The biggest lesson i've learned is, never stop praying. It changes me, it changes things, it keeps me focused on the positive outcomes i'd like to see. Prayer isn't just a laundry list of "i wants" delivered to a heavenly Santa Claus. It makes me make time to listen, and so brings me closer to G-d, so that i want for my life more of what G-d wants for my life.
In this area where we live, there have been lessons learned. The shootings have taught us we are stronger if we fight racial divisions instead of fostering them. The flooding has taught us to work together and take care of each other, no matter what.
Also, check out your contractor thoroughly and read your insurance policy and remember that FEMA paperwork takes months if not years.
Other personal lessons have included that, now that we only have one child we can count as a tax deduction, we will owe more in taxes every year than i can shake a stick at. Yes, they all still live here, mostly rent free, and we help with insurance and everything else, but we can no longer deduct them. They cost us more this way.
Yes, i've learned, again, they are still worth it.
My 2016 Angel Tree experience taught me that some people are very suspicious of you, even when you are trying to do a good deed, and it costs them nothing. It's okay, i learned, just do the good anyway, and let them figure it out.
Watching Little Girl leave and come back has retaught me, as i learned when #1 Son left and moved back a couple of years ago, that i can let them go, watch them fly, and still be a soft place for them to land when things get turned around. Every day they grow stronger, and they are saving up to move on again. Within the next few months, there will be changes.
Last year reaffirmed the lesson that i can live through these changes, and we can all thrive.
Today is:
Feast of St. Geraint -- Wales (legendary Welsh hero who fought King Arthur)
Majority Rule Day -- Bahamas
National Bittersweet Chocolate Day
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
National No-Tillage Conference -- St. Louis, MO, US (conference to encourage ecologically sound farming; through the 13th)
Peculiar People Day -- an internet generated day to celebrate all the strange and peculiar people in your life, including me!;)
St. Peter Orseolo's Day
Sturdy Flat-Heeled Shoes Appreciation Day -- listed on many sites, and since i appreciate them, i included it
The Fairy Lunch -- Fairy Calendar
Vaudoun Day -- Benin (Traditional Religions Day, with a huge festival in the seaside town of Ouidah)
Where's The Beef? Day -- the slogan premiered this day in 1984
Word Nerd Day -- originated by Maria Schneider of WritersDigest (to celebrate those who enjoy playing with words)
Anniversaries Today:
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands weds Pieter van Vollenhoven, 1967
UN General Assembly first meeting, 1946
Uniform Penny Post (the reformed postal system) starts in the UK, 1840
Birthdays Today:
Pat Benatar, 1953
Bonnie Hellman, 1950
George Foreman, 1949
Rod Stewart, 1945
Jim Croce, 1943
Sal Mineo, 1939
Bill Toomey, 1939
Gisele MacKenzie, 1927
Johnnie Ray, 1927
Paul Henreid, 1908
Ray Bolger, 1904
Robinson Jeffers, 1887
Grigori Rasputin, 1869 (O.S.)
Mary Ingalls, 1865
George Washington Carver, 1864
Charles Ingalls, 1836
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Masterpiece Theater"(TV), 1971
"That Was The Week That Was"(TV, US version), 1964
"Finian's Rainbow"(Musical), 1947
"Arsenic and Old Lace"(Play), 1941
"Pete the Tramp"(Comic strip), 1932
"Street Scene"(Play), 1929
"Rosalie"(Musical), 1928
Today in History:
Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, begins a civil war, BC46
"Common Sense" by Thomas Paine is published, 1776
Napoleon divorces Josephine, 1810
Poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning begin their correspondence, 1845
The first underground railway opens in London, 1863
John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil, 1870
The first great Texas oil gusher is discovered at Spindletop in Beaumont, Texas, 1901
The League of Nations is established, 1920
The United States Army Signal Corps successfully conducts Project Diana, bouncing radio waves off the moon and receiving the reflected signals, 1946
The United States and the Vatican establish full diplomatic relations after 117 years, 1984
Torrential rain in the Lockyer Valley region of South East Queensland, Australia causes severe flash flooding, killing 9 people, 2011
You know Mimi, pray is part of our lives. Since I had my stroke in 1977 and I was suppose to die and I didn't, God had a plan for me. Each night when I'm preparing for bed I thank the Lord for allowing me to have a wonderful day and when I wake up I pray to thank God to allowing me to begin a beautiful day even if it is raining or snowing. God has always been part of my life and always will.
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful Tuesday my friend. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
As my boys get older, I dread the day that they will take off on their own. Yes they are worth it. Prayer is such a personal thing. I often find myself praying for the comfort and health of others. At times, that is all we can offer to anyone. May you have an incredibly blessed day :) I absolutely love how you include the history and birthdays for the day!
ReplyDeleteChange is the only constant in the universe and we can only achieve harmony by accepting it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a religious person, but hubby and I are very spiritual. I am always amazed at all the wonderful things you do. You wear me out and often. I also love your relationship with your kids. You're a great mom.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day. ☺
You are a wonderful mother. It is sad that people are suspicious when someone tries to be kind to them, but I figure they must have been very hurt at some point to be that way.
ReplyDeleteAs I have written I am not religious, but I do think prayer is a valuable exercise both for the person praying the recipient. You are strong and wise and change will be for the better eventually. Measuring life in family instead of money makes you very rich.
ReplyDeleteThese are a bunch of really good lessons, with prayer being by far the most important. I we remember that one, the others will come to us more easily. Faith, trust, and one day at a time! The dinosaurs were unable to adapt to change, and they didn't fare well. We can do better than that!
ReplyDeleteLove that you actually LEARN the life lessons you are taught, I keep taking the same life "courses" over and over! :)
ReplyDeleteI pray occasionally,generally in support of something a friend or loved one needs. I should make it a regular event. Perhaps I'll use your posts as a reminder to pause a bit and have a word with God.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Crabby -- I need to re-learn lessons over again. On the plus side, this means I'll never run out of things to learn :)
ReplyDeleteI have been following you for only a short time and I have read of some of your struggles. Prayer is so helpful to many people. I really like your daily history lessons. Many things can be learned by being aware of history.
ReplyDeletePrayer is so important! And I love that you said it's not a laundry list to give... sometimes mine are mostly listening. Or being still - I don't want anything more than that. To just be in his presence and it's enough.
ReplyDeleteYou've had a big year! Taxes tho... ugh.