Stuff That Matters in Life

Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the Little House series of books, was born in 1867. Imagine her life as a pioneer, traveling in covered wagons across prairies, living in log cabins, and teaching in a tiny schoolhouse at the age of fifteen. Laura died in 1957 a the age of 90. The last years of her life were spent enjoying going on drives in a car, listening to the radio, and going across the country from Wisconsin to San Francisco, California. The world she grew up in and the world she retired in must have been dramatically different.

Laura lived through a period of history of many advancements in technology, science and culture. Imagine what is would’ve been like if she was too scared to drive a car, missed out on the music and news on the radio, or continued to live without indoor plumbing. She seemed to have engaged herself with the changes by stopping her writing at age seventy-six in order to enjoy drives, and visiting friends.

I grew up before the age of personal computers, ipods, and TiVo. Wouldn’t it be a shame if I didn’t make use of what’s available to me now? This is why I must learn to be more adept with the computer and be engaged in in the world.

Today begins the year of the Dog.

We went to my dad’s house for dinner with my siblings’ family. I am blessed to have family who all get along. The kids all play together, we talk, laugh, swap stuff, give each other presents for our birthdays, lots of fun.

In the same way, it must make God happy when His people all get along. Everyone sharing, laughing, having a good time. Let’s not have arguing over petty things in the church. We give and take, play together, laugh, be family. That’s what being part of a church family is about.

These are my favorite Bible verses:
Habakkuk-317-18

Mozart’s birthday is tomorrow, the 27th of January, same day as my sister May’s birthday.

The Disney Concert Hall celebrated his birthday with a fabulous show for school children. I had the privilege of going with Amy’s school. Her fantastic strings and band teacher, Laura Tovar, arranged for her music students to attend the program at the Concert Hall. The LA Philharmonic played a selection of Mozart favorites along with a skit featuring “Wolfie” and his wife there telling us how music is put together and demonstrated ways that music can be interpreted.

The Disney Concert Hall itself of course is a piece of architecture that just cannot be described. I would like to go back and leisurely look around. As it was, we had to rush back onto the school bus and get back to school. But it was definitely worth the trip.

You can see some pictures here.

I learned from my friend today to say those words.

I was very mad at her because she didn’t pick me up for our usual carpool while I sat in the parking lot waiting for her. She neglected to tell me to drive separately. In her apology to me, she said, “I am sorry, will you forgive me?”

My apologies are usually just “sorry”. It has not occurred to me to ask the person for forgiveness.

The fact that she asked made me feel that she cared about our relationship and wanted my forgiveness. Asking for forgiveness is quite humbling, isn’t it? Just saying “sorry” doesn’t take as much out of you. Asking takes a risk that the other person may not forgive you.

When my friend asked me for forgiveness, it made me realize that, of course, I forgive her. And if I say that I forgive her, how can I continue to be mad. Having to verbalize my forgiveness completes the apology process. It no longer hangs over us, and our relationship was restored.

Even though my friend wronged me, I learned a good lesson from it. I will remember to ask for forgiveness, not just simply say “sorry”.

“If you do not stand for anything, you will fall for everything.”

Our convictions are tested everyday.

If we say we believe in honesty, when the store clerk gives us too much change, do we give it back? If we say we stand for truth, do we succumb to lying if it benefits us? If Sunday is our day of worship, do we make excuses and sleep in? Do you stop reading a book, or walk out of a movie if what you are reading or watching violates your conscience and pollutes your mind, even though you may even find it entertaining? Do you make decisions based on what is most expedient, what is most pleasurable, what is the greatest benefit to you? Or do you act on your moral convictions, even when it demands sacrifice?

I think it’s quite a challenge in our day to act on our convictions instead of our convenience.

“I always valued my life, but I did not value my health until I got sick and ended up with a 8-month hospital stay in intensive care.”

That conversation with a co-worker brings us back to a basic principle.

We take for granted what comes easily to us. Air, water, family, health. When we don’t have it, we, then realize our dependence on it. We vow that once we get it back, we will do everything to hold on to it.

When you lose your health, sometimes you cannot regain it. It is best to take care of what we have.

Don’t ruin your eyes with too much time on the computer.

Don’t ruin your heart with lack of exercise and overeating.

Don’t ruin your skin with over-exposure to the sun.

As my dad would say, “I am not afraid of dying. I am afraid of not being able to die and linger with poor health.”