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| A lone flower growing in the Badlands. A wee bit of sunshine in a dry and hard land. |
Hello Friends,
My discussion with you today has to deal with my word of 2022. This is the first year that I have chose a word for the year. I decided on Sunshine.
Sunshine ~ brightness or radiance, cheerfulness or happiness
a source of cheer or happiness
Sadly, this world of ours is getting more angry everyday. I can feel like that flower above that I found growing in the dry, hot and hard earth in the Badlands during a past trip.
Recently our family has been caught up with some angry people.
The first happened to my husband while he was checking out at the hardware store. The cashier had to change the tape in the machine, so my husband could get his receipt. While he waited, he was slammed by a shopping cart from behind by an older man. The man hit my husband with his shopping cart and yelled, "Move, I want to check out!" My husband explained he needed his receipt.
The older man continued to HUFF AND PUFF. He turned his cart away and pulled his wife with him to find a different check out. And as he did so, my husband walked on with his receipt in hand.
Word of advice to the old guy.. if you would have just waited patiently you would have been next to check out.
The next story happened to my son.. who recently was robbed.
He and his girlfriend went to see Batman. During the first 25 minutes of the film, six people where causing a disturbance. Talking loudly, making rude remarks and other bodily noises. Other guests started to leave. Sam and Catie were just about to leave, when management came and escorted the six adult hooligans out of the theater.
My son was so upset he gave me a call and simply asked me, "What is going on with people mom?"
So I ask you my dear friends. What is going on with society?
A friend of mine recently shared that while visiting with family, many mentioned how angry and rude people are getting, in fact it seems worse every day. She thought perhaps the pandemic has some to do with attitude of people. Other's have blamed Trump! Some blame Gas Prices. The current war, social media .. the list goes on.
REALLY?
I wonder, have those of us who extend grace.. maybe do it too much. I think I might be in that boat. My husband too. He did not say anything to the older man who hit him with the shopping cart, but should have he? Should we start to say, "Yo, this is not how we want our society to look like, angry, impatient and full of hate." Do we start to say something? Will it help?
I recently read the following in regards to the hate during this time..
If we allow ourselves to start thinking again and engaging with the world and engaging with each other. Be committed to each other and to a life of the mind and body.
"If we are to better the future, we must disturb the present."
Catherine Booth
And so I will continue to do my best to spread SUNSHINE one step at a time.. the best I can even in a hard, dry and hateful land.
A reminder how not to go mad in a mad world, "And when the world seems to be falling apart around you, create something, put a flower in a vase, bake a pie, draw a picture, knit socks."
Susan Branch
Oh Carla...you said a mouthful and I'm right there with you. Unfortunately. First, I'm sorry your family has had such experiences, just terrible, I really don't know what's wrong with people. Second, you're not alone. My daughter recently went shopping with a friend in our town...small shops that are lucky they made it through the pandemic closures. Unbelievably they were yelled at in several stores. My daughter is a professional woman in her 20s, not a teen, she was there to buy and one shop owner, an older woman, actually answered a question about merchandise with a sarcastic "DUH!!" I was shocked. And then again, not. Like you, I've seen the change. It's disappointing at best and truly terrifying to imagine what the future of our country will be like if it continues. I pray for better. xxoo
ReplyDeleteNice quote...
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not 'care for' Susan Branch, because I do not agree with her Liberal Politics. :-)
🌸🌱🌺 Little Break 🌺🌱🌸
As I read this, I don't know what to say but I know that I have the peace of Christ in my heart even though the world seems to be falling apart at the seam around me.
ReplyDeleteIt's evident that evil has increased in the heart of people because they have abandoned God and are relying on themselves and have lost the grace of peace. They have put their hearts in their treasures with is material things and instant gratifications and not in self sacrifice and penance.
There are still plenty of good and sane people in the world but the bad one really stand out and make life miserable for the rest.
The remedies for a broken world can be found in the Bible, by God's grace. But those who put their hope in God, will renew their strength.
I hope that you will encounter only goodness and blessings for the rest of the week.
