Peppermint Patty: “You can’t tell me what I should feel, Marcie. You can only tell me what you feel.” — From a 1981 exchange after Marcie gently suggests Patty is overreacting to a bad grade.

~ Note: I'm just back from the ER where our Jimmy was being treated for extreme low sodium. He has been in a mental health facility for the past 12 days and they transported him to the ER when his sodium bottomed out. He seems to be alert and doing well after having received a couple of bags of saline solution. The mental health professionals are now wondering if his most recent mental issues may have been caused or exacerbated by this sodium issue. He is supposed to be discharged from the mental health facility later today, if, they are able to move him back to that facility. It reminds me of the saying, "It's always something!" And, that it is. Prayers appreciated. Thanks. ~

 

I woke up this morning and I learned something new. What was it? First, it's Wednesday, February 11, 2026 and whether you know it or not, older people do typically need to consult a calendar because days of the week are not so critical except for things like Church related functions and the very important, doctors' appointments. And, I also learned that today is National Peppermint Patty Day. I did not know that. Did you? It's okay to express your appreciation for the Peanuts comic strip because it has been and to a large extent continues to be part of the fabric of the life of kids with lessons for kids of all ages. Okay. For those who are Christ followers, the role of faith cannot be overlooked as demonstrated in the work of Charles Shultz, the strip creator. Take the time to read a little about him: ~ Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of Peanuts, was a deeply reflective Christian whose faith, though complex and evolving, heavily influenced his work. Raised with limited religious background, he later became an active Bible study teacher, churchgoer, and Methodist, often incorporating over 560 religious references into his comic strips. He famously insisted on including the Gospel of Luke in A Charlie Brown Christmas, viewing his work as a form of ministry. Key details regarding Schulz's faith include: Active Involvement: In Minnesota, he was involved with a Church of God, leading Bible studies and street evangelism. Later in California, he was active in a United Methodist Church. Theological Perspective: His faith was not rigid; while he believed in Jesus Christ and respected the Bible, he was also described as having a nuanced or sometimes secular humanist perspective in his later years. "Peanuts" as Ministry: Schulz considered his cartoons a platform to share his beliefs, stating, "I preach in these cartoons," and felt that Bible verses were for everyone, not just for church. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" against executive advice, he insisted on Linus reciting the story of Jesus' birth to define the "true meaning of Christmas". View on Religion: He believed faith should be brought to the public, and was often frustrated by critics who felt his work was too religious. ~ (copied from a Google search.) I will admit I am still angry at Lucy for always jerking that football away from Charlie Brown, but, I am thankful for someone who went against the grain in holding to his Christian beliefs. May we be encouraged to wear our identity in Christ by showing His love to others. Amen.

 

I am so looking forward to seeing the cardiologist on this upcoming Friday. Those folks helping me in the hospital added two new drugs to my regimen. One is a blood thinner taken alongside the baby aspirin I've been on for years. The other is a drug that slows down my heart and helps keep my blood pressure lower. I already take a blood pressure medication, but, they advised I should take this one too. My BP is lower these days, like 100/56. The other evening it hit me. I, at times, have trouble believing what a slow learner I can be. I've been fretting for days about how difficult it has been for me to snap back after that little hospital episode. Duh! Knocking the bottom out of my blood pressure and thinning out my blood just might have played a role in me not recovering quickly. That's my main goal for Friday's visit. Find out if I should stay on these new meds. Their objective will be to check out my heart and I may undergo more testing, but, all of the tests done in the hospital are readily available online for them to review. Those test results are now available sometimes before you get home from the medical center. I look at mine. I know. That can be dangerous because I have in the past and no doubt can today make wrong assumptions based on my reading of the test results. They often are coded or at least to the untrained eye they use terminology I am not familiar with. But, I look up the words and hear what Web MD and others have to say. I have actually stressed over something I think I spotted in a test only to find out from the doctor that given the combination of factors involved, it wasn't a problem at all. While I typically don't like to be proven wrong I will take that response any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I suppose it will all come out in the wash, or, at least, that's what Granny Mac used to say. Y'all take care now, you hear? And, may God add His blessings. Amen.