The Withering Rose

I have had a good friend whose Mother just left this planet for a better home, her body yielded up to the forces always at play around us. Fresh mourning for my sweet friend. Another good friend’s Grandmother is following closely behind, bless their dear hearts. And my own dear Father, my Daddy, I believe will not be that far behind. Many friends are going through chemo for cancers. The fragility of life is undeniable. The temporariness of it perplexes me, though the will can at times be such a powerful force. Our spirits and souls are eternal but this shell we live in exists so briefly and then withers away to release back the soul and spirit back to glory. And each new occurrance, especially my own experiences, humbles me and makes me not despondent or frustrated but extremely thankful, grateful for each moment of health, each moment of my kids’ health, each moment with the man I love, and life has taken on this immense sense of meaning and purpose and desire to live every moment as fully as I can. I want to travel with my best friend. I want to plant flowers and plants that will continue for years. I want to prepare my kids for a good life the best I can. I want to have fun with my children. I want to experience all aspects of love as often as possible. I want to give my daddy as many laughs as possible, even when he doesn’t know who I am. I want to help anyone who comes across my path that needs help. I want to play music and put music together to pass down. I want to paint and draw and write for my art to continue and encourage others to do or try to do so or borrow my art. I want passion in life to match the renewed passion I feel, new breath in my lungs, new skip in my step. I will not wither quietly. I will honor those I love, the living and the passed, by living as fully as I can. It is for those of us who remain to tend to the living and we ourslves live. We mourn, yes. We will miss these extraordinary people, supporters, friends, confidants, it will hurt to not have them to share life with. But. We will honor their memory best by carrying on their memory to another generation, by sharing their story and mostly by living a full rich life they would be honored by.

Real Monsters Don’t Scare Me

No, monsters don’t scare me. They do exist, they are just not what people visualize. Real monsters are people, looking like someone we know maybe. These monsters have decided to turn their back on goodness and embrace their own selfish desires above the good of anyone or everyone else. These, folks are the real monsters. But even those we do not need to fear because these monsters are never as powerful as goodness. God is bigger. So, what on earth do we need to fear? Nothing. That which we need to pay careful respect to is our relationship with God. Our fear of displeasing Him should trump our desire to be pleased or we become the monsters. But this can be done. It requires a focus on good, a focus on and many conversations with God, a regular reading time in the Bible and positive friends with encouraging words. With these tools of salvation under our belts, there is never a reason to fear. Even monsters have to leave when you tell them to in Jesus’ name. Never fear. Do not be afraid. God is bigger than anything or anyone who decides to act like a monster. That being said, Halloween is still my least favorite day of the year. Not because I am afraid but because the world is dark enough and I think we need a day of light to counteract it and not embrace this morbidity. Just saying. Think positive and think light, my friends. 🙂