a temporary measure.  What are you interested in doing?  Do you cook better than most?  That is how pie houses get started.  Marketing is the key to anything you want to accomplish.  Have a good day exercising your brain!

June 9, 2008

The weekends pass so fast and then we return to work.  This day in time, and I suppose it has always been, it is good to have a job to go to.  Many people are being let go from their workplace.  Instead of hating to go today, think how lucky you are to have a place to do the things you know how to do and get paid for being there.  Give all you can give and help make it a better place for your presence.  If each person working with you did this, wouldn't it be fun to look forward to Monday.  Teach by example.  Start today!

June 8, 2008

Has anyone ever told you, "You can be anything you want to be if you set your heart on it."?  Everyone needs another person to share a dream.  Not someone who is jealous or will tear you down, but someone who will try to see the vision you are experiencing.  We all need someone to encourage us to fight for what we believe in.  Be that person to someone you know.  When you give of the heart, it will come back to you over and over again.

June 7, 2008

When I was a child, it seemed life was slower.  There was more time for relaxing outside under a tree with a good book, or visiting with friends around the table with a pot of coffee.  My parents always welcomed everyone who showed up at the door.  Usually my Mother had some homemade dessert made and everyone would enjoy her excellent cooking.  We never knew how hard it was at times, just to have food on the table.  Our parents never let us know the financial struggles they went through.  We never knew we were poor.  Everyone was in the same boat.  Happiness is not bought with money.  It is sometimes created by loving parents.

June 6, 2008

What would you do if suddenly you became the recipient of a lot of money.  Could you be a good steward of that trust?  God wants us to be blessed in so many ways, and certainly he wants our needs to be met.  What then?  Do you give back to God?  He has told us that when you help the least of his servants, you are helping Him.  Do you look around and see others in need?  Kindness of heart grows as we help others in need.  Helping others does not have to come only from the rich.  All of us can reach out in some way to make another's life better.  Do it today. 

June 5, 2008

What is important to you today?  If you have gotten up with the same problems facing you as you had yesterday, I have something to share with you.  When this happens in our life, it really means we have not dealt with the problems of yesterday.  I do not mean we solve every problem as they arise.  Some take months or years to resolve.  Our attitude is what should change from day to day approaching a solution.  When you cannot make this happen for yourself, talk to someone to get a different outlook.  Do not be full of pride and be ashamed to share your problems with someone.  When you share, you may find a different outlook completely from your view.  When you share with your children you may find intelligent answers you never considered.  It will also give you a new look at the person you are sharing with.  Sometimes we watch our children grow physically and have a hard time seeing them mature mentally and emotionally.  Take them into your confidence and see what miracles can happen.  Tomorrow will be different from today!

June 4, 2008

How important do you really feel you are to those around you?  Your daily life may seem dull and of little importance to those you love.  That may be from your prospective.  We do not tell others often enough how much they mean to us and at the same time those who love us do not take the time to relay those messages to us.  It is very important that we say to our loved ones the deep convictions we have in regard to them.  When we lose someone we love, we always have things we wish we had said or done.  Regrets are hard to live with, therefore we should not miss an opportunity to display our love, support, understanding and offer of help.  We each have no promise of tomorrow, no matter what our age.  Live life to the fullest.  When you give, give completely.

June 3, 2008

Do you daily pray?  I think we all think we do, but do you really go to The Lord  with requests?  Do you praise His name?  Often we ask for things that will bring us health, money, items we think we need.  After you receive Gods blessings do you remember to thank him.  In times of great trouble or sorrow we call out expecting an answer.  We are to God the way our children are to us.  If they only talk to us when they need something, then our relationship is not what it needs to be.  We need to have personal conversation every day.  We are interested in everything our children do.  We want to talk to them about their day.  We want to be excited when something good has happened.  We want to share in their needs or sorrow.  God is waiting for each of us to talk to Him!

June 2, 2008

With temperatures rising, as unhealthy as it sounds, it's time for an ice cream party!  How long has it been since you made homemade ice cream?  Invite some friends of yours and your families over for a fun day or evening.  There does not have to be a birthday, or any reason at all.  Just sprinkle some fun into everyone's life.  There is no time like now!

