“Tax reform is when you take the taxes off things that have been taxed in the past and put taxes on things that haven’t been taxed before.” –Art Buchwald

There's at least some satisfaction in knowing it is done, period. I'm talking about paying our 2019 tax bill. It is Friday, May 29, 2020, and, for the record, I am well aware that I could have waited until July 15. I know everyone feels like they are picked on when it comes to taxes. I just received our 2020 county valuation for our residential taxes. Same old story. Didn't increase the rate. They are so proud of themselves. However, they did increase the valuation, duh, the total amount of taxation went up. I can hear Gomer loud and clear, "Surprise! Surprise!". Back to the federal return, it was 13 pages. That's right. For two old people. Thirteen pages. We run such a big business, The Santa Claus Enterprise. Here we are nearing the 3/4ths of a century mark and we are still paying self-employment taxes along with medicare and what they see as windfall income. Sorry. But, death and taxes may be a certainty, complaining about the tax part of it is a part of our historical heritage. You might recall: "Taxation without representation!" The wife encouraged me not to wait. Take care of our obligation and move on. Think about it. If I were to wait until July, I would be looking at the next tax cycle within a few months. Oh well, we go on record once again in saying how thankful we are to be able to pay our taxes, and as many point out time and time again, we are also thankful to have the means that necessitates the additional taxes. As you can tell, being thankful does not nullify my right to complain. I'll leave it at this. Why can't old people get a break?

Flashback from May 29, 2008: Servant's Heart ~ Last night at our Wednesday evening Onward Christian Seniors class, I was reminded about how we older folks have many in and around us and many near and dear to us who are in need of God's touch. Perhaps it is because of our age that we see things through a different lens or some of it is because many of those near to us are older and they are dealing with related challenges. My wife played the piano and we sang some wonderful songs that helped lift our hearts and our voices towards our Great God. Seeing her up there playing reminded me how she used to play the piano when we were teenagers. She's played in regular Church services, she's played for hundreds of children's programs, she taught beginners for years, and there she was, still using her talent for the Lord. She would be the first to say it's not that much of a talent but look how she has used it for over forty-five years! She didn't hit every note correctly but she did exactly what God is pleased with, she was willing and she gave her best. He is always well pleased whenever His very own recognize Him as their Father through their willing heart to give service as a way of demonstrating their love. Last Sunday we heard from a lay minister in our Church who spoke on the subject of being a servant. He commented on how we don't become a servant by serving, we should have a servant's heart that leads us to serve. Many can do servant like things. But God always reads our thoughts and our motives. Yes, I tell people to keep on keeping on in serving even when their heart is not in it because I know they have the potential to get back on track with God much sooner than if they throw in the towel. However, our speaker made a good point. How much more pleasing to God and honoring to Him whenever we lead with our heart that then directs our hands! ~

I apologize for the outburst of angst in the first paragraph. I do know if everyone got the breaks they think they deserve, well, we would likely have a major revenue crisis. As if we don't already have one to the tune of trillions of dollars in IOUs. In the final analysis, we have been blessed and all the huffing and puffing about this, that, and the other does not change the truth of God's provision. Some of my noisy haranguing is done for the purposes of writing my blog. But, it is not altogether tongue in cheek because we do have genuine concerns on the issue itself. I just want to make clear that I do believe in paying my taxes as we are instructed to do by God through His inspired Word, Romans 13:6 "For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing." I thought I needed to make this clear given the orientation of some today who think withholding the payment of their taxes is their God-given right. Okay. That's enough on that subject until it comes up again. At least. I do hope you enjoy your Saturday and I am so thankful to report that if God provides we will be in the 8:30 a.m. early service come Sunday at Mims Baptist in Conroe. Feel free to join us there if you can. See you next time, Lord willing, and may God bless each one. Amen. .....More later.

"To rub someone the wrong way." The phrase is American in origin. The British version is "rub someone up". The phrase originated from cats, who like to be petted from the head to tail and get annoyed with someone doing it in the wrong direction. The cat reference originated in 1819 in "Aunt Mary's Tales".

Good morning and welcome to Thursday, May 28, 2020. You might recall how the big box store opened early for us older folks during the height of the pandemic. I still remember that early morning when the super nice fellow greeted us all with the announcement about them having received a new shipment of toilet paper. I was able to purchase a large package. May I say this about that. The only thing soft about that particular product is the word 'soft' on the outside of the package. This is the time when one is tempted to say something about how those in the deepest darkest regions of Africa would be very thankful for this type of modern convenience. As it pertains to this particular product, I'm actually not sure they would be. Don't get me wrong. I am aware based on my first-hand experience that indoor with cheap toilet paper is much better than the outdoor alternative. When my dad passed away in 1954, our mom and us six kids moved from Port Arthur, Texas to Hornbeck, Louisiana, to live with my mom's parents. They still had the outdoor alternative as a backup to the indoor. (And, the indoor at times was backed up with people waiting in line and literally backed up due to the inadequate sewer system.)  We also had relatives who lived in the Sabine river bottom who had no indoor alternative. Therefore, the moral of my story might be to remind myself to give thanks in all things because to do so is the will of God. (1st Thessalonians 5:18)

I appreciate the hard work being done by the grammar application that seeks to give my readers something more readable each day. If I followed all of its suggestions, my blog might be better but I don't think it understands a lick about the Southern slang that I sling onto the page. Therefore, it flags my wording and my sentence structure and my choice of tense but I have become very persistent in using the 'ignore' feature. I do admit when it underlines my work with red it does slightly irritate me. However, I am reminded of one of my most influential teachers who used to mark all over my essays. I would get them back and she would have left little room anywhere on the page where she had not written critical comments. One day I got up the nerve to talk to her about it. I had one of my papers in my hand. She smiled and told me she wrote more notes on mine than most of the others. She went on to say she did that because she believed I had the potential to express myself well in my writing. I probably thought to myself I wished she wouldn't like me so well, but, years later I realized how much she had contributed to what ends up in my blog each day. In my case, if you can read this and it makes any sense at all, well, I can thank the late Mrs. Reba Jones for her constructive help. And, I do apologize to her and everyone else for the run-on sentences. That was always one of her pet peeves. (Check out the Apostle Paul's run-on style and remember he was inspired by Holy Spirit God.)

