Nature Songs ~~~~
February, 2002
"We learn more by looking
for the answer to a question
and not finding it
than we do from learning
the answer itself."
~~ Lloyd Alexander
February 1, 2002 - Excitement is in the air. For two weeks now the message has rippled through the family about the Big Bash coming up. Yes, the Big Bash will be here tomorrow. Since Little Miss Giggles shares the month of February with her Mother for their birthdays, she has so graciously agreed to letting Mom have a party along with her. The two of them are celebrating their birthdays at the skating rink.
What makes it so special this time around? For one thing Little Miss Giggles will officially be done with her Terrible Twos Period. Perchance things will settle down a bit with her and that terrific drive to do so much on her own. On the other hand, Mom Tbird is celebrating her Fortieth Birthday. By including herself with the younger set, she can really act up with her celebrating the great FOUR-0 milestone of life. This is to be a Gala Affair. Now my dilemma concerns what to give for presents.
Perhaps after I work out in the water this morning I can stop at the other end of the mall area and see what Belk may have to entice me to purchase for one or both of them. Clothes is not a bad idea, but Giggles could use another pair of shoes. Then for a present that could last longer, something for Giggles bedroom might be good. Decisions, decisions, decisions.... being able to choose the right decision seems to be a problem for me when it comes to buying a gift for Tbird. Who knows? Maybe a gift certificate would be a better choice for Mom. She could choose her best style, color and fit.
I’ll go over this afternoon and work on Mother’s fingernails and spend a little more time with her. It would be best if she doesn’t learn about the Skating Party since lately she keeps harping on the fact that she is never invited to this or that with the family. Fact is that she turns down events that have loud noises or happens to be outdoors. The loud music of a skating rink would have her plugging her ears once again with pieces of tissue to block out some of the noises.
BingoKid will not get to come skating with the rest of the family. Wendy is talking of maybe taking him on a picnic in the mountain to keep him safe from any temptation of skating, running or taking some other chance of causing harm to his work done this week on his teeth. There is that stipulation once more of not running, jumping or contact sports for ten days following this last surgery to bury the root of his broken tooth. All had gone well for him so far and none of us want him to get another injury or bring harm to the work done so far on his teeth and gums.
February 2, 2002 - This will be a very busy day with the skating party unfolding right in the middle of the day. Guess it would be best to tote along one of my folding chairs with arms, to sit in while watching those agile enough to brave skating. Others will be there to talk with as the medley of music lures the skaters out onto the wooden rink. Least ways it should not be too cool as the weather is only beginning to change over to the colder end of the thermometer.
The lead story on the front page of Thursday’s newspaper caught my eye as I unfolded the paper to read it that day. A program of teaching character in the school system was the topic of the day. The use of The Golden Rule takes the front and center stage for the program. Oddly, that is not what caught my attention. The copy of the chart which has been distributed throughout the schools was the eye-opener. ”The Golden rule -don’t do anything to anyone that you would not want done to yourself - occurs in some form in almost every major religion and in many popular philosophies.”
These origins show that the concept of the Golden Rule has been taught for thousands of years:
”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” ~ Christianity 30 AD
“Do not unto others what angers you if done to you by others.” ~ Socrates 436-338 BCE
“Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you.” ~ Islam 600 AD
“One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.” ~ Traditional African Proverb
“One should not behave towards others in a way that is disagreeable to oneself.” ~ Hinduism 4000 BCE
“What is hateful to yourself do no to your fellow man.” ~ Judaism 1000 BCE
“Treat all creatures as yourself would be treated.” ~ Jainism 900 BCE
“Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.” ~ Zoroastrian Faith 600 BCE
“What you do not yourself desire, do not put before others.” ~ Confucianism 551 BCE
“Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.” ~ Buddhism 500 BCE
“Choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou chooseth for thyself.” ~ Baha”l Faith 1850 AD
Very much to ponder upon and certainly something to be placed foremost in the education of the young. What all have the children mistakenly been missing from the school curriculum over the years? This mainstay of proper living would be a wonderful example of how we all throughout the world should be living.. Just think of all those that missed this direction and how things might be different today ...