June 1, 2008

For those of you who live in the areas near the coast, this is the beginning of hurricane season.  Sometimes we go for years with no real effect.  Do not fall into an unprepared state.  Each year we need to take inventory of the supplies we might need and replenish any  we have used that might be needed.  One of the main things is to have a talk with all the family to make sure everyone knows what to do in case of impending danger.  This is your family, your house and your responsibility.  Until you have had a tree ripped from the ground, landing in the middle of your house, or water coming in under the door as you stand and watch it rise, you cannot imagine how numb you can become.  These are times you need to be able to pull into action, not freeze.  Think it through and prepare.

May 31, 2008

School is out, or will be in a few days for some.  Teachers get a well deserved vacation from the classroom and students get to sleep late!  Don't let summer become so demanding that you do not enjoy this opportunity for a change in your daily routine.  To adjust, sometimes, you have to make a plan.  What ever your circumstance life will be better if you take time to make a plan and then stick to it as closely as you can.  Time flies when you do this.  Summer will be better for everyone.  Check to see if your church has summer activities for the children.  You may have activities like little league or other sports you can involve your children in.  As strange as it sounds, when school is in session, the routine of each day builds patterns in our lives.  When we spend an entire summer with just hit and miss plans everyone gets restless and unhappy.  Take a small amount of your time and make this a summer full of happy memories.

May 30, 2008

Now we approach the season for beach time.  Do you know how many children grow up and never see the ocean or go to a beach to walk in the sand?  Wouldn't it be fun to rent a house on the beach for a summer.  Think about the resources you plan to spend this summer, or even next summer and consider putting all of it together and spending it doing something different.  Even if you don't like the sand tracked in everywhere, you have to admit that listening to a shell put to your ear and hearing the ocean waves is exciting.  Perhaps being able to sleep with the constant sound of waves would be a thing you would love.  Would it change your life?

May 29, 2008

I heard someone say onetime, the reason for having children is to have grandchildren.  For those of you who have experienced this event, you will know exactly what I mean.  I have a sister-in-law that is a wonderful person.  She adopted two children because she and my Brother thought they could not have children.  Then God blessed them with two natural born children.  Needless to say she has several grandchildren.  We lost my Brother in an accident five years ago and her children have faithfully watched after her.  She lives alone in the house she and my Brother shared the last thirty plus years of his life.  Her youngest son and his wife recently built a house across the yard from her.  She assured them while they were building their house that she would not interfere with their lives and would not spend all her time at their house.  She is a lady of her word!  The grandbaby  just had her first birthday.  My sister-in-law went almost two days without seeing her and she told me she went over and played with the baby on the porch.  I don't think that counts as invading their house, do you.  Babies are wonderful!  Especially wonderful when you can give them back and go home for a nice night of rest.

May 28, 2008

Things become obsolete on a daily basis.  Often I see the electronic world as waking up to a new world everyday.  I, personally, have a hard time keeping up.  What I do is depend on my son, because he keeps up.  It is easy to let others do for you what you don't want to take the time to do for yourself.  Many things become more fun if you have someone help with the task.  I don't mean that you should not ask for help when you need it.  I do think we should all strive to make life easier on those we depend on.  Don't fall into the rut of asking before trying.  As we grow older and we find we must give up various things in our life, it is very difficult.  I remember when my Mother became bedridden, one of the hardest things she had to give up was her kitchen.  She loved cooking and putting food up from the garden.  If we live long enough we will all have to give up things that are important to us.  When we do, we need to find new things to add to our lives to make us happy.  Look around, there is something new looking for you, no matter what your age.

May 27, 2008

Memorial Day has just past.  There are so many young men serving our country to keep us safe and free.  I know we need a day to remember times in the past when we sent our young men off to other wars.  We all have stories we could tell of events in the lives of our loved ones who sacrificed portions or all of their lives for us.  Today is not like the past,  in that all were drafted if you did not enlist.  Today everyone serving has chosen to do this unselfish act by making it their choice to serve us a nation of people.  So many thousands of men and women that I do not even know their name, and yet they care enough about me to volunteer to go into harms way to protect me.  This is truly America!