Mr. Bentley came to our world but didn't know what boring people we were. On top of that, they implemented a quarantine that exacerbated the problem. He has had to resort to trickery and deceit to get us to pay him the attention he believes he deserves. He is such a good little dog, but, he can be very persistent when he wants to play fetch, or go for a ride, or sit outside doing not much more than watching life unfold, or any other number of things he can think of. He still wakes up very early. When we sit down to watch a TV program he waits until the program starts and then he signals it is time for him to go outside. We have learned that he fakes that a lot. We had zero of any of this before he came and we were very pleased with our lifestyle. But, I have to make it clear, he has endeared himself to us and we pretty much are at his disposal. Okay. I've said it. Something no one would have ever expected to hear from me. He has these little games he likes to play. When I take him out for the last time before bedtime, he, on the way back wants to nip at my pants leg. I want him to stop but I always laugh when he does it. Even when I tell him to stop he knows I don't mean it. I am pitiful but I know it. Who would have ever thought? And, as William Bendix in playing his iconic character, Riley, used to say, "What a revolting development this is!" Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. ...More later.

"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them." - Albert Einstein.

I get that folks are flexing their freedoms some, but, seeing the photos of people body to body in crowded beaches, swimming pools, and parties, well, that may be a regrettable decision for some. The good news I suppose was that I did not see a lot of white hair in any of those photos. Maybe a smidgen of wisdom does come with age. At any rate, I bid you greetings on this Wednesday, May 27, 2020. I was at the big box store to pick up a few items on Monday. I was in the aisle where you purchase the time-release super duper arthritis strength acetaminophen. (We spend way too much time in that aisle these days.)  A black lady and her 7 or 8-year-old daughter were there and the mom was reading the information on some of the allergy medications. She apologized for blocking my access. I told her not to worry because I was in no hurry. I could see the little girl was bored. We all had our masks on and I was all lathered up with sanitizer. She made a decision and they moved on. A few minutes later I met them again in the tooth product aisle. We all laughed and it hit me that I should break protocol and give the little girl one of my Santa cards. I asked her mom and she said, "Sure!" I handed it to her and her face lit up like a 4th of July celebration. I pulled down my mask long enough for her to see 'the beard'. It was a special moment. I mention it because even though she had a mask on she could still communicate excitement and joy. They were still carrying on, laughing and talking as I drove my shopping card out of sight. (This is where the 'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!' comes into play. And, yes, the original poem had it as 'happy', not 'merry' as many revisions put it.)

A former CBS News executive recently gave his opinion of the current media climate. He believes the liberal domination within the mainstream today makes it impossible to ever see a move back to the center. In other words, that train has left and is never coming back. I read one person's thoughts on President Trump. He listed all the things he does that drives him up the wall. He mentioned the ongoing embarrassment, pettiness, outlandish behavior, and uncontrolled speech. He finished by giving his clear reasoning for voting for President Trump again. His analysis resonated with me. My constant refrain when speaking on this issue is this, 'compared to what?'. Make no mistake my friend, there are no smoke and mirrors regarding the choices today. There was a time when the left-leaning candidate would do their best to find a semblance of the center or middle position. So-called moderation. Not anymore! I'll never see President Trump in the way I view President Reagan, but, I knew that at the get-go. Here are two recent examples that tell the story. The president of Planned Parenthood said that if you do not support abortion you cannot be in the Democrat party. The presumed nominee, Joe Biden, recently said that if you are black and are having trouble making up your mind between him or President Trump, then you are not really black. I leave you with this as my closing thought, 'compared to what?'.

You may have seen one of the many coronavirus songs out on the web. They typically have lyrics written to the tune of a recognized hit. For instance, one of the good ones is 'Stuck in Coronaville' sung to the music from Jimmy Buffet's 'Margaritaville'. These funny songs have helped people to cope. There has also been a surge in poems written about the pandemic from those by children to folks of all ages. I chose this one as an example, more or less randomly, as it was submitted to the editorial page of the Northwest Herald, a regional paper serving McHenry County, Illinois.

The world in which we live today,

Is different than before.

The virus has taken lives away,

of families they adore.

The fear of the unknown,

The worry of what will be,

Are in the minds of all of us,

As everyone can see.

The Doctors and all the Nurses,

First Responders and others too,

Are putting their lives in danger,

To care for me and you.

The compassion and the care they give,

The hours spent so the sick can live,

We thank you for all you do!

We practice social distancing,

We shop in a different way,

We were asked to stay at home for now,

When will this go away?   Madeleine J. Barone, Huntley, Illinois

If my mother-in-law, Mom Rawles, was still around she would no doubt be churning out her own poems relating to our current status. Take care and maybe do a poem. It might help. May God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"Don't let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case." ~ copied

Hello and welcome. It is Tuesday, May 26, 2020, and many are getting back from the Memorial Day three day holiday. I had a lot of interesting tidbits for today but they are like fireflies that light up brightly but fade quickly at daybreak. Day has dawned and those interesting ideas went the way of the Sabre-toothed Tiger. (I used to always say 'way of the buffalo', as in the American Bison, but fortunately for the buffaloes, they have made a comeback and now number in excess of 500 thousand here in our country.) I know. The Sabre-toothed Tiger doesn't have the same ring to it but it is extinct and that was the point of the illustration. There are a lot of annoying postings on Facebook. I know you knew that, but, there are some that are really irritating. Those that dare you to copy and repost. Those that shame you if you don't do what they ask. Those that guarantee prosperity and blessings if you send it to your friends' list. Those that threaten God's wrath on anyone who stops the flow. And, there we were, thinking chain letters were a thing of the past. Some even go as far as to say if you don't share this posting then you don't love God. My response is fairly consistent. I don't care for any of those types of postings and typically skip them without fanfare. Yes. I do believe they have the right to put those types of postings up. Free speech. We used to toss chain letters. I reserve the right to do the same with postings like the ones I outlined. You can too. At least, for now.

We attended the early Church service at our local meeting facility this past Sunday. It was the first scheduled service since early March. There were about 200 of us in the early service. The main sanctuary was set up to facilitate social distancing. There were sanitizer stations and they had masks for anyone who requested one. We had not known what to expect. Everyone was somewhat on edge because of this virus. When the pastor got up to welcome everyone, before he could really get into it, thunderous applause erupted and continued for a while. However, when we started singing that first song, it was an amazing experience. The chorus went like this:

Open up the heavens
We want to see You
Open up the floodgates
A mighty river
Flowing from Your heart
Filling every part of our praise

This was met with shouts of joy and praise along with tears. We got a glimpse of what God intended when He said we were to meet with one another to honor Him and build each other up in the faith. Yes. We probably shook more hands than we had anticipated and gave a few more hugs as well, but, we were together again and more importantly God showed up in a big way. Amen.

