A Single Drop of Water

A Single Drop of Water

 

  During this time of year, there will be people who will be singing and celebrating; laughing and crying; shopping and worshipping; remembering and mourning. It is the season of many emotions and experiences, for most. Not unlike any other time of year, I have spent time reminding us to be kind and loving with one another.

  I realized long ago that we all are different, in one fashion or another. No matter how similar we appear to be, if we search deep enough…we will find our distinctive characteristics. By the same token, if we search deep within those that we find to be our polar opposites…we will find the very likeness of us.

  What is the point of this? It’s a point in which, I take great pride in shining light on. We were all created from the same source and created with the same foundation. Our Creator, our point of origin…the maker of all things great and small…started our lives with a single drop of water. And throughout time we can visit and re-visit how water restores, replenishes, revitalizes and revives all living things. That single drop of water, brushed with the love of our Creator…is where we all started and where we should remain focused.

  For all of our differences and unique qualities…one thing tangible keeps us connected…like it or not. Our Creator, no matter what you refer to Him/her as…built us with love. We know this is true because no matter where we look, in music, lyrics, movies, art, even in our most divine books…we are told to love each other. At this point, we should have realized that loving our fellow living beings is important…because we are constantly being reminded to do so.

  The one constant we will have in this life is that as much as we are dissimilar…we are exactly the same. Our foundation cares nothing about how we look differently, speak differently, behave differently, or even worship differently. In the eyes of the Creator, we are the same.

  When the time comes and we are asked how we made use of our time here on earth…I pray that we have something more to offer than we spent time separating people because we have convinced ourselves of the superiority myth. None of us, not one single human being…is better than, above, greater than or superior to …ANYTHING. Your hair color or texture, the pigment of your skin, the accent of your voice, the size or shape of your body, the location of your earthly home, nor the religion, faith, or the life philosophy that you adhere to…does not put you above anyone or anything else. And as long as we have that delusion in our minds…we are not doing the work of God/Allah.

  Our time here is brief…to prove that fact you only have to ask anyone who has ever loved someone who passed away. So knowing this information…why do we waste so much time on hate and indifference? We are supposed to build our fellow man and woman up…we are supposed to help and guide one another. But in order to do that we must stop trying to isolate one another.

  I hope that during this season of love and hope…that we water the seed which God/Allah planted within us. Love is instilled within our being, but we must cultivate it, water it, and share it with the world. Touch everyone you can…through your fingertips… your speech or your deeds…God’s message can be delivered through us; just as electricity travels through water.

  I implore you to stop wasting time on the negativity that darkness can breed. Remember that just like mold needs darkness to thrive…so does negativity and hate. The Creator’s light is all around us…we need only to seek it. We can see it in compassion, empathy, joy, kindness, thoughtfulness…and when you aren’t watching…you can feel, smell, touch and absorb it through the laughter of children.

  Love is a gift that we are supposed to give to others; and because we were born with it we are supposed to do it all the time. We can hardly hold love hostage, by attaching stipulations to it. The statement “I will love you if…” is a statement of darkness. So here is my message to you: I will love you because God loves me. I will stand by you and defend you against any being that is of the belief that you are not good enough. I answer to our Creator, He holds me accountable for my actions, thoughts and the intentions of my heart.

  Today I would ask you to stand up…become accountable…spread love and joy…for only then can peace prosper.

The Reason For The Season

 I think that sometimes we can get lost in the commercialization of things this time of year. The proof of that is everywhere we look. Every store or shop seems to have their own idea of how to make the season more festive and memorable than the year previous.

  This year, however, has been a little rougher for me than most have been…which I believe is a test of my strength and willingness to submit to the will of our Creator. So I have sat and endured every Christmas cartoon known to man…I have watched store Santa’s posing with pictures of children who would rather be ducking and weaving in and out of a four lane highway. I have watched retailers attempt to make their sales and “bargains” look like what we might want Christmas to be. All of this, isn’t always a bad thing…it’s always nice to see the excitement of children and the hidden secrets that this particular holiday seems to bring.

 This year was completely turned around for me…I was all ready to become “Scrooge”. And in my mind, I had reason to. Then something wonderful happened in my life…I experienced the love of God through the heart of my daughter.

 First you must understand, she is a teenager…not unlike most teenagers. She wants things, and she knows that there will be things that no matter how much she wants them, or how much I wish I could get them for her…she just won’t receive them. But this brown eyed beauty decided that this year for Christmas she wanted to play Santa Claus for a child on her school’s “Angel Tree”. Keeping in mind that she knew that by us buying for another child meant that her lean Christmas list…just went on a diet. She didn’t care. I remember the day that she was talking to me about it…tears in her eyes. She just wanted to make a child happy for Christmas. And so we went shopping for this sweet 2 year old boy that she didn’t know and would never meet. We got him a few things…which she picked out. She went home and wrapped them and placed them in a giant gift bag and took them to school.

