John 13:34: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
I have been thinking about this passage a lot lately. With everything I see and hear going on in the world It seems everyone has completely lost touch with this part of Jesus’ teachings. I read and see people get angry over trivial things and then react with unbridled violence. I unfortunately had to experience something like this first hand quite recently.
It was a nice quiet New Year’s evening when at 8:30 p.m. I heard what I thought was firecracker’s very close to my home. I get up to look and see a car racing off. The police showed up within a few minutes. I went down to see what was going on and discovered that where a shootout in my front yard.
I live on a corner lot. Several people decided to use my house to setup an ambush for a car driving down one of the streets that pass my house. The shooting lasted for only about ten seconds. In that short time, there were 15 to 20 shots fired. There were spent shell casing on my front porch and strewn across my front lawn. I was extremely fortunate that these people could not aim well as my home did not get hit by gunfire; however, three of my neighbor’s homes were hit. The targeted car was hit four times and crashed up the street almost driving into a home. The shooters and those in the crashed car ran off before the police arrived.
It makes me wonder why in the world would anyone think to do something like this? What ever happened to caring about those around you? Yes, there will be times when you get upset over something someone does, but to have no consideration for the life of another or yourself I just don’t understand.
I think this passage of scripture has a message that we all need to think about and live by. There is so much hate being spewed on social media by people that don’t think anything of saying horrible things. It is very disheartening. We all need to follow the teachings of Jesus and live the life he asks us to and…
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
The Christmas Gift of Technology
Christmas has come and gone, and some were left with the Christmas gift of technology! I know this was definitely the case for my 12 year old daughter. While she was so excited to have her very own phone, it was a scary leap that I, as a parent, took on her behalf. Realizing that she’s of the age now where she will be going off with friends more often and also wishing to stay home by herself to enjoy her new found independence, I felt it was time. She needs to have the ability to call me at any given moment, and now it will be easier with her very own phone.
It’s such an exciting time for her, yet it’s so scary because I know the not-so-nice-side of the internet. I realize the danger and what lurks out there. I battle her need to communicate with others with the bad things that I know can be easily found on the internet. You don’t even have to go looking for it. Often times, it’s seeking you out. That is why it is important to have some rules in place.
This morning, a friend shared this, and now I’d like to share it with others who may be having issues with their decision to put the gift of technology in their little one’s hands.
Click here for: The Cell Phone Contract and Guidelines For Technology or here for the entire article.
I encourage you to review, print, and discuss with your children as well. I plan to do just that tonight with my daughter!
Here’s to safety first where our children and technology are concerned!
I Will Remember You
It felt almost like a sneak attack Tuesday. Throughout the day, I acknowledged the occasion in my own way. Trying to be positive and upbeat, I thought of the years I had with my sister and enjoyed re-living some of those memories. Then, that evening, I was bombarded with all sorts of emotions that lead into the next day. Sitting at my desk at work, tears began to well up inside of me and spill out through the corner of my eyes.
No one mentioned my sister on her birthday, and that hurt … deeply.
While she’s no longer physically here with us on this earth, I like to think that she is always, and will forever be, with me in spirit and in my heart. Yet, without any mention of her, it hit a nerve and struck one of my greatest fears. Have people forgotten about her? Were her 32 years on this earth for nothing? I think NOT! Although she’s been gone 15 years, which seems like a lifetime to some, it still seems like it was yesterday to our family. The circumstances surrounding her death magnify the loss we feel deep within right to the very core of our being.
And so I allowed the emotions to flow. I felt the feelings and allowed the tears.
I didn’t hold it inside as the next day, I voiced my concern to a few friends who reminded me that Pam will never be forgotten. From my heart, I truly hope they are right. I’d like to think she touched a place in people’s hearts and lives, and I cannot fathom no one else being affected by her loss 15 years later. Surely there are others out there thinking of her and wishing things had been different. We can’t be the only ones. Right?
And so I vow today, just as I have every day since July 9, 2001 when our hearts shattered over the loss of my only sibling,
“I will remember you.”
