How I want to be remembered

The beginning of this week a long time friend of my grandparents' passed away after battling with stomach cancer. He was an awesome man of faith and always kind to myself and my brother. I knew him my whole life and though I didn't see him on a regular basis I am still saddened that this world lost a great person. This is the second death of someone of great faith and trust in Christ this year and it has got me to thinking about how I want to be remembered when I leave this earth, what mark can I leave behind me?

Firstly, I want to be remembered as someone who trusted in God and His plan for my life. He has everything under control even though sometimes it doesn't seem like it. I want people to be able to see Him in me because I would be nothing without Him.

Secondly, I want to be remembered as someone who was there for others. I want my friends to be able to say that I was always there when they needed me no matter what. I want my family to say that I put them first and that they would know how much their love and support has meant to me. I want it to be said that I was kind and caring and quick to laugh.

Thirdly, I want others to know that I never stopped trying or never gave up. My life has been hard at times. I've been to the point of death and fought back, with God's help of course. I went through life knowing that I could be an example to others of how God can take someone who may be weak physically and make them strong spiritually and emotionally. There are days when I just want to stay in bed but that will do no good and so I get up. I want people to know that you may feel at time like your life is falling apart, that you may be lacking in some way and you have no gifts to offer. Remember that everyone has talents and gifts and that even if you struggle physically, mentally, or spiritually God is there to pull you out of that dark place and build you up to be strong. I want people to remember me as someone who allowed God to do that for me.

Finally, at my funeral I don't want anyone crying. I want people to celebrate my life and that fact that I have gone home to be with my heavenly father. I want people to talk about fun times we had together and to share pictures with each other. I want happy music and lots of good food for people to eat. I want my funeral to be a time of fellowship and celebration. And if you feel like having a beer go for it because I enjoyed that in life too!
So take a minute and think about how you want to be remembered when you are gone. When you figure it out live your life with that in mind. What will people say when you leave this earth and more importantly what will God say to you when you meet him in heaven? I know I want to hear, Welcome home.

Jumping on the protest band wagon

The United States of America has always been an outspoken country. Its people have no fear of speaking their minds about how they feel when it comes to government, societal issues, etc. In the 1700’s we protested taxation without representation. The 1800’s it was slavery and state’s rights. Then we hit the 1900’s which brought us labor strikes, woman’s suffrage,  the Civil Rights Movement,  anti-war protests, gay rights movement, and disability rights movement. Now we are in the 2000’s and so far things have been interesting. We have people protesting the Iraq/Afghanistan wars outside of soldiers’ funerals (which I find totally disgusting), we have abortion/pro-life protests and last but certainly not least we now have the Occupy Wall Street movement.  We are a country of protestors, a country who isn’t going to sit back and let things go.  The problem is this however, do the majority of the people involved in these protest really know what they are protesting about or is it just a fad?

Let’s take the Occupy Wall Street movement for example. Now I will be the first to admit that I am not completely advised in what all of the issues being protested are but what I understand is that these protestors are upset about Wall Street’s waste of tax payers’ money, and the big wig capitalists getting richer while everyone else gets poorer. I can understand that and relate but my issue is the destruction and damage that is being caused by these protestors to the area surrounding Wall Street.  The news the other day stayed that crews are bringing in fire hoses and clean the streets and areas because of all the waste, filth, and garbage that is being left. Really people?  Is it necessary for you to destroy city property to prove your point? I always feel that some of those involved are just using this “cause” as an excuse to do drugs, drink, have sex with as many people as possible and basically be a waste of space. Sorry sounds harsh but that’s how I feel. Do these people not have jobs or lives? If I was a tax payer in NY I would be completely angry that my tax money was being used to clean up after them.

Another issue is that this movement is spreading. There is now an Occupy Oakland or something like that. Isn’t that kind of missing the point, since you are supposed to be protesting Wall Street? Not only that but these people were given thousands of dollars by the Occupy Walls Street movement and they put it in a Wells-Fargo bank! Wells-Fargo was one of the banks bailed out by the government and is the cause of the movement in the first place! People, if you are going to be a part of a protest,  please make sure you know what you are protesting about! It doesn’t make you look very credible if you choose to patronize the very business you are protesting against!

I guess that is all I have to say. I just get annoyed at those who just jump on the bandwagon  because it’s the cool thing to do, not because it’s the right thing. This country’s right to protest is what makes it great. Don’t violate that right by acting like an idiot. Understand what you are fighting for, it makes you so much more credible and believable.