 I can not even begin to express to you the joy that I felt through her at that moment. But I can only really think of one comparison which may assist in my lack of descriptive prose. Watching her was like the feeling I would get as a young child coming in from the cold. I would get to drink this giant coffee cup filled with creamy Hot Cocoa…you know the kind I mean…with the foam on the top from the giant melted marshmallow that used to be there. When you drank it, it was like your body was literally thawing out. There were parts of my body that were coming to life that I didn’t even realize were frozen.

 My daughter became that for me…a sweet, warm, smiling example of that chocolaty goodness. And the real magic was…she made everyone feel that way. We all laughed and sang songs and smiled at everyone today.

  All of this made me think about the saying…the reason for the season; it was like a light bulb came on. The reason for the season…is to give to others that in which we are given. It isn’t about video games or wish lists. It is about reflecting the love that God has given us…and sharing it with everyone else.

  It may be true that we don’t have as much as the next person, but what we have is intended to be shared. I always try to remind others of our blessings, because we can get caught up in what we don’t have and we forget what we do have. We may not have tons of presents under the tree, and as true as that is…there will be people who not have a home to put a tree…never mind the presents underneath. We may not have a huge Christmas feast, but there are people who will not have food to eat on Christmas at all…or any other day. We will miss those we lost this year and our hearts may weep for them…but there are people who will spend this holiday all alone. Can you imagine living on this huge planet and feeling like you are all alone?

   Today my daughter warmed our hearts…by simply opening hers. I hope it is an example that is set not in vain. Reach out for someone today, touch their hearts and don’t be afraid to warm their souls. God only asks that we give to others what HE has given to us…HIS LOVE. It costs nothing to love one another. If the only present you give to someone is your time…it is time well spent. Shine on one another…the reflection is that of our Creator.

For the Love of a Child

For the Love of A Child

 

  Today is Universal Children’s Day. It is the official day when we are prompted to celebrate the children in our lives. We are to remind the children around us that they are far more important than they could conceivably imagine.

  How does one celebrate this auspicious occasion? We simply take time, and give time…to those little hearts and minds that we love so much. I know we can get busy…there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. But just like we re-arrange our lives for an impromptu conference or business meeting…we simply just need to pencil our children in. We need to take this day off. We need to center our day on the people that bring us joy, simply by smiling. We celebrate the fact that these little miracles…create GREAT joy.

  It isn’t necessary that we spend a month’s salary on this day either…because all they really want is our time. One afternoon walk with a child could right a lifetime of wrongs. Holding your son or daughter’s hand can be the most loving thing, and it only costs us our time. Touch can be the universal language…because children understand that feeling. Words can get lost in translation…we can say something and forget we said it. But touching someone’s hand or rubbing their soft cheek says…you matter to me.

  Create a family dinner together…allow your child to add ingredients in a bowl, or set a table. Make a menu that is kid friendly…incorporate your child’s ideas when planning your meal or dessert.

  Turn off your television, don’t go online…and silence your cell phone. Place any distractions out of your sight, all that matters today is being thankful and celebrating your child or the children in your lives.

  Listen to soft music, while finger painting or drawing with your child. Tell him or her about the things that you used to do as a child. Contrast the difference between life now and life then.

  Dig up old family photographs from when you were their age…talk about the different styles of clothes and hair. Create a family tree with pictures or memorabilia. Get a world map and talk about the places that you have been…and where your child might like to go. Create a “what if” vacation… see where your child’s imagination will take him or her. Write a story where he or she is the prince or princess. Make up a song telling about your day. Read a book that you read as a child. Tell them about the very first day that you laid eyes on them. Go to a museum, or art exhibit; simply enjoy the fact that today…you are blessed. You get to spend time with this sweet heart…you get to give thanks to God…by appreciating this gift of love.

  Why do we celebrate Universal Children’s Day? We celebrate this day because life can move very quickly. Often, we struggle to keep up with the fast pace of our lifestyles. Unfortunately, there are times when we fail to remind ourselves that the people that we love…are more important than any other person or situation in our lives. This is the world’s chance to embrace the love of a child. Children love freely, without reservation. Children never worry about loving too much or being loved too little. They are the semblance of innocence and purity…they are symbolic of all things great and small; true proof that big things come in little packages.

  I have never found anything as moving as the love of a child. There is little more peaceful than watching an infant napping. These small bundles of joy truly are angels on earth. They warm the coldest of hearts. I feel certain that was their purpose all along. Somehow the voice of a child can tame the savage beast. Most of the time our children are in awe of us, even when we feel that we aren’t exactly who we wish we were; children think we are great just because they love us. And because they love us…we are great. On this day we can enjoy the fact that we are viewed with rose colored glasses.

So on this day…join me in celebrating the lives of these tender warriors. Let us use these wonderful people as an excuse to love each other a little more.  And I pray that we will all make the world a safer more loving world; for who is more deserving of peace and joy than the world’s children.