Washing the Dog’s Blue Dish
Great writing, Lee. Heartfelt. We’ve been there!! This is worth reblogging. I want my friends to see it.
Archive for September, 2018
The Demise of Problem-Solving
Tidiness of The Half-Hour Sitcom
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The Half-Hour Sitcom
When I was introduced to the half-hour sitcom, I didn’t realize how much it would affect my view of problem-solving. I didn’t realize how much it would affect the world’s view of how to deal with trouble. There was a tidiness about those sitcoms. Usually they started out bright and cheery. Then a problem was introduced. The characters struggled with it. By the end of the half-hour, the issue was resolved and the world was rosy again.
Real Life
In real life, we came to expect those instant solutions. We stopped understanding the need to live through the hurts, the frustrations, the anger for more than a half an hour. More than a day. More than a month. Divorce rates sky-rocketed and continue to do so … except that today’s generation, having watched their parents’ marriages dissolve, is afraid of commitment. They just live together. To heck with marriage!
The Farce and the Force
The tidiness of the half-hour sitcoms was a farce. It did us no favor. Problems come. That’s a given. But they don’t go away in the blink of a TV show. They don’t go away with a magic wand. Or a twitch of “Bewitched” nose. They can not be solved without time, effort, patience, guidance, wisdom, and often forgiveness. They are better resolved with prayer. We need a Higher Force! Let the Holy Spirit in. Ask for help.
Rewards of Joy and Peace
Problem solving is not quick and tidy. It is a messy, time-consuming business! Don’t let the half-hour sitcom mentality deprive you of the joy and peace that comes from tenacity, persistence, forgiveness and the rewards of hangin’ in there!
Persistent Prayer
Answered Prayer
Recently
I posted about the heartbreak
of not seeing my great-grandson
as often as I would like to.
In spite of the fact that
he and his mom & dad live
less than five minutes from us,
we are fortunate if we see him
once every three or four weeks.
I have prayed often about
this situation that makes me sad.
Well, God does hear our prayers,
and his busy parents do care.
Yesterday they came by and
we were able to spend
three quality hours together.
What a joy!
Do you have a prayer that
you feel God is not hearing?
Don’t give up! Keep asking.
Remember the story in Luke 18
of the persistent widow
who kept nagging the judge
because he seemed to care nothing
for the poor and the needy?
“My rights are being violated,
Protect me!” she nagged.
Because of her persistent badgering,
the judge finally did something
to see that she would get justice.
In verses 6-8, Jesus told the people,
“Do you hear what that judge,
corrupt as he is, is saying?
So what makes you think
God won’t step in and work for justice
for those who continue
to cry out for help?”
I cried to God for more time
to spend with my great-grandson.
God knew I am dependent
on my granddaughter to bring him here.
God heard my persistent prayer.
God didn’t mind my badgering.
God was teaching me patience.
And appreciation.
Thank you, God, for answering
my persistent prayer.
Keep asking, my friends.
God is listening.
I Hate Nothing About You
I Hate Nothing About You
Whenever I hate
The object of my hatred
Doesn’t live the hate.
Whenever I hate
I am the one who loses.
Therefore, hate nothing!
Find something to love,
Even in the most hateful.
You’ll be the winner!
Fleeting Sunrises
Fleeting Sunrises
There’s a gorgeous orange
In the sunrise this morning.
Quick! Grab the camera.
Before I could click
The vivid color was gone,
But the sun will last.
Like the Haiku above, I find sadness, frustration, and anger are those fleeting sunrises. Let the moment pass. Grab your spiritual camera filled with gorgeous, colorful memories. The sunlit days will last. The vivid colors of their happiness will crowd out the gloom. As you reflect on the joy, let the Son’s Light shine through you.
Quick! Grab the camera.
How vivid are the colors in your happiest memories? Tell me about one of them.
Heartbreak
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Heartbreak
She said she would come.
I waited all day long.
I should have known better.
It’s the same, familiar song.
Gee, I know I told you
I’d be at your place by noon,
But life got in the way
And night came way too soon.
You said you would come
After he took a nap.
I waited all afternoon –
Played Scrabble in the gap.
I let you know you hurt me,
I counted on seeing you three.
I waited for you all afternoon.
You could have texted me.
My heart is really hurting.
I have a great-grandson near.
But I rarely see him.
I wish she’d bring him here.
I had a “Grandma Corner”
Full of books and games and toys.
It was the perfect corner
For little girls and boys.
But since you rarely come here,
I gave it to a friend
Whose grandkids are here visiting.
When will this heartbreak end?
Three Ways to a Better Life
Give sacrificially
Forgive willingly
Love extravagantly
Would you add one or two more?
What If?
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Ever thought “What if?”
IFs
No, there are no IFs!
Among believers of God:
Possibilities!
Impossible says,
“I’m Possible,” in Jesus.
He is my Sure Rock.
Rockie is my name.
My sure foundation is Christ.
MY hope is in Him.
When you believe, too,
Your life also is secure.
Yes, there are no IFs!
We Can’t Resist Change
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We can’t resist change;
It doesn’t do any good.
It’ll come atcha anyway,
Just as you knew it would.
You can’t live in static constancy.
You can’t love feeling quite STUCK.
You might as well embrace change;
You’ll never survive in muck!
They say the sixties were
A time of enormous flux.
We’re hearing all about it now
From dirt poor to those with bucks.
The media has a lot to say.
Everybody’s weighing in.
John McCain survived the sixties,
And so did Aretha Franklin.
Their lives were celebrated
This week in national news.
Reporters say they rode the waves,
Caused ’em, managed ’em, changed our views.
They figured out how to live
With changes big and small.
But they were not the only ones.
Some of us pions answered the call.
We heard the words of MLK;
We felt the passion, took the power
To remain relevant in the fight
To right the wrongs we saw each hour.
Our lives may not have impacted
As many others as the famous,
But live the changes, that we did.
Saw death and destruction that would shame us.
Assassinations, wars, impeachments,
Protests, Missile Crisis, and debates
All were part of the Sixties decade.
But it also had some greats.
The Voting Rights Act was established;
Medicare brought health care to the masses;
Shirley Chisholm was elected;
Elvis’ army career quietly passes.
“The Pill” was born for married only;
First artificial heart was implanted;
The Vatican II held its four sessions;
The Beatles on Sullivan’s show was granted.
Star Trek debuted in a television series,
Rolling Stone magazine premiered;
“One Small Step for Mankind,”
Cronkite narrated as the moon appeared.
The first e-mail message was sent
On October 29 of 1969;
And the rest is history – changes fast –
Don’t resist it. Change is fine!