Wild Animals Do Not Make Good Pets

http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2011/10/19/zanesville-exotic-animals-escape-preserve.html

Above is a link to the Columbus news station covering the story of a Zanesville exotic animal escape. The short version of the story is that the owner of this so called "preserve" released all 48 exotic animals he was housing and then shot himself. This man has just recently been released from prison for weapons charges and had been in trouble before for animal abuse. Please explain to me why someone like that is allowed to have animals such as lions, tigers, bears, cougars, wolves, etc? This animals belong in the wild. Ohio used to have a law stating that people could not own these types of animals unless they were licensed by the state. Our current governor in all his wisdom allowed that law to expire. What is sad is that 31 of these animals had to be killed last night for the safety of the people in the area around this "preserve" and those that are remaining are being looked for as we speak.

I guess what bothers me the most is that people don't seem to remember that these animals are dangerous. Yes, they are cute and cuddly when they are babies but those babies grow up. Its like the woman a couple years ago who owned the chimpanzee who attacked her friend and literally ripped her face off. This woman went on and on about how she couldn't believe he would do something like that. HELLO! He's a wild animal. I don't care how human like he may act or how trained you think he is he is still wild. I am of the firm belief that these animals should be left in the wild and if that is not possible they should be taken to some place that has the correct facilities to house them and raise them. Jack Hanna said it best when he said that a law is only as good as the reinforcement behind it. When is Ohio going to start cracking down on people like this Mr. Thompson who had no business owning these animals in the first place. If he was truly wanting to help these animals he would not have released them before killing himself. Wild animals do not make good pets. They are wild for a reason. Lets leave them that way. 

My Best Friend's Wedding

Yesterday my best friend got married. I was honored to be the maid of honor and as I was standing there as they said "I do" I got to thinking about the whole wedding ordeal in general. It seems like you can't turn on the tv now without hearing about some big celebrity wedding or there being some tv show about weddings. As I watch these shows I am amazed at the expense of these people's big day. There is a show on where girls go in and pick out there wedding dresses and I am shocked at the price they will pay for something that they will only wear one day in their live. The cost of some of these dresses is enough to buy a new car or put a down payment on a house. And that is just the dress. Then they have to choose flowers, food, music, etc. Its just crazy. My other issue is why do people feel the need to invite everyone and their brother? Personally I think it is important to have those closest to you to share in your special day. The more people involved the more drama that seems to occur. I think my least favorite wedding show is Bridezilla. The way these women behave is appalling. My friend and I talked about that when she asked me to be a part of their big day and I told her no bridezilla or I would not be a part of her day. We both laughed.

I think more time show be spent preparing for married life than preparing for a wedding. Yes a wedding is important, its the day you get to express your love and commitment to the person you will be sharing the rest of your life with. I think though if people would spend at least half as much time preparing for married life our divorce rate in this country would be half of what it is. People need to realize that its not about the cake or the dress or who was there, its about the commitment to love and cherish that person for the rest of your life. Yes, I realize that sometimes things don't work out but I think those issues are usually there from the beginning for the relationship and can be worked on.

I was so honored to be in my best friends wedding. She was absolutely beautiful and her wedding was small which was great also. The focus was on her and her husbands commitment and love for each other and not the material things. They places their focus on God and His part of a married, something that more people should do. After all He is the one that created them for each other. I wish them both all the love and happiness in the world and pray they will have many wonderful years together.

The Brilliance of Fall

Fall is in full swing here in the Buckeye State. The trees have changed their colors and are brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange. Some trees have begun to shed their leaves and at times there is a slight nip in the air. As I grow older I have begun to appreciate fall more and more. As a child, I dreaded the changing of seasons. Fall meant school was back in session, the fair was over and done and winter was just around the corner. Fall meant no more trips or vacations until spring and it meant more days inside. Now that I am adult all the reasons I listed above as to why I didn't like fall are now the reasons I enjoy it so.

Fall for me now means that the earth is shedding the old to make way for the new. The trees shed their leaves so that they can grow new in spring. The world slows down and prepares for a season of rest and so do we. Fall marks the beginning of upcoming holidays in which we get to enjoy the company of our friends and families. It gives us a change to rest before another busy spring and summer. Fall reminds us that every good thing must come to an end but there are better things to come.

As an adult I am also to see how God works in the fall season. The Bible says "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 Fall is the perfect reminder of that. We must first shed our old leaves if you will and be washed in the whiteness of God's cleaning love before we can grow and bloom into something beautiful. He works in each of us to make us something amazing and will give glory to Him. I know I need that reminder to give up my self and trust in Him to provide for me and my needs. I need to allow Him to work in me.

So next time you are driving down the road and see the beautiful colors of fall think of God's love and His renewing spirit.