A Personalized Touch: Stories Shared From Others' Hearts

BY ROBERT

 Q. What did it take to get your attention about how important life is?

A.  I think my attention was enticed by the alternative to my ideal.  I have a pretty vivid imagination and I don't like to settle.  I want the whole pie, and I want to make it too because no one else can make it as good as me!
  
By pie I really mean my life plan.
For awhile I was letting something else drive my life or concoct my pastries.  And the places I was going and the things I was eating were not as good as I imagined they would be.


I had to figure out what went wrong.
But it was not a matter of the wrong ingredient or a wrong turn.  It was the chef or the driver.
I needed to get in touch with an earlier version of myself that was not willing to let anyone else lead my show.


I think taking a good look at my situation helped me realize how important life is.
There are quite a few things that contributed so I will just list them in no particular order.


First, it must have been divine intervention because I am not a very good listener.


Second, it was boredom of boredom.  I wanted to see what it was like to do nothing, but I got tired of it.


Third, I was getting within short range of things I knew I didn't like and it scared me a little bit.


Fourth, it was the lack of enormous amounts of money, and crappy jobs.


Fifth, it was missing close relationships with people I cared about or would care about in the future.  And reflecting on the influence I was having on people who looked up to me.


Sixth, it was competitiveness that pushed me not to settle.


Seventh, was curiosity.  I wanted to know what else was out there, and to experience it.  Why were some other people so motivated?


Eighth, was getting away from all the pressures and outside influences in my life.


Ninth, was simply maturing with age.

And
Tenth, was all these things happening at once.

Thanks Robert!

 

Hero

Today a dear friend and teammate of my son and daughter was laid to rest.

A young man.
He died serving his country.

There are few expressions of condolences that can be shared with the family that could begin to ease the heart wrenching pain and loss.

It may be that it can best be shown,
By honoring our country,
Respecting our United States of America flag,
Thanking our servicemen,                                                                                 
(Past and present)
Reverencing the National Anthem,
Including our soldiers in our prayers,
And praying for peace.
Praying for a blessing upon his family.


















Faith is one of the only things that can bring solace at these times.
And a knowledge that our Creator knows each and everyone one of his children.

"..That even a sparrow shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."(Matt. 10: 29-31)

That His is not a world of chance.
That His love transcends all understanding.

That He will hold an aching heart until it heals.

However long that takes....

"The Savior's loving warmth and healing touch lift us and give us strength to endure."~The New Era

I Wasn't Looking, But I Found One

I wasn't looking for a cry-movie (June 30 post) but I found one.

Actually my son brought it to me.


It is titled Two Weeks.  Anita, the mom who is dying of cancer, is played by Sally Field.
She has three sons and one daughter.
I have four sons and one daughter.  (April 7th post.)
I could relate to many of the family dynamics.


It was one of my kind of movies.
The criteria for that is:
That it makes you cry,
It makes you laugh,
And it makes you think.
All three of those things happened for me.


Thoughts, real-life thoughts came up, at times they were uncomfortable for me.
Nevertheless they are provoking thoughts.
Things I might want to give at least a little more consideration to.
Especially since it is not something I have to do at this time.
That might make it a little easier.


It also brought with it gratitude.
For the blessings and privileges I so readily get to experience and live.

It is good for me to be reminded of all that I have.
To cherish that which I so easily can take advantage of.


To be reminded of how precious life is and the loved ones who are in it!


Thank you son, for thinking of me and offering to share the movie with me!
(I have to say though that I would've cried harder if you had been watching it with me.)
Love Ya! 

"We should give meaning to life, not wait for life to give us meaning."~ Stacy

Aah, If Life Could Be Like a Game of Solitaire

"Old card players never die, they just shuffle away."~Author Unknown

 My mom brought me a new computer when she came to visit for my son's graduation.

Out of the kindness of her heart and desire to make me a card shark (I think) she put an icon to Solitaire Shortcut on my new screen.

She may have just been showing off her 'skills' with the computer as a senior citizen, to her Luddite daughter I suppose. (I don't say S.C. in front of her) - (unless it means discounts of course.)

What I am sure of though is that each time I see that card icon, my mouse goes to that Ace of Spades and oh, so, wants to click there.

I hadn't ever played Solitaire on the computer and it has different rules than when I was a child dealing cards to (and with) myself.

But I found some things I like about this game that I wanted to share.

If life were like Solitaire:


~The rules are set.
They are predictable.
I can not make up my own rules to guarantee success.
(Unlike the 'flexible' ones I used to play by.)

~You can not cheat, but if you do try to, it gives you the benefit of the doubt and has some helpful-pointer-pop-ups of what you can and can't do.
It does know what you were trying to do.


~You can click the Undo choice and it can reverse your last move.
You get to try that play again!
This especially comes in handy when you can see a better choice than the one you originally made or when you did something you wish you hadn't or didn't really mean to.


How many of us would like the option of "Do-overs" in our lives?
(Especially once we have seen what the results will be of a certain action?)

~There are 'sounds' that come with certain moves or choices that are made.
So you know what just happened or will happen.

~You are always given the option to continue, end or re-try.
At the click of a button!
How many times in life do we get that kind of offer?


~It tells you the truth.
"Sorry, you lost this game."
No tiptoeing around Vegas here...
(I'd have to go to Denial to get that.)
(Or adopt an elephant.)


~It offers encouragement and hope.
With "Better luck next time."
I guess that could be taken as sarcastic if I was looking for a fight, but I am not going to let some 'theory' or 'assumption' of what I think might be a different meaning get me down.
I am taking it as I want to hear it.
(Could be a valuable relational asset to use with real people??)

~There is a support team available.
With how-to, step-by-step instructions to guide you.
Have you ever said, "Life did not come with an instruction manual?"

~Even if you got all the full suits you still have to place each card in its proper order at the top all the way down to the last one to get the credit of being a 'winner'.
Ever heard of needing to 'Endure to the end?'


~It is really hard to lose (almost impossible) if you really want a win. 


~And finally what probably is my best, is that it let's you know when it's over.
If it allows you to keep playing, there are or is still a move left.
If not, it tells you.
"There are no moves left."
I really appreciate that because I could keep trying and trying and trying to make it work.
When no matter how hard I try it would never make a difference.
(Ever been there?)

Life IS like a game of Solitaire after all, isn't it?

1. The rules are set.
2.  Someone always knows if you are cheating.
Pointers/tips are always available if sought.
3.   You can try again.  (After confession.)
4.  Sounds of sorrow or joy follow our 'moves'.
5.  We can choose to continue, end or re-try our choices.
6.  Eventually the truth finds us (even when we try hard to deny it.)
7.  We have hope and encouragement available if we accept it.
8.  There is always a Divine Support Team ready and willing to help us for the asking.
9.  We must complete the whole game to win.
10.  It is possible to win if you so choose.
11.  We are protected from pursuing something endlessly that would be a waste of our lives.
   

"One of the healthiest ways to gamble is with a spade and a package of seeds."~Dan Bennett

Thanks Mom!