Shobee Do, I Wanna Be Like You Oo Oo - Paging Dr. Freud!

"Oh, oobee doo, I wanna be like you oo oo, I wanna walk like you, Talk like you, oo oo too.  You'll see it's true."   Do those lyrics sound familiar?  Well, think back to 1967 with a crazy orangutan, a big lovable bear and an orphaned jungle boy.  Remember now?  That's right.  Disney's Jungle Book.  Of course by now, for those of you that weren't around in 1967, I'm fairly certain that you have it on DVD or the old fashioned format - VHS.   

Since this song popped into my head a few days ago, I really should explain why.  The thanks goes to my really cool kid, my wonderful, wonderful son, the closet psychologist, the junior professor and all around incredible person, has done it again!  He left me speechless with a humina humina humina look on my face and a lack of immediate response as I retook control of my car and averted from driving off the road!

He analyzes everyone and everything around him.  Some days, it drives me absolutely nuts.  Others, I just sit back and marvel at this gift he has for putting things in perfect perspective, and that my friends, is exactly what happened a few days ago.

Early on, we knew he was special, and where some kids excelled in sports, he didn't.  He wasn't always the most popular kid or the coolest kid when he was younger, and because of that, there were a lot of days that he just sat back, looked at the world and formulated his opinions, about EVERYTHING!  But, he has always been taught that for any lack of ability that he may have in one area, God gave him amazing gifts in others and he proves that point on a daily basis.  I admire him so much for that, but also for his innate honesty, gentle nature, his meticulous care about anything he is passionate about, and most of all, for his ability to just be himself.  I really wish you could know him.  He is such a cool kid and he makes me a very proud mama.

One day last week, we were driving home from an outing and he pops up out of silence and says "mom, can we talk about something?"  "Sure son, what's up?"  At that point, he sat up straight and ended his period of sitting stunningly quiet for several minutes and he put his Dr. Freud hat on and began to analyze people places and things from some of his encounters of the week.  He is much like me and uses way too many words when only a few will do, but he usually does put everything into obvious perspective and very much, to the point.  

That "mom, can we talk about something?" from past experiences tells me we are in for a long drawn out deeply intellectual conversation.  Sometimes, if the timing is not right, It's not unusual that I stop him in his tracks and tell him to take his professor hat off and just be my son, my video game, music loving, tech school son.  For what it's worth, you don't need the blow by blow details, but on this particular day, I got an earful, not to mention a brain overload and the more I thought about, the more I marveled at this deduction.

Let's just call it EPD, and it wouldn't be me or Lifes Morsels if the EPD, didn't lead into "the rest of the story".  So here goes!  In his words, and I quote "mom, in my educated way of thinking, I believe and feel very strongly about this, that so and so suffers from Emulative Personality Disorder...."

"WHAT"  I about ran the car off the edge of the road.  Where did that come from?  When did my child graduate 4 years of college, attend grad school and get a degree in psychology?  Son, where have you heard that term?"  "No where, but mom, it's perfectly obvious to me.  Seriously mom, it's so obvious!"

Okay, okay.  Had he made that up?  Was it real?  I asked him to explain his "diagnosis", and this is what I got.  Who knows, he may have learned this because of some video game...who knows.

"Okay mom, I will make this easy for you."  (Should I smack him now or later for that remark or just let it ride this time?)  My own curiousity led me to let it ride - THIS TIME.  "Mom, do you know what emulate means?"  "Yes, son, I do.  What does it mean to you?"  "Well, it means to imitate someone or something and try and excel at what you're imitating."

At this point in time, I'm amazed, I'm thankful that I have not run the car up a tree and I'm kind of hoping that maybe, just maybe, he has this whole thing all wrong and I will have the task of explaining the word and it's meaning(s), but darn it, that wasn't going to happen!  He was spot on, 100% spot on and has once again, left me driving down the road with my mouth hanging wide open, literally searching for words.  Okay, I'm going to give him this one.  He's right, 100% right.  I was so befuddled by his comment, I actually went in the house, pulled up the online dictionary just to verify what he said so eloquently.  

Well, that incident aside, I've pondered his diagnosis over the past couple of days, and realized, that to a degree, we all have EPD, especially after I did some research on his newly coined term.  The term doesn't exist.  He created it, the condition and the diagnosis based solely on observation.  Wow!  Now I'm sure that some where out there, there is a licensed and degreed psychologist that is going to tell me that the condition is real, but is known as _____________ disorder.  Fill in the blanks, please!

What this means for him, is that he is some days, too smart for his own good, very intuitive and brilliant at discerning "issues" that affect other people.  What it means for me is that, now that my mouth is closed, I have realized that once again, this child that I have raised to be a handsome young man, may just be on the verge of being smarter than his mama, well at least about some things!  I think I need to study more!

Let's go back to my comment about all of us having EPD.  In Jungle Book, King Louie (the orangutan wanted to be like man, Mowgli wanted to be like Baloo and live in the Jungle, Baloo wanted to be Papa Bear.  So, think about it, we all at times want to be like someone else, and I am no exception.  Whatever happened to little girls being like "mommy" as they cared for their Tiny Tears doll or the Betsy Wetsy (really dating myself here!)  Now, our little girls aren't allowed by advertisers and entertainers to be "little girls".  They push them into emulating their favorite teen idol.  Some of them like to dress the part (not always appropriate), act like them (definitely  not always appropriate) and dance and sing their songs (which are also sometimes inappropriate).  Little boys turn into "punks" at an earlier age and take on that macho, tough guy persona that they see in their  favorite game characters, comic heroes, sports stars, musicians and more. 

