"There's nothing worse than sitting under a tree, and talking to a rock." ~nr lenz
"It's all right to falter and fail, just learn something by it. And go again." ~nr lenz
With Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Father's Day coming up, nostalgia is creeping in. Losing my parents, and it's been years, was one of the most devastating happenings in my life. I went home because my father was dying, but my mother died while I was home. I had to tell him about Mom, as he himself lay dying. It was a cross I had to bear. He thanked me for telling him, in spite of criticism I took from his own brother and wife who disagreed with my decision. My father lived only another 6 weeks. I was heart-broken not to be able to be at his bedside, though my siblings were - thank God.
It seems youth and stupidity (inexperience) and wisdom (experience) and aging are companions, by their very nature and essence. Strange bed fellows, for sure. I truly believe if someone says they have never made any wrong, bad, or regretful decisions in their lives, they are either liars or deceivers, or both. All the mistakes we make in our lives are all part of the process on this earthly plane - a process of learning - about ourselves, others, and life itself.
I was a tough kid to raise. The whole point to this writing is to express the hope that younger generations willl take the time to get to know their parents, their siblings, and extended family members. You don't get 'do-overs' later, you can't change anything, make it better - what's done is done. Even with apologies (that are not always accepted), it doesn't erase the past (good, bad, or indifferent). Internally, you can change yourself. You can make yourself, your surroundings, and your emotional self better. Forgive yourself, and forgive others. Be good with that; and expect miracles. Just know that some people never forgive, some people like to hate and to hurt, and hurt others. Don't let their toxicity impede your desire to become a better person in life.
"I've lived long enough to realize that learning to overcome adversity is part of our human adventure. Adversity builds character ... and this is the 'character' I have become (so far)!" ~nr lenz
Hence, the expression, "Be patient, God isn't finished with me yet!" I wanted to give credit for this quote but when searching to see where it originated, I don't find just one person who said it, but do find many people, and organizations, who want to take claim for their "interpretation" of biblical verse.