Stop for a moment and consider someone that you know of that you think is amazing. They don’t have to be amazing in any specific way, just plain amazing. They can be someone close to you or even someone that was well known for what they did. Maybe you are thinking of someone who has done incredible things in the name of science. Or someone who has invented stuff that changed the world as we know it. Maybe you are thinking of someone that showed intense bravery in the face of danger to save or improve the lives of others. Maybe you are thinking of someone that simple went above and beyond for the few people they knew and help guide them to the lives they have now.
There is a show that I absolutely love to watch. It’s called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Some of the families that they have on that show are incredible and I don’t think there is a single episode what I walk away from without shedding some tears. One of my favorites was their 100th episode. A family was nominated that had suddenly grown because of tragedy, and they needed a lot more space to live in. Several years earlier, they were two separate families. And the mothers of these families were sisters. In light of making it easier to tell their story, I am going give the sisters’ names (because I don’t remember what theirs are). We will call one Mary and the other Amy. Both were married and had families with young children. One day, Mary’s husband was driving with their oldest daughter in the car and was in a horrible accident. The daughter was knocked unconscious but woke at the hospital with only bruises and scrapes. Her father, however, was not so lucky. She was taken in to see him because they knew he was dying and the rest of the family hadn’t arrived yet. And this brave little girl held her father’s hand as he died. Now let’s move forward in time. The family has mourned and Mary feels ready to start dating again. She eventually meets a man that she starts having a relationship with. Things are fine at first but then he becomes controlling and abusive. Mary is forced to take legal action to remove him from her life as well as her children’s. Not surprisingly, he didn’t take it so well. He came after Mary and was locked up in jail. One night, after he had been released, he broke into Mary’s home. A struggle occurred and he murdered Mary. He fled and the oldest daughter was the first to come down stairs and find her mother. The boyfriend was found, arrested, and sent to prison for a very long time. But we now have three orphaned children. This is when Amy stepped in and she and her husband took in all three kids. When the show gets there to build them a new home, we learn of how Mary’s oldest daughter has dealt with everything. And, I tell you what, she nothing short of incredible! She was 14 years old. Now let’s pause for a moment and think about what we were like at that age. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I know that I was busy giggling, having crushes on boys, and trying to fit in at Junior High. Not this young lady. With the help of her Aunt Amy, they took her mother’s situation and petitioned to help change the laws for domestic violence so that the victims can be more protected. She has even toured and spoken publicly about her families situation and speaks out against domestic violence. Instead of worrying about school dances or writing notes to friends, she’s raising awareness of an issue that is important to her and set out to change the world for other people who have to face it. I only have one word for this girl...WOW! I actually envy her a little, because she became so aware of her potential at such a young age. But as I have said, G-d has His time and place for everything. He knew that she would be ready to shine and shine she did! And I have no doubt that she continues to.
While not all of us blossom as young as she did, G-d sees us for what we can be before we are even conceived. We are born, a blank canvas, with nothing but possibilities a head of us. G-d, being the ultimate artist, knows exactly what he wants to paint there. And with the help of others in our lives, we are more than capable of reaching that potential. It is sad, to see some that aren’t aware of what they can be. Some know what they want to do but never get around to it. Some are even afraid to try. Some even realize their potential but use it in a negative way. While life is definitely planned out by G-d, we also have to make the best of it. We have to find out who we are and what we can be. We each are born with gifts and talents; abilities to contribute to the world. Sometimes they are more difficult to realize, but they are always there; just as G-d is always there
At any age, we can find ourselves learning new things about ourselves; new ways to shine. Absolutely no one comes into this world incapable of being great! Fear and self doubt is crippling and certainly not of G-d. We have the ability to overcome it and show the world exactly what we are made of. Just imagine with me for a moment, if every single person on this planet, not only realized their potential but lived up to it, how different would our world be?
I would like to leave you with a couple questions to ask yourself. Have you even realized all that you can be? If you feel you have, are you living it? If you aren’t, what can you do to change that? If you are a parent, how do you guide your children to realizing what they can do and how far they can go?
G-d Bless!
K
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Through The Eyes Of A Child
Are any of you familiar with the movie, “The Boy In Striped Pajamas”? For those of you who aren’t, I would definitely recommend it. Also, for those who haven’t and like to be 100% surprised when watching a new movie, I would suggest you wait to read this blog. Consider this your spoiler alert.
For those that are not in the know, this is a movie that is sad and great all at the same time. You come across the two main characters that are children, my guess, about 10 years of age, give or take. One is the son of a Nazi officer that was sent to run a concentration camp and the other is among the Jews that are being held there. One day, the officer’s son wonders off the home property and into the woods that separate the house from the camp. When he finds his way to the perimeter fence, he finds the Jewish boy sitting and hiding. The boy was dressed in the clothes that all Jews were forced to wear there, oversized gray and white striped shirts and pants...much like pajamas. The two form a friendship and make time to meet every day at the fence. Neither understand the purpose of the camp, neither understand that they “aren’t supposed to mix.” As you watch you see the officer’s son observing how the people around him at the house treat the Jewish people differently. He even befriends one of the Jewish men that is assigned to work in his home and learns he used to be a doctor, and yet he spends his whole day now tending to their gardens. These two boys saw each other simply as that...boys...people. They knew they had differences, they discussed them, but they also knew that with or without differences, they had a friendship.