Some have said we may have to retrain our faces how to smile coming out of this pandemic. Many have taken shots at coming up with jokes to help accomplish this. ~ One restaurant owner in Great Britan came up with this one: If you want to know how it feels to be in hospitality during the Coronavirus pandemic, think about the Titanic sinking and the band playing. We are the band! ~ A couple of names have come up for the babies who will be born as a result of folks being at home for so long: One suggestion: The Coronials and the other when they become teens, The Quaranteens. ~ A New Yorker Magazine cartoon had this caption: "If you don't have weights at home, try using canned food or the psychological burden of simply existing in the world." ~ One posted this bit of encouragement, "Just heard the Coronavirus doesn't infect rats or snakes. That should make us all feel safer." ~  I did see a poll that indicated Americans generally saw some beneficial aspects of the lockdown. This was reflected in families becoming closer and those types of outcomes. As with any crisis, some turned to God. Maybe for the first time. That's always the right thing to do. Always. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

We Remember!

Hello and welcome back. Today is Monday, Memorial Day observed, May 25, 2020.

Let us remember the sacrifice of those who gave their all for our country and for their families who also sacrificed.
                                                           Amen. ......More later.

"Heaven help the man who only has thanksgiving once a year." ~ Steve Pease

Good Friday morning on this May 22, 2020. That photo was posted as being children returning to school in France. A lady posted it and people responded with nearly 500 comments. Many were outraged because they believe this type of schooling will be the ruination of our children. Others were angry because they believed it to be a form of brainwashing. The vision of a concentration camp was mentioned several times. Some shed tears as they pointed out the sadness on the faces of the children. I thought it was powerful images. It gives us all something to think about. Sad to think our kids will ever have to be in this type of environment.

Here's something I wrote 12 years ago.  ~ "Why Do We Laugh?"  I’ve written a number of blogs on the value of healthy, hearty laughter. But have you ever wondered why human beings laugh? If you have you are not alone because to be perfectly honest, science has not solved this uniquely human mystery we call laughing. Some of the funniest things to read are articles by the evolutionists giving their views on how and why it may have originated within the human species. How about it mimics the panting of the ape family as one idea? Okay, for those of us who are believers in God’s account of creation, we know that God put together human beings in a way that reflected His own image. Part of that functioning as a human being is being able to process information that causes a response we call laughter. Children actually begin to laugh as early as 3 months and it appears the peak years for exuberant laughter are between 5 and 6 years old. One interesting thing is the admitted fact from the scientific community how little is known about the brain mechanisms that produce laughing. One thing is clear; we all would do well to laugh more, especially as we learn to see the ‘funny’ in the life we are living. The Bible does mention the subject of laughter. There are over forty references but with different meanings and applications. There’s also the biblical concept of joy and rejoicing that are important in this discussion. You cannot read some of the parables Jesus told and not see His wonderful sense of humor. In the end, we should be thankful for God’s design that includes the response of laughter. Laughter is proven in how it can improve your health, lower your stress levels, and even give you a little bit of a workout. Do we serve a great God or what? To be honest I’ve begun to chuckle as I am finishing up this blog. Find something to laugh about and thank God that you can!" ~

Well, folks, I can tell it's time for me to wrap up another week here at the ole blogger show. I thought about mentioning some of the topics we covered this week. None came to mind. That may not be a good thing. You know. It must not be very memorable. Or, it could be that our time together is mostly a rehash of how life unfolds over and over again. According to the experts, the major stages of the human life cycle include pregnancy, infancy, toddler years, childhood, puberty, older adolescence, adulthood, middle age, and senior years. I've been blessed to have participated in every one of those stages and for that I am thankful especially since it is not a privilege afforded to everyone. I am now firmly fixed in the last stage. Of course, for me, and for all those who have been born again by the indwelling Holy Spirit, our life will continue on in the presence of our Savior when we close our eyes in death. Looking at those identified stages, I have touched some on my childhood but the overwhelming majority of my time has been spent dealing with adulthood going forward. I suppose that's where the so-called rubber meets the road in my life and it's the stuff I remember most vividly. I probably used up my welcome a long time ago but I am still sharing since I haven't found the exit sign yet. Either that or the bulb is out. In more ways than one. Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and I will do my best to show up for our next visit. Until then, may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

I do try to see the best in others but tell me, why do some seem to spend all their time making that impossible?

Good morning. It is Thursday, May 21, 2020, and I will tell you this about that. We had a 100 degree reading out on our porch sensor this past Tuesday. Really? To make it seem even warmer, we had lost power for 15 minutes. When that happens I typically turn off the central air so that it will not be subjected to a power surge. The power failed around 11 a.m. About 2 p.m. it became somewhat uncomfortable and I remembered I had not turned the air back on. I think maybe the so-called senior moments have turned into half-hour segments. The other day I couldn't find my truck keys. When that happens I typically want to know who used my keys. You know. It's standard knee jerk protocol.  I frantically looked for them because I ALWAYS put them in my left side pocket. ALWAYS! I looked here and there, opening draws, cabinets, and even through the dirty clothes. As the old saying goes, "You always find what you lost the last place you look." For me, it turned out to be my right side pocket. Maybe my brain wiring misfired and suddenly I thought the things on the left should be on the right. Maybe. The other side of the coin is when you find something you haven't lost but you are not sure what it is or why you have it. Paw Paw used to tell me that I had trouble concentrating. He said, "Son, you wake up in a new world every minute." Hello there and welcome to my world.

Facebook came out recently with a new Avatar feature. It takes your photo and transforms it into a caricature or avatar. It has taken the Facebook community by storm. Typically, the transformed image does not clearly depict the before photo. Many times, the transformed image is very flattering as in the example above. I have not used the feature and I know folks are just having fun with it, however, it didn't keep me from doing my own parody of the hoopla going on.

That was my stab at doing my own avatar transformation. Here's the caption I used when I posted it on my Facebook page: "Nearly everyone has gone crazy over the new FB avatar feature. Some obviously work better than others." Let's face it, pun intended, to me, reality is always much funnier than made up stories.

