Closing

Due to declining health issues, I am unable to maintain this blog.

Should my energy level improve, I'll be back. But...

Tragedies Open the Door to Prayer Power & Kindness

As I watched C-Span last evening, I wished I'd counted the number of times the word "prayer" was used during a press conference. Five government officials spoke; each asking the nation to come together through prayer in support of those involved in our countries latest tragedies: hurricanes and the Las Vegas shootings.

Sounds a bit like our Founding Fathers, doesn't it.

Today Joseph J. Mazzella shared the following in his weekly email.

A Moment of Clarity

                 

It was a long drive to the nursing home where my Grandmother was living, but at least twice a

month I got into the car with my small children to make the trip to see her.  We had already lost

my Mom to cancer and I wanted them to be able to remember Nana.  I wanted to be able to

remember her as well, especially because she was beginning to forget me.

 Nana had Alzheimer’s disease.  It was slowly starting to eat away at her memories. 

Sometimes she recognized us when we visited and sometimes she didn’t.  Most of the time she

spent her days in bed, not wanting to be put in her wheelchair anymore to visit the living room or

dining room.

 On one visit we did coax her out of her room and wheeled her around to visit the nurses and

go out into the garden.  After I put her back to bed and kissed her good-bye, I started to walk my

kids back to the car when suddenly a tiny hand grabbed mine.  “James!”, a happy voice said.  I

turned and saw a smiling, wrinkled face with snow-white hair.  Like my Nana she had

Alzheimer’s disease but was still able to walk and get around well.  She had mistaken me for her

son before.  A nurse told me that he had died years ago.  I held her hands and let her joyfully go

on.  Even though her eyes didn’t know who I was, I could see the sparkle in them when she

spoke to her son through me.

 On the visits that followed I always made time to visit her as well as my Nana.  I always got

a smile and sometimes even a hug from her.  The nurses told me that she was always calmer and

happier after seeing her “Son”.

Then one day I noticed that she wasn’t there.  I spoke to the nurses and they sadly told me

that she had died a few days before from a stroke.  I put my head down and went quietly into my

Nana’s room. 

   

Her loss didn’t really hit me until I had gotten the kids back home.  When it did I decided to

go for a walk in the woods.  I looked at the sky, wiped my wet eyes, and asked God to wrap her

in His loving arms for all eternity.  Then in a moment of clarity, I realized something: for a while

I really had been her son.  In this world, we are all family.  In this world, we are all connected by

invisible strings of love.  Even now many years later I thank God for letting me be there for her

in the last days of her life.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know

how soon it will be too late.”  Never pass up a moment to share your kindness and joy.  Never

pass up a second to share your love.  Take every opportunity to give your goodness to others and

to God.  Live as if everyone in the world is your family.  Because they are!

~ ~ ~ 

I responded:

Joe, As a nurse, I often became the daughter and felt it was a privilege to stand in for someone my patients 

cared about.

But once, a long time ago, it was a total surprise. I was working through an agency and had never been there 

before. One thin, gray and white-haired woman was near death so I checked on her as often as I could. Later 

in the evening, I took some medication to her as she was very restless and possibly in pain.

She grabbed my hand and thanked me for coming as she pulled me down towards her. Then went on talking 

to whoever she thought I was. As I sat beside her, I sensed there had been years of discord she was 

apologizing for although her speech was disjointed and confusing. When she quieted I forgave her, hugged 

and held her. I felt her relax.

I had so much to do but I stayed. Within a few minutes, she died peacefully in my arms. I, too, asked God to 

enfold her with His love. 

I knew nothing about her except her name. But I do know that all who come before us help to prepare the 

way for us. I believe I was a conduit for the Lord to prepare her to meet Him. What a blessing!

I pray that the hurting people of today-in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas and in our own 

neighborhoods- will feel  God's presence through the goodness of others and the prayers 

of many. 

Connie

Role Changing

But I must remind you to...

This parent is changing roles. 

In the midst of life, I have grown old and frail. 

I now have to tell myself important things 

just to keep going:

But ...

Then I remind myself I am doing the best I can with what I have at this moment.

And it's time for me to have an encourager, as I walk through my final journey.

BTW,

I Quote...

others to better express myself.

Quotations that made me pause to ponder them:

The gift you give to another
Need not be an expensive thing
As long as you've tucked some love inside
Before you tie the string.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

                                                             ~ Dr. Seuss

One day someone is going to hug you so tight

that all of your broken pieces will stick back together.

I am glad that friendship doesn't come with price tags. For if it did, I could never afford you. 

