HAPPY NEW YEAR

The New Year Approaches

Today's message at church this morning was inspiring. It was a story about how an immigrant boy was saved by a group of soldiers overseas who found him, saved him, taught him, mentored him, and brought him back to America. They taught him how to pray, and every night he thanked the soldiers by name at the end of his prayer. We all need more prayer in our lives.

We all need to help each other more in the coming new year. The division in this country has gotten more dangerous than ever. We are at risk of losing our Christian values to racism, bigotry, greed, lies and corruption. Those evils are not what this country was founded upon. The Native American Indians helped the Pilgrims when they first migrated to America. (Now we take away their reservation land and monuments, and pollute their waters with pipelines built by greed.) Bigotry and racism has led to mocking the immigrant, no matter where they are from. Remember, Jesus was a Middle Easterner who preached to many about helping one another, feeding the hungry, and praying to God.

Right now, we all need to pray and pray hard and constantly for God to save us from the evil that is being perpetrated upon us from racist, bigots who are corrupting our government with authoritarian ways. Ours is a Democracy born out of The Bill of Rights and the Constitution, both of which are being trampled upon by evil white men. ALL MEN WERE CREATED EQUAL, and we have Freedom of Religion. That means freedom to worship as we choose, not ban certain religions from entering this country. We are a country founded by immigrants and the Statue of Liberty will welcome all.

I don't like to make hard-fast New Years Resolutions. I would rather call them goals, something to strive for, to give hope. My goal for 2019 is to help as many people as I can. I have donated many crocheted hats and blankets for newborns and preemies to the Kettering Hospital NICU in Kettering, Ohio. I donated a box of red hats to the Red Cross for their collections. Recently, I donated ladies hats to the Carnegie Library collection for Cancer patients. I made dog and cat blankets for a friend who assists in rescue units for animals. I made warm shawls for ladies in the nursing home and lap blankets for wheelchair patients. And much more. In this new year, I will try to do more. Babies, the sick, and the elderly are being shoved aside, forgotten, abused, and each day those in power try to take away their livelihood and medical care. Please be kind to the sick, take care of the babies, and mainly - RESPECT the elderly. They have wisdom beyond their years and can freely share that with the younger generation.

My New Years suggestion: set a goal to LOVE ONE ANOTHER, be kinder, gentler, more forgiving, and help one another when you can. God will see your good deeds, because he knows your heart.

Happy Christmas Eve

Last year, I wasn't really 'into' Christmas; I didn't even put up a tree. But this year I am a little more into it, but not as much as I used to be. I did put up my little 15 inch ceramic tree and my lighted churches, and I mailed out a few cards.

Christmas is usually a day at home alone, just me and the dog watching tv. I have no family anywhere close by, but I'm used to that at my age.

I wrapped a few gifts and made a few people smile, and that's good enough for me. To do something for someone else, to make a person smile, to let them know they are thought of, or that you care, is great personal satisfaction. I don't expect anything in return. Make other's happy. Put a smile on someone's face. A good goal.

I went to Christmas Eve church service where we celebrated the birth of the savior, sang songs and prayed. It was very rewarding and uplifting. I enjoy my time at church more now than ever. Christmas day will be a day of quiet reflection and to just be thankful for the blessings I have received. It was a rough year, but I am hopeful that the new year will bring about some changes that are much needed in this world. For example, the healing of people who are sick; the lessening of racism which is destroying our country; and taking better care of our elderly population. Some people shut out the older generation, just because they are old. The older generation has had experience in many things, is wiser on many levels, and can still teach the young great things.

Sometimes even relatives can shut out the older members of a family around the holidays, a time when family is needed the most. Its sad, but life has just gotten too busy to care about the older folks. It's all in the outlook. I will continue to be happy, count my blessings, try to help others, and make someone else smile. When we make someone else smile - the smile will be reflected right back to us.

Happy Christmas Eve to all, and to all a good night!

How Time Flies

It is hard to believe that it has been four years since I last wrote a blog entry. My writing hiatus was longer than I planned. Something has drawn me back to writing. I can't explain it, but will give it a chance.

I looked back at some of the blogs I wrote a few years ago and my walk down memory lane showed me I have had a lot of life experiences. The last four years have been filled with sadness, happiness, change, spiritual reflection, new experiences, and a flurry of living. I have survived many hills and valleys, and ups and downs on this roller coaster of life. I am hoping that 2019 will be a better year.

I have stopped looking backwards and now only focus on the future, one day at a time. All the pain is behind me, I have experienced healing in many areas, and look forward to better days. It's been a long four years, and as I continue to Ponder This Life Journey, I will share my thoughts and experiences as often as I can.

Stay tuned and we will all see what comes next as the New Year approaches, since Time Flies faster than we realize.