February 3, 2002 - There was the briefest thought - what if? It would be lots of fun. Thinking back forty years or so, the memories brought back the excitement, enjoyment and the sudden rush of endorphines. But common sense told me not try. Even the temptation of wondering how the mechanical workings of the artificial knees would do, did not make me do such a foolish thing as to put on a pair of roller skates and take to the shiny wooden rink darkened except for the twirling, twinkling mirrored ball hung from the center of the ceiling. The tiny bits of mirror reflected and bounced off walls and skaters as the music of the day deafened the ears - memories ....
More children than adults took to the rink and skated, but even those of use there to watch had a lot of fun. Being a birthday party for one turning three and one turning forty was a bit unusual, but both Giggles and Tbird were not about to miss out on the skating. It took a little coaching and daring each other for Tbird’s two brothers to finally break down and put on skates. It’s probably been a dozen years since Allan has skated, but he did all right for himself. Wes used to patrol the area for the owners of this skating rink, and skated more than Allan. They, along with many others are going to be very achy the next few days and not because of the changing weather.
Three days this week the record was broken for the warmest temperatures which were close to 80 degrees. After visiting with Mother following the midday skating Birthday Party, I sat out on the porch with one of the other residents enjoying the bright sunshine this afternoon. Tonight all the warmth will disappear and winter returns. Sounds as if we may even experience some snow around Wednesday. Strange, I still don’t know if the groundhog saw its shadow yesterday. It missed a good day for it, if not!
Yes, according to the news, Queen Charlotte, the groundhog, did see her shadow three times yesterday. Six weeks of winter to come and yet as I was returning from church today, there was a whole bank of daffodils in full bloom on the southern side of the bridge. Then as I neared the nursing center I saw the first of the robins on their return from the Southern winter migration. Can Spring really be that far away? Perhaps .. especially considering that Friday the temperature here was up around mid seventies and today at 5 p.m., the thermometer was registering only 35 degrees.
Talking with the pastor before the morning service began, he was checking on how the finger has been progressing. Thanks to prayer, it is improving, but I had to admit to him that , “Yes, I am diabetic.” That is not an easy thing to have to admit as I know only too well what is attached - thoughts of loosing my husband to it and knowing that all four of my children are candidates for inheriting the problem. While talking with him I told him of having the ultra sound and the appointment tomorrow with the surgeon concerning the stomach.
The sermon today was full of some much needed reminders and some stepping on toes along the way. The outline in the bulletin for us to fill in the blanks as the sermon progressed was that - only an outline. Having to use one of the short pencils from the back of the pew was a challenge as notes of other “Keepers” were jotted down along the margins. The Index Finger was of no help, to say the least.
Missing two of the sermons on Restoring Your Soul, it was good to at least get this last one; Letting Go:
The Bible references quite clearly answer each of the concerns and make clear the way our lives should be faced along with the need to always read the Bible and heed its words of wisdom. This sermon, the answers were easy to find and understand in each Bible Verse.
thew 11:28-29; Matthew3:16-17; John 19:10-11; Matthew - 26:39;Isaiah58: 13-14;Ezekiel 20:20; Psalm 127:2; 1 Peter 5:7
I. When “it’s all up to me ...”
I have nagging doubts of “am I good enough?”
I become overly-sensitive to minor criticisms.
I’m unable to relax when I’m off.
I experience little or no joy in God or His blessings.
I find myself imagining God is out to get me.
I feel anxiety and dread over new processes that may arise.
I believe I’m too busy to spend time refilling my soul.
A person exhibiting four or more of these seven symptoms would be headed for drastic problems. The one true path to take would be to come to Jesus to find rest for the soul.
II. What Jesus Believed:
He believed that His Father loved Him.
He believed that His Father was in control of the circumstances of His Life.
He did not believe Himself to be indispensable.
One must trust and believe that it is not all up to us by having Faith in God.
III. Releasing Your Worries:
Take regular Sabbaticals.
Live within your limits.
PRAY is the ultimate conforming Faith.
Uttermost to remember: “Worry is an iron-clad leech with a voracious appetite.
Words to bide by ...
Next Page
Sign Guestbook ~ ~
View Guestbook
Lenoir,NC 28645
United States
©2002 by Stormy Jeanne
All of my writings on this web site are copyrighted. Reproduction and/or distribution of the written works on these pages in any form is prohibited.
