FELIZ NAVIDAD

By Vernalee

Have you ever been Christmas Caroling? I have! Once! It was my freshman year in college. We had a young Spanish professor, Senor Brooks; Dr. Brooks to be exact! One of our assignments was to sing carols - in Spanish of course! Being that I came from a high school in the Mississippi Delta that didn't offer foreign language, this was a challenging class and task, but I made it through that night as we went from door to door singing our hearts out! It's a treasured memory that I still hold. So in my harmonic voice, I say, “ Feliz Navidad … I want to wish you a Merry Christmas!”

IF THEY WERE NOT FAMILY, WOULD THEY BE FRIENDS?

By Vernalee

Corporate great, Lee Iacocca once said, "If you have had 5 real friends, you have had a great life." Answer this sticky question. It's a live wire. Here goes...How many of your family members are friends and how many are "leave them where you found them” types? Ouch! Do they really get on your nerves? This brings me to another fascinating phrase that has been echoed for years. "If they were not your family, would they be your friends?” Stop! Don't shoot me I am just the messenger; specifically, the writer in this case. It takes courage to even put these words in black and white. Sure I know that I'm walking on thin ice with this post, but I did not invent the referenced phrase; neither am I here to prove its validity. I am certain that there are enough family members to test the phrase's authenticity and scientific hypothesis. Just think back to all the arguments, fights, bite your tongue moments that have occurred over the years. Here's another great one. Some family members go around prophesying in the name of Jesus, yet they haven't even spoken to some relatives in years! Sounds hypocritical to me! What do you think? Better yet, how many relatives have been at war for so long that they don't even know why they are fighting? Amazing, isn't it? Through the family's umbilical cord, some of the fights have moved into the next generation. Practice makes perfect! We do what we see! Children aren't speaking to their peer relatives because their respective parents didn't speak to each other! Oh what a tangled web we weave!

The Hatfields and McCoys are just plain neophytes compared to many noticeable family divisions and rivalries. Some relatives are blood thirsty barracudas who sucker punch each other verbally, emotionally - and have been known to engage in physical entanglements. POW! Lest not even enter the realms of those who can't stand each other's guts and make it known. Hush your mouth! Look people! Get this under control! We don't need this circulating in our midst. It's Cain and Abel like bitterness. We were warned about this problem in the Book of Genesis! Take heed! Show some love! Hatred and jealousies can start a deep penetrating and argumentative mess! The circle of this madness, disrespectful conduct, and hatred can stop with you!

The family was created by God! He knew what was good for us. We need to get with the program; before it's too late! We have to leave the scars of the past in the past. We have to dig deep inside, forgive, forget, and pray for guidance to mend that old broken down fence that has kept us apart for far too long. No one is exempted or blameless. That includes you and me! Life is too short! We are still family!

Photo credit: www.magicalquote.com

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

By Vernalee

Happy Thanksgiving! As we cook, bless the food, and enjoy the day off, it is a joyous time of reflections. Oh yes … Thanksgiving is more than a day of the huge feast – turkey, ham, dressing, cakes, and pies. Though the delectable food is yummy to our tummies! It’s more than a day of parades and countless football games. It is a day to be thankful – thankful for life, loved ones, family, friends, blessings, and the amenities of living! Recognized as one of the busiest travel times, many people travel near and far to be with and share time with people that they love. Kindred spirits are the order of the day. On the flip side, the holidays can be a lonely time for some! There are some folks who are not as fortunate as others. The bread of loneliness they may eat. Regretfully, some may even spend the day alone. So this holiday season, let’s work on a project together. Let's share our fortunes of love, kindness, and resources with others. Let not our love be selfish and superficial; ignoring the needs of others. Turning our heads should not be an option. Let our love be overflowing like a cornucopia. I am sure that the recipients of our generosity will be thankful! For certain, we would have left them better than we found them! That feeling should fill our souls as much as the Thanksgiving meal filled our tummies! Blessings! Photo credit: www.catholicism.about.com