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Mend Fences

Mend Fences

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Mend Fences-a while fence around a field, clouds overheadI love fences.

I know some people say, “Don’t fence me in,” meaning they want their freedom. I like freedom too. Still, I enjoy the beauty of fences.

  • Fences give order.
  • They look neat.
  • Sometimes they provide safety.

However, we need to mend (repair) fences occasionally.

  • Fences break.
  • They need paint.
  • Animals damage them.
  • They start leaning the wrong way.
  • They get dirty.

If we don’t mend them, they won’t stay safe, neat, orderly, and beautiful.

Occasionally we need to mend fences in our relationships.

  • We disagree, argue, or fight.
  • We neglect one another.
  • Hard times hurt us.
  • We let others lead us the wrong way.
  • We betray one another.

We mend fences when we improve our relationships.

How do we do that? We learn to:

  • Disagree without arguing or fighting
  • Spend special time together
  • Refuse to follow bad examples
  • Support one another through hard times
  • Apologize when we do wrong

Of course, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. If we take care of our relationships every day, we don’t have to spend so much time mending them. That seems a small price to pay for a safe, neat, orderly, beautiful relationship.

“Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old” (Lamentations 5:21 NKJV).

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Good Old Days

Good Old Days

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Good Old Days--old photo of little girl holding dollSome people want life like it was years ago.

They wish for the good old days. They remember mostly good times from their past. Many desire the freedom of childhood.

The good old days were good in many ways.

  • Close family relationships
  • No need to lock doors
  • Home-cooked meals with friends
  • A more relaxed schedule

Yet, the good old days were not all good.

  • No air conditioning
  • Fewer health services
  • Poor transportation
  • No telephones or electricity in some areas

When life gets hard, people often wish for simpler times.

Much of life in the past was simpler. Plus, people get so busy with all of today’s gadgets that we forget one another.

Personal contact may be what people miss most about the good old days.

  • Taking time to talk, laugh, cry, and do nothing together
  • Looking at one another instead of cell phones or tablets
  • Asking, “How are you?” and then stopping to listen

Why can’t today become one of those good old days?

Why can’t people take time for one another? That sounds like a good plan to me. What do you think?

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24 NKJV).

Do you have a favorite good old days memory? If so, please comment.

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A Taste of Their Own Medicine

A Taste of Their Own Medicine

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A Taste of Their Own Medicine; child giving medicine to adultWhen people get a taste of their own medicine, they receive what they have given others. They don’t usually like it.

Medicine tastes better than it did in the past. Yet, most medicine still tastes awful. Children often fight taking it. The medicine lands on the child, adult, and anything else nearby.

Some adults pretend to taste the medicine. They act like it’s great.  They know better. Many children know better too.

When adults get sick, they receive a taste of our own medicine. What they have given, they receive. The experience makes them better. Yet, the medicine still tastes awful.

A taste of their own medicine applies to behavior as well. What people give or do to others often returns to them. What goes around comes around.

  • When people hurt others, they invite hurt.
  • If people gossip, others feel free to gossip about them.
  • If people don’t respect others, they probably won’t receive respect.

That doesn’t mean people should return evil for evil. In fact, Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

However, the truth remains: People tend to treat others the way they are treated.

Therefore:

  • To be treated well, treat others well.
  • To avoid gossip, don’t gossip.
  • To receive respect, show respect.

Kindness to others does not guarantee kind treatment in return. However, it is the right thing to do.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).

Special thanks to Julie Posey Johnson for the photo of Ian giving Dad a taste of his own medicine.

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Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue

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Out of the BlueA friend recently sent me a gift out of the blue. I was not expecting it. I did nothing to deserve it.

Like lightning striking unexpectedly in a clear blue sky, events sometimes happen out of the blue.

  • They occur suddenly.
  • We receive no notice.
  • They may be good or bad.

Occasionally we understand why events occur out of the blue.

  • Scientists can usually explain sudden weather changes.
  • My friend knew of my interest in her gift.

However, other events remain a mystery.

We may not always understand events in our lives. We can make a positive difference.

Try secretly performing an act of kindness. You may plan it or do it out of the blue. For the other person, it will definitely appear out of the blue. What a great way to start any day!

“You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the LORD will be the source of your confidence” (Proverbs 3:25-26 NET).

What are your favorite acts of kindness? Please comment below

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Eating Out of Her Hand

Eating Out of Her Hand

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Eating Out of Her HandDuring a stop in South Dakota, my friend Ann had this chipmunk eating out of her hand. Because of his appetite, he did what Ann desired.

She offered what he wanted, so he ignored any possible danger. He failed to follow the caution better safe than sorry.

Sometimes people have us eating out of their hands. We do whatever they want. This happens often in romantic relationships. We see it when Olivia Newton-John sings “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in the movie Grease.

In a good relationship, eating out of one another’s hand presents no danger.

We seek to please the one we love.

  • We give gifts.
  • We arrange special events.
  • We spend a lot of time together.

Unfortunately, some people take advantage of that desire to please.

As a result, those eating out of their hands suffer in several possible ways:

  • Abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual)
  • Neglect
  • Financial loss

Choose relationships wisely.

Seek help when needed. Encourage others to make good decisions.

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever (Psalm 136:12 NIV).

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Push All the Wrong Buttons

Push All the Wrong Buttons

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Push ButtonsAs a person challenged by any kind of electronics, I often push all the wrong buttons. Regardless of the gadget, I can mess it up.

  • Cell phones
  • Laptops
  • Notebooks
  • Personal computers
  • Televisions remotes
  • Cameras
  • Microwaves

If it has buttons, I have problems. Nevertheless, I’m learning. I know I need help.

  • I seek guidance from people with more knowledge.
  • I review online tutorials.
  • I read my instruction book.
  • If all else fails, I seek help from the manufacturer – I go to the source.

Sadly, we have the same problem in relationships. We often push all the wrong buttons of other people.

  • We disobey rules.
  • We anger or upset one another.
  • We seek our own pleasure, regardless of who we hurt.

Let’s learn in relationships. Let’s recognize we need help.

  • Listen to wiser, more mature people.
  • Study ways to improve.
  • Read the Bible, the greatest instruction book in the world.
  • Go to our Creator – the source of all wisdom.

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4 NIV).

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Building Bridges

Building Bridges

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Building BridgesSince the beginning of time, people have built bridges to get from where they are to where they want to be.

Or, they built bridges so other people could get to them. Either way, they made connections.

We sometimes forget that the greatest bridges cannot be seen with our eyes.

Emotional or spiritual connections can last longer than the best built physical bridge. Those lasting connections, however, demand work. We must be willing to:

  • Invest time and effort to stay in touch
  • Quickly correct any misunderstandings or problems
  • Accept one another’s imperfections
  • Confront issues that can’t be overlooked
  • Forgive each other’s failures

Building physical bridges can be messy.

Frequent difficulties include:

  • Bad weather
  • Delays in receiving building materials
  • Tired and grouchy workers
  • Unexpected expenses

Building emotional bridges can be far messier.

Relationship challenges include:

  • Multiple responsibilities
  • Limited information
  • Fatigue and bad moods
  • Illness
  • Financial strains
  • Personality differences

So, is the effort worth it?

Absolutely!

I continually give thanks to all who have loved me through good times and bad. I pray that I will always be there for them, as well.

In every relationship, we can learn from the greatest bridge builder of all.

He came from heaven to show us the way to join Him there.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'” (John 14:6).

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