SUNSHINE, or SON-SHINE?

I just finished reading "The Barn House" ("Confessions of an Urban Rehabber") by Chicago writer Ed Zotti. I read about the book on one of author Henry Kisor's blogs and "had" to buy the book! He told about hiring a young man who was a student at the Moody Bible Institute, about whom he said, "... for reliability, resourcefulness, and all-around sunny nature, a good evangelical Christian is hard to beat".

I am reliable; I am fairly resourceful ... 2 outta 3 ain't bad ... is it? Can I blame my un-sunny disposition on the lack of sunshine in these gloomy, "not a sky in the clouds", cold days?

THANKS

Thank you for occasionally reading what I write. I hope you get encouragement, or hope, or a laugh, or read something that makes you think or makes you study your Bible, or ... Feel free to share it with others. You can post a comment, and you can email me. You can get to the email link when you read my complete profile.

GO, LET IT GO

We all do things without thinking sometimes.
We don't take a minute - just ride with the flow.
But now our judgment says we didn't do right,
But yesterday's past, so just LET IT GO.
We spoke out of turn. We should have kept quiet.
We hurt a friend with an unfeeling blow.
Forgiveness is there, but so is the scar.
But yesterday's past, so just LET IT GO.
Before we move on, let's remember one thing:
Never brush off things that we've done low.
First ask for forgiveness, then repent of our deeds,
Then with a clear heart, we can get up and GO.
A long time friend has hurt you some way,
Or an opportunity came, and you didn't show.
But today's a new chance to get it all right, because
Yesterday's past, so just LET IT GO.
Or maybe we did something kind, something good.
We feel we're redeemed, and we want to crow.
But in Life's race, you can't rest on your wins, because
Yesterday's past, so just LET IT GO.
Like a rickety house that is fixed and still stands,
Treat everyone well, whether friend, whether foe.
Don't gloat on the good, but learn from the bad.
Yesterday's past, so just LET IT GO.
Tomorrow's uncertain. It may never come.
Take mind of our deeds. We'll reap what we sow.
Heaven - or Hell - awaits us at last.
The good and the bad - is yesterday's past.
Today's all we have, so let's GET UP AND GO!

Several years ago, preacher T.D. Jakes wrote an article called "Let It Go". I don't know why I was thinking of that at the time I wrote this. Some people don't "get" what I meant by the rickety house, so if you don't, just ask me. I wrote most of this March 20, 2009.

GATHERINGS

Shortly after I moved back here, it seemed that everytime anyone died, of the church where I worshipped, I was asked to be one of the singers at the funeral! (I have sung in only one wedding - my sister's, and did not sing but did an acapella arrangement for women's trio of "The Lord's Prayer" for another wedding.) Usually I was asked to sing alto - once in awhile lead or tenor. There was usually an octet. And 1 or 2 of my poems were read at a funeral a couple of years ago, then last month, the mother of a co-worker died, and Glenda asked me for some poems. One I wrote personally for/about her mother was printed in the funeral program. The other, "Gatherings", was listed in the program, and read at the funeral.

Gather at weddings, gather at births,
Gather in sickness - our cycle on earth.
Gather the children, gather the kin,
While there's still time, gather them in.
Have get-togethers for no reason or rhyme -
Friends touching friends now while there's time.
Gather the friends who're from far and near.
Gather to visit. We may shed a tear.
Gather my loved ones. I know it's so sad
To see me right now, but remember, I'm glad!
Gather around me on these, my last days.
Gather for singing with me - sing God's praise!
Gather and listen. Heed what God wrote.
Study your Bible. Don't just say it by rote.
Gather ... you hear me? My body will die.
I long for the gathering in that Sweet Bye and Bye.
Gather in parting - no more pain and strife,
But gather rejoicing as I leave this life.
I'll gather once more with the Saints gone before,
Gathering with them on Heaven's bright shore.
Gather to praise Him from whom blessings flow.
Gather in Unity and Peace as I go.
Gather in worship. Trust and obey.
What a gathering in Heaven when we meet Judgement Day!

- by Netagene, May 3, 2009 -

NEW HAT

I met Carol through a note in "Good Neighbors" in our newspaper. Leanne wanted someone in the area where I live to teach her to crochet. I replied. Carol also read it. I met both ladies at a restaurant a week ago. Carol brought an old mesh hat, obviously loved and very much worn, to see if I could copy it. I could. I showed her several kinds of yarn. After seeing her old hat, I told her the yarn I thought would be most similar to her old hat (Vanna's Choice, by Lion, though it can be made out of any yarn), and told her to buy the yarn, and how much I'd charge. She did; I did. I had her come to my house to try one on,
which I'd made (to work up the pattern) with the same yarn but in blue. She wanted it a little bigger as she wears it a bit floppy (the pattern is easily adjustable to fit), and with the brim turned up. Ripping out is part of crocheting! She got her 2 new hats today, and wants the blue one (which I thought I'd be keeping) for her sister! Here's a picture of her 2 new hats, and a picture of her wearing the rose colored one. If you'd like the pattern, or would like for me to make one for you, let me know.

