Thought for Today

"Self-discipline is

when your conscience tells you to do something 

and you don’t talk back."

-W.K. Hope

Today, for me, that means adding a new post to my blog.

A week or so ago, as people began to get concerned about the Coronavirus, before we were advised not to go into stores, I was at the pharmacy picking up my prescription.  An older couple were at the counter talking to the pharmacist who seemed to be having trouble with the computer.  It was taking forever.  The line was growing behind us.  

Most people were patient, resigned to the fact that long lines were inevitable given the situation.  They stood there looking around – at the ceiling, at the floor or studying items on the shelves or in their carts.  They maintained “social distance”, and for the most part they also avoided direct eye contact, as we so often do with a group of strangers.  

At the counter the pharmacist was still busy talking to the man while his wife stood patiently next to him.  She was slightly hunched over, seemingly sad, perhaps in pain, obviously tired and concerned.  You could see the strain on her face – muscles tight, eyes hollow, brow furred.  She looked down at the long line apologetically. Embarrassment seemed to add to her discomfort.  

I wished I could go up to her and say “it’s OK.  Don’t worry.  We understand.”  But I couldn’t do that.  “Social distancing” and respect for their privacy kept us apart.  All I could do was smile at her. 

Then I saw an amazing result of that simple smile.   

Her posture relaxed and tension visibly began to drain from her face.  While tiredness and pain were still obvious, she seemed lighter.   An expression of gratefulness came into those hollow eyes – and she smiled back at me.

That stranger in the store looked at me as if I had given her a great gift.  I felt she had given a gift to me!

I will always remember that her face and that moment – a reminder of how we touch each other’s lives in so many little ways – and how important it is to make all of our interactions positive!

Thoughts for The Season of Lent

I grew up with all the Catholic traditions -- including receiving the ashes on Ash Wednesday, fasting and "giving up" a favorite food or pleasure for lent.  However, after going through 5 years of cancer and the death of my first husband, I could not do the ashes.  I didn't need to be reminded of "dust thou art to dust thou shall return", and I felt that I had done enough "giving up" for a lifetime.

Now, living in a wonderful second marriage and comfortable life, I have no excuses.  And I have a much more mature understanding of the reasons for the traditional Catholic "rules" of lent.  They are an exercise in self-discipline and reminders of the real meaning of life.

So today I share with you some guidelines for fasting during lent in the words of Pope Francis:

• Fast from hurting words - say kind words
• Fast from anger - be filled with patience
• Fast from pessimism - be filled with hope
• Fast from complaints - contemplate simplicity
• Fast from bitterness - fill your hearts with joy
• Fast from selfishness - be compassionate to others
• Fast from grudges - be reconciled
• Fast from words - and listen

GOOD SAYINGS

I have a file on my desktop simply titled "Good Sayings".  When I read, and come across a phrase, sentence or paragraph that seems to be worth remembering, I copy and paste it into that file.  Then, when I am stuck on something, or seemingly in a rut, I go back and read some of those entries.

Today it occurred to me that many are worth sharing, and may provide inspiration for some of you.  So beginning today, I will start sharing some of these thoughts.  Where possible I will note the original source, but often I do not have the name of the author.  So I apologize in advance if I have not given credit to someone.

Here are a few thoughts I found appropriate for me today.  I invite you to share your thoughts.

"Self-discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don’t talk back."

-W.K. Hope

"You are the sum total of your thoughts to present"

Mike McCue

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."

Raymond Lindquist

 "Courage does not always roar. 

Sometimes, it is the quietest voice at the end of the day saying, 
I will try again tomorrow!"

A Christmas Message

The Little Drummer Boy 

We were watching one of those always predictable Hallmark holiday movies the other day, and the main characters were expressing frustration with some of the Christmas traditions – especially the Little Drummer Boy song.  They laughed at the repetitive drum-drumming and one of them asked “What’s that song about anyway?”  “Who knows” the other person responded.

Well I say, if you don’t know what that song is about, you don’t understand what Christmas is about!   

To me The Little Drummer Boy Song is the essence of the story of Christmas.  Just try humming along with the song and think about these words:

“Come, they told me … the newborn king to see.”  

Look!  The infinite God has taken on our humanity. The baby in the manger is the king who has come to save the world. 

“Our precious gifts we bring”

            The world encourages great ceremony and expensive gifts for a king.

“I am a poor boy too … 

But we relate to the humbleness of Jesus’ birth. 

“I have no gifts … fit to give a king”

How often do we question our own worth – our own ability to give or do anything consequential enough to please God or have any effect on the world.