May 26, 2008

Do you have a place where you measure your children's height?  If you don't, find a place that will not matter if you leave the marks from one year to the next.  You will find it makes them feel very important when they see how they have grown.  When I was  young, my Grandmother was four foot ten inches tall.  My brothers and I thought we had made great accomplishment when we past her in height.  She use to say "I'm going to put a rock on your head so you don't outgrow me!".  We always laughed and stretched even more.

May 25, 2008

Harsh words are hard to handle.  Your words can be misinterpreted by another person, leaving them with hurt feelings.  Perhaps you had no intention of anything close to what they are thinking.  Maybe the words were misunderstood by you.  We can become grumpy or distant when we become self involved in solving problems no one else even knows exists!  The most unkind and hurtful things can be said by a spouse or our children.  Then we think that the dysfunctional family we hear  others talk about is really my own!  Prayer changes things.  Maybe not immediately, but prayer is powerful.  Find a friend to have as a prayer partner and then regularly claim that power together.  It will change your life!

May 24, 2008

I have heard it said that everyone has an unpublished book within themselves.  Have you ever tried to put down on paper, (or in the computer) something you feel you could share with the world?  If you have, let me encourage you to begin.  If you haven't, consider writing a daily journal.  After a period of time look back over your journal and see what has happened.  Sometimes it turns into a comedy, sometimes a drama.  What ever it turns into, it belongs to you.  Again, do you want to share with the world?

May 23, 2008

I have a place in my yard that I call my fairyland.  It is a small area where I have statues of fairies, reflection balls, birdhouses, plants and shade.  It is so pleasant to sit here and watch the animals.  A wren made a nest in one of the birdhouses and is going in and out, feeding the babies.  A squirrel climbed on the birdbath for a drink and looked at me as if to say "Where are my pecans?".  A woodpecker was making his pecking noise when I first sat down.  Now he has moved on to another tree.  The owls have been speaking to each other and many other birds are singing.  Now I am just waiting on another soft breeze.  I hope your day is filled with beauty.

May 22, 2008

Everyone loves to go to a place where you can yell or talk real loud and have an echo return your words to you.  Kids love it, and adults have to admit, we do too.  To speak your words to the atmosphere and have them travel all around and bounce back at you makes me wonder, where do the words we speak everyday end up?  If we thought they would come back to us, we might speak kinder, softer, less hurtful things.  We might even speak less.  When we have the urge to speak unkindly, we need to think about those words coming back to us.  That could make for a bad day!

May 21, 2008

When I was young my Grandmother had a very important role in my life.  She was the most kind hearted person I have ever known.  My Father was her youngest child and his nickname was Buster.  She traveled as a teenage girl from Missouri in a covered wagon to Indian Territory before Oklahoma became a state.  She lived to be ninety-five years old and saw the world change from horse drawn transportation to cars, railroads, planes and even saw space travel when we landed on the moon.  She also saw more than her share of wars.  It was common for young women of her time to write poetry.  Her poetry was good enough that while living in Houston, one of her poems about the city was published in the local newspaper.  One of the poems that I cherish the most was written to my Father.

Buster

Oh little boy I love you so,

I really hate to see you grow

to be a man,

A man with work to do all day

So little time in which to play

in life's short span

Would I could give you strength and might

always to do the thing that's right

Would I could give you love and power

to meet with grace each trying hour

If I could ask one boon of Heaven,

It would be to keep you pure as you are at seven.

This was written in 1917.

May 20, 2008

Have you ever had someone say unkind things to you, leaving you speechless?   I have and it took me a long time to think it through.  I did, and arrived at an opinion that brought satisfaction to my soul.  The thing that was said to me was, "What did you do that was so bad that God is punishing you in this way?". After three years of marriage, our first child was born, weighing only four pounds and blind.  He had eye surgery when he was five months old and has lived a "normal life" with limited vision and an extremely high IQ.  It was when we were struggling with his young life that my neighbor ask me the question.  After much searching in the Bible, I found my answers.  My life was, and is, completely in God's control.  We have witnessed miracles in our lives as a result of our son's problems.  God truly does not put more on our shoulders than we are able to bare.  As a result of problems we were drawn closer and closer to God and his wonderful mercy.  The greatest blessings you can receive are when you cannot trust in yourself, but must put your faith totally in God.