Years pass, time seems to move a little more quickly as we age, and some times way too late, we realize that our children are growing up in a world that never stops, doesn't even slow down, a world that seems to promote a serious lack of morals.  And our children, well this is all thrust at them so intensely, that unless monitored and controlled, their minds are  often filled with  negative things that they begin to "emulate".

At the very "mature" age of 10, 13, 15 or so, that "I know it all, gonna do it my way or else attitude" kicks in with a fierceness.  In some kids, it's short lived.  In others, heaven help us all, it lasts for a decade or so.  But guess what, they all do eventually grow up, in spite of themselves.  And so do we as their parents.  In all honesty, I'm 57, and according to my mother, I haven't quite grown up YET!  But that's okay.  Our kids want to be older, and we would all love, some days especially, to be a little younger.  DON'T DENY IT!  You know you do!

Back to EPD.  Let's put a new spin on this whole emulative personality disorder thing and turn it around to be a positively awesome way to live our lives.  If you had one person, one existence, that you wanted to emulate, who, what would it be?

Dreams of grandiose homes with fabulous rooms and treasures, swimming pools, cars, trips around the world or to places that intrigue us; incredible wardrobes, perfect bodies, thick flowing hair, beautiful complexions, no money worries...those are just a few of the ideas that pop into any of our minds from time to time.

Put your breaks on for a moment.  If you had all of the above, then what?  What's next?  Who, what, where?  You've got all the worldly toys and qualities that you ever dreamed of, but there's still something missing.  So you dream some more, you search some more...

Yes, I would love to be free of money woes.  I want a living room that is big enough that I can have more than 5 guests at a time and have them not fall over each other in the process of sitting down.  I would love to have a professional kitchen with a 6 burner gas stove, flat top griddle, indoor grill, double professional ovens and enough cabinet space so that my counters were cleared off and spotless - a place for everything and everything in it's place.  I want a swimming pool, a fireplace that works, perfect hair, no dark circles under my eyes, a body that even the stars would envy, and so on and so on and so on.  I think you get the point.

BUT, so many of those things are just that, things.  When I take my final breath from life on this earth, "those" things aren't going with me.  They are staying here.  They might stay well kept, they might not.  Again, they are things, BUT, I wanted them, I wanted to emulate the people I know that had them, but they will do me no good.  Period.  They are just "things".  All the years that I have pined over a big professional grade kitchen, or having that sparkling blue oasis in my back yard, I wanted to emulate those that did have them and more often than not, felt cheated and envious because I didn't have them.  

Things, just things.  They are not priceless, they are not part of my treasures stored in Heaven.  They are all part of earthly "stuff".  Some of us have them, some of us don't.  

As for that thick head of long flowing perfect hair and tanned, honed body to go with it, guess what?  Those stay behind too!  As we take our last breath and begin our final journey, that for some of us, leads us to the gates of Heaven, we take on a new body, a perfect body, no pain, no problems, no dark circles, no thinning hair.  At that moment, as a Christian, we will for the first time in our lives, embody perfection.  Wow!

I look forward to someday walking and talking one to one and face to face with my Creator and having only perfect joyous days ahead of me without aches and pains and sorrows.

So, as you sit here reading this, I hope you've enjoyed yet one more tale from life with my boy.  But, I also hope that you've taken a moment or two to think about what's been said.  EPD!  Where are you with that phrase?  To whom, to what, or where does your own case of emulative personality disorder lead you - the right way or the hhmmm hmmmm way?  

Remember, you can't take it with you.  Choose the right path for your life?  Who do you want to "emulate"?  When you make the right decision(s) about who or what you want to "emulate", to be like, then those last two words "personality disorder" don't exist for you anymore, only that first fancy word that my incredibly smart and sensitive son tossed at me and that is simply "emulate" or "imitate".  I want to emulate Jesus...I don't want to be better than Him, but I sure do want to be like Him.  I already know the glory of the Lord, His forgiveness, His love.  I want to someday take that final journey to that place where I am welcomed with open arms by the One that knew me and everything about me before I was even a twinkle.  I want to live my earthly life in such a way that there is no doubt in anyone's mind about my final journey. 

Here's a thought for you in closing.  If you find yourself being envious or desiring things that are out of reach and more "wants" instead of "needs", replace everything on your list with a commitment to emulate love, decency, forgiveness, compassion, honesty and understanding.

As for right now, just go hug throw your arms around someone and tell them how special they are to you.  Whether it's your kids, your spouse, a brother or sister, your parents, a friend, co-worker, just do it.  #1, you will surprise the daylights out of them and they may very well think that you've lost your mind, but moreover, you may start something that has the potential for paying it forward and spreading to more and more.  Isn't that what's about?  Let them know just how special they are and for the simple reasons, not the store bought, glitz and glamor ones.  Thank them for being in your life.  Emulate the love of God for everyone and everything around you, even those that are by all practical and ethical observations, people that you just really don't like, despise or can't seem to find room for them in your own circle of life.  You never know what good might come from it!  

In Matthew 22:36-40, a question is asked of Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  To which Jesus replied "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.'."  Oh, by the way, did you know Matthew was somewhat of a scoundrel and not looked upon favorably by most people.  Jesus didn't see him that way, and...well you know the rest of the story.  Jesus loved him and He loves you and me!  Don't emulate the scoundrel, take the right path!

Here's to working on my case of EPD, and I hope you work on yours too!  Emulate the good stuff!  Blessings to you all in Jesus, my Savior....

As always,

Kaye

ps - thought you might enjoy this.  Who are you?  Mowgli, King Louie or Baloo?

Gaspar, Melchior, Balthasar and You!