I have known plenty of kids in my life, some friends, some family. And it’s incredible to watch them and see how they learn about the world around them. It’s incredible to get their take on things. Yes, they can be silly and even ridiculous at times, but isn’t there something about their way of being that you wish you could hold on to? I know I do. Don’t get me wrong, growing up definitely has its advantages. It’s what we are all meant to do after all. G-d brings us into this world as babies to find our way to the purposes He’s set for us. But as children, you can look at the world with innocence. You don’t see through eyes of fear. You don’t initially see differences as a reason to fight or hate, you want to understand them. My husband went into an African tribe once, a tribe where they see very few (if any at all) white people. And a little boy, 3 years or so, walked up to him and started rubbing J’s arm with his hand. When the translator asked the child what he was doing, he answered that he was trying to see if he could rub the paint off J’s skin. Till that day, this boy never even knew humans came in different colors.
When we become adults we have to be aware of the world around us and the people that share it with us, good and bad. We find a reason to not trust, to judge, to hide, to hate, and to hurt. We have people waging war over religion. We have leaders that are blinded by their greed and desire for power. We have gang members that are taught to shoot another person if they are wearing the wrong color of rags or clothing. You have members of the KKK that actually claim that the torture and murder they commit is in the name of G-d! It’s disturbing!
G-d created us to be different. He wanted diversity for humanity. Because of it, different people have different abilities and are able to carry out different commands that G-d puts in place for them. People also have different understandings of G-d, different religions and ways of worshiping. Religiously, there are plenty that I don’t agree with, but should it really be a reason to fight, dislike, or even hate? I love discussing religion with people. I love getting their take of G-d and I love trying to see through their eyes. When you open yourself to getting to know a person that way, you can find yourself looking at the face of G-d through them. A good example is a woman that I was able to watch as she read the Torah. She wasn’t just reading the worlds and expressing her interpretation, you heard the passion in her voice. You would even see tears in her eyes at times. It’s as if she was shining with the light of G-d and, let me tell you, seeing that light in another person, no matter what the religion, is so very inspiring! It gave me such a smile to watch and listen and you could actually feel G-d’s presence in the group. You could feel His love and warmth surround us all. There is a pastor that I have heard speak out here before. Religiously, I don’t 100% agree with him but you should see this man go when he is speaking about his beliefs. He talks of the love of G-d and at times his voice will crack and he can get tears in his eyes because of the passion he is feeling. Is it so horrible for people to be different when you can see the light of G-d in them?
The world wasn’t meant to be about separating or changing people. It was meant to be a place where we learn to work together. Where we love and respect each other. Where we embrace what makes us different to help create a working society that we and G-d can be proud of. Instead humans keep finding a bigger variety of ways to destroy each other and this world. I have heard a saying, “Be the change you want to see happen in the world.” Children are born innocent...they are taught to hate and/or destroy. This world will come to an end someday. G-d has passed on teachings of this. But while we are here it’s our job to make the most our time and be as G-d would be and do as He commands. It is what my parents believe and passed on to us, and it’s is what my brother and I took into adulthood and will pass on to the future generations. It starts with the home, it starts with what a child is taught. It starts with what you can pass on. What change would you like to see in the world? What do you want future generations to do and see? And what can you do to make it happen? G-d won’t do it all for us, we have to be willing to take action as well. Will you?
For those that are not in the know, this is a movie that is sad and great all at the same time. You come across the two main characters that are children, my guess, about 10 years of age, give or take. One is the son of a Nazi officer that was sent to run a concentration camp and the other is among the Jews that are being held there. One day, the officer’s son wonders off the home property and into the woods that separate the house from the camp. When he finds his way to the perimeter fence, he finds the Jewish boy sitting and hiding. The boy was dressed in the clothes that all Jews were forced to wear there, oversized gray and white striped shirts and pants...much like pajamas. The two form a friendship and make time to meet every day at the fence. Neither understand the purpose of the camp, neither understand that they “aren’t supposed to mix.” As you watch you see the officer’s son observing how the people around him at the house treat the Jewish people differently. He even befriends one of the Jewish men that is assigned to work in his home and learns he used to be a doctor, and yet he spends his whole day now tending to their gardens. These two boys saw each other simply as that...boys...people. They knew they had differences, they discussed them, but they also knew that with or without differences, they had a friendship.
I have known plenty of kids in my life, some friends, some family. And it’s incredible to watch them and see how they learn about the world around them. It’s incredible to get their take on things. Yes, they can be silly and even ridiculous at times, but isn’t there something about their way of being that you wish you could hold on to? I know I do. Don’t get me wrong, growing up definitely has its advantages. It’s what we are all meant to do after all. G-d brings us into this world as babies to find our way to the purposes He’s set for us. But as children, you can look at the world with innocence. You don’t see through eyes of fear. You don’t initially see differences as a reason to fight or hate, you want to understand them. My husband went into an African tribe once, a tribe where they see very few (if any at all) white people. And a little boy, 3 years or so, walked up to him and started rubbing J’s arm with his hand. When the translator asked the child what he was doing, he answered that he was trying to see if he could rub the paint off J’s skin. Till that day, this boy never even knew humans came in different colors.