“Shall I play for you”

We just need to use our own individual talents and abilities.

“Mary nodded … the ox and lamb kept time”

Even with the most humble of talents we can make the world a happier and better place!

“I played my Best for him … then he smiled at me”

Like our parents tried to teach us so long ago, all God really asks is that we do our best. 

My hope and prayer is that this year, when we hear those “rum a tum tums”, we will think about how we can save a little part of this world.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and a Joyful and Dynamic New Year!

Want Ad

In the probably futile effort to clean up my office, I’ve been going through some old papers and found a piece I wrote back in the 70's, and thought it would be fun to share it with you now.  

After months of frustration, listening to extreme feminists put down the idea of a housewife, and the extreme conservative women over-glamorizing the joys of wiping runny noses and spreading peanut butter and jelly, I wondered how a help wanted ad for a housewife might read.  If it were and honest job description I think it would have to read something like this:

Help Wanted – Woman with energy, enthusiasm and imagination.  An excellent opportunity for someone who likes to meet a challenge.  

This is a managerial position.  The person hired will be responsible for a smooth-running organization.  With her partner she must visualize the overall direction of the organization and maintain smooth, steady control in the face of numerous daily interruptions.  She must have a positive outlook and idealistic nature, being able to strive continually for a sometimes elusive goal.

The ability to handle difficult people at their most difficult times is essential.  She will be responsible for happiness and harmony within the organization while actively directing the discipline and training of junior members.  

The person in this position is also responsible for external public relations.  She must maintain good will among friends despite potentially explosive situations and disagreements, and she must handle suppliers and creditors with finesse, knowing when to be firm and when to be soft.

This job requires someone who is a self-starter, able to initiate and carry through her own ideas and projects.  She must be able to make decisions and accept responsibility for them.

Other desirable qualities include the ability to follow detailed instructions, give and take orders, keep schedules, meet deadlines and work on many projects at once.  This is no place for a woman who can only go in one direction at a time.  

Perhaps the most important attributes she must have are patience and a sense of humor in the face of impossible people and situations.  

Satisfaction in this job will not come from praise, promotions or raises.  The woman who will be happy in this position is one who is convinced of her own importance, the importance of the job, and who truly loves the people she is working with.

Stand On Your Past

I love this quote from “At The Edge of Summer”. by Jessica Brockmole, 

“Yearning for home, yearning for those warm safe days of childhood, doesn’t halt our steps forward. It doesn’t mean we regret or fear. It means that we’re built of so much more than our present or future.  We have the past to stand on -- and we are stronger for it.”

It makes me think of how grateful I am for my past -- for my parents and extended family, for my neighborhood, my schools, my experiences.

And I hope I have provided that kind of strong past for my children.

A Summer Chuckle -- Conversation between God and St Francis

 Maybe you’ve already heard this story.  I’ve read it before but came across it again the other day.  I still got a good chuckle out of it, so decided to share it with you.

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:   What’s going on down there on Earth?   What happened to the dandelions, violets and other beautiful wildflowers I created?   I had a perfect, no-maintenance garden with wildflowers that grow in any type of soil, withstand drought and multiply with abandon. And the nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and flocks of songbirds.  

ST. FRANCIS:   Well Lord, all these homeowners decided they wanted grass lawns and they are very proud of them! They begin each spring by seeding, watering and fertilizing -- and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD:  It takes a lot of moisture to grow the grass and keep it green. I guess them must be happy that I send the spring rains and warm weather to make the grass grow fast.  

ST. FRANCIS:  Apparently not, Lord. because as soon as it grows a little, they cut it -- sometimes twice a week.  Then they rake it up and put it in bags and pay to throw it away.

GOD:  So then they are relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat?  Surely that slows the growth and saves them a lot of work and money.

ST. FRANCIS: You won't believe this, but when the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water the lawns so they can continue to mow it -- and pay to get rid of it.

GOD:  I’ll never understand these humans.  At least they kept some of the trees I created.  They must appreciate that the leaves, which provide beauty and shade in the summer, then fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to protect the trees and bushes and form compost to keep moisture in to enhance the soil. 

ST. FRANCIS: I hate to tell you this Lord, but as soon as the leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.

GOD: No!  What do they do to protect the shrub and tree roots in the winter and to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS: They go out and buy mulch, haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD: And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up.

GOD: Enough!  I don't want to think about this anymore.  Let’s talk about something else.

 What movie is playing tonight?

ST. FRANCIS:  It’s called "Dumb and Dumber", Lord. It's a real stupid movie about.....

GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story!

~~~