How cool is it that the same God that created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you too.

                                                   ~ Darlene Schacht @ www.timewarpwife.com

          and   

Happy Spring!
Connie

ALIVE!

 Lord,

     You have given me another day to walk with You. 

     As it was from the beginning, I am Yours. My body and mind… 

     everything I am is Yours. Energize me for today’s purpose. 

     Give me awareness of Your presence and the wonders surrounding me.

     I pray, in Your Son's name, that all I do and think will be pleasing to You.  

    Amen.

     Yesterday, I reminded myself that 

 and wrote the above to begin each day. For me, it is a reality that I might not wake up. So I am grateful and feel blessed for each additional day I receive. 

As I chose the little bird illustration above, it reminded me of one of those teaching moments I shared with my first grandchild when he was a pre-schooler. 

A tiny bird lay underneath the window, as we began our walk. It had not seen the glass as it flew. Its tiny neck broke upon impact.I explained the bird was dead. Meaning it could no longer fly or sing because it was not breathing.  

Later as we walked, he pointed happily toward the sky saying, "Gramma, they're breathing!" Indeed, the flock of geese flying overhead were honking and breathing. They were alive!

Living with chronic illnesses makes me wonder if there is any purpose for me to fulfill. Thanks to oxygen 24/7 I am breathing… 

I am alive!

I am blogging… sharing my thoughts to encourage you, my reader. I ask that you take a deep breath and do something to encourage someone today. Like maybe leave a comment for me!   

Selah...

Connie   

P.S.  

                                                                                                                                                                                               

    

Heart Day, a Week Later

I am still feeling special. 

On Valentine's Day, I received flowers, candy and cards. The candy is long gone, but the cards and flowers remain on my coffee table to enjoy. As nice as each gift was, it was a neighbor that touched my heart when she said::

"I just want you to know I'm glad you're here."

As a person with chronic illnesses, it fits my daily prayer:

 [the chance to make a new beginning]

At bedtime, I say:

Note: I find that using quotations help me to express myself. So both are posted on my bedroom's closet door.

How did someone make you feel special lately?

Selah --

Connie

What Makes You Happy?

As I put a roast in the oven today, I thought of my Brandi.

Brandi was placed in my bathrobe pocket by my husband many years ago. "Shut your eyes," he'd said. A few moments after he removed his hand, I felt something wiggling. John's eyes twinkled as I gently pulled out aTblond puppy a little bigger than my hand. She looked me over then went to sleep on my lap.

As she grew, she turned into the color of fine Brandy. She was a mutt, yet had signs of beagle in her face. Brandi was an instant source of fun and unconditional love. Best of all she favored ME!

In the beginning, we were worried because she wouldn't eat, but come morning her food dish was empty. That was her lifelong pattern. She waited until she was sure she'd get no people food. After we went to bed, she'd settle for her own. She grew healthy and strong.

So, you say, what has that to do with a roast? Brandi's favorite people food was cooked carrots. My least favorite vegetable was... yep, cooked carrots. But I always added them to a roast for flavor. As a roast cooked, Brandi was a happy dog with a tail wagging in delight. She'd go to the stove, sniff and run circles around my feet.

At dinner, I would break the rule and sneak her my carrots. I had to reward her happy dances, right?

Don't you wish life was that simple?

Brandi left me years ago with many fond memories:

• how she protected my son, 
• how she would never let the meter reader in, 
• how good a mother she was to her 5 puppies, 
• how she dragged the toilet paper throughout the house without tearing it- because we'd left her home alone, 
• how she loved going to the bank to get People Crackers from the teller, and, of course, 
• how she loved carrots.

Every time I fix a roast, I think of her and the joy she added to my life. I remember to add those carrots, even if I don't eat them because it is the simple things that flavor our lives.

Then I take the time to remember my favorite things.

Selah ,

Connie

Two in One

Once again I am sharing my online friend's post. Joe's writing always touches my heart, makes me think and reflect, and encourages me. Be sure to scroll down after Joe's story to read mine.


                                                  NOT DONE YET

                                                 By: Joseph J. Mazzella

Life is full of miracles.  They surround us every day.  One of these miracles happened to me recently.  I was filling my car’s tank at a local gas station.  It was only 10 A.M., but I already felt tired.  It was a cloudy, gloomy and rainy day and I hadn’t slept well the night before.  After I had paid for the gas, I turned my car towards the main road.   I looked right and left then my brain sent the signal for my foot to push on the gas pedal, but nothing happened. 