When we become adults we have to be aware of the world around us and the people that share it with us, good and bad. We find a reason to not trust, to judge, to hide, to hate, and to hurt. We have people waging war over religion. We have leaders that are blinded by their greed and desire for power. We have gang members that are taught to shoot another person if they are wearing the wrong color of rags or clothing. You have members of the KKK that actually claim that the torture and murder they commit is in the name of G-d! It’s disturbing!
G-d created us to be different. He wanted diversity for humanity. Because of it, different people have different abilities and are able to carry out different commands that G-d puts in place for them. People also have different understandings of G-d, different religions and ways of worshiping. Religiously, there are plenty that I don’t agree with, but should it really be a reason to fight, dislike, or even hate? I love discussing religion with people. I love getting their take of G-d and I love trying to see through their eyes. When you open yourself to getting to know a person that way, you can find yourself looking at the face of G-d through them. A good example is a woman that I was able to watch as she read the Torah. She wasn’t just reading the worlds and expressing her interpretation, you heard the passion in her voice. You would even see tears in her eyes at times. It’s as if she was shining with the light of G-d and, let me tell you, seeing that light in another person, no matter what the religion, is so very inspiring! It gave me such a smile to watch and listen and you could actually feel G-d’s presence in the group. You could feel His love and warmth surround us all. There is a pastor that I have heard speak out here before. Religiously, I don’t 100% agree with him but you should see this man go when he is speaking about his beliefs. He talks of the love of G-d and at times his voice will crack and he can get tears in his eyes because of the passion he is feeling. Is it so horrible for people to be different when you can see the light of G-d in them?
The world wasn’t meant to be about separating or changing people. It was meant to be a place where we learn to work together. Where we love and respect each other. Where we embrace what makes us different to help create a working society that we and G-d can be proud of. Instead humans keep finding a bigger variety of ways to destroy each other and this world. I have heard a saying, “Be the change you want to see happen in the world.” Children are born innocent...they are taught to hate and/or destroy. This world will come to an end someday. G-d has passed on teachings of this. But while we are here it’s our job to make the most our time and be as G-d would be and do as He commands. It is what my parents believe and passed on to us, and it’s is what my brother and I took into adulthood and will pass on to the future generations. It starts with the home, it starts with what a child is taught. It starts with what you can pass on. What change would you like to see in the world? What do you want future generations to do and see? And what can you do to make it happen? G-d won’t do it all for us, we have to be willing to take action as well. Will you?
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Inspiration Anyone?
Even though my blogs don’t come up as often as they did in the beginning; my mind is still very often buzzing with ideas and thoughts that I would love to share. Sometimes, I have trouble expressing them and sometimes they seem like a repeat of things I have already said to all of you. Sometimes there are so many that I can’t seem to settle on just one. Then I stopped trying to think of things and started looking at what triggers all these ideas. And it’s incredible to see the inspiration around me. Obviously, G-d is the ultimate inspiration, seeing as He is the Creator and in everything we see, feel, and touch. He will always be the thoughts in my head, the words on my lips, love in my heart, and light in my soul. But I want to look deeper. Of this vast creation of his, of this entire reality that we are surrounded by, I ask myself, what parts of it pulls at my heart and stimulate my mind? As many of you can probably guess, one is the complexity and beauty of nature. The way everything works together so perfectly to bring a balance that it’s meant to have. A balance (might I add) that humans have slowly been destroying. The way a butterfly dances through the air. The way water pours down from the top of a mountain to the thirsty village below. The way certain plants and animal thrive in certain climates. The way that, at times, an animal can know of danger before it’s even laid eyes on it. The way crickets and frogs collectively sing at night, giving us a symphony to fall asleep too. I also have been getting inspiration from children too. The way they look at things. The way they interpret life. They way they learn. The way they love. The way that parents interact with them. Also, families and the way some interact much differently than others. There are current events that make me want to speak out. There’s even the courage of other’s in my life that make me want to say, think, feel, or experience certain things.
I could go on for quite a while, speaking of all this, but then I would lose my whole point of this blog. I really enjoy hearing what all of you have to say and watching you interact with each other. So I am going to pose another question for all of you to consider and hopefully respond too. What is your inspiration? It doesn’t have to be on an artistic or writers level either...I am looking for any inspiration. What inspires you to work, to live, to create, to smile....anything and everything! I am so excited to hear what you all have to say.
G-d Bless.
K
I could go on for quite a while, speaking of all this, but then I would lose my whole point of this blog. I really enjoy hearing what all of you have to say and watching you interact with each other. So I am going to pose another question for all of you to consider and hopefully respond too. What is your inspiration? It doesn’t have to be on an artistic or writers level either...I am looking for any inspiration. What inspires you to work, to live, to create, to smile....anything and everything! I am so excited to hear what you all have to say.
G-d Bless.
K
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