seriously? suriously!?!

some friends and i  were reflecting today upon how texting and facebook messaging are not the most effectively forms of communication, especially if you are not a longtime, face-to-face friend of the person.  written communication lacks tone of voice and nonverbal expressions.

when reacting in person to bewildering actions and comments, I find THE opportunity to stare silently in disbelief for an extended time can be invaluable.

the stare sometimes works for the following…

…someone who left the restroom without washing her hands

…adults who do not read instructions

…persistent laziness

…habitual tardiness

sometimes i feel so strongly that i often do not hold back.

1.       using adjectives incorrectly (this irks me and is bad in my book, but not life changing)

2.       misquoting or misusing scripture to fit a situation (what were they thinking? time for a fact check)

with these two if it is someone on tv or the radio, ---i correct them aloud---my boys often remind me, “mom, they cannot hear you.”

3.       trying to comfort someone who is grieving by telling them “God needed an angel.”    SERIOUSLY![eye roll, head tilt]

i saw this as a comment on a friend’s facebook post in reaction to her post about the death of close friend.

such are times when it is be better not to say anything beyond, “i’m sorry.” or “i love you.”

shortly after Andy’s death, I remember a phone conversation with someone who I considered to be a good friend. I called to tell this person that Andy had died and her first response was, “I know how you feel, our dog just died.”

in many instances our society does not know how to deal with pain, grief, suffering, and silence.   as my Daddy would say, “think before you speak.”  i am guilty of breaking this rule.

clichés are best left unsaid.  pain and suffering are hard. WE cannot fix some things.

silence is okay, because love and your presence are enough.

Dinner
cod with creamy pesto sauce and tomatoes

Reading
dimestore by lee smith

a grace disguised

psalms

revelation 4

grateful for

God’s presence and teaching

single mom friends

unexpected gifts

time with my boys

sunshine and cool temps

                                                ps. please excuse mistakes---typed with thumbs via cell phone

day by day

i have not blogged in months because my computer died several months ago. there have been so many times I wanted to sit down and type an entry. it has not helped that my thoughts have been quite disjointed lately. as it is now I am typing this post on my phone.  I am definitely old school as I prefer to type with both hands instead of just two thumbs. (ps- please forgive typos and the fiendish auto-correct)

tonight is one of those evenings when as a single mom I'm just emotionally worn out. both of my boys went to bed complaining about superficial things and fussing at me.

today started out on an emotional note as my oldest son who is in middle school what is lamenting the annual father-son chapel at his school. I do not know how to approach this dilemma. I try to teach my boys that everything is an opportunity-- an opportunity to glorify God,  an opportunity to help other people, an opportunity to learn something new...opportunity to be grateful. I do not know how to tell my teenage boy who has lived half his life without his father how to find the opportunity in a school program geared just towards fathers and sons.

my solution is to pray and hug them. everything has a season.  lately I have been profoundly aware of how each person has her own pain. in the past month my prayers have been consumed with thoughts and intercessions for half a dozen new widows and a mother who lost her son to suicide.

"The edges of God are tragedy. The depths of God are joy, beauty, resurrection, life." -Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki

dinner:
BLTs

listening to:
spin cycle on the washer
hymns

reading:
radical
a grace disguised
ecclesiastes

grateful for:
God's presence, nudging and guidance
hope
friends who make me laugh out loud
fellowship with believers
good health
sight
amenities such as water, electricity, a good house
a working automobile