The Journaler

The Journaler: It is with a sad heart that I share that we lost my sister yesterday. I just have such a hole in my heart. It will take awhile to heal. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers during this time.

The Journaler: My sister now has pneumonia and is on hospice care due to sepsis, uti and brain bleeds. I just have not been able to write for awhile, as I process what is going on and the loss of someone so dear to me. Prayers are appreciated. Her son and another nephew are with her most of the time. She is on pain meds, which is good. Mostly sleeps.

The Journaler: My thoughts today are about my older sister, who we had to move to a nursing home. It is so hard to see her decline, yet there is a little hope. She rallied when her 4 year old granddaughter visited her. Keep her in your prayers if you will.

The Journaler: I won't be able to post for awhile. I need to go see a very ill family member. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

The Journaler: It is one of those pretty days, things are waking up. I have bulbs popping up here and there..even though it is early. Been busy working on taxes and haven't had a chance to post..sometimes life intrudes on desires.

The Journaler: When you are twenty, old age is a million light years away. You dance the night away and tuck in the stars, just as morning creeps over the horizon.

When you are thirty, life is still golden, the nights are sweet and easy. Old age is still a lifetime off.

When you are forty, life takes on a more quiet look, but you still dance, if to a somewhat slower pace. Old age is still in the distance.

When you are fifty, you still have strength to climb mountains, and even to dance. Now it is the evening star you see to bed.

Old age begins to look more menacing, gaining ground.

And now, when you have zipped past the 60's and are into the 70's, old is not so old after all!

The Journaler: Adversity

Here's a thought. "The ultimate result of adversity depends on our response to it".

Adversity in and of itself produces nothing. It does not make us better, kinder, sweeter or more patient. Those things can be a result if our response is to bear it with the grace of God, not our own. That would fail anyway. I have seen people going thru adverse times who became bitter, hard, angry and unforgiving, always holding grudges. That is because of their response to it.

I have often heard someone say to others who are going through a bad time--"You will be a better/stronger person for this". Well, maybe. Maybe not.

If we respond as if it came from the hand of a loving Father who has our best interests in mind, then and only then, will it produce a sweet result. I do not mean it comes from Him, but we must bear all things AS IF they did. When we put our circumstances in His hand, then He can make good come of them, can use the difficulty to refine us. Otherwise, it will just make us more sarcastic and cynical. When I find sarcasm and cynicism creeping into my talk, then I know I have reacted to a circumstance. I have not given it over to the Father for Him to deal with.

The Journaler: Happy New Year to everyone. Congratulations to all who placed! May the New year be filled with many blessings and may your dreams be fulfilled. It will be interesting to see all the new poems and stories that will be written this year, or at least posted.

The Journaler: As Christmas nears, I think about my family, and in particular, my nieces and nephews. I don't have children by birth, but a lot by heart! Both biological and otherwise. At any rate, I want to share a little writing from one of my journals. This happened back in 1987.
"Jack( one of my nephews) fell on June 13, 1987 and ruptured his spleen. It had to be removed or he would have bled to death. Such a long and difficult night, but wonderful thanksgiving for his life.
When I think of what could have happened, and what didn't, how gloriously thankful I am.
I couldn't imagine a world without "my Uncle Paloochy (his imaginary friend), those big blue eyes and curls, that creative imagination. What a gift a family has in each one of its children, for there is no one else in all the world made like them. No one else has that same special quality--How God must smile upon His creation--especially when it is new and innocent, full of childish wonder and imagination. Not stunted or stifled by the world, and its incessant demands. They are the true wealth and treasure of our world.
All too soon, we squander their childhood on things that don't really matter, like eating peas and broccoli and green beans, unless of course they like them!
Teach us, Lord, how to love and how to live in the moments of the day--to have joy in life because it IS."

The Journaler: I am looking forward to sharing on this site. I will do that as time allows.