If you follow the Christian calendar, tomorrow is the Feast of the Three Kings or Joyeux Noel in France.  It is also known as Twelfth Night and it is the beginning of Epiphany.  It marks the day that the three kings arrived in Bethlehem to visit the newborn King.  In late November and most of December, we were in the season of Advent.  Advent is an exciting time in the church.  It's a season of hope and anticipation leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ.   Christmas!  Christmas runs right up to the twelfth night celebration, and depending upon which calendar your church follows, it is either January 5th or 6th.  And so begins Epiphany, a season of discovery, awakening, a day of divine manifestation.  The day of the three kings, the Magi, and a celebration of their "discovery" in the little town of Bethlehem.  (Good name for a Christmas carol, isn't it?)

I jump around a lot when I read my Bible.  I'm not a cover to cover type person.  I have read it cover to cover, but when I have something on my mind, I look up scripture and read and look up more and read until things fall into place in my head.  

If you paid attention to the title today, you see three rather unusual names: Gaspar (which has several variations and spellings), Melchior and Balthasar.  WHO ARE THESE GUYS?  Research!  Here I come and this is what I found.  First, the Gospel of Matthew is the only place in the whole Bible that talks about visitors from the East; AND I've read Matthew over and over and over, specifically Matthew 1:2.  No where in that chapter did I find names for the three travelers from the East.  As a matter of fact, I couldn't find them in the Bible at all.  AND, big AND, it doesn't even really say that there were actually three of them or that they were even kings.  But, assumptions being what they are, historians assumed that there were indeed three and that they most certainly had to be of a higher stature in order to afford the lavish gifts that they brought with them for the Baby King.  Three gifts, three wise men, or kings.  (I know there is a joke about finding three wise men together in one place, but let's not go there right now).  So, my question is simply this "who decided that these three guys were aptly named Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar?  The only thing mentioned in Matthew is the gifts they brought with them for the Baby, gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Hmm.  Ponder, Ponder, Ponder.  Here's my answer.  I don't really know.  If the three were from the East, my guess is that they were probably from Persia (which by the way, is now what we know to be Iran), and maybe, there were historical records back to that time and there were really three wise men with those names, and maybe, just maybe, they all went on a journey together at about the time that Christ was born.  That's a lot of maybes, but here's my best, best guess.  Don't worry about it.  Their names are not important, only the reason for their journey, and that was following that one bright star that led them to Bethlehem to see the Babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger, to see and honor the newborn King.  Besides, the ONLY ONE that really counts was lying in that manger nestled down in the hay.  And, God already knew their names before their journey even began.  Tomorrow is a celebration.  Are you going to celebrate?  Just remember, it is not three Kings that we celebrate, but four.  That fourth one is more important than the other three, but I'm sure you already figured that out.

I mentioned in a previous blog, that there wouldn't be Christmas without Easter.  One of my friends told me that I had perplexed them when I said that and they had never really given it any thought.  It was really kind of neat to see that light bulb click on over their head.  I love to make people think, really think.  They tried to convince me that it was a chicken and egg dilemma.  No, no dilemma at all.  Later that day, I got a phone call and all that was said was "I GET IT".  I'm so glad!  The only way God could save us from ourselves was to sacrifice Himself for us as a man.  With that being said, the sacrifice for our salvation was an important part of the first Christmas and God coming to Earth in human form as a tiny babe completed the plan.  It's "frontwards and backwards" all at the same time.  You couldn't have one without the other.  You wouldn't have Christmas without Easter without Christmas without Easter, and so on, and so on, and so on.

Do you remember when your children were babies?  They seemed tiny, helpless, totally dependent upon you for their every need.  You look at them as they lay snuggled in your arms and you wonder what their future will be.  We have no idea, do we?  But quietly cuddled up in Mary's arms, was a tiny baby boy, like every baby born in every aspect, but one.  This tiny precious life that came to us through an immaculate conception and a virgin birth, was God Himself, a Baby born to wear a crown of thorns.  A Baby born to grow up to be a man that would willingly spread his arms on a rugged wooden cross and sacrifice His life for our salvation.  By His wounds, we are healed.  Praise God.  Mary's faith and love for God and this Child in her arms sustained her for her entire life and kept her strong and guided her all the days of HIS earthly life and ultimately, His death on the cross.

God is all about His plans for all of us and we need to be all about taking the time to be still and quiet and just listen.  It's so amazing what can be accomplished when we take the time to do just that, listen and march on with what what He calls each and every one of us to do.  Have faith and remember, if you are listening with your ears, you won't hear it.  You have to listen with your heart.

I'm going to leave this right here.  I just want you to celebrate a little tomorrow, maybe quietly, maybe a special dinner fit for a King, maybe renew your passion and your commitment for the One that planned for you from the very beginning.  Close your eyes.  Place yourself in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.  You witness a huge pressing crowd and you see shepherds and peasants and animals as well.  You hear beautiful harmonies wafting through the night air.  There's a damp chill in the air and then you sense an unexplainable hushed anticipation as you draw closer and closer so that you can see, so you can be a part of that tiny radiant miracle born to save us and give us ever lasting life.  A beautiful, but tired young woman beckons you closer.  You hesitate and then you see Him.  As you drop to your knees, you are overcome with an awe and a peace and love that has laid itself out before you.  You know, you just know.  As you kneel there before Him, you have words, but cannot speak, all you can do is quietly weep and smile at the glory of God that lies in His mother's arms, cooing and smiling sweet little baby smiles.  All you can do is whisper sweet praises to God for what you see before you, a perfectly beautiful tiny baby boy, the newborn King, your Savior.  And then, with everything you have inside of you, you glance at His mother for her nod of approval as you reach out to gently touch a tiny hand and simply welcome Him to our world. 

I send Peace and continued blessings to each and every one of you, may the love and spirit of Christmas AND Easter, carry you through each day as you travel through life.