I read one fellow's comments on a serial selfie poster. "Lady, you need to get real. You are not a model. You are just someone who has a really good smartphone with an app that does 57 different photo adjustments." We live in a society that puts a premium on looks as defined by society. They make the rules as to what constitutes attractiveness and the impact, sadly, starts with children at a very young age. We all, at one time or another, have wanted to look better and perhaps have used one of society's images as our target. There are those who have flat out rejected any and all of these pretenses. My thought is we all should do the best we can with what has been given to us. The late great Pastor/Teacher Dr. Adrian Rogers used to talk about the questions he received regarding ladies wearing makeup. Should they or should they not? He said his view was that even an old barn needed a coat of paint occasionally. I at times amuse myself when I receive laudatory comments about my portrayal of the Santa Claus character. Think about it. If Santa is recognized and if in that portrayal a little kid is given a moment of joy, well, that my friend is worth more to me than a hundred pats on the back for a job well done. "You are the best Santa I have ever seen." Thank you, but, I am not Santa. He is the fellow I become when I don the uniform. Don't get me wrong. It's better to hear I'm a good Santa as opposed to this one, "I don't know what is wrong with you. He has never been scared of Santa before." See what I mean? Life can be funny. Try to laugh along with it. Until next time, my God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up." ~ Hans Christian Andersen

Hello and welcome where on this day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020, the debate rages on as to whether we should reopen our economy or continue to stay put. If we reopen too soon there could be more infections and deaths. If we don't reopen people lives will suffer catastrophically from the loss of their ability to support themselves.  One of the countries that did very well in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic was the nation of Taiwan. They have a population of nearly 25 million and as of May 14, they had reported 440 confirmed cases with 401 recoveries and 7 deaths. Taiwan is a very successful and independent island nation but it is claimed as territory belonging to the People's Republic of  China. China is now one of the world powers and has used its influence to get most nations, including a majority of the United Nations, to agree with their rights over Taiwan. My point? Perhaps the world could benefit from how Taiwan dealt with the Coronavirus, but, since they lack status and standing they may not be allowed to participate in forums dedicated to this subject. After all, inviting them to come would be an insult to China, and most nations are not inclined to go down that road. Do we live in an absurd world or what?

Shout out to our eldest for coming to our rescue. The professional plumber did the best he could. Four times. He only charged us once but he came time and time again but could never get the leak completely fixed. He worked hard. He replaced everything. But, to no avail. The Stuart Hamblen 1954 song 'This Ole House' comes to mind. His song was a metaphor for our body becoming frailer and frailer. We don't need a metaphor at this address. Our house is nearing 50 years old and most of the infrastructure remains. Things like plumbing and wiring. We always have our own fix-it man as a backup and it took him several tries as well, but, in the end, we can now begin to begin thinking about closing back up the hole we had to make in our kitchen ceiling. We were able to change out some of the old stuff after Hurricane Ike in 2008, however, my guess is some 75% is still the same as when they started work in 1971. What you end up with is the classic routine where when you push down something in one place it shows up in a brand new place. At any rate, we have our Chris who typically comes to the aid of his parents. He has been the family handyman since he was a little guy. His brothers, Jimmy and Rodney are also good at doing house-related repairs. I should be a lot better than I am. I was exposed enough but did not have the interest to pick it up. It was not for a lack of trying on the part of Paw Paw Mac and others, but, thankfully, our boys ended up being more inclined in that direction.

We will be having services at our local assembly this upcoming Sunday. We signed up for the 8:30 a.m. service. It will be different but we are so looking forward to seeing people in person. I anticipate a lot of tears will be seen as we join together as a local body in worship, praise, and the seeking of our great God. The wife has been redecorating one of the bedrooms upstairs. She has spent many hours up there. Paint, cleaning, new this, that, and the other. When she got it close, (because it is still a work in progress), she had me come up and look at it. I helped her put the new bed outfit on. In the process, I asked the question, "Who did you do this for?" Her reply, "Anybody." "And really, for us." I mumbled, "Well it sure looks good and I guess it was a good idea to do it." It may have been one of those do-it-yourself projects while we were doing the stay-at-home routine. Although, I am aware of at least a half dozen or more trips to Home Depot before it was all said and done. I actually appreciate her hard work. When we finished our yard work yesterday I looked at all the extra trimming and clean up she had done and I told her, "Your dad would have been so proud of you today." Her dad, the Preacher, Bro. Wilson Lee Rawles loved to keep a nice, neat yard. It was part of his persona. I also mentioned that I had adopted this year the mowing procedure recommended by our across-the-driveway neighbor, Ellis. He was a sweet old gentleman who liked to give advice, and, he thought it was a good idea to switch up mowing directions every other week. If he could see our yard from his heavenly grandstand he would be pleased but as I told the wife he would probably tell me I could at any time stop with the joke he told about not worrying about the grass since no cows are going unfed because I had way overused it. Well, there you have it. Still taking advice from our mentors. That's how we roll. Take care and may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"Tail wagging the dog." Meaning: A matter of minor importance dominating a situation. American origin with first quoted reference from 1871. (A rather important distinction reflecting many if not most of my 3,333 episodes.)

It's another day and another opportunity. That is, to do something. Good, bad, or indifferent. It's my choice and it is also your choice. I hope all is well on this Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Even the casual observer knows I do a fair amount of strolling on the crooked paths of my growing up days. Some might get the idea I didn't have a whole lot of bad stuff on my journey. That would not be correct, however, I pretty much steer away from that, not because of the bad memories reflected but a lot of it is just not that interesting. My point? No one, or at least no one I have ever known, has a completely idyllic life. In fact, what we have learned is how those thought to have it all are later revealed to have had their own issues. Over the past two weeks, the wife and I have watched a huge number of episodes from the Midsomer Murder series from across the pond. I think they are now into their 21st season. At any rate, evil and wrongdoing as reflected in these investigations are never limited by class, status, or any other so-called well off indicators. The Bible tells us 'all have sinned'. We learn also how we sin because of us inherently being a sinner, not because we have to be taught to sin. It's a universal condition as declared by The Creator. I've read those who tend to really enjoy reveling in their past sins even those they did as kids. I'm not saying some of the things done growing up that were wrong do not have some humor in them, however, basking in 'badness' just doesn't appeal to me. Honestly, I am not pleased or proud of many of those things. I thought I would share that even though I'm pretty sure no one was that interested. (Born a sinner, alienated from God, is why we need to be reborn as we put our faith and trust in Jesus the Christ. Amen.)

I'm continuing to make progress in dealing with my sleep-related disorder. I am doing fairly well in terms of the events per hour. On average, I am below the target of 5 negative events per hour. (My sleep study number was 42.5 negative events per hour.) My biggest challenge can be summed up like this: Sir Bentley Barksalot, Esq. He typically goes to bed around 10 p.m. He immediately goes to sleep. No problem. However, after four to five hours of being in his very roomy kennel, he is ready to get out. Not because he needs to go outside. He just wants out. Period. I can relocate to the family room and put the two of us in the recliner and he will go back to sleep. The sleep experts want me to have the mask on six or more hours and I currently average around 4.5 hours. We are trying new things with Mr. Bentley. On Sunday night we put him on the bottom of our bed and he was fine there until 1:30 a.m. when we moved him from the bed to the kennel. He made it for nearly 3 more hours and that gave me over six which is a rarity. I'm not upset with him. He is doing what a dog will do. We do know he naps a lot during the hours leading up to his bedtime. That may be part of it as well. It can be irritating but not because he is. I got pretty upset with him early one morning and treated him pretty roughly. He was unhappy that I was unhappy with him. That made me feel bad for treating him roughly. Thank goodness he doesn't hold a grudge as we continue to work together to solve these issues. (This will sound very weird to those who have hundreds of recollections of me saying I am not a pet person, period. Sorry about that. I don't know if I am one now but I do know Mr. Bentley has, in many ways, gotten to me.)

