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Lent, Day Fourteen
Mar. 14th, 2017 09:24 pm
Lent, Day Thirteen
Mar. 13th, 2017 10:44 pmLove stays
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night, the young marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital – the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realised that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
From "Stories to Make You Think"
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night, the young marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital – the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realised that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.
From "Stories to Make You Think"
March 12, 2017
Mar. 12th, 2017 11:39 pm(Cross-posted from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
monthlydiaryday
I totally missed out on January and February! But I'm back, now!
March 12, 2017
We woke up at 5AM today, since this is a work weekend for the DH. Got up, packed his lunch (prepared the evening before). Fed the cat while he took care of the dog. Made breakfast for him, but I wasn't in the mood for a cooked breakfast, and got myself some cereal instead. Losing an hour of sleep to Daylight Savings Time made me a bit more out of it than I usually am in the mornings. ( Read more... )
monthlydiarydayI totally missed out on January and February! But I'm back, now!
March 12, 2017
We woke up at 5AM today, since this is a work weekend for the DH. Got up, packed his lunch (prepared the evening before). Fed the cat while he took care of the dog. Made breakfast for him, but I wasn't in the mood for a cooked breakfast, and got myself some cereal instead. Losing an hour of sleep to Daylight Savings Time made me a bit more out of it than I usually am in the mornings. ( Read more... )
Lent, Second Sunday, Day Twelve
Mar. 12th, 2017 10:43 pmI just love this:
It's amazing how saying something nice will bring a smile to a perfect stranger. I like to compliment people randomly; I will often compliment a customer. I always make sure it's sincere--something I've noticed about them that I find striking and attractive. "You have pretty eyes!" or "I really love that dress--the colors suit you!" or "What a pretty necklace!" I love the smiles I get! Once I complimented a young mom on how well behaved her two pre-schoolers were, and she told me I made her day.
Give out some random kind words today! They don't cost a thing and they make people happy!
It's amazing how saying something nice will bring a smile to a perfect stranger. I like to compliment people randomly; I will often compliment a customer. I always make sure it's sincere--something I've noticed about them that I find striking and attractive. "You have pretty eyes!" or "I really love that dress--the colors suit you!" or "What a pretty necklace!" I love the smiles I get! Once I complimented a young mom on how well behaved her two pre-schoolers were, and she told me I made her day.
Give out some random kind words today! They don't cost a thing and they make people happy!
Lent, Day Eleven
Mar. 11th, 2017 10:44 pmI've often found the stories behind hymns to be interesting. This social justice hymn, written in 1965, seems especially apt today.
For The Healing of Nations
For The Healing of Nations
Lent, Day Nine
Mar. 9th, 2017 10:32 pm9th Day of Lent- Isaiah 55:1-2
1 "Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food." Isaiah 55:1-2
Martin Luther used the Latin term "Incurvatus in se" to describe sin. It means to curve inward upon oneself. Here's what he says in his commentary on Romans. " Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, [being] so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them,... but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake." The Isaiah passage above refers to this selfishness in verse 2, "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" We have so many more wants than needs, and many of us have rooms full of wants that never really satisfied. So, the Christian faith, by God's grace, calls us to fight against curving inward, to curving outward to the neighbor in need. It is to recognize that God is the giver of all and that all people are invited to "come to the waters" and "buy wine and milk without price." The reality is that in our world, food and other basic essentials are not distributed evenly. Much of that has to do with human sin, the tendency to curve in on ourselves. But we don't have to be that way. We can act differently, and many do. We can curve out, share the blessings we have been given, and give others the opportunity to "eat what is good."
Pastor Jeff Beebe, Forty Days of Giving: Devotions for World Hunger
1 "Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food." Isaiah 55:1-2
Martin Luther used the Latin term "Incurvatus in se" to describe sin. It means to curve inward upon oneself. Here's what he says in his commentary on Romans. " Our nature, by the corruption of the first sin, [being] so deeply curved in on itself that it not only bends the best gifts of God towards itself and enjoys them,... but it also fails to realize that it so wickedly, curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake." The Isaiah passage above refers to this selfishness in verse 2, "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?" We have so many more wants than needs, and many of us have rooms full of wants that never really satisfied. So, the Christian faith, by God's grace, calls us to fight against curving inward, to curving outward to the neighbor in need. It is to recognize that God is the giver of all and that all people are invited to "come to the waters" and "buy wine and milk without price." The reality is that in our world, food and other basic essentials are not distributed evenly. Much of that has to do with human sin, the tendency to curve in on ourselves. But we don't have to be that way. We can act differently, and many do. We can curve out, share the blessings we have been given, and give others the opportunity to "eat what is good."
