Day 117 ~ R...E...S...P...E...C...T...

Blinking cursor... blinking cursor... blinking cursor... for the last twenty minutes all I have been staring at is the blinking cursor while trying to find some inspiration for tonight's post.

I tell you... all I need to do is turn to facebook... and VOILA!  Presto!  WHAM-O!!  Inspiration!!

When I took a break from the blinking cursor dilemma, I decided to check out what was going on... there was something I read in regards to children, motherhood and life in general that got me thinking... hmmm...  

Why is it, [in general] a "person", whilst in the process of growing up, does not recognize the importance of their parents or the times they should have interacted with them more, until... more often than not, it's too late.  Is it a "right of passage" per say?

When the day comes that a person comes to the realization that they should have been paying more attention to life around them, their parents included... or even perhaps stopping long enough to embrace it all... is that the day that they have "grown up"... ??? 

I don't know if you want to call it a "right of passage" ... better yet, seems more like it's one of "life's cycles" to me.

Whatever you want to call it... there is something to be said for the lack of respect that today's generation shows their elders.  

What does respect have to do with this?   It has everything to do with this... If our children realized what we did for them, it seems that respect would be automatic.  They would practice it, slow down and embrace their parents and family more... with a sense of loyalty in tow as well.   Is it our fault as parents?   ... or ...  Is it the times that we are in?  

This certainly did not occur in my day, let alone in my predecessor's generation or earlier... well... come to think of it... we all used to get beat!  SO did we show our elders respect? ... or was it fear? ... the fear that we would get the "switch", "rod" or "belt"?  (wink, wink~ bringing back any memories?) 

All kidding aside... there is something to be said for having "loving-respect" for your family.  Respect is a funny "thing"... it goes both ways... just as you are selective in handing respect out, the other person can be more so.  

What would happen if you showed your children the same respect you yourself expected?   hmmmm... that would be interesting... 

Probably no greater honor can come to any man than the respect of his colleagues.   ~Cary Grant

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.    ~  Benjamin Franklin

Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.    ~  Leviticus 19:3

Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.    ~  Leviticus 19:32

 

Blessings to all!!

248 days to go...

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied. All accounts herein are written by Cali-Gal/Carla B Karam and are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.

Day 17 ~ Doing The Right Thing !!

I started my day on a good note, and not only that but I decided that I only wanted positive things in my life today.  I am juggling so many balls which are bouncing around in my life right now, that I needed to step away!

 by Federico Stevanin

Soooo... I got out of bed and I literally did the wet dog shake! Okay, all better now! (as if that's all it takes - Regardless... I was going to give it the "ol' college try!")  So YES, that's all it took... and off I went to face my day laughing my butt off!

As my day went on, there was a time today I found myself lost in thought and ended up having a moment of self-evaluation of how I was handling this Merit Velasco situation, including the direction that my blog has taken in the last week... 

My blog is meant for me to write about who I am, the roads I have traveled and the tribulations I have had to face... Why?  Well I want all my children to know the paths I have taken which have led me to where I am today.  I do not want them to have any doubts about me, who I am or why I was the way I was. 

I am not saying that I have those doubts about, say my father for instance, because I don't.  However, he felt differently.  My father himself, felt slighted, and was left with unanswered questions which his mother took to her grave with her, and affected him for the next fourteen years until the day he died.

Since I mentioned my father... I know I have unloaded some harsh and possibly unbelievable things about him, nonetheless it is the truth.  I did not write about our relationship to hurt him or disrespect his memory in any way.  He was very aware of his mistreatment of me, and apologized for it [literally] five days before he passed (it was the one and only time he had ever apologized to me.)  Regardless of his behavior, he was my father, and I love and miss my daddy.  

I wrote [and will write] about my feelings of my experiences as a process of healing and to let my children know of that part of my history.  Not to hurt or disrespect anyone.

I don't want you to think that something has occurred or that anyone has said anything to me regarding the content of my blog... because they haven't.  As a matter of fact, my entire family is aware and very supportive of my blogging.  I just wanted to make all of this perfectly clear so there aren't any misunderstandings, and more so because of recent day's events.

After some thought and reassurance, I have decided to add scripture to my blog.  I would like to end my blog on a positive note and continue my spiritual growth with Jesus.  I went onto the internet on one of my favorite sites... www.biblegateway.com/   (This is a wonderful site for looking up bible scriptures.)  

When I first opened the website and saw the scripture of the day, I was blown away!!   Before I share it with you let me share some thoughts with you first.  Once again. please bare with me, it will all make sense in the end.

As I mentioned I have been doing some self-evaluating and I asked myself the following questions...  

• Am I being vengeful?  No.  All I am trying to do is get back what is rightfully mine.
• Should I just drop it and go back to MY life?  After some thought this is an experience, and a bad one at that, that is part of my life, what I have gone through.  But do I drop it?  As I have already said, if I drop this it will send a negative message to Merit and Marylou allowing them to think that they got away with taking someone else's possession, concluding that they can do whatever they want to whom ever they want to and get away with it.  Therefore, I can comfortably say that my answer remains no, I will not drop this.    
•  Am I being hateful?  No I am not.  Honestly I do not hate Merit and Marylou.  I feel sadness and I feel sorry for them both.  These girls are basically my sons ages, and just as I would not allow for them do something like this to someone else- stranger or not, I will not allow them.  I sincerely hope that I can teach them a valuable lesson that will make them better people.  I would hate for them to end up in jail, junkies or worse yet - uneducated.  As a matter of fact I think it would be awesome to make a difference in their lives so much so that it would turn their lives around.  It would be really cool!

After my self-evaluation and prayer, I felt reassured and I believe very strongly that I am doing the right thing.  After all, I would never allow any of my children to do something so disrespectful not only to themselves, but towards their family and friends too.

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."            Leviticus 19:18 NIV

 Blessings to all!

348 days to go.

All contents herein are protected under Copyright laws and can not be used, altered or copied without written permission from Carla B Karam- please just ask.  All views and feelings are true accounts of her life. Some names may be changed to protect the innocent.