May 19, 2008

Are you struggling with an illness?  It seems that every time something befalls us, twenty people come out of nowhere and tell us they (or someone they know) almost died from the same illness.  They proceed to tell us all the awful details!  By this pint you are ready to take the shovel and start digging you own grave.  Put a positive spin into all that negative energy.  Tell them God makes everything work together for good in your life.  God can lift the negative energy like a tornado!  Watch all the negative fly away!

May 18, 2008

Laughter makes us healthier.  Isn't it more enjoyable to be around someone who makes us laugh than to always be serious?  I do not mean to imply that the serious matters need to be ignored.  They need to be discussed and settled.  Fill your day with happy thoughts, look at beautiful things and enjoy laughter.  Be able to even laugh at yourself!

May 17, 2008

I have always said, "If you can drive safely in Houston, you can drive anywhere".  How is your driving?  Do you change into another person when you get behind a wheel?   Does your blood pressure rise and your anger surface?  If you allow these things to happen, do you get to your destination any faster?  Was it worth it?  It is time for us all to become better drivers.  Smile at other people.  Let someone in from the waiting line.  When you arrive at work or home  you will find that you did not lose any time because you were kind to someone else.  The world may have become a safer place and your health will likely improve.

May 16, 2008

Do you find it hard to receive Gods blessings?  It is so much easier to give than receive.  The feeling we get when we give to help another is truly a blessing from God.  There has to be a person on the receiving end for us to be able to give.  What if you are on the receiving end?  Does pride get in your way?  Remember, if you are the one in need, you are helping God pour his blessings out on someone with a kind heart!

May 15, 2008

When my children were young, I told a friend that I did not know how I would be able to stand it when they grew up and went off to college or married.  He said, "Don't worry, they will be teenagers first and you will be glad to see them go".  I look back now and laugh at what he said.  Growing up is hard.  Being a changing parent is also hard.  Don't ever slip into the mindset that you are always right.  Listen to your children.  You may find you still have some growing of your own to do!

May 14, 2008

Choosing the higher ground is always the best decision.  It is so easy to let yourself become the victim when it is really a matter of choice. Choosing not to be a victim can save you many hours of lost time.  The time we spend trying to analyze why someone threw negative into our life, or trying to find a way to excuse it instead of just going forward wastes a lot of our time.  Use that time in a productive way.  No matter how long you spend thinking about why someone would mistreat you, you  will never find an answer.  I do not mean to say we should not learn from our mistakes, but don't let others take away you self-esteem.  Take the higher road - forgive and move on to better things.

May 13, 2008

Do you have a passion about something you want to accomplish in your life?  Do you have a drive in your heart to accomplish something no matter what obstacles get in your way?  Remember this is your journey in life.  If you have not found yours, I urge you to do so.  However, let me warn you that as soon as you share your new goals with others, you will immediately find they are your dreams and not only do others look at you like you have lost your marbles, but they throw negative in your face.  If you really have a passion, you will not let others direct your path.  They may slow you down while you consider what they said.  You then deal with the realization that your dream is up to you.  Overcome all opposition and stand alone if you must, but don't ever let others direct your path.  Choose for yourself and keep marching forward!

May 12, 2008

The soothing noise that is created by the running water of a stream cascading over rocks can calm our nerves.  When you are in a stressful situation, like bad traffic, running late for an appointment, health issues, money stress, any of the everyday problems that arrive when the children begin their day, can be eased by taking a moment for yourself.  Breath deeply, imagine yourself in a secluded area with a small stream of water splashing over the cool rocks, the sun filtering through the leaves of the trees.  All the beautiful creations God has given us for pleasure, make our day better.  Take the time to bring pleasant thoughts into your day.  You will be surprised how light your burdens become.