Shocked, I shook my head to clear it and gazed down at my foot. Just as I did, though, a semi-truck roared past my car doing 60 mph.

My weary, bleary eyes hadn’t seen it when I had looked just 2 seconds earlier.  If I had been pulling out when I should have been my little green car would have been smashed, and I would have most likely been killed.

I sat there for a long time quietly thanking God for sparing my life before pulling out on the road and heading home.  This time both my brain and foot worked perfectly.

As I looked back on that moment later, I still couldn’t understand it.  Did God prevent my brain’s signal from reaching my foot?  Did an angel grab my toes to keep them from pressing on the gas?  One question kept coming back into my mind as well: why?  Why did I get this miracle?  Why did God spare my life this day? 

Finally, I felt the answer forming deep within my heart and mind.  I heard the words coming from my soul saying: “You still have more to do. Your work is not done yet!”

Richard Bach wrote: “Here is the test to find if your mission on Earth is finished: if you are alive it isn’t.”  Wake up each day knowing that your mission isn’t done yet.  Wake up each day knowing that you still have more to do.  You have more love to share, more people to help, more kindness to give.  You have one more day to be the miracle God meant for you to be.

~ ~ ~

U-Turn 

   

by Constance Gilbert

I'll always remember May 30th, 1980 I was driving with my son into town to pick up my paycheck. Part way there I stopped in the left-hand lane for a red light. Within seconds I heard "Turn around NOW!"

The light turned green... at that moment I made a fast U-turn in front of oncoming traffic and headed for home with no attention to the speed limit. As I parked, the disaster sirens began blaring. We ran to the basement and waited.

If I had ignored that command, my son and I would have been in the direct path of one of the three tornadoes that devastated our city.

As we waited, my son said, "You really scared me when you did that Uy. How did you know the tornadoes were coming?"

"I didn't. I just heard a voice command me to turn around. At the time I didn't think about who it was, I just obeyed. But I know it was a message from God."

With a huge hug, he replied, "I'm glad you did."

Why me? I had a son to raise, and God had plans for both of us.

~ ~ ~ 

Kind Words

We've all experienced a moment that "made my day": a kind word, a smile, a thank you, a surprise, etc.

Yesterday my moment came in a letter from a dear friend who I have known for nearly 70 years. While writing to her, I was listening to cellist YoYo Ma and the NY Symphony Orchestra play the debut performance of a piece written specifically to highlight Ma's unique talent and skill.

Because my friend has a master's degree in music, I knew she would understand and share my delight with YoYo Ma's performance. So I made comments regarding the music as I was hearing it throughout the letter. This new composition touched my heart and soul. I watched it a second time after I finished the letter.

Her return letter read:

"...where you described the music. I thought to myself, you not only edit writing, write stories but also review music in the most beautiful and descriptive manner..." Wow!

These kind words, what we used to call warm fuzzies, were also a reminder to me to be an encourager... to fulfill my personal mission statement:" To encourage spiritual joy through the written and spoken word."

In Florence Littauer's book Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement she writes, "every time we open our mouths we have a choice to make- to encourage, uplift and give hope OR to undermine, discourage and judge... words are powerful whether positive or negative, they can never be taken back. One little comment can lift up a person's life; the wrong words can also ruin it."

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "The only gift is a portion of yourself." Littauer calls that being a silver box with a silver ribbon and led me to collect a few silver boxes to remind myself that anyone can give encouragement, and everyone needs it at one time or another. Encouragement motivates and inspires. Encouragement is simple. It has no boundaries like age, gender, cost or time.

All that is needed is the desire to make someone feel special... to be a verbal cheerleader, a planter of seeds of hope.

Selah ~ never a discouraging word...

Connie, writer Liz Curtis Higgs' "Official Encourager"

Guest Post

THE FACE IN THE MIRROR    

          By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     Bend! Push!  Lift!  Toss!  Bend!  Push!  Lift! Toss!  I was slowly shoveling out my driveways,

porches, and pathways from five inches of freshly fallen snow.  My new snow shovel was

working well but my body was feeling its fifty years and my bad back was feeling more like

eighty.  Still, I had shoveled out from deeper snows than this before, so I kept at it.  I breathed

in the frosty air and hummed a few songs as I worked.  After about forty minutes the job was

done and I stretched out my stiff and sore back.  Then I did something I hadn’t done in years.

I fell back into the snow and made a snow angel. 

