Sunday, May 27, 2012

What Does Memorial Day Really Stand For?

Have you considered what Memorial Day means to you?

Does it mean time off from work? Gathering with family and friends? Eating hotdogs, hamburgers and the like? Traveling? Playing on the beach? Lounging around watching the TV? Drinking too much beer? Fireworks? Parades? Shopping?

Sure it does mean all of the above and much more! Are you taking the time to say, "Thank You"? Are you remembering to say "Thank You"? Does it even cross your mind? I suspect that all of us have had family members killed in some war action somewhere. Do your thoughts include them?

"A tribute to those who gave all...Remember their sacrifice and courage, today and every day. The song for this video is Guardian Light from the history channel's series WWII in HD."



Memorial Day which use to be called Decoration Day is a day set aside to honor and to give recognition to those that gave their life for us to be free. There would be no such day without this meaning. Let's remember at least at some point on this day to say "Thank You." Better than that, how about doing this every time you come in contact with someone in a military uniform.

Let's not forget the sacrifice that the family and friends bear for us.



Please Lord let me remember what this day truly means...

Elaine

Resources
http://www.military.com
https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/advice_memorial_day_2012?adid=icgsch49345739


Friday, May 11, 2012

Mother's Day, May 13, 2012

Hope you enjoy the movie, Heart of A Mother, where a mother's love is portrayed in a beautiful floral design that's a feast for the eye as well as the soul. Each flower represents a different characteristic of mothers.



Mothers love your children.
Children love your Mother.

Now for some humor and fun...

Why did God make mothers?
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection.. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect.. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.







When you stop laughing at the children's answers -- How about sharing the laugh.

Elaine

Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Push - Encouragement

We sometimes underestimate the power of encouragement. So many times one act of kindness, or one word of encouragement, can change a life forever. 

This movie, The Push, gives us encouragement to inspire someone else today - to give a loving push.


"Fall seven times, stand up eight." ~ Japanese Proverb

 

“You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.” ~ Jim Stovall

 



A push (encouragement) can be the greatest gift we ever receive or the greatest gift we can give to someone else. Sometimes we need a bit of encouragement and sometimes we need to give it to another.

A push can come in many forms:
Action - actually doing something
Spoken
Written
Listening
And what about Silence? Really?
Can you think of other ways to encourage someone else?

I really like what Janet Hou wrote as a comment below the movie: "to know when to "push" and how to "push" and where to "push", is the challenge in life; not the concept of "the push" itself, I think. :)"

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

When is the last time you gave a bit of encouragement to another? What about today? What about now?

May you be Blessed and also be a Blessing to someone else...

Elaine