May 11, 2008

When spring arrives and everything becomes a fairyland of flowers, we also have the arrival of our floating flowers - the butterfly. The life of a butterfly is much like our own.  It starts as the egg lain on its host plant.  It develops into a constantly eating caterpillar and makes its resting place in a self-made chrysalis.  It hangs in it's secret place until it magically emerges a beautiful, wet butterfly.  After drying it's wings for a short time, it becomes our floating flower.  Each variety of butterfly has it's own host plant that it seeks out to start the process by laying eggs again.  For instance, the Monarch Butterfly only lays it's eggs on the milk weed.  How does this relate to us?  We, too, start out as hungry infants.  In our case demanding the attention of our mothers.  Then we go into our own chrysalis of learning and growing into a full blown beautiful work of art that God has created us to be.  We can make our life into something beautiful that will be awesome to behold by others if we choose.  Your life can be the floating flower that brings so much pleasure to all those who behold you.  Have a great day!

May 10, 2008

Are you in control of your destiny?  If not, who is?  Taking control of you future may seem a difficult task.  You can do it one step at a time.  You can change from being a follower to becoming a leader.  You are the one who must step out and do it!  For instance, say you want to do something for advancement in your life.  It could be anything.  Maybe going over to the local college to check out a course on real estate, income tax, knitting, English, foreign language.  It could be to attend a meeting taking place on something you are interested in.  So, not wanting to go alone, you call a couple o friends that have a same interest to get them to go with you.  It is more fun to do something with someone than to go alone.  They say yes!  You get excited.  Excitement builds as you wait for the day to arrive.  Then at the last minute your friends cancel on you.  Do you then get discouraged and think, "I don't want to go alone.  I'll just wait till next month and maybe they will go then.  I'm really too tired to go myself".  No!  Step out and take control of your own life.  Go no matter what anyone else does.  It is the first step of independence!  It is not your loss they don't participate, it is their loss.  Be the leader - one step at a time!

May 9, 2008

I write often of memories of my Grandmother.  She was such a delight.  The following poem was written so many years ago -  before women had the rights we enjoy today.  I am always amazed at what a forward thinking person she was.  I hope this will bring a smile into your day today.

The Better Half

Of all the tales that men have told,

Of all the poems new and old,

The one that always gets a laugh,

Is the one he tells on this better half.

But the better half one clearly sees,

wears dresses above her knees,

Bobs her hair, smokes cigarettes too,

And takes time off to make home brew.

She tends the baby, earns the cash,

to buy potatoes to put in the hash,

She does all this and it makes men laugh,

No wonder she's called the better half.

Nothing much has changed over the years, has it?

May 8, 2008

Don't you wish we could keep cheer and happiness in our hearts everyday like we have at holidays?  We can!  The reason  we have excitement in the days leading up to holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter is because we fill our minds with things to do to make others happy.  I know it can become commercial, but what if you got up everyday with happy thoughts.  You could help someone else be happy.  Even when we think we have no one, if we look around, we do.  Look at the people who are, seemingly, trying to make your life miserable.  We all have a few.  Do something nice for that person.  They will probably be so shocked they may not know how to respond.  So - do something else nice for them.  Generally when someone is hard to get along with, it is because they have a lot of self pity.  So, take them a flower or a donut or a cup of coffee.  Soon if you are diligent, you will have a new friend.  We can never have too many friends!  Try it today.

May 7, 2008

Today I have a funny story to tell you.  When I was a child, about four years old, my family lived in a rented house.  We rented our house from a couple who had no children.  I had two older brothers.  My brother just older than me loved dogs.  Our landlord had a dog.  He particularly liked me and he put a swing set in his yard for me to play on.  One day while my Mother was having coffee with a neighbor, my brother and I went to swing.  Our landlord  was in the yard with his dog and he told my brother he would trade his dog for me.  Of course my brother would rather have a dog than a sister!  He quickly accepted!  Our landlord told him he would need to bring my clothes down so I would have something to wear.  My brother scurried off to get my things.  When he returned with my belongs, he was given the leash and the dog.  Proudly returning home with the dog he encountered my Mother.  She ask where I was and needless to say, the dog was returned, my clothes retrieved.  We have laughed about this incident all of our adult lives.  My brother still does not have a dog!