As Always, In Him!

Kaye

OMG! - The Candy Man

See that picture on the right?  Do you now what it is?  It's "OH MY GOODNESS" wonderful stuff that's not necessarily good for us!  A sweet tooth's dream vacation - the candy aisle in your local grocery store!

I have a sweet tooth as big as the Grand Canyon.  I love candy, anything chocolate, everything sweet and yummy!  I would imagine that quite a few of you do as well.  I am SO BAD, that I recently hit pay-dirt browsing the seasonal candy aisle at my local grocery store.  EVERYTHING LEFT FROM CHRISTMAS WAS 75% OFF!  OMG!!!!!!!!  Jellies, caramels, cotton candy in the little buckets, soft peppermints.  Oh my stars, I just about had to ask for some smelling salts to revive me from my sugary stupor!  I did buy some wonderful minty things and a couple of buckets of cotton candy.  (The buckets were cute, they looked like snowmen and the cotton candy was white.  Had to be healthy, no artificial coloring!  Right!).  Oh, whatever!  Who am I kidding, anyway.  What's really funny, my blood sugar is normal and so is my cholesterol!  All that extra candy in my house AFTER Christmas - I must be out of my mind.  January is for fresh starts, losing weight, making resolutions that get broken and learning to cutback on those tasty treats that we consumed so much of over the holidays.  Sometimes, it seems virtually impossible to not over-imbibe from Thanksgiving through New Years!

My candy dishes are all full, plumb to the top of each one.  I have candy canes happily sharing a snowman mug, and, my snowman themed cotton candy is down to one container.  And then, it happened!  I went to visit a friend and she shared a little piece of heaven on earth with a special candy concoction made by another friend of hers.  If you have texture issues, skip over this next part.  Actually, if you don't like jello or anything similar, definitely skip over this next part.  These scrumptious little 1" cubes were a blend of cranberry jelly, raspberry jello, chopped walnuts and plain old sugar.  As I sit here writing this, I've consumed 4 of the 8 that she sent home with me.  They are DIVINE!  Sweet and tart all at the same time and I MUST HAVE MORE!

Within reason, I'm sure that just one of them is enough to send me into a diabetic tailspin, and here I've had four.  OH MY, OH MY, OH MY!  Very glad that my annual physical is not tomorrow, they'd probably set me up for a glucose tolerance test!  Regardless, thank you for those wonderful sugary cubes.  They are divine and absolutely the best thing that I've had in a long, long time, well maybe today, anyway, because, yesterday, I finished off my stash of gluten free whoppie pies that my mother made for me.  My cookie jar is so, so sad.  It's empty!  Insert frowning emoticon right here!

Have you ever heard the term "land of milk and honey"?  Any idea where it came from?  Believe it or not, it actually has Biblical origins.  It's how God described Canaan.  You can read about it in the book of Exodus 3:8, God talks to Moses and tells him that he wants him to lead His people out of Egypt and into the land of Canaan, a spacious land, rich and fertile.  So, what did Moses do...HE ARGUED!  He thought himself to be a nobody.  However, here he is, standing barefoot, as God directed him to remove his sandals because he was standing on holy ground.  AND, God's voice was coming out of a bush that was burning but not being destroyed in the process.  Now, if given that same circumstance, I think I would not have had any second thoughts at all.  I think I might have answered differently.  I definitely don't think I would have argued.  If anything, I think I probably would have been dumbstruck and unable to speak at the sight and sound of this Holy miracle before me.  How about you?

God knew that His people would be a hard sell when Moses came down from the mountain and shared the story.  So, He gave him some pretty miraculous powers in order to help them believe.  It all started with a walking stick and when thrown to the ground, it became a snake, but when Moses picked it up by the tail, it turned back into a walking stick.  Pretty amazing stuff.  God also had Moses put his very healthy hand inside his robes and pull it back out again.  When he did, it was diseased and covered with sores, but when he put it back inside his robes and removed it again, it was healthy.  After all of this, Moses still argued with God.  He fussed and carried on about not being a good speaker, slow and boring.  God still persisted and He reminded Moses that it was He, God, that gave him his mouth, his sight, his hearing, and it was HE, God that would give him the ability to speak.  And, ready for it....Moses still argued!  So, God sent in Aaron, his brother, to be the voice and speak to the people as Moses told him what to say.  He had Moses keep that fancy walking stick, too, because Moses would use it to perform miracles.  I love the book of Exodus.  I don't get tired of it, because to me, it's about every single one of us, every day, actually, every moment of our lives.  It is about listening to God, and as I've said so many times before, not with our ears, but our hearts.  It's about trusting God.  It's about obeying God.

You know, one of the things that speaks volumes to me, is God's response to Moses when he asks Him what he should tell the Israelites when they ask what His (God's) name is.  God's response "I am who I am".  "The one Who is called I Am, has sent me to you".  Two words, two simple little words carry the power, the glory, the majesty of everything that we are, that we have, that surrounds us.  I AM.

With that in mind, I'm going to jump back to my candy nirvana and let you see where this is all going.  Think of it like this - imagine those tempting, tasty sugary hunks of yumminess as a symbol of good and bad.  In moderation, these things make us smile, they make us happy, they satisfy a need for that little bit of sweetness that we crave from time to time.  In excess, they can be really devastating to our bodies, our health in general, but yet, knowing that it is not good for us, we persist and we over-indulge and we deal with the consequences - cavities, diabetic issues, weight gain (good ole spare tire or "done-lops" disease [your belly done loped over your waistband]).  A little may be okay, but over consumption can be disastrous - with anything, not just candy and sweets!

