Tag: God

Are We A Family?

What is a Family?

What does a really good one look like? Is there such a thing?

I surely don’t have an answer. And yesterday, as I was minutes from leaving my house for the airport, I quietly wondered if I even have a clue.

The car was packed with my carry-on suitcase and small backpack. I was all set to drive to Orlando International Airport for a business trip to Niagara Falls.

“Goodbye Mom and Dad”.

My Father-In-Law started to cry after he shook my hand. He never cries. “What’s wrong”?, I asked.

Next thing I know we had a 20-minute conversation about life and the physical hardships of getting old.

They are 83 and 86, and when I get get back home today, they’ll be back in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

They’ve been visiting us for several weeks, to witness our Son’s First Holy Communion.

To make a long story short, I am challenged to know what to do, what to say or when to do it or when to say it.

Mother Theresa said something to this effect, “The way to create World Peace is to go home and Love your Family“. Humbly, jeff 🙂

Some mistakes are easier to make

Mistakes!

We all make them. We all are “victims” of them. We can never escape that reality that we’ll continue to make more.

Maybe all we can hope for is two simple things.

1. To try to make fewer mistakes as we grow.

2. To forgive ourselves (and others) when a mistake happens.

Case in point, five minutes ago, at 6:47AM, I realized I’ve been working since 5:00Am, and forgot to kneel and pray after waking. Remember the post a few days ago where I challenged myself to start every day on my knees?

Anyway, I forgot this morning. So I simply forgave myself, walked back to the bedroom, knelt and prayed.

Easy.

Our dog followed me from our office to the bedroom. With my eyes closed, I could hear him enter. I extended my hand out.

I knew he would accept it and place his muzzle on my hand. Then he nestled right up next to me.

He’s so predictable. His love is an unconditional love. My goal in life is to become the kind of person he thinks I am.

Do you have a big goal? Hope so. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Why?

Why do I write five blogs every day?

Not sure exactly. Trying to figure it out actually.

Maybe this is why:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For whatever measure you use, it will be measured to you”. — Luke 6:38

There’s a part of me that (probably falsely) believes if I pour myself out to try to make the world a better place, in my own small way, that God will protect my Family. Sort of like a trade off.

I pay the price to try to help others, so that my Family will receive whatever help it needs.

That was really sort of weird to write that. Not sure I like how it sounds. Maybe I shouldn’t post it.

For now, I will. I’m more afraid of not trying, than I am of making mistakes. This may be a mistake, but at least I tried.

Today may be a great day for you to try. Carpe diem, jeff 🙂

Lord’s Prayer every morning?

At the beginning of April, I decided to see if I could develop a new habit.

Habits are easy to start if you’re not trying, especially if they are something that sounds like this:

“The easier it is to do, the harder it is to stop“.

So it also works this way:

“The harder it is to do, the harder it is to change“.

Don’t believe it? Then try to wake up and kneel by your bed, for just a minute, to say a few prayers. “Dude, if it were easy, you’d already be doing it”, is what I say to myself.

Made 26 straight days, until this morning. I’m forgiving myself though. Know why?

I woke up in at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village, in a spectacular room with a spectacular view. Disney Vacation Club’s newest offering opens May 1.

I later said the three payers in the car as I drove to downtown Orlando, to do my civic duty as a Juror.

Good luck tomorrow on whatever it is you are trying to do or stop doing. I know first hand the challenges, and rewards, for not giving up.

Get started and never stop. Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