May 6, 2008

Fun is a main ingredient in a happy life.  What do you do for fun?    Does everyone around you think of you as an exciting, adventuresome person to be around?  There are lots of things you can do to make life unusual.  Instead of cooking tonight, make a bonfire in the backyard and have hot dogs and roast marshmallows while telling ghost stories! Have the family sit around the television with a good movie and popcorn.  If you have money enough to do it, select three locations not too far away and vote on which one to go visit for the weekend. Remember this should be fun!  In our area we could go to Galveston and go to the Opera House, walk the beach, eat at a nice restaurant.  Another direction is San Antonio, with the river walk, the Alamo.  Austin has the state capitol or the park.  We could even go to Louisiana and check out the haunted houses.  Do something with your family to build memories.  Do it as often as possible.  

May 5, 2008

When I was growing up my Grandmother told me the following lesson about telling lies:  A lie is like a rock that you throw into a  pond.  It causes ripple after ripple after ripple to emerge from where it entered the water.  A lie is like that rock and if you decide you are sorry you told it, you might be able to dive in the water and retrieve the rock, but you can never ever gather up the ripples it has caused.  As a child I found it to be a profound thought and I still do.

May 4, 2008

Have you ever considered expanding your world?  Most people think they have too much to do anyway, so why do this?  We are all loaded with things we must do just to get through each day.  How many of us have something in our life to be excited about, looking forward to being able to apply our time in an area we really want, having fun doing something new?  If you think about what would give you pleasure and make your life happier, then decide to do it!  It could be as simple as joining the YMCA for the summer, or once a week spending time at the library.  Perhaps planning a once a month weekend trip to somewhere close, but fun.  Join an art class, a book club or take up running.  Take a class at the county college.  There are endless things that will take you out of your regular routine.  Give your week a boost!  Try it - you might like it.

May 3,2008

Sweet moments - young love is beautiful, then as we grow and mature, love does also.  Commitment becomes a commodity of great value.  When our children are born we discover a new depth that we did not know existed.  My Mother used to say "You can't put old heads on young shoulders."  When we look back we realize how true that is.  I personally wish when in the process of making mistakes there was some way we could have those old heads on young shoulders.  There would possibly be less regrets.  One thing is for sure; no one can take away the lessons we learn and then hopefully become a better person.  So many sweet moments happen in a  lifetime! Don't forget the look of love.

May 2, 2008

The beauty we see (or sometimes walk right by and do not see) everyday is often taken for granite.  Take a small, dried up, ordinary flower seed.  Take that seed and put it in dirt, give it some water and in a few days something green is pushing through the soil.  From that seed a sturdy plant grows.  Soon buds begin to appear and fill out.  After a few more days, petals begin to open and beautiful flowers are in their glory.  To even make it more of a miracle, it has a wonderful fragrance.  Not only is it pleasing to the eyes but also excites our sense of smell.  From a tiny, insignificant seed comes a spectacular delight.  Maybe we are like that seed.  We are born and must grow to become the person we will be when we have reached maturity.  Hopefully that will be pleasing to God as he helps us to become more beautiful in His eyes.

May 1,2008

My cup is half full and at the same time my cup runs over!  How can this be?  God is not through with me yet, there is lots of room for growing!  That is an example of a half full cup.  Yet he has blessed me so much in life that my cup is overflowing.  When we get up in the morning and  Murphy's Law  happens with every move we make and clouds follow us everywhere we go, remember there is never a day there is not someone in need that you can help.  That is the way to chase away the gloom and bring sunshine into your life.  Take sunshine into someone else's life.  It could be just a phone call to someone who needs a friend.  Get in the car and visit a retirement home or hospital.  Volunteer a day a week to a worthy cause.  Examples are do something at the school or check with your church to see what you can do there.  Take on a project of raising money to help families in need or help a college student.  The list is endless.  When you give, really give of yourself, the blessings that come back to you cannot be imagined!  Make someone's life better today.  It may end up being yours.

Please send comments to: betty@yourbrighterday.com