"better man"

One member of our family, my stepson's mother-in-law, has been hospitalized in an intensive care unit for 8 days. Her condition is critical from surgery for a compressed disc. She also has an endocrine complication which put her in a crisis state., I have been with her for 3 days during the day. Her husband, daughter (pregnant) and son-in-law (my stepson-Doug) come in early mornings, late afternoons and evenings. Her daughter and Doug are teachers and this is the first week of school. It is mandatory they be at their jobs. They have a 2 year old. They are so stressed they cannot be at the hospital 24 hours a day. I have been at the hospital as much to relieve their stress as any function I might have with their mother.

We are aware that this stress has caused many conversations between them and struggles of who can or should take off work to be at the hospital, who picks up their 2 year old, how long should they stay at the hospital in the evening, how can they relieve the stress on the pregnancy. Last evening Doug phoned us with many thanks for my presence at the hospital and also to say he would take today off to be there. When his dad asked him how he had reached the decision to be the one to take the day off, he replied, "I'm trying to be a better man, Dad."

Doug went through a horrific divorce a number of years ago. There were many accusations about the kind of husband he had been. He was devastated. (Of course as his parents, we think he is and always has been wonderful; but we also know that no one ever really knows what goes on in a marriage) So his comment of "I'm trying to be a better man" touched us deeply.

 It is proof we can all work to be better. It is proof we can all change our decisions and therefore our behaviors. We can all be "better" men and women.

Is there a place today to make a better decision, to change an old behavior. Where? What?
Pray for the awareness and courage and humility to be "better."
Blessings-Penny

all we have is today

The old saying that "all we have is today" hit home once again. My niece's house was nearly destroyed yesterday. A huge limb from a  neighbor's maple tree broke through their roof during a midwest thunderstorm. Their attic is destroyed and most of the plaster walls throughout their 105 old Victorian home are cracked. Miraculously my niece's family was not hurt.

Of course in today's chaotic, violent world, it is easy to say "well, it's only a house...Other people are killed raped, violated in today's tragic world." But my niece and family are devastated. Insurance says, "It was an act of God---no coverage." What are they to do? Their world is changed.

Again-I need to remember to enjoy what I have each day...to know it can go away in a flash.
Do we stop each day and thank God for the gifts we have? I spend way too much time thinking about new adventures and future plans.

Stop today---right now---and thank God---for recovery---for a roof---for food---for a sound mind---for family.

Blessings-Penny

ooops!

We have new car insurance. To obtain a reduction in the rate for safe driving, the company offers a monitor which attaches to the steering column. The monitor observes the driver's driving practices which fall into 5 "events." If the driver does not accumulate a certain number of these "events", he or she receives a reduction in the insurance rate.

The 5 events include:
Rapid acceleration
Driving between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m.
Excessive speed
Hard braking
Cornering

The driver can review his or her own "events' on the company's web site.
Since I am the only driver in our family, I am the person "monitored."
Well. guess what! I, who consider myself a very safe driver, have accumulated  a number of "events." My "events" fall into 2 categories---"Rapid acceleration" and "hard braking." Though I am a bit annoyed to be called out on those patterns, I also am a bit amused. After all "rapid acceleration" and "hard braking" kind of define my life patterns. I do accelerate rapidly into new adventures which then often requires some "hard braking." Maybe that should be the epitaph on my gravestone... "Rapid acceleration--hard braking."

(In fact, I think this monitor would be very helpful for new teenage drivers!)

What would be an appropriate epitaph on your gravestone? Think about it.

Blessings-Penny

sunflower

Today there is one lone sunflower blooming atop a six foot plant in my back yard. In the spring I threw a package of sunflower seeds into a planter. The irrigation system in the yard is programmed for desert planting so these seeds have not received much water. But now, probably 3 months later, several seeds have germinated and are loaded with sunflower buds.

It really is a miracle. From this one package of seeds---without any tending at all---comes these healthy, vigorous plants. When they all bloom it will be such a show. I understand why successful gardeners tend their plants so lovingly.

It's good to stop and watch these miracles. I remember a young man who so lovingly talked of the miracle of watching his infant daughter grow. He simply was overwhelmed of the miracle of it all.

Can you stop today and be amazed at one miracle around you?  your child? a flower? the huge moon?
Where did that miracle come from?

Blessings-Penny

"Man's Search for Meaning"

I am reading Victor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning."  It's a book we should all probably read every 10 years. The story is of how he survived  his experience as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps.
But even more than that it is how he found meaning in that horrific experience ---how he survived day after day of beatings, near starvation, inhuman living conditions, frostbite, and brutal working conditions.

 I'm going to quote a number of sentences which strike me as pertinent for all of us:
"The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. There are three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person) and in courage during difficult time."

"You cannot control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you feel and do about what happens to you."

The first quote reminds me of how important it is to choose a vocation or career that means something to you---that you see as significant. How many people get up every day dreading to go to work? I once heard a Marine General say, "If you can't get up every day and say 'Gee I get to go to work today, you are in the wrong business." I don't know many people who are able to say that. But I do know alot of people who drink and drug because they are bored---they find no significance in their work. They are bored in their relationships and they don't have the courage to do something different.

You can control what you feel and what you do in what happens to you. There was another quote in a different book that changed my life.  It said, "If there is something you don't like about your life, you can change it." I looked up from that book and made the decision to do something about my drinking. It changed my life.

Is there a decision today that will help you find meaning in your life? Think about it. Pray about it.

Blessings-Penny