The News

         If you want to have a discouraging day, start it by listening to or watching the news.  If you do, then be prepared for the worst.

          First, you will see the tragedy in Ukrane.  I am convinced that this is led by Satan, controlled by Puten.  Devastation, death and war crimes bring tears to your eyes and it is all senseless. And it appears that nothing can be done to stop this other than a much wider war.

          Or if that doesn't make your blood boil, then what about the shortage of baby formula, or the increase in gas prices, or the cost of groceries?  Inflation increases while the stock market is like a rollercoaster.  And there are random shootings everywhere even locally.  Our neighboring city of York now has a murder almost daily.  You are no longer safe anywhere – shopping, working, going to school or to church.

          Then there are the mass murders.  The are all sad, but the school shooting in Texas tops the list.  As a grandparent I just can't imagine what those folks are going through.  As a retired educator I have so many questions about the whole situation.

          For example, why was the outside door left open and blocked open? Did some employee want to make an exit and a quick return?  Even twenty years ago when I was still teaching that was a serious offense.  All doors were locked and there was only one permissible entrance and usually each person had to sign in during the day and only an authorized person would allow them to enter.  It appears that no such safety regulation was followed here.  Did some employee feel that regulations weren't for them?

          Then where was the safety resource officer?  So far reports haven't placed him on duty.  Why?  That was his job.

          Then there are the questions about the classroom doors.  Some say they were unlocked which would be a definite safety violation.  But there are others that say they couldn't get into the rooms until they finally found a janitor with the master key.  Didn't the office have one?  Cops on television have ways to break through a door.  Didn't these lawmen have the same training?

          Then there appear to be many mistakes over a long period of time when kids were even sending requests to 911 for police help.  What in the world were they all doing while students and teachers were being killed?

          It is hard to listen to the experiences of parents and students.  They are heartbreaking.  However, I was thrilled to hear the one young girl who said that when Jesus is in your heart, if you die you go to him in heaven. Thank you, Lord, for one faithful parent or teacher who taught this child the truth.  This is the solution to this world's growing problem.

           So, what comes next?  The country is now divided over gun laws, but would more laws have prevented this tragedy? Personally, I don't think so.  Criminals and mass killers will always find ways to get guns.

          The source of this evil is sin.  The Bible reminds us that the heart is desperately wicked.  So, we shouldn't be surprised.  We better get used to it.

          But a better way to start the day would be to spend the early morning with the Lord.

          P.S. – It is amazing how the world protests mass shootings while at the same time they promote the killing of children through abortion.  My how Satan has blinded this world.  But a better day is coming … hopefully soon!

A Walk

          What is your favorite physical activity?  For most of my life mine has been walking.

          In my elementary years I had no choice.  Not only did I need to walk to and from school, but in those days we also had to walk home for lunch.  School cafeterias were unusual in those days, so we had to go home and then walk back.

          In the days when we lived in Lancaster and Lititz there were so many interesting places to visit, beside school.  And walking was safe, so I walked all over the place.  I didn't walk for exercise, just to visit friends and even to shop.
          Then when I hit my twenties I hit a roadblock – my first bad back experience.  I was diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis.  It was painful and very limiting. Powerful medicines were required and exercise was suggested.  So slowly it was back to walking each day.

          For many years I walked about an hour each day.  During school days I would usually walk early in the morning before going to teach.  I enjoyed this time when I could pray and reflect upon things I needed to do.  Usually I would listen to Christian radio as I walked.  But I learned to be careful after having a skunk suddenly cross my path in the darkness of the early morning.

          When the days were hot during the summer or when the weather was bad, I would usually drive to Park City where I would walk in the mall.  That was fun but the hard floors were hard on my feet and back. Even so I was still able to earn numerous honors (shirts) from a Penn Manor Wellness committee for my walking records. Dianne often walked with me there.

          But over the years three neck and back surgeries made walking much more difficult.  But a program for Pulmonary Rehab kept me going.  I enjoyed using a variety of machines to keep walking and staying in shape. I also met a number of nice people during my months there.  And I felt much better.

