Christmas Eve anticipation never seems to diminish even when I know what is under the tree. In fact, waiting to see the joy of others is much harder to wait for than seeing what surprises wait for me.
I just love Christmas, but I am the most impatient kid in the house when it comes to waiting. Forty plus years of practice has not made me more patient, and I suspect forty more will make little difference. 
It is a good and noble thing to stand up for that in which you believe. Sometimes you may even need to fight for your beliefs, but remember when we choose to fight, we are seeking to change the will of others. Changing someone else’s will is not simply changing their mind, but changing their desire to resist the result you propose.
The decision to fight, to try to change someone’s will, should not be decided upon lightly. Even a fight of words can result in harm and injury. Before you start a fight, make sure your fight is for something in which you are willing inflict injury to achieve. Be sure the thing you are willing to injure others over has a great enough value that it will offset the damage you will cause.
We can stand on principles without resorting to a fight, but to do so we much have respect for the principles upon which others stand. In almost all cases, it will be better to stand than to fight. It is a profound task to figure out the exceptions.
When the hearts of the many are hardened and are accepting of hate, it is then there will be woe among mankind and iniquity will prevail.
– Pioneer Lady
Gandhi described anger and intolerance as being the enemies of correct understanding, but they are also the enemies of reason. They spread misunderstanding.
People will disagree on principles, or on the details of an issue, but that is not the same as standing on misinformation, calling it truth, and asserting all others are wrong in their beliefs. Correct understanding therefor is not just the ability to understand, but the ability to understand the opposition and the ability to reason rather than simply rationalize.
I have just found out that I am a mooch on the American Dream.
Worse yet, I am a mooch many times over: a military wife living off of a government pay check and receiving government healthcare, a stay-at-home mom not paying taxes, and a recipient of government assisted education. (But at least I don’t mooch off of the public school system with my kids, right?)
And here, I thought that by supporting my husband, and raising my kids to be productive members of society, I was part of the American Dream. But maybe I was just a dreaming.
Maybe I was wrong all along in not realizing the only American Dream that matters is how large your bank account is when you die?
Or maybe the other guys have it all wrong…
Organization is key when you are trying to be a super-mom, super-wife, and super-student. Occasionally the wind will blow you around and make you feel disoriented, but if you just relax and go with the flow, you can still end up in a good place at the end of the day.
Take the time to reflect on the people in your life today.
Take the time to reflect on the people of your past.
Take the time to reflect on the All Mighty who gives you the opportunity to love, the ability to be loved and the blessings you receive from shared love.
In His name, have compassion for those who do not feel loved, who have not yet found love, or who have not been blessed with bountiful love. In His name, all things are possible, but without compassion, in other words – charity, nothing good is possible and love can dwindle away.
So today take the time to reflect on love…
Based on a previous posting Reflection.
When you look around, overwhelmed by the negativity, sorrow, and despair of the world, feeling there is no positive to be found, remember the positive is inside of you. It may be your actions, your smile and your attitude that will brighten the world you live in for yourself and for the multitude nearby seeking a ray of hope. It may be through you that the Light will return, shine forth and brighten the day.
When we are the candle bearer, it can be hard to see the positive around us. Everything will look to be in shadows compared to our circle of light. We just have to pray that when we are down and gloomy, someone else will hold the candle and help us lighten our path.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Psalms 18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
It is official – on Aug 6, after 20 yrs of waiting, I will begin my Master’s Degree! While so much has changed since my graduation and with life throwing some wicked curve balls my way, I am still on the timetable I set all those years ago. I put the idea of family before self and I am being abundantly blessed for my decision.
Passive- aggressive voice…..
When we are young, emotional molehills seem like mountains and physical mountains seem like molehills. When we are old, it reverses.
Pithy Ponderings 