The Day Vivi was Born

  June 19, 2014 

Today it is a pleasant 85-90 degree day outside, a Thursday,  in a year where the summer has been slow to find it’s legs.  And that is fine with everyone around here.  But this day will never be remembered for the weather, or for the politics of the day, or for the win or loss from the pool games tonight, but today will be remembered because our loving God blessed us again with the wonderful entrance of Vivi into the world. We woke up to the news that the mom’s contractions were getting underway so, right away, we knew this was going to be a big day.

Grandkids are great.  Vivi is the 2^nd in our family.  Levi was 1^st and came into our world 1.5 years ago and what a joy it is to have him visit.  His little face lights up and that big smiles jumps out when Mimi walks into the room, and that is enough to move him to the top of the priority list in the life of Mimi.  But now Levi has a cousin. And Mimi has a 2^nd grandbaby.  I guarantee you Mimi will be able to spoil them equally and without partiality.  

The day Vivi was born was a day Mimi fell completely head over heels, and realized Vivi is a person who can make her heart swell by simply opening her eyes and by laying so peacefully in her arms. This is without doubt one of the holiest days of  our lives.  I cannot have a day with something as grand as this and not at the same time bow in submission to the greatness of God.  I am amazed, in the truest meaning of that word. Just the miracle of it all. And just when you don't think you can't love a grandchild any more, you look at them, in all their beauty noticing something new that you hadn’t noticed before, and the blood rushes to your head, and the stomach drops out, and you fall deeper.  Someday Mimi will tell her all about the day she was born and how she got to be there and how privileged she felt to be invited to share in such a glorious moment...she will tell her how she had to leave to run to BabiesRUs to pick up something for her and the new mommy and the car battery died and she had to have someone jump the  battery...she will tell her all about how frustrating that was because she was so anxious to get back to her...she will tell her about spending the evening with her and all the family and how they all came out to celebrate her birthday.....she will tell her all about the day she fell in love with her completely  from her nose to her tippy toes.

 This year we, Mimi and I, turn 57 and 60, respectfully.  We are trying to live healthier.  We see the way things are going and hope we will be able to be around a while to enjoy these awesome days of grand parenting.

These days are valued more as a grandparent, more so than those parenting days. Now, you see, we know how brief the time is, we know and have seen how time flies, and we know to enjoy the day and the moment and not worry about tomorrow.  We know all so well how they grow up into smart, funny and opinionated people who will move on and leave the parents for college, or an adventure, or a husband or wife.  That is coming so soon.  But today is ours to enjoy the greatest blessing God gives.  Thank you Lord for Vivi, thank you for the blessing, and thank you Lord for this beautiful day you gave us to enjoy. We now know where the expression “pride and joy” came from. This perfect and healthy little 7lb 2oz girl, born at 1:10 p.m. June 19th 2014, wholly loved, fearfully and wonderfully made, Viviana, born to Jei and Adam Wise, is sure to be another of Mimi’s “pride and joys.”  And RiRi might share some of that as well.

I'm Sorry

“I’m sorry.”  Some people won’t say it. When your actions cause someone harm, distress or significant inconvenience the right thing to do is to offer a sincere apology when you are made aware of the harm, distress or inconvenience you have caused. 

The experts now know the people with low self-esteem are less likely to apologize.  They usually feel bad, sometimes having inner feeling of humiliation,  about what they have done, furthering the feelings of low self-esteem.  But we also now know that the egocentric, the one with the overly grand view of himself or herself, also almost never offers an apology. 

People who are sure of themselves have the capacity to confess to their wrongdoing and properly address it.  Just the right amount of self-esteem is key. 

For these two groups,  saying I’m sorry equals acceptance of responsibility and expressions of genuine remorse. Here is the rub – apologizing is seen as a sign of weakness. Admitting to being wrong, as difficult as it is,  is the road to dissolving hostility, encouraging forgiveness and mending damaged relationships. It is also a road rarely traveled today.  Instead, relationships end and these people go on their way in life, alone. 

The movie got it wrong.  Love doesn’t mean never having to say you’re sorry.  Love means being able to say you’re sorry. 

What I see are some people who do not love, or love enough, to say I’m sorry, and try to make things right.  So sad.

 

 

 

 

Standing Tall

It doesn't happen often but at times we just feel tall. Erect we stand, refreshed for the challenges that are about to beset us--we feel prepared, confident and able. There's a certain joy about us, a skip in our step. It may be short lived but even so, it is tremendous when we have that feeling. We believe, we have faith, we stand tall.

Some have trouble with this sometimes. They lose confidence easily. I see people who you can tell have given up, even before that got started. I see it in the pool league often. Somebody steps up to start a match, and you know they have already decided they are going to lose. Or someone goes on a job interview and they have already decided they will not get the job. And it usually works out that way.

Standing Tall is not only about having confidence in ourselves. Part of standing tall is remaining true to convictions. We believe what we believe. It is how we were raised, it is what we believe to be important. It is an issue/idea/concept that we are not going to budge on. Those issues and principles vary from person to person. I may “stand tall” against abortion, and you may “stand tall” against “spanking” a child, while someone else “stands tall” against “drinking.” Some principles we hold near and dear, they are important to us, and for such there will not be any compromise.

The media seeks to move our “moral boundaries.” It has been going on for years. Show after show uses storylines and characters to try to influence us to believe certain things are “ok” and acceptable. I remember when many things were unacceptable. Many were considered shameful. No upstanding citizen would ever consider certain activities. Then the media went to work on us. Slowly they introduced to us the idea of something that was once considered “taboo” , well it might not be so bad. They give us a “likeable” character, show some activity he is involved in, and over time, we might move our “moral boundary.” We “like” the character, so we “learn” to accept his way of life.

And there was a time the “Bible Belt” ruled. Jerry Falwell would pop up on TV and tell everyone that “so and so” was not “all-right.” The Moral Majority had a voice and a strong one. Jessie Jackson would show up on TV and preach to us to hold true to our convictions - Don’t be swayed – Don’t give in. Billy Graham stood for what was right, and was there to remind us less we had been watching TV more than we had been reading our bibles. We had moral leaders. We had those who stood up against this and that, and tried to keep these movements down and from gaining a strong hold in our communities and hearts. There was a battle. It was a war. A bloody war.

Now it seems to me the war is over. TV won.

I’m still over here “standing tall” but sometimes I feel like the Lone Ranger.