Being Nice or Being a Schmuck

I'm a people watcher. I can't help it. I find human behavior fascinating. I also care about people & feel a lot of compassion toward others. When I see someone hurting, I want to help. Often, strangers approach me & start a conversation because they see a friendly face & assume they can trust me. People consider me to be kind & someone they can count on to help out. This is a good thing, right? I'm not so sure. Here's why:

Savor the Moment

Today was an uneventful day. Although as a Christian, church is an important part of my life (albeit not as regular a part for me lately), I did not go to church today. My husband had to work & my daughter was with some friends. Aside from our cat & dog, I had the home to myself. I have a huge TO DO list a mile long, yet I just wasn't "feeling it" today. Plus, I had a whopper of a migraine. Seems I get a lot of those lately, partly due to the frequent air pressure changes that come from living in an arid Pacific coast climate & partly due to the fact that I have huge sleep issues at night. After awhile, lack of sleep takes its toll.

Melody's Song

You came suddenly & then were gone.

As in my dream, you were just "there".

Though I was there for you, you couldn't hold on...

And now in grief, I breathe despair.

You are but just a brief memory

Of a tiny brown-haired little girl;

So frail, yet like a sweet melody,

Your song will play in another World.

You're not a dream - you're very real.

I saw you briefly before you were gone.

From my body, death did steal

My precious, tiny, little one.

I thought my grief would claw my soul

And rip my heart from within my chest;

Yet God's loving mercy has made me whole...

Through another precious child, I'm blessed.

I cherish my children as gifts from the Lord...

His abundant kindness is exceedingly great --

Yet I will remember forever, the child I briefly adored,

And our reunion will be well worth the wait!

Love always, your mother

Feb 27, 2001

( © Cari Kissel....This is dedicated to all those who have lost a child through miscarriage or premature death)

 **Have an opinion about this post? I would truly appreciate your feedback in the comment section below, or in the confidential feedback form on this page.**

Getting Older

What is it about getting older that has people cringing? Why are we afraid of wrinkles, gray hair, & that pudge around the mid-section that just takes up residence & refuses to leave? Why is "looking older" such a bad thing? Is it because we no longer look like the vibrant, energetic individual that we once were in our youth? Why are we afraid to look less vibrant, less young? Does it make us feel vulnerable? Less attractive? Less capable? Or does it scare us because it represents an approach to a time when we may be less able to take care of ourselves or to even protect ourselves from harm? Does it make us fear that our spouse will leave us & trade us in for a newer model?