Mr. Bentley, four months old.

Someone recommended we send him to obedience school. We would need to first send him to a seminar that teaches him he is a dog. Over the past 14 months, he has single-handedly turned our schedules upside down. (He was 2 months old when we brought him to our home.) But, I'm sure that's true for folks all around. I know it is for the people who post on the Shih Tzu pages I follow. Did you hear that? The Shih Tzu pages I follow? I suppose I should apologize to the folks who worked for me throughout my management days when I smirked because they needed time off to deal with a pet-related issue. Fast forward to me taking Mr. Bentley to the vet. The wife says, "I'll take him if you want me to." Me, "Nope, I want to hear exactly what they have to say." It's too late for me to sing that song 'please say it isn't so'. Maybe it's a phase I'm going through. You know. One of those where you have one foot in reality and the other foot in the age-related dreamworld. I can blame it on that or maybe you could help me come up with something better. (His birthday is in November. If you hear about me organizing a drive-by parade for him. Go ahead and call the folks in the white coats.) For better or worse, it's the world I am currently living in. Don't feel sorry for me because it really is quite enjoyable. It is. And, I am thankful for it. Take care and may God add His blessings. Amen. .....More later.

Another day, another birthday: Happy Happy to our Gabi Girl!

Welcome back. It is Monday, May 18, 2020, and we are off and running. Yesterday, we had another birthday in the family neighborhood. Our little Gabriella, (Gabi), became a three year old. Her parents, our granddaughter Brittany and her dad Ryan, recently moved back into our area after him doing a stint in the US Army. They now live not too far from where we live but given the pandemic, we haven't seen that much of them. Yet. She, like most little ones today, is really into role play and this year she is in love with the Disney Frozen franchise. Last year, it was Paw Patrol. They say fun, fun, fun! And, we all become aware of the way it is really done, marketing, marketing, marketing! At any rate, we are so thankful for this child and we pray a blessing over her life and wish her a most happy, happy birthday. Our love, great grands MiMi and Poppy. (Sorry to show so many photos with Great Grand Poppy Claus in them, but, if the boots and suit fit, wear them!)

I see the parades of all kinds being promoted to celebrate all kinds of things. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, job promotions, and many other notable occasions. These parades are to be in place of scheduled parties where people can be together, closer together than the six feet distancing target. I went to a few birthday parties growing up. We never had them in our family. Don't get me wrong. We always had birthday recognition, but, for the most part, it was just family. We would receive one or two gifts. Never anything extravagant. As I write this I think I remember my older sisters having Sweet Sixteen parties. Maybe. Now you know what's wrong with me: I never had big birthday parties growing up. All I can say about that is to add it to the list. We just didn't do it that way. I've seen videos of the cars going by tooting their horns, hollering out greetings, and slowing down enough to hand a present out the window. I've seen photos posted of little kids surrounded by a mountain of gifts. Our kids had more fanfare to a certain extent, our grands more so, and our great grands way over the top in comparison to how it was back in the day. I'm not saying it is wrong and I am not complaining. I am just making an observation. We typically always got a cake, a present, a good meal, and the family around us singing happy birthday. Nowadays, many have the private family celebration and a subsequent separate public birthday party. I cannot tell a lie, when I got a little older I did begin to enjoy the spin the bottle game, and others like it. Somehow that made going to the party a wee bit more tolerable.

I've seen the posted pleadings of moms who are so worried about their child missing out on something. For crying out loud, mam, they are only two years old! You know what I am talking about. That missing page in their Baby Book. How about missing the entire Baby Book? I know. It sounds like sour grapes but I assure you I have no regrets or bad feelings about the way I was treated in terms of things like my birthday. Of course, my expectations were pretty much engrained and they helped to align my thoughts on the subject. I've tried to think of an instance where I had my heart set on getting something but I didn't. There may have been some of those, but, I can't dig them up at this time. That does not mean I didn't have a load of disappointments along the way. "No. You can't go to the movie tonight." "Forget about that camping trip. I told you I didn't want you hanging out with those boys." "You can't borrow the car tonight because you didn't come home last time when you were supposed to." Stuff like that. Others too. Come to think about it, we had some of that with our boys growing up. History does repeat itself. The more things change the more they stay the same. This is not intended to be one of those where me being the old curmudgeon at large, I stand and curse the winds of change. Not even close. Just sharing. In the same way we learned to say, "Well, bless their heart." Amen.  ....More later.

Thinking about my baby sister on her birthday.

Welcome to Friday, May 15, 2020, where I am thinking about the birthday of my baby sister, Kayla Jean. She was born of this day back in 1952. For us, she left way too soon for her heavenly home in June of 1979. She succumbed to a fierce 18 month battle with acute Leukemia. She left behind a husband and three small children. Last Sunday, her three daughters posted photos and tributes to Kayla for Mother's Day. For me, it had been a day of thinking about all the moms who had been such a great influence on my life. It was wonderfully sweet memories until I saw those photos of my baby sister. We have plenty of unanswered questions in our family, but, her short life is one that I still wrestle with today. With tears. That's right. She personifies the 'why?' in my thought process. The really wonderful news is the legacy of faith in God she left behind along with a loving witness for her Savior. Just before she left, she used to tell me she didn't want me to weep for her because she was going to be just fine. Happy Birthday. Amen.

Here's a recollection about her that I penned back in 2008. ~ Thanks, Baby Sister! Today is Thursday, June 26, 2008. Twenty-nine years ago today we said farewell to our baby sister, Kayla, as she said goodbye to this world of heartache and woe, and hello to her eternal bliss in the presence of her heavenly Father. If there ever was a person who taught us how to live by the way in which she died, it was this precious gift of a child who lived out a legacy, and in so doing caused us all to desire to influence others before we leave the planet. We in her immediate family will never forget those eighteen months of being with her as she struggled and persevered in her battle against Leukemia. There are many ways people react when they find out they have a terminal illness. Kayla had many bad days where she had to battle the emotional distress of leaving her husband and three young daughters, however, on the whole, she determined, with God’s help, to make the most of her time by spreading God’s love to as many people as she could. She actually had a list and did her best to contact every person on it!