God's plan was for His chosen people to be led into a land that they would have to fight for, but ultimately, would provide for them in every way.  There was enough space for everyone and rich, fertile soil that would provide for them, if they would only listen, and obey.  Those instructions don't seem to tough, but almost all of us have a hard time doing it, even today.  Remember, God is Good, Very Very Good!  All of the time!  Don't doubt, just trust, have faith, and obey......

Time for a sentimental journey for us baby-boomers.  Remember the original version of ''Willy Wonka"?  Remember the scene in the beginning with all of the kids pressed up to the candy counter and the store owner begins to spin a tale for them about "The Candy Man"?  Of course you do.  I don't know too many people that haven't seen that movie.  It's unforgettable!  And, if you think about the words, Willy Wonka may just be a fictional character, but God isn't.  He's as real as sunrises sprinkled with dew, and rainbows and wishes and dreams.....  He's as real as you and me.  He's the first breath I take every morning and the miracle of life and death.  He's bigger than the Universe and could hold everything in it in the palms of His hands, and small enough to offer you His lap and His shoulder to lay your weary head on when you just need that quiet time and to know that everything really will be okay.

The lyrics to the song, The Candy Man Can, really say a lot about us.  And just for a moment, a brief moment, isn't God our Candy Man?  So, read them, think about the analogy and then tell Him thanks!  Enjoy the song too.  I want to send you out into your day with this song, these lyrics stuck in your head.  I want you to smile when you see the dew on the grass and a sparkling sunrise.  I want you to think of Him when you hear this and just say "Thanks" to I AM.

The Candy Man Can

Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with choc'late and a miracle or two
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in a sigh
Soak it in the sun and make a groovy lemon pie
The Candy Man, the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

The Candy Man makes everything he bakes satisfying and delicious
Now you talk about your childhood wishes, you can even eat the dishes

Oh, who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man, oh the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good

The Candy Man makes everything he bakes satisfying and delicious
Talk about your childhood wishes, you can even eat the dishes

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a dream
Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream
The Candy Man, the Candy Man can
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
Yes, the Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good
a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man
Candy Man, a-Candy Man, a-Candy Man 

Love y'all.  I hope I gave you one more little BIG thing to ponder and make you smile.

And as always, In Him!

Katydid!

Be The Miracle That God Made You To Be!

Monday, normally a day that I am up at 5:00 am, showered; dressed; dog pottied - fed - and medicated; to-go breakfast made with hot cocoa in a to-go cup (with 3 marshmallows and a squirt of whipped cream); laptop and all accessories packed and on the road by 6:15 to pick up the young man that I mentor for a full day's worth of activities with a private school.  It's the Monday after Christmas and I SLEPT UNTIL 7:45 and didn't quite know what to do with myself.  It was actually kind of restoring to see that a sunrise can happen without me being behind the wheel of my car.  Wow!  None the less, I have enjoyed myself immensely.  Word of advice though, if you have anything to exchange or return, mercy, don't do it today.  Been there, done that.....

Today has been a day that my wonderful husband, son and I decided that we had consumed our fair share of sweets, rich foods, and cheese delicacies and it was time for a hot dog, just a plain old normal all beef hot dog smothered with spicy mustard.  It was like eating prime rib.  Yum!  I would imagine that many of you felt the same way.  Sometimes, easy, simple and lack luster are the way to go.  Now to concentrate on those couple of extra pounds that managed to find me over the past few weeks.  They hide all year and manage to creep up, attack and attach themselves to my unsuspecting body every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Sneaky little things!  The rule at our house is if it is not gone by January 1st, it goes out the door and into the trash bag.  We have to start the year with good, healthy meals!  Right!  I refuse to succumb to the lettuce and water routine for 30 days!  Just have to use my head and plan things out a little better so that we chill on the stuff that's bad for us.

When you stop and think about it, isn't everything in life like that?  Aren't we challenged every day with decisions about what's right and what's wrong?  It's not just about sweets and rich seasonal foods, it's about everything we do.

For the past several weeks, I've written about the days leading up to Christmas.  Yes, I know I didn't publish every day.  We've talked about that.  Sometimes, what I write ends up being so fine tuned and directed at myself, that it stays that way.  Those are the times that I write and talk to God while I do and then wait for His answers.  They always come, sometimes right away and sometimes, days later, but they always come.

A few years ago, a country song came out called "Unanswered Prayers".  I believe it was done by Garth Brooks.  The song always bothered me a little, because in my mind and in my heart, it wasn't true.  God answers EVERY prayer, but sometimes the answer is "NO" or "NOT NOW".  Too many people take the absence of a positive result for them or the person or situation that they lifted up in prayer as "unanswered".  Sometimes, we are not meant to get the winnings or resolution that we want.  It's not always about what we want, but what God wants for us or knows is best for us.  The answer may not make sense at the time.  Maybe it is not supposed to.  Maybe we will never know as long as we walk the earth the "whys" and "wherefores" of His answer.  As His children, we need to all trust and obey.  We need to have that mustard seed faith and walk on in the direction He leads us and not always be asking "why".  He has His reasons and sometimes those reasons or answers test our faith.  

Over the past almost 3 years, my very dear friend has survived multiple surgeries and battled countless problems as a result of illnesses that she has had to deal with her whole life.  Added to that mix 2 years ago, was breast cancer followed by over a year's worth of chemo treatments, weekly magnesium and potassium drips, blood transfusions, hair loss, nausea, and medical bills piling up to a point that seems never ending.   Added to this mix was loss of employment and questions about what to do, how to do it and where to go.

My point with all of this is simply put - prayer.  I have been by her side in emergency rooms, hospital admissions and doctor's appointments.  I always prayed for her, but she began to ask me to pray, and I did.  I prayed for her healing, inside and out.  I prayed for a peace to come over her and an assurance that she was constantly surrounded by angels that would watch over her even in those times that she was not aware of things around her.  Praise be to God!

