Pardon my soapbox

“It’s harder to be a liberal than a conservative.  Why?  Because it is easier to give someone the finger than a helping hand.”   – Mike Royko

I saw this quote on a friend’s Facebook page the other day.  Since I don’t believe getting into political debates on social media is a good thing, I just let it pass.  But it really stuck in my craw!  I am sick to death of this divisive attitude in our nation right now.  People making hateful and prejudicial statements against a whole segment of society, which most of the time, is blatantly false…but by saying it so often, they have convinced themselves that it is true.

I admit that I am a conservative.  Most of my closest friends are also conservative, but not all of them.  I happen to believe that there are many good, decent people on “both sides of the aisle”…as well as many corrupt and indecent ones.  Just because people might share some of the same social or political views does not mean they are all alike…good or bad.  Just because someone is a liberal, it doesn’t change my feelings for them.  People should be seen for their own actions, not for their political ideas.

Since most of the people that I know best are conservative, I know that the statement above is misleading and false.  I want to describe some of the “conservatives” that I am familiar with.

I know conservatives who have adopted, or are in the process of adopting…both foreign and domestic.  (That’s not really lending a hand, it is dedicating a LIFE.)

I know conservatives who have opened their homes and hearts to take in foster children…making tremendous sacrifices for the good of some of our most vulnerable.

I know conservatives who may work a full-time job, or work as fulltime wives and/or mothers, or are retired, but spend their “spare time” volunteering:  advocating for children in the foster care system, delivering meals to the elderly and shut-in, building houses for the underprivileged, being mentors for children from impoverished or single-parent homes, serving in local shelters, working in local agencies that are dedicated to helping those who are economically challenged, working in hospitals, sitting with hospice patients…and the list goes on.

I know conservatives who always carry $100 bills in their wallets, so they can have them handy when they come across someone in need.

I know a conservative who buys and fixes up houses to “rent or sale” to those who can’t otherwise afford housing…sometimes getting little or nothing in payment.  (This same individual also has shelled out thousands of dollars paying the utility bills for these as well.)

I know conservatives who go into their chosen profession as firefighters, police officers, health care workers, social workers, etc. because they want to devote their lives to “lending a helping hand”.

I know conservatives who have given hundreds or thousands of dollars to sponsor children in third world nations or other agencies that are dedicated to helping the neediest.

I know conservatives who have left their homes, sold their possessions, and moved to a foreign country to share the gospel, as well as help provide healthcare to those with little or no access to it previously.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.  Some of these people are wealthy, but most are just regular middle class folks who care.  And I have never seen any of these “give someone the finger.”  I’ve seen them open their wallets, their homes, and their hearts to help those in need.

I also know there are many liberals who do these same things.  Why?  Because compassion doesn’t belong to one political party.  In fact, I think it is safe to say that it doesn’t belong to ANY political party or ideology.  Compassion is a personal choice.  It comes from a loving heart, and loving hearts are NOT formed by political alliances. 

So please, people of all persuasions and beliefs, please keep the hateful, misleading, prejudicial “pithy remarks” to yourselves.  Let us work towards peace and understanding, rather than continuing in polarizing political satire.  Our society and our nation depend on it.  (Steps down off soapbox.)

"Be Still My Soul"

What a week!  Sheila and I spent 3 hours last Monday with lawyers, working on a case.  Then we spent the rest of the day discussing and finishing up the court report.  It was an intense day!

Then we woke up Tuesday morning to the news that Brother Wayne had passed away.  Such a sweet Christian man!  I know it will be difficult for Mayrene to go on without him, after almost 76 years of marriage.  We will all miss him, but I’m so thankful that he didn’t suffer long.  I will always remember, with gratefulness, the time that Ricky was working out in Brownfield and ended up in the hospital with strep and dehydration.  Brother Wayne was there to visit every day!  He also kept trying to get me to come over to sleep, or eat, or shower, or do whatever I needed while there.  It meant so much to both Ricky and me!  He was a good man!

The next couple of days were spent working on another court report and getting things cleaned up around the house.  Our house has been pretty topsy-turvy lately!  We tried to make it more livable, in case someone needed a place to stay for the funeral.  The visitation was Thursday evening, then the funeral and burial took up all day Friday.  I had planned to attend the Lunar New Year celebration with the girls on Saturday, but I decided I’d just stay home and rest up instead.  I’m glad I did!  Turns out, I was going to need it even more than I realized.