At her home going celebratory service, many announced how they were impacted by her testimony for Christ during her time of trial. Those who visited her during times where the treatments themselves were almost as bad as the disease, left being uplifted, encouraged, and inspired by her attitude, her warmth, and her reliance upon God. Some said they often felt guilty because they had gone to bring her comfort but left having been comforted by Kayla. That my friend is a testimony worth remembering and an example of dealing with great challenges worth patterning our lives after. Everyone ended up with a ‘Kayla’ story. I know I’ll never forget what she told me about this entire episode. She said she felt so blessed to know in advance so that she could contact everyone she wanted to talk to and while she never thought she would be leaving so soon, how much she looked forward to seeing her Savior. Wow! Wow! Wow!

Today my mind’s eye goes back to her and my younger brother as we played together as children. She was my mom’s baby and she was always our baby sister. However, when it came time to say goodbye to this world she was a believer who at age twenty-seven was committed to her Lord as much as the most mature of saints. We are human and we can’t help but wonder how things might have been different had she lived. She, however, closed down that option by facing her illness with courage and faith as she prepared to be welcomed into her ‘real’ home. The Apostle Paul encouraged others to follow him as an example as he followed Christ. May God help me to follow in Kayla’s footsteps in leaving a legacy that will continue even twenty-nine years later. May God bless her memory as we remember her on this day. And finally, the lyrics to that wonderful song: Thank you for giving to the Lord …I am a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord …I am so glad you gave. ~ Amen. ….More later.

Aging may have slowed me down, but it hasn't shut me up. Yet.

I do hope all is well with you and yours on this Thursday, May 14, 2020. I found out they have a software utility that allows one to lay the new phone down beside the old phone and copy the stuff from the old phone to the new phone. They do. I didn't really have much of anything worth keeping from the old phone but I suppose it made a good place to start. As I write this the old phone is broadcasting stuff to the new phone. I'm not exactly certain how it all works but I can imagine what the new phone is thinking about the stuff being sent over. "Hey, buddy, don't you know that all of these programs are obsolete?" My old phone, "It's okay, my user is too and he will never know the difference. Humor him by loading it up anyway." New phone: "I suppose I could rope off an area and mark it prehistoric, haha." Old phone: "Yeah, maybe you could run some Thomas Edison video or something." Okay. I am just joking around, but, they are still sitting there acting like they are doing something. I will let you know if it works. And if it doesn't, I will capture the photos I want in emails or in Facebook Messenger and start over again for the first time. That's my fallback position. Starting over for the first time. You need that to keep hope alive. I'll let you know how it goes. I did have an interesting dialog with the Samsung chat support person. When I described what was happening, he said I should reload the software. I asked if he meant to reinstall the transfer software on both phones or should I just reinitiate the transfer process. To that multiple-choice question, his response was telling: "Yes!"  (Update: To keep the stereotype alive, my 23-year-old grandson stopped by and took care of all the transfers, etc., in about 15 minutes.)

Thanks, Jimmy Jr., for being you and for helping me.

Most of you probably guessed how that one would turn out. I spent more time explaining how I had done everything just like the instructions said than it took for him to handle everything that needed to be done. The whole time I was talking he was working on the phone and letting his fingers do the walking. He ended with the perfect customer service promise, "Now, Poppy, if you have any more problems just let me know." I love him and appreciate his willingness to help. However, I detest not being able to do these things myself. I actually ran a large networking technology-oriented department. Not bragging, but I have the awards and recognitions to prove I was an excellent manager. People, even back then, were flabbergasted that I could run a large program and not be very technically inclined. I used to tell them I understood 'enough', but, I mostly was good at surrounding myself with super talented people. They helped me choose the right technologies and I helped them to achieve great things for our Company. Today, I could use more than a little 'enough' because I am for the most part a one-person operation. Not really. I have three boys who are all pretty good with technological issues along with many grandsons and granddaughters who know how to get it done. My lack of ability is not for a lack of trying which leads to their response, "Could you just please call me before you get the thing totally discombobulated." That's my world. How about yours?

One of the things that drives me up the wall is when I hear this phrase, "Don't pay any attention to what it's telling you to do. It just doesn't work when you do it that way." They know the shortcuts. I can't even use the longcuts because they don't work. Oh well. It could be worse. When I figure out how it could be I will let you know. We have a friend who is retired-retired but he supports an ancient database that a number of companies still use but no one knows anything about how to program and support it. He's had these same customers for over 25 years. The business applications they use still work fine and they see no reason to change them. Except. This fellow, like many of us, is not getting any younger. There will come a day when they will be forced to upgrade, if for no other reason than to make sure they have readily available support. A younger person could learn how to code and keep up with these systems, however, it would only apply to a handful of users. I used to tell people if a Big Chief tablet and a number 2 pencil works best to solve their problem then that's what they should implement. I'm not sure if that would even apply in today's world. In fact, when it comes to stuff like that I'm not even sure of what I am not sure of. Thankfully, the love of God never changes and He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Amen. ....More later.

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” ― Vincent Willem van Gogh

Today. That's the one we can do something about. Yesterday has come and gone. Yesterday's tomorrow is now front and center. It's up to us what we will do with it, on this Wednesday, May 13, 2020. I don't always remember my dreams. I did remember one from the other day in the wee hours of the morning. I was dreaming about trying to take down a large painting on the wall. I had to get onto the desk to get to it. While I was straining to get it I had a crippling cramp in my right calf. Someone asked what was wrong. I told them I had a severe cramp and had to get down to try and deal with it. Here's something that has never happened to me in my life. At the very moment of the dream, I experienced a crippling cramp in my right calf. It was hard as a rock and wouldn't release. I had to get up to deal with it. I really did. It was a bad one! How weird is that? I know what some of you are thinking. Maybe I should have dreamed I had won the lottery and was about to cash in my ticket. That wouldn't work because I don't buy lottery tickets. Power of suggestion? I have no idea about that but I do know that it gave me a slight case of the heebie-jeebies. You do know what I mean, Vern? Right?