Those guardian angels have worked overtime, trust me.  It was all part of God's plan and He led us to each other under very strange circumstances, knowing that we would gain strength and faith through our friendship with each other.  Go figure, you meet your best friend at the mall!  Since that day, we have laughed, cried and enjoyed so many wonderful times together and I thank God with all of my heart for putting her in my path on a certain day in February under strange circumstances, 3 years ago this coming February.  After we talked for 5 minutes, it seemed as if we had been friends for life.  Do you or have you ever had a friend like that?  Those are some of God's earthly angels and if you have now or ever had one in your life, give Him thanks and praise for putting that person in your life.

Craziness is what happens when we get together.  My family adores her and my kids refer to her as "aunt".  Last year, we attended an event right smack dab in the middle of her chemo issues and she fretted for days on end about looking professional and proper.  Her bald head was beautiful and we all teased her about losing small islands in the Pacific from her head whenever she would lose another hunk of hair.  My favorite was when she chimed in and said "Oh look, there goes Guam!".  Ultimately, this all led up to a trip to the salon and  the clippers grazing across her rapidly shedding noggin.  My son and I attended for moral support and my heart broke when she couldn't hold the tears in any longer.  It was a moment she knew was coming, but hoped and prayed that it wouldn't, that somehow, God would spare her from this part.  To us, it looked as though the prayer went unanswered, but in actuality, He answered it in such a way that none of us could ever imagine.  He answered it with her total healing, a clean scan and total remission from this wicked disease.  Praise be to God!  Anyway, back to our social gathering.  Georgia July temps made it almost unbearably hot. We are all in sundresses, pony tails and sandals and here she comes in a full wig.  It was important to her to look fully dressed and that included a proper hair style.  What she didn't think about was the heat and ultimately the itching.  Halfway through the evening, she was so miserable, we took a break and found a place where we could sit and she could remove that wretched wig.  It was at that point, that we all realized that this person before us was strikingly beautiful just the way she was and we convinced her to accept that thought and return to the event without her store bought tresses.  She was so scared and apprehensive, but we all stood by her and walked into that function as if nothing was different.  At that point, she realized just how beautiful she was just the way she was, with or without hair.  I don't think she has had that thing on again since that day.  Praise be to God!  Another miracle and another prayer answered.  I love her spunk and faith.  I love how through all of the illnesses and surgeries and healing and not healing, she has held her head high and walked on.  I love that she asks me to pray for her and I always do, and I always ask others to lift her up as well.

I am telling you this now because on Wednesday, she begins a series of surgeries to put herself back together, to make her "whole" on the outside.  Please just lift up unspoken prayer for her as she starts this new journey. Pray for her courage, her healing from the surgery and future wellness, and pray for a peace to come over her as she anticipates the coming event and the days that follow.

Miracles are not uncommon in my life.  I've been so blessed to be witness to so many, more than I can count. I've seen God take the worst possible scenario and turn it into a testimony of faith for the person(s) involved.  I've seen Him heal and give life when doctors said "no way possible".  I've seen Him mend bodies, mend hearts, open hearts, bring peace and change lives in such a mighty way, that I've been left with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes as I quietly told Him thank-you.  There are people in my life right now, family and friends, that are here because HE is not done with them yet and has a purpose for them to continue to be that miracle that everyone sees.

So, yes, every prayer is answered, but that answer may or may not be the one that we each had in mind when we lifted up that prayer.  Yes, God speaks to everyone of us when we call out to Him and even when we don't.  Remember, don't listen with your ears, listen with your heart and have the faith of a tiny mustard seed that your prayer is being answered, often before you even lift it up.  When that answer doesn't make you happy, don't grumble about it.  He has a reason and just may not be ready to share that with you at this very moment.  Have faith and give thanks and don't ever stop praying because He never stops listening!

On Saturday, December 25th, we celebrated the birth of a King, God on Earth in the form of a precious, tiny baby boy.  What a wonderful miracle then and what a wonderful miracle for each of us now.

Use one of these well known acronyms to help you remember!  FROG - Fully Rely On God.  PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens.  GRACE - God's Riches At Christ's Expense and last but not least, my favorite - BIBLE - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

Tomorrow is another day - a good day filled with new experiences, a new sunrise and a new sunset, new miracles and new life.  Don't take a moment of it for granted.  Pray, have faith and be the miracle that God created you to be!  You know I try to always end with a song that sums up what I've written.  Today is no different.  I hope you enjoy as you think about how you are one of God's many miracles.  Peace and blessings to each of you as we continue to celebrate the birth of Christ the King and as always, In Him...

Kaye

Journey to Silent Night

It's Christmas Eve.  Travel with me over 2000 years ago as we journey to Bethlehem.  As you read the passage below, please listen to the song in the video.  A silent night so very long ago that ended in a cold damp stable....

Luke 2:1-20 (New International Version)

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ²(This was the first census that took place while^[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Sweet, sweet Baby.  Welcome to our world....

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and during the coming days and the new year, may you find what you seek.  I send you hope, love and a peace that surpasses all understanding.  God bless you all.

Merry Christmas,
Kaye

Six - Christmas Mojo

Oi vai!  Holiday shopping!  Is this picture you?