       Suddenly, I felt five again and I laughed as I walked back into the house.  I think a part of me

expected to see my five-year-old face staring back at me when I looked into the bathroom mirror,

but it was not to be.  There instead was my unshaven, fifty-year-old face with its salt and pepper

hair and deep set wrinkles.  There were lots of laugh lines but some pain lines as well.  When I

looked a little closer, though, I saw the five-year-old twinkling in my eyes.  It was good to know

that he was still in there and that on the inside I remained both ageless and forever young.

      Elisabeth Kubler-Ross once wrote: “Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms,

you would never see the beauty of the carvings.”  My own face has seen a lot of windstorms

over the years.  It has suffered a lot, learned a lot, and loved a lot.  It has also grown kinder, more

compassionate, and closer to God.  I think I prefer it to its younger versions that I can still see

in the pictures on my walls.  Every time it smiles I love seeing it crinkle up and love seeing that

eternal five-year-old still shining behind those eyes.

     Our lives will always line our faces and our souls will always shine in our eyes.  All we can

do is fill them both with all the love, laughter, and light we can.  May you do so always.

Merry Christmas

Selah ~

Connie

There's change in the air...

Although I'm mostly homebound, I've noticed something you may have missed during this busy season.

Santa's Workshop at the North Pole has undergone magical renovations.

When I was a child, the elves were sawing, hammering, painting, sewing, designing and wrapping. Throughout December, we'd listen to the radio to hear other children call in with their wishes: sleds, trucks, baby dolls, paper dolls, a kitchen set, Candy Lane and other games, boots and mittens and an occasional request for a baby brother or sister. (Now we have trillions of commercial minutes to convince children of "must haves.")

As the world's population increased, Santa's workshops grew into specialty shops. Technology and computerization increased the efficiency and quality. Santa now delegates through the head elves. But he's around every day to encourage and problem solve. Mrs. C assures all are fed and sleeping well for top performance.

I find it amazing, throughout these years of expansion, that the elves have grown from four inches to over four feet tall.

Satellites and computers have changed the mailroom and I've heard there are fewer errors in the naughty and nice lists. Santa's GPS avoids detours caused by fog like in the old days. And special crystal orbs assure Santa will make it around the world in one night.

My new Christmas Eve PJs are ready.

So I'll be snuggled in my recliner to re-watch Jim Carey's A Christmas Carol, Miracle in the Wilderness and the Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

These are my favorites this year:

This is not a scientific study. Just my observations as I've watched Christmas movies while knitting this month. 

BTW, Santa, I've been good, well mostly, and would like an e-reader. Really,

☺ Connie

AT CHRISTMASTIME AND ALWAYS

   

     Guest Post by Joseph J. Mazzella

     I have always loved Christmas music and I don’t just listen to it in December either.  I have

been known to listen to “The Christmas Song” on the first day of Spring, “Jingle Bells” during

the worst heat of Summer, and “Let it snow” while the leaves are peaking in the Fall.  This year

thanks to the gift of a new record player I was even able to play some of my Mom’s old

Christmas records from my childhood.  For the first time in years, I was able to put a vinyl album

on a turntable and listen to the sweet sounds of Christmas coming from it.  As “Joy to the world”

flowed from the speakers I smiled, closed my eyes, and allowed the music to awaken a thousand

Christmas memories that still lived in my heart.

      There was my Mom laughing when she caught me under the tree opening all of the presents

before anyone else woke up.  There was my Dad smiling and cutting down the world’s ugliest

Christmas tree that I had picked out over my brothers’ objections.  There was the sparkle in my

Mom’s eyes when she opened the gift I had saved my money for months to buy her.  There were

the cheers I heard as I went from room to room in my fake beard and red suit, playing Santa

Claus for the elementary school I was teaching at.  There was the time when I could only afford

a few stuffed animals for my children on Christmas and their eyes shone with delight anyway.

There was the time when my son who had struggled to speak because of his Autism spoke his

first, full sentence when he saw the Christmas tree all lit up at his elementary school.  There was

the time when I drove through a blizzard to bring my daughter home from college in time for the

holidays.  There was the year we decided to ditch the turkey and instead honor my Dad and Nana

by making a big, Italian-style Christmas dinner thus creating a whole new family tradition.

     I opened my eyes as the record played on and felt so much joy.  I felt too what had made all

of those memories so special: LOVE.  It was the Love we had for each other.  It was the Love our

Heavenly Father had for all of us.  It was the Love that lived in that tiny baby, born in a manger

who would change this world forever.

    The spirit of Christmas will always be the spirit of Love.  It is Love that we were meant for.

It is out of Love that we were created.  It is to Love that we will all return.  May your heart be

full of Love then at Christmastime and always.