Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Children. Show all posts
Monday, February 5, 2024
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
"I wish the world would pay more attention to children. We could learn a lot from them."
Whether this is a true story or not doesn't matter to me. If this happened, it is a wonderful life lesson and shows something good occurring between people, a solidarity that spans age and experience and position. If it didn't happen, we can still say that someone wants this to happen enough that they thought about it, produced a story and a graphic, and it has become quite popular because others want to believe in love and solidarity. The intention and hope should get as much honor as the deed.
"This morning, during first period, my kids could tell that I was a little off. When they asked why I wasn’t acting normal I explained to them that my wife’s father had passed away this weekend and that I was worried about her. They all said they were sorry and then we got started on our work. While standing at my door giving hugs and high fives at dismissal to 2nd period one little girl put something in my hand. She told me “This is for your wife. I know it was real expensive when my daddy died and I don’t really want ice cream today anyways.” I wish the world would pay more attention to children. We could learn a lot from them."
Credit: Price Lawrence
"This morning, during first period, my kids could tell that I was a little off. When they asked why I wasn’t acting normal I explained to them that my wife’s father had passed away this weekend and that I was worried about her. They all said they were sorry and then we got started on our work. While standing at my door giving hugs and high fives at dismissal to 2nd period one little girl put something in my hand. She told me “This is for your wife. I know it was real expensive when my daddy died and I don’t really want ice cream today anyways.” I wish the world would pay more attention to children. We could learn a lot from them."
Credit: Price Lawrence
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Monday, December 26, 2022
A memory of a cold morning
This was posted by by Keith Betsy Cain on the Appalachian Americans Facebook page. Readers of this blog know that often I post here about Slovak coal miners ands steel workers. In fact, this blog began with a quote from the book "Out Of This Furnace," a wonderful book that tells the story of several generations of Slovak and Slovak American steel workers. The account below is so well written that I could feel myself warming up on a cold morning when I first read it.
These cold days sparked a memory for me. Dad worked at the coal mine and was always the first one up. On really cold days, he would wake me up a little early for school. I knew the routine well. I would sit up and rub my eyes while the sleeves of Daddy's white t-shirt, that I wore as a nightgown, would be near my wrists. I would take the sheet off my bed and head to the living room. There, in front of the hot air register, I would lay on my stomach with my feet touching the warm metal. Daddy would completly cover me with the sheet. Then I got to work, pulling the sides of the sheet under my body and using my feet to hold the sheet to the wall sealing the register inside the sheet with me. All I had to do now was wait for the furnace to kick on. (Now, I think Daddy probably went over to the thermostat and bumped it up) When it came on, warm air inflated my sheet tent. I would lay there surrounded by perfect warmth in my little cocoon while Daddy made me coffee-milk and toast humming and singing in English/Slovak. When the furnace shut off, breakfast was ready, and I was ready to start my day.
These cold days sparked a memory for me. Dad worked at the coal mine and was always the first one up. On really cold days, he would wake me up a little early for school. I knew the routine well. I would sit up and rub my eyes while the sleeves of Daddy's white t-shirt, that I wore as a nightgown, would be near my wrists. I would take the sheet off my bed and head to the living room. There, in front of the hot air register, I would lay on my stomach with my feet touching the warm metal. Daddy would completly cover me with the sheet. Then I got to work, pulling the sides of the sheet under my body and using my feet to hold the sheet to the wall sealing the register inside the sheet with me. All I had to do now was wait for the furnace to kick on. (Now, I think Daddy probably went over to the thermostat and bumped it up) When it came on, warm air inflated my sheet tent. I would lay there surrounded by perfect warmth in my little cocoon while Daddy made me coffee-milk and toast humming and singing in English/Slovak. When the furnace shut off, breakfast was ready, and I was ready to start my day.
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Some thoughts on where we come from
Waiting for the northbound train in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1921
during the Great Migration.
Youngsters from Washington D.C. in the early 1940s.