THE "SUNNY" SOUTH?

The governor said state offices would be closed today because of the weather. I feel sorry for our crew because they are some of the essential employees, working day and night with the sand trucks and de-icer. Forecast was for the white stuff to start about 3 a.m. but at my house, it wasn't 'til 9:30. Now, 5 hours later, it hasn't stopped. I made these at 1:30, one from inside looking at my front yard, the other standing on my front porch, with snow stuck to the screen. I know this is "nothing" to you in the North! At least Monday is a holiday.

SO WHAT?

So what that I used to have dimples? So what that I used to be cute?
So what that I'm now a bit "fuller"? At least my mind's now more astute.
So what that I used to be slender? So what I was smart in my class?
I can't always live on those laurels. Those days are forever past.
So what that I was a singer? So what I was a radio D.J.?
That time is now gone forever - just a memory that's drifting away.
So what that I sometimes feel lousy? Does it help me to grumble and whine?
Do I think others like my complaining, so for me, they never have time?
So what? I'll keep making more memories! I'll live my life as it comes.
I'm contented and mentally better. My life's not a prune, but a plum!
So what that my steps now are slower? So what that I wear hearing aids?
So what that my vison is cloudy? I'm alive, even while this life fades.
So what's good is, I'm older, but wiser! So what I have wrinkles from grins?
So what? I can laugh when I stumble, and I cherish those who are my friends!
So what? It's "mind over matter". So what that my "matter" is frail?
My "mind" is what lasts forever. My "matter" is only a shell.
So what I'll do now is keep living - slow going, but still making plans.
So what'll I do? - study my Bible, while living the best that I can.
So what that I'm getting older? So what? It happens to us all.
So what! I'll enjoy my time that's left here. I'll be active 'til I hear God's call!

- by Netagene, February 9-11, 2010 -

MOTORCYCLIN'

Yes, this is me! And no, that's not a dress! Sometimes I wore culottes, flats, a cute blouse, and big dangly earrings! They went well with a 1981 black Honda 400 and a red skid lid! This was in metro Tampa. In a lot of Florida, you can see 2 miles ahead! I owned and rode only about 3 years, and loved it. Rode it to worship, to work, to the grocery store, everywhere! The farthest I rode one way was to Daytona. Most of the time, I wore jeans or slacks. I loved it, and regret only that I did not get into riding when I was a whole lot younger!

SHADOWS? or SUNSHINE?

Ever notice when some person enters, that the place seems suddenly gloomy?
It's like someone has pulled the shades. It's sepulcher-y, tomb-y.
Like Joe with unpronounceable name, in "L'il Abner" long ago,
With ever a dark cloud over his head, no matter where he'd go ...
Some people seem to bring the rain, or cold when things were hot.
You really want to run from them, so you won't catch what they have got.

But others brighten up a room, and calm things when they enter.
You're always glad to see them. They treat you like a winner.
Things may be bad 'til they show up. Their words and voice are soothing.
Never condescending, always nice, caressing, warm, alluring.

Someone whom others often dread, or one they're glad to see -
Do I bring sunshine or shadows? Which do I want to be?
Shadows, rain, a glowering chill - Is this what cloaks my mind?
I'd rather bring some brighter thing - not shadows, but sunshine!

- by Netagene, written in a few minutes today, with this being yet another of dripping sunless weather and still having mud in my brain - I want summer! -

The GONNA-be-60 BIRTHDAY BLUES

A co-worker was moanin' the blues 3 weeks ago about her upcoming 60th. So I wrote a song for her that day. Today, her birthday, she was fine. Of course the cake and ice cream helped! Maybe you can relate. Make up your own tune, and toss in the chorus anytime you want to!

I'm gonna be 60. Yeah, that's what I know.
Let's see what'll happen to my get-up-and-go ...
I try to do somethin', to remember and "thank", [think]
But my brain pops a burp and all I get is a blank.

Chorus:
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I got them low-oh-down, run-outa-town
Si-i-xty blu-oohs!

It's just psycholog'cal, yeah, that's what I say,
But it's the big 60 on my next birthday ...
My height is a'shrinkin'. It's gone to my hips.
Some parts are all leaky like a sinkin' ol' ship.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I got them low-oh-down, move outa-town,
Si-i-xty blu-oohs!

My 50s were crazy, witchy then high,
Jumpin' and jivin', laughin' then cry.
At least I'm not 70. I ain't got white hair.
Sometimes I feel 80, like some sway-back ol' mare.

My skin's gettin' crinkly. It's spotted and blue.
My eyes, they are cloudy, can't hardly see through.
Instead of hot flashes, now I stay cold.
Ol' man calls me frigid just like the North Pole,

What 'uz skinny is fa-at, and what's fat is now slid.
I'm still the same gal, but that young gal done hid.
I went over the hi-il when I fell on the floor.
I feel like ol' Debil [Devil] of Death's at my door.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I got them low-oh-down, get outa town,
Big 60 is cookin'! Yeah, I'm still good lookin'!
Ain't gonna run down! Let's paint the town!
Si-i-xty blu-oohs!