sore spot

The doctor says, does it hurt here—no--does it hurt here—no--does it hurt here—yes---the sore spot is your appendices, we can fix that!

I hear many seniors talk about how concerned/worried they are because of their children and grandchildren. Some even their great grandchildren. It might be the greatest concern of their lives and it consumes much of seniors’ thinking and minds. It is sorta kinda a sore spot! But flipthepancake, for many seniors their children, grandkids and great grandkids are sweet spots! And some a mixture!

Dr. J says—"The book of Proverbs suggests two primary means for raising a child in “the way”: instruction and correction (discipline). Instruction identifies the way and starts them on it; correction puts him back on the way they should go when they stray from it.” Jeanne's great granddaughter was at our house recently (i.e. she is 7 years old and a sweet little gal). Her mother told us she said to her--I don't like it when you discipline me mom but I know it's your job! We wonder where she got that from!

All people might have sore spots in their lives, “some could have a festering sore spot” in which we are careful not to talk about (e.g. it could be trauma in someone’s past such as bad and hurtful parents). Some people are touchy about such things as it brings back bad memories because of their past and it hurts very much a.k.a. it's a sore spot to even think about it. We try to be sensitive about such subjects of others unless they bring it up and want to talk about it. It appears some folks might have many sore spots of their past. Do you have any sore spots? Those sore spots when irritated can make some folks just explode!

Soooo, how can we get rid of our sore spots? Good question. You probably heard and know all the ways. Sooo, which one is the best? Believers in Jesus have a special way to fix it. But even we have a hard time to fully understand it and don’t always use the method. It seems soooo easy and it costs us nuttin! Many times we even keep wallowing in the mud! SusieQ says--Yabut erv, it fells so good to wallow in the mud! The late Dolly Parton said--"I'm one of those people who, even if things are not right, goes about trying to make it as right as I can rather than just lying around on my ass and wallowing in it all day."

At Crescent City, Oregon there is a huge harbor full of commercial fishing boats. We walked down in the harbor and talked to Stacey, an Average Joe trying to make a living, the owner of a boat. He was the third generation of being a fisherman. His son who works with him on the boat does not have much interest in fishing, so the fourth generation of fisherman might end the tradition (i.e. sorta kinda a sore spot we could feel that he had). He told us all about the fishing business which was very interesting to us. We were standing next to his boat and we asked him about the symbol of a fish behind the boat's name which is that of a believer. He said he was not a believer, but there is a superstition that if you ever change the name of the boat when you buy it, it is bad luck so I just leave it alone. So you are very superstitious then. No, not at all, but just in case!

Esther of Grace says--When was the last time you felt awe?  I was talking with a friend who did an amazing hike out of country and she was telling me how overwhelmed she felt in some spots. She lives in a beautiful part of the US and takes advantage of the outdoors as much as she can but she said she hadn’t felt “awe” in a long time. When she was on her 4-day out of country hike, she said the feeling of awe and wonder came up multiple times a day! I thought about our conversation a few days later and realized when I am hiking in our city limits (we have gorgeous trails) I experience awe. It may be a simple view of the Valley and farms, or it may be the wildflowers dancing in the breeze. The wonder and joy of it all can and has taken my breath away. For you it might be something different - your children or grandchildren? A sunset on a warm summer’s night? A perfect sourdough loaf slathered in butter? I hope we encourage one another to provide space and time to be awed. Opportunities are all around us, we just need to raise our eyes and take it in.

We are exploring and experiencing the coasts of Oregon and northern and central California. It's beautiful soooo we can relate to what Esther of Grace is referring to. We were on a hiking trail in the redwoods and were talking with a couple who were in their late 20s; he said, "I get tears in my eyes here!" Jeanne says--"As we walked the magnificent redwood forest trails, understanding that the trees support each other by intertwining roots, and walk the beaches with the vibrant sounds of crashing waves, soring birds and laughing families, the Web of Life makes my soul sing!" Personally, I just stand in awe of the beauty of His majestic creation, it is very humbling to me; I can't explain it; it makes me tremble tremble! Nina expresses her feeling in the pic. 

Soooo let’s talk about the sweet spots of our life. It appears to me sweet spots really do vary with different types of folks, my opinion. It seems it depends on where our values are and where we get our values from. The world tells us sweet spots are more material stuff, that’s how it’s measured. My mentor would say to me, erv, the worldly golden rule is whoever has the most gold rules. If we compare that to the golden rule of the Bible which is “treat others like you want to be treated," I would guess our sweet spots might be different. JoeSixPack says—Takers never have enough and are never happy but givers are always happy.

On our adventure we stopped at Bandon, OR for a break and lunch. We met and had lunch with Fran and Roger from Louisiana at a beach clam shack. She was 84 and he was 80 and they were on their second marriage because of death of their first spouses and have been married for six years, very similar to our experience. They were Southern Baptist. We enjoyed them very very much. What an opportunity for us and them maybe. She said to Jeannie as I was getting some napkins, we almost feel guilty that we are having so much fun. Anyway, I had clam chowder for lunch again, eating the local cuisine. We had so much fun with them. A great experience! Ike our waiter's shirt says it all--I'm too cute to be cRabby! What fun!

This might be a sore spot to some; Coach B says—"Discipline will beat talent most of the time!” That could be Coach B but discipline, talent, faith in God, personality and love all put into one person makes a really great person. No sore spots!

Steve, anybody can be a Steve, says—"At any given time, somewhere in the world, there is a battle taking place. There may be two or more countries at war or there may be a civil war occurring within one country. Those battles are obvious to all who witness them. However, every day, every person also faces invisible spiritual battles, between pleasing the desires of the flesh and following the leading of the Holy Spirit.” Steve, that is of course if folks believe in the Holy Spirt; if they don’t, there is no battle. Or is there?

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean says--Sometimes the best thing to get off your chest is your chin.