BE GENTLE AND KIND WITH A CHILD'S HEART

 

 

 

Yesterday at dusk, I stood just outside the door of my home wanting some breath of fresh air. But.. Nahh .. not the slightest breeze at all. So I turned to go back into the house when suddenly a child's crying pierced the humid air from out on the street. I went to the patio to see who it was. It was easy from there because I wouldn't be so visible to whoever was passing through. Yup, 'twas a child of about five or six being towed by her mother who appeared flustered by it all.

Mother: (Tersely) Tara na. Uwi na tayo!
---- (Come! Let's go home.)

Child: (Crying) Yokooo! Sabi mo punta tayo Jollibee..
----- (No-ooo! You said we'd go to Jollibee.) 

Mother: (Angry) May gagawin pa ako sa bahay. Tara na!
----- (Got work to do. Let's go!)

Child: (in between sobs) Sabi mo kakain tayo ng spaghetti...
----- (You promised me spaghetti!)

Mother: Hay naku! Tara na! Dali-iii!
----- (Hurry up! Let's go!)

That made me think.......

The scene broke my heart. Little children have simple hopes... simple hearts. They trust fully.. completely. They cling to every word spoken to them... good or bad. They hung up their own tiny world on it. Be careful what you speak or promise to them. It is easy to make them happy as it is easy to break their hearts.

In some measure it is the same in the adult world. Through the years many have made promises to me, many kept it, many did not. Happy over those kept, sad for those which failed. But Mom, as always, would assuage my disappointment with -------- 'Do not hung up plans, hopes, or dreams on others. They have their own way of doing things or looking at things. It may not always jive with yours. So learn, too, not to make promises you cannot keep. Always be kind.' ........ And I listened to Mom, because I knew how it felt to have a broken heart, too.

Looking back at that child, she cried as her little gentle heart broke over a broken promise. But there was nothing she could do. She was just a child. But I think that when she grows up she would be careful with words... promises. Lesson learned.

Take care please. Be gentle and kind with your children.
May God bless you and your family.

WE ARE ALL SO MUCH THE SAME --- AND SO MUCH DIFFERENT TOO

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This early morning I was sweeping the patio of last night's rain which flooded the tiled floor about an inch high. Not much, I know, so not much effort either in performing the task.
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Almost done with the whole thing when came loud chatter floating into my direction from the street outside. Three middle-aged ladies were engaged in conversation in such high-pitched voices that easily anyone could hear what they were talking about. As they passed my front of the street I could catch snippets of their chat...... but I wouldn't put them down here as it would be very unfair to hear only one side of the story.
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Gossip. Bashing. Or whatever other name it's called is never fair..... is unkind..... is opinionated (To my young readers, that means --- 'of fixed views').
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No two persons are alike..... nor do they travel the same life road..... nor do they have the same life story. Each one is unique.... different.... an individual. Whatever he (or she) goes through in his own journey is tailored fit for him alone. His experiences, observations, perceptions, insights, opinions, challenges, or drama are all his. Love, laughter, tears, fear, embarrassment, confusion, disappointment, anger, bewilderment, doubt, joy, misery, sorrow, excitement, wonder, challenges...... the whole range of life and living are all lived in his own special individual character and nature. His own true form or template.
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It would be unfair to gauge his life through our own set of eyes, mind, and heart. Like my mom used to say........ "I am not her; she is not me."   Let that person be who he was or is meant to be. He will have his own set of mistakes, blenders, and lessons to learn. He will do it in his own pace and time and reason.   

The thing is every person is growing as he should preset by Someone above. Sure, he is going to fumble and his mistakes may be quite irritating to us -- we may fuss over his mistakes, fume at his imperfections, curse his stupidity. Sometimes it ruins the day for us. But heyy, we fumble too and our own blunders may sometimes impact the people around us the wrong way. So let's try to be kinder to their imperfections as we also hope that others may be kinder to our own. It's the same road we're taking.

As someone once said.....  'We must not allow other people's limited perceptions to define us.'  Besides we have no idea what people are dealing with in their personal lives.
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I guess what mom was trying to tell me was.....
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Let's try to be more gentle with one another. Be kinder. Be understanding and compassionate. Be aware that we all are, separately or collectively, living our own lives and writing our own life stories.
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That makes us all the same .... and that makes us all different, too. By God's design.
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God bless you.

GOOD MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

 

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... When a fireman plunges into a flaming building despite its dangers and saves a person.... when a miserable dog is rescued from its cruel owners by a stranger unmindful of the risk of harm to himself.... when persons, friend and strangers alike, persevere in saving lives in the great flood regardless of the danger it poses to their own.... and many other unselfish acts done by amazing people --- one can't help but be downright touched and immeasurably impressed by such show of courage and selflessness.
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When desert flowers thrive despite its dry and harsh environment.... when trees hold up their faces defiantly against the strong stormy winds.... when waters roll down towards the shore and then retreats back to the ocean.... when the sun rises in the morning with its glorious light... and sets quietly at sundown yet promising to return in the morn... when the skies fill up with gentle clouds in the day.... and fill up with brilliant stars at night... when Mother Nature weaves her magic around us reflecting and deflecting both good and bad --- one simply stands in awe over such precision and order.
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Then one begins to think..... and thank
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--- the person or persons who gave of themselves so that others (animals included) may continue to enjoy the gift of life. Thank them for their unselfish sharing of their talent, energies, resources, brilliance of mind, strength of heart, and goodness of spirit.

..and

---the One GOD who sets down all of creation and their limits but weaves them altogether into a magnificent masterpiece.
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But above all, thank this same GOD --- the creator of all things visible and invisible who makes life and people sooooo beautiful!!! Man's basic good is a gift from God. Mother Earth's bounty is God's blessing beyond compare. Everything works together, directly or indirectly BY GOD'S DESIGN.
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Which reminds me of this wonderful line spoken by a good person and friend here in Fb....... "Thank Him always but also give credit to where it is due." Thank you, Maria. Keep shining with your light.
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May the blessings of the Holy Week observance renew your lives and spirit. In Christ. Be blessed and stay blessed.