          Then I hit another roadblock.  Covid forced the sudden closure of rehab and suddenly my walking was curtailed.  I really miss rehab.

          Then came the cane.  Then a walker.  Next came a rollater.  Before I knew it, I was dependent on each of these. Now I am in physical therapy where they are trying to teach me to walk once again.  The process is slow and discouraging. 

          It is hard to become handicapped.  It is hard not to be able to do the many things that you have been always able to do all of your life.  You never see these changes happening to you.  But, they do, too suddenly.

          However, I have been trying to learn a few lessons. Be thankful today for the many normal things you can still do.  You may not be able to do those things tomorrow, so don't take them for granted today.

          Be willing to find ways to help others who are slowing down or are becoming handicapped. In the near future you might need someone who is willing to help you. It happens.  Becoming handicapped makes one lonely, needy and discouraged.

          Appreciate what you have today and what you can still do.  Be thankful each day for what abilities the Lord still has allowed you to have.  Trust Him for tomorrow.

          "Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord."  Psalm 119:1

          If you can walk, be thankful.  If you can't, then continue a caring spiritual walk with Jesus.  He will never leave you no matter how handicapped you may become.

Helping The Handicapped (LB)

Looking Back - The feature in which I repeat a blog that I have shared in the past.  This blog from 2019 is even more timely since today I use a cane or a walker and my wife uses a cane.  And things haven't gotten any better in ten years.

           Have you ever really thought about the problems that even moderately handicapped people face? I doubt that most of us do until we are faced with the problem ourselves. I imagine that probably was true even with me until my wife began using a cane.  

          It has been interesting to see how folks interact with you when you are forced to use something like a cane. Now in all fairness, there are some people who are very considerate. They let you go ahead. They ask if they can help. They hold doors for you. Fortunately there are still some people with manners who are considerate of those with special needs. 

          Now as you might expect, children are the worst problem. They run, they bump into you, they rush ahead, and they cut right in front of you. But they do that even to older folks who aren't handicapped. On a Sunday morning I have often been bumped by running children while I am trying to carry my coffee. At times that can almost be an adventure and even a little dangerous. 

          But teens and young adults usually aren't much better. In the malls they don't get out of your way. You need to move for them. And they rush to beat you in and out of the doors, especially those which open automatically. But many adults act the same. It is common when we walk at Park City to have folks cut right in front of us or stop suddenly right in front of us. And many of them also like to beat you through the automatic doors. 

          Then there are those who park in the striped areas between handicapped parking slots which are designed for vans and room for the handicapped to exit or enter their vehicles. As I said, I guess we just don't think much about those things until we have a handicap or we spend time with somebody who does. 

          Maybe all students should be required to spend a day or two as a "handicapped person" to experience these problems. And we have also become more aware of the problems handicapped have with access to facilities. We have been learning the problems of dealing with steps when ramps and elevators are not available. 

          On our trip to Commanders College last week, we visited the church where Awana really developed sixty years ago. Surprisingly it was not the least bit handicapped accessible. There were steep steps everywhere to get into the building and then again into the sanctuary. No ramps or elevators were provided. At one point my wife had to wait until everybody in our group had passed before she could begin difficult task of using the steps. She had struggled halfway when somebody from the church suddenly appeared and told her to be careful because they didn't have any insurance if she should hurt herself. We weren't sure whether to laugh or cry about his warning.

           But, unfortunately, that is often the attitude of people who aren't handicapped themselves - at least physically handicapped. And maybe that comment also tells you why this formerly thriving church, with an auditorium that seats about 400, now only averages 30 to 40 each Sunday. I sure hope this guy wasn't the church greeter!

Mother's Dictionary

Mother's Dictionary
A blog dedicated to all mothers

Bottle feeding: An opportunity for Dad to get up at 2 a.m. also.

Defense: What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to let the children play outside.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Prepared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Verbal: Able to whine in words.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a sponge."