About bedtime Saturday night, I received a call from my (ex)sister-in-law (that I still consider part of the family) saying that she heard from someone that an ambulance was in front of Daddy’s house.  So she called and found out that Bobbie was being taken to the hospital again.  She tried to get Daddy to let her drive him, but, of course, he refused!  I gave him time to get to the hospital and then started trying to call him.  After about an hour, I got hold of him.  Bobbie had another spell where she was short of breath.  They started running tests and finally admitted her around midnight.  Tonette was in Corpus, so I kept her and Kathy informed as I found out anything.  Yesterday, I drove to Haslet for the morning assembly, so I could go back to the hospital with Daddy.  They had asked to be taken to a different hospital this time, and I wasn’t sure where she was.  I tried following him to the hospital, but that didn’t work out very well.  I finally ended up calling the hospitals that I thought she might be at until I found the right one.  I ended up getting there before Daddy!  She is actually doing pretty good.  They’ve done several tests and haven’t really found anything noteworthy.  I think there are several issues that are all working together to cause her to continue to have this problem.  They have both always been so independent that it makes it difficult for us “kids” to know how we can help them!  I discussed something I thought might help with Bobbie, and she agreed that it would be a good idea.  So I finally have their permission to go over once a week to help out with cleaning and laundry and whatever else they might need done.  I’m hoping that will allow me to stay on top of their situation a little better.  Things are changing pretty rapidly for them right now, and it is hard for them to admit that they have reached the point when they can’t do it all anymore.  Prayers for them (and us daughters!) would greatly be appreciated!

Dennis is feverishly trying to finish up Jesse’s birthday present this week.  We are leaving Thursday night for Paris and his party on Saturday.  (Friday will be a day of business for the guys…and playing for me and the boys!)  With everything going on, and all the wet weather we’ve been having, Dennis isn’t as far along as we’d hoped he would be by now!  I have faith that he’ll get it all done in time though.  I am really looking forward to some time with the grandsons! 

There are so many that are hurting right now, either physically or emotionally!  We really have a lot to keep us busy in ministering to others!  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 KJV)

"Be Still, My Soul" by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.
4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

A beautiful Lord's Day, and a Kindness Challenge

Sometimes a day is so special that I feel a need to share it with others.  Today has been one of those days.  Sherrod spoke on God’s Amazing Grace this morning, which brought many thoughts to my mind.  Two verses, especially, struck a chord with me.  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV)  “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. “(2 Corinthians 4:15 KJV)   Putting these two verses together make it very clear that through the grace of God we have everything we need to do the work we have to do, so that HE will be glorified.  I know there have been times when I felt like I didn’t have anything left in me to give.  I failed to realize that I didn’t need to have it in me…that God would provide me with whatever I needed to do His will.  This is such a comforting assurance!  Plus it is so important to always remember that whatever we do is for HIS glory, never our own.

This afternoon was one of those services that just seemed to “gel”…when everything just seemed to take on more meaning.  Perhaps it was just that my head was more together than usual.  Layne gave a wonderful chapter study on Hebrews 2.  He has such a way of making things relevant!  I never tire of listening to him.  Then Dennis (who was in charge) followed it up with a very emotional story from his life.  (That man can sure make me cry!)  I love how he is able to come up with an anecdote from life to illustrate a spiritual point.  I just really felt very connected to everyone today.

I think part of why today was so meaningful to me was because of a book I’m reading right now.  It is called “The Kindness Challenge”.  Not only is it very much based on biblical truths, but it is incredibly insightful into human nature and the effects of our actions, or inactions, on others.  There are some online tools, also, to use in determining how “kind” one is and helpful hints for showing kindness to different people.  I’ve always considered myself to be a kind person, and I do focus on being kind a lot!  But after reading the first few chapters and being brutally honest with myself, I realized how much I have missed the mark.  I’ve allowed struggles that we’ve been through to “taint” the way I see others, which affects how I treat them.  I’ve also been guilty of “growing weary in well-doing” and thinking it was MY time to be on the receiving end…and feeling slighted if I wasn’t.  In other words, I’ve been self-centered and Unkind.  Working on this challenge is changing the way I think about others, which changes the way I treat others.  None of it is difficult to understand, it is written all through the New Testament, in some of my favorite verses.  But I’ve been reading them and thinking about them through “Linda” colored glasses, rather than truly embracing them at face value.  Changing that perspective is having a profound influence in every area of my life…and making my worship more meaningful in the process.

