T.H.I.N.K.

Have you ever heard the expression Think before you speak? A long time ago, I learned it in a different way. I learned to truly T.H.I.N.K. When you are about to say something about which you are unsure, take a few seconds to run it through your mind.

It is True? Do you know that it is the truth? Is it gossip? Are you embellishing to make something else seem more interesting?

Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

Is it Helpful? Will it benefit anyone for you to say this?

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

Is it Important? What is the reason that you are considering saying this?

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Is it Necessary? Does it really need to be said, or do you just like to hear yourself talk?

This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

Is it Kind? Will it hurt someone if you say it? Will it lift up someone?

My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

If you run through the list, and you cannot answer yes to any of these questions, then why would you say it? Should you say it?

True

Helpful

Important

Necessary

Kind

Bible verses quoted from James 3 in The Message.

My Son's Eyes

Do you enjoy life? Seriously. Do you see things with wonder? Do you smile at nature? Do you take a moment to soak in good experiences?

Or....

Do you see things as someone who is always rushing and trying to get to the next thing? Are you too harried to enjoy life as it happens? Are you too bitter or jaded to really "see" life happening?


This weekend, we took Boy to Tweetsie Railroad to see Thomas the Tank Engine. We took him on the train ride, and it hit me how he sees things through such positive and appreciative eyes. This was his first time riding on a real train, and he was so happy that, for a few moments, it seemed like he was not physically able to close his mouth. His jaw dropped and hung there from the wonder and thrill of riding the train.


As I was sitting behind him with the camera, and Poppie (Hubby) was sitting next to him, there were two little boys sitting in front of him who had season passes. Those boys seemed to have been there a lot and felt compelled to show off what they knew. They kept telling us what was going to happen and what we were going to see and who was the actor portraying the Indian Chief, etc. Each time they did it, I had a small twinge of annoyance. I did not let it bother me too much, though, because I realized that they were excited...yet they would not stop -- even after I asked them to. (I would certainly not want to watch a movie with those two.)

Boy, however, seemed to not even notice as he looked out the side of the train and enjoyed what he saw. Boy smiled. Life was good for him. He was happy.

If you were on that same train ride, what would you see? Would you see the crowds? Would you see the dirt and weeds and mess of the forest? Would you see the annoying children in front of you? Would you see the cheesy horse and buffalo statues and wonder how much longer it would be until the ride was finished?

Or....

Would you see the amazing rocks formed off the side of the mountain? Would you see the exciting imagination of the sites and story of the cowboys and Indians? Would you see the beautiful mountain views in the distance? Would you see the genuine happiness of a small child?

Would you see everything with the wonder of a small child?


The next time that you find yourself hurrying or frustrated by unimportant things or just not in a good mood, will you think about my sweet boy and his innocent and appreciative way of seeing things around him? Will you remember that there is wonder and beauty in everything if you just open your eyes to it?

Or....

What would you say?

I saw someone post on Facebook that she was feeling down in the dumps, and people responded by telling her that other people had it worse than her. One person even listed other people who were having "real" problems. This made me pause and think about the fact that people's first reaction seemed to be to criticize her rather than comfort her. She was feeling bad. Were her feelings not valid?

No matter how bad you have it, someone always has it worse. You have heard that, right? Why do people say that? Is that meant to be comforting? Yes, I know that your dog died, and your mom is in the hospital, and your husband has not worked in a year, and your kid has the flu, and you sprained your ankle, and someone ran into your car in the parking lot, but remember that no matter how bad you have it, someone always has it worse.

HUH?!

Have we so little compassion as a society that we will not say, "I am sorry that you are feeling bad. Is there anything that I can do to help you?" Does it take too much more effort to ask why someone is feeling bad or what happened to make them feel that way than it takes to tell them to get over it?

Compassion is defined as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Imagine all of the greatness in life that we would not experience without compassion. Imagine what a miserable life (or death) we would have if the Lord showed us no compassion. Imagine how alone we would feel without giving or experiencing compassion.