Every year, I promise myself and try very, very hard to calm those down around me about gift buying and the "keeping up the Joneses" mindset.  It is absolutely not necessary!  It is "meshugeh".  Not familiar with Yiddish?  Okay, it means CRAZY!  Why are we doing this?  Why are we subjecting ourselves to the insanity of Black Friday, unbelievably crowded and noisy malls, long lines, unruly children and adults - I actually witnessed someone lose a coveted parking place the other day and he parked his SUV, big enough to transport half of Canada, in the middle of the traffic lane, got out and went and loudly and intimidatingly chastised the young woman that took the spot.  So totally not necessary.   She cried, she got back in her car, backed out and left the whole venue, completely left.  Was that really necessary for that man to do that?  It wouldn't have hurt him to drive another 20 feet and take another spot.  Selfish and lazy and hateful.  Which one of those personas fits your holiday attitude?  Are you the beauty or THE BEAST?  Or do you have your Christmas mojo on?  And do you have it on for the right reason?

Today is Sunday, December 19th, day six in our countdown to Christmas.  Yes, I know I've skipped around a little.  That's just the way it appears to all of you.  Some of what I write or journal is just for me or maybe my prayers.  There has been something everyday, but some of it was just between God and me.  So, it may appear that there are some countdown days missing, but not really.  The others are tucked away in my heart.

I've dug my heals into the ground long enough.  My husband and I didn't start shopping, I mean really shopping, until this past week and with that, comes the insanity, the meshugeh and being surrounded by uncountable throngs of people and lots and lots of white noise.  As a matter of fact, the only sounds you hear are rumbles of distorted noise and kvetsh from tired children, bored husbands and mothers/wives dealing with all of them.  Don't much care for this.  This isn't what it's all about people!

From the time our children come into our lives, we dress them up and do the Santa Clause thing at the mall.  We have the coveted pictures of impish smiles (or in the case of both of mine - pictures of mouths wide open as they release blood curdling screams).  They are over stimulated from start to finish with brightly colored wish books, loud, fast paced commercials and enticing situations that "will make them happy" and "things" they just absolutely have to have.  Really!  You and I grew up with the same stuff, except now, thanks to our cyber world, satellite television and everything electronic under the sun, it's worse.  It's almost instantaneous.  To be perfectly honest with you, and promise you won't laugh, I  got all wrapped up in a toddler learning toy that looked so cool on the commercial, that I thought it would be fun for even me to play with.  My 19 year old just looked at me and said "mom, you're nuts."  Advertisers and manufacturers have a choke hold on us and definitely on our kids.  They don't play fair, no matter how you look at it.

Back again at day six.  I am shopped out, exhausted and weary.  Tonight is the Christmas Cantata at our church and I am looking forward to going and closing my eyes and listening and being very, very blessed.  Our Music Minister is phenomenal and every year, it's a wonderful presentation.  Can't wait!  In the midst of the craziness that we bring upon ourselves, there is something beautiful and spiritually embracing to just sit and soak in.  Restoring.

Ultimately, during the Christmas season, we all overdo everything.  We all get wrapped up in the commercial side and sometimes get so crazy with all of it, the real "reason for the season" gets lost in the shuffle.  I am in prayer daily, actually multiple times daily.  After all prayer is nothing more than a conversation with God.  I read my devotions, I strive to be the kind of person that allows people to "see" Jesus in me and try to stay faith grounded at the same time.  Sometimes God taps us on the shoulder and shows us something to startle us back to reality.  That happened today.

It's day six, and this morning, God put an angel in my path and we had a long talk..  Suddenly, nothing else mattered.  My special angel shared with us about a family not far from here that needs some help and all by Christmas Eve morning.  Through circumstances beyond anything they could ever imagination, they have opened their hearts and their home and now have extra mouths to feed, clothing, toys, bedding and more to buy and all less than a week from Christmas.  The circumstances don't matter.  If you really want to know and you know how to reach me and  I will tell you.  Just say an unspoken prayer for all of those involved because God knows, He does and He has placed this in the hands of an earthly angel.  Pray for that angel as well!

Trust me, I don't have any problem telling anyone where it all started and what the real "reason for the season" is.  Simple terms, God came to Earth as a tiny baby named Jesus.  The ultimate gift from God, the very first and always the best Christmas gift, a life given for a death given for our salvation.  The wise men brought gifts, shepherds came with lambs.  These were the very first Christmas gifts ever given.  There is nothing we can buy or give to even come close to the gift that God gave us.  Nothing, except to be the kind of people that He would have us all be and to live our lives by His example.  Some of my friends of other or no faith have told me that that "yes" they believe there was a man named Jesus, but not necessarily that He was the Son of God or the Messiah.  So, I just keep sharing.  Some listen, some don't and some ask me to keep it to myself.  I still manage to always sneak in a comment or two here and there.  If nothing else, I'm persistent!

I don't think all of us being manic and excessive is quite what He had in mind as a way to celebrate Christmas.      But we've been doing it so long that it's almost like we celebrate two entirely different holidays - one spiritual and one commercial.  I have friends of other faiths - Jewish, Hindu and none at all, that put up trees or exchange gifts and go around telling people Merry Christmas.  For them, it's more the feeling of love and warmth and sharing and giving that comes from this time of year in general, even if you are not a Christian.  So, no matter how you believe, there really is something special about Christmas that touches most of us and that is very, very cool!  It's about giving, sharing, loving, caring and selflessness.  It's about taking care of folks that for whatever reason, need some help.  It's about going the extra distance to make things a little better for someone.  It's about letting someone know that they are not alone, that you care, that you are there for them.  Remember the tear jerking song a few  years ago, "Christmas Shoes"?  It's about all of the Christmas shoes around the world and the people that can make things a little better.

