One Person

There are a lot of things that one person can do. Lives are changed every day by the actions of just one person.

Good things can happen. But bad things can happen as well. One person can bring about good things, and one person can ruin things for others. Stereotypes are based on the initial actions of one person, and grow because of another person's judgments on those events.

Who was the first person to say that all lawyers are slime? Who was the first person to say all Hippies are dirty, nasty people? Closer to my heart, who was the first person to say that only old ladies knit and crochet?  :-)

I realize the impact that one person can have on a community. Not just a general, 'might affect you' kind of thing, but a real, 'lives are being changed' because of this one person's actions. And in some situations, it saddens me. Thank God they are not all bad situations.

Now, I'm not entirely naive. I know there are bad things and bad people out in the world. But God has blessed me, and I lived/live a very sheltered, protected life. But just because your life sucks does not give you the right to ruin other peoples lives.

What kind of impression do you make? Do your actions ruin people, or do they build people up? Are you more likely to hurt someone's feelings, or are you a person who saves people? I hope I can be the type of person who helps build people up.

One step forward, Two steps back.

This adage can apply to a lot of things. We got a new puppy, Daisy, who likes to chew things. Well, she likes to chew everything but her toys. Just when I think she's broken the habit, I end up chasing her around the back yard, trying to get my slipper back.

Grief is like that too. One minute, I'm doing ok, living my life, the next minute I hear a song, and I lose it. I know Mom's in a better place. I know she's up there playing cards, praising God, and sharing stories, but I am selfish. I want her to do those things with me. I just watched a movie called Dim Sum Funeral. It's about a Chinese family coming together when their mother dies. The grief that they struggled with I know all to well. And here comes a spoiler. The mom was playing a trick on the kids, she was still alive, she just wanted to bring them closer together. Not surprisingly, the children are upset, but eventually they come to realize why their mom did it. When their mom walked into the room, my first thought was how jealous I was. Why couldn't my Mom come back?

Christmas in September

I decided to go in a different direction when I chose my last book from booksneeze. I picked a children's book. I will admit, I picked it because the main character's name is Emma.

This picture book is about Emma, and her dog Shu-Shu, who get invited to a birthday party for the King. They bring gifts for the King, but on the way to the castle, they meet people who need the gifts. A cold and hungry child gets a cape and a cake and a small girl gets a teddy bear. When they get to the party, Emma notices that no one is giving a gift to the King. She asks Him why, and He tells her that she knows the true meaning of Christmas.

I read this book to my own Emma, and when I asked her what she liked about the book, she said everything. And that about says it all. The story is one that every child should learn and the artwork is beautiful. This is one of those books that, if I could ever make myself ruin a book, I would cut out the pages and frame them. I will definitely recommend this book to any parent looking to share the true meaning of Christmas to their children.

At the end of the book, it encourages you to go to www.TheKingsAdventure.com to learn different ways to help people in need. As of right now, the website is not ready, but I will keep checking back.