Family

Families are fun and sometimes funny! "They" say "You may chose your friends, but you have to learn to live with your family". Doing family history, it becomes evident that not only physical features, but personalities are passed down and around. And of course, the ideas, morals, values, and prejudices have their impact, as well. We should accept the idea that we are all part of the family of mankind. If we made an effort to overlook the differences perceived in our neighbor and looked for the goodness, we could achieve more harmony. We all become a product of our experiences. Good or bad, they influence us. We need to reflect and try to understand, not only our response, but also give some thought to why the other person chose such an action. And poor choices by a single person should not condemn any one else except them, not the rest of their family, ethnic group, or their church family.

One of the many things we must do for our children, is teach them tolerance. To pass on our prejudices and hatred is truly ignorant and sinful.

GIFTS

The gift of :

listening
affection
laughter
compliment
favor
solitude
cheerful disposition
a note of love or appreciation

The best gifts are priceless and cost little!

RIPPLES

Watch a pebble tossed into water-

The ripples spread out and finally fade.

Our life is like the quiet pool.

Our first responsibility is to ourselves.(the center)

Our spouse comes next.

Our children, our parents, siblings, & family.

Our friends & neighbors-

Our fellow townsmen-

For most of us, our time, ability, and finances will seldom reach out much further than this. We can never be of service to others, if we do not take good care of our own health and well being first. Then the priorities!My few discretionary dollars will go further and aid more people, if they are spent as close to my home as possible and go thru as few hands and bureaucracies as absolutely necessary. Yes, I am sure there are needs, worthy needs, around our State, around our Rocky Mountain area, and in our country. And most surely in other spots around our World. But if we each care for the area where we reside, surely more of the dollars would arrive at the needed spot, and not be spent (lost) in the paperwork & expenses, or be in danger of being mishandled. Isn't that what we all strive for? To do as much good as is possible. To use our money wisely and care for those nearby, should not diminish our charity, but be seen as a thoughtful and planned use of our limited resources. In a perfect world, no child would be hungry or cold. Our limited funds will feed and warm more children, if they are spent closer to home. More bang for the buck!

HURRY!

What is to be gained by rushing through each day. It is quicker and easier to do something correctly the first time, than to redo it it,when the problem is discovered, and no one else has been inconvenienced by our mistake. Taking time to think, plan and review decisions and actions result in better choices, saving time, effort, money, or heartache. What wonderful things do we accomplish with the few extra minutes we have saved by our hastiness?

On the highway, someone passes you going well over the posted speed limit. Over the next hill, you find them parked along the side of the road, discussing their poor choice with a Wyoming Highway patrolman. Or even sadder, you see them in the midst of a traffic accident.

We find the time to do what we want.

Do we listen to our excuses: as we say out loud, "I didn't have time to call you, visit you, write a note, do what I had promised to do, etc....".

If we made time to walk and exercise, perhaps we could lower our blood pressure. If we planned our days a bit, and gave our schedule some thought, perhaps we could fulfill our obligations and still do some of the things we would enjoy doing. When asked to make a commitment, perhaps we should pause and think before agreeing to ONE more chore. Priorities!

Time is money. Time is precious. Do we plan and use our few hours wisely? If we knew that this was to be our last day on Earth, how would we revise our schedule?

Perhaps it is our last day!

Perhaps we should review our choices!

ETHICS

My world is BLACK and WHITE.

NO, there is no gray.

Gray is a way of saying "But I WANT to do the wrong thing!"

Something is either right or it is wrong. And doing the wrong thing secretively makes it worse, if that is possible. If you must hide what you are doing, you are already admitting to yourself that this is a wrong.

Choices!

We make many choices each day, and we and our family, friends, and coworkers are affected by them. We are and should be held responsible for them, good choices or poor choices.

OPINIONS #2

The first post was about opinions.

Common sense, ethics, priorities--

such "old fashioned" ideas.

Money or the lack there of--a hot topic, but does anyone sit down with a paper and pencil and really look at their monetary situation? How many have a budget? How many know the amount of interest they pay each month (on their debt)? Do they figure out how much that new car, new item of clothing, or that purchase made on a whim, will really cost. How many hours will they need to work to pay the bill? Do they really need or want it to spend that much of their life to pay for it?

Common sense 101--perhaps if NOT taught at home, should become a required class for our high schools?