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. -Thessalonians 5:11

I encourage you to make an extra effort to be compassionate this week. If someone is hurting or having a bad day, do not be quick to criticize them -- or avoid them -- but instead take the time to care.

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. -Galations 6:2

New Contest!

This contest will be in two parts.

1. Comments. The person who comments on the most posts will be a winner. Comments must be dated from June 4th through July 31st, yet they can be on any post as far back as you want to read.

2. Referrals. The person who refers the most friends who become followers and post comments will be a winner. The friends, after following this blog, must comment on this post and say that you referred them. First names or screen names are fine.

There will be TWO different prizes for this contest. One of the prizes will be a gorgeous, handmade, quilted tote from BRB called "Stars R Stripes" -- picture coming soon! The second prize will be announced. Since a few people have asked me about the contest, though, I wanted to get it posted so that those who want to can start competing. Hehe. Yes, this contest is a shameless ploy to try to grow my little blog some more.

Thank you for stopping by, and I look forward to seeing what is in store for us these coming weeks!

Thunder

Wow, that one was loud and sounded really close to our bedroom window! At around 5:30 PM yesterday, with a start, my mind was suddenly on full alert. Then, almost right away, I thought, "Hey! I can write about thunder!"

To start, so that we are clear, I do not believe in superstitions. With that in mind, I thought that it might be interesting to look at some of the many things that people associate with thunder.

- Mistletoe in the house protects it from thunder and lightning.
- Thunder following a funeral means that the dead person's soul has reached heaven.
- Thunder in February is thought to indicate snow in May.
- Every day that it thunders in February, it will be cold enough to frost the same day in May.
- Back in Roman times, bay leaves were thought to protest from thunder and lightning, ill-fortune, and witchcraft.
- If it thunders before 7:00 AM, then it will rain before 11:00 AM.
- Winter thunder means snow within ten days.
- Church bells were pealed during thunderstorms to prevent damage by lightning and to protect those within hearing range.
- A Japanese superstition says that you if you hear thunder, hide your belly button or the god of thunder will eat it.

When I was younger, I can remember saying that thunder was the angels bowling, and lightning was when they got a strike. Hehe. I still like to think that that is a good explanation for the thrilling phenomenon.

What is thunder in the scientific sense? Thunder is the sound that lightening makes. I am not going to get into a whole science lesson here, yet here is a neat web page about it.

Do you have any stories or thoughts about thunder that you might like to share?

You Tell Me

Though I am working on writing something, this afternoon I decided to pause and ask you, my copious readers, about what topics you might like to see me write. Make any suggestions that you want: serious, curious, maybe even silly. I will accept comments for the next couple of days and then choose one or two (or more) and start thinking. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing what you crazy kids decide to suggest.

May Contest Winner

What an enjoyable time I have had writing my blog and reading your comments and seeing my followers list grow and seeing other people post my blog on Facebook to share with their friends.

This brings us to the day when I announce the winner of the Chocolate Treat Pack! Can you believe that there were eighty-five entries? Not too shabby for a baby blog, eh? I am happily anticipating what June will bring. For now, though, without further ado, may I get a drum roll, please?

The winner of the Chocolate Treat Pack iiiiisss....

BONNIE!

Congratulations, Bonnie, and be sure to contact me within forty-eight hours to claim your prize.

You know me, though, and I like to go that extra step for people. Hehe. I have decided to offer a second prize of a Blended Beverage Mix to the person who had the most entries. Was that person you? I do not know. Is your name HEATHER? Woohooo, Heather, and thank you for supporting my blog! (Keep doing that!) Hehe.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who is commenting on my blog and helping it grow. I love feeling the love from you all, so please keep it coming.

Now for the announcement of the next contest for my blog. Are you ready? Not yet? Okay, then I will wait. Be looking for the post about it later!