Each person has their own perspective on how life moves through our lives but when we are faced with a dramatic shift in the perspective, we review life from yet a different perspective.
As many of you know, my brother has ALS, a most debilitating disease that steals your life one muscle at a time. So I drove again last week(12 plus hours one way) to see him since I know there is not a long time left. While I was there, there was a tree that had died that was being taken down. The analogy of that act I thought was ironic. Let me explain my weird thoughts.
The state of Georgia is home to various types of pine trees and some of these guys get huge. My brother lives in an older section of Atlanta with a beautiful home and grounds. His house was probably built in the 30s, so the trees are probably well over 100 years in age. The cluster of pine trees that held the dead tree were each well over 80 feet tall with a diameter of 4+ feet. The particular tree had disease which caused rot of that over time slowly killed it completely.
I felt the irony of the death of this tree, diseased from the inside, with my brother’s life. At one time they both stood strong sharing their life with the world.
We must never take any part of our lives for granted for we don’t know what disease, accident, or twist of life may change our perspective in how we view it.
And regardless of how we view life, we can ALWAYS…ALWAYS share kindness to help those who are in great need of that extra smile or kind word, maybe even a hug. Sometimes when we share kindness with others, a feeling of peace comes to us allowing us to reflect on the value and perspective of being kind.
I did not write this, don’t know who did, but its thoughts needed to be shared. I did add the photos. Some are mine and some are googles.
You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, that was eons ago and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But here it is…the winter of my life catching me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years thinking those years were far ahead of me…that my winter was far off. But here it is. My friends are retiring, getting grey and moving slower that before. Some are in better health conditions than me, some are worse. I see the great change in them, their winter. Not like their earlier vibrant selves…but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now the older folks we thought we would never be.
Each day now, I find that getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is no longer a treat but mandatory like when I was a small child. If I don’t do it of my own free will, then I will just fall asleep where I sit.
So, now I enter this season of my life unprepared for all the aches, pains and loss of strength. I no longer have the ability to go and do the things I wish I had done…but never did! But alas, though my winter has come, and I am not sure how long it will last…one thing is certain. When my life is over on this earth, it’s not over…for my Lord and Savior is waiting for me with open arms. A new adventure will begin! Yes I have regrets. I have things I wished I had done, things I wish I had done better, and happy for the things I did get to do, people I got to love, beauties I got to see. It’s all in a lifetime.
So, if you are not yet in your winter season yet, let me remind you…it will get here quicker than you think. So, whatever you would like to do in this life, do it quickly. Don’t put it off too long! We are only promised today, so do what you can today. Say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember and hope they appreciate and love you for all the thing you have done for them.
Life is a gift and the way you live your life is a gift for those after you, so make it fantastic.
And I remind you, regardless of whether your winter is close or far off, to live this gift of life with kindness. It gives you more wonderful memories to reflect back on.
Sometimes we forget how hard life can be for others and instead of judging, we should be listening with a careful ear of kindness. For even if the story is too far fetched to believe, there is still a shred of truth in there somewhere.
Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. We hope to offer all of you something that will spark your creativity and willingness to participate.
With a white plastic handle it doesn’t look like much
But Mom said it was the best for such and such
I never really knew what such and such meant
But hours of its use in the kitchen were spent
I watched my mom as she studied her notes
Mumbling, she change them making new notes
Once changes were done, the busyness began
With energy and banging of many a pan
The kitchen grew warm and smells filled the house
We all watched from the doorway, as quiet as a mouse
Memories of those times still linger in my mind
As smells fill my kitchen of similar kind
I don’t use the knife, could never figured how
But refuse to toss it, as sweat drips from my brow
Memories from our past can have a powerful touch on our hearts even though sometimes they may make no sense. Enjoy those tender memories and make new ones for others and in all that you do, be kind. Kindness bring about the best memories for all of us.
Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge. The prompts are designed to be quick challenges that can be written in 10 to 15 minutes, inspire you creatively, are fun, and get everyone interacting.
For today’s prompt, use the theme of unravelingin a piece of writing.
Life
Life should be filled in purity
Instead it shows prematurity
Unraveling itself in immaturity
Firmly bound in obscurity
Google pic
Remember to always share kindness with those who feel lost in this world. It will help them find heir feet of security.
This weekend, SueW and GC have challenged us with perhaps a loving memory or maybe a current love in talking of mothers, even plants have a mother. I repotted several baby spider plants yesterday at my office as the mother plant is doing very well. My one at home is just getting started.
Mothers, we all had one. Some were good, some not so good. My mother, while she had issues (as we all do), it was her mother that taught me the most about courage, faith and surviving this life. She was a school teacher so it is not surprising that she always taught.
Miss Lottie, as others called her, and her love, Brownie
But I did write a poem about my mother and gave it as a frames gift in 1986 for Mothers Day, a lifetime ago. While is may not be a great poem, its value far outweighed it errors because it came from the heart – which is where all family love should come from. And she loved it.
Like A Rose
Like a rose’s sweet fragrance that floats through the air,
So does a mother’s love as it flows through her home.
Like a rose that reflects its rich vibrant color,
So does a mother when she is loving her children.
Like a rose’s thorns that beckon you to beware,
So does a mother who safely guides her children.
Like the velvety softness of the rose’s soft petals,
So soothes a mother’s hand and voice calms a fear.
Like the beauty of a gentle swaying rose,
So the beauty of mother forever will glow.
