Just Be Yourself... It's OK

Rhiannon read me a story about a married couple who have been married for 35 years. The wife just found out her husband has been gay the whole length of their marriage. Horrible... horrible the fact that her husband lied to himself, his wife, and his family. Now everyone is devastated.

I remember my Daddy used to always say that you never can tell about people. They will do one thing in public and another behind closed doors. Over the years I have witnessed first hand what my old man was talking about. I used to be surprised and shocked about "Honorable" and "Saintly" people's shortcoming, but now I just shake my head and keep moving.

Of course people love to point fingers at Catholic priests for thier sins. But us Protestants have a few bad examples to: Jimmy Swaggart, Ray Boltz, Ted Haggard, Marvin Gorman, Jim Bakker. When Jimmy Swaggart got caught not once, but TWICE.... my Daddy did not go to church for years. We hold politicians and preachers up on a pedestal, forgetting that they are human as well and seem to be surprised when they are caught at the local motel. We hold them to a higher standard because they hold themselves to a higher standard. WHEN THESE PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED THEY HURT ALOT OF PEOPLE!!!


I am not perfect and I will never claim to be. But what you see on Saturday is what you see on Sunday. If I want a beer, I'll go to the local store to get one and not to the nearest county so no one will see me. If Rhi and I are out at a reastaurant for dinner (which is rare) and we want an adult beverage we will get one. If the local pastor walks by I will make no attempt to hide the drink. To do so would be dishonest to myself and hypocritical.

My wish is for everyone to be truthful for who they are, what they are. If people are dishonest to themselves they will not only hurt themselves, but others around them.

Be honest to yourself, your family, your friends and to God. If you do not want to be held to a higher standard, don't climb upon a pedestal. Just be yourself.... it's OK.

andthatsthewayiseeit!

Life and Things Just Happen...Nobody's Fault

In the recent days of the tornado destruction in Alabama and elsewhere, many have asked "why.?" No one knows why bad things happen to good people and why good things happen to bad people.

I am reminded to the day my Mama died of cancer. I was a very committed Christian. Taught Sunday school, went on mission trips, led lost hearts to Christ and so forth. Everytime the church door opened, there I stood. When Mama died it hit me hard. Here was a strong woman, who knew and could do most anything...wasted away to a mere 80 or so pounds before she died. I stopped praying for Mama's healing and began praying for her death. Her suffering was to hard to watch. Mama did everything and suddenly she was not able to do anything.

The day she died was the day I needed my Mama the most. I was still recovering from my illness, which I nearly died, my Daddy was legally blind and close to having a leg amputated.... it was a rough time. Over time I learned how to cook, wash clothes, iron, make up beds, give my Daddy insulin shots. One day I went to church and a woman gave a "praise report." She awoke that morning with a bad headache and was heartbroken she would not be able to go to church. She said that God healed her headache so she could go to church. Well, needless to say that did not sit well with me. Her headache was trivial to me.... my Mom's life was more important than her trip to church I thought. That was the last time I saw the inside of a church for maybe ten years.

Over time I realized my Mom's death was not God's fault. It was not even the devil's fault..... it was rather just life. Everyone one of us will one day die. Good things will happen to us, bad things will happen to us. Some are things that happen are random and some things are self-inflicted wounds (bad decsions).

Bad weather happens because bad weather has always happened. Death happens because everyone will one day die. Things happen because life happens. Life is unfair and will always be unfair. Life is not what happens to us, but how we react to it.

On this Mother's Day I will will miss my Mama... but I am happy God placed me in her life. I am thankful for all the good and bad things that have happened in my life. Those things have made me who I am today and I am very happy with my life and my family. God has blessed my life.

MANY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO ALL OF US. DO NOT BLAME GOD NOR ANYONE ELSE, BUT INSTEAD HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN AND LEAVE THE REST UP TO GOD AND THE WIND.

.......andthatsthewayiseeit......