Pastor Jeff Beebe, Forty Days of Giving: Devotions for World Hunger
Lent, Day Eight
Mar. 8th, 2017 10:18 pm1 Peter 3:9-11
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
Lent, Day Seven
Mar. 7th, 2017 10:26 pmSometimes a story is one that can be understood in any culture.
Lent, Day Six
Mar. 6th, 2017 11:00 pmThe Mississippi Children's choir, and a little boy with a big voice.
He's amazing, and the choir is just wonderful.
He's amazing, and the choir is just wonderful.
Lent, Day Four
Mar. 4th, 2017 11:32 pmI found this short prayer to share today:
Saturday
After Ash Wednesday
Loving creator,
I am not asking to overcome my weakness,
but to use it in some way to glorify you.
Let me be aware of
the many ways you reach out to help me today
and let me stand in awe of the power
that you use in such loving ways.
from "One Prayer a Day for Lent"
Saturday
After Ash Wednesday
Loving creator,
I am not asking to overcome my weakness,
but to use it in some way to glorify you.
Let me be aware of
the many ways you reach out to help me today
and let me stand in awe of the power
that you use in such loving ways.
from "One Prayer a Day for Lent"
Ash Wednesday, Lent, Day One
Mar. 1st, 2017 10:13 pmI went to the Ash Wednesday service tonight. It is always solemn and thoughtful, and I felt resolved when it was over.
Each year for Lent, I try to post something here each day that will be uplifting, joyful or thought-provoking.
The lyrics of one of the hymn we sang tonight seemed a very appropriate place to begin:
Sunday's Palms are Wednesday's Ashes
Sunday's palms are Wednesday's ashes
As another Lent begins
Thus we kneel before our Maker
In contrition for our sins
We have marred baptismal pledges
In rebellion gone astray
Now returning seek forgiveness
Grant us pardon God this day
We have failed to love our neighbors
Their offences to forgive
Have not listened to their troubles
Nor have cared just how they live
We are jealous proud impatient
Loving over much our things
May the yielding of our failings
Be our Lenten offerings
We are hasty to judge others
Blind to proof of human need
And our lack of understanding
Demonstrates our inner greed
We have wasted earth's resources
Want and suffering we've ignored
Come and cleanse us then restore us
Make new hearts within us Lord
-Rae E. Whitney-
Each year for Lent, I try to post something here each day that will be uplifting, joyful or thought-provoking.
The lyrics of one of the hymn we sang tonight seemed a very appropriate place to begin:
Sunday's Palms are Wednesday's Ashes
Sunday's palms are Wednesday's ashes
As another Lent begins
Thus we kneel before our Maker
In contrition for our sins
We have marred baptismal pledges
In rebellion gone astray
Now returning seek forgiveness
Grant us pardon God this day
We have failed to love our neighbors
Their offences to forgive
Have not listened to their troubles
Nor have cared just how they live
We are jealous proud impatient
Loving over much our things
May the yielding of our failings
Be our Lenten offerings
We are hasty to judge others
Blind to proof of human need
And our lack of understanding
Demonstrates our inner greed
We have wasted earth's resources
Want and suffering we've ignored
Come and cleanse us then restore us
Make new hearts within us Lord
-Rae E. Whitney-
Finally finished!
Feb. 22nd, 2017 05:54 pmRemember the tunic blouse I was crocheting? Well, last weekend, just under a year from the time I started it, I finished! I also finally got the pictures uploaded today, which you can see behind the cut: ( Read more... )
Two things meme
Feb. 20th, 2017 10:46 amTaken from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
claudia603 and cairistiona7
Two names you go by:
1. Dreamflower
2. Lady AElfwenna of Shrewsbury (SCA)
Two parts of your heritage:
1. English
2. Who knows? (My sister actually does, but I never asked her. I'm more interested in hobbit genealogy than my own, LOL!)
Two things that scare you:
1. Snakes
2. Being left alone
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. A grey T-shirt they gave the DH at his previous job
2. Jeans
Two physical things that appeal to you:
1. Eyes that sparkle
2. Mustaches (and beards, but not without mustaches to go with them)
Two of your favorite hobbies:
1. Writing
2. Needlework of all kinds (and several other hobbies that I love equally, but right now, needlework)
Two things you want really badly:
1. Getting all our bills paid off
2. Getting our kitchen remodeled
Two places you want to go on vacation:
1. Road trip to visit my LJ friends
2. The UK, but only if my DH can come with me
Two things you want to do before you die:
1. Finish all my WIP fanfics
2. Get into a routine where I can craft nearly every day.
Two things you are thinking about right now:
1. Pleasure that I finally finished my tunic I was crocheting.
2. This meme.
Two stores you shop at:
1. Braum's
2. Walmart
Two people you haven't talked to in a while:
1. Dana
2. Cathleen
Two favorite websites:
1. Livejournal
2. Stories of Arda
Two things you did last night:
1. Watched TV
2. Crocheted
Two shows you like to watch:
1. ST: DS9 (The two of us are binging on Netflix)
2. Criminal Minds (I am binging on Netflix)
Two places you like to go to:
1. JoAnns (the craft and fabric store)
2. The OSU library
Two favorite subjects in school (46 years ago)
1. English
2. Creative writing
Two favorite places to eat:
1. Olive Garden
2. Red Lobster
Two people that live in your house:
1. Me
2. My husband
Two things you like about yourself (physically):
1. My eyes
2. My hair
Two things you ate today:
1. Waffles (for breakfast)
2. Leftover Pasta (for lunch)
Two people you last talked to:
1. My husband
2. The cashier at Walmart
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Clean out the fridge, maybe
2. Probably going to Stillwater to get our taxes done for free by the AARP volunteer at the library.
claudia603 and cairistiona7Two names you go by:
1. Dreamflower
2. Lady AElfwenna of Shrewsbury (SCA)
Two parts of your heritage:
1. English
2. Who knows? (My sister actually does, but I never asked her. I'm more interested in hobbit genealogy than my own, LOL!)
Two things that scare you:
1. Snakes
2. Being left alone
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. A grey T-shirt they gave the DH at his previous job
2. Jeans
Two physical things that appeal to you:
1. Eyes that sparkle
2. Mustaches (and beards, but not without mustaches to go with them)
Two of your favorite hobbies:
1. Writing
2. Needlework of all kinds (and several other hobbies that I love equally, but right now, needlework)
Two things you want really badly:
1. Getting all our bills paid off
2. Getting our kitchen remodeled
Two places you want to go on vacation:
1. Road trip to visit my LJ friends
2. The UK, but only if my DH can come with me
Two things you want to do before you die:
1. Finish all my WIP fanfics
2. Get into a routine where I can craft nearly every day.
Two things you are thinking about right now:
1. Pleasure that I finally finished my tunic I was crocheting.
2. This meme.
Two stores you shop at:
1. Braum's
2. Walmart
Two people you haven't talked to in a while:
1. Dana
2. Cathleen
Two favorite websites:
1. Livejournal
2. Stories of Arda
Two things you did last night:
1. Watched TV
2. Crocheted
Two shows you like to watch:
1. ST: DS9 (The two of us are binging on Netflix)
2. Criminal Minds (I am binging on Netflix)
Two places you like to go to:
1. JoAnns (the craft and fabric store)
2. The OSU library
Two favorite subjects in school (46 years ago)
1. English
2. Creative writing
Two favorite places to eat:
1. Olive Garden
2. Red Lobster
Two people that live in your house:
1. Me
2. My husband
Two things you like about yourself (physically):
1. My eyes
2. My hair
Two things you ate today:
1. Waffles (for breakfast)
2. Leftover Pasta (for lunch)
Two people you last talked to:
1. My husband
2. The cashier at Walmart
Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Clean out the fridge, maybe
2. Probably going to Stillwater to get our taxes done for free by the AARP volunteer at the library.
Question about our President
Feb. 14th, 2017 09:44 pmBehind a cut for political content. ( Read more... )
Important Information for Pet Owners
Feb. 9th, 2017 10:28 pmBehind the cut for political content:
Life in Trump’s America Just Got Worse for Your Pet( Read more... )
Thank you, Keith Olbermann.
Life in Trump’s America Just Got Worse for Your Pet( Read more... )
Thank you, Keith Olbermann.
Shire Kitchen is back!
Feb. 8th, 2017 11:44 amI am trying to revive the community, 
shire_kitchen. I started out today with a re-post of my B2MeM 2014 story "The Music of the Land".
shire_kitchen. I started out today with a re-post of my B2MeM 2014 story "The Music of the Land".I know that lotr_community has had several of the monthly challenges that featured recipe!fics, and I'd love it if you have any recipe!fics if you would post them there. Also you can post any food related topics that might relate to Middle-earth by some stretch of the imagination! That could include recipes you've made up, or links to historical facts about food. It could also include pictures of dishes you've made or even your kitchen garden if you have one!
lotr_community has had several of the monthly challenges that featured recipe!fics, and I'd love it if you have any recipe!fics if you would post them there. Also you can post any food related topics that might relate to Middle-earth by some stretch of the imagination! That could include recipes you've made up, or links to historical facts about food. It could also include pictures of dishes you've made or even your kitchen garden if you have one!If you have never been to the community (which would not be surprising since the last post was in 2011) you might want to check it out--we had an annual recipe!fic challenge from 2005 to 2010, and there are some great stories and recipes there.
I hope you will check out shire_kitchen and consider joining the comm!
shire_kitchen and consider joining the comm!