The following was written by Bobbie Rutledge and appeared on the Appalachian
Americans Facebook page:
I knew a man, he was a poor man but an honest and hardworking man. He pulled corn for $.25 cents a day. He graduated from high school in a time, where most young people did not. He wanted to go to University of Georgia to become a Soil Conservationist since he came from sharecroppers. He wanted to import their lives and see that they could own their own land. However he got a letter from Uncle Sam that he was needed. This man, who had never gone any further than 25 miles from Georgia went to Texas, California, Florida, France, and Germany. He drove a tank. When he got back he farmed along side his parents. He picked cotton from sun up till sundown with no complaints. He married a beautiful black haired lady. They had a child that was their world. The year the child was born his cotton crop made $50 and the hospital bill was $48. He finally decided that farming wasn’t gonna get since child any future. So he went to work driving he’s y equipment for the county he lived in grading roads thru the farm land he used to farm. That broke his heart. But life goes on. One day he was driving with his son in law , in the SIL new trick when they turned wrong and the SIL got on ONSTAR to find their way back. The man listened to the directions given and when they were back home, he turned to my hubby and said that was nice of that man to stay in the phone with us. Hubby laughed and said it was a computer. Daddy said well I swear, this came from a man, who walked to school, did his homework by lamplight and saw electric light come into his house. Saw TV come into it’s on. Finally got a telephone at the age of 40. This man who went without dinner so his child could eat. This man. Is who Americans have to thanks for being what we are today. This man is my Daddy, thanks Daddy, I sure miss you.
A Victorian street scene
From Journey of a Mountain Woman:
When I was growing up when a person was near death, the Drs would say 'call the family in' and in most cases no matter where they were they would go back to the old home place in the mountains. It was a duty and a thankfulness, and A loving grateful opportunity to say goodbye. we all dreaded to hear those words...call the family in. Things have changed but us old folks remember...we remember the goodbyes, the casket set up in the living room, us sitting up all night, drinking strong coffee, that last time. The house smelled of flowers and fried chicken and the table was laden with food brought in by neighbors. Many of us will grieve this Christmas for those who have left us. Many of us are the only one left of a large family and we will smile through the tears as we remember those sad words...call the family in. Have a good night and God bless.
Friday, December 9, 2022
Two from the Midnight Mom Devotional
Tonight we pray for the momma waiting for "someday". Lord, maybe she thinks to herself, "Someday I'll have a break, or it will be easier, or health will come, or money won't be so tight, or I'll have more time or I won't be so sad". Lord whatever the "someday" is that she's is waiting for help her know that You are with her now and will be with her when her "someday" comes which will be in Your perfect timing. Please give her peace and rest. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Tonight we pray for the momma who is exhausted to her core. Lord, she’s not just tired. She is at the end of herself. She has given every last ounce of her strength. Maybe it was something unexpected that came up or maybe it was just a little bit of everything this week. No matter the cause of her stress, Lord, we are asking You to help her. We are asking You to supernaturally strengthen her mind, body, and spirit. Remove all anxiety, worry and exhaustion and replace it with peace, joy and hope for tomorrow. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Tonight we pray for the momma who is exhausted to her core. Lord, she’s not just tired. She is at the end of herself. She has given every last ounce of her strength. Maybe it was something unexpected that came up or maybe it was just a little bit of everything this week. No matter the cause of her stress, Lord, we are asking You to help her. We are asking You to supernaturally strengthen her mind, body, and spirit. Remove all anxiety, worry and exhaustion and replace it with peace, joy and hope for tomorrow. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Please check out the Midnight Mom Devotional page on Facebook and their book of devotions.
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Ten Minutes of Torah---Dinah's Legacy by Rabbi Stacy Rigler
I hope that some readers of this blog are paying attention to my suggestion that Christians humbly engage with ReformJudaism.org and consider the Ten Minutes of Torah study that can be found there. Rabbi Stacy Rigler has a study of the story of Dinah (Genesis 32:4−36:43) that shows a good method for understanding theology and building bridges from the ancient past to today.