I finally upgraded my phone to a new one. Not one of the really fancy ones. But the wife and I both were pretty much back leveled from a galaxy far far away. (No pun intended since mine is a Samsung Galaxy. Hers is an Apple I-Phone 10) Her phone had gone belly up so I ordered new ones last week. You know. Do everything from home. It's easy. No problem. Not so fast. Just follow the onscreen instructions. Right? First of all, for some unknown reason the control information password, etc., would not work on the activation screen. They said to call a number. I did. You can't be on the phone number you are trying to activate on the old phone when trying to activate the new phone. I then went to the computer and logged in and asked for assistance. Long wait due to Covid-19. Finally got someone on the chat and they were asking me to provide information from the new phone settings which I couldn't get to because it wouldn't accept my verification information. They finally made the decision to do the activation from their end. Now I can make and receive phone calls. As for moving the stuff over, I will need some bed rest before I try that one. I was proud of myself for never using the age card. As in, I've fallen and I can't get up. I wasn't too happy with the instructions that said call their number but be sure your phone is off while trying to activate the new phone. Can someone help me with that one?

I guess I needed some color in my face. I would have preferred for it not to have been potted meat purple. Just kidding. The wife walked by and said "Patience honey, patience." I believe the text says tribulation produces patience. Most of the tribulating was on my end, therefore, I can't blame anyone but myself. It's pretty difficult to be hostile with someone sitting who knows where as they try to figure out what in the world you have done to foul things up. I can be like the proverbial fellow standing in front of the microwave begging it to hurry up. I like things where you push one button and it takes care of setting everything up. If only. Right? It sounded really good when I talked with the chat person selling the phones. And, in all fairness, for those who are the right age and having been exposed to all the gadgetry and networking stuff, it may have been a cake walk. Of course, if I told them it was a cake walk they would have no idea what I was talking about. Therein lies the problem my friend. Just in case you didn't know. Okay. Enjoy the rest of your day and may God bless each one. Amen. ....More later.

"Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see any." - Orson Scott, Novelist

Good Tuesday morning on this May 12, 2020. I do have trouble with my sentence structuring at times. Proper word order and all of that seems, at times, to be a mystery to me. Let me go on record, just so you know, I correct some of them, but, not all of them. At times I have trouble finding my proofreading and editing hat, therefore, if it's close I go with it and you may end up with a sore neck just from trying to make sense out of my writing. It came to me that I need to find a good excuse. I looked up the information for dyslexia and discovered that one would really be a good one, but, I can't really claim it since I don't have the symptoms. Honesty is the best policy, therefore, truth is, while I have a lot of information to share I may not be really knowledgeable regarding all the rules that apply. I do use a free grammar software program, but, I certainly do not always follow its advice. I typically do on spelling but when it points out a better way to say something I don't always agree. After all, I'm not writing a textbook excerpt each day, I'm writing a friendly colloquialized rambling representation of whatever happens to be on my mind. One of the acknowledged great writers, Mark Twain, had some reflections on the process.

1. “I haven’t any right to criticize books, and I don’t do it except when I hate them. I often want to criticize Jane Austen, but her books madden me so that I can’t conceal my frenzy from the reader, and therefore I have to stop every time I begin. Every time I read Pride and Prejudice I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone.”

2. “A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it.”

3. “One should never use exclamation points in writing. It is like laughing at your own joke.”

4. “The test of any good fiction is that you should care something for the characters; the good to succeed, the bad to fail. The trouble with most fiction is that you want them all to land in hell together, as quickly as possible.”

5. “To get the right word in the right place is a rare achievement. To condense the diffused light of a page of thought into the luminous flash of a single sentence is worthy to rank as a prize composition just by itself… Anybody can have ideas–the difficulty is to express them without squandering a quire of paper on an idea that ought to be reduced to one glittering paragraph.”

6. “There was no crime in unconscious plagiarism; that I committed it every day, that he committed it every day, that every man alive on earth who writes or speaks commits it every day and not merely once or twice but every time he opens his mouth… there is nothing of our own in it except some slight change born of our temperament, character, environment, teachings, and associations”

7. “I conceive that the right way to write a story for boys is to write so that it will not only interest boys but strongly interest any man who has ever been a boy. That immensely enlarges the audience.”

8. “There are some books that refuse to be written. They stand their ground year after year and will not be persuaded. It isn’t because the book is not there and worth being written — it is only because the right form of the story does not present itself. There is only one right form for a story and if you fail to find that form the story will not tell itself.”

9. “Write without pay until someone offers pay. If nobody offers within three years, the candidate may look upon this as a sign that sawing wood is what he was intended for.”

10. “Write what you know.”

11. “A man who is not born with the novel-writing gift has a troublesome time of it when he tries to build a novel. I know this from experience. He has no clear idea of his story; in fact, he has no story. He merely has some people in his mind, and an incident or two, also a locality, and he trusts he can plunge those people into those incidents with interesting results. So he goes to work. To write a novel? No–that is a thought which comes later; in the beginning, he is only proposing to tell a little tale, a very little tale, a six-page tale. But as it is a tale which he is not acquainted with, and can only find out what it is by listening as it goes along telling itself, it is more than apt to go on and on and on till it spreads itself into a book. I know about this because it has happened to me so many times.”

12. “Don’t say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.”

13. “I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words, and brief sentences. That is the way to write English – it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don’t let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them – then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice.”

14. “It takes a heap of sense to write good nonsense”

15. “The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say.”

16. “Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”

17. “My books are water; those of the great geniuses are wine. Everybody drinks water.”

18.  “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”

19. “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

20. “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

I've read these before and they are helpful even though I certainly have no proof that I have closely followed them. I find them, like his marvelous prose, to be entertaining in and of themselves. He was known as a humorist and a storyteller. One of the best ever. He became wealthy and famous plying his trade. For me, I just want to be a good communicator of the things I share. That does include telling stories. My stories. You have yours and I have mine. That's one reason I shared those tidbits from a recognized master. I do hope you know I take seriously the process of producing my daily episodes. The information is not necessarily serious but getting it onto the page is. Feedback tells me that I am not wasting everyone's time every single day. That's always good to know. The total time devoted to one episode including the preparation, review, correction, and final approval is somewhere around a couple of hours. Today's issue has around 1400 words. An average reader can easily do 300 words per minute so we are talking about 5 minutes or less. At least when I am wasting your time I'm not wasting that much of it. I knew there was a silver lining somewhere. Have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings to it. Amen. .....More later.

