Sufffering Under Garbage

In my Father's Day post, I mentioned something about using this title for a post, well, here it is....lol. We all have different experiences that we can use to help others through difficult times, it's just a matter of whether or not we feel like sharing them with others.

It would take a hundred posts or blogs, to fill you in on what has gone on in my life. But the point would be to show that no matter how much garbage one goes through or feels suffocated by, there is always a moment of clarity where one sees that it's not as bad as one previously believed. Go and look at a garbage dump, and what do you see? You may see miles of garbage stacked up from what seems like miles into the air, filled by birds flying around, picking over what others have thrown out. But take a deeper, closer look....I mean, really, a microscopic look.....believe it or not...underneath all that garbage is soil that is being fertilized...life is still existing, regardless of what is on top!

I am a firm believer that if you don't have any drama in your life, you don't have much of a life. Drama comes in all forms to all people and it's not the same from person to person. I mention that because I was thinking of personal ads I've read where a man is looking for a woman but without drama.First off, why is it that it's always the woman with drama? Men have drama too! And why does a man feel like a woman he's looking for has to be perfect? Besides, drama either makes or breaks you, you either take it and make something of it or you allow it to overrun you!

I am not perfect! I have trouble getting up in the morning, I have trouble getting my day started, I have trouble getting caught up around the house, etc....you get the idea. BUT I am determined that I will overcome these things that keep me down. Regardless of what others think or what is said about me, my suffering has a purpose and over time that purpose will be showed to me.

If you are suffering, whether at the hands of others, or yourself, don't give up........there is a light just waiting for you to turn it on.

Life Lessons-What others think of me

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm not a big believer in what others think of me------throughout my teenage and young adult years, it was all about me, what I wanted, where I wanted to go, how long I was gone, well, you get the idea. Even to my family I never really cared what they thought of me because I felt like it was my life and if I wanted to live it a certain way, well, I was going to do just that.

However, once I got married, then divorced and having kids, it dawned on me that it wasn't all about me anymore...it was about others around me....to make sure that they had what they needed and wanted (to the best of my ability). Sure, I have fallen and stubbled and rolled down the mountain along the way, but I still get up, somewhat brush myself off, and continue along the way.

I was watching my 15 year old son work today alongside me at a fireworks stand, and I was so proud of him....although his father chose not to be a part of his life, he doesn't let it bother him one bit (at least that I know of), he does what he needs to do and he goes on with his life. There is little that I would not do for my son and when something is said negatively towards him because he doesn't have the latest gadgets because we are "poor", it makes me angry to the point of boiling!!!

I have never heard him complain because he doesn't have what the other kids his age have, only that he just wants to have a few new clothes...oh, and since he's almost 16, well, a used truck, but hey, I can't blame him there! :)

But see there? I 'm not thinking of me, I'm thinking how ignorant other people are in their way of thinking towards the way we live. So what????
I have not been placed on this earth to please everyone, but one person....Jesus Christ....and even He knows that I'm struggling to keep my composure at times!!!

I have a heart that is filled with love and compassion.....and forgiveness!
So, to those who I have hurt, please forgive me, it was never my intention to hurt you....to those who have hurt me, I forgive you!

It's human nature to make mistakes......it's even more human to admit to them and know when you need to be forgiven and when you need to forgive.

Life Lessons-What I learn from struggling

I'll be the first to admit that I take things for granted, not only at home, but throughout my life. I always think that I have plenty of time to do things that to some may seem pivotal in keeping order in one's life. To some, keeping up a clean house means a clean and neat life, whereas to others, chaos is a way of dealing with issues within their life.

When you hear the word struggle, do you think of someone who is trying to make ends meet, or someone who is working to keep things together and not fall apart? Struggle means all those things and much, much more. It is more than a state of mind, it's a way of life for some, regardless of their income, education, race, gender, etc.

The current state of our economy has renedered millions of people jobless, wandering about to find a job to keep their heads above water to keep their familes fed, clothed, and housed. Faith at these times, to some, is a life saver, to others, it's just not a quick enough "fix-it" for their current problems.

When I lost my job, I did well for a few months, my bills were being paid, I was able to balance my schoolwork with my son's extracurricular activities. I was even reading the Bible daily because I believed that God was taking care of me even when I couldn't take care of myself or my son.

Now, it's been over a year since I've lost my job, the bills are piling up, facing have the electricity turned off, the prospects of a job have been few and far between and depression has always bee lurking around the corner, watching and waiting for me to give it a foothold into my life.

But, I know....that throughout all the things that the world may throw at me, there is a faith that sustains me and my family through such hard times. It's at times like this that we need to stop and focus on those things that are important.

To some who know me intimately, it may appear that all I seem to do is drift through life, always getting by somehow, with little or no concern about how I get myself into financial binds. Trust me, I know how I get myself into such situations and yes, I have always seemed to come out ahead, but that is the beauty of God's mercy and love towards me.