Rabbi Rigler writes
As a young rabbinic student, I thought that it was silence that perpetrated violence against women. I imagined if more people understood the prevalence of abuse, they would be more likely to act. In the past 20 years, as stories of abuse against women, trans and non-binary people, and children emerge in every arena, I wonder if the problem might be that these topics are so difficult, we avoid them all together. The story of the rape of Dinah in the middle of Genesis reminds us that sexual violence is part of every society and cannot be ignored . As I re-examined her story this year, I learned that Dinah was likely younger than 13 years old when she was raped.
It has been 20 years since I gave my first sermon on the rape of Dinah. In that time, the rates of reported sexual assault have declined and awareness of sexual violence has increased. There is so much more work to be done. Dinah's name means "justice." Together, this week and every week, let us continue to work towards justice to prevent the prevalence of sexual abuse in every arena... Reading the parashah this week we are reminded that sexual violence is part of our society, both in the past, and in our current day. How will you learn more, do more, listen more, to honor her legacy this week?
The Rabbi provides a helpful list of things that can be done to stop sexual abuse, sexual assault, and the victimization of children that speaks to circumstances within Jewish communities. We need Christians to step towards the work being done by Rabbi Rigler and adapt that for Christian communities.
Rabbi Rigler writes
As a young rabbinic student, I thought that it was silence that perpetrated violence against women. I imagined if more people understood the prevalence of abuse, they would be more likely to act. In the past 20 years, as stories of abuse against women, trans and non-binary people, and children emerge in every arena, I wonder if the problem might be that these topics are so difficult, we avoid them all together. The story of the rape of Dinah in the middle of Genesis reminds us that sexual violence is part of every society and cannot be ignored . As I re-examined her story this year, I learned that Dinah was likely younger than 13 years old when she was raped.
It has been 20 years since I gave my first sermon on the rape of Dinah. In that time, the rates of reported sexual assault have declined and awareness of sexual violence has increased. There is so much more work to be done. Dinah's name means "justice." Together, this week and every week, let us continue to work towards justice to prevent the prevalence of sexual abuse in every arena... Reading the parashah this week we are reminded that sexual violence is part of our society, both in the past, and in our current day. How will you learn more, do more, listen more, to honor her legacy this week?
The Rabbi provides a helpful list of things that can be done to stop sexual abuse, sexual assault, and the victimization of children that speaks to circumstances within Jewish communities. We need Christians to step towards the work being done by Rabbi Rigler and adapt that for Christian communities.
Monday, December 5, 2022
A Prayer For Freedom---From The Midnight Mom Devotional
Tonight we pray for the momma who wants more freedom. Lord, she might want more freedom in her schedule. She might need more freedom in her finances. She might be desperate for freedom from past hurts or regret. She might just want more freedom to be herself or to do what she really wants to do. Tonight, Lord, we pray that this momma would find fresh hope, opportunity, and freedom as 2022 comes to a close. We pray that freedom would flood into every trapped and frustrated place in her heart and life. Give her an anticipation of hope to replace every anxiety. We ask in Jesus’s name, Amen.
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Somewhere there is a truck driver who deserves some great thanks...
Thank you! Thank YOU! YOU made his day (and his momma & daddy’s days, too!) Please if you know C H Hall trucking telling them whoever did this is awesome! And everyone else that honks/ beeps for him. Sincerely, Momma Bear
Credit: Peggy Kribs Cadd and Daily Dose Of Kindness
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Think about it, smile about it, pray on it, pass it on or leave it on the shelf...
(Some of my friends will get this, some won't.)
Friday, November 11, 2022
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Why do moms yell?
A friend of mine in Virginia posted this on her Facebook page last night. I know that she's a good mom, and I know that she gives great advice, so please pay attention. She got this post from 1000001 Useful Info. I don't know anything about them, but they seem like compassionate people. We used to say "Mama is always on stage," meaning that everyone watches a mama but very few people offer to help. Sometimes when you see a mama getting a little upset you might say something like "My, what a wonderful child you have!" or just offer a kind word or smile. Help her out.
