Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Bursting the Balloons

Tuesday - January 11, 2011


"Bursting the Balloon" - Strange title, don't you think. Is this blog going to deal with a carnival game where you throw darts to pop the balloons and then win a prize for the number you burst? Hmmmm, that would be a fun thing for some people to do! But no, it is not going to be about the game, rather it is about feelings.

God tells us in the Bible:
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

But I have seen so many times how people think it is okay to say what ever comes to their mind regardless of how it may sound and who may be hurt from their words. Bill and I saw this many times when dealing with kids!!! Of course we know how those early teen years are and how insecure many of them are at this stage of their life. Sadly, some of those who could care less what they say continue doing so as adults.

Many of us have been around co-workers, friends, and even family who are negative and seem to resent the fact that others may be happy and content with their life. I have been around those who appear to resent any addition others have made to their life.

It reminds me of the time I was questioned as a new college graduate about how it was that I could be a college graduate coming from a family on the poorer side of the tracks! The person who questioned me was trying to make me feel I was not worthy of being a college graduate. Now talk about having your balloon burst, mine was deflated quickly until Mom and Dad had a heart to heart talk with me!! I was worthy, and they were proud of what I had accomplished!

There was another time when the county decided to give a proficiency test to all 8th graders in Math and Language Arts. The 8th graders from East Lynn scored higher in Language Arts than any other 8th grade class in the county. Apparently this did not set well with some of the teachers in some of the other middle schools. I was asked to speak to the Language Arts teachers at the beginning of the next school year as to what I did to prepare my students for success. I was honored and humbled at the request. However, I was soon to realize that there was at least one in the county who was questioning how those kids from East Lynn could score so high, and "she" wanted to know just who this teacher was that was to speak to them!!! Unbeknownst to her, I was sitting beside her when she was ranting and questioning how it was a teacher from East Lynn was the one to tell her how to teach Language Arts!!! She sure deflated my balloons! I was already a nervous wreck for having to speak before my peers, but to know there were some who resented me without even knowing who I was . . . now that hurt. I had worked hard with those students as I always had, and they just happened to be a group that caught on to the skills and was able to answer the questions correctly! The lady never apologized. She just huffed and was rude each time we had to come together as a group. All I was guilty of was doing my job the best way I knew how, but I sure felt like I had done something wrong!

I have heard many say they were just telling the truth and being honest with the other person. I don't have a problem with anyone telling the truth or being honest. That is what we are suppose to do. But where do we draw the line? I have seen some who love to burst the balloon of anyone who was having a great moment, day, or life! They were miserable, therefore, everyone else needed to be miserable too. "Misery loves company," so goes the saying I have heard all my life!!!! Many times they may not even realize they have hurt some one's feelings, and then some of us wear our feelings on our sleeves! :(

I've read many post lately where friends and family have been really happy and upbeat, to have something happen to cause them to be be down on their next posting. From what I have read, most of their being down is due to something someone said - or at least the tone of what they said that apparently burst their balloon.


Let's all try to remember:
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:17

My prayers are that your life is going well, and that God will always be by your side as you travel down life's road. May no one burst your balloons!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Food for Thought

Saturday - January 8, 2011

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. "
Colossian's 3:12

Compassion - adj. - feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others
Kindness - n - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
Humility - n - a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness
Gentleness - n - the quality of being gentle, kind, or tender
Patience - n - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset

I came across this verse while reading a novel by Amy Clipton. I have gone back to the page this verse was on several times just to reread it over and over again. It made me to start thinking . . . this is what I have tried to be like as I go through all that life has thrown my way. Some days it is really hard to be all that God wants me to be.

I just wanted to share this verse as "food for thought" for all who might read the blog.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Things You Might Not Know About New Years

Saturday - January 1, 2011


Did you know that New Years was not always celebrated on January 1? According to my research, the celebration of the “new year” is the oldest of all holidays. It actually was first celebrated about 4000 years ago – in the year 2000 BC. The Babylonians celebrated the New Year with the first visible crescent moon – the first day of spring which would be in March. They celebrated the “new year” at this time because to them it made sense - it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blooming whereas January 1 had no astronomical or agricultural significance.

The Romans continued the tradition of observing the “new year” in late March. This caused some problems because apparently their calendars had been tampered with by various emperors causing the calendar to soon become out of sync with the sun! In order to straighten up this problem, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the “new year” back in 153 BC.

The tampering continued with the calendar until finally in 46 BC when Julius Caesar established what has become known as the Julian Calendar.

Western nations didn’t start celebrating the “new year” until about 400 years ago. They have many traditions that date back to the Babylonians time, such as making resolutions for the “new year.” The Babylonians most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment while ours today is to lose weight or quit smoking.
The Tournament of Roses Parade, which dates back to 1886, was a way to celebrate the ripening of the orange crop in California.

Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the “new year” was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine. The early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practice of celebrating the “new year “as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth caused the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the “new year” with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. The use of a baby on a New Year’s banner was brought to America by our German ancestors.

We also have traditions of things that might be done that will bring good luck to you and your family. Being in the company of family and friends is thought to bring good luck for you and those who surround you.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Many will consume certain food with the belief that good luck will be in their future. Eating foods such as black-eyed peas with hog jowls or ham; cabbage which symbolizes prosperity; and some will consume rice, all of which are considered good luck in many cultures from around the world.

The song, “ Auld Lang Syne,” is traditionally played in the background of most New Year celebrations in English-speaking countries. Did you know that the lyrics were partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s and was not published until 1796 after his death. The tune is actually and old Scottish tune that literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”
The lyrics are as follows:
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!