Let me end this by saying......prayers by those who are in agreement are heard by Jesus and He will intervene on our behalf.

I am asking for prayers from my friends......that me and my son will get through this time with faith and that we will allow Jesus to intercede for us.

Father's Day

Today is a special day....it's Father's Day! Although compared to Mother's Day, it seems to take a backseat in regards to meaning (something to do with the fact that mother's gave birth to us...lol), it is nevertheless a important day. Father's deserve the same respect as mother's and the Bible tell us as much when it says...."Respect thy mother and father". Yet, in today's society where the emphasis is put on the responsibities of parenthood, the mother seems to always get the praise and the father is in the background. This should be more of 50/50 deal.

Father's sacrifice just as much, if not more, than mothers do at times. The argument may be made that if it wasn't for mothers, there wouldn't be any children.....technically, if it weren't for fathers, none of us would be here. :)

No parent is perfect, mother or father. I know just as many deadbeat moms than dads. To say that one is naturally better than the other is not always the correct answer. Children are a gift from God just as parents are a gift from God. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world, the pay is not monetary, but much more valuable that any money or gold in the world.

My father was not perfect, he had his flaws, but he was MY father for 13 years of my life! 13 years!!! That wasn't enough time for me. He didn't see me graduate high school, marry(divorcing, although I know he would have loved that...lol), having children.....etc.....I miss the man that was my father.

Time does have a way of healing,but it also has a way of removing details of those who have passed on. I can remember what my dad looks like, but as hard as I try, I cannot remember what his voice sounds like, it's as if that part of him went with him in his death.

I think about him alot, my dad, and I wonder that if he had lived, would my life had turned out differently? Would I be struggling as I am right now? Or would he have protected me from the ugly, cruel world? God does not put more on us than we can bear, but I hope God realizes that I'm beginning to suffocate under all this baggage!! (hmmm....sounds likea good topic for my next blog!!)

Returning to the subject at hand......HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the father's. Take time to spend with your family, listening to your children, for the time will come when they will take flight on their own and become adults.

May each and everyone of you have a truly blessed and loved day!

Take time to be a dad!!!!

Responsibilty

Turn on the television today, pick a channel, and you will find the story of the oil spill on almost every news and information channel on the planet. Throughout the story the word that is repeated more than any other word is "responsibility". 'Who's at fault?", "Who's going to pay for everything?", are just a few of the questions that are being asked on a daily basis by the media and others who are directly impacted by this natural disaster.

People who depend upon and make a living on the ocean are asking the same questions as well as "Who is going to pay for our cost of living?", "How are we to feed our families?". And the people on the coast are struggling already in an economy that seems to constantly favor the rich over the poor.

Responsibilty is the act of being responsible or obligated to something or to a person. In what is being hailed as the worst enviromental disaster in US history, it looks like the rich are responsible for nothing and the poor are responsible for everything. Is it any wonder Americans are getting sick and tired of the way that politicians are running this country into the ground head first?

Until the attitude changes in Washington as well as across America, nothing is going to change!!! It's that simple!!!

Responsibilty is the act of

Support Our Troops

One would have to be living near the center of the earth not to know about the wars that are raging across the world today. Although the campaigns are considerably different than they were during WWII, it's important to know that one thing has remained the same...........the need to support our men and women in the armed services, regardless of your opinion of the war.

Technology has made a global impact on the way in which we communicate with those overseas and even those who are stateside. Just think about it, during WWII, snail mail was the main contact between a solider and his loved ones back home. If something were to happen, imagine the anguish that a family had to endure in order to find out their loved one's fate.

Regardless, a veteran that has served his/her country should be showed respect and love upon returning from war. This hard lesson was not learned well when troops were returning from Vietnam in the 1970's as most of them were treated as if THEY were the ones for the blame of the war. What we learned then was that regardless of your opinion of the war, troops are doing something more than any of us would ever think of doing....putting their lives on the line for their country.

Before you go to bed tonight and every night after, say a prayer for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and remember how they are away from loved ones who miss them on a daily basis.

May God richly bless the USA and her troops!

Compassion

Compassion is a commodity, it has value. The problem with compassion, is that in today's world there seems to be less and less of it to go around. The problem with compassion is that when you commit your heart to a cause, or a person, or whatever the case may be, it's hard to draw your heart back to prevent from becoming hurt.

I have discovered that compassion, even when it's not warranted or needed, can do so much for the spirit as well as the soul. When you place yoruself above your own needs and focus on others, you realize that God has purpose for everyone on earth. With all of the distractions we are sometimes subjected to, we tend to forget what our purpose is.

Self-help books are fine, but the Bible provides the answers that we need to deal with our problems, our emotions, etc. Compassion teaches us that we need to "read between the lines", in other words, to see what maybe others either can't see or refuse to see. When we help those who are having trouble, we get a sense of Jesus and the reason to do what we need to do.

So, remember that compassion requires the best of us, which is the best of Jesus!