Lessons for Living
Welcoming Daddy Home
I think it was a Google Alert that (somehow) brought this to my attention earlier today (I’m giving only the titles of each little section):
I want to share with you for just a moment, an excerpt out of an actual 1950’s Home Economics textbook. You might have read this before, but take a moment and read it again:
How to be a Good Wife
HAVE DINNER READY
PREPARE YOURSELF
CLEAR AWAY THE CLUTTER
PREPARE THE CHILDREN
MINIMIZE ALL NOISE
SOME “DO NOT’S”
MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE
LISTEN TO HIM
MAKE THE EVENING HIS
After quoting from the old textbook, the author details what she learned from it and how she’s applying it in her home.
Read the whole piece at Joyfully Living.
Just Words
I stared. 😯
I was incredulous at the email. It was bad as a personal email. But sent to a multi-recipient list?!
Wow! Somebody was having a bad day! 🙁
Not only had the email departed the sender’s mind ahead of any grace and tact, it projected itself as mind-bogglingly dumb. I don’t mean that unkindly or disrespectfully. I’m simply saying its cargo excluded basic common sense.
The person who sent it issued a follow-up email 38 minutes later. It was an apology.
Very good! God bless him for his honesty, humility, and integrity.
But guess which email is more likely to be remembered?
Yeah. Too bad.
Words. Just words. Not sticks and stones, you know. But what dismay they can cause.
Words. Just words. Too often I want to excuse mine. And attack the other guy’s (if I deem them ill-advised or outright bad).
Words. Just words. But God doesn’t see the matter so lightly.
He will judge me by my words.
And by how they line up with His Word.
So….
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD,
my strength, and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
Full of sweet, nourishing honey — not stinging bees!
This whole deal was one of those wretched teachable moments (can we come up with a different term already?).
The lesson above leaps forward as Number One (or more).
Other lessons?
- Be slow to react to email. Come to think of it. Don’t react.
- Be slow. There’s no rush. Especially if you’re having a trying day.
- Email is forwardable. How far will yours go? That may not matter to you now, but it likely will in a day or two. Or in a minute or two. Or less.
- Email lists have the added danger of being archived on the Web “forever”!
There. I don’t want to give them all. What other lessons do you see?
This was to post last evening…but I didn’t get back to my computer and the Internet in time.
Unadvisedly With His Lips
so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
— Psalm 106:33
Where Do Freebies Come From?
So reporting from Life in the Shoe, Dorcas Smucker quotes the lady at the computer, “The shot is free.”
Which begs the above question.
How far back in the product-and-supply chain was that shot free?
And who declared it thus?
And with whose money?
Thus, today’s quiz question, you might say:
Are You a Fishing Spot?
Or to put it another way, did you cause anyone’s flag to wave?
Still not getting my drift?
Facts are stubborn things, indeed. 😯
OK, so maybe Macon Phillips will end up resigning or being fired over that Facts Are Stubborn Things, If You Smell Something Fishy, Be An Informant post at the White House blog. Or maybe we will end up losing some of our trust in those with whom we interact, as we wonder whether they will find us fishy in some way. Or maybe freedom of press and informants will co-exist just fine
But, really, what about what we say?
How did your speech and/or email communications qualify today? Or Facebook or Twitter or MySpace or Xanga or Blogger or WordPress or other online forums?
Something fishy?
Will you and your writing/speaking make a good fishing spot?
Would you want someone to inform on you?
Look. What the White House is thinking and opining is important enough.
But what God opines and thinks is infinitely of greater importance and consequence.
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36,37).
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psalm 39:1).
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Oh, you’re wondering why I would file this under Endangered Christians? Hmmm. If this fishing expedition sticks, do you really think it will be remain under its publicly posted limitations?
Now chew on that one, will ya?
After all, facts are stubborn things!
Caregiving and Medical Emergencies
From CarePages, this observation:
Caregiving for someone who is seriously or chronically ill is a daunting task, and an emergency can be frightening. Taking steps in advance will help you handle a crisis, should one occur.
They proceed to give some emergency preparedness tips with these 5 Basics Steps to Emergency Preparedness:
- Take a CPR class.
- Learn the Heimlich maneuver.
- Maintain a well-stocked first aid kit.
- Create a medical provider list and keep copies handy.
- Buy an automatic blood pressure cuff.
So obviously some sort of caregiver training is important. Anyway, after giving some elaboration on each of those, they give these 4 Steps to Take in an Emergency Situation:
- Assess the situation.
- Call 911.
- Loosen any tight clothing.
- Comfort and communicate.
In conclusion, “For a caregiver, an emergency can be both alarming and frightening, but when you’re prepared, you can make a tremendous difference in your loved one’s well-being.”
So there you are, caregivers: A few ways to reduce caregiver stress.