Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Service Is Joy!

I slept and dreamed that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy!
Rabindranath Tagore

Muppet Mania!

I still love the Muppets and yes, my entire family from hubby to our eldest 25, the second and her hubby, and our youngest went and we brought along son-in-law's two brothers, plus hubby's niece and nephew. Wow, we had an entire row of theater seats to ourselves!

Anyway, my kids have grown up on the Muppets. They weren't born when the Muppet Show itself was on in the late 70's early 80's but they had Muppet Babies on Saturday mornings, and all of the Muppet Movies. So on Thanksgiving weekend we all went to see it.

It was as good as ever, following the same kind of story they have in all of the Muppet Movies. The group has to join together from whatever area of the world they are and help save the show, theater, building, museum, whatever! And as usual there's great music to go along with the crazy antics.

This movie was no different, though I had to take issue with the "human" characters who were dating were going on a vacation together and it was obvious they were staying in the same motel room. But the kiss they shared was on the cheek. Hmm....maybe they had different rooms, but it wasn't implied that way.

Anyway, the rest of the movie was great! We left singing "Life's A Happy Song!' together!
Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Advent! Time For Joy!

Prepare the way of the Lord! Rejoice! Have joy! For Jesus Christ is coming!

Pope Paul VI wrote:  Technological society has succeeded in multiplying the opportunities for pleasure, but it has great difficulty in generating joy, for joy comes from another source. It is spiritual!"

So JOY comes from God, not from stuff, not from wealth or fame.  Joy is truly God.

Get Joy!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Your Life's Tapestry

Your life is a tapestry of many decisions - good ones and bad ones - woven together to create an image of your life. What image do you want to present to God at the end of your life?

Friday, November 18, 2011

Quote of the Day

Each day of life gives us a new opportunity to grow in grace...to have the "time of our life!"

Friday, November 11, 2011

Why Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex?

   You tell me why...

   Yes, you. Because I already know my reasons.
   I've already given those reasons to you.
   Now is your turn to stop and think.

    Are you waiting? Why are you waiting?

   Did you not wait? Why didn't you wait?

   Are you enjoying a life of free sex, no worries, no entanglements? Really? Can you explain?

   There is a comment button right below: use it!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Look For the Innocence-Not the Blame!

How often do you feel misunderstood, or as if someone isn't giving you the benefit of the doubt? I just read a really great chapter from the book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Teens" by Richard Carlson, Ph.D.

Dr. Carlson has some really good thoughts in his book and this chapter really caught my eye, because, unfortunately, I am really bad about not always giving the benefit of the doubt to other people.

Dr. Carlson says, "Sometimes we do something and someone takes it wrong. Or we feel like someone is being too hard on us, or too judgemental. Sometimes we do something wrong or mean, but we really didn't mean it. Other times we're exhausted and don't respond in a friendly enough way or with enough gratitude or patience."

Well, if we ourselves have days when we feel like no one is understanding us, it goes to figure that other people have days like that too. We should show them the benefit of the doubt. Meaning, cut them some slack.

My husband is very good at doing this. And he has to remind me to do it more often. I get offended by people who snap at me and wonder why they can't be more kind. He is quick to reply to my caustic crabbiness about them with, "Well, maybe they are having a bad day."

Now, when I am still being crabby myself, I reply, "Well, we all have bad days, that's not an excuse."

He gently smiles and replies, "Of course it's not, but won't it make your day go better if you go ahead and give them that benefit of the doubt instead of letting it make you mad?"

He got me there. So, while I'm still not very good at this, I try. Sometimes it really hurts if it's a family member, co-worker or friend who does the hurting, but I guess that's all the more reason to let it go and say a prayer.

I'm going to try that this month! And make it a happy month of November by Looking for the Innocence! Want to join me? Send me your thoughts or better yet, what do you do when someone treats you rudely for no good reason?