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." – Thomas A. Edison

Good morning and welcome. It is Monday, May 11, 2020, and I do bid you a warm welcome. Warm has been needed across the fruited plains with some unseasonably cold weather which has included snow in the northern climes. We enjoyed some coolish low 50's and for that I am grateful. Both Mr. Bentley and I enjoy the cooler days. I actually have enjoyed sitting outside in the wee hours just before daylight with Mr. Bentley in my lap and a cup of good strong Community in my hand. He serves as a blanket of sorts and we just enjoy our quiet time together. Simple blessings. No fanfare or fireworks, just a sense of quiet except for Mr. Bentley's snoring when he falls asleep. I told the wife the other morning I think I've figured out the song Mr. Bentley sings in anticipation of him and I going for 'the ride' each morning. I mean he can't help himself. He jumps up and down and generally is flipping out. I can hear him singing, "Christmas is a-comin, Christmas is a-comin". That's what I think he is thinking about. You know. When the kids were all held back to the last moment on Christmas morning and then turned loose to go into the room where the presents were under the tree. That's how he acts. Of course, he acts that way when we get back home. He acts that way the first time each morning when he greets the lady of the house. And, what do we usually do? Greet the day with a here we go again, it is what it is. See what I mean? God spoke to the prophet through a donkey and He is teaching me stuff about attitude and excitement from a wee little pup. No. I don't have a forwarding address yet for the 'home' they are putting me in. Not yet. Stay tuned. It might be a coming attraction.

I felt so privileged to be able to honor my wife on Mother's Day. I made her a big steak lunch with all the trimmings and tried my best to show my appreciation for her. We couldn't all be together this year. Let me rephrase that. We chose not to try and gather everyone in the same place this year. We do hope that will not be the case going forward, but, as we all have learned, adapting is the rule of the day. One thing I have never doubted was how much she deserved to be recognized and feted. Just so you know, that sure makes it a lot easier to do stuff for her. I am very clear on the Bible's mandate for me to love my wife in the same way Jesus loved the ecclesia, (Church), and gave Himself up on her behalf. (My interpretation of the Apostle Paul's inspired admonition from his letter to The Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verse 25) That calling is there whether I think she deserves it or not. Again, it makes it not only easy, but, it is fulfilling whenever it can be freely done from the heart. No. I am not laying the groundwork for Father's Day. And, I have no warrant to be laying groundwork since she has always gone above and beyond. Blessed. Not because of us being perfect and not because we are happy all the time, but, because God has helped us to enjoy our life together. Amen.

I was at the big box store Saturday to get the stuff I needed to make the Mother's Day meal. The parking lot was maybe three-fourths filled up. Maybe half of the folks I saw were wearing masks. The other half were just there, doing their thing. There seemed to be a lot of families shopping together. Mom, dad, and the kiddos. The other day a friend of ours posted how they got their littles out for the first time in the last seven weeks to go shopping. The mom commented on how the kids sat in the buggy saying over and over how beautiful everything was. I didn't really get to the part where I thought it all looked beautiful in my visit, however, I do know it is encouraging to see folks out and about again. And, after all is said and done, Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red, yellow, brown, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. (My version) While I had my wary eye on alert because of trying to wear my mask and every few minutes using my hand sanitizer, God saw them all as those He sent His Son to die for. To see others as He does, now that would be something else. I am still working on that one. Meanwhile, would you like a squirt from my hand sanitizer bottle? Take care and may God bless. Amen. ....More later.

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." ~ Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Today is Friday, May 8, 2020, and this upcoming Sunday we will be celebrating Mothers Day. This is one of my favorite tributes I wrote and shared more than once. (Shared from Mothers Day, 2013)

 ~ I am sitting here thinking about all the special moms that have had such a huge impact on my life. The annual day where we honor moms in a special way is coming up on Sunday. The photo reflects the obvious. My dear mother. Her mom, Granny Mac. My wife. Her mom, Mom Rawles. These ladies literally influenced and shaped my life and are in many ways responsible for who I am today. The word profound comes to mind because that's the level and extent of these moms along with their impact on my life. All of these ladies reflect special talents and abilities. They were and are known for their devotion to their family. But, perhaps the most telling distinction I can think of is their shared common belief in God and their efforts to live, with His help, the life of a Godly woman. Mom Rawles was a pastor's wife for most of her adult life. She was a simple woman of faith and I learned to love her dearly. Granny Mac helped raise us kids and she never quit quoting the Scriptures to us up until her final days here on the earth. My mom sacrificed for us kids, took us to Church, worked outside and inside our home, and today she remains committed to the study of God's Word. Lastly, my wife, she is beloved by all, and the boys and I along with their wives, children, grandchildren, and the great grand, all can rise up in thanking God for who she is and all that she does for each of us. Thank God for mothers who show us the way. Amen.~

When I wrote that my mom was still with us. She went home to be with the Lord in May of 2017. I also could add many other moms who taught me in public school, in Sunday School, or have lived lives of testimony for the Lord. I recognize the moms who gave birth to our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren. Motherhood. What a calling!

Mother-Son Quote from the Bible
bible quote
– When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own [home]. ― John 19:26-27

– Men are what their mothers made them. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

– All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. ― Abraham Lincoln

– A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ― Washington Irving

– There has never been, nor will there ever be, anything quite so special as the love between the mother and a son. ― Author Unknown

– A mother’s arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them. ― Victor Hugo

– Moms are as relentless as the tides. They don’t just drive us to practice, they drive us to greatness. ― Steve Rushin

– My daughter and two sons are the flowers in my heart and garden. ― Ana Monnar

– Mothers yielding Bibles, contemplating smearing the blood of lamb chops over her doorway. Anything to keep her son alive another day. ― Antonia Perdu

– Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved. ― Erich Fromm

– … and she loved a little boy very, very much―even more than she loved herself. ― Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree

– So there’s this boy. He kinda stole my heart. He calls me ‘mom’. ― Author Unknown

-I think my life began with waking up and loving my mother's face. - George Eliot

– Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons. ― Napoleon Bonaparte

mother and son quote
– You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be
I had a mother who read to me. ― Strickland Gillilan

– I find, by close observation, that the mothers are the levers which move in education. The men talk about it . . . but the women work most for it. ― Frances Watkins Harper

– No delusion is greater than the notion that method and industry can make up for lack of mother-wit, either in science or in practical life. ― Thomas Huxley

– I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ― Abraham Lincoln

– Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together. ― Pearl S. Buck

- Happy is the son whose faith in his mother remains unchallenged. - Louisa May Alcott

– The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. ― Honoré de Balzac

– A boy’s best friend is his mother. ― Author Unknown

– A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. ― Irish Proverb

No matter what happens from this day forward, I will always thank God for my mom. She was my biggest fan, supporter, encourager, and cheerleader. I read this little unattributed thought and it made a lot of sense to me. "No matter how successful, accomplished, and even how old one gets, when a man is feeling ill there is always that thought of wishing mom could be there with him." May God bless all the moms. Happy Mother's Day. Amen. ......More later.