For me, it IS about that tiny baby born of a virgin.  It is about the baby growing up and having all of the issues that any child would have had, skinned knees, chores, and more.  It is about that Child growing up to be a man and following the path that was predestined for Him.  It is about that Man allowing himself to be beaten, flogged, and ultimately allowing Himself to be nailed to a cross, His side pierced, bleeding and eventually die an excruciating death - FOR ME and FOR YOU, for the forgiveness of our sins, for our life everlasting, for our salvation!  He lived His life as an example for us.  It is our choice to follow and let others see Him through our journey.  Through that journey, it is about letting other people know that we are there if they need us and meaning it.  It's about not being afraid to let others know where you stand in your faith and why.  It's about love and letting your light shine.  It's about letting other people see the "reason for the season" through you.

Before I close this and hit the post button, I will leave you with one thought to ponder.  We wouldn't have Christmas without Easter.....  Figure it out!  Remember random acts of kindness, selflessness, forgiveness, giving all that you have...follow the path, keep the faith, believe and shine!  

Now, if you didn't already have it on, how about that Christmas Mojo and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas!

Christmas love and blessings to each of you, and as always, In Him!  Christ the King!

Kaye

Nine - To Bethlehem and Back By Squinting!

I found this amazing picture on the web.  Isn't it cool!  As we take another step closer to Christmas Day, I had to share this with you.  It's just beautiful and in a way, it goes along with the next part of the story leading us to the day of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

At some point, when I was little, I made a regular practice of scooting myself under the tree, once it was completely decorated and just gazing up through the branches.  I would lay there for awhile, just starring into the never ending array of lights and favorite ornaments that were dangling from the branches.  After soaking it all in for a few moments, I would then squint and get a whole new light show.  The multi-colored lights magically turned into sparkling colored gems.  It was wonderful!  If you promise not to tell my husband, I will share a little secret with you.  I still do this, it's just a little more cumbersome getting up and down from under the tree, and that is why I wait to do it when no one is around.

Children are fascinated with the bright colors, the ornaments and the magic of it all when you stand back and just admire your work for the first time.  My children were no exception and the visit under the tree is something that I shared with both of them.  My daughter still does it, my son, not so much.  Apparently, this sojourn is not as cool if you're almost 20 and a young man as it is for us girls.  For her, this tradition got quadrupled at her house this year.  She put up 4 trees.  She would put of a dozen more, but I don't think my son-in-law would be near as appreciative of the trees and lights as she is.

If you have not ever tried this, no matter how hold you are, wait til no one is around and just plop yourself on the floor, scoot up under your tree, gaze up and just enjoy the beauty.  I promise I won't tell!  Our little wonder dog even likes to do this.  He loves to be under the tree, and only when the lights are on.  It must offer a sense of warmth and security.

Let's take a quick break now.  Please go check out your own tree and hurry back.  There's more to come.

Tick tock tick tock.  Oh, good you're back.  What did you think?  Isn't a wonderful treat to be able to see the beauty on the inside of your tree?  Good!

Inside your tree, whether it's natural or artificial, is a framework, a tree trunk (or support pole) with just dozens of branches and offshoots to make the tree full and shapely.  Hmm, do you see an analogy coming?  If you don't, you should.  As a child of God, He has provided each of us with our own "tree trunk" complete with branches and twigs and a beautiful inside, just like that Christmas tree that stands in the corner in our house.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all learn to look at other people from the inside out, learn to look for their beautiful insides before we take time to either admire what's on the surface or be critical of it's outward appearance?  Unfortunately, as imperfect mortal beings, we have a tendency to do it in reverse and only look at someone's heart and soul, after we have approved or disapproved the exterior.  I'm as guilty as the next one when it comes to that and that doesn't make me happy.  But enough of the negative.  It's Christmas, and we should all be glowing just like the trees in the picture above.

Speaking of that picture, look at it again.  Did anything jump out and grab you when you looked at it?  "Do you see what I see"?  I'm not going to tell you what it is.  I want you to look at it some more.

Okay, okay, for those of you that see it, awesome, for those of you that don't, here's a hint!  Squint!  The beauty of the colored lights somehow seem to blend in with the stars in the sky and it is almost like those wonderful trees are reaching up and guiding our eyes to Heaven, and that is where all of  this began!

The one thing that is really cool to me is that God has given us the ability to look beyond, to find him in even the simplest and most earthly of things.  Just like laying on the floor and looking up through the lights and branches of my Christmas tree.  I lay on my back under that tree and squint my eyes and I see a world of wonder, I see stars, angels, mystery, magic and wonder.  My imagination can take me to a place in a distant land a long time ago.  At second glance, I see one of the ornaments that is a nativity scene, shepherds, kings, angels and more and I begin to think.  Through the wonder of these lights, the beauty of the tree, I've started a journey that takes me away from the hustle bustle craziness of the commercialized part of Christmas to what it is really about.

What started as a long, weary journey to pay taxes took a very pregnant young woman and her husband into the cold, damp surroundings of a carved out stable to shelter the animals.  "Do you see what I see?"  A young woman, in labor, afraid, in pain, cold, weary, a baby born and wrapped in scraps of cloth to keep him warm, the Light and Salvation of the world come to earth as a tiny baby.  His cries, His needs no different than any other child.  His promise, to be our Savior.  Shepherds came, Kings followed a star, Angels sang, animals and  human kind as well, all bowed to this tiny little baby and honored Him as their King.

My knees are creaking and my face has a little glitter on it as I bump the bottom branches and scoot back out to my "real" world, but I'm smiling.  I feel good inside and out, as a matter of fact, I feel wonderful.  I've just been to Bethlehem and back in a matter of moments.  It's amazing just how good you can feel when you take yourself away from the craziness that we've made in our world and take just a moment, just a short beautiful moment to drift away, almost close your eyes and take a journey back to the beginning.

Try it!  I hope it brings you the same peace that it brings me!  Merry Christmas, nine days to go.  Take a journey and smile!

Peace and blessings to you and yours this Christmas and as always, In Him!

Kaye