Why do moms yell?
Because we’re overwhelmed.
Because no one’s listening.
Because our kids are about to get hurt. “Don’t put your hand in there!”
Because the mess keeps piling up, and we're the only ones cleaning nonstop.
We yell as our arms charge up and down into the air.
We scream as our voice accelerates and our cheeks flush.
And then after we do, we feel immense guilt, defeated, and like we want to break down into tears.
We don't want to get to that point. We hate when it happens. But it does more than we'd like to admit.
Are all moms angry, and that's why we yell? No, we don’t wake up this way.
We find ourselves losing it because this parenting thing is hard.
We lose it because we have so much anxiety and no outlet.
We lose it because we’re exhausted to the point where our brain is functioning at 10% battery, and we need more than a good night's sleep to recover. We need a break: because we’re tired of doing everything, of nobody listening, of not being appreciated.
But just because we lose it doesn’t make us bad parents. We’re just humans who care more than anything in this world about our children and the type of humans they'll become, all while wanting to keep them safe, that we get frustrated with them and mess up ourselves.
We don’t want them to be brats. So, sometimes we yell.
We don’t want them to hurt each other, and if they do that to each other, they must do that to other kids. So, sometimes we yell.
We care so much about them that we get run down from trying so hard all the time…
…so, of course, we lose it.
And you’re not alone in this constant battle of losing it and feeling bad. Every single parent struggles because we’re human, and parenting’s messy, so we aren’t going to stay calm every confrontation of the day.
So if this is you today,
give yourself grace,
apologize for losing it,
and try better next time.
You’re still a good mom.
: This Mama Doodles
: Living FULL
For more stories/posts like these follow us at: 1000001 Useful Info
Because we’re overwhelmed.
Because no one’s listening.
Because our kids are about to get hurt. “Don’t put your hand in there!”
Because the mess keeps piling up, and we're the only ones cleaning nonstop.
We yell as our arms charge up and down into the air.
We scream as our voice accelerates and our cheeks flush.
And then after we do, we feel immense guilt, defeated, and like we want to break down into tears.
We don't want to get to that point. We hate when it happens. But it does more than we'd like to admit.
Are all moms angry, and that's why we yell? No, we don’t wake up this way.
We find ourselves losing it because this parenting thing is hard.
We lose it because we have so much anxiety and no outlet.
We lose it because we’re exhausted to the point where our brain is functioning at 10% battery, and we need more than a good night's sleep to recover. We need a break: because we’re tired of doing everything, of nobody listening, of not being appreciated.
But just because we lose it doesn’t make us bad parents. We’re just humans who care more than anything in this world about our children and the type of humans they'll become, all while wanting to keep them safe, that we get frustrated with them and mess up ourselves.
We don’t want them to be brats. So, sometimes we yell.
We don’t want them to hurt each other, and if they do that to each other, they must do that to other kids. So, sometimes we yell.
We care so much about them that we get run down from trying so hard all the time…
…so, of course, we lose it.
And you’re not alone in this constant battle of losing it and feeling bad. Every single parent struggles because we’re human, and parenting’s messy, so we aren’t going to stay calm every confrontation of the day.
So if this is you today,
give yourself grace,
apologize for losing it,
and try better next time.
You’re still a good mom.
: This Mama Doodles: Living FULLFor more stories/posts like these follow us at: 1000001 Useful Info
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Some encouragement for today
I pray my daughter is stronger than me. I pray she doesn't accept things I've accepted. I pray she knows when to fight for something/someone and when to walk away. I pray she never feels abandoned, unloved, and unappreciated. I pray she knows her worth. I pray she knows how special she is even if I'm the only one assuring her. I pray she knows that no matter what, she always has me whether it's physically or spiritually. My precious baby girl, I pray she's so much better than me.
Sunday, October 30, 2022
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