And as always, I close with a reminder of kindness. We can never be too kind as somewhere, someone will be watching and be encouraged.
Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. We hope to offer all of you something that will spark your creativity and willingness to participate.
Today’s prompt—use the words for reasons they don’t understand in a piece of poetry.
With all of our eyes looking across the ocean, or maybe even next door, we see the greed and cruelty being dumped by one man onto the tenderness of those who don’t understand. So I give you my thoughts through “Who What Why”
For reasons we don’t understand
Greed and cruelty have fill the land
We start this life hoping it to be so grand
Then life surrounds us as though unplanned
Time moves quickly through the hourglass sand
Leaving us confused for reasons we don’t understand
As many of us have asked and prayed, remember those misplaced by the cruelty of war and the oppression of “bullies” all over this world. Especially for Ukraine. For if this door does not get closed, we could be the next saying – “for reasons we don’t understand”
Never forget the power and beauty of kindness, regardless of how small. It can have ripple effects to touch us all.
Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. We hope to offer all of you something that will spark your creativity and willingness to participate.
Today’s prompt: Write a poem that starts with bitten
Bitten
Bitten as I was on the celebrated day of hearts
Smitten as I was, now gone before it starts
Written on the hearts of many a love song
Mittens would be better and not felt wrong
Kittens are much warmer with love that lasts
Sittin’ and smiling’ and remembering our past
Thanks Go Dog Go Café for giving us a fun chance to play with words. And in closing I remind all the comfort, power and value of kindness. It can bring light to any dark room.
Its been a while since I posted on Cee’s Flower of the Day but this was by my door this morning, refusing to go to sleep for the winter, so I am posting it again. Cee’sFOTD is a great way for us to connect with each other showing the beauty around us, so join in and share your beauty.
This is my Calibrachoa, a tiny orange flower with large ruffled like leaves that look like nasturtiums. It sits in a pot along my walkway to the front door.
Besides Daisey’s nose, you can tell the edges of the leaves are trying to turn but the blooms are refusing to give in. Nights are now getting down to the mid thirties so they may not last much longer. But I wanted to honor them for their resilience. It’s a reminder to all of us that even though some days we may feel old, we can still shine our beauty, love and kindness to help someone else smile.
The full bloom is no larger than my thumbnail creating another point that size does not matter in the beauty of all things God created. So remember always that we are all part of God’s creation, created for a purpose, if nothing more than to be loved by Him. So look up, shine forth and always be kind.
Fandango has a fun story starter this week as I immediately went into Halloween mode, after all, it is October. Come join in with your imagination on this fun Story Starter and let your creative juices flow.
The storm had been relentless last night and this muddy mess did not help in getting up the driveway to the house.
“Why am I being drawn back to Grandma’s house? She has been gone for over three years.”
Her mom had told her that everything in the house had been sold but her old broken piano.They would dispose of it when the house sold. She thought back to the summers she spent there. The laughter…the music. This was why she studied music. She so wanted to be the pianist her grandmother had been but the talent seemed to have eluded herso she taught instead. But many people loved her playing and her teaching was highly sought after. So she stayed in the background away from the dreams of being onstage. As she pulled up in front of the house, the sun began breaking through the clouds. The ‘For Sale’ sign loomed ominously sideways from the storm. The thought of someone else living here made her sad. Taking her keys, she open the door to the empty mustiness that was far from the memories of the bright sunny days she remember so well. The sun was streaming with split rays through the dusty living room windows. The light caught an object leaning against the wall and made Jessica smile. Her walking stick was still leaning in the corner. She could not believe it was still around. She walked over and picked it up, studying her name that her grandfather had carved. She remember fondly the great adventures from the back yard. He had a small apple orchard in the back but to a small child it was huge. She walked over to the sunroom and stood in the doorway remembering the beautiful music her grandmother would play as she and Grandpa would explore the vast outdoors. The piano leaned crookedly against the wall as one leg was completely broken off. Then she remembered the music again…no wait…she is hearing it.
“I heard the music as I entered the room, but all that was there was the broken piano against the wall,” she explained later to her mom when she told her about her visit. She told her of the whispers she heard about not giving up on her dream, that her talent was there and of other things only her grandmother knew. She was shaken but renewed and peaceful as well.
“Itmay have been a dream or some sort of hallucination of remembered love but it was more real than I have know in some years,” Jessica explained.
“So, what are you going to do about it?” her mom asked hoping that whatever this was, it would be enough to help her get over her stage fright and weak self-esteem. She knew the local symphony was searching for a new pianist and that in her mind she thought her daughter would be perfect for it. Of course she was prejudiced as this was her only daughter of 3 other children.
“I don’t know,” said Jessica, “but I think I owe it to Grandma to not give up just because of some bad experience from college. Oh, and I found my walking stick that Granpa made for me.”
“Maybe that will help you walk a different path. Not to pressure you, but the Symphony still has not found a pianist.”
“I dunno, mom. That’s an awful big step. That’s like trying to win the Olympics without training.”
“You train every day, Jessica. What have you got to lose?”
“I will think about it.”
In all of life we face challenges that can either enhance or thwart our dreams. If our dreams are not fully attainable, we must never lose the love those dreams gave us. Use that love to make another dream. That dream may be better than your original dream. And with all paths in all our dreams, remember to be kind. Kindness can make dreams for others come true.
For the Love of 