Friday, December 16, 2011

There’s no place like home...


There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home! Around the holidays, if you are lucky and have the means to be “home” for Christmas, it brings great joy and excitement. Seeing family you’ve not seen in awhile, re-connecting with friends, it is a joyous occasion for most. But then there are those who feel maybe you can’t go home, you’ve been away too many years, or there’s a rift in your family. There’s maybe been a divorce and you don’t know which “home” is yours anymore. In my family, that is never the case, no matter what has happened, home is always home. We welcome in the strays, our friends who maybe can’t afford to travel, or just don’t have anyone to celebrate with. And it reminds me of three of the parables of Jesus on redemption: the Shepard going after the one lost sheep, the lady lighting a lamp and sweeping the floor to find the one lost coin and of course the prodigal son. You have never strayed too far from your loved ones to be forgiven…we have never strayed too far from God for Him to forgive us. It is amazing to me to think that no matter what I have done, thanks to a tiny baby born in a manger, all we have to do is asked to be forgiven and we will be welcomed with open arms to our Father’s house. Humbling isn’t it?

"Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato 50, Aristotle 40, and Jesus 3 and a half. Yet, the influence of Jesus Christ's brief ministry transcends infinitely that of the combined 130 years of these greatest philosophers of antiquity." An old Christmas Card quote.

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Art of Thank You...and Other Fine Manners

Merci, Danke schön, Grazie, Gracias, Toda, Teşekkür Ederim. No matter how you say it, saying Thank You is truly important. And unfortunately, it seems to me, a dying art!

In this era of technology: text messages, Facebook, and email, a handwritten thank you note is something you only see for wedding gifts. But it doesn't have to be reserved for formal thank yous. If someone gives you a gift, does you a favor or just makes your day brighter...take the time to sit down, pen to paper, and write them a small token of your appreciation! Here I am advocating the written word again. Hoorah, Postal Service! A handwritten thank you really has an impact. It makes your gift giver/good deed doer, want to repeat their kindness knowing it meant something to you.

There needs to be a revival of etiquette in this country!! A simple reminder of "please" and "thank you" and holding the door open for someone: just common courtesies.

I was with my "couple" friends the other day and both entered the building, both ignoring this poor man trying to get out the door with his arms full! When I held the door open for this dude, he was beyond appreciative, thanked me like four times. I could not believe that my friends had such a blind eye to him. Also, I rode with some other "couple" friends somewhere and when we got out of the car (exiting to the rear of the vehicle) the guy got out of the backseat and didn't close his own car door. So I had to close his door for him (as I had rode in the front), just to pass through!!! I'm sorry, you can't even close your own car door?!

The other day on Yahoo.com there was an article on 25 manners every kid should know by age 9. Age 9?! I see so many adults every day that need reminding!

Call me southern, call me old fashioned...but you know I'm right.