So I am embarking on this 30 day challenge, which will (hopefully) retrain my focus to being kind to everyone, always.  I hope that I can become a better wife, mother, daughter, friend and person in general.  And I am truly sorry for any time that I have treated any of you unkindly!  With God’s help, I hope to avoid doing so in the future!

Thoughts about 2016 and plans for 2017

So thankful to have more moderate weather this week!  Last week, we pretty much hibernated as temperatures dropped down in the teens and highs didn’t get above freezing.  We did manage to get the sheetrock up for the dining room ceiling and the north wall of the living room before the arctic blast hit!  That really helped with being able to heat the house!  We also got our last deer butchered and in the freezer.  Glad that is over for another year!  I love our deer meat, but I do not like butchering!

Bobbie went back to rehab around midweek.  She is doing much better and hoping to go home this week.  She was able to make it to services yesterday, and Daddy said she ate a good lunch afterwards.  (She hadn’t been having much of an appetite.)  The facility moved another bed into her room, so that Daddy could stay there with her.  Even though it isn’t too far from the house, it sure makes it easier if he doesn’t have to make that drive every day…especially when it was snowing on Friday!

Dennis and I arrived a little early to the church house yesterday morning to make sure everything was ok after all the sub-freezing temperatures.  Glad we did!  The heater had quit working and the water had frozen again.  After the last time the water froze, we decided to buy a hair dryer to keep at the church house and had it with us.  We were quickly able to thaw the water lines, but Dennis couldn’t figure out what was wrong with the heater.  So we brought in extra blankets from the car and everyone bundled up for services.  The guys decided to have fewer songs and Layne kept the length of his lesson shorter than he normally would, so people wouldn’t suffer too much from the cold.  By the time we left, the temperature had risen to all of 49 degrees inside.  After lunch, Dennis took a couple of electric space heaters and a couple of propane heaters and set them up to try to warm it up for the afternoon assembly.  It was a balmy 57 when we returned that afternoon!  In spite of the frigid temperatures, we still enjoyed a wonderful Lord’s day!

Layne’s lesson of the morning was about how we have been created for a purpose, and he used a hand trowel as a visual aide.  Like the simple hand tool, we have each been created with different abilities and opportunities to be used in the service of God.  We need to fulfil our function as a tool in the kingdom, using our individual talents for the glory of God.  It was a really good study for any time, but particularly as we are beginning a new year.  I like to spend the first week or so of the year, going back over the previous year, evaluating what I’ve done…whether I’ve grown and achieved what I set out to, and see where I need to improve.  Rather than “resolutions”, I set goals and make plans for each area of my life.  I’ve learned, through many years’ experience, that I need to constantly keep those goals in front of me, so that I don’t forget and neglect them.  So I regularly evaluate my life and try to make improvements.  It is too easy for me to fall back into old habits or forget to focus on what I need to be doing!  I need constant reminders and encouragement! 

As I reviewed last year, I reread my “thanksgiving journal”.  If I just think back on 2016, I can remember a LOT of hard times.  However, reading my entries that focused on what I was thankful for, made me realize that it was a great year!  Sure, I had Achilles’ tendon surgery, which has taken a LONG time to recover from.  But I am now (almost) pain free and can do whatever I want…much better off than I was before the surgery!  Shepherd joined our family, and we have had a wonderful time getting to know him and enjoy him and Jesse.  Sheila decided to adopt and we are just waiting on official notification from Vietnam that Josiah will truly be her son.  We are all very excited to bring him home and integrate him into our lives…and watch the 3 grandsons grow up together!  I now have a new kitchen that is SO much more efficient and roomy than what it has been for the past 11 years…not to mention prettier!  Even though we didn’t take a big vacation last year, we were able to make numerous small trips.  We finally were able to attend the “Ole Time Camp Meeting” for the first time, plus we were able to spend several days at the Summer Meeting in Clarksville.  We’ve faced some physical and emotional challenges, but we are all doing pretty well right now!  I’ve watched 2 of my CASA babies achieve permanency with their forever families.  All in all, it has been a pretty great year!

As we move further into 2017, I am excited about all of the possibilities that await me and my family.  Lord willing, I will journey to a foreign country for the first time ever, helping Sheila bring Josiah home; have a grandson to care for on a daily basis (Dennis and I are constantly thinking about how much fun we are going to have with that!); finish remodeling the dining room, kitchen and entry (and hopefully get a good start on more of the house); have an adventure exploring the southwestern national parks, with the Grand Canyon being the main attraction; see 4 or 5 more of my CASA kiddos achieve permanency; and hopefully continue to improve my physical health, my spiritual health, my relationships with others, and most of all, my relationship with my God and my Savior.  Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Special time with my girl!