Hugs,
Julia
Hello sweet friend. I am so sorry both your husband and your Sam had to encounter that kind of ugly and rude behavior. We seem to be living in a society where people do not have manners or show kindness anymore. I feel for my girls and their children and what kind of world they are going to be living in as they grow up. We certainly need more respect and kindness. Happy Friday have a good weekend. xoxo Kris
ReplyDeleteIMO, I think some people are suffering from mental illness due to masking which causes lack of oxygen or isolation due to fear. I have no suggestions. Other than I can relate. My daughter went into the grocery store driving a newer nice car. She came out and there is a foot print scratch and almost a small hole in a panel. Disgusted.
ReplyDeleteWorldwide there does seem to be so much more anger around at the moment.
ReplyDeleteNice words from Susan Branch.
Take care, my good wishes.
All the best Jan
What a beautiful post, Carla. Increasingly I am so sad about our society. Keep shining your light, my friend!
ReplyDeleteNo God, NO PEACE.
ReplyDeleteI think your husband reacted perfectly! Jesus says we must forgive seventy times seven! So I guess that means there should be no end to our grace and understanding as well. I believe the Covid and all the other things going on now has brought out both the best and the worst in people. I never would have believed how awful so many people can be!! It is so saddening.
ReplyDeleteI have asked myself the same question for months now. What is going on in this world? Today I get the call that a student brought a gun into my grandkids high school. The police arrived before anything happened because a mom and another student saw him with it....He was placed into police custody, but now I wonder if he will come back with vengeance. So sad this world is going to pots it seems. I feel for your son and husband. Janice
ReplyDeleteWow! What an amazing, thought-provoking post. Certainly gives pause for thought on how we respond in the midst of an unpleasant situation. Life does have a way. Saw a dandelion sprouting from a crack in some bricks high on a wall on an old building in town.
ReplyDeleteGood day! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my
ReplyDeletecomment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having problems finding one?
Thanks a lot!
Sunshine is a great word for the year. Sorry to hear of your husband and son's experiences, I don't know what is the matter with some people. I think its just best to rise above it and carry on spreading sunshine:)
ReplyDeleteJillxo
I love the quotes your shared. This post brought me to tears. It scares me for the future. Why are people so mad? I do think the pandemic changed us but that doesn't mean we should show anger to others. Praying that the world can become a better place and that people can find peace within themselves.
ReplyDeleteI like that last quote and your word Sunshine...it's perfect for you! We all need sunshine. I have given what you said a lot of thought lately. I honk my horn at people if they make driving errors right in front of me. But with all the road rage, I think I will stop doing that. They probably know when they've made a mistake and narrowly escaped a wreck so I hope that is enough to deter them. I'm afraid if I honk at someone, it will make someone so mad they have road rage. Anyway...I'll try to be better and hope we all survive!
ReplyDeleteThe world is ruled by rejection of God and all that He has decreed as truth. Male and female created He them ... that simple truth will drive millions of people crazy, if you keep saying it. I believe the covid era has not made people mean and angry and nasty so much as it has revealed a lot of what was already there. All you had to do was watch how people acted out in a rude, authoritarian manner, forsaking all courtesy or civility, if you simply declined to wear a mask, for example (when it was merely their preference). We are at a watershed moment but the Bible tells us that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" ... something radical will have to occur to pull us back to the right as a nation, but when I see Christians unable to get ahold of themselves, I all but despair. I won't elaborate on that but one last thing: a week or so ago my daughter, who owns and lives in one side of a duplex townhouse, texted her neighbor and politely asked him to turn down his music because she could hear it through the wall. He did, and nothing more was said. The woman with whom he lives confronted my daughter loudly and angrily later in the day, all but accusing her of something my daughter certainly had not done. It was awful. But later, she came to my daughter and apologized, and she was sincere. So there is a chance that folks who maybe struggle with anger, will see how toxic that is, and humble themselves after an angry outburst. One can only hope! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI likely would have done the same as Jeremy. We wonder the same things as you, and just don't know. I tend to block out the rudeness and ugly and focus on the bright and positive. But, maybe I should address the rudeness rather than ignore it, but I feel that I may be putting myself at risk if I do.
ReplyDelete