Tag Archives: Family

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Censorship or Good Neighbor

Is it censorship or a violation to constitutional rights when a privately owned company providing a service chooses to set decency policies?  In a recent Facebook debate, I read a multitude of criticism over Facebook deleting a photo some deemed objectionable and others deemed humorous.   The following are some questions that came to my mind.

  1. When does a privately owned company providing a service become so big that it is perceived as “public” space rather than a service?
  2. Why is an attempt to protect civility or decency perceived as a civil rights infringement to so many?
  3. When did the public come to conclusion it is a smart idea to save original data, photos or conversations on a server they do not personally own?

I have become a huge fan of using technology and social media to communicate with distant acquaintances and friends.  I have found social media to be an enjoyable way to connect, but I always utilize the advice of my mother, my journalism instructors and my own common sense.

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Vacations

You know you have reached exhaustion when unpacking the souvenirs seems beyond your ability.  It is strange how the excitement of a vacation can push you past the aches and pains of a tired body.  You can walk further than you normally do, sleep briefly and restlessly night after night, and unhealthily for days on end, all with continued stamina.  Then you arrive home, drop your bags, cringe at the piles of mail, dread the laundry and want to sleep all day.

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Remembering the Roses

It is funny how memories can return with a flood due a smell, sight or sound. The flood of recollection washes over you. For a moment, time and space dissolve and you are transported to a different moment of your life. A time you once thought you would never forget, but somehow had.

While it is easy to remember big events in life, remembering the roses often takes a low priority. You may have taken the time to smell them, you may have even taken a roll of film or two, but you didn’t take the time to reflect on the roses over the years. Occasionally looking at the photos in a book, does not seem to be enough to keep the roses fresh and vivid. The fragrance fades with time and only an image remains, not the full experience.

It seems the best remembered roses are the ones we share with others. Those who originally smelled them with us, those who help us remember the fragrance as well as the shape and color. Taking time to smell the roses is important, but if we hope to remember the fullness of life’s journey, then taking time to cultivate and nurture the relationships of the loved ones who walked with us through the garden is vital. It is how we will remember the roses.

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Answered Prayers

Prayers are often answered in the most unexpected ways. Preconceived notions can cause us to miss the answer when it comes. Therefore, we must always be receptive and alert.  Most especially, we should be grateful, regardless of how the answer is delivered or by whom.  The Lord will send us angles and answers to our prayer, but we must be willing to receive them.

Matthew 21:22

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

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Parenting 101 – Risky Behavior

Risk: exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.

It seems no matter how hard parents try, youth will dabble with risky behavior.  Never having been one to enjoy scary movies, this tendency has baffled me.  Living on the edge and taking risks for any reason is just not part of my nature.  Sure, in my 20’s I sometimes drove too fast, drank too much at parties, went running in areas many felt were unsafe, and pushed myself unceasingly to achieve a goal, but none of these actions were done for the thrill of danger or out of rebellion.  I was aware of the danger involved in my risky behavior and chose to take the risk, often in a need to prove something to myself rather than to others or for any kind of thrill.  In truth dangerous behavior makes me uneasy, anxious and rather ill, but for others it can be like an opiate.

Venturing into risky behavior is part of the nature of many youth and is not necessarily an indication of bad parenting. Conscientious parents face this reality quite frequently. Some succeed in teaching their youth that such behavior is dangerous. Some, despite their best efforts, do not.  Sadly some, through their well-meaning rules, regulations and restrictions, simply delay such lessons until their youth are no longer youth but legal adults.

Life is tough and sometimes in our youth, we make life tougher for ourselves and our parents.  Risky behavior is found all around us, encouraged by many in our society, and is a reality of life that is not new to our time in history.  Good people, old and young, choose to do foolish things.  This makes parenting a tough job, and too often a highly criticized one as well.

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A Perk of Having a Teen Driver

When your kids are little, a morning spent in warm sunshine and cool breezes, followed by an hour plus car ride, guaranteed they slept on the drive home. 

When they are driving age, you put them behind the wheel and take a nap yourself.

(Note To Concerned Readers:  It was my husband who left the driver seat and traded places with our son.  I remained in the shotgun seat, trying to avoid taking a nap myself. Not an easy task on undulating, country roads.)

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Reflection

Take the time to reflect on the hard work you have done today.

Take the time to reflect on the many blessings you have received through your hard work.

Take the time to reflect on the All Mighty who gives you the opportunity to work, the ability to work and the blessings you receive from that work.

In His name, have compassion for those who do not have the opportunity to work, have not been taught to work, or do not have the ability to work.  In His name, all things are possible, but without compassion, in other words – charity, nothing good is possible.

Take the time to reflect…  and when you are done be grateful.