I enjoyed “ringing in the New Year” with Sheila, as is our custom.  She came over Friday night to attend the party at the Huttons’ with us.  We all really enjoyed the great food and fellowship!  We had a nice crowd, and Nancy was even feeling well enough to join in the festivities.  Pete smoked some delicious chicken and sausages, and everyone else brought side dishes and sweets.  Then the men congregated in one room, the ladies in another, and the kiddos bounced around doing their own thing.  I really appreciate Pam and Pete’s gracious hospitality in hosting the get-together!

Saturday, I went back to Sheila’s apartment with her.  We did a little shopping and ate supper at our favorite Vietnamese restaurant.  I love that place!  We’ve finally learned the best way to NOT overeat or overspend.  Afterwards we went back to her place and watched a few of our favorite shows.  I have to admit, I was dozing off a bit before midnight arrived, but we did manage to hold out to see in the new year.  I think we were in bed by 12:10 though!  LOL!

I had a great time with the Henrietta Creek bunch yesterday.  A group of us ate lunch together between services.  Then after the second service, we all went to the nursing home to have a short service for Bobbie.  When we arrived, she was having trouble breathing and was getting a breathing treatment.  It took a good hour or so for her to start feeling well enough to have guests.  They all stayed around and waited on her, though, most of them congregated right outside her room.  After having a very short service, the nursing home recommended sending her to the ER to see what was causing her breathing distress.  They ended up admitting her with a UTI and a few other issues.  I heard from Tonette this morning that her lungs were clear today and she was feeling much better.  They have her on oxygen and IV antibiotics.  She is really having a hard time staying out of the hospital these days!

Sheila and I went back to her place for supper and to watch the latest episode of Sherlock.  (As I’ve mentioned before, I am a HUGE Sherlock Holmes fan.  Sheila shares my enthusiasm.)  Then I gathered up my belongings and headed home.  I listened to a CD that included two of my favorite songs that remind me of Sheila.  Ever since Sheila has been involved in adopting Josiah, I have been even more emotional than usual.  (For those who know me well are aware of, I am, by nature, very emotional to begin with!)  The smallest things will not just bring tears to my eyes, but cause me to start bawling.  When we were browsing through Mardels on Saturday, I would break down at the sight of a sign that made me think of Josiah!  Well you can imagine what listening to those songs did to me!  I was a sloppy mess!  I want to share a few of the lyrics from them with you.  The first song is “She’s a Butterfly” by Martina McBride.  The first time I heard it, I thought, “this song describes Sheila perfectly.”  She had always been such a shy little thing.  Then when we moved to Mineral Wells, she just blossomed! 

“She remembers when she first got her wings
And how she opened up that day
she learned to sing
Then the colors came, erased the
black and white
And her whole world changed
when she realized

She's a butterfly, pretty as the crimson sky
Nothing's ever gonna bring her down
And everywhere she goes
Everybody knows she's so glad to be alive
She's a butterfly

Like the purest light in a darkened world
So much hope inside such a lovely girl
You should see her fly, it's almost magical
It makes you want to cry, she's so beautiful

God bless the butterfly,
give her the strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground
God bless the butterfly,
give her strength to fly
Never let her wings touch the ground”

The other song is also by Martina McBride:  “In My Daughter’s Eyes”.  It is about a young girl, but it so beautifully describes my feelings about my sweet daughter.

In my daughter's eyes,
I am a hero,
I am strong and wise,
And I know no fear,
But the truth is plain to see,
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I want to be,
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes,
Everyone is equal,
Darkness turns to light,
And the world is at peace,
This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak,
I find reason to believe,
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger,
How it puts a smile in my heart,
Everything becomes a little clearer,
I realize what life is all about,
It's hanging on when your heart is had enough,
It's giving more when you feel like giving up,
I've seen the light,
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes,
I can see the future,
A reflection of who I am and what will be,
And though she'll grow and someday leave,
Maybe raise a family,
When I'm gone I hope you'll see,
How happy she made me,
For I'll be there,
In my daughter's eyes

I hope this post isn’t too sappy.  My heart was filled to overflowing with all of these thoughts and I felt compelled to share them.  I am so blessed to have been given such an amazing daughter!

I hope 2017 brings many blessings to each of you.  I am excited about the changes coming up in our family!  Happy New Year to all!